Hmmm... we are doing pretty well, considering our balancing act on our pretty in pink and auspicious red Manchu horse-hoofed shoes. But then, the Manchus were nomads, and horsemen, who appreciate their fine steeds, and I suppose, projected that admiration onto their equally fine women. Give them horse hoofs. By the way, Manchurian women also rode horses and hunted. Hey ho! and off we go, ... nowhere . . . trying not to fall over. . .
Manchu court ladies, a very elite group (think SWAT and their lethal weapons) don fingernail guards or protectors, particularly one Empress Matriarch, Cixi, of the Qing dynasty, with a fetish for long golden feline nails . . . Long nails and longer gold, gilded, enamelled, tortoiseshell, jade or silver, fingernail guard is synonymous with a life of luxury and announces the wearer's social status, a sure indicator of her inability to chop up cabbages, do the laundry, or hold up a paintbrush. On the other hand, it does imply her reliance upon servants to carry out any of her wishes. There you go!
Besides,check the almanac. Nails could be cut only on certain auspicious days. An accidentally broken nail was a mishap verging on a tragedy.
Nailguards are typically worn on the last two fingers. But if you can, why not on more fingers? More is more.
Could horse hoof shoes be imitating features of the Han Chinese footbinding shoe? Seems that the Manchu 'horse-hoof' shoe highlights the Manchu woman's 'natural' feet, called 'heavenly feet' tianzu 天足, or simply 'big feet' dajiou' 大腳😮😳 as opposed to the Han Chinese women's bound foot, which was given the poetic name sancun jinlian (三寸金蓮), meaning 'three inch golden lotus'.
(http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/journals/research-journal/issue-02/manchu-horse-hoof-shoes-footwear-and-cultural-identity/)
Empress and Court Lady trying to squeeze in and out royal regalia after 10 days of New Year feasting.
It's a contortionist feat!
Invitation to Chinese New Year celebrations at the TOP, courtesy of Tan Sri & Puan Sri Koh. Tee dum tee dum . . . waiting for the rest of the nyonyas and babas to show up . . .
The management had prepared a mile long 'lo sang'
It is for the Chief Minister, dignitaries and VIPs to toss up a good year for Penang.
I suppose I must be a VVIP, as I got a 'lo sang' table all to myself (where is everyone!!!??!)
Huat ah! Heng ah! Ong ah! (is this in the correct order? )
While waiting for my Nyonya friends to turn up, I amused myself with my new found friends, Fu Lu Shou, the Three Stellar gods of Happiness, Prosperity and Longevity, respectively.
Buddy up with purple prancing lions . . .
Ah, finally my girls turned up, and so did Datin Koh in charming turquoise blue cheongsam (left) , and the Chief Minister's wife, Madam Tan Lean Kee in red necklace and shoe highlights for her smart black and white dress.
Then sped off for a Ministry of Tourism Award afternoon
Deputy Minister of Tourism, YB Baktiar Wan Chik gave us statistics on tourist arrivals, and handed out Award certificates to Penang's winning Hotels and Spa.
YB Baktiar came over to chat, and we want photos!
Smile!
Penang tourism stakeholders are always excited to discuss new ideas and inventive strategies to enhance visitor experience. Here we are, friends and comrades for Penang Tourism - Penang Tourist Guides Association's CTRE facilitator, Habitat General Manager, Chew Jetty Storying, Historian & Penang Heritage Trust Committee member, and Pinang Peranakan Mansion, , represented - our smiles says it all - how much we love Penang, and thrilled to have our very own Penang boy as Deputy Minister of Tourism!