Yeoh Siew Hoon's exhausted from all the celebrating.

I am exhausted.

It seems that my life has been one non-stop celebration since November last year.

That's the problem of living in a multi-racial place like Singapore. You have to celebrate everybody's festivals. Otherwise you will be accused of not being tolerant of other people's traditions and being Libran, I am the most tolerant person there is on this side of the South China Sea.

First, it was Deepavali, then it was Hari Raya. We then plunged right into Christmas and New Year. And just when I thought I had seen the light at the end of the tunnel, there comes the Chinese New Year train which will arrive at a station near you on January 29.

I was reminded of the arrival of the Dog when I went to Chinatown the other night. There are more lights here than there are in Hong Kong or Shanghai – I think there is a competition going on between cities in Asia as to who can light up the best and the most often.

The problem with this is, you become blind to the lights if they are on all the time. It's just like a woman. You want a woman you can feel at ease with, someone you can be a slob with, not someone who's always well-groomed and heavily made-up all the time ...

The irony is, the Chinese New Year festival is the one I should be spending most energy on but by the time it comes round, I am too exhausted to celebrate.

But I will persevere. Like all good Chinese girls, I adhere to tradition and I make the home journey every year.

This year, I have decided to drive to Penang. Already I am exhausted by the planning. I have advice coming out from my ears. Everyone seems to have an idea as to when I should leave and return. The Causeway's going to be jammed, the roads are going to be packed, it's going to be a nightmare on the roads and people are going to be killed like flies …

All true, I know, but what's a girl to do? I am travelling with a party of four. The fights are full, I can never get around to it early enough to ensure a seat. Anyway, I reckon my mother's wrath will be far worse than any nightmare I will encounter on the road.

I have also been nagged by friends to book a hotel room because this is probably the only time of the year when hotels in Penang are full.

My poor island in the sun. The tourism business has just not been the same since I left. I am asked all the time, what can Penang do to revive its tourism fortunes? No one likes my answers.

Anyway, I got my room, all booked and squared away, for my friends who are visiting from Europe. Me, I will be staying home. Much as I love my job, and staying in hotels – I do miss those rainforest showers – I reckon this is one time of the year when I should stay home, be a good Chinese girl and celebrate with the family.

Here's what I will not do. I will not sweep the house on the first day of the new year (I need the good luck this year), I will not visit relatives because they always say the same thing to me (why aren't you married?), I will not accept hong baos (red packets) from those who say, is this why you haven't married – because you want to get money from us?

Here's what I will do. I will eat (a lot). I will sleep (a lot). I told you. I am exhausted.


The SHY Report
A regular column on news, trends and issues in the hospitality industry by one of Asia's most respected travel editors and commentators, Yeoh Siew Hoon.

Siew Hoon, who has covered the tourism industry in Asia/Pacific for the past 20 years, runs SHY Ventures Pte Ltd. Her company's mission is "Content, Communication, Connection".

She is a writer, speaker, facilitator, trainer and events producer. She is also an author, having published "Around Asia In 1 Hr: Tales of Condoms, Chillies & Curries". Her motto is ‘free to do, and be'.

Contacts: Tel: 65-63424934, Mobile: 65-96801460

Check out Siew Hoon's new website, www.shy-connection.com, which features a newly-launched e-zine with a difference.