Gong Xi Fa Cai! Xin Nian Kuai Le! The year of the Tiger is finally here at last, roaring in a welcome end to the dismal year of the Ox. Although 2009 has admittedly been a tough one, we at PASSIONS salute the mighty Ox for its struggles and hardships of having to balance the negative and positive forces that have been in turmoil throughout the course of the year. Hopefully, with the rise of the proud and majestic Tiger, the ill fortunes that have plagued many over the last twelve months will begin to dissipate in favour of good fortune, prosperity, health and wealth and we at PASSIONS certainly wish you well!
And so, with the Chinese New Year finally here at last - we celebrate the Chinese New Year with goodwill. Sharing in on the wishes and messages for the New Year are some of the most prominent members of Kuala Lumpur society, notable personalities renowned for their illustrious achievements in charity, business, fashion, art, music, beauty and so much more. You may well recognise them, and it is you dearest readers that they wish the very best for this year of the Tiger!
With respect to the Ox, PASSIONS then takes a look back at in retrospect of the greatest events of 2009 that have shaped, altered and changed the face of the earth. From the death of our most beloved star, to the raging bushfires of Australia - PASSIONS brings you on a breeze through 20 of the most defining moments of the year of the Ox, as we look at the Samoan earthquake, the swine flu pandemic, the longest solar eclipse, and even the sudden outburst on stage by one Kanye West. Whether funny, sad or shocking, 2009 will continue to live in our memories as one of the most tumultuous years in the last decade.
Finally, with Chinese New Year coinciding with Valentine's Day, we take a look at two of the world's most famous love stories. From the Fall, where Adam and Eve - humankind's figurative parents - were deceived by a talking snake into stealing fruit from the Tree of Good and Evil, to the (literally) radiating love emanating between Pierre and Marie Curie - founders of the element polonium and radium (which coined the term raditation), who fell in love over the course of their shared intellectual pursuits. Despite the unusual settings in which these two couples have fallen into each other (even going as far as to fall out of Paradise) - PASSIONS shares these two legendary romances, as inspiration and testaments to the great power of love.