Lunar New Year brings Monkey King to Eastwood Plaza

He plays tricks on shoppers and has a favourite Michael Jackson song to dance to - we meet the Monkey King of Lunar New Year.

Monkey king

Nice to meet you monkey, can you tell us about the year of the monkey in the Lunar New Year?

The Monkey King is the main character is the Chinese classical novel Journey to the West.

It’s was made into a very famous movie and TV show in China.

The monkey is accompanied by a monk on an epic journey to India to achieve the Buddhist sutra (enlightenment).

The Monkey King has incredible strength and is able to travel at high speed.

He also has 72 transformations which allows him to switch into different animals and objects.

People born in this year have intelligence and wisdom.

But the monkey also has another side – he’s very naughty so people born in this year are normally not very obedient.

What’s the best thing about being a monkey?

Monkeys are very independent, intelligent and flexible.

I’m very funny too, I can make fun of people and provide entertainment.

Who are some famous people with the monkey spirit?

Kung fu movie star Jet Li. He has the Kung fu ability, he can jump like a monkey!

Also, Novak Djokovic. He looks like a monkey, he plays very well too, so he has the intelligence.

Does it ever get boring eating bananas all the time?

Yes, but the banana is not the only food for the monkey.

The other is from the Chinese classical novel, and it’s the pear.

What will you do to celebrate Lunar New Year at Eastwood?

I will tickle people, I will do some Kung fu and dance like Michael Jackson.

I’ll dance to Beat It.

What is your advice to everyone in the year of the monkey?

The monkey is very intelligent, but sometimes we can make mistakes.

So try and do things carefully and think twice before making decisions.

Interview with actor Jacky Ma, the man inside the Monkey King of Eastwood.

How did you get the job of the monkey, Jacky?

I like performance. I’m a balloon artist at the Eastwood night markets.

I also have experience performing as Santa at Eastwood Plaza.

Next year is the year of the chicken. I hope to do that as well.

What is your cultural background?

I arrived here from Hong Kong last year. I’m a clerk at a printer-ink company.

What is it like inside the monkey suit?

It’s hot, I’m sweating a lot.

Sometimes it’s very itchy because of the hair.

What do your family and friends say about your role?

They say it’s fantastic that you’re making fun for people – i t’s a good job bringing happiness to people.

Being a performer is a hard job and they respect people like me.