Saturday, February 19, 2005
(Chinese New) Year in Review
This post is way over due. While many expats seek an escape in the frenzy of this auspicious holiday, I decided to stay in Hong Kong to enjoy the holiday (and to save some money). For the Chinese, it is about reshuffling the 1 billion + people (note: I am also including Greater China - Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.) to see family and to celebrate their new year. Everything basically shuts down.
Most HK Chinese remain in Hong Kong to visit their family, who generally live only an hour away. However, the holiday is the rare occasion that EVERYONE comes together for a blood & kin pilgrimage (for the Western culture folk, think Thanksgiving or Christmas).
Street near my apartment, decorated with lanterns, flowers, and gourds.
As Naaz and Mel have mentioned, the red pockets (lycee) are an important part of the holiday, where the singles and youth receive "good luck" money from the married and the elders. In an interesting contrast, people in Taiwan will give money to the unemployed or the ones who need it most (like a couple who recently had a child). I guess it is a more economic way of looking at this Chinese tradition. In my office, people still gave out lycees, but this year, we decided to forego the one from the company and donate to UNICEF instead.
Flower Market
Aerial overview of Victoria Park when the Flower Market was open - but this picture represents only 1/50th of the entire park.
Scott came over from Guangzhou and transitted through HK briefly, on his way to Taiwan for the holidays. The daffodils smelled so sweet and fresh.
I had never seen so many orchids lined up like this. I attempt a Georgia O'Keefe shot here:
Mini red pineapple plant
The Flower Market is also a place where vendors sell Chinese New Year's good luck paraphanelia.
... and some political goodies.
I love this one. It's so Hong Kong/China:
Happy Year of the Chicken :)
Chinese New Year Parade
It was uncomfortably crowded, but I guess it is a must-do when you are in town for the holidays. Hong Kong's claim to internationalism can be seen in the invitation list of the parade attractions.
From Dutch men on stilts, American cheerleaders, Brazilian carnival dancers, Elvis, British Marching Band, Caribbean Cavana DJs, Hong Kong Disneyland promotion float to the Chinese lion dances, there were many different cultures parading throuh Tai Tam to Wan Chai.
Dutch invasion (plus French) - Teebo, CK, Niki and Clement pose for the camera. Would you have guessed that they were Dutch by looking at this photo?
Fireworks
Exhausted from fighting for space in a tightly wound crowd and extending my vertically-challenged self to see the parade, I was glad to be able to see the fireworks the next evening from a more comfortable location. My company resides in the Central Plaza, one of Hong Kong's tallest buildings that overlooks Victoria Harbour.
I invited Victor, former MCP of HK, to come along for the show. One thing that Hong Kong has amazed me, is the use of public goods. When they hold a firework show, they don't hold anything back, and they do it really well.
Me and Victor at a beautiful Chinese flower and bridge display in Pacific Place mall.
Wong Tai Sin
I was fortunate enough to have a visitor who persuaded me to go to Wong Tai Sin, a popular temple where people go on the Chinese New Year holiday to pray for good luck during the year and to have their fortunes told.
Judging from the crowd in the past days, I was quite hesitant to go. And it was crowded. But it was definitely worth it.
This was quite impressive - all that smoke is coming from the incense but people kept on lighting them up to "feed the spirits."
Some offerings
Patrcyja had convinced me that I needed to go. Here, she models to show how to light the incense.
This man is holding up decorative pinwheels. Last year, I visited "Che Kong Miu," which is known for these pinwheels. The more the wheels turn with the wind, the more you will have luck.
The architecture was quite nice - something you would definitely expect out of Chinese culture. I liked the small figures on the roof, especially the man riding the chicken in the front.
Most HK Chinese remain in Hong Kong to visit their family, who generally live only an hour away. However, the holiday is the rare occasion that EVERYONE comes together for a blood & kin pilgrimage (for the Western culture folk, think Thanksgiving or Christmas).
Street near my apartment, decorated with lanterns, flowers, and gourds.
As Naaz and Mel have mentioned, the red pockets (lycee) are an important part of the holiday, where the singles and youth receive "good luck" money from the married and the elders. In an interesting contrast, people in Taiwan will give money to the unemployed or the ones who need it most (like a couple who recently had a child). I guess it is a more economic way of looking at this Chinese tradition. In my office, people still gave out lycees, but this year, we decided to forego the one from the company and donate to UNICEF instead.
Flower Market
Aerial overview of Victoria Park when the Flower Market was open - but this picture represents only 1/50th of the entire park.
Scott came over from Guangzhou and transitted through HK briefly, on his way to Taiwan for the holidays. The daffodils smelled so sweet and fresh.
I had never seen so many orchids lined up like this. I attempt a Georgia O'Keefe shot here:
Mini red pineapple plant
The Flower Market is also a place where vendors sell Chinese New Year's good luck paraphanelia.
... and some political goodies.
I love this one. It's so Hong Kong/China:
Happy Year of the Chicken :)
Chinese New Year Parade
It was uncomfortably crowded, but I guess it is a must-do when you are in town for the holidays. Hong Kong's claim to internationalism can be seen in the invitation list of the parade attractions.
From Dutch men on stilts, American cheerleaders, Brazilian carnival dancers, Elvis, British Marching Band, Caribbean Cavana DJs, Hong Kong Disneyland promotion float to the Chinese lion dances, there were many different cultures parading throuh Tai Tam to Wan Chai.
Dutch invasion (plus French) - Teebo, CK, Niki and Clement pose for the camera. Would you have guessed that they were Dutch by looking at this photo?
Fireworks
Exhausted from fighting for space in a tightly wound crowd and extending my vertically-challenged self to see the parade, I was glad to be able to see the fireworks the next evening from a more comfortable location. My company resides in the Central Plaza, one of Hong Kong's tallest buildings that overlooks Victoria Harbour.
I invited Victor, former MCP of HK, to come along for the show. One thing that Hong Kong has amazed me, is the use of public goods. When they hold a firework show, they don't hold anything back, and they do it really well.
Me and Victor at a beautiful Chinese flower and bridge display in Pacific Place mall.
Wong Tai Sin
I was fortunate enough to have a visitor who persuaded me to go to Wong Tai Sin, a popular temple where people go on the Chinese New Year holiday to pray for good luck during the year and to have their fortunes told.
Judging from the crowd in the past days, I was quite hesitant to go. And it was crowded. But it was definitely worth it.
This was quite impressive - all that smoke is coming from the incense but people kept on lighting them up to "feed the spirits."
Some offerings
Patrcyja had convinced me that I needed to go. Here, she models to show how to light the incense.
This man is holding up decorative pinwheels. Last year, I visited "Che Kong Miu," which is known for these pinwheels. The more the wheels turn with the wind, the more you will have luck.
The architecture was quite nice - something you would definitely expect out of Chinese culture. I liked the small figures on the roof, especially the man riding the chicken in the front.
// posted by sakit @ 1:11 AM 
