So it’s all over, CNY has been and gone. Although the festivities last for an official 15 days. That means we can still give little red envelopes to people. Great.
Over the three official public holiday days the streets did not empty out and the shops did not close. We rambled around a bit and were still swamped by the usual arterial flow between Sogo and Times Square. This city never sleeps. Ever.
We also handed over one of the coveted red envelopes to our doorman who looked extremely shocked and delighted at the Gweilo’s attempt at assimilating his culture. It was a fantastic moment. We were instructed to eat an orange on New Year’s Day so we also bought two oranges (luckiness in pairs). Unfortunately I don’t think we ate them until the next day.
We still have work off until 9th February so that is good. We haven’t done much and just enjoyed chilling out and relaxing. Our first week of hiking went out the window as some local dude tried to get the football through my thigh muscle with his knee in a football match last Thursday. Sore. Still sore. Getting better. We will try next week some time to get some walking in.
What I have done is book a few nights in Macau from next Tuesday until Thursday. We will go by ferry (about 55 mins journey) and stay one night in The Venetian and one night in the Star World Hotel. Looking forward to it. Will take pics!
Here are a few pics from the last few days:
Times Square is always quick off the mark to…um, mark a calendar occasion and so was the case with CNY. Not as utterly horrible as the Christmas decorations but just…nice. Note the prevalence of bull shaped things.
Inside Times Square there is always an accompanying interior decoration to counterpoint the exterior decoration. And this is it. A circular sitting down contraption.
From inside
From above
In nearby Victoria Park there was a CNY fair on so we decided to go and check it out. We were told by our ever reliable insider source person that if you walked around the fair once it would mean good luck. Well, after walking 100 metres inside I would rather take my chances with lady luck than walk around that unholy mess of a place. I expect a fair to have little shooting games, grab a duck in a barrel, maybe a few wheel of fortunes. Nah, this was a selling fair with auctions thrown in for good measure and things on sale being scrubbing brushes, detergent and towels. Sure there were balloons and toys for sale…in between the hyped up on goofballs auctioneers and the hundreds of willing buyers who must have all run out of toilet brushes at the same time. And the millions of people there, my God the people. I laughed out loud at the signs indicating a one way system. Hahahaha. First exit please.
Yippeeee, the fair entrance. Man, I’m gonna win some fluffy toys in here. Yes sir!
Abort, abort!
Which brings us up to last night and dinner. We walked around C-Town** for a bit scoping things out. We ended up in World Trade Centre on the 11th floor at a very, very traditional Chinese restaurant called the Dragon King restaurant. We were feeling adventurous, especially Sharyn as who knew what the hell she was gonna end up with!
Before the Tofu lumps and nuts. Before the Japanese Pumpkin with seasonable vegetables.
Liked by the vegetarian. Hated by the omnivore.
My very tasty sauteed beef with scallions and onions.
When the pumpkin is taken. The green stuff took up much of the dish. Not liked by vegetarian.
Kinda looks like it could be in The Shining
And the total bill payable is….
Hey, wait a minute, I don’t remember ordering the chest of drawers.
I would go back, don’t think Sharyn would…
* Chinese New Year, Be Right Back, Laugh Out Loud
** Causeway Bay
BONKERS IN HONKERS! 