Happy New Year.... AGAIN!
Except this time we are celebrating Chinese style. Here are some pictures I managed to snap while I ran around Shanghai shutting my Chinese life down.
And we though we knew how to decorate for Christmas! My friend Shirley Mao and I went for Dim Sum in the Gateway Mall. She is no relation to the Chairman though I liked to tease her about that. I loved chatting with Shirley because she often speaks in slogans like, "Happiness in your life is always most important!" and asks me questions like, "Melanie, which is most important in finding the man? True love or the bread?" I'll miss you Shirley!
Posing for pics outside the Mall. Chinese New Year is the time to celebrate reaping the harvest (of Love, Money, Health etc.).
New year pigs and new year babies.
These little boat like gold things are the shape Chinese money of long ago. Sometimes, the tops of buildings related to business are shaped in the same way- like a bowl that the money can fall in and be kept, so you don't lose any.
Lantern Festival- Yuyuan Gardens
My good friend Reiko and I went to Lantern Festival at Yuyuan Gardens together this year. Here are some pictures of the lanterns made specifically for this festival. Lantern festival happens on the 15th of the lunar Calendar, so we were a bit early. I love Lantern festival- Its my favourite Chinese holiday because everyone is out, having fun, eating special snacks and everyone looks happy and euphoric under the light. Its also a time to eat my favourite Chinese snack- something I turned my nose up at in taiwan but buy at the supermarket and boil up at home now- Black sesame glutinous rice balls. My sister once said, "all traditional holiday food tastes bad- if it tasted good, they would eat it all year round!" But black sesame glutinous rice balls- I will miss you too.
Dancing golden piggy. I wonder if eating pork during Chinese New Year is taboo. I doubt it.
More lanterns. They were everywhere! I think I took a bazillion pictures- and all was light enough I didn't need the flash.
What holiday would be complete without a golden money tree? No, this is not the same one from the other New Year's blog.
Reiko and I with our lucky Chinese ribbons! Sniff! I'll miss you Reiko!
Action Photos of Reiko throwing her ribbon into the tree. Her ribbon was a wish of good health.
I think this photo is hilarious! The white ghost of CHinese New Year. Apparently I can get excited when my ribbon sticks in the tree after a few attempts. My ribbon was for "all my dreams coming true."
Chinese New year Snacks!
See a pattern here? Celebrate, eat. Celebrate, eat.
Sesame Buns.
Candied fruit on a stick.
Handmade dumplings. I suspect that meat is that of the golden pig.
More handmade dumplings- we didn't eat any. The line up was too long.
But not too long for these dedicated dumpling connoiseurs!
Hmmm, I wonder what kind of meat that is?
Afterwards, we went to look for a taxi and a place to pee. I tok a picture of my favourite building in Shanghai- The Westin Hotel. I always thought the top was supposed to be a lotus, but my boss, Mr. Mi, once told me it's supposed to be the flower of Shanghai. I have no idea what that flower would be but it's shore perty!
We peed in the Westin bathroom. I finally got to see the inside of it! We even caught a taxi here. Hen Fang Bian! Very Convenient!
Dinner!
Reiko and I went to "Little Sheep Hot Pot" for dinner. Here is reiko artfully getting stuff out of the Hot Pot. I love Reiko's hat. It was cold enough in the restaurant to have to wear it, but after eating the spicy side a little too much, I was very pink and teary.
Yum Yum, Little Sheep!
Melanie