Year of the Snake is Coming

As promised, I tried to get some pictures of "Chinese (Lunar) New Year" - you can feel the excitement in the air.

But to start off - I wanted to share a find of mine.  About 2 weeks ago we sat down to watch a movie on a Saturday afternoon - and I wanted popcorn.  So I was on a quest.  Our local grocery did not carry any.  I think they took a lot is out to make space for New Year products, so I will look again.  Thursday we were at a mall with a large grocery, so I went hunting again - and found the popcorn in the dried beans area - strange.  But I did enjoy a bowl yesterday afternoon.

Throughout the week, I took pictures of the decorations:

In our office building - Sorry they are blurry - but you don't stop to take pictures.

Lanterns in the entry way.

Tangerine plants.  I was told you use this fruit to make a medicine to help colds.

Tangerine trees come in big and little size - and they are everywhere.  I asked if they are planted after the holiday and was told no - not sure what happens to them.  You can eat the fruit from the big trees (fruit is bigger - looks like a normal tangerine).

Thursday night I met Patrick at Harbour City after work - you saw my popcorn find.  We ate dinner at Paper Rice - Thai / Vietnam restaurant.  We had a great view of Hong Kong Island for sunset:

IFC building on the Hong Kong side of the harbour.

Patrick had a view of the ICC building on the Kowloon side of the harbour.

After dinner we did some walking around the mall area:

I saw these sequined panda bags and had to take a picture for my friend Sandra.  I would not even walk in the store to see how much they were.  But there is a Panda theme this week.

So being year of the Snake - I was expecting to see snakes (a lot that I have seen are smiling), but there was this princess in a chocolate cake dress???

As we walked we saw more 'chocolate' - then it dawned on us that it was for Valentine's Day.  It is on the 4th day of CNY this year - but the mall is celebrating.

There was a huge display of traditional drums.

One monster one at the bottom of the steps.

Drums on display for children to hit.

As I looked closer, I saw it was a charity campaign for "Make a Wish" and thought of Natasia

This was next to the drums - I think the red papers are wishes.

Saturday we ventured to Hong Kong Island - Central to be specific.  Patrick needed a haircut and wanted to try a place over there - more westerners.  I also found a shoe store recommended for westerners - there were 3 ladies from Germany buying shoes when I arrived.  

We ended up at the IFC mall and I was looking forward to seeing their holiday display.

New haircut boy on the right side.

One tradition is cherry blossom trees - with red tags.

So I determined the Hong Kong people would like to replace "Year of the Snake" with "Year of the Panda" (which does not exist in the Chinese zodiac calendar).  This would be Sandra's year - regardless of when she was born.

After arriving home - Patrick and I both commented on how warm we were - it was February 2nd and I wore a hoodie over my t-shirt.  Hoodie came off as soon as we walked in the door and all the windows were opened.  Then I looked at the 'house phone':

26C is equal to 79F.

What a beautiful day - posted a picture of my iPhone on the weather channel showing 77F.  I know I will be regretting this come July.

Tonight Patrick and I walked down to To Kwa Wan (next neighborhood over) for dinner.  I took some more pictures of our complex and their decorating.

Live Cherry Tree - appeared today outside entrance.

Blossom on live Cherry Tree.

Fake Cherry Tree - has been around since they took down the Square Snowman.

Entrance to tower - each day a new plant has been added - all started with tangerine tree - then either burgundy chrysanthemum or daisy - and today a new pink flower.

New pink flowers.

We still have 6 more days until CNY begins - so there will be more pictures.  I plan on going to the Flower Market with some team members next Saturday afternoon - apparently along with 7 million other people.

We will then be on hiatus for the holiday.  Next week at this time we will be doing a Night Zoo tour in Singapore.  We will be celebrating CNY with 2 days in Singapore then getting on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Kuala Lumpur, Langkwai, and Phuket.