Happy Belated New Year!I spent three weeks in the U.K. before Chinese New Year, returning to Hong Kong on New Year's Day proper (which was also Valentine's Day). Unlike last year, when I tried to participate in every single New Year's activity available, this year I completely forgot to plan for it. I was on the plane when I suddenly remembered that I had failed to get crispy banknotes for lai see envelopes. Indeed, I'd forgotten to get any lai see envelopes at all. So when I entered my building and the doormen cried out, "Kung Hei Fat Choi!", all I had to give them was an embarrassed smile as I slunk into the elevator. So far I haven't noticed any adverse effects of my forgetfulness; the building staff continues to be very good to us.
Although I wasn't here for most of the New Year's celebrations, I was happy that I didn't miss one thing: the lion dances. All week, everywhere I went, I heard the clanging cymbals and drums that signaled a lion dancing nearby. I might be a bit jaded about Hong Kong now that all the newness has worn off, but the lion dance always makes me smile. In the photo above, a lion danced its way down my street as part of a parade.
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