Happy Chinese New Year! 恭喜發財！

[elusivek]

恭喜發財！

Nowadays you will probably read Gong Xi Fa Cai! (Mandarin Chinese)

In Hong Kong you'd see Gung Hey Fat Choy! (English literation of Cantonese Chinese)

In Macau it's Gong Hei Fat Choi! (Portuguese literation of Cantonese Chinese)

So today, or technically yesterday (it's past midnight) was the last day of the lunar year. We got to get off work at 4pm. I went to the flower market 行花市, it's auspicious to do that just before the New Year. It's usually just stalls and stalls of flowers. The popular plant at this time would be orchids. I went for a lookaround.... I really wanted to buy one but I've already got 2 orchids at home, but they haven't flowered yet... So I suppose I have to be patient.

I don't know this couple, but I didn't want to stand in line and wait, there were... many people, it'd take a long time if I waited. It's the year of the tiger, so there's all these orange tiger dolls everywhere.

In recent years though, there's been a surge in stalls that sell crap LOL. Handheld wind.... what's them mini windmills called? I lost the word temporarily. A lot of tiger dolls.

Ah, the god of fortune 財神 was also hanging around LOL

In the end, I only bought this thing shaped like a fish. It's an incense that I put it above a heat source to let it disperse the aroma. There was a very cute tiger one, but I knew my incense burner was a narrow dish (my friend made this Totoro incense burner herself!) so I got the fish. I'm actually lucky it actually fits, as I wasn't sure it would fit.

On the way home, we pass by the Cathedral. Only here I suppose. I'm all for the melding of cultures, but I still think putting Chinese lanterns in a Church is wrong somewhat... but what do I know?

It will be my cousin's birthday in a couple days, and my sis had to get a present for her, so we went to this department store. Mom called and said she wanted some "sweets" (it's custom to have a Chinese New Year box filled with sweets), but she specifically only wanted the sweed candied coconut flakes. Well. There was no choice. Everything's empty LOL. I happened to spy on some vegan-friendly chocolate and a plant-based chocolate pretzel thingamajig (I don't believe in that kind of a packing it's pretzels inside).

Dinner we had some turnip cakes. I don't need chilli to go with my turnip cake, but I just happened to look at the jar at the dining table. It's been expired for over a year! The parents say it's always in the fridge so it's fine. Well. Indeed. They haven't needed the doctor's anyway.....

My African Violet is growing like crazy!

Comments

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

I hope the coming New Year is full of laughter, success, and happiness for you.

[notte0.livejournal.com]

Thank you, to you and your family and loved ones too!

[amw.livejournal.com]

新年快樂！I always forget the other ones because they aren't characters i use on everyday language :) I am here in David, Panama, and the central park is filled with Chinese lanterns, but sadly no Chinese foods. Have fun!

[notte0.livejournal.com]

haha thanks, same to you!

It's 3 days public holiday, it's the end of day 2, and I haven't done a useful thing at all LOL. It's cold, raining and dreary.... such a nice time to binge watch stuff on the internets LOL

[deepseasiren.livejournal.com]

YASSSSSSS!!! I used to love ( well I still do, it's just a matter of getting there :P) in San Fransisco's Chinatown. So loud, so colorful!!!

[notte0.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking if i should go to the firecracker place to feel the atmosphere, but burning firecrackers is the same as burning money, so maybe I'll pass...

[supernutjapan.livejournal.com]

Your African Violet is beautiful! Happy New Year! My mom was born in the year of the Tiger - this is etched in my memory so I know she will be 84 this year :D

[notte0.livejournal.com]

yeah, some people are really good at telling the age by knowing the chinese zodiac... I mean, it's all calculations really, I think the wow factor is more knowing the sequence of the 12 animals, and making the right calculations in their heads.

Or I'm just too easily impressed, hehe.

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

Happy New Year!
(((((((((((((((Huggggggg))))))))))))))))

[notte0.livejournal.com]

Thanks! to you, your family, and loved ones too!

[ganimede]

So interesting! Thank you for sharing!

[notte0.livejournal.com]

i'm contemplating a trip down the firecracker area, but it will be noisy and rainy and cold and burning firecrackers is just burning money... I'll see what will happen later

[ganimede]

That sounds interesting, but fireworks do tend to be a waste of money. Did you go?

[notte0.livejournal.com]

LOL I was still on the fence until I heard a big boom that sounded far away, then realized the firecracker period was over and the government destroyed all the remaining stock in one go (thus the big far-away boom).

So no, I didn’t go haha, maybe next year.

[ganimede]

Oh dear! But there's always next year.

[mores0ul.livejournal.com]

Happy New Year! I miss the flower markets of HK, they were always so fun and festive.

I LOLed that you took a photo of a random family because you didn't want to wait. xD I would have done the same thing. I also cracked up at how the kid was just not having it with the photo!

[notte0.livejournal.com]

no time to waste LOL.
I like seeing the selection of the flowers at the flower market, the orchids are all so pretty!

[blastofserenity.livejournal.com]

The African violet is so pretty!

THE TOTORO INCENSE BURNER IS SO CUTE! Glad the incense fit in there!

[notte0.livejournal.com]

indeed, I told my friend that it was just the right fit and she was so happy :-)

[mymimikyu.livejournal.com]

That all looks amazing!