Chris has been giving a running commentary of interpreting signs since we first landed in Hong Kong. There seems to be a huge variety of signs without written words that we simply have never noticed at home. His favourites have been a white man on a green background with white flames licking at his heels. Interpretation “If the white fire is chasing you in the forest, then run this way”. For one of the China Eastern safety cards “If the plane has landed near some water, then you can either go deep sea fishing in a rubber boat or disco dancing on the beach.”

For whoever said to me Hong Kong airport was supposed to be one of the best airports in the world, I say go to Changhi and tell me it’s not better!

The fireworks were a wonderful cultural experience and a true communist odyssey. The fireworks are shot from barges on the harbour, located infront of the Intercontinental Hotel. Remembering that HK is very high rise, we were surprised to see they were going off quite low. And being one of the highest density cities, the high rise buildings go right up to the water.

I suddenly decided I didn’t like the proposed plans for developing Riverside Drive – it would conmpletely ruin viewing the fireworks. Perth is so wonderfully open. There’s very few places with an unobstructed view. It’s the first place I would suggest actually paying for a room or restaurant with a view of the fireworks. Otherwise, you’d need to get there many hours beforehand. Infact the majority of people on the Kowloon side could not see most of the fireworks.  But here’s some cultural differences between say Australia day fireworks in Perth and new year fireworks in HK. The HK fireworks are not set to music – I never realised how important that was until there was no music. Between not being able to see most of the display behind the high rise and there being no music, it didn’t seem choreographed.

Our hotel is about 50 m from the place which was perfect for photography. But police had cordoned off the area (the roads were all closed to traffic) so that we had to walk half a km away from the display to get closer to the water. Infact by 1 hour before the start, there was no way to get close enough to the water to have an unobstructed view. Police were absolutely everywhere and simply moving people away. And PAs were playing a very stern “move on and be patient” message during the entire display, over and over again. I found that very communist! Chris said it was like being told you would enjoy the fireworks loudly, repeatedly and in a terribly serious voice!!

So we couldn’t see most of the fireworks and were being bombarded with 1984 type messages. Part way through we thought we’d head back to the hotel. But once the fireworks started, the police had  created Titanic type compartments by cordoning off small areas and not letting anyone move at all. The sections were only like a quarter full so I couldn’t quite see the logic. But having said that, it was so much more pleasant being in the big crowds in HK than Perth. No-one was drinking, no-one was drunk, no-one was pushing or trampling. Just very polite.

Although it sounds like a bit of a negative experience, we really enjoyed realising our cultural norms and differences. And none of it stressed me – I found the whole thing quite funny. There was simply no way I could have got a photo of the fireworks so I just sat back and enjoyed what little I could see. The latest shape for fireworks seems to be a figure 8.

Glad we went to breakfast at the hotel restaurant. We were seated right under some freshly harvested carrots (complete with green leaves) hanging from the ceiling. Enter the lion with accompanying drums who promptly danced up to the carrots, jumped up, “ate” them and then fountained out chopped up greenery. It continued the analogy with western Xmas, being the equivalent of the carrots left out for reindeer. It is a very jovial and friendly time of year. And everyone is so respectful and not drunk – love it! I think I’ll skip Xmas and New Year in Oz from now on and do Lunar New Year in Asia somewhere!

Lunar New Year is all about family reunion. We got to witness the joys of Chinese people at lunar new year today. We had lunch at the hotel restaurant (one of the few places open). It was full of long tables with families enjoying themselves. The children were wearing their best red traditional attire with lavish embroidery. Lots of giving of red packet money. A Father Xmas like figure dressed in red traditional dress and silly hat came around handing out red packet money. Everyone had photos taken with him – very father Christmas like. The atmosphere was joyous and relaxed. Unlike Aussie Xmas there was no alcohol that we saw and everyone was very relaxed.

I’ve just come back from the Dragon Parade. Lots of floats, bands, dancers. It ws the first time I’d heard “fly for a white guy” played by a brass band! All of Hong Kong has converged on TST. And the atmosphere was so relaxed – everyone is very well behaved and I’m sure its because alcohol is not being abused.  I like it. Also got the prerequisite self portrait. This time it’s the reflection in a roof support with all the red lantern, orange tree and red packet trimmings. Although I’m not a very big part of the image so does it count as a self portrait?