A glimpse of Chinese New Year 2012

Fireworks soar high up in the dark night, firecrackers bursting loudly early in the morning, lion dances (or this year, a lot of dragon dances) welcome luck into ones home, the Lunar New Year has arrived. Fresh hair cuts, crisp brand new bright coloured clothes and shoes. Symbolic representations, red lanterns, smiles across the faces of loved ones, (cheeky ones from the little ones). A full pot of rice in the kitchen, an abundance of food in households; traditional new year cookies, bah gua, mandarin oranges. Ang paus or red packets distributed generously to the younger generation and one too many gong xi fa cai's or gong hei fatt choi (Happy Chinese New Year) said. The Chinese New Year is a pass to adding extra pounds. Every meal is simply up to your neck! Eight days of Chinese New Year so far, here are a few pictures for you to have a glimpse! (:

Apart from having a pass to indulging in truckloads of food this, is also the time of the year when gambling is actually prohibited among friends and family members! Usually I wouldn't even want to gamble but this year, after winning a few rounds, every open house I go, "let's gamble". Why not eh, once a year and  I find it a good way to bond as well.Hehe.

This year, I finally got to celebrate the Lunar New Year and welcome the year of the Dragon, seeing relatives before I hop onto a plane and welcome new experiences. There was quite a bit of visiting open houses (with my boyfriend too) and also had one ourselves for my dad's friends after having a break from the whole open house thing for a few years. Also, for the first time(I think) celebrating the Lunar New Year, it actually rained..and very heavy too during the new year. Well, I guess it really is the year of the Water Dragon eh?