Sun Neen Fai Lok! (Happy New Year)

Gung Hay Fat Choy! (Wishing you fortune)
Sun Tai Geen Hong! (Wishing you good health)
Man Si Yu Yi! (Wishing you a thousand wishes)
Sum Sung Si Cheng! (Wishing you your heart's fulfillment)
Bo Bo Go Sing! (May every step be higher and higher)

Today we went NYC's Chinatown to yum cha and see the lion dance. About the former, we tried getting into Golden Bridge, and it was near impossible. We didn't even bother asking how long the wait would be, seeing as how one could not even get through the front door! Hordes of people trampled up the steps to what was already a packed lobby. It was a fire hazard to say the least, and even though I attempted the trek up, and made Alex too, despite his misgivings, I came back down, finally resigning myself to no dim sum today. Too crazy! No matter, we had a delicious Malaysian lunch at Penang (I know, I would've gone to Nyona, but being that Penang was closer was sort of the deal breaker, oh and growling stomach and heavy rain.) Penang was not as crazy but also very busy from the New Year crowd. I guess I should have known, what with all of Chinatown en fete. The waiters/waitresses all wore red silk/brocade jackets and the place was beautifully ornamented with firecrackers and banners galore. So alas we had Roti Canai, Kang Kung Watercress, Hainese Chicken, and Asam Laksa -- mm, I'm getting hungry again.

About the latter, I think I expected a parade, but it was more like various troupes went store front to store front (mom reminds me to not romanticize: the lion dancers are just collecting red pockets.) Perhaps this method was to my picture taking advantage because just as I was leaving this shop a lion came right up to me (no I am not uploading that one)! Even though my parade was slightly rained on, (some of the lions even had plastic head wraps to keep the water out) literally and ever so slightly figuratively, it was altogether, if not just for that singular moment, when I could see the eyes of the lion, pretty darn cool.

Apparently it wasn't my year

The year of the rooster is coming to a close, and apparently it wasn't my year....well it is technically but not in terms of my ideal star alignment or something. Funny how that works. So I'm trying to get my place into shape (it's cluttered, not filthy, but then again that's what I've been telling myself for the past couple weeks, and it's been a while since this place has really been "cleaned"), get a haircut, pay all debts (finances permitting), take care of some dying plants, and hopefully make room for some new ones. Oh the joy of a new year. I really have no complaints about 2005 (lunar or solar) going but of course it's nice to start anew. So I wholeheartedly welcome the year of the dog. Bring on the new star alignments! (Boy by the next time my sign rolls around again I'll be...hm, better not to think about it.)