The Chinese New Year Parade
I'm so glad that I announced before hand I would be taking pictures of the parade. NOT! The crowds were intense and the only way I could actually see the parade was by jumping up and down. You will just have to trust me there was a dragon, there were Chinese drummers and musicians and lots of colourful flags and those cool sparklers that they always light that flash and crackle along the ground. All I managed to get pictures of were crowds of people. I guess I better keep my day job!
Coming up to the gates that were refurbished just last year.
Now you are starting to see my view of the parade. Good view don't you think?
I tried to jump and snap a picture of the dragon but obviously I didn't click until too late and got some guys legs instead.
Well, at least the dogs are cute. Although on a sidenote I have never understood why people insist on taking their dogs to places where they know the crowds are going to be enormous. I cannot imagine the dogs like it.
After awhile I just do not like being caught up in the midst of a crowd.
There were lots of little kids all dressed up in traditional dress handing out Chinese candies. It really is a fun event even if I couldn't get the pictures.
Oh, and afterwards we went for Chinese food. Well, that was the plan but it was also the plan of everyone down there so we ended up at a place with an all day breakfast instead!
21 comments:
i love the Chinese New Year parade. we call it the "Chingay". nice pics, was it really noisy?
p/s that food is denfinitely NOT chinese :) dim sum would have been nice :)
Boo, I like the name Chingay. It was very noisy but that's just part of the charm. I love the firecrackers that they have going throughout adding to the cacahony of sound. Believe me we wanted Chinese but there was no getting without a five hour wait. It was just crazy down there. We decided to compromose and we're going to have Chinese this Wednesday night.
The gates are lovely though. You got some great photos of them.
I hear you on the hating the crowds part, and it's a shame about the dim sum. But I love going out for western breakfast as well.
Thanks for sharing with us regardless.
Barbara, usually the parade route is longer but for whatever reason this year it was too short so without being a shover and a pusher there was no getting to the front.
I love your photos and appreciate the effort (jumping!).
We are so fortunate here to be flanked by two huge Buddhist temples (I think they're considered "world class"). One is right around the corner, about a 5 minute walk away and the other is a mile and a half away!
I knew I had been through your area now I'm sure of it.
Deb, Oops, that last comment was for you. I was in your area with a friend of mine that grew up near there. She has now moved up to Lake Cowichan where she and her husband can have enough land a whole slew of farm animals. I'm headed up there next weekend.
You seem short from those camera angles ;p
I agree about the sidenote on the dogs at parades, why?
On Friday night we were in Chinatown and got to see a little celebration, it included little girls dressed up dancing to Justin Timberlake, a magician, firecrackers and dancing dragons. Was fun.
Allison, you brat. I can't believe you would notice something like that from my pics. Too true though. We could have used you and your height. How much longer are you in Vancouver for? I'm glad to hear you are enjoying the west coast.
The best laid plans and all that...I felt like I was there without well, being there. The parade sounds good but I must confess that I really do not like crowds. When I lived in Van they did not bother me too much but I attribute that to desensitization. I was exposed to it so much I just got use to it. I saw the pics and thought "YIKEs that's a lot of people", and yes, "poor dog". We should go to a breakfast served all day place together some time:)
I love all the Chinese decorations and red and gold - I've got a real thing about all that style :]
That food looks fab *drool*
Nice job Toccata. Lots of pictures. You were busy. They look fine to me. I got a taste of what it was like. I think you did just fine.
You ended up in the vantage point I usually watch from: out of the crowd in the back. Peace and quit. No pushing. Ha.
Happy Chinese New Year I guess.
Slaygirl, I'm with you on the crowds. In the summer even the extra tourists around gets annoying. Breakfast would be fun.
Dogga, I really like the Chinese paper lanterns. Always have.
Busterp, I'm not much of a pusher and a shover although there was this lady that was pushing everyone in sight. I felt like pushing back but she looked about 70 and it seemed wrong to shove a 70 year old even if she was annoying!
I know it's the year of the fat old swine all right!!!
I know your name very well from Deb's commentboxes. I'm getting in touch bc my friend Ruth is doing a sponsored comments collection. 100 comments = £50 to charity for cancer patients. If you're willing to help all you need do is go to
http://ruth-boofie.blogspot.com
and leave a comment. That's all!
I am distracted by the poem at the base of your blog title. Has that always been there? If it has I'm gonna feel overly self involved for not having noticed it. It's a great poem—not that I am qualified to judge but I am loving this one!
Hehe, sorry I couldn't resist. Sometimes I forget 5'9 isn't average height. I'm here in Van until Thursday, been great so far, even with the rain today.
*giggling at Allison's observation* I loved the post, and thanks for the photos. I agree with Dogga, the food looks YUMMMM!!!
Gledwood, thanks for stopping by. I will most definitely have a look after I finish here.
Wayward son, no I changed it this weekend. I think I was feeling homesick for a good prairie wind. I am in love with the wind. Sometime I will post the entire poem. It describes Saskatchewan perfectly.
Allison, next time hopefully one of us can make it across the water. Then, I'll let you take the pictures over the crowd!
Mellowlee, the food was good and anytime I don't have to cook it is a bonus.
Hi, I wanted to drop by and say thank you so much for supporting myself and Andrew via your post on Ruths blog! We are extremely grateful and appreciate you taking the time to help in the fundraising!
{{{HUGS}} and love,
Natalya (talj) xx
I can't believe that although I'm in Japan, I didn't partake in any Chinese New Year celebrations. Your pictures shame me!
Natalya, thanks for stopping by. I will hope on by your place later.
Danny tagalog your comment made me think that you have got to take some shots of the different events in Japan. I love seeing shots of different places the kind of shots that tourists don't normally get.
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