Week 3 - Kung Hei Fat Choi! (Happy New Year!) (Cultural Blog)

Even before I arrived in Hong Kong, I had always pinpointed this particular week as one to look forward to because it was the Chinese New Year. All over the world this week, people celebrated the Chinese New Year and the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit. Chinese New Year is allied to the zodiac which consists of different animals (the year you are born corresponds to one of these animals).To have had this wonderful opportunity to experience this well-known celebration in Hong Kong has been fantastic.

Fireworks.

Year of the Rabbit!

Everyone associates the Chinese with fireworks and certainly the highlight of the week for me was the Chinese New Year fireworks at Victoria Harbour. It certainly was something I wasn’t going to miss!  After jostling and pushing to get a prime position in the packed Avenue of Stars, we had to wait for almost two hours before the fireworks display started. However, when the fireworks began at 8pm they really were well worth the wait. With the spectacular backdrop of city lights and surrounding the view of the harbour, it was simply breath-taking. It lasted over 20 minutes and having just been to Edinburgh recently for the New Year (which at the time I thought was great); the fireworks here in Hong Kong won hands down.         

Some of the International Students at Lamma Island.

On Saturday the International Students were taken on a trip to Lamma Island. Lamma, in contrast to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong is very peaceful, which makes it a popular tourist attraction. I particularly enjoyed the picturesque walks, starting through the small streets in Banyan Bay, seeing some beautiful local beaches and spectacular views out over the ocean. The walk finished in Sok Kwu Wan which has the largest fish farming site in Hong Kong. It was really fascinating to see a part of Hong Kong which portrays and links back to her traditional historical roots as a small fishing village. There was a wide range of colourful and unusual local sea fish on display in the restaurants but I still haven’t yet been tempted to try them! We also visited one of the three Tin Hau temples on Lamma Island, which are typical places of worship in Hong Kong's coastal communities. Tin Hau is believed to be the goddess of the sea and of fishermen, protecting them and ensuring full nets. 

One of the kamikaze grottos along our walk.

As a history student I was also fascinated to see and learn about the caves which I saw while walking on the trail along the coast of Sok Kwu Wan. There are several caves about ten metres wide and several tens of metres deep known as ‘kamikaze grottos’. It is said that during the Second World War, the Japanese Army used this part of Lamma Island as a naval port and thousands of soldiers were stationed there. The Japanese had a plan to hide speedboats in the grottos, which would launch a suicidal attack on the Allies’ warships if they passed by.

Fiona's house

This week Fiona invited us to her house where her father and some of her friends joined us to have some different foods which are traditionally eaten during the Lunar New Year period. I tried and really enjoyed some fried radish cake, which reminded me a little of potato bread and rice cakes which her father also kindly cooked. Fiona’s father works in Mainland China and it was interesting to hear first-hand about the differences between Mainland China which appears to have a much more strict government with firm censorship compared to the capitalist ways of Hong Kong where ‘East meets West’.

New Year Fair at Causeway Bay.

 In the evening we visited the New Year Fair in Causeway Bay. The market was absolutely packed, certainly to a level which I have never experienced! It featured hundreds of vendors in rows and rows of stands. The more traditional offerings were flowers – several of which symbolize luck for different things while the more modern offerings seem to be inflatable plastic toys of all manner and size!

A large dragon at the New Year Night Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui.

On Thursday I went to the Chinese New Year Light Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui. It was an interesting experience with massive crowds lining the street to see the various illuminated floats and performing groups from Hong Kong and abroad. The atmosphere reminded me a little of the Twelfth parades back home!

On the whole I had a great week and it was fascinating to get an insight into the culture and the traditions in Hong Kong during the Lunar New Year celebrations. This week I start back into my classes and I look forward to getting into the routine of University once again after having a busy but memorable week off.

Until next time...

Joi Gin (Goodbye)

Michael

Fried radish cakes.

Sweet rice cakes.

Nice view at Lamma Island.

Sok Kwu Wan Fishing Village.