Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Gong Xi Fa Cai

I don't know what I was thinking.  Well, actually I do.  
I was thinking "I have to go to the Chinese New Year Celebration in London."
"It's the Year of the Horse.  Aren't I a horse?  I think I'm from a Horse Year."
I was thinking "Every blogger in London is going to be there and is going to post way cool photos."
"I, too, must go and get some way cool photos," is what I was thinking.  "Plus, I'm a Horse."

Chinese New Year London 2014

And because I like to share in the fun, I asked Matt  and a few friends to come along

Transport for London knows when large (more on that in a second) groups are gathering.
And they like to really mess with us when that happens.
Stations close.  Routes change.  They don't make it easy to get to the epicenter of any festivity.
So, after a roundabout journey, we finally alighted at Charing Cross.

Chinese New Year London 2014

 "Well, it looks like there is something going on at Trafalgar Square."
I gave him that look.  "Wha?  That's where we're going."
Someone didn't do their homework (and doesn't stalk social media).

"I just thought we were gonna stroll around China Town."
My poor husband had no idea that we were walking into the largest Chinese New Year Celebration outside of China.

It was madness.  Really fun and colorful.  But, madness, nonetheless.
Take a look.  Madness, right?

Chinese New Year London 2014

Chinese New Year London 2014

I finagled a spot along the wall and took some photos of the celebrations.
Leaping Lions and Dancing Dragons entertained the crowds.

Chinese New Year London 2014

Chinese New Year London 2014

Chinese New Year London 2014

 There were a few food booths set up selling chips and churros.  Go figure.
And lots of fun souvenirs for sale.  But, we didn't even attempt to get any closer.

Chinese New Year London 2014

Chinese New Year London 2014

Chinese New Year London 2014

It was a beautiful blue sky day and felt good to be out in the sun.
The crowd was relaxed and having fun.   Great for people watching.

Chinese New Year London 2014

Chinese New Year London 2014

Chinese New Year London 2014

After a while, we needed to get away from the crowds and refresh ourselves with cheeseburgers.
Then someone (me) had this brilliant thought.
"Everyone is in Trafalgar Square so let's sneak over to China Town and walk around.
I'm sure it will be completely deserted and we can get some more way cool photos!"

No. It was even more crowded than Trafalgar Square.
There were streets blocked off so you could only enter and exit at certain points.
And it was jam-packed with people.  We admitted defeat and hot footed it out of there.
But not before stopping for a few more way cool photos. 

Chinese New Year London 2014

Chinese New Year London 2014

Even though it was madness, I had a great time and I'm very glad that we joined in the celebration.
Although, I'm not sure Matt has forgiven me yet.

Chinese New Year London 2014

 Did you make it out to the celebration? What did you think?


By the way, I'm starting UK driving lessons today.  Finally.  Be afraid, London.



33 comments:

  1. Madness is right...what a crowd! Good luck with the driving lessons. :)

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  2. Sweet Georgia Brown that is madness!

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  3. It looks like you saw more than what I did! I couldn't believe how many people there were. I should have expected it really, I did read that London had the biggest celebrations outside of Asia.

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  4. O goodness that is so many people! I have lived in small town Sweden to long as I cannot even imagine so many people in one place anymore!

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  5. I think I might side with Matt, that is way too many people! But it looks awesome!

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  6. I couldnt make it this year but was there last year. Looks like there was a great turn out!

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  7. Wow, you were so much positive about that experience than me. Haha, I have only one good thing to say about that day and it was that the weather was perfect! I do love your pictures though! I would love to know your secret on how you snapped them because I could only get the top of people's heads and the sky. :)

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  8. Oh my you're brave! So many people! But it does sound like fun and the photos are amazing :)
    Good luck w/the driving lessons!

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  9. It was so packed I didn't really enjoy it at all. They should have had more stages so people could see something, anything! Great pictures though.

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  10. Wow, the crowds were insane! Great energy though!

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  11. That's a lot of people!!! I think that would have freaked me out a bit, but you know what? I'm so glad you went because it looks GORGEOUS!! The pictures are amazing...
    I hope you're having a rocking week and good luck with the driving!
    Much love,
    Tammy x

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  12. Gorgeous pictures! I (unfortunately, thanks to the Australian school year not aligning at all with Chinese New Year, how inconvenient!) left Malaysia just before all the excitement of new year but even the preparations looked great. I had no idea though that there was such a big one in London!

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  13. Oh my! Those crowds! I'd love to go see it, but I hate being in crowds like that and I won't even mention how crazy I'd be to do it with my 3 children. Madness!! I'd still love to experience it one day! Wow!

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  14. I am now SO GLAD I didn't go in to see the festival on Sunday! I'm not great with crowds but this would have scared the bejeezus out of me!

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  15. I was thinking of going, and now I'm glad I didn't. A hangover and huge crowds would have made me super cranky. It looks like an experience though!

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  16. Oh, no. Not with a hangover. It was madness. Matt was not too thrilled to be there.

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  17. It was much more crowded than I expected. We couldn't even get near to China Town.

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  18. Yeah, I can only take crowds like that in small doses. Then I start getting panicky and just want out!

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  19. Thanks, Amanda. I bet it's amazing in Malaysia. I'm glad that we got out even though the crowds were crazy. All the bright colors were so festive.

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  20. Thanks, Tammy! You must be getting so excited about your trip to London. What all is on your agenda?

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  21. It was pretty crazy. We lucked out and got a good spot by the wall at Trafalgar Square. But it was hard to see everything. I wish we could have seen the parade.

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  22. lol I loved reading your post about the day. I got lucky and squeezed in just on the wall around Trafalgar Square. It was crazy!

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  23. I'm glad we went, but not sure I'll go again next year. I'll just read all of the blog posts.

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  24. By the end of our time there, I was desperate to get out of there.

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  25. There was no way that we were going into China Town. It was packed!

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  26. Thanks, Tanya. My first lesson went okay. But, I'm surprised with how little I really know.

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  27. I'm thinking Portobello Market, Burrough Market, Inside of Tower Bridge, The Freud Museum... that's just a start! !

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