If I could have transported myself to any place in the world last week, that place would have been Hong Kong. I would have spent my days soaking up the city’s spectacular Chinese New Year celebrations with a wander around Victoria Park, where I would have fill my arms with fresh flowers and maybe a picked up a miniature orange tree for good luck. I would have stopped by the Man Mo Temple for a reading with Harmung, my favourite HK fortune teller, and would have feasted on some sublime Cantonese food before watching the fabulous flash, bang of the New Year fireworks display from my brother’s roof terrace in Happy Valley.
Alas, I was not to return to my beloved Hong Kong for this year’s festivites, some 6000 miles and a packed work schedule had seen to that. So, when an invitation from Cathay Pacific arrived in my inbox to attend the Chinese New Year celebrations in Trafalgar Square, I was on the train quicker than you could say “Kung Hei Fat Choi”.
This year is, of course, the Year of the Dragon and is traditionally thought to be a prosperous year, a year when magical, unexpected things can happen. The dragon is a powerful, strong and wise animal and these traits that are said to bring good luck.
The celebrations began with an early morning parade featuring floats, dance troupes and performers winding their way through the tightly-packed streets of Chinatown. Beneath the strings of lucky red lanterns that lined the route, thousands upon thousands of people joined in the fun. Fierce looking Money Gods wandered through the crowds, children delighted in throwing tiny “snap” firecrackers and being the Year of the Dragon street-sellers proffered the fiery creatures in every form imaginable from paper to inflatable to furry.
Next up, it was over to Trafalgar Square to join Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and a host of Chinese dignitaries for an afternoon extravaganza of Chinese culture. Dancing, operas, acrobats, and martial arts were all on the menu but it was the Lion Dance that I was most excited about. The Chen brothers were performing and I had been reliably informed that they were the best lion dancers I would ever see – and they didn’t disappoint! After a cheeky introductory dance, the incredibly dexterous duo leapt up onto some ridiculously small raised platforms where, to the delight of the crowd, they proceeded to jump, spring and soar between pedestals in a jaw-dropping display of strength and agility.
After this visual feast it was time for a culinary one so we carried on our New Year celebrations with a dim sum banquet at Imperial China, a renowned restaurant over on Lisle Street in Chinatown. Being good Chinese hosts, Cathay Pacific had filled our table with more food than we could ever possibly eat. Favourite dim sum dishes including shui mai (prawn and pork dumplings) and har gua (prawn dumplings) were offered up alongside “lucky” dishes like spring rolls which are thought to resemble gold bars and therefore bring good luck. Ho ho sik! (very very delicious!)
So, I’m happy to say that even though I couldn’t make it to Hong Kong at least I managed to roar into the Year of the Dragon in fine style. Here’s hoping the rest of the year is as happy and prosperous for all of us! Kung Hei Fat Choi!
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