Chinese New Year
We have been enjoying the summer and we have spent the last few weekends on the beach getting a tan, at bbqs with friends, and even managed a few surf lessons.
January 26th was also the Chinese New Year and with Sydney's large Chinese population, it is quite the event. There are fesitivities all week long in Chinatown ending with a parade and fireworks on Sunday so we decided to head down on Sunday to see the area and catch the parade. Chinatown is quite large. We stopped at the markets (just like NY with knock-off Prada purses) and the Chinese Gardens. The Chinese Gardens are beautiful and a very tranquil place right in the middle of the city. Our friends Pat and Nicole tagged along and since Nicole has been taking some photography classes, she was teaching Katie to use manual mode on her new camera...we will see how those ones turn out.
It was the first year it was held at dusk and there were a ton of lights and latterns...very beautiful. The parade route was packed though. There were people sitting on trash cans and mail boxes, and some even brought crates to stand on. We thought we had a good spot but as soon as the parade started we were suddenly pushed back 5 rows. The parade was full of traditional dancers, floats of each years' animals, drummers, ninjas, etc. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, known for prosperity...let's hope! Jared's favorite was the drummers and Katie just can't pick. She was snapping photos like a Chinese tourist...about 500, so we will have to cut those down.
January 26th was also the Chinese New Year and with Sydney's large Chinese population, it is quite the event. There are fesitivities all week long in Chinatown ending with a parade and fireworks on Sunday so we decided to head down on Sunday to see the area and catch the parade. Chinatown is quite large. We stopped at the markets (just like NY with knock-off Prada purses) and the Chinese Gardens. The Chinese Gardens are beautiful and a very tranquil place right in the middle of the city. Our friends Pat and Nicole tagged along and since Nicole has been taking some photography classes, she was teaching Katie to use manual mode on her new camera...we will see how those ones turn out.
It was the first year it was held at dusk and there were a ton of lights and latterns...very beautiful. The parade route was packed though. There were people sitting on trash cans and mail boxes, and some even brought crates to stand on. We thought we had a good spot but as soon as the parade started we were suddenly pushed back 5 rows. The parade was full of traditional dancers, floats of each years' animals, drummers, ninjas, etc. 2009 is the Year of the Ox, known for prosperity...let's hope! Jared's favorite was the drummers and Katie just can't pick. She was snapping photos like a Chinese tourist...about 500, so we will have to cut those down.
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