Kung Hei Fat Choi -- Happy New Year
Last week was Chinese New Year -- the Year of the Tiger! The 25 minute fireworks display was spectacular -- we never seem to tire of these harbor light shows!
Music was synchronized with the fireworks -- the crowds were incredibly large, and the weather was quite chilly! Once again, we enjoyed the fireworks.
Displays throughout the city abound. This floral arrangement is found just a half block from our Church Administration Building. Bushes laden with small tangerines are everywhere -- they signify prosperity, which seems to be included in most new year wishes.
Flowering plum branches signify a rebirth (the Spring festival is part of the Chinese New Year). There are blossoms everywhere -- most are live, but others are artificial.
We had been told of a remarkable display at a very nice mall -- so we ventured out on a Saturday recently to check it out. These tigers, made from flowers, were really spectacular!
Mom and her cubs were magnificent centerpieces in the shopping mall.
Wan Chai market, a fun place to explore, had booth after booth of decorations for the New Year. We bought a few items to send home to grandchildren, and some things for our apartment. It will be fun in future years to have some lanterns and decorations as we celebrate "back home!"
Victoria Park, only a few miles from our apartment, was the scene of a giant flower market as well as booth after booth selling trinkets, gadgets, and general "stuff." We decided to head there late on a Friday afternoon; the crowds were incredible. After an hour or so and a few purchases, we had our "New Years' experience" for the day. The flower displays were quite amazing.
I couldn't resist the orchids -- a couple of small ones now grace our apartment. It has been so fun to have orchids while living here -- they are not expensive, and like the humidity and temperatures found in Hong Kong.
The South Pacific Hotel is a few short blocks from our apartment and is highly decorated. The swags of firecrackers on either side of the main entry are traditional decorations.
Inside the hotel, the tree of plum blossoms is covered with "red envelopes" -- these are filled with money for New Years' gifts. Receiving red envelopes for the New Year is exciting and very much a part of the Chinese tradition. The plum trees are sold somewhat like Christmas trees -- each family might have one! Certainly, it is good luck to have something with blossoms or flowers in your home for the new year holiday. Each day of the new year (New Years' Eve, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days of the new year) is celebrated generally with family. In mainland China, the celebration lasts a full eleven days. Many shops were closed, and life on the streets was definitely much quieter than usual. Our office was closed for two days.
Store windows were decorated with lanterns and many other traditional decorations!
A few weeks ago, our senior couples' group was fortunate enough to take a tour of this magnificent building. It is called Kom Tong Hall -- and was the main gathering place of the Church in Hong Kong from 1960 to 2004. A beautiful home to three generations of the wealthy Ho family of HK from about 1914 until '60, the church then purchased the home and used it for a meetinghouse and offices. Ned and I remember visiting church there in 1987 -- the woodwork and architectural details are very impressive. In 2004, the Church turned it over to the government and it is now a museum for Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a world-renowned revolutionary and father of modern China. The building has been faithfully restored to its original majestic appearance.
A plaque on exterior wall tells the history of the building. The day we visited, there were large crowds of people touring. Our guide, Elder Stanley Wan (now an Area Authority Seventy for the Church), gave us some interesting insight as he grew up living there as a boy. His parents were the caretakers of the home/church facility. He told us much about the activities that took place there during the 40 years that the Church owned the property. It stands in the "mid-levels" of HK and was the first Chinese residence there -- the previously built homes in that area were all for British families.
A Saturday at Stanley Market in January -- there are many flowers in bloom year round in this temperate climate.
Last week was Chinese New Year -- the Year of the Tiger! The 25 minute fireworks display was spectacular -- we never seem to tire of these harbor light shows!
Music was synchronized with the fireworks -- the crowds were incredibly large, and the weather was quite chilly! Once again, we enjoyed the fireworks.
Displays throughout the city abound. This floral arrangement is found just a half block from our Church Administration Building. Bushes laden with small tangerines are everywhere -- they signify prosperity, which seems to be included in most new year wishes.
Flowering plum branches signify a rebirth (the Spring festival is part of the Chinese New Year). There are blossoms everywhere -- most are live, but others are artificial. 
We had been told of a remarkable display at a very nice mall -- so we ventured out on a Saturday recently to check it out. These tigers, made from flowers, were really spectacular!
Mom and her cubs were magnificent centerpieces in the shopping mall.
Wan Chai market, a fun place to explore, had booth after booth of decorations for the New Year. We bought a few items to send home to grandchildren, and some things for our apartment. It will be fun in future years to have some lanterns and decorations as we celebrate "back home!"
Victoria Park, only a few miles from our apartment, was the scene of a giant flower market as well as booth after booth selling trinkets, gadgets, and general "stuff." We decided to head there late on a Friday afternoon; the crowds were incredible. After an hour or so and a few purchases, we had our "New Years' experience" for the day. The flower displays were quite amazing.
I couldn't resist the orchids -- a couple of small ones now grace our apartment. It has been so fun to have orchids while living here -- they are not expensive, and like the humidity and temperatures found in Hong Kong. 
The South Pacific Hotel is a few short blocks from our apartment and is highly decorated. The swags of firecrackers on either side of the main entry are traditional decorations.
Inside the hotel, the tree of plum blossoms is covered with "red envelopes" -- these are filled with money for New Years' gifts. Receiving red envelopes for the New Year is exciting and very much a part of the Chinese tradition. The plum trees are sold somewhat like Christmas trees -- each family might have one! Certainly, it is good luck to have something with blossoms or flowers in your home for the new year holiday. Each day of the new year (New Years' Eve, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days of the new year) is celebrated generally with family. In mainland China, the celebration lasts a full eleven days. Many shops were closed, and life on the streets was definitely much quieter than usual. Our office was closed for two days.
Store windows were decorated with lanterns and many other traditional decorations!
A few weeks ago, our senior couples' group was fortunate enough to take a tour of this magnificent building. It is called Kom Tong Hall -- and was the main gathering place of the Church in Hong Kong from 1960 to 2004. A beautiful home to three generations of the wealthy Ho family of HK from about 1914 until '60, the church then purchased the home and used it for a meetinghouse and offices. Ned and I remember visiting church there in 1987 -- the woodwork and architectural details are very impressive. In 2004, the Church turned it over to the government and it is now a museum for Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a world-renowned revolutionary and father of modern China. The building has been faithfully restored to its original majestic appearance.
A plaque on exterior wall tells the history of the building. The day we visited, there were large crowds of people touring. Our guide, Elder Stanley Wan (now an Area Authority Seventy for the Church), gave us some interesting insight as he grew up living there as a boy. His parents were the caretakers of the home/church facility. He told us much about the activities that took place there during the 40 years that the Church owned the property. It stands in the "mid-levels" of HK and was the first Chinese residence there -- the previously built homes in that area were all for British families.
A Saturday at Stanley Market in January -- there are many flowers in bloom year round in this temperate climate.
Looks wonderful - sounds like you are having an amazing experience and getting to enjoy many of the sights and sounds of Hong Kong. We miss you here in chilly Utah.
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