Chu Xi 2009

This is the scene that welcomed me the moment i stepped into Chinatown.

Just in time for the fireworks! No wonder everybody's looking up.

After a long while of blur-look-exchanges and the extra clear black sky above us, we realised that we're actually on the wrong side of the "viewing gallery". -__-"

in the end, we resorted to watching reflections of the fireworks on a building.

Oh well, better than nothing right?

Now we venture into the Human Stampede Level 1.

Rule #1 : die die form a long human chain and refuse to let go even though you got stuck in a jam and ppl cant move forward without you letting go.

Rule #2 : keep pushing and shoving the person infront while continually complain aloud at how impatient the person behind you is, pushing you like that.

Rule #3 : give an innocent look and keep pointing to the crowd behind you when the person infront turns back to shoot you a dirty look

Rule #4 : bring a pram! so that you can roll it over random peeps' feet when they refuse to give way to you.

Time to brave the suffocating smoke (actually i do mean fog) and hordes of sweat packs!

The Chinese believe that the deities will bless you with good luck and fortune if you manage to be the very first person to offer joss sticks at this temple at the struck of midnight

(which effectively means the first break into the new year)

Its actually pretty traumatizing! I'm not exactly a devoted buddhist.

A real free-thinker actually. But..simply for the fun of it and also to roll into the festive season, i definitely have to try it!

errmmss okays...maybe its not so fun afterall! But still...have to try! since i'm already here..might as well.

Well, i wouldnt say its exactly the best experience one could have, but...minus the stinging eyes and getting shoved ard, it actually was quite interesting. Though i'm still sore that the helpers at the temple removed my joss sticks almost immediately.
I think it barely stayed 3 secs in the urn (or is it what they call it?)

actually the main motivation that kept us going is cuz we spotted Mediacorp's camera crew =X

If we cant be the lucky one to be the very-first-joss-sticks-offerer, at least we get to go on TV! *beams*

Okays, this God of Fortune sure looks damn creepy! How to HUAT like that!?!?

No wonder my luck's been so lousy lately.

Is the budget so tight this year that they dont even QC?!

I thought God of Fortunes are supposed to be fat and chubby?

OKays, at least show me some prosperity tummy!

For goodness sake! This guy obviously resembles a weird halloween character much more than anything associated with CNY!

Maybe thats why his surroundings aint congested at all, nobody dares to be near him.