Lunar New Year

Posted on February 19, 2016February 18, 2016 by theatrejunkiehm2012 — Leave a comment

Photos from China: Guangzhou, part 4 – the city

The Canton Tower, among the tallest in the world.

Some of Guangzhou’s modern architecture is spectacular too.

All of Guangzhou used to be streets like this.

Fresh pork! How fresh? Oh you have NO idea.

Shangxiajiu pedestrian-only shopping street.

I HOPE this was a Cantonese Opera Theatre. I don’t read enough Mandarin to know.

This is black sesame seed paste, which is them made into soup!

Black sesame and cashew soup. Liquid cashew butter. That is all.

A stall selling only Durian fruit. You think they look scary? I crossed the street because of the SMELL.

A statue of a little boy trying to help his grandpa set off fireworks.

Want to buy a mushroom the size of a coffee table?

For my first breakfast I tried congee. It’s rice porridge, and mine also had bits of meat and seafood. I admit, I didn’t care for it.

THESE, however, are steamed pork buns. MORE.

Inside the White Swan Hotel back on Shamian Island.

Please see the Buzzfeed videos below for further info on the contents of my minibar. The green one top left is Get 27. The one bottom left is Bai Jiu.

Posted on February 18, 2016February 17, 2016 by theatrejunkiehm2012 — Leave a comment

Photos from China: Guangzhou, part 3 – Lychee Bay

This is called The Lychee Bay Scenic Area. Which is among the bigger understatements I’ve heard.

I did NOT intend this, but the actor insisted.

Posted on February 15, 2016February 15, 2016 by theatrejunkiehm2012 — Leave a comment

Photos from China: Guangzhou, part 1 – Shamian Island

I’m a history buff, so I’d heard of Canton. I knew nothing about it, I’d just heard that it was an important port city to the colonial British in Cathay. Cathay is China, and Canton is Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province. And I can’t believe I knew nothing about it before coming here, because it’s a Tier 1 city…meaning in terms of population and economy, China ranks Guangzhou at the same level as Beijing and Shanghai!

I stayed in a hotel on Shamian Island, which is where the British — and other colonists — set up shop; company headquarters, banks, tennis clubs. All of their 19th and early 20th century buildlings are now protected, and house galleries, hotels, restaurants, and consulates.

Please note the tree being held up by…other trees!

The canal and brides on the north side of the island.

Lots of photos of beautiful buildings. Be warned.

Down the centre of the island is a long promenade, with different-shaped paths and trees.

I can’t say if this electricity is “modern” or…not.

Starbucks. I know. But hey, they chose a lovely location.

A sample of what the buildings were used for.

Traditional red lanterns on a modern hotel in a 19th century building.

The Armani shop housed in here must feel right at home…

The veranda of my hotel’s restaurant–it sits on the third floor.

Shamian Greenway — a long park running along the south side of the island, right against the Pearl River.

Guangzhou was the first place I saw these New Year decorations. For all I know they’re real fireworks!

This church’s gate was open, so I slipped into the courtyard…

Posted on February 12, 2016February 10, 2016 by theatrejunkiehm2012 — Leave a comment

Chinese New Year, IN China! Part 4: Macau

Or Macao. For various reasons, I was only able to stay one night. NOT ENOUGH. Will be going back. I spent most of my time there giggling because my Spanish allowed me to understand just about ALL the Portuguese I saw!

Just past the gate from Gombei Port in China…

The fountain before The Sands hotel and Casino near the harbour.

“Lotus Flower in Full Bloom,” across from the Sands.

One ferry arriving from Hong Kong, another just leaving.

A Cine-Concert…The Triplets of Belleville, with live music. How fricking cool is that?!!

This fellow was just handing out lucky red envelopes to kids!

This is part of Fisherman’s Wharf, very nice restaurants and shops in slightly kitcshy new buildings made to look “old”.

Beautiful fountain in between faux Italian and Tudor English houses!

The aptly named Harbourview Hotel. Not sure what style architecture this is…

Most of the buildings in this area were old-style, but the brick and stone of these tells me they’re genuine.

Looks like a Roman column, doesn’t it? Hee here!

The “Roman” column overlooks the “Roman ruins” of the Babylon Casino!

“Roman” Amphitheatre. I kept telling myself “I should hate this…but I don’t!”

New Year’s Display on Fisherman’s Wharf.

How much more like Vegas can you GET! So ridiculously awesome!

Jardim Vasco de Gama Garden, as seen from the front of my hotel!

Sports centre to one side of the Garden.

Orange trees. I am NOT exaggerating, orange trees EVERYWHERE!

And this is my hotel, from the Garden. If you didn’t hate me yet, you do now. 😀

I treated myself to dinner at Fado, the Portuguese restaurant in my hotel. These are fresh codfish cakes.

All of this came with every meal! 6 different breads, 3 flavours of olive oil, carrots steeped in olive oil, olive tapenade, and garlic-tomato butter.

Seriously, ALL the seafood. This is shrimp and bread stew. Happy Place.

I wish I could tell you what this shop sold, but it was shut!

The other half of the crazy-awesome display.

The air smelled different in Macau. It took me a while to realise ALL of these shrines had incense burning. Those are wrapped cookies in front.

Just hanging off someone’s door. Amazing.

New Year’s decorations down a street median.

I couldn’t stop marvelling at the streets here…

Another church. I lost track. I think the Portuguese colonists were Catholic.

This was a church, now it appears to be apartments. Sigh…

The paving on the street is modern–it fits around manholes–but it’s very nicely done.

Looking down from the ruins of St Paul’s. The crazy pointy building at the back is The Grand Lisbon Hotel and Casino. (Macau has a LOT of those.)

Posted on February 10, 2016February 10, 2016 by theatrejunkiehm2012 — Leave a comment

Chinese New Year, IN China! Part 1: Kai Yin, Zhongshan

Usually the many ponds and water features in our complex are dry. For the New Year, all were filled…

Red and gold banners on a building down the street from mine.

Happy Year of the Monkey! This in One-Plus-One, a local supermarket.

THIS is the Monkey King. Don’t let the pretty flowers fool you. He will mess you up.

EVERY shop has flowers and/or mini-orange trees. Note also that almost all shops are CLOSED for the holidays.

The little shrines before most shops also have fresh incense burning. Oranges symbolize luck.

The aftermath of fireworks being set off. This was everywhere!

Note all the paper remains are red — the luckiest colour.

Posted on February 10, 2016February 10, 2016 by theatrejunkiehm2012 — Leave a comment

Chinese New Year, IN China! Part 2: Light sculptures!

These were all taken on the eve of the Lunar New Year, the night of February 7th, in Sun-Yut-Sen Memorial Park. The sculptures you see are all made of a transluscent, coloured fabric, and then lit from the inside. EXCEPT for the House of the Monkey King — I’m told that’s made of ironwork, scaffolding, and magic!

PS: I cribbed some photos from my co-teacher Jennifer, since her camera is better than mine. Credit where due!