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Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

A Masked Happy Easter Greeting at a Closed Bar in Hong Kong

The Bar Pacific in Hong Kong's Kowloon City was closed this past weekend, but they still made sure to wish people a "Happy Easter", face masks included.

"Happy Easter" along with numerous animals wearing face masks painted on a window


The bar presumably would have preferred to be open, but as a sign explain they had no choice.

sign explaining bar is closed due to a Hong Kong government mandate

Dear Valued Guests,

The Hong Kong government has mandated that all Bar Establishments to be closed for 14 days starting from April 3rd 2020 at 6:00pm. We will resume operations after the Government Mandate is over. Please stay safe!

Bar Pacific

The reason the government earlier this month required bars to close was a signifiant increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong. It isn't yet known when bars will be able to reopen, but a very recent decrease in daily confirmed cases may give them hope.

If bars do reopen in the near future, the COVID-19 disease will still be a threat to some degree. So as an earlier-placed sign suggests at this Bar Pacific, people will likely have difficulty sitting down for a drink there if they have a fever.

Notification of temperature check requirement


They may also be expected to wear a face mask when not imbibing, just like the critters on the window.

Bar Pacific in Kowloon City, Hong Kong

Monday, February 17, 2020

Protests, Coronavirus Fears, and Valentine's Day Converge at a Hong Kong Prison

On Friday in front of the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre - a maximum security institution — hundreds of people gathered to show solidarity with detained protestors. What one of the participants held and wore particularly captured the unique convergence of events in Hong Kong that night: a face covering used by some anti-government protestors to hide their identity, 3M safety goggles to protect against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, and a rose fitting the theme of the rally: "Valentine's Day With You".

person holding a rose and wearing a face mask and goggles


The gathering differed from several other rallies held at the same location during recent months in that the organizers did not apply for a letter of no objection from the police. Although the police were clearly keeping an eye on things, they didn't interfere with the rally until it had nearly reached the two hour mark, which is about how long some of the previous rallies lasted. At that that time, police came into the protest area while holding up blue warning flags with the text: "This meeting or procession is in breach of the law. Disperse or we may use force."

Disperse they did. And Valentine's Day came to an end at the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre.

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Before and After the New Year on a Street in Hong Kong

Just before 11 p.m in Hong Kong New Year's Eve at Sai Yeung Choi Street South seemed moderately usual:

Sai Yeung Choi Street South just before New Year's


Around 3 a.m. New Year's at Sai Yeung Choi Street South had a different feeling though:

Police at Sai Yeung Choi Street South


Happy New Year.

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Anticipating a Lively Christmas in Hong Kong

Compared to November, the protests in Hong Kong have been relatively calm lately. However, they continue, and there are signs they will soon intensify.

yellow Hong Kong protest signs with a Christmas theme


It could be a rather eventful Christmas in Hong Kong. 

Thursday, November 28, 2019

A Thanksgiving Dinner View of Police in Hong Kong

In the past, I have shared some of my Thanksgiving day experiences in different cities, such as drinking horse milk baijiu in Zhongshan and a rat running up my leg in Changsha. Like those times, today in Hong Kong offered me something new.

I observed the traditions by finding a buffet which included turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. For a bonus, the restaurant staff kindly sat me at a location with a prime view of the world outside. As I ate way too much food, I had the opportunity to watch a number of police vehicles, sometimes with sirens blaring and likely containing Special Tactical Squads or Police Tactical Units, head southward.

police vehicles on Hong Kong street


police vehicles on Hong Kong street


Their activity was possibly related to a nearby protest rally. I later visited it and saw no outward signs of police in the immediate vicinity though. So for the first time on this holiday, I felt like I should give thanks that no police shot tear gas in my direction today.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Encounters With a Lively Skeleton Queen in Xuzhou

As I have seen in past years at some shopping centers in China on the weekend of or before Halloween, on Saturday the Xuzhou Suning Plaza invited children to come to the mall dressed up in Halloween costumes. That afternoon it held an activity that wouldn't have been out of place any other time of the years except for the fact that some of the children were wearing costumes.

After watching a small part of a contest where children had to think of animals that hadn't been previously named by other children, I took a photo. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a skeleton queen who had been helping some of the other children had now apparently taken interest in me. She quickly jumped onto the stage and approached me while making expressions ranging from ghoulish to charming.

So this happened:

girl dressed up as a skeleton queen posing for a photo


About an hour later I watched a portion of a similar event at the Golden Eagle Pengcheng Square Store. Once again, the setting had a Halloween theme yet the activity — in this case children and teenagers singing — wouldn't have been out of place any other weekend of the year.

As I took a photo of the entrance to the area, I felt a light pat on my stomach. The most likely source of the rather unexpected pat seemed to be downwards, so that's where I looked. The next step to take was soon obvious, and this happened:

girl dressed up as a skeleton queen posing for a photo


After a couple of photos, the skeleton queen darted off and disappeared into the crowd. Later, I saw she had returned to watch the performances, where as before she eagerly showed support — this time by applauding.

people watching a boy sing a song on a Halloween-themed stage


And that's the end of this story about an outgoing skeleton queen with a heart.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Seven Scenes During the Weeklong National Day Holiday in Xuzhou

The last day of the National Day holiday period was Monday, but the impact of the holiday will still be felt tomorrow, Saturday, by many people. As is typical for this holiday and the Lunar New Year holiday, to create seven consecutive days off, in addition to three official holiday days off work two weekday work days are moved to the weekends before or after the holiday. Tomorrow is one of those special shifted days.

In the spirit of the lingering National Day effects and to add to the earlier shared photos of night scenes on National Day, below are seven scenes in Xuzhou during the seven day holiday. None of the photos on their own would make me think "must be the National Day holiday". Yet they are still an opportunity to share a bit more of life in Xuzhou.


Day 1:

Fishing at the Feihuang River (废黄河) on Xi'an Bridge
Fishing during the late afternoon on Xi'an Bridge (西安桥) at the Feihuang River (废黄河)


Halloween display at the Goldland Carrefour


Day 2:

Butcher stall at the Fengchu Street (丰储街) Market


Day 3:

People playing and sitting on Type 66 152 mm Field Howitzers
Playing and sitting on Type 66 152 mm Field Howitzers outside the National Defense Education Museum and Xuzhou Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall


Moon over the Xuzhou Tongshan Wanda Plaza (徐州铜山万达广场) Golden Street
Moon over the Xuzhou Tongshan Wanda Plaza Golden Street


Day 5:

woman posing next to a pond for a photo
Posing for a photo at Ximatai (戏马台)


Day 7:

two girls dancing while on self-balancing scooters
Dress rehearsal for a performance at the Xuzhou Suning Plaza

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

A Few National Day Night Scenes in Xuzhou

Last night at a central shopping district in Xuzhou some people took selfies with a dog.

two young women taking a selfie with a dog and Chinese flags


Some people took dogs on a walk.

woman pushing two small dogs sitting on a wheelchair


Some people stopped to watch the day's earlier events in Beijing on a large screen.

Xi Jinping on large outdoor video display


Some people played basketball.

people playing basket in front of a shopping center


And some people waited in line for 9-inch pizzas.

line of people waiting for 9 inch pizza



On this National Day of the People's Republic of China much seemed as it would be on a busy Saturday night, though there a few more patriotic touches than usual.

Monday, September 30, 2019

Holiday Red Flags at a Temple in Xuzhou, China

One day before the National Day of the People's Republic of China, the Guanyin Rock Temple (大士岩寺) in Xuzhou was already in the holiday spirit.

Guanyin Rock Temple (大士岩寺) in Xuzhou with PRC flags


Quite a mix.

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

A Lingering Father's Day Display in Yulin

At least one sign of Father's Day in Yulin could still be found today at the Nancheng Department Store (南城百货).

Father's Day display at Nancheng Department Store in Yulin, Guangxi


It isn't unusual in China for holiday displays in stores or restaurant to remain long after the respective holiday is long past. The special Father's Day promotion was over according to the posted dates. But perhaps people could still get a deal if they asked.

Anta "Dare to Dream" shirt

Sunday, June 16, 2019

Motorcycles, Dinosaurs, and Drums: Some Father's Day Fun in Yulin, China

In the past, I have shared signs of Mother's Day in China, whether in Guiyang, Hengyang, or Zigong. However, I have never done the same with Father's Day. The main reason is that I typically don't see anything as dramatic in terms of types or amount of business promotions.

This year was the same. But I did see some children spending time with their fathers.*

So to bring some balance, I will share that this evening on Father's Day in Yulin, Guangxi, I saw a girl help her father win a motorcycle race . . .

daughter riding a fake motorcycle with father as he plays the Speed Rider 2 video game


. . . a boy help his father shoot some menacing dinosaurs . . .

Father and son playing Jurassic Park video game


. . . and another boy play a drum duet with his father.

Father playing drum video game while son play inactive drums next to him


And on this note, Happy Father's Day to the fathers out there.






*I didn't verify the relationships, but I consider this a low risk claim to make.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk in Wuzhou

A spilled white drink next to the Xun River (浔江) in Wuzhou
A spilled drink that perhaps included some milk next to the Xun River (浔江) in Wuzhou

I had plans for an April Fool's Day post on Monday. Early in the afternoon I had a new idea and collected some critical material for it. Then I wondered whether it might be too convincing of a post for April Fool's, a conundrum I've run into before. Then other things came up, and I realized I had no more time.

So, next year. Or next life. In any case, I have material for a less confounding post now.

These things happen.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Two Valentine's Day Sellers in Jiangmen

I believe it is February 14, which in parts of the world is Valentine's Day.

Tonight on Shengli Road in Jiangmen, I passed two nearby places where people could buy last minute flowers.

selling roses on Valentine's Day in Jiangmen, China



selling flowers on Valentine's Day in Jiangmen, China


The second photo captures intense bargaining. Perhaps some people would prefer their love to pay whatever it takes to get some flowers. In this case, tag team action between the couple sought a better price.

Well played.

Monday, February 11, 2019

Scenes from Piggish Hong Kong Lunar New Year Fairs at Victoria Park and Fa Hui Park

As in the past, Hong Kong recently held Lunar New Year Fairs in 15 locations for a period of seven days. Five years ago I shared a number of scenes from the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair and the Fa Hui Park Lunar New Year Fair in Hong Kong. This year I had the chance to visit both again. Below is a set of photos capturing a variety of scenes from the two fairs. I visited Victoria Park Saturday evening and Fai Hui Park Sunday afternoon just before the Lunar Near Year. In general, the fairs were much as they were five years ago with the exception that were many more pig-themed items for sale — not surprising since it is now Year of the Pig. Like before, the photos capture a variety of stalls and the large crowds. And of course there a few scenes from their respective flower markets. One thing is deliberately missing though. The politically themed stalls at Victoria Park, which I featured five years ago, will appear in a later post.


Fa Hui Park Lunar New Year Fair

entrance to the Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair
One of the entrances to the fair



crowd at the Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair
A dense crowd



covered basketball hoop at the Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair
Basketball is off limits



Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair stall selling stuffed toy animals
Pigs and more



Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair stall
Giant stuffed ancient coins



Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair stall



Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair stall



Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair stall selling stuffed toy pigs
More pigs



Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair stall



Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair stall selling stuffed toy pigs



Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair Vitasoy food stall
One of the locations to get some fair food



people posing with Ah Tak at the Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair
Ah Tak - the green “keep clean ambassador” for Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department



flowers for sale at the Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair
Some of the many flowers for sale



Fa Hui Lunar New Year Fair flower stall



"Wilted Plants" trash bin
Not all flowers found a home in time



Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair

crowd at the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair in Hong Kong
Simply making one's way from one side of the aisle to the other through the very dense crowd proved quite challenging.



Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair stall selling stuffed toy pigs
Yes, pigs



Kit Da Sketch stall at the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair
Some Hong Kong pride



kids trying to pop bubbles
Bubbles abounded



night crowd at the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair
Slower than a crawling pace



Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair stall



Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair stall



Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair stall selling a "Star Fuck" shirt
Shirts with messages of some sort



Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair "Angry Pig" stall
Putting ladders to use to sell pigs



Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair stall selling shower heads



Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair stall selling stuffed toy pigs
One last pig-themed stall



overflowing trash bin at the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair
The trash overflowed



flowers for sale at the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair
Non-trashy and unwilted colors



flowers for sale at the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair
These flowers sold shortly after I took the photo


And that's all for now. For Lunar New Year Fair photos taken in other locations, last year I visited the Taipei Lunar New Year Festival at Dihua Street and Macau's Lunar New Year Festival at Tap Seac Square.