Halloween in Hong Kong

It’s quite surprising to know that HK celebrates Halloween. Everywhere you go, you’ll see Halloween’s decoration. I don’t quite understand why Halloween is a big thing here in HK. I think people just wanted to use this occasion to make more money. There’re just so many Halloween goodies for kids. Even adults will be tempted to get it because it’s soooo cute.

Look at the big pumpkin I saw in the supermarket. Whoaaa….

Halloween Goodies for kids

At Tsim Tsa Tsui

OMG, who’s this wicked witch? buahahahaa

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Welcome to HK. The last time I stepped foot to this country was in November, 2003. It’s exactly 3 years and to me, this place is still the same except for more buildings and shopping complexes.

Everywhere you see here are all high rise buildings and apartments. This is the view from the 19th floor - my aunt’s place in Tseung Kwan Oo

Streets in Kowloon. The shopping streets : The famous Mongkok place.

HK during the day. The view of Hong Kong island from The Peak (It’s pretty hazy in Hong Kong as well)

HK at night. The night view of Hong Kong island from Tsim Tsa Tsui

Hong Kong here I come....

I'm off to Hong Kong this evening. Will update my blog when I'm back!!!

Lantern festival gathering

Every year, I'll normally get together with my college friends during the mid-autumn festival. It has been an annual event for 4 years. We'll get together at the Bukit Jalil park. That's the place where we'll eat, chat and light up lanterns.

I remember having pictures taken every year at the same place and spot. Can you identify which pictures were taken in year 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006?

Picture A

Picture B

Picture C

Picture D

Some history about Mid-Autumn Festival …

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festivity for both the Han and minority nationalities. The custom of worshipping the moon (called xi yue in Chinese) can be traced back as far as the ancient Xia and Shang Dynasties (2000 B.C.-1066 B.C.). In the Zhou Dynasty(1066 B.C.-221 B.C.), people hold ceremonies to greet winter and worship the moon whenever the Mid-Autumn Festival sets in. It becomes very prevalent in the Tang Dynasty(618-907 A.D.) that people enjoy and worship the full moon. In the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279 A.D.), however, people send round moon cakes to their relatives as gifts in expression of their best wishes of family reunion. When it becomes dark, they look up at the full silver moon or go sightseeing on lakes to celebrate the festival. Since the Ming (1368-1644 A.D. ) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911A.D.), the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival celebration becomes unprecedented popular. Together with the celebration there appear some special customs in different parts of the country, such as burning incense, planting Mid-Autumn trees, lighting lanterns on towers and fire dragon dances. However, the custom of playing under the moon is not so popular as it used to be nowadays, but it is not less popular to enjoy the bright silver moon. Whenever the festival sets in, people will look up at the full silver moon, drinking wine to celebrate their happy life or thinking of their relatives and friends far from home, and extending all of their best wishes to them.

My birthday wishlist :-

I know it's a bit too early to think of what I want for my birthday.. but that's the only excuse I can give to get this phone. hehe.. I would like to get a Nokia N73 for my birthday! *Hint Hint*

Oh well.. I think it's time to get a new phone to replace my 1.5 years old O2 mini PDA phone anyway. My phone is a bit outdated already compared to all the new phones now.
I'm attracted to all the features they have in N73. It's a 3G phone with pretty cool features. It can take pics of up to 3.2 megapixels..

Do you think I can save up in time to get this phone as my bday gift? ;)