New Year Fireworks

The second day of the new year was marked by a party and fireworks. Our friend Janet and her daughters Catie and Michele hosted a New Year's gathering for us and the Herredia family. So we gathered up our party fare and because the temps had cooled down so much I got to wear my new Hong Kong jacket and scarf.

While in Guangzhou I found a great centerpiece for the table...

...vodka!


Janet and the girls are fostering a puppy till she is old enough to be adopted. The puppy loved Ken and the Herredia girls who were commissioned to tire her out so she would sleep through the night.

There was lots of great food and great company.

While in Kuala Lumpur Ken participated in a Malaysian Chinese tradition where several ingredients (pickled ginger, dried yam, nuts, etc.) are placed on a plate along with some fish (we used salmon) and then sprinkled with sauce.

Once the platter is ready everyone takes chopsticks and tosses the ingredients while saying "good fortune." The higher the items are tossed the more good fortune you will have.

As time for the fireworks grew closer, puppy grew tired.

While she slept we all went up to the roof deck for the firework extravaganza. The buildings were all alight. ICC  and all the other buildings had their own light show going on.

The little ones were anxious.

The harbor was filled with boats ready to watch from their great vantage point.

And with a loud boom we were in full swing. Insert pops, bangs, oohs and aahs as you view the following. 

And now the Year of the Dragon has officially arrived.