Sydneys Chinese New Year - Year of the Dragon

Friday 20th January - the start of Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival.

Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival is the biggest outside mainland China and has started off with a bang! I ventured off to investigate all the hype at Belmore Park, next to Central Station and was nicely surprised. There were 60+ stalls serving various Chinese cuisine to tickle your taste buds along with art and craft and gift stalls. There was a stall that sold 'Chips on a Stick' - something i've never seen before, plus many of the stalls actually produce the food from scratch right in front of you. The market is there until Sunday 23rd Jan so Becky and I will be returning tomorrow!

Making Noodles at the Markets

There was a stage set up for the actual launch of the festival along with an inflatable dragon and chinese latterns dotted around the trees. The whole park was truelly lit up with a feast of colours.

At 7pm it all kicked off with speeches from the Lord Mayor of Sydney - Clover Moore MP, along with the Deputy Lord Mayor, Robert Kok and some spokesmen from the sponsors. There was the traditional eye-dotting ceremony which brings dragons and lions to life. This is done by dabbing black or red paint on the eyes and head of the Lions.

The live entertainment continued with dance performances from The Pretty Girls and from a delegation from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. The live band, Dragon Ball played to finish off the launch with firecrackers to scare off the previous year's misfortunes with a sparkle and plenty of loud bangs!

Have had a couple of relaxing days this week; going to the park, reading my book (The Girl who kicked the Hornets Nest....very good!) and getting the ferry across to Manly. Got a great view of Sydney Harbour on the ferry. I sat on the beach in Manly and watched the surfers catching their waves.

Becky has been away all week at work so it's been strange not seeing her but nice to be able to do whatever in my own time.

Just a couple of weeks left in Sydney now. We have a hit list of things we want to do so should be a busy time!

Kung Hei Fat Choy!