Happy New Year of the Rabbit!
Those are the few words that I use to describe this year's new year celebrations.
From Wednesday (Feb. 2, 2011) night's big countdown in Aberdeen Centre, many people were out crowding around with lucky bamboo shoots, fresh-cut flowers, and shiny pinwheels. The main stage's events ranging from lucky draws to beautifully dressed performers truly livened up the atmosphere. Especially with every $10 purchase, shoppers were able to trade in their receipts for limited edition, Aberdeen shopping bags. The mall's assortment of pink blossomed trees and red lanterns were lovely touch to the surroundings.
A new attraction sprawling from Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics legacy, this year features CIBC's Lunarfest, an assortment of paper craft, marine creatures and live exhibits provided by the Vancouver Aquarium. While the public gets a chance to try out various hot beverages, from Japanese Genmaicha tea to Vietnamese coffee, lit up paper lanterns float surround you in a whirlpool of flashing blue, LED lights. For a small donation, one can even give a limited edition, rabbit lantern. As cuddly, environmentally-friendly as they are, all the money collected goes to a worthy cause - funding the Vancouver Aquarium. If one has never eaten out much at Japanese restaurants, for $5 one can try oden. Traditionally a winter dish, oden is made up often of boiled eggs, seasoned konnyaku, daikon (radish), fish cake and tofu in a light soy sauce-dashi broth.
Like in Japan, this hot soothing dish is good for those needing a quick break, having ventured long enough in the cold, chilly streets (like Vancouver's nights recently, right?).
Hopefully with the coming weeks, I'll have more adventures to come!
Bye for now!
Samson Tam
Vice-President of the Chinese Art Student Society
2008-2011