Most people go home for Chinese New Year. But we usually stay behind simply because there's no one left to look after the cats. We can't possibly leave them at home for over a week with no company, food and water refills and no one to clear the poop! So, we've remained in Beijing and missed reunion dinner back in Singapore for the past 3 years.
But there are some perks to staying behind. It honestly feels more festive here because of the nightly pyrotechnics. Firecrackers, Fireworks, sparklers.. all available for purchase on every street corner for 15 days of CNY! I love the fireworks. It brings out the kid ( and the pyromaniac) in me. I hear the bangs and I run to every window in the house to try and catch a glimpse of the burst of light. Unfortunately, we've got lousy views. But standing at the entrance of the condo, you get some of the best views possible of fireworks in the city. The noise, the lighting of the firework, the star burst... it's just exhilarating!
CNY eve was crazy. Everywhere you go, you see and hear these pyrotechnics being set off. The peak of fireworks madness is the 1/2 hour before and after midnight. The sky is covered in fireworks which lights up the entire city. And of course, the noise is deafening. It sounds as if thousands of shots are being fired and the city is being shelled by enemy troops. Admittedly, it can get rather scary.. especially when you're on the road home because there are fools who'll set their massive fireworks in the middle of a road. It happened to us this year. Thankfully, we had a pretty sharp cab driver. It was a cab ride from hell.. what do you expect when the cabbie's got to swerve every now and then to avoid a "land mine"?? This is the video I took that night from outside our place.
Also got to light a few with my cousins on CNY eve. Here's the video.
Today is the 5th day of CNY and it seems there's some special significance because the fireworks are being set off fast and furious since the sun set at 5pm. We ran out to the main road to take a peek. It was spectacular! Some folks in a red Audi SUV brought a lot of firepower and were setting the fireworks off. We saw the same car parked outside on CNY eve with a boot-full of fireworks and setting them off at the entrance of the condo. That was really an unforgettable sight!
Right now, I'm waiting in anticipation of the last day of CNY. That's when we normally buy loads of fireworks and have a blast. hahaha! Pun intended :P
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