Once in a while I head out after dark with my camera. It’s not the best for night shots. Noise, those evil digital Tribbles, worm their way among my beloved pixels. You can minimize noise with post processing software, but images tend to end up “soft.”

The gate of my community, (Da Men as I say to the taxi drivers) is one of the largest residential gates in China. Every location in China has a claim to fame. Example: Each town has a famous foods which is hawked by savvy restaurateurs. The Guangming district in Shenzhen is famous for fried young pigeon. People come from all over to partake of the delicacy. I’ve eaten it: It’s tasty, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to get it. Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, is famous for Chou Doufu – or stinky tofu. I’ve eaten that too. It’s doesn’t taste as bad as it smells. No famous food in my area – just a very big gate.

But I digress. No, my camera isn’t great for low-light shots. The above is a reflection of the Big Gate in the fountain just inside said gate.

Making Chinese New Year Dumplings for the Year of the Tiger.

Happy Chinese New Year. Happy Year of the Tiger.  Gong Xi Fa Cai! Xin Nian Kuai Le!

In a cacophony of fireworks the Year of the Tiger arrived. New Years Eve, February 13, was noisy in my little corner of China. The explosions started around 7 pm and continued to well past midnight. It’s amazing what you’re able to block out after experiencing it for a few years.

Mrs. Stevo and I dined with friends at their home. The matron of the household, a doctor and native of Henan province, made dumplings, a traditional New Year’s food. We also ate fish – another traditional food. Fish in Chinese – Yu – sounds like the word for ’surpluses,’ also Yu.

New Year’s day Mrs. Stevo prepared a wonderful lunch of chicken, beef, fish, soup and assorted vegetables. It was quite delish and makes me admire how far her cooking skills have progressed. When we first met her culinary preparations started and ended with instant noodles.

I did nothing the first day of Chinese New Year. Ate and slept. The two days before that I had been priming the walls of Chateau DIY. Back to that today. No rest for the wicked.

To all my friends and the random stoppers-by: Happy Chinese New Year. May the Year of the Tiger be a safe and prosperous one for your families.

Something to watch for: Photographer extraordinaire, Michael at Expatriate Games, is shooting his Chinese town, Liuzhou, for 24 hours. One of his first stellar images is published. Take a look.

Stevo's Island at Chinese New Year 2010

My honorary daughter came to visit last weekend, a rare occurrence. I can thank the school break for Chinese New Year. Island, or Ellen as she says her name is now, was my student when she was a fresh-faced Grade 1. Now in Grade 3, we visit each other from time to time.

We live in the same community but that doesn’t mean we’re together every weekend. Chinese school kids have a schedule that rivals that of a CEO. When school is finished for the day there are tutoring sessions in math, Chinese calligraphy, compositions, English, and then piano lessons, dance, kung fu, etc. Evenings and weekends are booked solid.

I saw Island four times this past school term. I think I could make an appointment with the president of china easier than I can with Island and her scholastic commitments.

She came to our apartment for a  couple of hours of origami, television and PB & J. She was decked out in her Chinese New Year finery. Wearing new clothes is another custom of Chinese New Year.  A fun time, I wish I could see her more often.

The Year of the Tiger stamp from Canada Post

Chinese New Year is almost upon us: February 14, 2010 will see the arrival of the Year of the Tiger.

I have been listening to the warm-up fireworks for weeks. Businesses are closing, kids are out of school, and supermarkets are full of expensive wine, spirits, and other holiday related goodies.

For people from the west: Think of every holiday in the year, smush them all together into a few days of hard-core celebrations, and you have Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival as it is called here.

The Year of the Tiger

Based on the Chinese Zodiac my child will be a Tiger Year baby. The gem stone of Tigers is the diamond (ouch for me). Red and green are the colors associated with Tigers. Of course, Tigers don’t get along with Pigs (me) or Sheep (Mrs. Stevo).

The relationships between Chinese Zodiac animals is not something I really understand. I do know that being a Pig gives me a great excuse for not cleaning the kitchen. This excuse holds little water with Mrs. Stevo.

What of the character attributes of people born in the Year of the Tiger?

Tiger people are sensitive, given to deep thinking, capable of great sympathy. They can be extremely short-tempered, however. Other people have great respect for them, but sometimes tiger people come into conflict with older people or those in authority. sometimes Tiger people cannot make up their minds, which can result in a poor, hasty decision or a sound decision arrived at too late. They are suspicious of others, but they are courageous and powerful. Tigers are most compatible with Horses, Dragons, and Dogs

From: Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco

How will we celebrate? Traditionally, you go back to your home-town or village for Chinese Lunar New Year. Because Mrs. Stevo looks like she is carrying a watermelon in her tummy, there will be no train trip and village visit for us. Instead, we will spend Spring Festival Eve at a friend’s home engaged in two traditional activities: Dumpling-making and drinking baijiu (a strong spirit made from rice).

To all I say:  Xin Nian Kuai Le! Gong Hei Fat Choi! Happy Chinese New Year.

Imagine: You’re waiting for your bus, standing at the side of a Chinese street at 6:30 am. The bus, the first of a day to another city, is 30 minutes late. The bus could be late because (pick the correct answer):

1. The bus was the leave the station at 6:00 am. The driver thought getting up and leaving home at 5:59 am would be good enough.
2. The driver’s watch has only three times: Breakfast time, Lunch Time, and Dinner Time.
3. The driver waited because a rider said his mother, brother, friend, or lover was on their way and would there  “soon.”
4. The driver stopped the bus to get gas.
5. The driver stopped to buy breakfast.
6. The driver stopped to smoke a cigarette at the side of the road.
7. The driver lost the key to the bus in a game of Mahjong.
8. Two of the above
9. Three of the above
10. All of the above.

Select the correct answer and receive a free ride on a Chinese bus – if that bus arrives (airfare to China not included).

I’m back in China. Okay, Hong Kong is China so I never really left. If that’s the case why is there that pesky border?

Three days in the city I love to hate. Some times I think that Hong Kong is the city where bitter expats go to die, like an elephant graveyard. It used to be the city that Brits who completely f*cked up fled to the start over. Now? Not so much.

The “visa run” is a trip many expats are well acquainted with. Luckily, Shenzhen, China (my home base) is right beside Hong Kong. It’s a very quick trip to one of the world’s financial centers (and nearest locale to have a Chinese visa issued).

My brief observations on Hong Kong:

1. It is beautiful.
2. It is crowded.
3. It is expensive.

I spent two nights in the Mirador Mansions, an ancient building full of guest houses, tailor shops, and laundry establishments. The bed stretched from wall to wall, with one square meter at the end of the room by the door for my bags. Think of a roomy casket and you’ll get the idea.

A snippet of conversation before I rented to room:

Guest House Manager: Are you sure you want this room? It is very small.

Stevo: How much is it.

Guest House Manager: 110 Hong Kong dollars a night (about $14 USD).

Stevo: Yes, I want.

The room had wireless and AC. I don’t need much more than that.  Note: For $110 HKD I could get a nearly palatial hotel room in China’s less traveled areas.

Three days: I shot photos. I bought a snazzy Benro tripod and ball head, and five pounds of protein powder. I visited my Hong Kong office.

Paddy in the BA/HK

And I met Paddy.

You’ve seen him around, the large green-headed expat Irishman. Paddy in the BA is no longer in the Buenos Aires. The infamous Irish rover and blogger now calls Hong Kong home. He and I sat at McLovin’s Irish Pub and had a pint of Guinness before he jetted off to a Pacific  island.  He’s a peach and I hope he eventually crosses the border to visit.

Three days away.Three days to chill and wander. It was pleasant. Except for:

1. Hong Kong is crowded.
2. Hong Kong is expensive.

Now it’s “go time.” A lot  to do in the space of three weeks. With a camera in my hand and a song in my heart it will all come out alright.