Lantern Festival Field Trip with our Shanghai Family

The lantern Festival is a big holiday celebrated in China.   It is one of my favorite Chinese Celebrations...   The photos below was taken by our side car side kick, Ayden on our Cheng Jang.   The streets are lined with red lanterns... the decorations are so festive.  One of my favorite Chineses holidays to celebrate!

Bundled up and off to Yu Gardens where the lanterns are known to be the most elaborate.   

Ayi Fang joined in our family field trip...

Our Shanghai Family in full....   Ayi Fang and our driver, Mr. Zhu

Falling on the 15th day of the first lunar month, Lantern Festival is the first significant feast after Spring Festival, so called because the most important activity during the night of the event is watching various wonderful Chinese lanterns. 

And because every household eats yuanxiao (a rice ball stuffed with different fillings) on that day, it is called Yuan Xiao Festival.  (We did not try... “street food” is a once in a lifetime treat.)  Ayi Fang made them for us to celebrate the holiday.  They were not a hit with the kids, but I have to admit, they all tried them.  The textures is that of a wet rubber ball.. with some warm nugget inside.

For its rich and colorful activities, it is regarded as the most recreational among all the Chinese festivals and a day for appreciating the bright full moon, and family reunion. ~~ Thanks Wikipedia!

It is never too cold to have an ice cream....   Dairy Queen even in China!

The dragon dances were the most fun to watch...  

The dragon dance is often performed during Chinese New Year. Chinese dragons are a symbol of China, and they are believed to bring good luck to people, therefore the longer the dragon in the dance, the more luck it will bring to the community.  The dragons are believed to possess qualities that include great power, dignity, fertility, wisdom and auspiciousness. The appearance of a dragon is both frightening and bold but it has a benevolent disposition, and so eventually became an emblem to represent imperial authority. The movements in a performance traditionally symbolize historical roles of dragons demonstrating power and dignity.

Celebrating Chinese New Year in Shanghai... Visiting the Healing Home Orphanage

This year we decided to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Shanghai.  We had heard that it was an experience to be taken in at least one time... with the festive fireworks and mass displays of red lanterns all over town.   It is during the holidays, and especially Chinese New Year, that you truly embrace the richness of the culture.   Red seems to be exploding everywhere and all of the folks who have moved from the country side to Shanghai travel home to celebrate with their families and friends.   We thought that this would be the perfect time to take Chris to see the children in the orphanage...    The kids always have a hard time going there without toys because the toys they have there are either missing pieces or broken.  So they pooled their money together and they bought them an interactive play bench that multiple kids can use at one time. 

As you can see, the toy was a huge hit and the kids loved it!

It was fun listening to our kids preparing Chris for all the personalities etc. of the children in the orphanage.   I was actually a bit concerned that he would not have such a warm welcoming with the children because most of the caregivers are female.   I couldn’t have been more wrong.   As we arrived one little boy pulled Chris to the ground and plopped himself right in his lap.  

We had such a fun afternoon playing with the kids and watching them explore the new “object” in the room.  

We hope that in Celebrating the New Year of the Snake, this coming year, these children find the love, comfort and security they deserve with their forever families...  

Saying good bye to the year of the Dragon and Welcoming the New Year of the Snake!!   

New Years in Hong Kong!

We all have been to Hong Kong at one point or another (baseball tournaments or doctors appts.) but we have never come as a family to explore these islands.   It was the perfect ending to our winter break and we loved spending our New Years in such a beautiful city!!!   

We started off our Hong Kong tour visiting Ocean Park.   It is a great mix of rides and Aquarium/Zoo venues to explore.  A bit different from our previous Disney visits but a great experience overall.  It was an amazing day spent exploring the park, riding some of the roller coasters and just enjoying the view.  The park is actually built between two mountains.    

There is no better way to see the island then from the air...  Taking the air tram was a little unnerving yet a perfect way to see the Hong Kong sky line.

I have to admit though, when on the Sky Line, I could not figure out how they could configure building an amusement part on these mountains.  Until we came over the last peak and then I saw the first roller coaster....  The way they built some of the rides into the side of the mountains added an element to literally the height, but even more so, the scare factor... 

Our family consists of FOUR very adventurous people and one we will just call... Well let’s just say ... not so much.   The pink number cars however were a huge hit and fun was had by all.

There was definitely one ride that was for those thrill seekers...  Garrett is BY FAR our the most adventurous Carey

This is the lift and drop.  Garrett was too short for the ride but in typical Asia fashion we snuck him on and of course he “Loved IT”

The Pandas were a huge hit... and so lazy.   It was fun to see them close up.

The second day there we decided to venture off  Hong Kong Island and travel over to Lama Island.   The ferry was about 20 minutes and brought us to one of the other islands in a more remote part of Hong Kong.   This island is about 4 miles long and does not have any cars.  There are man made trails that travel between the two cities on opposites ends of the island where ferries drop off/pick up.   This way you can go through one small city,  hike on the trails over to the other city and leave by ferry.   

This is the view of Lama City from the trail. 

Much like many Chinese towns, you are able to purchase various live animals for dinner. 

Once back on the mainland of Hong Kong we explored the mid-levels.   These are escalators that take you up the side of the mountain where you can get off at various stops to eat, shop or go home.  

There are tons of outdoor markets and food vendors to explore

And even Garrett was happy to find a store he could relate to!!

We absolutely LOVED Hong Kong and could not have asked for a better New Years Celebration! 

I love that the taxi’s and driving laws have remained influenced by the British...  what an amazing city to visit and yet another bucket list checked... 

Here is to a happy and very healthy 2014!!