Chinatown - Golden Dragon New Year's Parade, 31 January 2009
 We
took a couple of friends to usher in the Year of the Ox with a China kind of
flava. No sooner had we sat down, we heard firecrackers and gongs
drawing closer, with a dragon coming in to Empress Pavilion while we ate dim
sum. |
 The
dragon visited our table. |
 Lanterns
adorn Chinatown as everyone celebrates the year of the Ox. |
 I
see the Statue of Liberty woman everywhere, even during Chinese New Year's
festivities. She showed up at the Doo Dah Parade just two weeks ago
with Thorny Rose recipient Ann Lau, and I had seen her at all the Los
Angeles and San Francisco Tibet protests that I was at in 2008. She
always dresses like the Statue of Liberty and brandishes a torch festooned
with an "Impeach Bush" sticker.
I spoke to her briefly. She was critical of not only China governnent's human rights abuses and not allowing the Dalai Lama to return home, but Chinese people who move here and become comfortable, not bothering to fight for democracy and human rights in China. I chose this photo over some others I had taken because the astonished expressions of the onlookers is especially pronounced in this photo. |
 Chinese
acrobats warm up fop the show. |
 I
rarely pass up a chance to photograph interesting mannequins. |
 The
pre-parade show was spectacular, almost a free mini Cirque du Soleil show. |
 Chinese
acrobats leaping through hoops just before the Golden Dragon Parade to
welcome in the Year of the Ox. |
 The
parade begins. |
 Parade. |
 Draggin'
the dragon. A baby dragon makes its way to the end of the parade. |
 After
two delicious meals - dim sum at Empress Pavilion, and an early dinner at
Golden Dragon Restaurant - we made our way back home to continue the New
Year's style celebration with Dr. Fun, a chiropractor from Hong Kong, who
unfortunately returning to Hong Kong in just a few days.This is probably one of the most unusual "Free Tibet" signs I've ever seen, this one on an X-rated newspaper vending machine. |
Chinatown, Golden Dragon Chinese New Year's Parade 2009
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