After much contemplation, we decided we would venture out into the crowded Hong Kong streets for the parade. Now, here is the thing - we had asked around and some people said we couldn't miss it, others that we would be wasting our time. Because we may only be here one year, and our experience in Singapore with these types of festivals was positive, we decided it was worth all the crazy. Plus, we found this promising description on the internet:
A Giant Harbour-front Street PartyThe world-famous night parade is one of the best-loved events of all the Chinese New Year's celebrations in Hong Kong. Now in its 17th year, and sponsored by Cathay Pacific for the 14th consecutive year, the parade snakes around Tsim Sha Tsui in a stream of brightly coloured floats and international/ local performing artists that turns the harbour-front area into a giant street party. Starting at 6pm, there will be roving performers and interactive games to warm-up the crowds along the parade route.
Who would want to miss that? We'd be fools right?
Well, the thing is, that stream of floats? More like waiting for rain to fall in a drought. You know, though, five floats in about 3 hours is totally worth it. Not.
No worries - we had a variety of other attractions coming by about every 5 to 10 minutes or so.
Like balloons...
They count right?
Star Wars characters...
Guys in bike/car thingies...
Cheerleaders...from St. Louis...
(the funny thing is I had a hard time getting a picture because I was being shoved to and fro by the excited mob behind me - you would think they had never seen a cheerleader before - sheesh!)
Costumed ladies...
Winged performers...
And, of course, no parade would be complete without some Kung Fu monks...
So, looking at the pictures, it doesn't seem like the parade was all that bad, but it was. I'm not going to lie. By the time the poor 4th grade jump roping team came by for the 6th time, I was ready to go (sorry, no picture of them). But, at least this seven tooth-ed little one had fun...
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