clanging cymbals

happy lunar new year (of the OX) to everyone! :)

as usual, charlottesville is painfully sleepy during the chinese new year. well, it hardly exists because we are missing the all important Fs: family, friends and food. i am honestly looking forward to my next chinese new year in kuala lumpur! 

truth be told, i even miss the chinese new year tunes sung by scary little kids - you see them on tv all the time! 

but being away has made me appreciate the tradition so much more. the new clothes, the preoccupation with red and gold, the spring-cleaning, loud clanging music everywhere, the bid to meet everyone with some prosperity greeting, the glorious food and of course, the LOVED ones. 

oh how i miss you lunar new year, nothing beats home-style.