Chinese New Year & Lunar New Year

8 March 2015 /

Happy new year! Nick and I celebrated Chinese/Lunar New Year in style this year in Sydney, which seems to celebrate everything in style!

First, there were fireworks to kick off the two weeks of celebrations for the New Year. I went with some friends – Nick missed out on this one as he was stuck at home with a very bad cold.

Fireworks over the opera house to kick off the celebrations.
Fireworks over the opera house to kick off the celebrations.
Paper lantern terracotta warriors.
Paper lantern terracotta warriors.
Paper lantern terracotta warriors.
Paper lantern terracotta warriors.

However, the following week he was back to himself and we spent the day wandering around the festival in Darling Park…

A beautiful New Year's Day :)
A beautiful New Year’s Day 🙂
Gate to the festivities.
Gate to the festivities.
Nick and I rode the merry-go-round in Darling Harbour.
Nick and I rode the merry-go-round in Darling Harbour.

After riding the merry-go-around (we asked, and the woman selling tickets assured us that we can never be too old!), it was off for dinner at Din Tai Fung in downtown Sydney, a world-famous dumpling chain. They had these adorable sheep dumplings for dessert, and we couldn’t pass them up…

It's the year of the sheep, so the dumpling place we went to for dinner had these sheep dumplings filled with molten chocolate.
It’s the year of the sheep, so the dumpling place we went to for dinner had these sheep dumplings filled with molten chocolate.
Delicious, delicious sheep.
Delicious, delicious sheep.

After dinner, it was off to find a good spot for the parade – which we did, right up against the guard rails! We had a great view of all of the floats and wonderful costumes.

Dancers.
Dancers.
A sheep-shearing float.
A sheep-shearing float.
Year of the sheep meant many sheep in the parade. They were super cute and furry.
Year of the sheep meant many sheep in the parade. They were super cute and furry.
Ferocious sheep-dragon thing.
Ferocious sheep-dragon thing.

The parade ended late, so we missed the closing fireworks show in Darling Harbour (which I’m sure was spectacular!), but opted to walk around the paper lantern display in Darling Harbour. The lanterns were beautifully aglow, it was a lovely way to end the evening. Happy new year, everyone!

Paper lanterns at night in Tumbalong Park.
Paper lanterns at night in Tumbalong Park.
Paper lanterns lit up at night in Tumbalong Park.
Paper lanterns lit up at night in Tumbalong Park.