Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Although last week was officially the Chinese New Year, London Chinatown celebrated just this past weekend with an event that reportedly drew in tens, if not hundreds of thousands of spectators. Living only a miles from Chinatown and Trafalgar Square, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

We arrived around 11:45am just as the firecrackers were dying down and the opening ceremonies began. Trafalgar Square had been transformed into an overflowing, jam-packed sea of people that put the Buckingham Palace crowd to shame. The only thing I can think to compare it to would be a more condensed version of Times Square in NY on New Years.

Tagging along with my usual travel buddies, we dove headlong into the masses (not my choice course of action, but seeing as there was no other way to get out, it seemed there was little to lose).

It was rather terrifying to be crushed in between hundreds of bodies for a few minutes, but it paid off when we found our way down into the lower square where the crowds were considerably thinner on the sidelines. The view wasn't great, as there was a large fountain spewing cold spray standing between us and the amphitheatre, but it was far better than being squashed in the crowd.

After about 45 minutes of long speeches, failed attempts at rallying the cold, wet audience, and more speeches and rituals, a lion dance commenced. And it was definitely worth the wait.

Leaping to and fro on top of 6-10 foot tall poles, I can honestly say it was the most impressive lion dance I have ever seen. I'll be posting a video of it later, from what I could shoot between the heads of a couple very tall tourists standing in front of me.

After watching a couple more performances on stage, we decided to check out Chinatown and see what festivities were taking place there. After squeezing our way through the crowds once more (this time we had mastered the art of holding on to each other so as not to get separated) we found ourselves in -- if possible -- an even worse crush crowd as thousands of people attempted to squish their way through the narrow cobbled streets.

I think this gave all of us a little fright, because we quickly turned around and "swam" back to the main road intent on finding the nearest tube station and getting the heck out of there. Every shop was bulging with consumers, every street vender swarmed by shoppers looking for a little memento by which to remember the occasion. (I think it was memorable enough without a little plastic trinket, thank you very much!)

We went home for a couple hours and then came back to watch the fireworks show in Leicester Square. The crowd wasn't bad when we got there a half hour early, but by the time it started, the square was packed again and my little group of three was stuck on the edge with a couple telephone booths blocking the view.

But, fireworks are fireworks. They make loud noises, bright colors, shoot around in the sky and go boom. In other words, it worked out fine and the show was spectacular (video to come!).

We tried to get out fast this time, but the masses were faster (how is that even possible?) so we found ourselves yet again crammed like sardines in the slowly moving mob making its way towards the tube station. Thinking ahead this time, we went for Chinese food back on our own end of town. Although it was way overpriced for a couple of poor college students, it was a wise choice in terms of getting out of the bustle of the Chinese New Year madness.

All in all, it was a day I'll remember for a long time. It's one of those things you have to do once just to see it and be a part of it. And then you can look back and know exactly why you will never feel the need to do something like that ever again. Certainly a once in a lifetime experience though!