And the Rooster Crowed

Today was the first day of the new lunar year and the last day of a three day holiday week. Until the last few hours, the city has appeared shut down, with few businesses being open and many residents apparently on leave for the holidays. Tonight, Thursday night, the city has begun to wake from its quiet slumber in a final, jubilant celebration of the good year to come.



More than 500,000 people came out to line the Hong Kong harbor for the annual fireworks display this evening. Chicken decorations have been abundant during our time here thus far. My favorite expression of the new year's excitement was this store display:



We passed this funny, although somewhat disturbing display tonight on our way to the harbor at the International Finance Center (IFC). We were among only a few tens of thousands of people to choose the IFC as their viewing destination as is apparent from this view of the exiting crowds:



I couldn't help feel a connection to the city more tonight than any night yet. It's majestic. It's dirty. It's real.