New Year, New Start

 

I’m not quite settled in yet.  …That’s the confident way of saying that I’m generally feeling a little lost.  To look on the bright side, my first day has been completely arranged – my friend met me at Beijing airport, she had accommodation already carefully planned, and took me there, and booked me in.  A meal and shopping followed to meet with my every need – she insisted on paying for everything.  Really I have been utterly spoilt.  But for the next 8 days, I will be completely alone. 

 

It’s Chinese New Year.  It’s the Christmas day for Chinese people.   My jet-lagged sleep aroused me late that evening.

Inner city fireworks are banned due to accidents and noise pollution, according to the Lonely Planet guidebook.  My Chinese friend had explained that this year they were allowed again, though she could not say why.  Rules here are changed on (apparent) whim.  No public discussion; no reasons given.  I have no complaints in this case: the effects were stunning.

I had been hearing frequent fireworks for a long while, but woke to find it was only 10pm.  I put on one of the English/Chinese channels and enjoyed an excellent entertainment show, including high quality comic sketches, singing and dancing routines and other visually pleasing performances.  It was made absolutely complete by the inclusion of brief English subtitle explanations and voice-over translation.  I can’t be the only non-native!  A particularly loud or colourful firework often tempted me to the window, where I watched explosions flash in random areas of sky.  I spotted the occasional silhouette in the street below that sparked a flame then suddenly disappearing behind the ensuing brightness.  As the night drew on, I began to realise that the sound of fireworks was now constant and the sky was never without colour.  Drawn to the window, I watched it build gradually, like a decent trance track, energising with exciting, addictive diversity in sound, and mesmerising visual colour.  A few dominant bangs welcomed the New Year of the Dog, and very gradually the show slowed to a city of sleep.

Wow.  And what a perfect example of Chinese individuals contributing to the greater good for all.