Chinese New Year 2009

Hi!


I am moving to HK from the UK. I arrive on 25th January. What advice can you all give me on how best to enjoy CNY?


Many Thanks

Daniel


p.s. I am looking forward to learning a lot from you about this and many other subjects and hopefully even meeting some of you!

Not really sure what I am looking for - I guess fireworks, dragons that sort of thing. It would also be good to meet some people -English speaking since I have not started Mandarin/Cantonese lessons yet.


The only person I know in HK is my collegue who has been there a few months. He will be away until the 29th. We are opening a new office.


I will be initially be staying in a serviced apartment on Queen’s Road Central – one of the first things I will need to do is find somewhere more long-term.


I am 28, male, English. This will be the first time I have lived outside the UK and my first trip to Asia.

It must be daunting esp to arrive CNY eve. There's plenty to do, there will be fireworks on CNY eye, parade. But it may be crazily busy esp along avenue of the stars etc where the prime viewing spots for the fireworks are.


My husband and I moved from the UK in december to HK, but we were lucky as we had help to set up home here.


If you need help in apartment hunting etc, I can be of help esp since I can converse in cantonese too :) and that way, we can make new friends too, as we don't know many people here in the UK.

There is a Chinese New year parade on the Island(not sure of the exact time and date as we never go and watch it), also there are fireworks.

Chinese new year is actually the quietest time of the year in HK in some repects, certainly the roads are great. And its the one time when most shops will shut at one point, although you will always find something open. But places like Disney and Ocean park get horrendoulsy busy. The weathers usually not that great either. So not the greatest time to be trying to meet new people, as most of the locals will be visiting their families, and lots of expats go away. Although maybe not so many this year as its so soon after Christmas.

I'm sure you'll still find plenty to do, go off and explore HK, and don't forget to include the NT's in that, thats the best part of HK.