Speaking Strine

Hey, how’s everyone been the past few weeks? Things kind of took off, but I’m back on top of life and updating this blog.

Turns out my camera decided that life could not possibly get any better once it experienced a week in Sydney, so it took its own life. It’s final gasps of life are documented below:

If you’ve ever wondered what 15,000 Chinese people looked like walking in downtown Sydney…

…then wonder no more.

What I gathered at the event, from the Hong Kong kid down the hall, and because I have a fascination with mythology, the Chinese New Year traditions all stem from the myth of the Nian. The undersea lion-beast would descend on small towns and devour their hardest working men and women during winter full moons. At some point, the smartest, proudest of their people took a stand and fought back against the threat with what else? Music, dance, the color red and the occasional firecracker.

An undersea monster attacking an Asian country? Never!

Lion Dances, with loud music, crowds and some serious acrobatics, were used to frighten away evil spirits. Outside of the Chinese New Year, the dance is done for good luck. Particularly the “choi chang,” where the dancers jump on each other’s shoulders to stretch the lion to the top of the frame of a building to retrieve a red envelope of money and leaves. This brings down good fortune to the business and crowds. 

The highlight of the day came from a stage show outside a department store and featured a series of song and dance routines. One singer in particular, was absolutely, completely, awful. When the first verse dropped, the crowd craned its collective neck to see what possibly could be killing the mood so swiftly. By the chorus, a look of surreal fascination glazed over everyone’s face. Then, as if the gods had commanded it, our freedom fighter secured us from the wrath of the Nian with the power of his thunderous falsetto. Then he repeated the entire song. In falsetto. Everyone wept with laughter, but I’ll be damned if we didn’t give him an incredible round of applause when he finished.

It’s a shame that my internet is too unreliable to upload the video I have of him. If I catch a decent internet cafe, I’ll do my best. It’s nearly five minutes of perfect.

After a couple traditional dances, the performances turned contemporary with a 007 theme song interpretive dance. Silly? Yes. Good Entertainment? Absolutely.

Sydney is as multicultural as you can get. Considering the mess of European, Asian, American and African influences on top of the tourism it enjoys, there is no end to the list of cultures this nation pulls from. And with culture, comes parades. Coming up is the Sydney G&L Mardi Gras Parade next weekend. Can’t wait.

Another quick photo album to share is already up.