The Chinese Saga Continued…

As the sun began to peek its way through the clouds, silently promising that the day would not be a wash-out, the New Year Parade came to a close. The celebrations, however, were far from over. The focus of events shifted to Zodiac Square and the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Gardens, to allow Olympic traffic access to the city. Hundred of people must have been crowding around, all squished up against the Dr’s statue. A few of the bands from the parade kicked off a round of music and martial arts demos in the square. The Burnaby-North Secondary School Viking Band replaying their rendition of “Paint it Black”…

and a group of Jazz musicians who’d dressed up for the occasion...

Having heard them already I dashed off for some lunch. Low and behold, the same bakery I went to last time was selling steamed buns (roughly the equivalent to a Chinese Hamburger). I had a Veggie one, and a Spicy Pork, total $3! They were pretty good too, and probably healthier than baked bread.

After stuffing my face I headed back to Zodiac Square, where the Cultural centre was open. I had a nosey round, very interested by the photographic display of China’s many ethnic groups.
Then I realised that the Gardens were open for less than $10, and I still had more than an hour before I needed to go. So apologising for my pitiful donation I made my way into the gardens and was impressed at how pretty they were.

A very informative lady explained that they had special tours where you could climb the rockery, and in the summer months they have outdoor concerts in the evenings. I would love to go back for that, I think it would be beautiful. Certainly it would be better to pay for the gardens in the Spring/Summer, on a day off, when I just want to relax.

As it so happened there was plenty going on for Chinese New Year. Face-painting and games for the kids – one of which I presumed to be Chinese, as I’d never seen it before. Then, tucked in the garden’s “study” there were a group of amateur singers doing a Cantonese Opera demonstration.

I stopped and waited for it, because I loved watching the two actors get ready: painting their faces, fixing their hair, and putting on spectacular silk robes. Before the main performance they sang us a couple of traditional New Year songs, and two singers who weren’t in costume sang a section from a story which was basically like Mulan.

Then, all costumed up, the two performers sang part of an opera about a woman, trapped indoors, who sends out love letters, and attracts the affections of a nice young man… or something. They weren’t all that clear about it actually.

It was impressive anyway, though Cantonese Opera can be jarring to the western ear. I guess English-speaking Musicals must sound the same to the Chinese? Anyways, it was getting close to leaving time, so I grabbed some Tiger Tea for a dollar and sat in the sunshine for a few minutes before heading to work. A good day out.