Lion Dancers

Susan caught this Lion Dance in process as she was headed towards Thousand Buddha Mountain.

Firecrackers or Gunfire?

Year-Round Firecracker Weddings

Seldom does a week go by that we don't hear the explosion of firecrackers announcing that there is yet still another wedding inprocess.  The sound is such that one would think it were gunfire rather than just firecrackers.  We recently got an up-close view as someone living above us was obviously going to be married that day.  Some of the revelers brought two large rolls of firecrackers and unrolled them in the entry way to our building.  The photographer was ready (left) and after it was all over, someone (blue coat, right) went through to step on any that had not gone off (of which there were several).  The couple to be married, not yet dressed for the wedding, left in a car decorated with flower sprays to go to the official ceremony and the awaiting guests.  I tried to load a video of these two long rows of firecrackers going off, but I guess it was too lengthy.