The Chingay Parade began in Singapore in 1973 after fireworks were banned and people wanted a further way to celebrate Chinese New Year. It has since become a multicultural event with floats and performers from minority groups in Singapore such as Indian & Malay and even, for some reason, Darth Vader and a group of Storm Troopers!
Lots of dragons because of Year of the Dragon, some of them fire breathing! 
Mint Toy Museum »« Chinese New Year 2012, Singapore
So if you didn’t already know, I’ve moved to Singapore! I just started work 2 weeks ago and it’s already a 4-day weekend! (Granted I did end up working 2 of those days). Chinatown here is busy on a normal day, but leading up to CNY it explodes with people, and additional stalls line the streets. Shops sell mochi by the handful in all sorts of flavours. 2012 is year of the dragon, so there are dragon decorations, trinkets and toys everywhere! As well as a huge dragon hanging over the main intersection and lit up at night, really cool!
On CNYE (Chinese New Years Eve) it started raining around 10pm. By 23:40 it was absolutely chucking it down (good thing I had my dry bag!). So by the time the fireworks were over we were completely soaked! Luckily I was within walking distance. Anyone getting the MRT would freeze in its super-air-con!
At work we had a kind of weird traditional lunch, where we got noodles (they had a veg one without seafood!) and you basically lift them up high and drop them down a few times before eating. It made quite a mess! Something about good luck haha.
Chingay Parade 2012 »« NYE in BKK
Arcade fire were playing in Hyde Park, and while I am not their biggest fan I don’t mind them. Mumford and Sons were supporting them and I DO quite like them! So when someone at work was selling a ticket cheap, why not!? I took my new GoPro HD camera pure to test it out. I recorded a bunch of Arcade Fire too but managed to cover the mic for most of it.
So below is some video of the Mumford and Sons set!
Kew Gardens »« Finsbury Park
