The Call of the Wild

Happy Lunar New Year!

I spent last evening on the main river with thousands of others to ring in the New Year - the year of the snake according to the Asian zodiac. Any child born this year will be a snake. My 1949 birth year makes me an Ox - and you can stop laughing right now Ted! The Vietnamese have been prepping for weeks, sprucing up properties, buildings, even washing their scooters. The new year here is a time to remember bygone family and friends, the joys of the past year, to forget the sorrows and to heal rifts with family and friends and start those relationships anew. The kumquat tree is one symbol of renewal. As we have Christmas tree farms, they have Kumquat tree farms. This strain of fruit is not edible for humans.  People put out shrines and no offering is too small or common. 

The waterfront was a riot of lanterns, lights, music, boats and people. While the Viets were the majority, I was totally surprised by the huge number of western visitors like me. 

I started my evening with a meal overlooking the festivities - wantons with a slightly sweet chilli sauce, spring rolls and a beer. The chilli sauce they do here is so flavourful, the spices mingle without one overpowering the others. 

Then I lighted and launched a candle lantern in honour of nephew Adam, and another wishing health for a friend's mother who has just finished radiation treatments. 

More people arrived as it grew darker and the tempo and noise  picked up. Fireworks went off randomly during the night. At least two raves were almost deafening even tho' they were across the river. There were numerous drones zipping up and down the river. 

It did drizzle intermittently, never a downpour. and at midnight the river was quite still, even if the ravers weren't 

The Japanese Bridge was being restored when I visited Hoi An in 2024 and was closed. It is now complete, and is considered a jewel in the area once again because of its history. When Hoi An was a thriving SE Asian trading port in the 16th century, the Japanese were fully involved in the commerce. It was believed that the monster Namazu, whose head was under India, and the tail under Japan was the cause of floods and earthquakes when it moved. Japanese businessmen funded the building of the bridge and a magical sword was placed to "pin down" the monster's back. If Namazu couldn't wriggle, natural disasters couldn't occur and the Indians, Vietnamese and Japanese could live in peace. An elaborate shrine is inside the bridge.  

At midnight, I was surprised that after all the decorating and sprucing up there was no countdown, I didn't notice people embracing, the raves continued raving. The fireworks were spectacular and lasted over half an hour. I caught some on video, but tech-challenged me can't get them on the blog. I can see them, but not the readers. Sorry. 

Getting home was an adventure. I got to my scooter on a quiet street and thought There's no one around, I guess I've beaten the crowd. I got to the main street that gets me home, forgetting there is a stadium nearby. Suddenly there was a river of sidewalk-to-sidewalk humanity, vehicles and scooters all moving in 4 different directions (and inter-cardinal too!). Reminded me of leaving Parliament Hill after fireworks on Canada Day. It was like a swirling vortex of energy with no clear path. It took me an hour to go the 5 km home. But it was worth it.