Chinese New Year 09

A few (somewhat belated) pictures from Chinese New Year 2009

I went to Anhui, a province in central china to stay with a friend for a week and enjoy all the tradational trappings of the spring festival.

Fireworks on new years eve over a temple in the centre of Hefei

We take my friends cousins on a pedalo ride.

I also managed a quick trip to nearby Nanjing, though the smog disappointed my view from the top of purple mountain overlooking China's old capital.

An unfathomable astronomical instrument

Above is the Sun Yat Sen memorial, tribute to China's 'founding father'.

A 'wishing' tree outside a temple on purple mountain

A collection of bells in a museum in Hefei

Burning incense in a temple dedicated to Bao Gong, an official so fair and upright that he sentenced his own half-brother to execution.

After visiting Nanjing, it was off to the Chinese countryside to visit my ex and her family. Which meant lots more eating - mmmm!

My ex eating her favourite snack - chickens feet!!!

The cutest little girl in China.