all about fireworks and firecracker

I think I had set off all the fireworks and firecrackers of my life at this Spring Festival.The most amazing is I got the chance to see some fireworks which looked like landmine.It looked scary but I got enough nerve to set off one.

The following videos were taken by me.Hope to share those fun with you.

Happy 牛 year's EVE~

It is the lunar New Year's Eve today.It's a bit weird but we Chinese people kinda take new year's EVE more seriously than new year's DAY.According to the Chinese Zodiac,it is gonna be another year of ox.It's quite interesting that chinese word for ox is Niu(牛) which sounds like "new",so we keep saying "happy 牛 year".It's great that we have two "new years" and we're capable to make a-nother wish.^^

After 9 years,I spend the spring festival here in my hometown again.Here's an interesting(or not) thing.Almost everyone said the same thing to me with a surprising face "Shuoshuo,how come your look didn' change?You look just like last time I saw you."I don't exactly remember how did I spend it last time but for this time,but I'm having a good time.As Sarina told me before,the trips you don't want to go on turn out to be the best.

It's normally -2℃～-12℃ in Lianyungang and the water I saw outside already became to ice.I don't think it's too cold for me but all I'm looking forward to is having some snow without the pray-for-snow dance.^0^I saw many folks and everytime I met new ones I had to figure out their positions in the family hierarchy in order to call them properly.I can't speak the local dialect here and sometimes don't completely understand them,so I smile a lot like I never smiled before.They're down-to-earth and are all friendly to me.My untie-in-law is very caring.She didn't let me get up before 10 AM because she said it was too cold for me to get up early.But she didn't know the cocks woke me up around 7 AM every morning.LOL.

Well,I'm gonna go out and receive generous hongbaos(the "hong bao" expresses good luck, growth and improvement) again.I hope that people who I love and love me all have a fabulous new year and get whatever they deserve.^^

(Greeting from Ganyu,Lianyungang,Jiangsu.)

One day for wandering around~

(Basically,the Qingkou lake already turned to ice. )

("The trees of money" are quite popular. )

(Hello,leopard print made in jiangsu.^^)

(The yellow thing below is skin of pigs.)

(I visited a honeycomb briquet factory.)

It's the sixth day of my journey.

It's -8° ouside in Lianyungang,but I'm not feeling it that cold.I'm not allowed to go outside because they says it's too cold for me and they worrys I may get a cold.It's much appreciated and I feel like being surrounded by love.I even had to sneeze secretly because I didn't want them to overact.^^

(Little cousins are never gonna stop fighting and screaming.Fainted~)

(My lovely granduncle.He's my mom's uncle.)

I never get along with my father,but according to the Chinese traditional family thing,I'm a member of the Cheng's family.-_-'So I paid a visit to the countryside again to see folks of the Cheng's.The Cheng's village is called "Jin Shan/金山(Gold Mountain)" which doesn't match the reality.But the rural style of life impressed me very much.Everything there was attractive to me.

(It took about 40 minutes to get to Jin Shan/金山 from Ganyu/赣榆 which is where I stay now.Compared to Ganyu/赣榆,Jin Shan is more countryside.)

(My third grandma.)

(One of my nieces.See,I'm old~)

(Me and my own grandma.)

quick post.

Finally I've got a free afternoon today but I don't think I could have a nap,because it's not easy to get up in such cold weather and I'm too full to fall asleep. Me and mom have been visiting different "old friends"(who I didn't know at all) and been having different kinds of big meals.People in my hometown favor meat and feel embarrassed to offer vegetables.But that's too heavy for me.Since always I'm not a person with a hearty appetite,but they think I fake because I wanna "lose weight".All I ask for is that I'm allowed to skip dinner today.

(I have to change my outfit as it gets colder.)

(Meat.meat.meat!!!)

(hehe,little cousin was pickying fruits.)

(This path was busy and I heard people bargining everywhere.^^)

(Selling firecracker openly is impossible in Shenzhen.)

(My granduncle's favourite instruments.^^)

Second day in hometown.

(I'm wearing hideous but snug shoes and trousers.^^)

Today is Ci Zao(辞灶) according to the lunar calendar.Ci Zao means "taking leave of the Kitchen God".It can be celebrated on lunar Dec.23 or 24 but basically people just have to do the same thing--shooting off some firecrackers.I didn't take it seriously but saw some rural life.

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Later in the afternoon,our folks took me and mom to visit my grandparents' grave to cherish the memory of the dead.Mom wept and I couldn't help shedding tears seeing her so sad.It was so emotional.