From Hot dang I like Penang by Globalchoirboy

One exciting aspect of traveling is getting to partake in local traditions and festivals. The Chinese New Year just began on February 18 with a new moon bright in the sky, and will come to a close with a Lantern Festival on March 2 as the full moon shines on. Chinese New Year is a time for communing with family and friends, reuniting with loved ones, and giving thanks. Each day offers its own unique traditions, including activities like welcoming the gods of the heavens and the earth, visiting temples and praying for good fortune and health, making offerings to the Jade Emperor, and inviting friends and family for a scrumptious feast.

Decorations play a large and colorful part in the celebrations; people festoon their homes with live blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth, as well as wealth and success. Living rooms are decorated with platters of oranges and tangerines and candy trays with eight different types of dried fruit. A household is considered especially lucky if a plant blooms on New Year’s Day. The sounds of firecrackers resound on New Year’s Eve to symbolize the end of the old year, and the ushering in of a new one. At midnight, people open all of their doors and windows to allow the old year to leave the house.

Chinese New Year is celebrated in many cities all over the world, including Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Singapore, Temburong, and some North American cities like San Francisco, which hosts the U.S.’s largest Chinese New Year parade.

2007 is the year of the Pig. The Pig symbolizes fertility and virility, and people born in the year of the Pig are thought to be honest, loyal, trusting, and reliable. If you were born in the year of the Pig, you may expect to have an especially prosperous 2007.

Several RealTravelers have been enjoying partaking in Chinese New Year’s celebrations around the world. Globalchoirboy enjoyed the food, fun, and friendliness of a celebration he witnessed in Penang:

“…it was so full of amazing food stalls and fun entertainment such as truly bad karaoke and troops of children in dazzling costumes performing a slightly unsynchronized version of synchronized dance performances. Packed with people time and again some stranger would look and smile at me. Take delight in seeing me eat a local delicacy or engage in a small conversation and the most amazing thing - they were not looking to make money or engage me in a tour. They just were being friendly.” (more…)

Megan & David had a great time in Beijing listening to the New Year’s Eve fireworks:

“We flew in over Beijing at around 9:30pm on New Year’s Eve and the view was astounding. As far as we could see there were fireworks exploding EVERYWHERE! We were able to watch the festivities from the balcony at our hostel once we arrived. At midnight there were fireworks exploding every couple hundred feet on every block everywhere in Beijing. By fireworks we don’t mean bottle rockets, we mean the giant exploding flowers and mortars they use in the professional shows in the US. Here, everybody can buy those same fireworks from the street vendors. It was absolutely amazing!” (more…)

Goodcupocoffee enjoyed the Chinese New Year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, observing some of the traditions:

“At the mall inside Petronas there were musicians playing traditional Chinese music, which was really cool to hear. I wish there was a way to upload the video I took so you could hear it too. Really neat…

There were also women making ang pow, little red envelopes that are given to children and singles from married couples. Inside the envelope is money, usually in amounts of 2s (to represent a “fruitful” and wealthy life). They were only RM1 each (about 25 cents!), so of course I had to buy one!” (more…)

If you’d like to read more about Chinese New Year and Chinese customs, check out these great sites:
China Travel Guide
China Travel Information
Chinese New Year
Chinese Historical Society of America

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As someone with two wonderful sisters of my own, I couldn’t help but agree when I read Realtraveler AK Andy’s sentiment that a sister is “the perfect traveling partner.” There’s an indescribable bond between sisters that brings a unique brand of fun, humor, and ease to any vacation. And after siblings return from their travels, their treasured stories join the ever-evolving shared family history.

AK Andy and her sister, travel enthusiasts from Anchorage, Alaska, are in the middle of a fantastic two-month long adventure using a round-the world airfare deal. After spending a couple of days in New York, they headed to Africa, exploring Zambia and South Africa, and then moved on to Mauritius for some much-earned relaxation. Lastly, they will end their trip in Malaysia and Hong Kong. If the itinerary is not inspiring enough, wait until you hear some of the things they’ve been up to along the way!

From AK Andy’s journal, New York, Africa, and Asia 2007, I was captivated by the leg of the trip they spent in South Africa. From zip lines to wildlife encounters, moving from the city life of Cape Town to the rugged Wild Coast, and with exploratory road trips along a dramatic landscape and a stay at the Kob Inn with a room suspended above the rocky Indian Ocean shoreline, these girls certainly had an adventure. I asked AK Andy if she would share her favorite South Africa travel tips with fellow Realtravelers, and she graciously obliged. What she created is a great Top 10 list for anyone interested in traveling to this amazing country!

Check it out for yourselves:

1. The best place to stay: The Antbear Guesthouse, in the Central Drakensburg region. Staying here is as close to feeling at home a traveler can get! Not only are the nightly dinner feasts a highlight of your day there, but the location is really great as well. The Antbear is only a short drive away from Giant’s Castle, Kamberg, many other hiking and rock art locations in the mountains, and the Midlands Meander, an interesting shopping drive off of the N3 (main highway).

2. If you only have one afternoon in South Africa, spend it on Table Mountain. On a clear day, the views from the top are unparalleled. You can see Robben Island, all of Cape Town, mountains, beaches, and ocean! Both hiking to the top or taking the cableway and spending your time hiking across the flat mountain are rewarding options.

3. A must-do is the Knysna Friday Night Market, where Knysna locals gather with food booths, live music, bonfires, and picnic benches. There are many cheap and tasty food options, but we especially loved the mini donuts drizzled with chocolate and sprinkles.

4. A must-see in Cape Town is the Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens. With mountains as a backdrop, they are incredibly scenic. Go on a Sunday afternoon to hear the cheap and festive summer sunset concerts. They start around 5:30pm but locals come hours early to spread blankets on the grass and relax with picnics.

5. The Knysna Featherbed Nature Reserve is another top attraction. An eco experience tour will take you out to the reserve, with 4X4 rides, great views, opportunities to hike, and a great buffet lunch.

6. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town is something all tourists must experience. It is the safest and cleanest area in Cape Town, with extensive shopping, the wonderful Two Oceans Aquarium, and what seems like limitless dinner choices!

7. Do a game drive at Addo Elephant National Park. You can self-drive through the park, but it is best to go in the high-up safari jeeps driven by knowledgeable guides for insider information and the best photo opportunities.

8. The Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour is an adventure that is both fun and relaxing. You zoom through the rain forest on zip lines for about three hours and you can control your own speed to make it as peaceful or as exciting as you want!

9. The Storms River Mouth must be visited for its gorgeous scenery. It is best to spend the night there to allow proper time for soaking in the ocean views, the beach, and the hiking opportunities.

10. Stay at a resort on the Wild Coast. It is tough driving on poor roads but the scenery and remoteness is worth it! You can experience “real” Africa this way as you drive through Xhosa villages. Stay at least a couple of days to make the long drives worth it.

If you’d like to read more about the travels of AK Andy and her sister, check out their travel blog here. If you’d like to create a Top 10 list of your own for a destination you’ve enjoyed, please do so! We have started a new thread on our Forums for an easy place to post them.

Useful links for dreaming up your own South African voyage:

South Africa Travel Guide
Cape Town Travel Guide
Port Elizabeth Travel Guide
Durban Travel Guide

Happy travels, everyone!

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