It’s the first day of the Lunar New Year. This year, it’s the year of the Goat, according to the Chinese zodiac.
Happy New Year to all the people from cultures that celebrate this traditional festival! And to all Chinese around the world, Happy Chinese New Year!
I snapped this photo of a kid in a small town called Takamori at the Southeastern corner of the Aso caldera in Kyushu, Japan. The Chinese greetings is a pun during the Goat (on the Chinese Zodiac) years on the traditional Lunar New Year greeting “三阳开泰” – which augurs an auspicious year ahead as the sun ushers in the warm Spring from the cold Winter. Photo taken in 2012 with a Nikon D800 DSLR with an AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens. Photo credit: John Tan.
It’s customary for Chinese to give out Ang Pows during the Lunar New Year. These are red paper envelopes containing money that’s given to relatives and children.
It being the new year, you’re supposed to use crispy new notes in these red packets.
Last year, I had a hard time looking for a bank with new notes available for exchange so I thought I’d do the exchange a fortnight earlier.
It didn’t make the slightest difference!
UOB and DBS/POSB had run out of all new notes except for the S$2 denominations – and there didn’t seem to be any plans to replenish.
Standard Chartered also ran out but at least they replenish every morning.
In the end, it was Citibank that gave me a reprieve. This year, I noticed that they put up a notice that note exchange was only for account holders.
Fortunately I happen to have a credit card from them even though I seldom use that card.
Bravo, Citibank! I really should consider making you my regular bank.
Tags: Chinese New Year, goat, holidays, Japan, Japan 2012, kid, Kumamoto, Kyushu, Lunar New Year, photography, photos, potd, Takachiho, travel, vacation