Happy Year of The Dog!

Went to Russelll Square last night to check out the annual fair the Vietnamese put on, and found it a little sad and disconcerting: bingo, insurance salesmen, and candy floss. There were a couple of stalls offering traditional fare, and about thrice as many offering hot dogs, meat pies, and chips. Proof of how well Vietnamese migrants and the children of the Boat People have intergrated into Australian culture and society perhaps, even as they dress their grandchildren in traditional costume and sing old folk songs while sipping a Passiona.

I always wondered why the Chung Wah Association don't organise a New Year's fair like the Vietnamese do. I suppose they feel the Chinese community doesn't need to remind itself of who they are as much. Either that, or most Chinese businesses are too busy making money during the New Year period to waste time manning stalls and operating bingo games.

Ah, well, to each their own.

In the meantime, we've got fifteen days of lion dancing to look forawrd to in Northbridge. Woo-hoo!

And a couple of obligatory dog stories to see in the Year of the Dog: Aibo is put to sleep, while dog is taken off the menu in China.

Happy Year of the Dog, everyone!