Gunpowder War
There's a deadline staring me in the face, but I had to write and tell you all about this. The Lunar New Year holiday celebrations officially opened at 18:00. I can NOT BELIEVE the NOISE!!! The bombardment has been going on for 45 minutes without letup. I saw them selling firecrackers in the streets earlier when I went out to buy fruit and pick up my silk dress (a disaster!) for Bangkok, but I had NO IDEA. (shakes head in disbelief) There is a hotel next to the teachers residence where I live, and there is a huge party there, with firecrackers on the roof, in front and at the sides of the hotel. There is the occasional BOMB!!!!!! which causes both me and the cat to JUMP, and me to clutch at my heart and laugh in relief after I get my breath back. There are hotels all over the city where this is also going on, to judge from the NOISE. Just FIRECRACKERS, mind, no light show. Just NOISE!!! and smoke and the smell of burnt creosote. GHASTLY. The noise from the bombs sets off car alarms, to add to the din. It is now 18:50 and I *hope* the hotel next door has run out of ammunition. It seems it is the kitchen staff who is doing the setting off of the strings of firecrackers (all sizes) and the BOMBS. Gods. It is finally slowing down. Back to work. The Lunar New Year itself is on the 9th of February. I wonder just HOW MUCH gunpowder gets exploded in China during this holiday???