Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節) 2010

Mid-Autumn Festival (or Moon Festival) is the 15th day of the 8th month on the Chinese calendar. Families usually come together to celebrate; eat mooncake, and light lanterns, and spend the holiday with loved ones. This Mid-Autumn Festival was the liveliest I've ever experienced. There are tons of people everywhere rushing home, buying mooncake, and of course, joining in on the festivities in Hong Kong. A group of friends and I went to the Victoria Park in Causeway Bay for the Lantern Festival. It's really like how in group gatherings such as these, I always meet new friends! Our group grew from 9, to 13, and then the word on the street was that another 15 were at McDonald's and coming to meet us up after eating. Anywho, here are some snapshots from the night!

Top: Elise, Melissa, Connie, Me, Ki Gin
Bottom: Harumi, Lu

The trains were pretty empty because everyone was at home celebrating - perfect for group pictures, hooray! They are all so cute, dontcha think?

There was a huge swarm of people at the Causeway Bay Station, all heading to the Lantern Festival!

Paparazzi! Lu is incredibly hilarious. And Nana is awesome! Her job right now is to play with the professor's adorable kid who calls her 'Nana-sensei"! 

Many pretty lights and lanterns at the festival. There were booths that taught how to make origami, lantern displays, traditional lion dancing, and performances on the big stage. 

Our group before we split up into smaller groups! It was so funny because they were all smiling for these pictures but were whispering "are those our cameras? why are those people taking pictures of us? do we know them?" 

Me and Nana!

Melissa and I ran into fellow UCSD Tritons! PICTURE TIME!

Nana, Honour, Lisa, Me, and Melissa

Melissa's trying to take a picture of the lion-dancer, but it was super crowed, and we're too short (even in HK) >.<

OooOo pretty lights!

Haibao, the Shanghai Expo mascot, can be found anywhere where there are tourists! Look at me, I'm cute too! xD

Heading out with Nana, Lisa, Melissa, and Alice (ran into her and her family, thus, group pic!)

As we were leaving, more people were just coming! The streets were so packed!  We made a detour and got some street snacks :d
Egglettes, shiumai, fish balls, and mango juice, yummy!!!

And since Mid-Autumn festival is also my Chinese birthday, my friend Eric gave me my first mooncake in Hong Kong! It was specially home-made by his friend, and it was sooo good - thanks!