Chinese New Year, Birmingham 2014 - The Year Of The Horse

Gung Hei Fat Choi! It's Chinese New Year 2014 here in Birmingham the festivities have been in full flow this past weekend. Welcoming the year of the Horse myself and Kelly spent an afternoon amongst the craziness in Birmingham's Chinatown in Southside. Let's work hard to achieve our goals and be determined for its my year! This time around it's my Chinese Zodiac, which happens to be the Horse! 

Making our way to Chinatown in Southside, Birmingham we patiently waited for the awakening of the dragons for the new year, but we must have read something wrong for the showcase was announced to begin at 12:30 pm. To get out of the cold weather and the building crowds we retreated to the warmth of Caffe Chino for a HK Style Bubble Tea, that did just the trick but I always have to have my Bubble Tea cold. I had never seen Caffe Chino so busy because it's usually chilled out and calm, for can we can listen to the Cantonese music and enjoy our time quietly. It was Chinese New Year after all so it was a hive of activity, I wasn't very pleased to hear some people order English Tea, its a Oriental Bakery not Greggs! If I was the couple having English Tea I would exchange it for a steaming pot of Oolong Tea!

In the spirit of things a Horse looking figure stepped from the backroom door in Caffe Chino to hand out flyers as business would prosper that weekend. As I enjoyed my Bubble Tea I couldn't help but notice that Cathay Street was progressively growing busier with excited Birmingham folk who were ready for the festivities. I always make tracks down to Chinatown in Birmingham, whether if its for a lovely meal or two picks some groceries from the Day In Supermarket so I would like to say I felt comfortable with my surroundings. I had never before celebrated a Chinese New Year so I was very much looking forward to the day ahead as it's the final semester soon of my degree so I want to encapsulate as many new things as possible in Birmingham. Each visit to Caffe Chino takes me back to NYC Chinatown for its one of my fondest memories of my Placement having Bubble Tea on Christmas Eve 2012! Me and Kelly watched the clock so we could leave enough time to find a space in the crowd so we could get a good view of the dragons. Thanks Caffe Chino, I'm going to miss you when I leave Birmingham! 

The Arcadian was so busy with the excited spectators, I knew things were going to be busy but I wasn't completed prepared for it. Keeping calm and carrying on we found a space that gave us a good view of the performance area. As the time grew closer to show time the crowd grew some more and the space became very restricted but after some restructuring of the crowd everything settled. Captured to the right are dragons in all of their glory, I loved the whole routine for I felt part of the Chinese New Year festivities. I just want to be in Hong Kong already, but I have some time to wait still. Back to the dragons, I loved the fast paced arrangement that was played, it definitely detracted away from the cold temperatures but no rain fell so that was sign of good luck!

The sound of firecrackers and fireworks could be heard at the finale of the routine, welcoming in the New Year with the unveiling of the New Year red sign that read in both Cantonese and English. The presenters made their opening speeches, Kirtsy Lo greeted the crowd in English and her co-host Jimmy Chun spoke in Cantonese after all it was Chinese New Year! The Lord Mayor of Birmingham was present amongst other notable figures such as a council member there was also a number of representatives from the Chinese Festival Committee to make their respected speeches. The sponsors of the Dragon were the International phone provider Lebara and Tiger sponsors were the Genting Casino. I always pride Southside for being a diverse and vibrant part of Birmingham for its my favorite part of the city! I can look back at this part of my Chinese New Year experience in Birmingham with a smile upon my face as it was something different to do, so for that I'm thankful. Best of all without Kelly there wouldn't of been any photos for her knack of photography came in handy within the crowds. 

Bidding a fond farewell to the festivities me and Kelly made our way to Ken Ho Restaurant on Hurst St for an extraordinary meal. Kelly chose our restaurant as she knew the food would be served to an optimum standard. Kelly also took care of our food order for she made some surprise selections that I would soon find out what they tasted like. We choose to eat Dim Sum, a range of special dishes that could literally feed the 5,000! Amongst the Custard Buns to the left I would find out that the dish next to Buns happened to be Cow's Stomach in a spicy chili sauce, I actually enjoyed this alternative dish because I'm strange like that! Located to the top left is Pig's Blood Jelly, another dish that rewrites the book when it comes to the British way of a Chinese meal. I liked the Pig's Blood Jelly for it was flavoursome and was served in a Black Bean like sauce. I just love to try new foods!

Our other dishes were Calamari Fritters, Steamed Prawn Parcels and Sesame Prawn Rolls. The Prawn Rolls were to die for, they were jammed pack with steamed Prawns that tasted so much better than the takeaway option. We also ordered one final item that surprised my taste-buds once more, choosing a fruit based pastry that contained the Durian fruit, they tasted very good indeed! I actually love Dim Sum and pledge to sample some more outlandish dishes in Birmingham this semester or make sure I have lunch at one of the Malaysian kitchens in Chinatown. Overall I would like to think that my taste tolerance is widening for I want to sample as many barmy sounding snacks and dishes once I make it to Asia and also parts of South East Asia for I want Desperately Seek that taste Adventure! Chinese New Year was great, I loved my first day of celebrating the year of the Horse! I just hope that this Chinese Zodiac shows me the way to greater things and if people get in my way I shall give them sharp kick just like a Horse! I'm actually joking about the kicking part! 

Gung Hei Fat Choi !!!Joseph Harrison