You know you're a rat if...

Festive turnips


Inside a traditional market

Shin Nien Quai Luh (Happy New Year, in Mandarin)!! We are on the precipice of Chinese New Year, and Taipei is busy gearing up for the big day, which is this coming Thursday, February 7th.

Despite the consistent downpour of rain and unusually cold weather, the markets are bustling with people shopping for the big New Year's Eve feast. Fruit vendors large juicy Asian pears (bigger than my fist!) in beautifully wrapped shiny boxes, pineapple with bright red and gold ribbons, oranges and those miniature orange fruits that I think are called komquats. Tons of vendors are also selling preserved meat things encased in animal tissue and hanging from hooks, I believe the carnivores call these sausages. The banks are also packed with people who are trying to get crisp new bills to stuff into red envelopes, as you're apparently not supposed to give any old dingy money. At my bank, both of their ATM machines broke down and they're apparently out of crisp new bills. That figures, my bank never fails to disappoint!

As for my preparations, I've been busy cleaning the apartment, buying a new outfit, and buying delicious treats like nien gau or "grow cupcakes" (essentially the larger the cupcake, the greater your prosperity for the coming year).I'm going to see if I can make it out to the Dihua Street market later today, where they specialize in New Year's treats and paraphernalia, and it is supposed to be quite an experience just to walk through, elbow-to-elbow with the crowds, and sampling colorful sweets.

This will be the year of the Rat - you know you're a rat if you are going to be turning 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, or 108 this coming year.