By Yvonne Yang 

Hong Kong - February 2 - IJS-Global – Red flowers blossoming and flags flying along the streets, Chinese traditional decorations from one mall to another, and the same crowds of people in downtown area make up the celebration of Lunar New Year of OX in Hong Kong.

Jason Shi, a student studying in Hong Kong from mainland China feels some differences in celebrating the most important traditional festival. “On the eve of lunar new year, it’s regular for me to watch the grand Spring Festival Gala on national TV with the whole family in the evening, but here, after the dinner in the eve, they would like to go to the Victoria Park to join the flower fair.”

The flower fair in Victoria Park is the largest and jolliest New Year activity which has been customary for Hong Kong people to stroll around.

Hong Kong pop stars also prefer to promote their career with the joy of Lunar New Year. Various artist promotions are scheduled during the holiday in different malls to attract the fans, as well as to appeal the popularity of the business in New Year. “I saw Raymond, one of my favourite actors in Dragon Centre this afternoon. It’s my first time to meet the real people.”

Heng Sokunthy, a Cambodian girl spending her fist Lunar New Year festival away from home, enjoys the time in her way. “I like my holiday here,” she said.

“Compared to Cambodia, there are more holiday events in Hong Kong, such as the theme in Ocean Park, and more decorations, especially in the shopping malls. In Cambodia, we also would decorate our own house, but not the malls.” she explained.

Heng tried Poon Chai which is one of the special dishes here at her teacher’s family. “I am so excited to experience the real life in Hong Kong.”

Apart from celebrating in Hong Kong, Heng went to Macau with friends to start the first day of lunar New Year. Being asked why to choose travel during financial crisis, she laughed, “In Cambodia, we family would travel to other provinces during new year. And as a student, I’m not quite affected by the crisis. One day trip to Macau is interesting to me which provides me a different view and experience than that in Hong Kong. Maybe it is because Macau is smaller than Hong Kong; there are further more decorations in streets and crowds of people. But I love the atmosphere there as well!”