The time had arrived again to gather and make a multitude of gyoza with a bunch of family and friends to celebrate the Chinese New Year. This time our festivities extended to 12 people, so we are getting a bigger gathering every year, which is fantastic, and everyone always pitches in a hand with the menu and the labour, so it really does feel like a communal effort.
We had chicken, vegetarian, pork, lamb and beef gyoza varieties, which we boiled, steamed, fried and even smoked (accidentally when my bamboo steamer caught on fire) which offered a good variation in texture and taste. Bottom line - delicious! And extremely filling, by the time we mowed through three varieties of Chinese desserts (coconut jelly with mango, coconut sago pudding and pineapple, coconut sorbet), everyone was mellow and full and ready to crack out the fortune cookies. Another successful evening of chopsticks, red lanterns, many laughs and good company.
We had two 'monkeys' in our midst for the evening, Helen and Seth are both moving into 'their year' of the Chinese Zodiac this year. Interestingly, every female that was present had just started in a new role within their workplace, which is probably just a coincidence, but still, could be seen as somewhat auspicious. My fortune, like it is every year, was highly esoteric, alluding to the fact that I am supposed to act with mindfulness in everything I do. Not really an easy task to do, but probably quite poignant since I am trying to be more mindful and 'in the moment' this year, but seriously, mindfulness all the time? That is impossible! I think that 'more' mindfulness will be something that I will aim for, not constant mindfulness, that would just make me crazy.
As we move into the Year of the 'Red Fire' Monkey, it is a time to be smart, wily and vigilant, and it's also a good year to get your financial house in order - according to Chinese Astrology. I myself am a Wooden Tiger, and if I go by my 2016 predictions, this is not really going a favorable money year for me at all - to which I say - what else is new? Judging by the lousy amount of bills that I have piling up, my ship has already set sail for broke-town. But anyway who cares? Money comes and goes, it's health and love that I really care about, and I have that in buckets, so hoo-rah for me!
We had chicken, vegetarian, pork, lamb and beef gyoza varieties, which we boiled, steamed, fried and even smoked (accidentally when my bamboo steamer caught on fire) which offered a good variation in texture and taste. Bottom line - delicious! And extremely filling, by the time we mowed through three varieties of Chinese desserts (coconut jelly with mango, coconut sago pudding and pineapple, coconut sorbet), everyone was mellow and full and ready to crack out the fortune cookies. Another successful evening of chopsticks, red lanterns, many laughs and good company.
We had two 'monkeys' in our midst for the evening, Helen and Seth are both moving into 'their year' of the Chinese Zodiac this year. Interestingly, every female that was present had just started in a new role within their workplace, which is probably just a coincidence, but still, could be seen as somewhat auspicious. My fortune, like it is every year, was highly esoteric, alluding to the fact that I am supposed to act with mindfulness in everything I do. Not really an easy task to do, but probably quite poignant since I am trying to be more mindful and 'in the moment' this year, but seriously, mindfulness all the time? That is impossible! I think that 'more' mindfulness will be something that I will aim for, not constant mindfulness, that would just make me crazy.
As we move into the Year of the 'Red Fire' Monkey, it is a time to be smart, wily and vigilant, and it's also a good year to get your financial house in order - according to Chinese Astrology. I myself am a Wooden Tiger, and if I go by my 2016 predictions, this is not really going a favorable money year for me at all - to which I say - what else is new? Judging by the lousy amount of bills that I have piling up, my ship has already set sail for broke-town. But anyway who cares? Money comes and goes, it's health and love that I really care about, and I have that in buckets, so hoo-rah for me!
CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON
Release Date: 2000
Rating: M
Running Time: 120 mins
An American-Chinese-Hong Kong-Taiwanese co-production, directed by Ang Lee and based on the fourth novel of the Chinese Crane Iron Pentalogy by Wang Dulu. Created on a budget of $17 million, the film went on to become an international success, grossing over $213 million and winning the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, four BAFTA'S and two Golden Globes.
Set in 19th Century Qing Dynasty China, an accomplished Wudang swordsman (Chow Yun-Fat) intends to give up his warrior life and entrusts his sword - the Green Destiny, to Yu Shu Lien, a woman that he has a fondness for. He asks that she transports the sword to Beijing, to pass it along to a friend of theirs, however, before Yu can deliver the sword, it is stolen by a mysterious thief and an action-packed chase begins.
This is a crowd pleasing martial arts film, there is a good mix of action, clever storytelling, romance and magic. It's a visual feast for the eyes with beautiful backdrops and landscapes, and loads of mythical choreographed martial arts fights scenes that defy gravity and reality. You don't need to like martial arts to love this movie, it's covering a lot of bases and there is something here for everyone's tastes, it's an epic like no other.
FINAL SAY: Because of your love, I will never be a lonely spirit.
4 Chili Peppers
Release Date: 2000
Rating: M
Running Time: 120 mins
An American-Chinese-Hong Kong-Taiwanese co-production, directed by Ang Lee and based on the fourth novel of the Chinese Crane Iron Pentalogy by Wang Dulu. Created on a budget of $17 million, the film went on to become an international success, grossing over $213 million and winning the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, four BAFTA'S and two Golden Globes.
Set in 19th Century Qing Dynasty China, an accomplished Wudang swordsman (Chow Yun-Fat) intends to give up his warrior life and entrusts his sword - the Green Destiny, to Yu Shu Lien, a woman that he has a fondness for. He asks that she transports the sword to Beijing, to pass it along to a friend of theirs, however, before Yu can deliver the sword, it is stolen by a mysterious thief and an action-packed chase begins.
This is a crowd pleasing martial arts film, there is a good mix of action, clever storytelling, romance and magic. It's a visual feast for the eyes with beautiful backdrops and landscapes, and loads of mythical choreographed martial arts fights scenes that defy gravity and reality. You don't need to like martial arts to love this movie, it's covering a lot of bases and there is something here for everyone's tastes, it's an epic like no other.
FINAL SAY: Because of your love, I will never be a lonely spirit.
4 Chili Peppers
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