The boss, fireworks and cuddly toys....

Hi Everyone!
We have had the most awesome 24 hrs!!!
Chinese new year is officially absolutely AMAZING!!!
After the e-mail last night we headed to the lobby of the hotel. We weretold that we could watch someone make dumplings. Instead we were treatedto what is apparently a chinese institution the "Spring Festival GalaPerformance produced by CCTV", which is basically something along thelines of the royal variety show. There were semi english subtitles thattold us the meaning of the sketches. The one I remember most was thesketch about traffic wardens who should not be treated badly and shouldnot be bribed by people saying they have connections! It was hilarious,although the chinese sense of humour seems quite slap stick.
We were given nuts and seeds, chinese sweets and offered lots of beer andtea. All the hotel staff were there and a couple of spanish girls (otherguests), we spent alot of time chatting to everyone.
About an hour into this the hotel staff laid out everything to makedumplings and everyone there helped us to make dumplings!!! It wasawesome, and a lot harder than it looks! We spent about an hour with thestaff attempting to make a decent dumpling. Rob was alot better at it thanme!
The owner of the hotel was there, all the staff especially the 3 girlreceptionists who are a year older than us call him 'the boss'. We wereapproached by the girls who said 'The boss would like to offer you adrink'. This felt like a proper sopranos moment! lol! He gave us scottishwhiskey mixed with soda... which was very strong! He also showed us thewhiskey alot!
We drank our whiskey that 'the boss' had given us while the dumplings werecooking. Then all of us sat around the big table in the lobby and eat thedumplings that we had made. This is very traditionally in china, at newyear you apparently make dumplings then sit around a big table withfriends and family and eat them together. They were accompanied by 22 dayaged garlic and soy sauce dip and chilli dip.
At midnight we went outside and set fireworks off. I cannot even explainhow many fireworks went off, the WHOLE of Beijing had fireworks going off!Again we had a message to say 'The boss' would like you to light afirework, I declined but Rob did. He still has all his limbs so that wentwell. I'm very clumpsy so I decided it might be best for me to stand back.We were given sparklers, which had smoke coming off them that was reallyreally choking! lol! Then we stood for about an hour with the mostridulous amount of fireworks going off around us. Along with this they setoff bangers which are REALLY REALLY LOUD!!!
I have to say that firework/fire safety does not seem to be something thechinese do!!! At one point one of the hutong roofs set alight! And whenfireworks had been lit and they did not go off they were approached andproded and made sure that they went off! The practice is to buy smallcatherine wheel like things that you throw at peoples feet! I got laughedat when I screamed and ran away from one coming towards me! lol! Peoplehold on to the bottom of fireworks and set them off, holding on to them asthey go off! It really was amazing no one got hurt!
After this we were offered lots and lots of beer and we went to the tikibar for chinese karaoke! lol!
It was an absolutely AMAZING night! They were so incredible hospitable!The girls on reception are students who are studying, they cannot get hometo there family for new year so everyone just spent it together at thehotel. It was really lovely to be a part of!
I don't think I can really describe how good last night was or how amazingit was to see the amount of fireworks that went off over Beijing. I'mreally glad we stayed in the hotel rather than going down to Tian'anmenwhich was our original plan! Ow and the dumplings we made were definatelythe best so far! I think if I eat anymore dumplings I'm going to turn intoone!
Today we headed down to a new year fair. This was in a park a subway stopalong from us. Rob and I felt like we had found proper chinese culture...I have NEVER EVER seen so many cuddly toys in my whole entire life! lol!It was basically lots and lots of stalls with fairground games that gaveaway cuddly toys as prices! There were soooo many people there. It washeld in Ditan Park which was really pretty. It was a bit like strawberryfair with no fights and thousands of cuddly toys! lol! If you can imaginethat!
Tomorrow we're going to see the temple of heaven and see an acrobaticsshow in the evening. Also I'm going to buy some hiking shoes because onsaturday we are going to hike from Jingshanling to Simatai 10km along thegreat wall! I'm really nervous about this but I think its going to beawesome, cold and awesome! lol!
Anyways, we're going to some bars tonight so I'm off!
Hope everyones well! Lots of Love,
Sarah xxx
ps. There are still fireworks going off tonight!!!