Bokeboke Island - Photos - CNY 2009, Feb 1st-3rd 2009, London (UK)

Bokeboke Island

CNY 2009, Feb 1st 2009, London (UK) — Photos (Day 1)

A trio of colourful lion puppets greet visitors to a stall in Trafalgar Square.	To the north of Trafalgar Square, a giant inflatable hamster ball promotes Disney's new film, Bolt.	Blue skies over Trafalgar Square - but how long will they last?
The usual parade through central London was a casualty of the cost-cutting this year. Instead, we have firecrackers.	Firecrackers doing their thing.	A lot of mess to clean up.
A flurry of snow as the crowds move towards the main stage.	After half an hour of listening to politicians talking (yawn), a dancing dragon took to the stage.	Looking north across Trafalgar Square - the sky in that direction is no longer blue.
A pole dancing lion.	One of the many musical dance acts on at the main stage during the afternoon.	Lanterns add a little colour to the railings in Leicester Square.
Choi chang-ing lions surrounded by crowds in Chinatown.	Gerrard Street was fairly busy as usual.	Walking along Shaftesbury Avenue - the roads around Chinatown are all shut to traffic during the festivities.
In the middle of Gerrard Street - quite busy but definitely not as crowded as in previous years.	People seeking a warm bite to eat. I had a bread... thing. There was chicken in it.	Snow falling in Leicester Square, mid-afternoon.
Back in Trafalgar Square, the main stage was still drawing a crowd.	The acts were mostly musical in nature - a variety of modern and traditional performances.	Twilight fireworks and firecrackers in Leicester Square.
It doesn't take long for the square to fill with smoke.	An ominous silhouette lurks in the smoke holding a burning torch. It almost looks like a scene from a horror movie.	Leicester Square a couple of hours later, after another light dusting of snow.
Heading back to Gerrard street to take in Chinatown at night before retiring to the hotel.

CNY 2009, Feb 2nd 2009, London (UK) — Photos (Day 2)

Monday morning. During the night it had snowed. A lot. Here's a view of a white Leicester Square.	Another view of the Square. Paved surfaces were covered with a mixture of slush and treacherous ice.	In the Square, looking North.
Charlie Chaplin enjoying the change of weather and sporting a very novel hat.	Gerrard Street, looking a little different.	The snow-covered lanterns looked quite attractive, although they could turn nasty if caught by a gust of wind.
More snow-covered lanterns.	There weren't many people using the roads. Public transportation was shut down too.	One of many snowmen that appeared across the capital.
A random snowball fight in Seven Dials. I took care to look as neutral as a Swiss diplomat and emerged unscathed.	Candy Cakes, a cafe I've wanted to visit for a while - yes, those are real cakes.	Mmm... and it's all natural! Maybe...
Time to head back and see if there's a chance of getting home. Not even Freddie could escape the snow.	After a tour of the southern London stations, it was determined that all trains were cancelled. Apparently I'm not getting out of London today. Time to look for a hotel...	Charing Cross underground station at rush hour. Some of the Underground lines were open again, but there was no one around to use them.
The Northern Line platform at 5:30pm was equally busy.

CNY 2009, Feb 3rd 2009, London (UK) — Photos (Day 3)

The sun rising over the Thames on our third day. Today's plan of action: get home.	Looking down Villiers Street towards Embankment station. Things are still rather quiet.	A small army of winged rats.
Trafalgar Square looking decidedly wintery.	After a trek across London, we arrived at Victoria Station to find... a train! We got on it.	The Kentish countryside - a welcome sight.

CNY 2009, Feb 1st-3rd 2009, London (UK) — Video

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