Chinese New Year Festival

What a night! Went out to celebrate the year of the dragon in Chiang Mai's Chinatown with a big group of friends. We spent the first hour going stall to stall trying all kinds of different food. We would each buy something and share with the others so we could all taste it. By the end of the street I thought I was going to burst! A great festival, lots of people and entertainment and a finale that absolutely blew us away. Many pictures for food lovers below!

Snake charming

Red lanterns for the New Year

Sweet desserts

Roasted chestnuts

Strange dessert/beverage made of some type of seaweed I believe

Shui Mai ! One of my favourites! 

Sushi

Sushi

Roasted pig

Unknown!

Giant vats of soup (think thats sweet & sour in the middle)

Thats a lot of soup!

Fried chicken wings and necks - very tasty!

Dessert & Drink - still have no idea what these are!

Shrimp, pork & chicken dumplings. These did me in!

All kinds of dried fruits

Dried umm something?

Putting the pieces in place for the final show of the night.

Adorable little puppies, but all stuffed in a cage together :( 

We tried to pet them but were told no. I think this sign is a little off! We certainly weren't licking them!

Cute little animal lights for sale. 

Barbies, barbies, everywhere... 

Fresh mushrooms.

The streets were crowded!

Red lanterns everywhere.

One of the side streets.

More lanterns - so pretty!

Miss. Chinatown runner up.

What a doll!

Too cute for words!!!

Adorable little dog!

Couldn't get enough of these little fellows! And neither could anyone else. 

Having fun with some quirky glasses.

Any better? ;) 

Thai pizzas.

More shui mai - but green & yellow.

Fish.

Dragon stage show.

Everyone (even the entertainers) were captivated.

Incredible dragon dance/show on poles. 

There are two people inside this jumping from pole to pole bringing the dragon to life.

Climbing a very tall pole.

Holding a 60 metre long dragon, and then a young boy climbs up a tall bamboo pole...

Very impressive and dangerous! 

Fire-cracker breathing dragon! 

The 60 metre dragon up close.

And the night comes to a end.