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Chinese Zodiac Critters, Chapter 3
© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
I’m watching the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games from Vancouver, Canada. There was a part earlier where the totems of the indigenous peoples of Canada were represented – whale, salmon wolf, GIANT bear. They lit up the arena like constellations. And I noted there was not a lot of crossover between the mythological creatures of North America and those of China. And yet, without much in common, they’re still about to play together for a couple of weeks. Rock on, Olympics!
Famous people born in the Year of the Monkey: Ashley Judd, Jack “Chicken Soup For The Soul” Canfield, Lisa Marie Presley.
Famous people born in the Year of the Sheep: Jane Austen, Michelangelo, Mark Twain
Famous people born in the Year of the Rooster: Eric Clapton, Somerset Maugham, Van Morrison
Happy Critturday!
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More critters from the Chinese zodiac
© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
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Click photos to see if there’s a larger version to view in Flickr
In honor of the upcoming Chinese New Year, which falls on Valentine’s Day this year, I’ve decided to continue covering the Chinese zodiac, as photographed at EPCOT during the International Flower and Garden Festival one year. To see the original post in this series, click here and read “Red for luck and love at Disney”.
First up today is the dragon. According to ChineseZodiac.com, the dragon is the “mightiest” of all the Chinese zodiac signs. Dragons are dominant, ambitious and prefer to lead. If you are a dragon, you’ve got passion and courage and a wee bit of a temper 
You also love your independence, but you are not impervious to falling in love provided you find someone engaging enough for you – and once in love, you tend to stay there. Dragons are best paired with Monkeys and Rats, but will not do well with the Ox or the Goat. Hey, Rat – that’s ME! Hmmm, I wonder if I actually know any dragons….
EEEK, it’s a SNAKE! Well that’s what I would say if I found one in my garage or on my lanai… notice I do not say “in my house”, as I have no wish to tempt the gods Snakes are very intelligent and analytical; this makes them good at plotting and scheming. They are also very materialistic and enjoy luxury surroundings, so I’m guessing that part of all that plotting and scheming is to obtain the fine things they want. At work, they are creative and diligent but can become easily bored and therefore tend to job-hop. In relationships, the Snake is characterized as an attractive and expert seducer – why am I not surprised, given the Biblical story about the snake in the garden! They are a bit possessive and jealous of their mates. Don’t make the Snake cross, as they are big lovers of revenge. Snakes get on well with the Rooster and the Ox, but with Pigs and Monkeys – not so much!
Last one for today – it’s the Horse, and I actually like this particular statue best because of the awesome detailing that went into making the saddle. The Horse possesses many attributes that please – he’s energetic, outgoing, humorous and loves to be the center of attention and have a good time. Athletic and intelligent, they are also a little bit on the “ADD” side, starting many projects at once but not necessarily finishing before pursuing the next thing. The Horse enjoys interaction, and does well in careers where they deal with people on a regular basis. Horses are spontaneous in relationships, throwing themselves completely in, often leaving a little chunk of themselves behind when it ends. That must be completely exhausting! Horses can successfully partner with Dogs and Tigers but should not try it with a Monkey or a Rat.
Wow, no wonder why it never works with the “fun” guys :p
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Picture perfect on the rocks at Disney’s EPCOT
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In Walt Disney World’s EPCOT theme park, just across the walkway from the China pavilion in the World Showcase, there is a certain rock formation that is distinctive because it has a “doughnut hole” shape cut into it. Many of you reading this may recognize it. Here’s what it looks like on a normal day in May.
During the winter holiday season, that same rock formation gets dressed up in red, China’s favorite color – we discussed this yesterday! Here’s what the area looks like adorned with festive red lanterns.
And here’s what it looks like when you are standing in the exact right spot on the path – the “doughnut hole” perfectly frames a lovely young tree that grows on an island in the middle of World Showcase lagoon.
You want me to be happy, don’t you?
DON’T YOU?
Red for luck and love at Disney
© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
http://MyMobileAdventures.com
Click the photos to see larger versions available in Flickr
In Chinese culture, the color red is symbolic of luck, happiness and high energy (fire, in Chinese metaphysics). I don’t know if Mary “The Teach” at Work Of The Poet knew it when she launched her Ruby Tuesday meme, but she has given us a weekly opportunity to immerse ourselves in the positive energy of red. Thanks, Mary
The Chinese New Year is coming up. Can you believe it? This year, Chinese New Year falls on the same day as a Western holiday that is also associated with the color red – February 14th, Valentine’s Day! I have the feeling Valentine’s Day will be amazing this year. Imagine the influence that the luck, happiness and fire of the Chinese New Year could have on the love of Valentine’s Day. It truly boggles the mind!
In 2007 at Walt Disney World, I came upon these effigies of the 12 animals represented in the Chinese zodiac. They are a kind of a 3-D decoupage, with decorative patterns constructed of small seeds, nuts and beans glued to them. The animals are arranged beautifully on red pedestals scattered around the pond at the Chinese pavilion in EPCOT. 2007 was the Year of the Pig, which is the final year in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
The first year in the Chinese zodiac cycle is the Year of the Rat. I was born in a Rat year, which I have known since about 7th grade, when Benji Gong who lived around the corner from us informed me of such. For all of these years, I never knew what a terrible thing it is to be born in the Year of the Rat. There’s a fable about how the Zodiac came about. The animals could not decide who should go first in the cycle. So God said there was to be a race to the other side of the river, and whatever place you got in the race, that’s the place you would get in the cycle.
So the animals all ran down to the river and raced to see who could get across first, but unbeknownst to anyone, the rat hitched a ride across by climbing on the back of the ox. Just as the ox was going to beat everyone to the other side of the river first, the rat suddenly leaped off his back and landed there first. That was sort of crafty and sneaky and rat-like of him, don’t you think? I don’t think I like being born in the Year of the Rat!
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My previous Ruby Tuesday posts
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A water lily’s fiery center, EPCOT
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Pond visitor at EPCOT
© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
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You want me to be happy, don’t you?
DON’T YOU?
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View across China’s pond at EPCOT
© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
http://MyMobileAdventures.com
You want me to be happy, don’t you?
DON’T YOU?
Lotus in the pond at EPCOT
© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
http://MyMobileAdventures.com
Same pond at the China pavilion that was featured in yesterday’s post about the dragonfly gymnast I had to scour Google Images to figure out that this was a lotus bud, and not just a run of the mill “water lily”. Oddly, the way I finally identified it was not via the bud, but via the seed pod!
I don’t usually go in for pink much because it is not on my color chart – I’m an “autumn” – but I just love this shade. I bet it looked really pretty when it finally did bloom.
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Dragonfly gymnastics at EPCOT
© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
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I found this little guy hanging out in the lily pond outside the China pavilion in Walt Disney World’s EPCOT theme park. I don’t know what he’s doing, but it looks like gymnastics to me! Click the photos – you’ll be taken to Flickr, and you can choose a different size to examine. You’ll see that the poor little fella’s wings are a little tattered and torn – I wonder how that happens, and how it affects his ability to fly?
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Water lilies at Disney’s EPCOT
© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~*
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