New York: Chinatown, New York City

It's the Year of the Dragon.  Look out for a baby boom from those who celebrate the Lunar New Year.  On Sunday afternoon, NYC's Chinatown was host to a glorious display of cultural pageantry to celebrate the big holiday. 

While you can usually count on colorful processions of dancing dragons and confetti canons, most people don't looks to the streets as a runway for great hairpieces and hats.  Some spectators wore  classic embellished chopsticks.  While riders on the floats donned millinery made from flowers, pearls, fur and jewels. The accessories here were worn in tribute to the tribes and performing arts of China.  

Chinese New Year may have started over a week ago, but subsequent days hold celebrations of different themes.  Every restaurant within in a 5 mile radius was packed with lines down the street.  Noodles for longevity, fish for fortune, and my favorite sesame balls filled with sweet lotus paste or custard tarts!

Maui: Scuba 5 Graves & Wailea

So many of my trips, Hubby and I miss the opportunity for scuba diving because of weather.  We tried for the famed Molokini crater off Maui, but we were thwarted once again...  Luckily, the trip wasn't a total bust.  We did a refresher shore dive as an intro to scuba for my Mom, then a 2-tank boat dive off a site known as the 5 Graves, and off of Wailea.  

We got to play with an octopus, swim among giant sea turtles, amuse spotted eels and wave to some fishJ.  We went out with BB Scuba out of Kihei.   The guys there are patient and have a great sense of humor.  I look forward to going out with them again on our return.

 Photos by Adam Weinstein.  

Map of Dive Area