Along the way, there were people raising fund for aged people in Korea, for UNICEF, for refugees (I think, because I am not very sure of what I've read on their banner)... and the place near the funny blue and red spiral-looking seashell-like thingy near one of the Gwanghuamun exits (see photo below, taken by hubby last month), there are "bouquets" of tree branches... which when I had a closer look at I assumed were cherry tree branches. They were wrapped in yellow plastic papers and lots of people picking them up.
On the way back to the officetel, there was a truck stopped by the roadside and making some announcements through the speakers which I don't understand. As I am typing now, I can still hear som (possibly) police car siren passed by.
What a day.
Today is also Tomb Sweeping Day (清明节 QingMing Jie) for Chinese and Vietnamese (Tết Thanh Minh). While this is a public holiday in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau (Wiki: Mainland China only followed suit in 2008, WOW), Chinese elsewhere where it is not a public holiday should have done their tomb sweeping yesterday and today would be a memorial day for all chinese to remember our past ancestors. I only followed my parents to tomb-sweeping once, many years after my grandfather passed away in 1995, I think it's in 2001 or 2002. I am not a religious person nor a Chinese who is upholding traditional values. You can say I am branded as a "bad ass" or a bastard Chinese who does not put filial as the main value in my living philosophy which has been emphasized by Confucius since thousands of years ago...
The traditional practices and activities will die with me (and my hubby, LOL) as I won't pass it down to my kid(s), if I'm going to have any.
Peace.
