Happy New Year – Year of the Dragon

Figures_5314, originally uploaded by carolsLittleWorld.

It’s the year of the dragon and, to celebrate, today I headed over to Austin’s very own Chinatown destination to try and photograph some of the free roaming dragons.

I started out the day with a great game plan. I was going to head over there early in the afternoon, take some shots, and then get some Chinese food to go and bring it back home, to share with the family. So, I packed up the camera and the car and headed over to Chinatown, Austin to get some shots.

The shooting was fine-same as it is every year. The crowds are really big there and it’s hard to shoot through a lot of people holding up kids and iPhones (this year there were even some people with iPads up high.) I got a couple of shots to add to my on-going series about Austin’s Chinatown, but not a heck of a lot. Maybe a few, here and there. I do love what the lensbaby does to the puppet dragons, I must admit, so I shot a bunch of those. After a few dragon lensbabies, I headed over to the food store to get my take out. All well and good there, I had some chicken, orange chicken and sesame chicken plus gobs of rice for the family. (Even Chase had a taste once I got home.) I packed up the car and camera again and that’s when it hit me. My car, I had parked my car in front of this one market and I could not get out! The dragons had sort of “parked me in” if you will. I was trapped!

Rather than try to beat them (hey, they are dragons after all!) I thought it wise to just hang out a few more minutes. I grabbed the lensbaby and small camera again and went back for more dragon goodness. Finally, after a few children saw fit to feed them and they blew a bunch more firecrackers, I was able to get the car out, but not before they hit me in the face with some firecracker action. Like, seriously. Today, I can honestly say a dragon shot me in the face with a firecracker while I was waiting to back up my car. I mean, how many people do you know can say *that* with a straight face and really mean it?

Pesky dragons. What’s next? I bet they ate up all of the sweet tasting bok choy too. (Somebody, please tell me that next year is not in fact the year of the rat! I just so don’t what to go *there* ok?)

This shot was taken inside the market. It’s some of the figurines they have there for sale. I love that market too-more shots from there to follow.

Happy New Year! (Look out for that dragon!)

Until next time…