My 8 weeks in Thailand happened to coincide with the celebrations of the Lunar New Year and welcoming in the Year of the Monkey. I was born in a Monkey year, so I was particularly keen for the celebrations. It’s my year, guys.

To get in on the party, I went with my cohort mates and some new friends from classes here in Thailand to Bangkok’s Chinatown. Thousands of people had taken to the streets, most dressed in red for good luck. There were parades, and members of the royal family also came to help ring in the new year. Dragons and lions danced in the streets, and monkeys decorated everything. The pictures only scratch the surface of the spectacle.

When I returned to my apartment, the management had left a little present: two mandarin oranges and two small coins to offer me good luck in the coming year. It was a lovely touch.

Title quote: Pinyin Mandarin Chinese for “A Happy and Prosperous Lunar New Year”