Red Chinese Lanterns in the Wind (enlarge photo)

My memories of the time around Chinese New Year are filled with the colour red. Red is a lucky colour in the Chinese world and can be found almost everywhere, especially during the festive season surrounding the New Year and the Lantern Festival.

These brightly coloured lanterns were hung outside of a small Buddhist temple near my apartment in Hsintien, Taiwan. I was drawn in by the bold red and gold colours; the strong wind blowing the lantern and tassels were pleasing too. The cluttered background is an integral part of the scene; anybody who has spent much time in a large Asian city will understand that this type of congestion is a part of everyday life.