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21 Feb 2002

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It's not over 'till it's over. Chinese New Year, that is. Today I took the morning off to write some notes (swapping data between programs, in case you're interested), leaving Ming to do the teaching at Hun Sen School. About eight o'clock there was a bit of a commotion in the factory yard, so being the nosy type I went out to see what was going on. At first I could only see people in yellow costumes charging around, but then I spotted the four lions. Mr Lim had invited them in to bless the factory and ensure its prosperity. First they danced in front of the factory shrine in the yard; next they visited the offices, and finally they danced at the shrine inside the canteen, accompanied by drums, cymbal crashes and a crazy character in a pig's head. Finally, one of the dancers shinned up a tall bamboo pole to receive an offering from someone on the factory roof, returning to the ground by sliding down the pole upside down. I was a bit surprised to see that the performers were all teenagers; they looked both excited and bored at the same time. No doubt Mr Lim paid generously to have the factory blessed....