Chap Go Meh

Freezing cold and empty streets

The whole of northern Israel was in snow ... and all the high places in the south as well. Everywhere except Jerusalem. Just a few specks which melted before they landed. What a disappointment. It's the coldest day this winter. It went down to zero degrees at 4am this morning. Lots of drizzle ... but no impressive snowfall like 4 years back. The temp will rise from tomorrow and hit 16 degrees by next weekend. End of winter.

It's Chap Go Meh or Yuan Xiao festival ... the 15th and last day of the Lunar New Year. It's a big celebration in many parts of east Asia ... but here in Jerusalem .... nothing. Except for the lovely full moon that dominates the sky. Ah Ling had given me some frozen tang yuan ... I think I'll boil them in lotus soup. Some chinese groups had brought lots of powdered lotus roots for me. It comes to good use now.

Missiles have been fired back and forth between Gaza and Israel. It doesn't seem to be lessening despite the cold weather. A Gazan military compound has been wiped out today. And as if that war wasn't enough ... the newspapers have acknowledged another war in Israel ... the racism against asians on the onset of the coronavirus.    https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-coronavirus-claims-new-victim-in-israel-tolerance-of-chinese-students-1.8509016?fbclid=IwAR3jQ7VlJ0JYE8YZHJuebxdsAVd3HpAgxZFXKOgSzDf73agG5LyZY9NwIIw