Going Ga-Ga Over Rabbits

I've got to hand it to the enterprising folks of Everland - they go to such lengths to attract visitors with new gimmicks and seeing as the imminent New Year celebrations for Koreans, Chinese and Japanese will be for the Year of the Rabbit (interestingly the Vietnamese will observe the Year of the Cat), they've trained some bunnies to race around a circuit and never mind what animal rights activists would say, I have to admit they look kinda cute doing the hippity-hop over the hurdles.




Uploaded by itnquirky.

Now I'm wondering if there's a permanent staff worker in Yongin, Everland who is paid to design special costumes for its animal employees ( see Penguins dressed up for the 2010 World Cup) and another who has the specific job of dressing these critters. They must be glad the Year of the Tiger is almost over!

Even on the beaches, Koreans are paying tribute to the year of the Hare. Question is what are these two pounding? 

Caption from source: Handheld heaters in the shape of dolls on sale at Lotte Mart’s Seoul Station branch yesterday. The heaters, which sell for 5,000 ($4.40) and 6,700 won, are made of high-end velour, which preserves heat. The retailer said they’re much safer than hand warmers that generate heat from chemical reactions. [YONHAP]

If I were in Korea, I'd be more likely to spend my won on the rabbit-shaped handheld heating pads than on the more classy and less practical porcelain calendar plates with engravings of bunnies, given the frigid temperatures in the country.

Caption from source: Staff of a ceramics company pose with a plate engraved with a 2011 calendar ahead of the Year of the Rabbit in Seoul on Monday. /Newsis


sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2930640

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgcxgx_south-koreans-go-hopping-mad_news

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/10/19/2010101900386.html

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2930640