Che Kung Temple

It was my first time ever, but I went to Che Kung Temple on the Third Day of the Chinese New Year. We got there rather late, at 5pm, but still crowded with hundreds of people. But at least there was no wait outside. So we got the incense, and getting them lit was an experience in itself. Can you imagine poking around with those incense sticks among 20 others, while you have to be mindful about having your eye/arms/body poked at by these hot burning sticks? And the smoke was absolutely blinding! That's the effort you have to pay for an honest and accurate fortune-telling, I guess?
But we made it into the praying hall in one piece, without MAJOR burns. And we proceeded with "shaking of the sticks". Asked 3 questions: career, well-being, romance. I got "Good", "Medium", and "Medium", which is good, I guess. On romance, Che Kung told me that I should not be "greedy" and be wild and "explore" other opportunities. Now, of course we all know that is something we should not do, and in fact, most "scriptures" from these sticks are universal truths, aren't they? If so, then why do we still go to Wong Tai Sin, Che Kung, Po Lin, etc. to get our so-called "fortune" told? Wouldn't it be more juicy, if they tell us "Your partner will cheat on you", or "your boss will give you a raise", or "You will win the lottery"? haha. Maybe those are wishes, and these are practicalities.
Do you know, that Che Kung was said to have accompanied the last emperor of the Sung Dynasty to Hong Kong and protected the young emperor, but died on the jouney. It was also said that everywhere he had been was freed of plagues, which was one of the legends why this Che Kung Temple was erected in Shatin. This temple ranked alongside Sheung Wan's Man Mo Temple, "Big Tin Hau Temple", and Wong Tai Sin Temple as Hong Kong's 4 Big Temples. In addition to asking for your fortune be told, you can also bang the drum, and spin the "Windmill", to change your luck. We did all that, but ended up standing in line for freaking 2 hours for a detail explanation on the "sticks". CRAZY.
For a CNY that was meant to be spent overseas, this must have turned out to be the most "celebrated" CNY ever for me. ;)