Last Day of CNY

I was pretty surprised today, when i saw some people at uni wearing traditional Chinese-looking attire (really surprised at Alyssa's one!). Upon further investigation, it turned out to be the last day of Chinese New Year today, also known as Chap Go Meh, the Chinese equivalent of the western Valentine's Day.
Interesting to note that ours is a culture that actually celebrates love, which to my knowledge is only the third. In the traditional sense, that is.

The event was held at the Taman Jaya lake's recently constructed platform that jutted out onto the lake, and i went there to cover it just in case it can be squeezed into an article for The U. Quite awhile since i've visited the place, and i have to admit they did a pretty good job with the place, compared to the state it was in the last time i walked through it anyway. But the lake still stinks and scum and miscellaneous detritus can be seen floating on the surface of the lake so no cookie to them for that. Clean up that bloody lake!

Anyways, there were some RELA personnel and police hanging around here and there, apparently because some VIPs were to grace us with their presence later.

The event started off with two Malay dance numbers, quite interesting, and quite professional (well, they made an effort to keep smiling anyway, so a cookie to them for that) but left me wondering wtf did they have that....

Then the VIPs started their bullshitting, so i wandered off to the water's edge to see the YMM staffers releasing lotus candles onto the lake. Was abit disappointing as only a few were lighted. I kept imagining how impressive it would look if the whole pond was filled with them, but i guess they didn't have enough cash to do that.

Anyway, after some time the VIPs finished their bullcrapping session, and a Lion Dance troupe put on a rather lacklustre show, then threw some oranges around to the VIPs and audience.

This was followed by a dance by the Mei Yuen dance group, who did 2 dances as well, one with paper umbrellas and another with lanterns. Interesting dance, dampened by the fact that almost all of the dancers were older ladies....

But the highlight of the event came at 9pm when the single hopefuls (ladies) threw mandarin oranges that had their names and numbers written on them into the lake, and equally single and hopeful guys tried their best to fish out the oranges and possibly meet their future partner. But hell, the lake water's stagnant, stinks of dead fish and bloody dirty for god's sake. It really potong stim.

I wonder why those girls don't just throw the orange at some guy they think they want.... no need all the fuss and mess. After all, some of the oranges floated to the great yonder, out of reach of the netted poles....

But the main thing that put me off participating has got to be all the ah bengs and ah lians there. Holy crap i swear i could feel the AhbengAhlian Force emanating from the congregation. All the cheap perfume, shiny clothes... dead-chicken-on-head hairstyle... ugh. That aside, this is the first time i went to see this kinda thing, so i guess it was worth it... well, the story behind the occasion is romantic anyway...


Lotus Candles