When I was young, I looked forward to Mooncake Festival every year. Because, this is the time kids gather together and carry lanterns around the neighbourhood. From far, you'll see many colourful lights floating around and hear the happy laughter of kids and adults alike. This is also the time when kids have valid reasons to play with fire openly. We, the kids, would light up many many candles and use wax to stick them on the concrete ground. Our little faces would gleam with satisfaction to see every lighted candle fight against the wind. Then from our red plastic bags, we would quickly choose our favourite coloured fire cracker sticks, light them and parade around before they burnt off. There were always shouting from parents to ask us not to run too far. Hahah.. of course we hardly obeyed them.
During that time, I remembered I really enjoy eating mooncakes, esp the snow skin type. If the snow skinned mooncakes come in different colours, I'll take a small slice from each to try out the taste. And I always love eating the mini yams that the adults steamed. I could eat about 2 to 3 at one go. Quite a big eater huh! Oh, and how could I forget the piglet biscuits which I still love eating now. After that, I'll drink a cup of very hot tea to make my stomach not feel so bloated. That feeling was so great!
There was one year, I took part in a lantern making competition organised by the RC. I was pretty excited, because the lanterns made will be displayed around the void decks for the public to see. I thought of making a carousel using colourful construction papers and rice papers. However being the first time, I decided to approach my dad for suggestion. He said I should make something special and different from the rest. And you can't believe he actually suggested making a lantern from a big Milo tin! I had some doubts but stupidly agreed, thinking it might be better than what I expected. My father quickly took out his drilling tools etc and work on the poor Milo tin along the corridor. After he finished the ‘art piece’, he showed it to me proudly. Oh, and I thought it actually look worse than the Milo tin original state! And since it is a metal piece, I couldn’t do any colouring on it. So that piece of spoilt metal became my work for the competition. I remembered my face couldn’t look any uglier that night when my dad dragged me to submit my lantern. He kept assuring me that it was unique and will definitely stand out from the rest. And indeed my lantern really stands out, in a bad way of cos. When I registered at the counter, the auntie looked up at me in a weird manner, as if to say this gal must be crazy to send in such an ugly junk. And as you can expect, my Milo tin was hid in some dark corner of the void decks. I didn’t even dare to step near to that area in case I hear people insulting the lantern maker. Obviously, the winner of the competition was not me. But I kept thinking that if I stick to my idea, I will definitely be the winner. So now you know why I never ask my dad about his artistic view from that day onwards. I chose to believe my own taste. But that is definitely the most memorable Mooncake Festival he gave me.
After growing up, Mooncake Festival seems to be less enjoyable. The batch of kids that played with me seems to disappear. Nowadays, children fancy the electronic type of lanterns, which come with irritating sounds and cartoon pictures, more than the traditional type. Mooncakes have also lost their appeal on me. I do not know why and when this happen. I no longer feel excited when I see mooncakes in front of me. Perhaps I have moved on to a different stage in life now. Perhaps, the people and environment around me changed. Sometimes, I really miss the young and carefree Serene back then. If only I can rekindle that old feeling…
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During that time, I remembered I really enjoy eating mooncakes, esp the snow skin type. If the snow skinned mooncakes come in different colours, I'll take a small slice from each to try out the taste. And I always love eating the mini yams that the adults steamed. I could eat about 2 to 3 at one go. Quite a big eater huh! Oh, and how could I forget the piglet biscuits which I still love eating now. After that, I'll drink a cup of very hot tea to make my stomach not feel so bloated. That feeling was so great!
There was one year, I took part in a lantern making competition organised by the RC. I was pretty excited, because the lanterns made will be displayed around the void decks for the public to see. I thought of making a carousel using colourful construction papers and rice papers. However being the first time, I decided to approach my dad for suggestion. He said I should make something special and different from the rest. And you can't believe he actually suggested making a lantern from a big Milo tin! I had some doubts but stupidly agreed, thinking it might be better than what I expected. My father quickly took out his drilling tools etc and work on the poor Milo tin along the corridor. After he finished the ‘art piece’, he showed it to me proudly. Oh, and I thought it actually look worse than the Milo tin original state! And since it is a metal piece, I couldn’t do any colouring on it. So that piece of spoilt metal became my work for the competition. I remembered my face couldn’t look any uglier that night when my dad dragged me to submit my lantern. He kept assuring me that it was unique and will definitely stand out from the rest. And indeed my lantern really stands out, in a bad way of cos. When I registered at the counter, the auntie looked up at me in a weird manner, as if to say this gal must be crazy to send in such an ugly junk. And as you can expect, my Milo tin was hid in some dark corner of the void decks. I didn’t even dare to step near to that area in case I hear people insulting the lantern maker. Obviously, the winner of the competition was not me. But I kept thinking that if I stick to my idea, I will definitely be the winner. So now you know why I never ask my dad about his artistic view from that day onwards. I chose to believe my own taste. But that is definitely the most memorable Mooncake Festival he gave me.
After growing up, Mooncake Festival seems to be less enjoyable. The batch of kids that played with me seems to disappear. Nowadays, children fancy the electronic type of lanterns, which come with irritating sounds and cartoon pictures, more than the traditional type. Mooncakes have also lost their appeal on me. I do not know why and when this happen. I no longer feel excited when I see mooncakes in front of me. Perhaps I have moved on to a different stage in life now. Perhaps, the people and environment around me changed. Sometimes, I really miss the young and carefree Serene back then. If only I can rekindle that old feeling…
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Anyway, speaking of mooncakes, I just received an email with mooncakes wrapped in attractive packaging. If only I received one box of these, I might look forward to mooncake festival again! =)
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