It is Chap Goh Meh (literally 15th night) and this marks the end of the Chinese New Year festival period.
We had a good CNY at home and in KL. Oh and Connor got to see his first lion dance in the flesh. We were at Gardens last Saturday and the LV store was having one. The kiasu in Mummy kicked in and I chop first class seats one floor above the LV store, right outside the Banana Republic outlet half an hour before. It was worth the wait as Connor was absolutely fascinated, clapping and cheering enthusiastically. Forgot to bring camera (Doh!) so no pictures. :((
Anyway, tonight is the night the single ladies advertise their availability to the single men. In the past, this was the only night properly brought up single girls could "date". Boy. Am I glad I wasn't born then. I would have been the Naughty Girl of the neighbourhood.
Here's what you do if you're single and looking. Go to the supermarket and get yourself some mandarin oranges. Write your name, phone number, email add... FB page.. whatever.... as long as it's your contact information on it. Then tonight, get thee to a river (preferably one with hopeful single men waiting, not some smelly toxic disaster river) and toss your oranges in. The men are supposed to wade into the river and get the oranges in the hope of finding true love.
Personally I've never done the throwing oranges thing. But I remember the sister of my ex-boyfriend insisted on it. I was 29 then and she was a couple of years older and single. She was a lawyer in a big law firm in Kuala Lumpur and I suppose her working hours simply made it difficult for her to get out and meet people because she certainly was an attractive, intelligent fun woman.
On Chap Goh Meh, we all piled into a car and drove to a river. Forgot which one. Since I was attached then, I didn't pay much attention! We waited patiently while she got out and looked up to the heavens for a little while, then tossed the oranges into the river.
Did it work?
Dunno. I broke up with the guy some time later and I've lost touch with the sister. I like to think it worked though. It's certainly a more interesting story to tell the children than "Oh I met yer ma in the pub and she spilled a pint on me."
Because its the 21st century, I'll suggest that before anyone goes and throws oranges, they get themselves a prepaid phone number first. That way you can discard it if you are being stalked by weirdos :P I don't like mandarin oranges. Maybe I'll go throw it all - excuse to get rid of it :P
ReplyDeleteHappy Chap Goh Meh!
ReplyDeletePB: Ya man! Stalkers are scary! LOL @ your plan to rid yourself of oranges. You and Mr TM both! I love them but didn't buy many this year bec I've learnt I've got to finish the whole lot alone.
ReplyDeleteJobless Girl: That's an interesting nick! Happy Chap Goh Meh to you too!
hahahaha...didn't do the whole orange tossing thing here - otherwise I might have met a guy for sure....in jail!
ReplyDeletewhen I mentioned the orange-tossing tradition to colleagues, the first thing they said was "It's ILLEGAL!" -_- then again, I guess that's what the govt-initiated matchmaking service is for...LOL...
But glad Connor had fun! :D
Beetrice, you serious???? A fine city indeed. Gosh. Don't think it is here in KL right? esp not on Chap Goh Meh. Imagine if my ex's sister had been caught by a cop. "Eh.. you ni lawyer kan? Tak tau ke tak boleh buang ni oren-oren?"
ReplyDelete