How Chingay went out with a big bang

Last saturday we arrived in Sydney, Australia. Neither of us is a first-timer, but no worries, mate, since we love Sydney!

You can expect a series of articles about Sydney soon, but first let me wrap up my Chingay-series. I promised to show you the finale of this year’s street parade in Singapore.

After the pre-parade, the main part of the show and the gorgeous costumes from Indonesia, the last part of the parade consisted of several Singaporean acts.

Singapore’s Indians came with a beautiful peacock float.

The Hokkien Chinese – Kwangtung Hui Kuan – were dressed in your typical Chinese Opera costumes. I don’t think I could last a complete Chinese Opera, sound wise, but I love the costumes and make-up.

There was a float filled with lion-dancers; very impressive to see them in these numbers.

It was reassuring to see that the ones high up on the poles were securely attached to some ropes! This is normally not the case, but it was totally necessary now, since they were very high above ground, up on a moving float.

Then, an enormous float topped by a gigantic flower bouquet came in sight. High up were Singaporean VIP’s; members of parliament and such.

But wait, what’s that thing coming out of the center of the flower bouquet?

Oh, I see, it’s a rope ladder, held up high by a huge crane.

Oooh… and aaah….

….. there is a little guy climbing up that ladder. Okay, no idea if he really was a small man, he just looked tiny from where I was standing.

He climbed and he climbed and many thousands of people watched his every step.

When he was reaching the top, fireworks lit up the skies around him,….

…. and then he lit up his own tiny fireworks, with right above his head a celebratory banner for Singapore.

I know, Singapore is never short of symbolism, like here where this tiny figure seemed to reach for the stars. Symbolically climbing up the ladder (of growth and development?), symbolizing the growth from a third world country to a first world country in only 50 years? Anyway, that’s what I read in it. Something like along those lines, I think.

After that, the next day, it was time for a big Chingay Fiesta on Orchard. An after-party, so you will. Our chance to get up close and personal with the floats and the performers.

Rwanda danced with Russia and they had a ball. They went crazy!

The Taiwanese danced sweat on their backs.

The belly-dancers showed of their beauty and skills and drew quite a crowd.

But it was crowded, crazy crowded. And so humid and hot and sticky. It got on my nerves. People standing on your toes, everyone wanting to pose with everyone. No personal space, no air, hot, hot….

And then someone knocked off my lens cap. Accidentally for sure, but impossible to find it back. Bummer!

We had a look at the many, many lit up trees, made of recycled materials…

… and we had a glance at the carpet made out of plastic bag roses, showing slogans, words and phrases to support the nation….

… and then we called it a day.

Time to go home, folks. It was fun! Let’s do it again next year, shall we?!;-)

Have you ever attended a Chinese Opera? Did you like it? What were the best fireworks you ever saw?

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