Light a wish...

24th February is the 15th Lunar day of our Chinese New Year.

In Taiwan, it is marked with lighting up Kong Ming Teng, with wishes written on all sides of the lantern, light it and send it up to the sky. The wishes are supposedly sent to the sky to reach heavens so that they can be heard...

I took a train from Taipei Train Station and arrived in ShiFen, in PingXi. PingXi is about an hour and a half hour away from Taipei city. The rail along the different small stations in Ping Xi has their own characteristics. ShiFen is the little old town that Taiwanese go to have their lanterns relased all together. This will only occur at 6.30pm in the evening. When I reached ShiFen, there was already a dragon queue of Taiwanese waiting to get a number and a free lantern so as to enter the big activity space in the evening for the mass release.

Many other Taiwanese however prefers to just purchase the lantern at the stalls in ShiFen and have them written, lighted and released almost anywhere possible. I bought a purple one (most cost 100 NT about S$4.50) from a shop at a corner. I was very engrossed in penning my wishes with the chinese brush, wishing for myself to have a safe trip, for my mum and all my siblings, nieces and nephews to be healthy, peaceful at home and that the young ones will do well in the studies and the even younger ones to grow up fine.

Then for all friends, to have their dreams comes true. Peace and happiness to everyone..

I enjoyed the process of writing with the chinese brush, my wishes... while the lady boss of the shop started a heated argument with another man about the space outside the stall... I continued to write with a smile in my heart. The 2 men in the shop are not too professional in having my picture taken before I　ｐｕｔ　ｕｐ　ｍｙ　ｌａｎｔｅｒｎ．　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｄｉｄ　ｎｏｔ　ｅｖｅｎ　ｏｆｆｅｒ　ｔｏ　ｔａｋｅ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅ　ｏｒ　ｔａｋｅ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｔｏ　ｔｕｒｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｌａｎｔｅｒｎ　ｓｏ　ｔｈａｔ　ａｌｌ　ｗｉｓｈｅｓ　ｃａｎ　ｂｅ　ｔａｋｅｎ．　

Ｔｈｅｙ　ｓｅｅｍ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ｉｎ　ａ　ｈｕｒｒｙ．．．　Ｓｏ　ｍｙ　ｌａｎｔｅｒｎ　ｗａｓ　ｌｉｇｈｔｅｄ　ａｎｄ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｕｐ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｋｙ．．．　ｕｐ　．．ｕｐ．．．ｓｏｍｅｏｎｅ　ｃｈｅｅｒｅｄ　ｆｏｒ　ｍｅ．．．ｔｈｅｎ　ｖｏｏｍｍｍ．．．　ｉｔ　ｇｏｔ　ｃａｕｇｈｔ　ｏｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｉｒｅ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｏｆ　ａ　ｓｔｒｏｎｇ　ｗｉｎｄ　ａｎｄ　ｂｕｒｎｅｄ．　Ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｉｎ　ｆｒｏｎｔ　ｏｆ　ｍｙ　ｅｙｅｓ．．．Ｔｈａｎｋ　ｇｏｏｄｎｅｓｓ　ｎｏ　ｂｏｄｙ　ｉｓ　ｈｕｒｔ．

Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ａｆｆｅｃｔｅｄ．．．ａｎｄ　ｋｅｐｔ　ｗａｌｋｉｎｇ　ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｎａｒｒｏｗ　ｒｏａｄ　ｌｉｎｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｆｏｏｄ　ｓｔａｌｌｓ　ｔｉｌｌ　Ｉ　ｒｅａｃｈｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｈｏｐｓ　ａｌｏｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｒａｉｌｗａｙ　ｔｒａｃｋ．　ＳｈｉＦｅｎ　ｈａｓ　ｉｔｓ　ｂｅａｕｔｙ　ｈｅｒｅ，　ｔｈｅ　ｓｈｏｐｓ　ａｒｅ　ｌｉｎｅｄ　ａｌｏｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｒａｃｋ　ｏｎ　ｂｏｔｈ　ｓｉｄｅｓ．　Ｗｈｅｎｅｖｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｒａｉｎ　ｉｓ　ｃｏｍｉｎｇ，　ｓｏｍｅｏｎｅ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｓｈｏｕｔ　ａｎｄ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｓｃａｔｔｅｒ　ａｗａｙ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｒａｃｋ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｉｄｅ　ａｎｄ　ｗａｔｃｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｒａｉｎ　ｐａｓｓ　ｂｙ，　ｓｍｉｌｅｄ　ａｎｄ　ｊｕｓｔ　ａｄｍｉｒｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｇｒａｎｄ　ｏｌｄ　ｌａｄｙ．

Ｉ　ｓａｗ　ｍａｎｙ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｓｈｏｐｓ　ｓｅｌｌｉｎｇ　ｌａｎｔｅｒｎ．　Ｍｏｒｅ　ｐｒｏｆｅｓｓｉｏｎａｌｌｙ　ｒｕｎ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｏｄ　ｉｓ　ｇａｙ　ａｎｄ　ｌｉｇｈｔ．　Ｔａｉｗａｎｅｓｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｆａｍｉｌｙ，　ｙｏｕｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｔｒｅｎｄｙ　Ｔａｉｗａｎｓｅｓ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ．．．ａｌｌ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｗｉｓｈｅｓ　ｗｒｉｔｔｅｎ　ａｎｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｅｌｐ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｆｆ，　ｈａｄ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓ　ｔａｋｅｎ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｒａｃｋ，　ｔｈｅｎ　ｌｉｔｅｄ　ａｎｄ　ｌｅｔ　ｇｏ．．．．　Ａｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｏｓｅ　ｌａｎｔｅｒｎｓ　ｈｅｒｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｕｐ　ｓｍｏｏｔｈｌｙ．　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｔｈｒｉｌｌｅｄ．．．ｓｍｉｌｉｎｇ　ａｇａｉｎ．　～＿～　Ｗｈａｔ　ｓｔｒｉｋｅｓ　ｍｅ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　Ｔａｉｗａｎｅｓｅ　ｈｅｒｅ，　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ　ｎｏｔ　ｒｏｗｄｙ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｅｖｅｎ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ　ｉｔ’ｓ　ａ　ｆｅｓｔｉｖｅ　ｓｅａｓｏｎ．　Ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｃｈｅｅｒ，　Ｂａｎ！’ｏｒ　’Ｇｏｎｇ　Ｘｉ’ｗｈｅｎ　ａ　ｌａｎｔｅｒｎ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｕｐ　ｓｍｏｏｔｈｌｙ．　Ａｌｌ　ｗｉｓｈｅｓ　ｗｅｌｌ　ｆｏｒ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ．　Ｉ　ｓｏａｋｅｄ　ｕｐ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｏｓｉｔｉｖｅ　ｍｏｏｄ　ａｎｄ　ｇｏｔ　ｍｙｓｅｌｆ　ｌｉｆｔｅｎｅｄ　ｕｐ　ａｇａｉｎ．　

Ｍｙ　ｗｉｓｈｅｓ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｄｅｆｉｎｉｔｅｌｙ　ｂｅ　ｈｅａｒｄ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　Ｉ　ｗｉｓｈ　ｔｈｅｍ　ｗｉｔｈ　ａｌｌ　ｍｙ　ｈｅａｒｔ．　Ｔｈａｔ’ｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｗｈａｔ　ｍａｔｔｅｒｓ．

 

Ｙｅｓ！　Ｍａｙ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｗｉｓｈｅｓ　ｃｏｍｅ　ｔｒｕｅ！

Ｉ　ｈｏｐｐｅｄ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｒａｉｎ　ａｎｄ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｓｍａｌｌ　ｔｏｗｎｓ　ｏｆ　ＰｉｎｇＸｉ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｒｅｔｕｒｎｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ＳｈｉＦｅｎ　ｔｏ　ｗｉｔｎｅｓｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｓｓ　ｒｅｌｅａｓｅ　ｏｆ　ＴｉａｎＴｅｎｇ　（ｌａｎｔｅｒｎｓ）．

Ａ　ｂｉｇ　ｃｒｏｗｄ　ｈａｓ　ｇａｔｈｅｒｅｄ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｓｓ　ａｒｅａ．Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｎｏｔ　ｔｏｏ　ｎｏｉｓｙ．　Ｉ　ａｍ　ｊｕｓｔ　ａｍａｚｅｄ　ｂｙ　Ｔａｉｗａｎｅｓｅ，　ｋｅｅｐｉｎｇ　ｃａｌｍ　ｍｏｓｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｍｅ．　Ｓｔｏｏｄ　ｆｏｒ　ａｌｍｏｓｔ　ａｎ　ｈｏｕｒ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｉｇｈｔｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａｌｌ　ｏｆｆ，　ｔｈｅ　ｈｏｓｔｓ　ｓｔａｒｔｅｄ　ｉｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｖｅｎｔ，　ｓｏｍｅ　ｄｒｕｍ　ｐｅｒｆｏｒｍａｎｃｅｓ　ｌａｔｅｒ，　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｍｅｎｔ　ｃａｍｅ．　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｓｔａｎｄｉｎｇ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｅｅｔ　ｏｆ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｐｒｏｆｅｓｓｉｏｎａｌ　ｐｈｏｔｏｇｒａｐｈｅｒｓ，　ｅｌｅｖａｔｅｄ　ｏｎ　ｌａｄｄｅｒｓ　ａｎｄ　ｓｔｏｏｌｓ．　Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａｂｏｕｔ　２０００　ＴｉａｎＴｅｎｇ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｙｅａｒ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｓｓ　ｒｅｌｅａｓｅ．　Ｔｈａｔ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｍｏｍｅｎｔ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｌｌ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｕｐ，　Ｉ　ａｌｍｏｓｔ　ｔｅａｒｅｄ．．．　Ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅｓｅ　ｌａｎｔｅｒｎｓ　ｃａｒｒｙｉｎｇ　ｗｉｓｈｅｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　ａｌｌ　ｉｎｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌｓ，　ｓｉｍｐｌｅ　ｗｉｓｈｅｓ，　ｓｉｌｌｙ　ｗｉｓｈｅｓ，　ｓｉｎｃｅｒｅ　ｗｉｓｈｅｓ．．．　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｌｌ　ｍｕｓｔ　ｈａｖｅ　ｍｅａｎ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ．．．　Ａｔ　ｓｕｃｈ　ｔｉｍｅ，　Ｉ　ｗｉｓｈ　ｍｙ　ｆａｍｉｌｙ　ｏｒ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｅ．

Ｔｈｅ　ｒｅｔｕｒｎ　ｔｏ　Ｔａｉｐｅｉ　Ｃｉｔｙ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｊｏｕｒｎｅｙ　ｏｆ　ｃｒｕｓｈｉｎｇ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｒｏｗｄ，　ｉｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｒａｉｎ，　ｓｔａｎｄｉｎｇ　ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｉｄｅ．．．ｉｔ　ｔｏｏｋ　ｍｅ　ａｌｍｏｓｔ　３　ｈｏｕｒｓ　ｔｏ　ｒｅａｃｈ　Ｔａｉｐｅｉ．　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｅｘｈａｕｓｔｅｄ　ｂｕｔ　ｗａｓ　ｈａｐｐｙ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｈｏｌｅ　ｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅ．