Tanjung Harapan - literally translated from Malay, it means 'Cape of Hope'. So I've heard that on 'Yuan Xiao Jie', the Chinese version of Valentine's Day, quite a number of people come here at night to perform the traditional ritual of throwing mandarin oranges into the sea with the hope of finding a good husband. So, I thought, 'since this year's 'Yuan Xiao Jie coincides with Valentine's Day, wouldn't it be the best time to visit?'
When I arrived around 8pm, there was a small crowd and quite a few stalls selling 'kong ming deng' (sky lantern). It's tradition to write down your wishes on this paper lantern and let it sail into the night sky. By doing so, your wishes will come true, or so they say. Well, this is the 'Cape of Hope' after all, so what better place to light up your wish and hope they come true?
In modern times, single ladies would write their names and numbers on mandarin oranges and throw them into the sea, hoping some single guy would pick them up. Of course, no guy in this age is crazy enough to dive into the sea this late at night. One thing though, at least you could be sure that the ladies doing this on this night are single and available.
During my drive there, I was accompanied by Kenji Wu's melancholic "Loneliness Has Come (What Should I Do?) on the CD. Just to add to the mood I guess. It had been a few years since I last came here and more than twenty years since I first did, with my two high school buddies. We were crazy enough to ride our mountain bikes here all the way from home just for the heck of it. All 30 km both ways. Ahh... the things you do when you are young and carefree.
I also happened to notice a Hong Kong television personality and a small camera crew filming a documentary about this particular celebration in Malaysia. I don't know him but he does look familiar. Coincidentally, there happened to be another set of television crew from the local MITV doing a tourism feature there as well.
I tried my best to appear in a "cameo" by casually walking past in the background a few times. I'm cheeky like that.
Taking a stroll away from the film crew, I noticed a group of young adults standing by the railing, facing the sea. The ladies had mandarin oranges in their hands and the men, bananas. BANANAS? Since when? This was new to me. They duly threw them into the sea afterwards. Good luck to the guys. Bananas!
What I saw immediately after that struck me with a pleasant surprise. A Malaysian Indian couple were about to set their 'kong ming deng' afloat. It's things like this that make me love Malaysia. If only we could learn to see beyond the colour of our skin and truly live together as one.
My ever-observant eyes next spotted a group of ladies writing down their names and numbers on mandarin oranges. I politely asked them if I could take candid shots of them for my blog. They obliged and even asked what was my blog title.
At the same time, the film crew from MITV were shooting this scene. I guess the ladies must have felt like celebrities at this point. Well, I'm always happy to help make someone's day.
See how happy they are to have their photo taken by this "famous" blogger. *chuckles*
Going back to the central area of the Esplanade, the Hong Kong crew were still filming. This time, two lovely ladies were holding their 'kong ming deng' waiting for its release.
Having seen enough and feeling rather hungry, I decided to walk to the end of the road to Medan Muara Ikan Bakar. Not having been here before, I was curious. Interestingly, you get to pick your own fish from ice boxes, have it weighed then tell the chef your choice of cooking preference.
I searched for a good spot, somewhere closest to the sea and found a lonely blue table and decided to give it some company. There's just something charming about dining out next to the sea. Love it!
Soon, a young waitress came my way and as usual, I get asked the same question on the countless nights I eat out after class, "Makan seorang ke?" (Are you eating alone?). And when I say,"Yes", I get the usual strange look from the waitress. Oh well, I'm immune to it by now.
Between getting my watermelon juice and the ikan kembung bakar arriving, I had a good 20 minutes to waste. So, I just did my best to look the "famous" blogger part and take multiple shots of my watermelon juice glass from various angles.Who am I kidding, right?
My fish, all wrapped up in banana leaf. The fish doesn't look great but it tasted all right. For RM 4.90, it wasn't the worst price to pay.
At the end of my meal, right on cue, it started to drizzle slightly. It didn't get heavier, thank goodness, so I took a casual stroll in near pitch dark conditions back to the Esplanade. The authorities should seriously consider lighting up the entire stretch.
Arriving back at the scene, I was greeted by a large crowd of people. I could also hear a marching band banging and trumpeting away to Chinese classics. It was so different from the quiet laid-back ambience an hour ago. What a difference an hour makes!
Deciding that this was not the scene for me, I called it a night and walked back to my car, parked some distance away.
Feeling somewhat satisfied that I've finally discovered for myself that the legend of single ladies throwing mandarin oranges into the sea at Tanjung Harapan on 'Yuan Xiao Jie' is indeed true, I calmly turned on the engine, inserted my CD of melancholic Kenji Wu songs and set my GPS coordinates for home. Still, I can't help but feel what I feel most of the time when special occasions like this drift past me in my solitude - that I should be spending nights like this with that someone special. Yet, there isn't much I can do about it but pray and hope.
Perhaps it's time I write down my wish for my one true love on a 'kong ming deng' and set it afloat, together with the millions of other wishes, floating hopelessly in the night sky.
