Silvester 2006

I did not expect Silvester 2006 to be such fun. It was my first time letting off fireworks. The experience was thrilling and amazing. But before I go on to describe the experience, I shall document what went on before that.

As usual, we had dinner at Ming's place. It was a simple steamboat dinner. Nothing extravagant. Simple food like some meat, vegetables and seafood. We chatted during dinner. The dinner started at about 1900 hours and we ate till around 2100 hours. Thereafter, we watched Fahrenheit 9/11 till about 2300 hours. Then we started getting ready to go to the lake. It took us some time to get Lex dressed up. And before we set off, we took some photos with the fireworks. There is a purpose for it. (I want to share with my students how the fireworks look like)

We bought bottles filled with water with us. They are meant to serve as bases to support the fireworks. We positioned the bottle at an angle so that when the rocket flies, it would not fly in the wrong direction. It was such a sight. Matt lit the first one. The fuse was not too long. A short one. THe moment it was lighted, sparks started to fly all around the rocket. It was about eight seconds later that the rocket shoots into the sky and explodes into different colours and designs. What I love most is this part. After one lights the fuse, sparks start to form, and approximately two to three seconds before the rockets flies, the fuse burns so intensely that it forms a bright flame. THe flame burns so fiercely and brightly in preparation for the takeoff. I love this two to three seconds. My heart pounds ever so strongly that my whole body reverberates with excitement. I cover my ears in anticipation of the sound produced.

Eeeeeeeeeeeooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuiiiiiiiiiiii.........Bang!

My eyes were almost tearing as the fireworks broke into the different pretty colours and designs. The excitement and joy is just indiscribable. Around the lakes, the fireworks just went up continuously as the people all sort of took turns to let theirs off. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! It is just everywhere. One moment, you are looking left to admire the different colours, the other moment, you turn to look right to admire the designs. Despite the buildings all around, the people jsut let off the fireworks into the sky. The feeling was just so amazing and wonderful. The sky was filled with many different colours and designs.

It then dawned onto me that there is hope in this world. It may be dark and cold and wet. But look up into the sky and you see spots of brightly coloured lights. The lights seem to be telling everyone that despite the darkness, the new year is a new start. As long as we look to the sky and search for that bright light somewhere, we can find a solution, we can find peace and hope. Tomorrow will get better. Things will take a turn for the better.

Around midnight, more and more people lined the streets to admire the wonderful display of lights in the sky. Well, if we compare the effects to that of Singapore, it may not be as pretty as we are all using small fireworks while the Singapore government has the liberty to use bigger ones as they have instituted controls. But, what makes it the most beautiful is that I lit the fireworks myself. I guessed I could have fired about five sticks into the sky. Two of which carried my wishes for the new year. And I hope that the Almighty one up the gets to read it and grant me the wishes. (It may sound silly, but I did it with hope.) My actions probably may get people laughing and thinking that I am naive and gullible. Still, I believe that there are miracles out there and miracles happen when we wish hard enough.

I made a wish for myself. I wish that..........(it is a secret...only known to me...heeheee). And I made a wish for XY too, that .....(must keep it a secret so that it will come true)

After we have set off all the fireworks that we had, we headed back home. On our way back, we saw two girls setting off a small firework at their doorstep. It went off the wrong way and hit the windows of the apartments above. So...that is why houses get burnt and people get injured during this time. Some do not practise the right ways of handling fireworks. Just like some people do not follow procedures. Haha....

But it was fun. The atmosphere was peaceful and gentle. People crowded along the streets to watch the wonderful display of lights with champagne in their glasses.

There were others who bought a lot more fireworks and more powerful ones. There are those that come in a box. After the light up the fuse, the box will just shoot out all the fireworks in it continuously. The display is spectacular and powerful. After all the fireworks has been shot, the entire sky is just filled with mist and smoke.

It was about midnight that it started to snow slightly. What a wonderful and sweet gesture from Mother Nature. Thank you so much!