Monday, 15 September 2008 Entries
I can’t remember the last time I felt homesick – and that is really something for someone who’s been living away from home for this many years, especially on the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, when the full moon was shining brightly overhead.
I spent the evening at the house of two brothers whom I’ve known since high school. There was no moon cake (mainly due to laziness on my part to go down to China Town and carry back one of those brilliantly wrapped tin boxes); but there was a hotpot, plus heaps of sliced meat, lots of green vegetables, too much mead, and a few really good friends.
The night passed quickly while we ate our way through eight plates of raw stuff boiled in the bubbling hotpot. It was hard not to smile when surrounded by people who know you so well and whose company you truly enjoy.
We concluded the night by gazing into the cloudy sky where the moon was poking its mysterious face at us at irregular intervals. This was my 7th Mid-Autumn Festival away from Beijing – and Adelaide is feeling just like home.
September is generally I favourite time in Adelaide. And the reason is simple: this is the month when the Royal Adelaide Show is held!!
This annual carnival takes place on the Wayville Showground (which is ten-minute bus ride from the city) over approximately two weeks. Stretched over the Showground are countless thrilling rides, game booths with gigantic stuffed toys as prizes, and multiple big pavilions which host dog shows, animal booths, food stores, and random yet exotic vending stalls.
This year, I went to the Show again with my high school friends on Saturday (as our annual tradition). The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful. It was such a great place to simply relax and forget about uni for once. I spent the day licking ice cream, patting the gorgeous dogs in the Dogs Pavilion, watching my friend losing on the shooting game three times in a row, shopping for show-bags and other trinkets, and we concluded the day by taking a ride on the enormous iconic fairy’s wheel (being too cowardly to try other more thrilling rides).
I can’t wait till the Show starts again next year!