Chingay 2010 Mini Parade

I’m back with more updates!

The Chingay Mini Parade 2010 was held along Orchard Road, stretching from Ion Orchard all the way to Meritus Mandarin. The crowd was intrigued by the Star Wars characters, the Cosplay dudes, the stilt walkers, the drummers and the cultural dancers. Initially they just followed the parade down Orchard because they were curious. By the time the parade made 4 pitstops along the way and ended up outside Meritus Mandarin, the crowd had already warmed up to the parade.

It was extremely heartwarming to see the crowd just joining in the fun and Samba-ing away freely without fear of criticism whatsoever. The atmosphere was so lively, happy and open that it just drew the bystanders in to party and have fun. My favourite moment was the time when a Japanese tourist joined in the fun – she had absolutely no idea what Chingay was, but she said that it was so fun that she just wanted to join in and dance. And she saw a little girl among the dancers, and started holding her hand and dancing with her. There was this Singaporean lady who just let her hair down and samba-ed so well, and the bystanding shoppers just happily joined in. The sight was just spectacular. Never in my LIFE would I have been able to imagine Singaporeans joining in a public parade. Gee, Singaporeans are not as passive as I perceived.

There was a cute Malay uncle next to me who was so enticed by the whole festivity that he was bobbing up and down according to the rhythm, so I encouraged him to join in, but he shyly said no, and continued bobbing up and down. How cute. (: Oh and the nicest thing was the unspoken collaboration and chemistry between the Orchard Road buskers and the Chingay drummers who were bringing on the Samba beat. The buskers were so livened up by the spirited Mini Chingay Parade that they contributed to the music! The keyboardist lent a tune and the singer played the tambourine while the drummers played along. And together they provided a wonderful joyous piece of music for everyone to dance to.

The People’s Association staff and Chingay organisers, the members of the public, the Chingay dancers, tourists; EVERYONE was dancing together.

If I didn’t have a million cables, a microphone and a camera bag draping over me, I’d have Samba-ed till morning with them. The atmosphere was something else I tell you. I’m not trying to promote anything, but I am confident that Chingay this year will be different from previous years. Somehow, I feel it in my fingers and toes. If a skeptic like me can be moved beyond words, anything can happen.

I’m looking forward to the Full Dress Rehearsal on the 6th of January.

TILL THEN!!!

I’m getting excited about Chingay already, strangely. HAHA.

This is cool.

Myokii