The Great Big Tent of Wonder

I’m always on the look out for them. They’re big and bright and red and they make my mind flutter with excitement because all I can think of, is what’s going to happen there. No matter the occasion – competitions, pasar malams, funerals, concert, ghost festival concerts, lantern sellers, it still gets me intrigued. It’s like going to a candy store. You don’t know what you will find but you know you will be blown away by the colours and be wowing and ooohing at everything.

Yes, I am easily amused. Even though I have seen these events and been to them numerous times, I still get curious. Because it’s not usually the ending that you’re anxious about. It’s more the anticipation that builds up over the two weeks they take to set up. You’re constantly being teased with what might appear. And when it does appear, it’s like a huge welcome sign that draws you in. Or maybe it’s because the lights in there are awfully bright at times. 

These tents are the most fundamental stage set ups too. They are incredibly simple and what I like about them is that they don’t look new. They’ve been used over 100 different concerts and outdoor markets. They’ve soaked in the crowd cheers, the fried food smells and the glitter from over designed costumes. I love the age and sturdiness of the whole red and white plastic they place over the whole rusty metal structure. It is a simple box that holds amazing treasures once it’s revealed. 

And often times, I actually don’t see the gradual appearance of the inside. It’s more like all of a sudden, in less than two days, it’s bustling inside. It’s like the pandora’s box but wide and open for all to experience and take in. 

Even if the occasion is a more sombre one, like a funeral. It’s such a personal and intimate moment but at the same time, it’s a great reflection of accepting life. We open our doors in that way because we are there to celebrate their life and commemorate their death, helping them pass on into a better life/dimension/space/alternate state. 

So don’t forget to drop by the fascinating tents of wonder. There’s always something different in there. A great platform that holds many Singaporean’s experiences of life, death, and celebration.