sky lanterns

Last week I happened to pick up a newspaper and saw the headlines :

In conjunction with Chinese New Year, the Civil Aviation Department has advised the public not to release any Kunming lanterns into the air which may endanger aircraft.

And I disregarded the whole sentence as all I saw was Kunming lanterns. What a marvelous idea! On New Years, while watching all the fireworks go off across KL, there were 3 lone Kunming lanterns near the north of KL going up. It was enchanting.

Despite everyone saying that they sell these all over PJ, I didn't have time to go scrounge around for any before CNY. So no, I didn't spend CNY endangering aircrafts.

But they have these beautiful sky lantern festivals in Thailand, which coincidentally coincides with Loi Krathong where they float candles in the river to symbolize letting go of grudges so life can start afresh. I plan on catching these in November 2012.

It all sounds enchanting. Like that scene in the Rapunzel cartoon :)

By the way, when I told my colleagues I wanted to release sky lanterns :

"Didn't the newspaper article said it was dangerous for aircrafts?"

"Oh, it's ok. No planes fly above Pasir Gudang except for Singaporean fighter jets who regularly violates our airspace. They kind of deserve it."

I'm kidding. It's very Johorian to show unprovoked hatred towards Singapore and it's very Malaysian not to bother about little things like safety and especially other people's safety.

But a lot of it is just talk. I'll be making a pointed effort not to be thoughtless this year.