This noon we went to Food Festival in Pakuwon City because of the advertised Dolphin Show. I thought with today still officially being Idul Fitri day and at noon, there wouldn't be too much crowd, as Felicia hated crowd.
We arrived at 1pm and was told that the next show would be at 2pm. I know it already and hoping that the restaurants in Food Festival would be open, but they are still closed so we went to nearby McDonalds for breakfast/lunch/brunch. Then next door is Kentucky Fried Chicken and I caved in [hung head in shame].
I got the Kombo Super Deal, 2 pcs of chicken, rice, and soft drink
After that sinfully satisfying yet calorie-packed, oily guilty pleasure meal, we went for the Dolphin show.
Now, I've always known Felicia doesn't like crowds, that's why I chose the day show. But once we arrived and paid a total of USD15 for the three of us (quite pricey for my taste), it became clear that I've undermined Felicia's dislike of crowds.
To be clear, there weren't that many people, more than half the seats were empty. But the MC was SO loud on the loudspeaker, urging non-existent ticket holders and visitors to come as the show was about to start. We're among the last to arrive and I can assure you that the parking lot was almost empty and that had there been other people who had the tickets, they wouldn't have any other choice than to go inside the makeshift venue as it was in the middle of closed restaurants; there's simply NO other place to go.
Felicia started to get anxious with all the rackets and loud music and voice. She got tensed and moved from my lap to Ming's. She's edgy and uncomfortable. Then it starts, and the MC was getting louder and then it happened: they clapped. The MC put on that special effect of clapping noise, the audience clapped, heck the seal clapped. Felicia hated the sounds of clapping. She is always upset if someone claps. If we want to compliment her on being a good girl, of solving something, of doing great on a task, the worst we could do is to clap.
She wanted to go home, and we're barely 5 minutes into the show.
I tried to distract her and it wasn't supposed to be that difficult, there were beavers pushing carts, playing basket ball, a clapping seal and two dolphins for crying out loud. and for a while she was interested with them, until they completed each task and people (and the seal) clapped in admiration. Then she really wanted to go home. No, she wanted to sleep. No, she just wanted out. No, she wanted me to stand up and moved to different place and go out and go home and sleep.
Oh, she was having runny nose as well that drove her crazy and wanted me to clean it for her and yet when I did that she said it hurt and she went crying and kicking. The dolphin hadn't even begun the attraction!
I managed to trick her until the dolphins started the attraction (after the beavers and the seal); I planned to go see the dolphin and by God she would see the dolphin. Finally they started, they made smooth, synchronized jumps circling the sad, small pool, they made smart moves here and there and for a minute, she was entranced, jaw dropped and watching them silently.
Until the audience clapped.
She's wailing in tears, and Ming gathered our belongings and we made our exit.
Just outside the venue, they have just installed the train cart, and whaddaya know, eyes still red and cheeks still wet with tears, she told us that she wanted to ride Thomas the train engine (she called all train look alike Thomas. By that time I was sweaty, tired from carrying her and couldn't help but feeling disappointed. Not at her, but just how the days turn out.
So I reminded her that she told me that she's sleepy and wanted to go home and that's what exactly what we're doing. She tried to convince us that she's not sleepy after all. too little too late. We're going home and that's that. She cried again, but we hold our ground. We're going home. No Dolphin, No Thomas.
She calmed down once we got into the car and Ming turned on the air-con. Ming asked her why she's crying and she said she didn't like the loud noise.
Oh well, at least I can say that today was quite an experience ...
1 comment:
i dont like loud noise as well...except in the club..i bet felicia will love it too...too bad i will be too old to accompany her to the club, i definitely will not let keito enter the club.
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