Fireworks light up the sky

The car was decidedly lighter as we headed back to Wenchang from Mountain Leaf Village. We had after all unloaded two packs of firecrackers at first, Willy Foo’s village and then mine in Qionghai.

What we had left however were two huge drums of fireworks as well as a last string of fire crackers – Lucas Peng was determined to throw us a mega fireworks party at our next destination, his newly-built family home at Shibi Village in Fenglai Town near Wenchang.

Not that I needed a display of fireworks to lift my spirits further. My family history was clutched in my hands. I was sky-high happy and I was curious to see what Lucas’ family home and village looked like.

“Mine is more rural and rustic,” he said. “The sunset is amazing there.”

The warm welcome from young and old

You can see that Lucas is proud of his roots in Hainan. It’s a link he started building on after his first visit to Shibi Village in 1991, when he re-connected with his two half-older brothers and their families.

“Before, I never really thought about it and all I knew growing up was there were always requests for money,” said Lucas. “But that first visit totally changed my impression. They have such a sense of family and are so sincere and warm.”

He and his Singapore-based family decided to invest in building a new home in Shibi. “We thought we wanted to visit more often and selfishly, wanted a more comfortable place with all the mod-cons.” Spoken like a true hotelier used to his comforts.

Lucas' pepper plantation (left) and his home

He is right in that Shibi is located in a more rural part of Wenchang than Baolo, Willy’s village. A long, narrow and winding road takes you into the village. We arrived just as the sun was setting and we stopped off at a reservoir nearby to catch the last of the day’s rays.

The spring air is fresh and cool. All around us is greenery. It is peaceful and tranquil. There is hardly any traffic noise. “You should build a resort here,” I told Lucas. “A spa with tai chi and traditional Chinese medicine.”

We let our imagination run riot with our future plans for retirement in Hainan. Wouldn’t that be an irony? Our fathers left the island to seek their fortunes elsewhere and here we are, talking about returning to their home island to seek refuge and respite.

The walk into the village

We walked through the village and up to Lucas’ home. You can’t miss it. It’s the grandest building in the neighbourhood. A two-storey building with a rooftop and several balconies, set amid a sprawling lot of land that has coconut trees and pepper plants.

We are welcomed warmly by a big, extended family. I lost track of who’s who but it didn’t matter. They all made us feel at home instantly.

The perfect sunset shot, according to Willy

We went up to the rooftop to catch the last of the sunset. Willy is in paradise – he’s found the perfect sunset shot. “You hardly see three elements together in one sunset – the silver lining, the orange sun and the colours of the clouds,” he said, as he clicked away.

In the garden, the menfolk prepared to light the firecrackers. Then it was time for the fireworks. I almost expected a lion dance to jump out and welcome us.

Home-cooked feast (left) and family dinner

Dinner was a sumptuous spread of home-cooked Hainanese cuisine – steamed Wenchang chicken, stewed lamb, fried fish, soup and plenty of vegetables. We tucked in hungrily and noisily.

I thought back to the Chinese New Year dinner that my mother had prepared in Penang just about a week ago and realised, how similar the experience was. There’s nothing like home-cooked food to bring friends and family together, wherever we are.

And I had never seen Lucas as at home as he did that night. Willy and I were certainly made to feel at home.

In video (below) Lucas shares the story of his Hainan roots.

Next week: Back to Haikou

• Photos courtesy of Willy Foo, video courtesy Yeoh Siew Hoon