When it comes to celebrating the Mooncake Festival, most people stick to the basics—mooncakes, lanterns, maybe some tea.

But last Thursday, I thought, why not throw in a trail walk for good measure? What could go wrong, right?

Well, when 20 of my office colleagues signed up, including some trail newbies, I quickly realized this was going to be more of an adventure than I bargained for.

We met up at Batu Gajah for our evening escapade, and as the “organizer,” I made it a point to arrive an hour early to survey the scene.

First, the tar road. Let’s just say, if you enjoy driving through a series of potholes. The trail itself? A bit of a mud bath after several days of rain.

Oh, and as if to add to the excitement, three dogs showed up at a junction. I cautiously tested them—good news, they were all bark and no bite, just your regular “shouting dogs aka 菜狗”.

As we kicked off the walk under the moonlight, I kept a close eye on everyone’s performance. With over 2 kilometers ahead of us, I made it my mission to monitor each colleague’s breathing, posture, and facial expressions like a fitness instructor—just with a bit more concern.

But to my surprise, everyone handled the trail pretty well. It was an easy walk, after all, even with the mud.

By the time we reached the infamous Batu Gajah rock, we were greeted by a stunning sunset.

The latecomers—my management team—finally arrived, delayed by a seminar.

So, what did I do? Ran back to the meeting point to pick them up, of course.

The highlight of the evening came when we all gathered for a traditional celebration with mooncakes, fruits, and lanterns.

It was the perfect mix of nature and festivity, and as we carried our lanterns back, it felt like we had turned into kids again, basking in the simplicity of it all.

But, like all good adventures, it didn’t end there. As the self-designated “sweeper” on the way back, I ran ahead to face those same three dogs.

This time, they seemed a bit more “bitchy,” but I handled it like a pro, making sure everyone returned safely by 8 p.m.

Happy Mid Autumn Festival.