KUALA LUMPUR: Annabelle Bong must bake thousands of Nyonya pineapple tarts in the next few months – but the laborious chore is something she looks forward to.
This is because each bite-sized pastry she creates means she is one step closer to realising her dream of participating in her first-ever International Scout Jamboree, set to take place in July this year at Great Windsor Park, Berkshire, United Kingdom.
The 17-year-old, who is of Baba Nyonya descent, will not let her parents pay a single sen for her trip, as she is independent and determined to raise the RM10,000 needed on her own.
Bong, who started seascouting three years ago, began baking three types of pineapple tarts before the Chinese New Year celebration based on recipes from her grandmother and mother.
She said RM10,000 will be sufficient to cover her flight and accommodation expenses to participate in the jamboree, as well as an extended two week-stay to explore the country.
Bong, the eldest of six siblings, will be accompanied by her mother throughout the trip.
"When we started homeschooling seven years ago, my parents made it known that they would not fork out cash for the things that we want. Instead, we would have to find ways to earn our own money and buy the things ourselves.
"When I told my parents that I really wanted to attend the jamboree, they reminded me that they weren’t going to sponsor anything, which made me work even harder in baking.
"I have sold around 300 tubs of tarts so far, and I am halfway towards reaching my target. Thanks to family friends who helped share my post in Facebook, I was able to reach the halfway milestone in just two months.
"I am excited to be part of the (jamboree) activities, meeting interesting people from all around the world and exchanging scarves, badges, shirts and trinkets," Bong told the New Straits Times.
Bong and her ovens are working overtime to bake three tart types, which she named Big Brother Stringed Pineapple Tarts, Sister Flower Pineapple Tarts, and Chubby Baby Rolled Pineapple Tarts.
Bong added that she bakes on Thursdays and Fridays to fulfill weekend orders, which are mostly from customers in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
She takes about eight hours to bake about 300 traditional four-stringed Nyonya pineapple tarts.