Summer Festival

Its mid summer or so now and time for the long awaited summer festival! I missed it for years, a particular one due to fever. The festival started around 5p.m. but I was late because I did not know how to wear a Yukata. It was super embarrassing. My male friend was struggling to help me wear my obi and to have the ribbon done up. But after around half an hour of persistence, we succeeded and were off to the festival in style. ✖‿✖

We were greeted by the welcome crew and bought our tickets at $2. The entrance fee was really quite a good price because it came with a delicious (Maybe I was too hungry) pack of rice crackers and also a Japanese rigid fan (Uchiwa). (Pokemon design curtsey of ANA). We headed straight to the vendors and shopped around. There were some ramen, takoyaki, taiyaki and beer for just $3! The queues were super long, me and my friends waited till late evening before we started queuing. There were already many people then having their bento and hot ramen. A japanese man was also pushing a cart around selling some UCC coffee. This is one of the more popular brands of coffee from Japan. It was quite hard to get a shot of him as once he stops, many people start to crowd around him.

The performances was almost non-stop throughout. There were some singing and Taiko (太鼓) performance which was very exciting. I noticed a Caucasian amongst the female performers. The crowd gathered around with their picnic mats. Many children were having a good time.

There were also some stores selling Japanese goods. The mask and yoyo balloon store was the most interesting. They imported all their goods from Japan, thus it was quite pricy. ($12 for 1 mask) It was lucky that their pokemon ones are sold out or I am sure to have forked out that $12. ~(>_<~) There was also a hair-styling service store and also a photo memory one. (They'll superimpose you onto a Japan backdrop.

I was kind of disappointed that I didn't got to playing any games. The queue was so long, they had to have a personnel stand at the ends of the queue to shout out which game each queue is for. Although it was hot and humid, they seem really happy and cheerful as they maneuver the crowd. My friend was disappointed as there was no goldfish scooping game (金魚すくい, 金魚掬い Kingyo-Sukui) this year. I agree that this game shouldn't be held too. How long does a person need to go home after a game? The goldfishes would have suffocated! There were other games available like the balloon yoyo hooking, target shooting, string pulling for mystery prize, etc.

Last of all, a camera moment with blogger Kellykonomi. Apparently she was really popular and got approached many times during the event. Lucky me へ(゜∇、°)へ

Last parting shot "looking at the moon".

After the festival, I went off to Cash Studio Family Karaoke Box at Cuppage to sing! Yay! I love to sing. (discreetly in the shower, in my locked room and also at karaokes!) My friend Ivan does a very good "Ai wa Katsu" and "Ashita ga Aru sa". I like to listen when he sings because he puts all his heart into it. Family Karaoke is probably the best place to sing Japanese songs. They have a special machine just for the newer Japanese songs at addition $7. Be sure to request it if you wanna croon to tunes from your favorite Japanese singers. I love Kana Nishino. She is so pretty and has a lovely voice. I also listen to Krary Pamyu Pamyu just because she is so cute and Tsubasa Masuwaka, previously a charisma model for popular magazines like Popteen.(Milky Bunny is her stage name) I enjoyed my Saturday to the max! How I wish every saturday is this eventful. Please keep reading for my update next week for STGCC 2012! ｡◕‿◕｡

Cash Studio Family Karaoke Box
Address: 5 Koek Rd #B2-09 Cuppage Plaza S(228796)
Tel No: (65) 65330090

Photos snapped at Natsu Matsuri 2012.