Bon Odori, 19/08/2008 - Penang

Bon Odori, Japanese Ghost Festival, is an annual event in Penang. And this year is no exception. It was held yesterday, which actually to my surprise, it didn't rain. It would rain every year during Bon Odori, but somehow yesterday, the sky was clear and very hot. It was good though, at least the field won't be muddy.

It's been quite a while since I went to the last Bon Odori. Can't even remember when it was. I don't usually like going to crowded places, but somehow just feel like going yesterday. So anyway, it was pretty much the same as every year or at least the year which I last came. The games were pretty much still the same, scooping goldfish always seems to be the main attraction. Saw lots of people holding bags of goldfish they successfully scooped out. Spotted a Japanese Ghost House at the corner, wanted to take a photo of it, but kinda forgot after walking around the place. Lots of handicrafts stalls as well.

I didn't buy anything there, nor did I play any games. My friend and I waited for the performance to start. We managed to stand near to the side of the stage, and the speaker almost made me deaf -.- It was so loud, but I kinda get used to it after a while, blek. I managed to get a few clear shots of the performances that evening till one brainless guy thought he can just squeeze in because he has a bigger and better camera, zzz.

But seriously, these are the times when you wish you would have a better camera or at least a digital camera instead of a mobile phone camera. Almost everyone there were holding and using those big DSLR cameras. WTH, those camera are very damn expensive, and everyone there were using it as if they just bought them from the night market, zzz. After our Prime Minister declared that we should change our lifestyles, Penangites really changes theirs. Goodbye small digital cameras, hello big DSLR cameras, swt. I feel so inferior among all of them. I am only using my mobile camera phone T.T

Well, anyway, I'll still post some of the photos I took with my camera phone, blek. I did shot some videos too, but am lazy to upload them. Anyway, here are the photos below for your viewing pleasure. Forgive me for the poor quality.

Beware!~ Pictures parade coming up.... *drums roll~~*

VIPs Seats

Da stage, some people armed with their DLSR camera were
already waiting there before the performances started

Teriyaki

Wooden guns

Long queue at the Takoyaki stall

Sushi King even brought in their kaitan belt

Japanese dolls

Hand painted arts bottles

Nice paper bags

My friend help me to hold 1 of the paper bag. Pretty ~

Goldfish scooping, still a lot of people as ever

Yoyo balloon fishing

Cutest models of the evening. Their dad carried and let them sat on the stage.
Once the dad stepped away, everyone started to snap pictures of them ^^

Drum performances

Dance performance. Dancing to Rasa Sayang,

Pokemon songs (if I didnt mis-heard da MC, blek)

Guess who's this? ^^v

Can't remember the name to this dance performance =/

This guy actually stood very still throughout
the whole drum performance, qiang~

More drum performances

Well, that's all folks. Hope you all enjoy viewing as much as I enjoyed taking them. Some of the pictures are very blur, can't help it =/



Updates - 22/07/2008: Added 2 pictures of the fireworks taken by Audrey.