[Singapore] Natsumatsuri 2009

Once again it is time for Natsumatsuri here at Sunny Singapore (too sunny if you ask me).

For those who are stuck on this tiny island, this is the closest you can get to the stuff you see in anime XD.

The weather, unlike last year, held up fine and the whole event was a blast!

Just like every year (or so I heard), the queue to get in was incredible as usual. Those without advance tickets started queuing in line as early as 3pm (or earlier).

Even those with advance tickets had to queue up to get in. But it still beats queuing up for hours on end so thank goodness for advance tickets!

And this is only one portion of one of the queues

Various queues inside

On entry, I was greeted by an awesome taiko performance (recently got addicted to taiko no tatsujin) which rendered conversations pretty much impossible.

Taiko performance

As usual, stalls were set up offering a variety of food and games that are the staple of such events.

Food like takoyaki, taiyaki, curry rice, etc, can be bought there (though the drinks were quite expensive).

Oddly, they didn’t have any ramune for sale this year. I wonder why.

I also managed to get a taste of the famous candied apple everyone was raving about. It was sold out as early as 5.15pm (and right in front of me I’d like to add >_> ).

It’s nice but not something I would like to eat by myself. And the sugar coating tasted like the sugar they used for candy floss.

The usual food stalls

Noticed quite a few restaurants

Some of the game stalls

Didn’t manage to get a ballon yoyo this time T_T

Here’s some of the food I had.

The famous candied apple (or what’s left of it)

Some sushi

Curry rice and okonomiyaki

As I sat down to eat, there were various performances held on the stage at the field such as taiko and dance performances.

It was also interesting to see the number of people slowly gathering as time passed. They started putting down large mats for people to sit on as it got later.

At 5.15pm

A taiko performance on stage

Around 6pm or so

Starting to get crowded at around 7pm

Finally at the final event which was the bon odori, the crowd reached its peak as everyone, led by the dancers on stage, danced along to the songs played.

I went down to join in as well although dancing with a camera around your neck wasn’t particularly comfortable.

The bon odori