With our future overseas travels getting closer by the day, we were inspired to spend the afternoon/evening at the Canberra Nara Candle Festival held at the Nara Peace Park. Arriving in the sunshine, the girls made their own lantern before we headed off in search of food hoping to be ahead of the long lines. We tried gyoza (Japanese dumplings), okonomiyaki (savoury pancake) and nikuman (pork bun).
Our post dinner activities included visiting the Japanese Embassy tent. Origami, calligraphy were on offer as was yo-yo balloon fishing game. We watched a little sumo wrestling and kendo. These were all fun however, the highlight for the girls was dressing up in a yukata (a cotton version of a kimono).
It was great entertainment while we waited for the sun to dip below the horizon. The official delegates lit the two lanterns - Kasuga and Yukimi as the crowds began to gather around the dry stream bed where all 2000 candles were beginning to shimmer in the darkness. It was a little chaotic and at one point I lost the others while trying to take photos. Eventually I found them - the girls were viewing the candles from the branches of a tree after bumping into friends! Such a lovely festival to attend.
Our post dinner activities included visiting the Japanese Embassy tent. Origami, calligraphy were on offer as was yo-yo balloon fishing game. We watched a little sumo wrestling and kendo. These were all fun however, the highlight for the girls was dressing up in a yukata (a cotton version of a kimono).
It was great entertainment while we waited for the sun to dip below the horizon. The official delegates lit the two lanterns - Kasuga and Yukimi as the crowds began to gather around the dry stream bed where all 2000 candles were beginning to shimmer in the darkness. It was a little chaotic and at one point I lost the others while trying to take photos. Eventually I found them - the girls were viewing the candles from the branches of a tree after bumping into friends! Such a lovely festival to attend.
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