Bon in Penang

Bon Odori...

I've been to the event held in Shah Alam for the past two years...

and every year I see the photos from the Penang event and feel envious

So this year, after some last minute planning, 

Maneki Neko and myself hopped on a bus to Penang 

not knowing where we'd be staying

how we'd be getting back 

or what to expect

for the unenlightened, according to Wikipedia,

"Bon Odori (盆踊り, 

meaning simply Bon dance is an event held during Obon. 

It is celebrated as a reminder of the gratitude one should feel toward one's ancestors.

As Obon occurs in the heat of the summer, 

participants traditionally wear yukata, or light cotton kimonos. 

Many Obon celebrations include a huge carnival with rides, games, 

and summer festival food like watermelon"

After scoping out the sights of the Esplanade,

we saw the food stalls,

the games,

and the stage.

and it started raining

and people took shelter under umbrella's

or whatever was at hand

who'd thunk to use a cap for a camera rain cover?

After the rain stopped,

the drums begun

followed by the dances

(which included the bunny hop!)

and the singing

The colours, sounds and costumes makes the experience quite worthwhile

Especially the stage and the stand 

which make the event photographer friendly

which was the biggest drawback of the event

Almost the entire crowd around the stage were photographers

and very few there to participate despite the encouragement of the emcee

despite the footnotes on the flyers..

there were some who came in cosplay 

or dressed up in other fashions

but the cherry on top of the sundae that is Bon Odori in Penang 

(for the photographers) is the fireworks display 

Not sure if it is worth the time and money 

to travel all the way again just for Bon Odori in Penang next year

but for this year it was worth every penny...

especially since heart crusher represented

with our delegates from Sungai Petani & Thailand :)

During the long trip there and back,

I had time to think...

in spite of the tragedies and suffering that came

with the Japanese invasion to Malaya...

who could have predicted that they would have left something 

that bring something that leaves such joy and life

I guess sometimes good does indeed come out of the bad