F8-Hello Kitty Go Races! Part I
Gosh it’s already past midnight but I just got home from the Chinese Garden as there’s a special event held there from now to the 28th of September. Yes, it’s the Lantern Fantasy 2008 featuring F8-Hello Kitty Go Races! Being a Hello Kitty fan, this is an event that I will not miss so I gathered my willing and unwilling friends and we head down on a Thursday night.
Before entering, we were greeted by a well hidden warning sign that’s by the side. We’re such a fine country indeed. I took more than 100 photos for this trip and it’s getting late now so I’ll be sharing part II with everyone on another day instead.
I thought that this event would be boring since things didn’t start off well for me. I was greeted by a large event map and there were some statues of historical figures (Zheng He, Confucius, Lin Zexu, etc) around. The statues remind me of my China imperial history module but I snap shot a few of them so that I will have something in my camera just in case nothing turns out to be interesting.
Finally we see light! We found some lantern models off the main path and I went nearer for some close up shots. There are barriers placed to separate the visitors from touching the models for safety reasons, probably for fear of electrocution since the lantern models are running on electricity.
Some of the models spin slowly clockwise and anti clockwise.
This was totally unexpected but there is ACTUALLY A TONE DOWN VERSION OF AN AMUSEMENT PARK IN Chinese Garden. The games are limited, catered more specifically to children instead so I could only snap shot most of them. However, there are bumper cars and I spent S$6 for a game and had fun knocking into my friends’ cars.
There’s this game where you can float on water in a ball filled with air. Its possible for 2 people to be in one air ball (at a higher cost) but the game itself is rather cumbersome to play. You’ll need to remove your footwear and be prepared to get a little wet from this game. Also, due to space constrain, one can’t run around much so you’ll just pretty much “roll” yourself to the center and sit there till you get bored and decides to quit.
My friends and I are then greeted by many stalls that were along the path and they specialize in mainly handicrafts. There’s one that sells sweets for S$2 a stick, another that does name portrait painting and another that does face portrait of visitors for a fee. The stall that sells the most interesting ornaments would be the below. By the way, they’re all hand woven and cost around S$3.
Now you’ll be wondering where the Hello Kitties and Dear Daniels are because that was what I was asking while walking. It didn’t take me long to find THEM! From then on, Hello Kitty and friends can be seen EVERYWHERE, gathered in groups at various spots.
For F8-Hello Kitty Go Races!, lantern models are not only found on land, Hello Kitty and friends are also out sailing in the lake. I find it an innovative idea to fill the lake with lantern models like the below. They “light” up the lake and make the whole event more interesting with different varieties. I was unable to take some of the boats that were further away due to my camera’s limitation.
Likewise, some of the models spin clockwise or anti clockwise too.
Wheee ~ relaxing out at sea ~<3
The duck on top looks lonely.
After taking a look at the boats out at the lake, it’s back to some land exploration before calling it a day.
Dancing Melody!
Broooooom….Car racing!
Ice cream, anyone?
Ah I have school later. =_=”
Balloon dog!
You’re wondering why I snap shot a balloon dog. The “in” things for this festival are not lanterns. Instead, children are pulling this balloon dog along with them everywhere. It’s actually pumped with helium but there’s not enough helium for it to float totally in air. The intention is to make the balloon dog light on its 4 feet so that when the kids pull it, it bounces after them. Pretty cool idea right?
That’s all for now as I need to head to bed. I’ll be covering part II on The Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum some other day. (:
Do not remind me about the Hello Kitties being everywhere. >_<Also lol, I knew there was to be some sort of toned down amusement stuff when I saw the things by the lakeside while I was taking my shoot of Kureha.
The last time I went to something like this was…I think 3 years ago. Sure looks better than I last remembered it.
Stiflers last blog post..Summer Matsuri 2008: Suzumiya Haruhi
Omg, Bad Batz Maru!!
Easily the best mascot from the entire cast. 
Shins last blog post..Code Geass R2 Turn 21: Returns A King
Hehe now i know what Panther was so upset about^^The Ball floating on water thing looks cool but why on a blow up swimming pool?It would have been soo much more fun on the lake.I think the overall idea is pretty nifty but we can argue about the hello kitty part ^_^
interesting handicrafts in the pic. who would buy a snake anyway? ^^;
gordons last blog post..Sleeping Neko
@Panther
Cheer up, the Hello Kitties won’t be there for long. The amusement games are limited and more catered for children; bumper cars seemed to be the coolest out of everything that was over there.
@Stifler
I heard from the officials that they would be changing the decorations for other upcoming festivals soon so maybe you can visit the next few displays when they’re up. A motivating factor would be that they are free as compared to this lantern festival where I had to pay S$12 entrance fees.
@Shin
I like the skate board Hello Kitty the most.
@Blowfish
There’s some swam looking like machines in the lake. People can foot paddle in those swam-machines solo or with their lover. I think it was safer to use the blown up swimming pool because it would be dangerous if anything was to happen to the players when they’re out in the lake. Also, the lake was dark and visibility was low.
@gordon
I thought so too but people were buying those hand made crafts that night, not the snakes though but more of the dragons and other more awesome looking animals. My guess is that its rather cheap since its only S$3 each.
That Cinnamaroll is absolutely adorable. I used to be a huge HK fan but I’ve lately been drifting towards other Sanrio crack merchandise. Great photos!
Caitlins last blog post..JSL: August 25th-August 29th
Tis a wonderful-looking place. Maybe I should visit~
C.I.s last blog post..code geass r2 – Damn i really am a sucker for lelouch X suzaku.
@Caitlin
I’m still a HK fan after so long probably due to my HK pillow at home. (:
@C.I.
Ya, entrance fee is only 5 bucks, pretty affordable. Visit when the whole Hello Kitty Festival is over so that you need not pay 12 bucks just to enter Chinese Garden.