Thai Festival

We're here!

One of the things I love about living in Tokyo is almost every weekend there is a cultural festival in Yoyogi Park.  It's like getting to visit Epcot's Food and Wine Fest, one booth at a time.  We now have one of the most popular ones - Thailand!  I read two million people attend the two-day event.  It feels like that from the crowds!

Don't lose me!

Usually there are performances going on throughout the day and some booths selling clothes/sandals/baskets, etc. (That may or not be "traditional" items from that country and may or may not be made in that country; personally, I believe it's all stuff made in China/India, or wherever it is cheapest to manufacture.  In case you haven't figured it out, I haven't bought anything from them.)  This event had something new - monks!  People are waiting to speak with them.  I don't know what they actually do, though.  Pray with/for you?  Is it like going to confession?  Either way, I admire the gorgeous color of their robes.

Now I understand the color saffron!

Apparently fruit carving is also something that is popular in Thailand??  Several booths had decorations in front. 

Too pretty to eat!

I wonder if Steve would be willing to learn how to do this?

After walking by the tents with items for sale, we check out the food and drink booths.  Naturally we have a Thai beer so we don't get thirsty as we stroll down all the aisles.

This is the Singha hat. Steve insisted on wearing it the rest of the day - even at an art exhibit we went to later.

It's hard to take a selfie & hold a bowl of hot soup at the same time!

I was happy to try another fresh version of my current favorite soup - Tom Yum!  Many places are selling it.  Most of the signs are in Japanese or Thai, so we have no way of distinguishing one place from another.  We just pick one that looks like it will be good!  I have soup from two different sellers, but I still like the one from the Cup Noodle Museum the best.

Doesn't my hat look really cool (despite what my wife says)?

Steve has various dishes, then has dessert - mango shaved ice.














We have to stand and eat, since there is limited seating provided.  Locals take care of that problem by bringing their famous blue tarps/blankets with them!  They place them down anywhere that can be considered "out of the way." 

See - there's a path for walking.

Lucky people - they set up in the shade!

Okay, so it doesn't actually have to be a blue tarp.

We enjoy the food and experience so much we decide to go back on Sunday.  We're prepared though - we bring our own "blue tarp."  We're locals now!

My 3rd Tom Yum soup - but Cup Noodle Museum still has the best!