Traveler in a Suitcase!

Dragged Koko (saint, victim, non-otaku) to Surabaya Nihon Matsuri at Lenmarc because everyone else had “real plans.” On the schedule: origami, furoshiki, shodou, and my personal event - panicking near strangers in great costumes.

The gate, the crowd, the ghost (me)

• If you see the big red torii, that’s the main entrance.

• Inside = crowded. I kept bumping into old friends who didn’t bump into me back. My social superpower is invisibility.

Chanoyu (tea ceremony) why I sat perfectly still for once

I came mostly for this (and, yes, free tea). Sensei and participants wore yukata and prepared everything with precise manners that made my soul shut up for five minutes.

Cliff-notes you can steal:

Pros & cons (speed run)

Pros

• ⛩️ Clear entrance + festive crowd

• 🍵 Tea ceremony demo = soothing, beautiful

• 👘 Cosplay energy = serotonin, even when blurry

Cons

• 🍢 Food options felt thin; takoyaki not fully cooked

• 📸 Low-light + nerves = bad photo rate

• 🧭 Wayfinding/entrance cues could be clearer for first-timers

Tips if you go next time

• Arrive early for tea ceremony seats.

• Bring cash (small bills) and snacks in case stalls underwhelm.

• For cosplay pics: ask first, use Burst, step where the light is clean, keep elbows tucked.

• If you’re shy, prep one line: “Boleh foto bareng, ya?” Then smile like you mean it.

Chinese New Year chaos (the cute kind)

I arrived right as Chinese New Year (Feb 19) spun up: malls blasting drums, barongsai everywhere, promos sprinting across storefronts like coupons learned to walk.

• Galaxy Mall: packed but survivable; I fought my way to the front for once (short-girl victory).

• Tunjungan Plaza: ultra-crowded; the lion dance did a mall marathon up all those floors. Breathing? Optional.

I snapped photos like I wasn’t shaking, collected a random candy from a roaming mascot, and decided to keep it forever as a relic (shelf life: emotional).