There were lion dancers! They were wonderful. I noted how much more intricate the dancing was, how there was choreography, and then realized that I had never seen lion dancers in any place in Asia. I was comparing them to Chinatowns and Madison’s International Festival. Was it just that this performance was so much closer to the source?

The second night of the festival was crowded and raucous with so many young children running around. I watched young parents introducing toddlers to the lights and toys and foods. This learning of celebration. We all do it, we all take part in it and yet, it is easier to see in another culture, in another part of the world.

There were also a bunch of young people cosplaying. Julia enjoyed that.

We finished the night with fancy ice cream sitting on a balcony on the lake — The Lake of the Restored Sword. Ed had coconut ice cream in a coconut and it was delicious. I was rather unadventurous with just chocolate and vanilla. Julia picked 3 fruit ice creams, one of which was taro. All good choices.