Fundraiser Tea Ceremony

A few weeks ago I read about a fundraiser at the innermost gardens, the fundraiser was to repair a castle damaged by earthquakes in Japan. 

The fundraiser included a traditional tea ceremony and lots of Japanese goodies so I had to come along and Ria was happy to come along with me!

When we first arrived a tea ceremony was already underway, so decided to check out the stalls which we selling a lot of cute treats.

Sorry the picture is slightly blurry! I thought these rice balls were so cute, once you bought one you could draw a face on the glad wrap that they were wrapped in with a felt tip pen.

Ria bought one of these bears and drew a face on him, I looked up this character and he's call "Kumamon" and is "Japan's most popular bear".

There was a bit of a wait before we could join the next tea ceremony, but it was ok to wait as there was cute stuff to look at including these cute cranes.

As part of the ceremony we got to have the most delicious matcha ever and these crunchy sweet biscuit things (no idea what they really are!).

The team ceremony itself was pretty amazing to watch, there was so much ritual involved. I just wish I knew more about what each movement and action actually meant.

Before leaving we decided to explore the innermost gardens where the event was held which is a community garden, it's a little over grown, but that's part of it's charm.

Before we left we asked a couple of the ladies if they would mind having a photo with us in their beautiful kimono.

It turned out all the people in traditional Japanese clothing were just as excited as we were about photos, so for the second photo a bunch more people joined in!

I just thought I'd finish up this post with a Selfie, because that's who I am! Ria made her adorable dress and mine is from Lindy Bop. I'm also wearing a bunny because this was the weekend before Easter!

I hope you have a lovely weekend, I think its going to be a chilly one here in Wellington x

Ask Trees - Part II

Hello World - sorry I have been AWOL for a while, its really been a week of some pretty big ups and downs. I didn't even do a Wednesday Wardrobe Challenge, which hardly ever happens.

I decided it was time to answer another "Ask Trees" this question is from the amazeballs Helga Von Trollop:

What's your fave place you've traveled to so far, and what is your ultimate destination?!

If you've read my blog for a while, you will know that I do LOVE to travel and see the world. This can be a little bit difficult when you do live at the bottom world like I do. But when it comes to my favorite destination to date, there is really not questions, it has to be my second home - South Korea!

Rich and I lived in Korea for a whole year in 2009-2010 and it was pretty much the best time EVER! I love Korea! The food is delicious, the people are amazing and friendly and there's so much history and beauty. I also meet rad people from all over the world - best time EVER!!

Coming in a second place would have to be Japan - Rich and I have done one trip to Japan and I would love to go back sometime in the next few years. We visited Tokyo and Kyoto - you have to love Tokyo - because its pure madness. But I loved Kyoto even more - so much beauty, history and there was the monkeys as well. Everything is better with monkeys!

Whilst South Korea and Japan are my top two travel destinations ever - I have to admit, I've never visited a country I didn't enjoy. Here's a few more photos of the overseas adventures I've had.

Rarotonga, Cook Islands

 Shanghai, China

 Melbourne, Australia

 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  Phuket, Thailand

 Singapore

Taipei, Taiwan (we lived here for about 3 months)

Vietnam

Hong Kong

Macau

Sydney/Blue Mountains, Australia

Vanuatu

Phew! That's a lot of places!  

As for part two of Helga's question - what's my ultimate destination - well I don't know if I have an ultimate destination, but my current wishlist of places to visit looks a little like this: San Francisco, New York, Tasmania, Santiago, Bhutan, Havana, Hiroshima, Osaka, Iceland, Indonesia, Iceland, Cambodia, Mexico, Myanmar(Burma), Zanzibar, Berlin, Moscow, Stewart Island, Uluru, Tanna Island (Vanuatu), Beijing, Edinburgh, Prague, Ho Chi Min City, Langkawi.

I know its a pretty LONG list - but I'm a bit closer to visiting two places on this list. Exciting news, this week I bought tickets for the USA - I'll be there for three weeks in May 2013! It's very exciting! 

I'll be visiting both New York and San Francisco and many place in between. I'll be spending time with blog friends and friends I met whilst living in South Korea. I can't wait - exciting travel times ahead.