Manifest just keeps getting better and better with each year. When I thought nothing could beat Manifest 2002, I was pleasantly surprised by Manifest 2003, which completely blew me away. However, like last year I only stayed for Saturday due to University commitments.
With under three hours of sleep, I got up at 8am to style and colour my hair, finish off some last minute details on my costume. At 9 I left to pick up
Tobias and we were off to Manifest.
Once we arrived, I was shocked to see how short the queue to get in was, for it was nothing compared to the previous year. Manifest was very organised compared to last year. I gave
Shiori a call while waiting outside and out rushed Pacifica from Scrapped Princess! Shiori looked gorgeous in her costume, truly breath-taking. After we collected our nametags Shiori brought me downstairs to finally meet
Geoffrey, a very loyal Triple Mixster. It was wonderful to meet him and to talk to the essence of craziness at
TM ^^ A little later I went into the bathroom to change into my own costume, Mint Buramanshu from Galaxy Angels. One thing I love about wearing "cute" girl costumes is the consideration people give you. I know, it is such a bad thing to think, but it is true. Boys suddenly turn into gentlemen, and have such respect for you. With the exception of evil fan boys that Shiori and I love bashing ^^
After wondering around a little, I received a message from
Himiko who was in the bathroom changing. I walked in with Shiori to find
Mary inside. I found it a little hard to recognise her at first, because she was much shorter than I had imagined, but just as pretty! She was wearing a cute schoolgirl's uniform. Soon, Himiko emerged from the cubicle in her sky blue kimono looking adorable! Once she was done, we left the bathroom and waiting outside was
Joey dressed as Lain from Serial Experiment Lain. Yet again, she impressed everyone with her stunning sewing skills! Multi-talented girl~!
We wandered around in the dealer's room, naturally getting crushed every time we went near the
Tamarket table. Ms Tamarket was looking very chic in her Yuna-gunner outfit! A marketing scheme, I'm sure ^~. I kept hitting people every time I turned my head thanks to my rabbit-like Mint ears. I could not stop apologising the entire time. Luckily, since I'm so small I just hit most people in the arm, as opposed to their eyes. I ran into so many people I knew during the con. Shou-chan from my old high school, who was gracious enough to allow me one photo of us together. Unfortunately, it was my most photogenic photograph, and the only one I will not be uploading unless Shou-chan lets me ^^;
I ran into some friends from
Monash, leaving me a little nervous at first since I was in costume, but they were nice enough not to make fun of me ^^ I was also able to meet the ever cheerful
Steph! She was so bubbly and energetic, such a delight to talk to~!
Later we went upstairs to pose for some photos, all five of us girls~ While I've never been keen on taking photos, I was strangely really happy about posing for random strangers when they requested my photograph. Besides, an experience like this does not come everyday, so I made the most of it while I could.
The cosplay competition was next, and like last year the audience was massive. I ran into a
MACC member, Chris, while there. It was good finally chatting with him, since I we always go to the same screenings, do most of the same subjects at Uni, and yet have not breathed a single word to each other. The entries were so cute and adorable! Himiko and I went trigger happy~ I managed to video tape Joey and Shiori's cute skits, but most of the sound is drowned up from Himiko and I joking and giggling the entire time ^^; The winner of the competition was the huge Moogle, that looked so cute, but would seriously scare me if it came after me for a hug.
Next was lunch, we went to the same place we went to last year ^^ Pizza~ Got to finally meet
Mr Waffles too! During lunch we planned out what we would do for the rest of the afternoon, anime screenings!
After lunch on the way back to Manifest, I saw a No Face cosplayer and instantly knew it was
Jen. Being me, Shiori took me outside so I could meet her. Jen is such a sweet girl!
Later we watched Witch Hunter Robin and Jungle wa Itsumo Hale nochi Guu (SO CUTE!) After Jungle wa Itsumo, I left with Himiko to change back into my "normal" clothes. Sadly, I missed Matantei Loki RAGNAROK because of this, but I will be sure to watch it some time in the future thanks to Shiori's recommendation.
After we changed, I went back to grab Shiori, Tobias and Geoffrey and we left for dinner at around 6:30pm.
Gab (Mary's boyfriend) took us to this cute Café in the city, which gave me the opportunity to chat with all my on-line friends about non-anime and manga related topics. It is truly a gift to meet such wonderful people, let alone being able to call them my friends.
Dinner finished at around 9pm, when Gab and Mary headed back to Manifest. Waffles left and Joey took the tram back home and Himiko left. (I really wanted to hug her since she would be leaving for Singapore at the end of the year, and hence I probably won't be able to see her again ;_; Keep in touch Himiko-chan~!) After bidding farewell to Shiori and Geoffrey, they left to get ready for the next day.
Being the stubborn girl I am, I refused to go home since it was much too early. Tobias and I decided to walk down to Crown and wander around till it was at least 10:30pm. It was probably a good idea we didn't stay out too late because I ended up falling asleep in the taxi and at Tobias' place for little while. However, all in all it was a wonderful day~
Manifest 2003 has been the best con ever! I'm already excited about Manifest 2004! The only difference is I hope next year I will get more sleep prior to the convention! Thanks to everyone who came, you made the day so beautiful and memorable~!
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