Fireworks

On Tuesday night, some of my Japanese friends invited me to a fireworks festival in Hashimoto. It was part of the obon celebration. Many were in kimonos (I totally want to wear one!). I have never seen so many people in my life. There is a picture when we were on the train (a little blurry I know). My first train ride, and I got to share it with one million other people. Actually, this was taken on the way to the festival. The way home was worse. But, at least I feel a little more confident in taking the train. At the festival there were hundreds of booths with food, toys, and games. There was a large river that we crossed over to get to the festival, and floating on the river were candlelit lanterns, very pretty. I included a few shots of the fireworks (just for you Shelley!). The finale was a shower of fireworks down the center of the river. It looked like a bright white waterfall. Absolutely stunning! Then nine billion of my closest friends and I rode the train home. It was a fun evening.
On a different note, I want everyone to sign up for “skype.” It is a phone service that you use over the internet. If you talk skype to skype, the call is FREE! Then you can talk to me all the way over here! To sign up is free too. Great for those moving away to college (hint hint Christina). All you need is a headset and a mic. The website is www.skype.com. I just talked to dad to wish him a happy birthday, and he could hear me quite well. Did I mention that if you get skype too then we can talk for FREE?