Don't Miss This One Next Year -- It's a Blast !
Locals call it the Una Matsuri but you can get by saying, Onna-son Festival.
With several villages having festivals, all weekend, I chose this one.
The people of Onna-son really know how to throw a party.
This field, where the festival took place, is just a few steps away from the East China Sea.
When I first got there, only a few hundred guests were out in the hot sun.
As evening arrives, the crowd gathers around the stage to see the entertainment.
Trying to get a better look, I zoomed in on these performers playing classic Okinawan folk music.
That guy, playing the guitar looked like he had something strange on his head.
Catching the group before they disappeared, I took this photo.
Would you believe, the dude does his own hair styling ?
Dang. I wish I could do stuff like that !
Before the sun disappeared, I started setting-up to shoot fireworks, near the beach.
When it got really dark, I decided this would be where I'd catch the fireworks.
The beach was roped-off so, nobody could get any closer and, I wondered why.
BOOM ! ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE !
The illumination launchers were planted on the beach, just a few meters away.
The fireworks were popping directly over us. So much for making a scene over the ocean.
Tens of thousands behind me and there's nowhere to go.
Babies are screaming and crying; teenagers cheering and saying, "Oo, ah and kawaii."
In the crowd, there was no way to move the tripod and camera and catch the bursts overhead.
It was like being downtown PANDAMONIUM !
So, I farted, as loud and long as I could.
It worked. Hah !
