Lantern Festival, Hakka Style

Last night, Linda and I went to the Lantern Festival in Miaoli City.  They do the Chinese floating lanterns every year in one city, but Miaoli hosts its own festival each year.  It has something to do with a god who didn't like the cold, so they throw firecrackers at his feet to "warm him up."  It's still damp and cold in Miaoli, so throw all the firecrackers you want.

After two trains and a 20 min. delay to get there, I arrived in Miaoli City, and Linda and I had dinner.  After that, we made our way to the festival.

There was dancing, lots of talented performers

And fireworks, it's not a celebration without fireworks.  I had to put my hood up, not because of the cold, but because the shells kept hitting me on the head.

They weren't just throwing firecrackers, they were throwing smoke bombs, too.

There's a dragon dance, and they throw the fireworks at the dragon.  I can't imagine having to operate the dragon, I had earplugs in, and the smoke was so thick, there were times when we couldn't even see the dragon.

It's hard to tell, but the eyes light up.  I didn't get very close, the smoke was so thick.

A very fun evening.  

Afterwards, Linda and I had tea in a little restaurant, and then I caught the last train(s) back to Tongxiao.  I also tried something new on the way home, I used the bathroom on the train.  While it was moving.  I described this to my good friend Jen this morning, and I may start a new blog: bathrooms around the world.  I've got some pretty interesting stories from my travels.