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Michael considered fate at 14:34   |   Permalink   |   Post a Comment

The latest from my intrepid friend in (as she puts it) J-land:


Subject: Japan is fun!

and crazy. never forget the crazy. latest nutty behavior was experienced today in kyoto...it was the main day of the famous gion matsuri. massive shrine floats are carried around by hand and turned corners with people riding them playing drums. pretty cool, but, i have to say, the gay pride parade it was not. what was crazy was the crowds...i would like to get numbers, but based on jazz fest crowds, i would estimate something like half a million people. mainly just standing around, but a lot of shoving and pushing to get closer to the floats. and by shoving, i mean old little obachans pushing past shrieking, with people so sweaty they just slip past each other, policemen saying "dangerous! please! dangerous! please!" as they try to pick up the people that have fainted or been knocked down. fainted. yes. not just one girl. heaps of people. HEAPS of 'em. picture it...crazy crowd, no way out, 32 [89.6 F] degrees plus 80% humidity = 47 [116.6 F] degrees. i would have fainted too, just to get away from them all. luckily i was well hydrated and kept alert by irrational anger due to people constantly touching me.