I took an evening bus to Jinju after work last night to experience the Namgang Lantern Festival there. It was magical! The city's waterfront was bustling until about 2am, with people wandering up and down both sides of the Namgang river, and around a large fortress above it, admiring the many floating lanterns that were reflecting their colored brilliance onto dark, oily water. The festival has historical significance to these people, dating back to a period of Japanese invasion in 1592, when a Korean general used lanterns in the sky and torches on the river to send military signals to his troops. The soldiers also used lanterns to express their safety to family and supporting forces outside the fortress. The whole place reminded me of some sort of surreal dream, although sleep deprivation may have contributed to that. The diversity of the lanterns was amazing, ranging in size from larger-than-life, Disney-esque and rather garish, to the most exquisite handmade paper ones hanging in an archway. I spent most of my time in this tunnel of light, craning my neck to examine each one. They were by far my favorites, each lantern so different in its design, expressing the unique creativity of hundreds of individuals. It was beautiful. 
Another favorite of the larger lanterns was this dragon, which actually moved and breathed real fire. I felt like the Paper Bag Princess standing beneath it's enormous head and moving claws. 
Overall, a brilliant night. Slept a few hours in a nearby motel and then caught a morning bus back to Geoje-do, after a coffee and a quick browse through a Chinese photography exhibit in a local gallery. (Wish you were here to share this adventure with me: Ally-Lee, Isadora, and Beckstargirl! I think you three especially would've LOVED it.)
