Every Year after Chinese New Year, on the fifteenth day of the new year, there is the Sky Lantern Festival. In a an area outside of Taipei, many people gather to write wishes on a paper lantern and then put a small flame under it and send it flying into the sky.
From the videos I have seen, it seems really incredible, the night sky filled with what looks like hundreds of flying stars. Unfortunately I have never been there in person, as previously I always had to work. This was the first year that I had the day free, and I was determined to go. However the closer the day came, the more and more people told me how crowded it is.
I already wasn't feeling up to standing shoulder to shoulder for a few hours, but when I was informed how long it would take to drive there and find a parking space, my decision wasn't in doubt.
Since I didn't go, I'm giving you a lantern picture I do have. It's a ceiling filled with lanterns, at a local temple. You can actually see this kind of set up at many temples in Taiwan.
What is more interesting at this temple are some magic eggs. But that's for tomorrow.
