Sometimes the bruises are worth it.

Now don't go thinking anything sordid you perverted readers!

Over the weekend here Fukui held it's annual "Phoenix festival". The symbol of Fukui prefecture is a phoenix, because the city has been destroyed several times due to war, fire, and earthquakes. The festival is great fun. For three days they set up tons of kiosks with food, drink and some games. There is a huge yosakoi dance festival on Saturday night and it's just a great time. Oh yeah, it's not illegal here to walk on the street with a drink either, so you can imagine there were a lot of folks out who'd had a fair share to drink.

Some of the students and teachers from school spent a few hours having dinner then headed down to check out the festival. It was tons of fun and there should be some good pictures coming. I was with friends who actually had digital ones, so hopefully I'll be able to post some soon.

I didn't stay out at late as a lot of my friends because I had to be up fairly early to go rafting in the morning. There were a few hungover rafters among our group though! hehehe>:) Rafting was a ton of fun, just like last year. We did have a few scares though. Lotus got tossed out of her raft at the first rapids, but handled herself well and was rescued without too much trouble.

Valerie had never gone rafting before and was dumped badly twice. The second time we both went under, her first then me basically right on top of her. I don't remember being afraid, just thinking that I needed to get her head above water. I was able to roll over, lift her out and push her towards the rocks on the side where someone helped her to shore. I got stuck in the rapids but just let my lifejacket do its work and grabbed the first rock I could hang onto.

Scrapes and bruises aside I had a good time and would go again. You might have a little more trouble convincing some of the others though!

The pictures are coming, really!