I have been quiet busy at office these days. Quiet frankly, the most challenging specced up project i did until now. I have got involved in better projects but i had not "developed" enough to do them well. They say an Analog designer takes years to mature. I sure can say that my mugging sessions of the first 6 months of this year are bearing fruits :-) and i have delivered the report for an important module today. Hope it creates some ripples ;-) while i improve it further!
Anyway, coming to the picture, it was Sumidagawa River festival last saturday. I barely remember having a glimpse of it in the National Television here 2 years back. Supposed to the biggest firewo rks show in japan. I was hell eager to see how can i do with my new cam. 2 years back i had kept clicking for almost 3 hours in my old hp camera at ashikaga fire festival.
The moment i landed at the nearest station, it looked that it will be a busy day. ppl ppl ppl everywhere. subway inspectors jus collecting tickets thru hands instead of the usual exit machines. i came out to see a sea of ppl heading over the river and going to other side. I was waiting for two of my friends, but even after waiting for half hr, there was no sign of them. All this while, I was wondering why ppl r all heading in one direction? and where to??
Anyway, I couldnt wait any more than 45 min and i jus followed the crowd to the opp side of the river. after a few turns i saw what was happening. A whole 2 or 3km stretch of roadsides, parks, bylanes all filled with ppl. they brought some plastic mats and sat on them. TV crews, photographers with tripods, families, basically everyone. all eating like hell(as japanese only can do) and sitting there at 4pm/5pm when the fireworks start at 7pm. i was jus overwhelmed by the number of ppl. I tried to walk to the end of this stretch of ppl. but even after i walked for an hr, i couldnt find the end, nor the place to sit!!!
I gave up and holed myself at one good spot. but unfortunately, most other ppl thot its a good spot too. so, by the time of fireworks it was jus thirumala types :-)) i could keep my cam still for only a few pics. In fact, this show is a competition between two guys vying for ppls attention. But, lucky r the ones who can find a spot to clearly see both.
After enjoying for an hr, i thot i should head home, bcos my last train is at 9:20pm and i was not so confident of crossing the bridge in this crowd easily. I started back at 8pm. And i realised the true size of crowd then. It was massive. i could look further and further ,but no end to it. I tried at one bridge, cops said entry closed, take the ohter bridge. and i was in a hurry. i had no time. i ran to other bridge, cops said same story. some roads were fully blocked and had other routes to prevent any mishaps. but it was jus sea of ppl. all this while, the best part of show was going on. but i was busy running around, finding ways to get to the other end of the bridge sooon. Or else, night stay in tokyo only!
At last, maybe near my 4th bridge i got in. but they had stopped ppl from moving. i was told i wil have to jus wait. cant do anything! luckily, after sometime they allwoed and i got to other side by 9pm. i ran to my station, to find it closed! they closed the land station and opened jus the subway, i think to control the crowd. the entry to subway was regulated and i joined up behind a big queue. My turn came at around 9:15 and caught the train to my next station where the last one is at around 9:20. I did get my train and i got to my place at around 11pm. but it was great tension filled adventure if i will really be able to make it! More than the fireworks, the amount of ppl caught my imagination. By wikipedias estimates a MILLION PEOPLE come each year!!!
