Ohori Koen

Everything here in Fukuoka is closing for the impending O-bon festival so I spent the afternoon at the city park. There were dragonflies and turtles everywhere, I even saw a few cranes. This one let me get close enough for a few photos. The lily pads were blooming too. Entire ponds full of them were blooming these gigantic white flowers. Anyone know the name of these flowers? [Mom: these are what make those huge cone-shaped seed pods you love.]

Tomorrow I leave for Kumamoto with Yina to celebrate the O-bon matsuri (festival of the dead). I am told there will be fireworks!