Going out with a Bang

Cremation

It's Sunday, and the climax of the festival as the cremation takes place. We've helped out with our own carefully wrapped firewood bundles, and the sombre moment of lighting the fire arrives. But no! It appears Giles has been put in charge of the bonfire, and a truly hair-raising bout of pyromania ensues. The monk's not going quietly, as rockets zip over the crowd, firecrackers snap all over the place, and artillery shells explode within the flames. But after a while, the music relaxes, the fireworks are spent, and Jules and I are both captured by the serenity of the experience.