Idul Fitri | Salatiga | Indonesia

The last two days we have been observing the traditions in celebration of the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. Last night, we went to the town square to watch a parade in which every local mosque created a float.

Think the 4th of July + New Year's Eve + Superbowl Halftime, all rolled into one. I woke up pretty much every hour, despite my iPod and sleeping pills. The same guy was praying over the loudspeaker at our neighborhood mosque the entire night. He was also competing with the three other mosques nearby. It's some serious devotion.

The next morning, we woke up at 5:30 to walk to the town square again, to see the fast-breaking prayer. It was an incredible sight.

See the women? Probably not. They are behind the men, behind the rope, at the back of the field. It was definitely an eye-opening experience to see the devotion of that many people, all gathered in one place, chanting in unison for the same cause.