Let's Play Deductions!

[Van Buren Supernova]

I am running out of colleagues to kick.. *go to public place and stalk noisy people, holding stick*

 

Okay, let's round up what we have again. I only list important ones.

 

Ink on ball. Not printing ink.

'Divider' is jetty like, floating structure with platform. Outdoor.

Special lighting to make the balls colorful. No blacklighting.

Balls smaller than Rover size, not buoys. Balls are recycled from past and for future uses.

What in the picture is uncommon, but it's very common idea.

Sticks, important sticks. Probably the most important.

 

What is happening?

 

Come on guys, people are getting suspicious with my stick.

 

Don't say I leave you all dry, a round from me for refreshing.

[sherlockpoirot]

Hmm....

Could the sticks be pens?

If so, the ink on the balls could be writing.

Why there would be a thousand such balls I do not know! :/

 

 

Let's theorise! :D :D

This is a small town by the beach. Once a year the people of the town gather by the beach and...umm...write stuff on...balls and send them floating away into the sea!

A lot of these then get washed up on the beach again. So beachcombers collect them,clean them and sell them next year.

Sort of like this, but with balls:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8Dr%C5%8D_nagashi

 

Okay...I think it's time to go to bed.

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

Hey hey good theory good direction...keep going!

[Arcadia]

Does that mean the ink on the balls IS writing?

 

Autographed balls... nope, wouldn't be recycled.

 

Artistic representation of how email works?

 

 

 

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

Yes, the ink on the balls IS writing.

The still usable balls could be recycled for same usage, the unusable ones could be recycled to something else. Anyway, yes, always recycle.

So not autographed balls or artist representation of how email works. 

 

[Arcadia]

Geez Louise, I can't think of any practical reason why one would write on a plastic ball that's going to be recycled.

 

Something to do with a holiday or similar tradition? No, that doesn't make sense, how could plastic be part of a tradition....

 

Writing ... what are they writing? Last will and testament? Recipes for plastic balls? Love letters? Legal documents? Directions to the plastics factory? The next script for Sherlock?

 

What are they writing with? The "sticks?"

 

I'm still confused about the relative size of everything. Is the platform big enough for people to walk on? Is that why it's there?

[Arcadia]

 

Oh! In the far upper left corner, is that a person with a stick?

 

The regularly spaced rectangles along the top of the picture -- is that like a guard rail, to keep cars from driving into this place?

 

Is this something like a canal? Or maybe a beach-type area?

 

Is this a special occasion or are these balls here all the time?

 

Not enough data......

[SherlockedCAMPer]

To quote Sherlock "I don't know. I don't like not knowing." That's my response to the picture.

[Van Buren Supernova]

You are pointing out a lot of good clues here.

 

I can't think of any practical reason why one would write on a plastic ball that's going to be recycled.

Yes why indeed? What is normally the reason for that? Because...

 

Something to do with a holiday or similar tradition? No, that doesn't make sense, how could plastic be part of a tradition....

Yes, something to do with tradition, although I would say it's not a formal tradition, and it's common world-wide, so it's not Serbian.

However, I did mention that this is uncommon way to express it.

 

Writing ... what are they writing? Last will and testament? Recipes for plastic balls? Love letters? Legal documents? Directions to the plastics factory? The next script for Sherlock?

Not those. I would say the closest would be love letter, but not exactly that either.

 

What are they writing with? The "sticks?"

Stick not for writing, not for beating up colleagues as well.

 

I'm still confused about the relative size of everything. Is the platform big enough for people to walk on? Is that why it's there?

Exactly, the platform is actually for people to walk on, and that's why it's there.

 

Oh! In the far upper left corner, is that a person with a stick?

Err.. I don't see what you see, but in my other pictures there are people although they are not holding stick.

 

The regularly spaced rectangles along the top of the picture -- is that like a guard rail, to keep cars from driving into this place?

Is this something like a canal? Or maybe a beach-type area?

Regularly spaced rectangles, not guard rail, it's more like lights. But cars shouldn't enter this place.

It's bigger than canal, more like bay.

 

Is this a special occasion or are these balls here all the time?

Special occasion only, not here all the time.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Have to break into two, too many quotes.

 

That's why I said Sherlockpoirot went into good direction, I thought it was on the tip of the tongue so I didn't elaborate.

Let's see..

 

Hmm....

Could the sticks be pens?

If so, the ink on the balls could be writing.

Sticks are not pen, but writing yes, as answered.

 

Why there would be a thousand such balls I do not know! :/

Why indeed? Because....

 

This is a small town by the beach. Once a year the people of the town gather by the beach and...umm...write stuff on...balls and send them floating away into the sea!

Not beach, as mentioned, more like bay, but it doesn't really affect the answer. Not small town. The rest of sentence is closer to the answer than you think. Why would they do that? Although the balls are controlled, they don't let it float away, I believe some weights are attached.

 

A lot of these then get washed up on the beach again. So beachcombers collect them,clean them and sell them next year.

As above, they don't let it float away, so the one who puts them there is the one who handles them later. Hmm.. next year, why?

 

The sticks.. these seem to be the main mystery that are not deduced yet, at all.

Look at them, what is up, why are they arranged that way?

[Arcadia]

NCIS is on so I still get to ask as many questions as I like.

 

Do the sticks hold the balls while you write on them?

 

Are the balls letters to Santa?

 

Oooooh! Are the sticks incense? Is this some sort of religious ritual? Like, um ... I have no clue about religious rituals.

 

Easter! Is it a substitute for coloring eggs? Is that a worldwide thing?

 

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

NCIS is on so I still get to ask as many questions as I like.

Well as long as you have reason.... :P

 

Do the sticks hold the balls while you write on them?

Nope. The sticks operate independently from the balls. :D

Don't make joke! I know you won't. XD

 

Are the balls letters to Santa?

Not Santa, actually not letter, it's some kind of expression.

 

Oooooh! Are the sticks incense? Is this some sort of religious ritual? Like, um ... I have no clue about religious rituals.

Easter! Is it a substitute for coloring eggs? Is that a worldwide thing?

Nope, not religious. Yes, the idea is worldwide. Again, this is uncommon way but has nothing to do with specific culture or religion.

[Arcadia]

[SherlockedCAMPer]

I was thinking scented markers after Arcadia mentioned incense. I'm still lost on this one.

[Van Buren Supernova]

But...but... I have said almost everything short of giving away the answer....!

 

Wanna punch me... wanna punch me..? :P

 

Okay, okay.. 

Colorful lights, why colorful? What is associated with colorful lights? Something festive.

Connect to other clues and ...voila..

 

Saying more would be equal to revealing the answer..

[SherlockedCAMPer]

Is it a Japanese/Chinese lantern festival?

[Van Buren Supernova]

Nope.. Not specific culture or religion.

[Arcadia]

You'd think it would be warm enough in those pubs that they'd take off their coats, wouldn't you?

 

Something to do with New Year's Day?

 

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

I thought that is outside the pub but I think he wears it inside also. I don't mind though.

 

Yes! Although technically it's New Year's Eve, but you got it, New Year Celebration.

 

Colorful lights. Festive, celebration.

Not blacklighting, outdoor. But it's dark. So it's night time.

Balls could be recycled from last and for future usage. Something recurring, repeats. It's not there all the time. That kind of display and size is very elaborate, installation and dismantling take long time and works. So it couldn't be weekly, or even monthly. Yearly, most likely. And you guys did mention something yearly.

No specific culture or religion, it's something common and world-wide.

 

What is that yearly celebration that is common world-wide and takes place at night, mostly outdoor?

 

Writing on the balls. They are some kind of New Year wishes, resolutions. It becomes fancy display especially at night.

Jetty-like. I mentioned floating structure with platform, so it indicates something not permanent, just for access to.. the sticks! Mysterious sticks, look how they are arranged. Up, angled, cover up various style. It's... fireworks..!

 

And you still say there are not enough clues...

[Arcadia]

Woohoo!!!!! Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
Well, I guess there was enough clues, because we got there in the end! But I admit I was a long way from guessing those were fireworks; and to be honest, I've never heard of writing down New Year's resolutions (we just make them in our heads), although that was going to be my next guess. It was your "next year" remark that finally set me on the right track.
 
What confused me most, I fhink, was the scale of it. I guess they have big New Year's celebrations in the cities, but us country folk, mostly we just huddle inside trying to keep warm, go to bed at 10 p.m., then wake up the next morning and shovel snow. :P Or if you're at my house, you take down the Christmas decorations. :(
 
Anyway, that was a tough one! Good job. Now I have to go find something equally clever. Oh dear. It may take me awhile, I've got a busy week ahead of me, does anyone else want to give it a go first?

[Van Buren Supernova]

Oh, that was one time more than a couple of years ago when I happened to be on that place, a bunch of us thought it was a good idea to take photos of the celebration and fireworks. Well, we were younger, much stupider and on the peak of our photopraphy hobby. Now I have the best viewing point for New Year's Eve fireworks, in my bedroom. :P Although I only go to sleep past countdown. I am early riser and night owl at the same time. XD

 

Yes, when you guys suggested about blacklight, outdoor, ink, once a year, jetty-like writing, I thought it's done deal.

I know many people who write down resolutions, those written in the balls are mostly wish I guess, which is similar. In some places they do this during Christmas as well, writing their wishes and hang them on giant Christmas tree, some wall, or even during mid year with some other festivals. When I was waaaaaay much younger and stupider, I remember writing my resolutions for maybe two or three year. There was one persistent thing I never ever to take off the list and kept coming back, which is extremely difficult and inhumane, wear more skirts :P!

That is still the same big problem, but now, I don't remember when was the last time I thought about resolution.

 

I don't have  anything now as  well..

[Arcadia]

Wear more skirts!!!!!! Why?

[Van Buren Supernova]

Eh....I mean wear skirt more often.. :P

Because! Because of society.. XD! I have to succumb to society demand! :P Don't buy that?

Okay, okay, because I have quite a lot since I like how they look in... the fitting room..! Well, they are a bit impractical for my activities and my friends behave like monkey when I attempt to wear one once a while. So....

 

Maybe I should write that on those balls next year, it probably has more power to make it come true.

[Arcadia]

One of the main reasons I stopped working in an office was so I wouldn't have to wear skirts anymore. Down with skirts! :d

[SherlockedCAMPer]

How about another one right away? Can you guess what this is (and it is sideways, top is the left side of the pic) :