Loi Krathong festivities

Loi Krathong - a 3 day thai festival...it is said that for the Buddhist culture, laying small lotus shaped boats made of banana leaves with flowers, incense, and candles are floated on the river with money and prayers to the River Gods to wipe away their sins and wrongdoings over the past year. they also send up mini hot air paper balloons for the same reason - to extinquish the bad and bring in the good. interesting and really pretty! i guess it can be done for any religion really, just as a symbol though - not as worship to an idol.

a friend dragged me out after getting home from a 40 hour trek back to thailand from the US, to celebrate the local festivities on Nov 5th! but what fun we had! having a delicious thai dinner at a local eatery on the riverbank downtown in the crisp night air, amidst shooting fireworks galore, floating balloons of fire, floral candles floating down a blanket of river water...
my friend below, trying to light the fire balloon - what work that was! after several attempts and some burnt grass and electrical wire...(too extensive to share!) we had lift off!




as well as loud bangs and booms, children running amuck, chaos in the streets - vendors selling thai flavor, major traffic and standstills - accidents and honking horns, while sketchy 'river folk' (as i like to call them) under the bridge breaking every law possible trying to light anything that could catch a flame!? a crazy night o' fun for all!



overall it was good to get out and see the sights - but one night was plenty for me! :)