Loy Krathong yesterday, an ancient festival where Thai people pay respect to the spirits of the waters by floating a small boat made of natural materials. By doing so the cast away their cares and start afresh.
Alternatively, it is an opportunity to get pissed and blow your hand off with a home-made firework.
She who must be obeyed was insistent we do the boat floating bit; so once I had dragged my sweaty body back from the polo (3,300 photos this weekend, just in case you were wondering), it was out on the street to purchase our krathong. Dismissing the polystyrene offerings as being ecologically unfriendly (dismissed a little too hastily I thought, they were substantially cheaper), she decided on two heart shaped Titanics made from coconut shells and corn husks.
Down the beach and the doomed offerings were launched.
We were not alone of course. The beach was busy with people happily adding to the pollution of the local waters. This jolly German couple were happy to be photographed:
Increasingly popular at Loy Krathong are the lanterns, which rise by the thousands over the sea; later to sink into the waters to snag windsurfing fins for days afterwards.
We then retired to a local bar where the staff had decided to make their krathongs out of cabbages. Low chance of them floating; but they could always serve as a snack instead.
When they had stopped fiddling with their cabbages, they served me several gin and tonics, a welcome respite after ten days involving nearly 7,000 photos taken, 3,500 processed and a photo sale website developed. Slept well and today I am having a day off; once I have finished writing this rubbish.
Comments 🔗
2010-11-22| Bob saysPhoto sale website? Link?
On the lanterns…. Fall into the sea, becoming lethal meal for sea turtles.
Fall onto Pratamnak Hill last year, starting brush fire.
2010-11-22| Ray saysImpressive flash control
2010-11-23| Spike saysBob, you mean you actually want to look at MORE polo photos?
Ray, impressive flash control indeed; all done by the camera of course with no intelligent input from me.