Loi Krathong Festival
Kata Beach - Phuket, Thailand

About 3 years ago I came across a picture of the Loi Krathong Festival in Thailand in a magazine showing the sky aglow with giant paper lanterns - lit by candles - floating like stars (or jellyfish actually!) I knew I had to see it for myself. It's held once a year on the full moon of the 12th lunar month-date always changes - but this year on November 10th - and as far as I can tell, it celebrates / pays respect to water goddess (rivers lakes waterways). "loi" (floating) and "krathong" (raft). The biggest festival - the one I saw in the magazine - takes place in Chaing Mai ( N. Thailand) but I was lucky enough to catch Phuket's version of it in Karon. It was MAGICAL. Picture big paper lanterns (4 ft tall x 2' x 2') being launched from the beach - me holding my beneath every time as they began to drift upwards - hoping they'd take flight. Very bad luck if a lantern burns up or doesn't float up, up and away. Was SO amazing. At one point it seemed like there were hundreds of orange specks of light floating up into the night sky. Big smiles. Much Happy. Just plopped on the beach and watched. And that's only half of it - the other part involves the launching little rafts made of a circular slice of a banana tree trunk adorned with fancy folded bits of palm leaf, flowers, candles and incense sticks into the lake - offerings to pay respect, give thanks and asking for blessings. Many rafts looked like little crowns. I bought a little flowery raft from 2 little girlies who were making a bundle off their cuteness! Mine was a simple creation- but some were incredibly ornate. Of course this little slice of Thai tradition was surrounded by a festival - a crush of people, a giant street market- food stalls- crazy traffic- all very wonderful. It was a parade of people all carrying their offerings down to the water. I had a bit of an outsiders/insider (?) view because I met up with a Swedish woman during my walk to the Festival. She comes to Thailand many times year for months at a time and has done so for 15 years, most lately living with Thai friends - but it was a bit odd - she was having a not so nice experience in Thailand this time around - having a sad nite- told me all about it - and all kinds of things about how things REALLY work in Thailand- True? Not True? I take it all with a grain of salt - but people watching was way more interesting alongside her - and I had a view into the festival I would not have had on my own - so Thank You Janna. This was one of those potential situations that would have my good friend Cari telling me (once again) to just "quit making eye contact!". But I always do..... and it was all good. Google "Loi Krathong" for better pics than the one attached I still don't have a camera and am using the one on my phone.

PS: the next day the burned out lanterns littered the hillside and flower rafts littered the beach but for a moment it was pure MAGIC.