Loy Krathong

This event is about getting together with your chosen one and float or launch (loy) a decoration (krathong) to symbolize your life and future together.

This Thai festival is a major revenue earner and the local equivalent of Valentine's Day. There is a very nice story behind the tradition, which is promoted by authorities .... in short, that this tradition was started by a favorite consort of a Sukhothai king.

One weakness about this story is that she (Nopphamat) has never been proven to exist. Another weakness is that a very similar festival is also celebrated in Laos and in Shan State.

And texts written in Bangkok 150 years ago indicate that the tradition originated from a Brahmanical festival, which was modified when Buddhism conquered Southeast Asia. According to those texts, the candle venerates the Buddha, while launching the krathong's symbolizes letting go of one's anger and defilement.

The traditional krathong  was made from a slice of the trunk of a banana tree. Modern krathongs are of styrofoam. Styrofoam is not biodegradable so while the loy krathong festival is romantic, it is an environmental disaster.

In the past, this was a festival mostly celebrated in the provinces where it - like many other festivals - was an occasion for the village community to get together. Still today, some villages arrange that people work together to construct large krathongs that are then launched in a lake or river at night.

Rayong Beaches

A couple of months ago, an oil leak from a tanker was badly managed. As a result, oil slicks marred the sea around Koh Samed. However, PTT (responsible for the leak and for the clean-up) has in recent weeks been busy announcing and advertising that Rayong's beaches are now all clean.

View from Chak Pong Beach westward towards Hin Suay Nam Sai

Today, I visited Chak Pong Beach and Rim Pae Beach, the two best beaches on mainland Rayong. There was absolutely no sign of any oil slicks. The beach sand was nice and the water crystal clear.

View from Chak Pong Beach eastward towards Laem Mae Phim

As the sun was shining, it turned out to be a great day.

Rim Pae Beach - view of Koh Samed

Nakhon Ratchasima - Phi Mai Lightshow

My first blog on Phi Mai was a while back

http://tinamue.blogspot.com/2011/11/nakhon-ratchasima-phimai-historical.html

The Phi Mai sanctuary (Prasat Hin Phi Mai) is also where a “culture” show held one weekend each November. People flock there in droves, so one has to be ready to endure crowds and traffic jams if one decides to take the journey.

What is to be seen is traditional Thai dances with spectacular lighting effects and the Phi Mai ruins forming a stunning backdrop.

If one wants to take it all in, one has to be seated somewhat towards the back. However, while this gives the best view, the distance rendered my phone camera incapable of capturing the beauty of the show.

When visiting Phi Mai, don't forget to grab some local food under the branches of the giant tree at Sai Ngam

http://tinamue.blogspot.com/2011/11/nakhon-ratchasima-sai-ngam.html