Loi Krathong

The Thai celebrate the water spirits in a festival called Loi Krathong each year in late October or early November depending on the full moon. It is a very beautiful celebration, with the release each night (for about a week) of paper hot air balloons into the night sky. All over you can see little orange lights floating all over the sky.

Of course, with celebration comes noise. Firecrackers, explosives, screaming loud music. Phoebe wasn't too keen. Ty slept through the first night of the celebration we attended.

We missed what I believe is probably the most beautiful part of the festival. Thousands of boats made of banana leaves with burning candles and burning incense are let loose on the river to honor the water spirits. I was too afraid to negotiate the fireworks being let off by people in the street. Pics are: Malee Guest House (where we are now, way out in the jungle), bamboo rafting on Mae Kok river near Chiang Dao, water buffalo on the way to Scott's Thai cooking course (awesome by the way).