Loi Krathong

Loi Krathong

I have been putting off writing this blog for over a month (yes this celebration was in November) because I am not sure words, or even pictures, can do it justice. Celebrating Loi Krathong was at the tip top of my bucket list before coming to Thailand. Even though I knew it would be magical, I had no idea just how incredible it would be. Loi Krathong was by far the coolest thing I have seen in Thailand and quite possibly in my life. Loi Krathong is celebrated on the date of the 12th full moon of the Thai Lunar Calendar. The biggest Loi Krathong celebration in Thailand takes place in Chiang Mai, so to Chiang Mai I went. We may have had to take a 17 hour bus ride to get there, and our friends didn't make it as planned, but nothing could ruin this amazing weekend. 

         First I want to explain the Loi Krathong holiday a bit for those of you who aren't familiar. For Loi Krathong people first release a Krathong, which is a little boat like decoration made of banana tree bark, bamboo, and flowers with candles and incense, in to the river. As you release your Krathong you are also letting go of your mistakes, your anger and all your negativity. After releasing your krathong in to the river, and saying goodbye to the negativity of the previous year, you light your Khom Loi, paper lantern, and release it into the night's sky with a wish for the coming year.  Loi Krathong is an entire holiday devoted to letting go of anger, hurt, and negativity from the previous year and making wishes for a happier and brighter future. Everything about this holiday was motivating and uplifting for me and I think that is why I find it so beautiful. If I could, I would come to Loi Krathong every year and I would bring all of you with me! =) 

        Thanks to a family connection of our friend Dustin, who ended up not making it to Chiang Mai, we had a Chiang Mai tour guide and a free place to stay. The woman's name is Kanitha and she was a truly phenomenal host. Kanitha picked us up from the bus stop, took us out to lunch, and then took us to see the temple we would go to for the night's festivities. I apologize in advance for how awful I look in these photos. Please try to remember I was on a bus for 17 hours. Ha Ha

                               

                               

      

      After we walked around the temple we went to Kanitha's home/ Bed and Breakfast, for naps, a delicious home cooked meal from her sweet mother, and a spectacular view. The house we stayed at was the nicest place we have stayed at by far. Yes, it had hot water.  Her home had a large outdoor table that looked out on to the river and all I wished was that my family could have Thanksgiving at that table this year! =) Here are some pictures from our humble abode for the night. 

Biggest gecko ever (That black thing)

The back porch view

               

Our not-so-little little hut =)

Dinner with Kanitha

        The first night Kanitha took us to her local temple, the same one from earlier that day, to take part in the Loi Krathong festivities. The temple that Kanitha goes to is outside the city of Chiang Mai, but it is a very renowned temple that the queen visits often. Unfortunately we didn't see the queen, but the temple was spectacular by night. On our way to the temple I looked up in the sky and saw some of the first Khom Loi, flying lanterns. I can't explain the feeling I felt looking up at all the beautiful lanterns floating in the sky, but it is safe to say I was in awe. Quite frankly I was in awe the entire weekend and I wish the U.S. had a holiday that is even half as cool as this one. 

So colorful!

Our lovely friends!

This is my favorite picture of the weekend!

My first Krathong!

Bye bye negativity!

Next we let off our first lantern!

Make a wish!

I also let off an Angry birds lantern with some cute little boys!    

Bye bye lantern!

         

       The following day Kanitha made us breakfast and then drove us in to Chiang Mai city. Kanitha was extremely kind and even paid for our hotel room in Chiang Mai. After saying goodbye to our new friend, Jill and I began exploring the city by day.

 

My new friends! =)

Yay temples!

You all can read that right?

The inside of the temple

The ceremony preparation (sooo many candles!)

Hello monks! =)

        Later that night Jill and I were able to get in contact with a few other teachers that we met at orientation for dinner and the festivities. We walked the famous Chiang Mai night bazaar and found some incredible arts and crafts. After walking and shopping a bit we went back to the temple we had been to during the day to watch the monk Loi Krathong prayer. The prayer was more like a chant, but it was unbelievable to witness. People were on top of each other to watch the monk ceremony, but even a sweaty man standing on top of you can't ruin the magic of this. 

All lit up!

Incredible! =)

  

      What we witnessed after the monk prayer was by the far coolest part of the entire weekend for me. After the monk ceremony we headed to an older temple for a quick look, but stumbled upon a group of younger monks releasing their  lanterns. The monks were all so happy with their lanterns and fireworks. Although they are monks, they are still 10-15 year old boys, so there were many lanterns stuck in the trees and fire crackers being dangerously let off by my feet. I could have stayed and watched the monks release lanterns in to the lantern filled sky all night, even though I was in danger of losing a foot to a firecracker. I  stood there for at least an hour just staring up at the sky and watching the monks. There was something heartwarming about watching the lanterns fill the sky and listening to the monks giggle as they watched their lanterns fly. I was truly mesmerized by it all and am currently smiling just remembering it now.

Jill, Paul, Stacey, and I!

The monks and their lanterns!

                     

                         

Little boys and fire, they were bound to burn a lantern or two!

The sky filled with lanterns!

So beautiful!

       We ended the night by the river with our friends releasing a second Krathong in to the river and another lantern in to the sky (we just couldn't get enough). The lantern was given to me by a nice Thai man who just handed it to me and said, "Make a good wish". 

Hope our wishes come true!

Lighting our lantern

                               

Bye bye lanterns!

    

I stood for a long time and watched our lantern get smaller and smaller in the sky. I spent very little time paying attention to everyone around me that night and a lot of time admiring the lantern filled sky.   =) I don't know how to explain Loi Krathong besides beautiful, but it was well worth the 17 hour bus ride to Chiang Mai. =) 

I hope you all loved these pictures so much that you are now booking flights to Thailand for November 2014! =) Hugs to you all! 

P.S.

        As if a 17 hour bus ride isn't enough, on the 17 hour bus ride home our bus stopped once to be searched by the police and stopped one more time at a bus junk yard to unload wrapped plastic bags of a mysterious army green substance. Obviously we made it home ok, but I am not sure this was the safest bus to be on. There was a really awesome Buddha statue that we could see from the junk yard, so I am just going to say the bus stopped for a photo op and not an illegal drug deal. 

                               

Until next time Chiang Mai!