SUNDAY 17th NOVEMBER 2013: Arrived back in Pattaya and our apartment much later than anticipated last night. This was due entirely to the sheer volume of traffic as it was a holiday-day here. It's an event in Thailand called Loi Krathong.
Loi Krathong (also written as Loy Krathong or Loy Gratong, is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand. The name could be translated "Floating Crown" or "Floating Decoration", and comes from the tradition of making buoyant decorations which are then floated on a river.
Loi Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November.
Loi means 'to float', while krathong refers to the (usually) lotus-shaped container which floats on the water. The traditional krathong are made from a slice of the trunk of a banana tree or a spider lily plant. Modern krathongs are more often made of bread or styrofoam. A bread krathong will disintegrate after a few days and can be eaten by fish. Banana stalk krathong are also biodegradable, but styrofoam krathongs are sometimes banned, as they pollute the rivers and may take years to decompose. A krathong is decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, incense sticks, and a candle. A small coin is sometimes included as an offering to the river spirits. On the night of the full moon, Thais launch their krathong on a river, canal or a pond, making a wish as they do so. The festival may originate from an ancient ritual paying respect to the water spirits.
Government offices, corporations and other organizations bring large decorated krathongs. There are competitions for the best such krathong. A beauty contest is a regular feature and fireworks have become common in recent years. Also, the launching of hundreds of Chinese Lanterns is very common.
Although we were both tired after the long journies by sea and by road from Koh Wai, we decided to go down to Beach Road and join in the festivities. This, of course, is more importnat to Aom as she is a Thai.
There were thousands and thousands of people on the beach all having fun setting off fireworks, launching their Loi Krathongs and sending the lanterns up into the night sky. It really was quite a spectacle.
Got back to the apartment around 2:30am.
