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Ko Chang Thailand Water Festival Of Loi Kathong
hailand is a land of the local bacteria, which was not
enchanting and exotic what I was after.
tastes for foreign visitors
as I was to learn when I Since I had rented my beach hut
experienced the Water Festival of for a week with payment in
Loi Kathong on the island of Ko advance, the family running the
Chang. place looked me upon favorably.
They took pity on me and I was
Ko Chang soon growing fat on Tom Yom Kung
and other soups and curries.
In October 2003, the travel bug After four days, I had finally
seriously bit me. The symptoms kicked the bug and felt halfway
led me to sell my business, pack human. This was good news as it
a small backpack with necessary was the night of the full moon
items and roll into Los Angeles water festival.
International Airport with a
major credit card and an I had heard of full moon
attitude. A few days later, I was festivals in Thailand. For hard
in Thailand and headed for the partying tourists, this was
island of Ko Chang, located close apparently the night the big
to the border with Cambodia in beach parties happened. In Ko
the Gulf of Thailand. Chang, it was a little different
as the night was tailored to the
Ko Chang is a heavily forested actual Thais, not tourist.
island with little towns full of
beach huts. This is what I was The Loi Kathong Festival happens
exactly what I was after. every full moon. Offerings are
Spending days lounging in the sun given to appease the water
and contemplating my navel. spirits. These offerings come in
Unfortunately, I soon experienced the form of banana leaf bowls
with flowers, fruit, candles and close off the top. They would
incense. The candles and incense then affix a small this paper
are lit and everyone heads down plate to the bottom with a candle
the beach and starts putting them on it. Light the candle, wait for
in the water. It is one of the the heat to do its work and they
more amazing light shows you will had an instant hot air balloon.
ever see and beats Las Vegas Once the lanterns could float,
hands down. Thousands, and I mean you simply let go and off the
thousands, of little lights slowly went over the ocean. It
bobbing on the surface of the was a sight to see as there were
smooth ocean. thousands of them floating over
the water.
After the bowls comes one of the
most visually amazing things I've As the festival wound down, the
ever seen. Everyone is familiar ocean had been transformed. The
with the paper lanterns used in air was full of gracefully
Asia. Typically, they come in the floating lanterns while the water
form of a rectangle form with a itself was dotted with slowly
bamboo or light wire frame. Very bobbing points of light.
popular with college students
since they are cheap and look If you intend to travel to
better than a bare light bulb. Thailand, make sure you schedule
your trip around a full moon. It
For the festival, Thais would is a scene you'll never forget.
take these paper lanterns and
About the Author:
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts for him or her. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com for more travel articles.
Source: www.isnare.com
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