This is Part 9 of the Thailand and Cambodia Travel Series. Read Part 1 Here.
THE LOY KRATHONG FESTIVAL is well-known for how it is celebrated. In November, people across Thailand gather at the banks of rivers or the sea to set candle-lit floats adrift. Krathong refers to a piece of wood wrapped in banana leaves and flowers with a candle on top. It is a time to show respect to the water from which much of Thai agriculture and lifestyle revolves around, as well as to say goodbye to misfortune and make wishes for the coming year. Loy Krathong is based around the Lunar New Year, so the exact date it falls in November will vary each year.
One of the most exciting places to be during this time is in Northern Thailand: Chiang Mai. That is because Loy Krathong often occurs around Yi Peng, which is the famous lantern lighting event that graces many magazine covers. However, we enjoyed our time in Ao Nang as well. It was certainly quieter, but we found a hotel that taught us how to make a krathong and then we gathered on the banks of the sea to set them off. Of course with these festivals, ecological factors are a big thing to consider. Krathong options that are biodegradable (like those made out of bread) are becoming more commonplace, but avoid ones made out of Styrofoam.
Being part of Loy Krathong was a great wrap up to our journey. We had one train ride left to depart back up to Bangkok, because it was time to say goodbye to Thailand.
Upcoming Blog Post: Traveling By Train: Southern Thailand to Bangkok
Disclaimer: the above is depicted as fiction, not fact
