Amazing Loi Krathong!

We finally made it to Chang Mai and just in time for the first day of Loi Krathong. Wow, what an amazing past three days! Loi Krathong in Chang Mai should be on everyone's bucket list. What a spectacle! Pictures will not accurately show the kaleidoscope of colour,sights, sounds and smells of what it was like to be here.... I have some video footage that comes closer, but really, you have to be here! Loi Krathong is a festival held at the time of the full moon in November, for three days: the day before, the day of and the day after the full moon. It's origins possibly date back to the 15th century and people release floats made of banana plant leaves and flowers with incense and a lit candle (usually) into the waterways to bring good luck and give thanks to the water and celebrate the end of the rainy season. In Chang Mai they also release individual hot air balloons into the night and literally thousands of them can be seen rising into the night sky from all over the city, especially the river banks. There are coloured lanterns everywhere and processions through the streets each night as well and much merriment with costumes, music and dancing. Our hotel is right on the river so last night, the night of the full moon, we had a dinner, traditional dancing and music and of course our own floats and hot air balloons to release. It was something else to hang our on the dock at the riverside and watch the hundreds of handmade works of art float by from previous releases up river. I will post a few pictures:

Releasing our hot air balloon.

Release of floats on the river.

Dancers at the riverside.