Loy Kratong

Upon arriving home from Cambodia, it was a quick rush home to get ready for Loy Kratong. Loy Kratong is most famous for being a night when kratongs made from flowers and candles are floated down the river. But in my opinion, its most defining point is the fact that traffic jams are the worst ever on this night. I joined some friends from the dorm to go to the Talingchan floating markets to float kratongs and partake in general feastivities and merriment. Around the market there were lots of stalls selling kratongs. Kratongs look like this

Upong buying a kratong, one should carry the kratong to the river with accompanying facial expressions like so

Then, one should make a wish and then float the kratong down the river after lighting the candles and stopping to allow random Thai people to take pictures of you with your kratong. This is my kratong and the guy who was carefully placing them in the water for everyone so that the candle wouldn't go out upon touching the water.....well the water didn't put the candle out, but the wind did....but points for trying and for the good intentions.

Here are some other random loy kratong photos.

After stopping for snacks we got one of these paper balloon things, which you can also release at Loy Kratong....but I forget its name. But it is really beautiful when all lit up in the sky.

And then, you eat some more, and snack some more, and that is Loy Kratong for 2009.