Loy Krathong

Yesterday was Loy Krathong. Wikipedia has a pretty good explanation of the festival: Loy Krathong Wiki.

Late in the afternoon I road my bike to Wat Suan Prik Thai. They always have a nice Loy Krathong celebration. Also, the have a nice pond with a pier which makes it easy for people to float their Krathong. On the way home I bought some Com Loy (floating paper lanterns) and a krathong to float in our pond.

These decorated floats, called krathong, are for sale just outside the temple walls.

Some are very fancy. Most are made out of slices of banana stalk decorated with banana leaf and flowers. Sometimes coins or food offerings are added. Most have incense and at least one candle.

This seller got a spot inside the temple compound.

Lots of food for sale as well.

More than you can count.

This is the temple pond and pier. This young family is getting ready to float their krathong.

They light the candle and incense and say a short prayer.

Off they go!

This family released some fish and water snails into the pond. People make merit by buying fish and other wildlife and releasing them.

This lady is selling birds for later release.

Fish for sale for releasing into the pond.

Toys and food.

After I took this shot the monk flashed a huge smile.

Our krathong in our pond.

Floating in front of Ganesh.

Mam gets ready to release a floating paper lantern.

Off it goes into the sky. We watched this one for maybe ten minutes as it drifter off to the southwest.

Today's Bike Ride

Crummy weather again so I've been hesitant about taking long ride. Today I road northwest of my home to enjoy the countryside. I very much like the fact that a few minutes on the bicycle brings me to places like this.

This pond is new to me. I think it might be used to drain water from the nearby new housing development.

This home is absolutely massive. It sits right on the edge of a pond and some rice fields.

Off in the distance you can see the wall and some homes of the Homeland 3 housing development. A very full irrigation canal is in the foreground.

Last year at this time this rice field was under a meter of water. The rice on the left is almost ready to harvest. The field on the right is ready for planting.

This wetland has been developed for agricultural purposes. Parallel canals have been dug and the earth used to build up growing area. Crops include coconut and betel palms, bananas, citrus and other fruits.

This road is adjacent to the wetland. This area regularly floods. Hence the precautionary sandbags.

Along side this house a woman and child are husking coconuts. A very tough job. The meat will be sold to make coconut milk.

The two baskets in front of the motorcycle have coconut meat ready for sale. 

This is Wat Hong. The standing Buddha image is relatively new.

Garden Surprise

This Cataleya doesn't bloom very often, but when it does it is very nice.

House and Garden

My daughter asked me to post some current shots of car, house and garden. Here they are:

2005 Toyota Vios. Great performer. We've driven it all over Thailand (except the deep south) and all over Laos.

Front door.

The Pond.

The Stream.

Happy Hour Location.

Side yard.

Side yard with Anthurium.

Apsara and cut bamboo.

Rain water flows from the roof through here. Hence the pebbles.

Close up of Happy Hour spot. Drinks go on the piece of wood over the water pot.

Living room.

Library.

Library.

Bedroom.

Bathroom.

Front room.

Living room.

Kitchen.

Alcove.

Halloween

As you might guess, Halloween is not a big deal here in Thailand. Still, I like to carve a pumpkin now and then. Trouble is, most of the pumpkins sold in Thailand are kind of flat and wide; not so easy to find an appropriately shaped surface on which to carve a face.

Yesterday I stopped by our local "Express" minimart and found a bunch of whole pumpkins, some of which looked good enough for carving. My first attempt after a six year hiatus.

As purchased. 78.50 baht is about US$2.50.

All carved and ready to fly.

Testing out the candle.

As displayed on Halloween on our front wall. Not many people out and about in our neighborhood, so hardly anyone noticed. Still, I had a good time.