Fire and Water
Two days ago Thailand celebrated Loy Krathong, the festival of lights. On the full moon of the 12th lunar month, Thai subjects set adrift their "krathong" -- ornately decorated banana-leaf floats bearing candles and incense -- in rivers, canals or any available waterways.
Loy Krathong evolved many centuries ago to pay homage to Mae Khongkha, the Mother of Waters, the gift of life. As people set their krathong in the water, they pray or make wishes, as well as cast away their grief, fears and worries. It is a beautiful, cleansing ritual.
Pedro couldn't celebrate with us this year, as work sent him (again!grrr) to Malaysia for the day, but I took the boys to Natural Park's legendary Loy Krathong fiesta, and boy, did we have a grand time. We were having so much fun, what with good friends, delicious Thai food, dance and music shows, games for the kids, and -- Nathan and Alec's favorite -- the floating krathong, that I didn't even contemplate splitting until 9:30pm. Which, for everyone who knows what a Sleep Tyrant I am, shows just how much fun we were having, for BEM to say "sod it!" about bedtime.
The boys are showing off the krathong they made earlier at their respective schools. Note the traditional garb, which I bought extra-big to use again next year. Binder clips are holding up their pants!
Would you believe that just 30min. before floating his krathong, Alec looked like...
...this?! He took a 20min.-long siesta at the table, then perked up in full force just in time to float his krathong and join the "big boys" (i.e. Nathan's mates Hugo, Claude and Sebastian) in their sugar-fueled antics. Check out the size of Nathan's candy floss: It was bigger than his head!
Adult and rugrat residents of Natural Park learned traditional Thai dances to perform at the party. Here are Kiran and Rajan, Nathan's favorite friends from school; these little guys were so jazzed by the music that they were still boogeying free-style on the grass by the stage when we left at 9:30pm. "Billy Elliot", anyone?
The boys found the burning candles and incense fascinating. As my friend Annika, mother of Hugo (at left), wryly observed while our offspring chased the krathong down the stream, "There is fire and water, that's all they need to be entertained. They could play for hours like this." To which I replied, "True, and all we need are some sharp knives to make it all really safe."
**Coming tomorrow: Please check out the Loy Krathong 2005 photo album!**
That is Awesome! Nice pics. Oh how much more exotic your life is than mine!
Posted by: Heather | November 18, 2005 at 11:48 PM
that looks great and loving the pictures. Further to your recent comment enquiring as to where MM and I have gone, I've turned into a weekend blogger since I started back at full-time work, so check back every weekend for my weekly update on London life. MM has the weekday blog shift. :-)
Posted by: yummy london mummy | November 19, 2005 at 05:21 PM
That's soooo lovely. Seems you had a great time!
I can remember vaguely my time back in school in Thailand when we were still making Kratong at school to bring home and go float it down the river in the evening. *huh, memories....*
Posted by: Elemmaciltur | November 20, 2005 at 12:59 AM