Loy Krathong 2014

Loy Krathong 2014

• 12.18.2014

Seeing this pictures what is the first thing that comes to your mind?

For me...

Disney Tangled lol.

I mean no offence or anything but somehow i think this is where Disney got their inspiration for Rapunzel's Tangled. And that song "And at last I see the Lights" keeps on playing in my head throughout the whole night while watching the lanterns float up. This shows how strong of an impact movies can be these days, to make things even more interesting in my Loy Krathong video below, I've decided to use the Tangled song instead of the traditional Loy Krathong one, seems to fit in perfectly though :-P

This trip was the sole inspiration on why i have decided to make Rapunzel's costume out of the blue and completed it in less than a week before i flew to Thailand :-)

It wasn't even intentional nor planned in my cosplay budget for 2014 lol. 

And i can finally sing this verse..

"AND AT LAST I SEE THE LIGHTS~" 8D

photo via google

This moment in Thailand was one of the best things i have seen for 2014, as the year soon drawing to an end feels like i've not pushed my limits to achieved my full potential.

But getting to travel, meet new people, visit beautiful places and see amazing things all thanks to Thailand Tourism.

Hoping by letting afloat my Krathong by the river during the Loy Krathong Festival earlier last month (November) I've let the things that has been holding me back all this while like my anorexia, depression and other stuff be washed away as i welcome the turnover of a new leaf.

I've seen many beautiful pictures of this festival which marks the full moon of the 12th month of the lunar calender but never did i dream to getting to see this or even let me very own krathong flaot down the river.

Many tourist apparently come here specially to celebrate Loy Krathong, so do expect heavy human and vehicle traffic all over town if they are having a gathering or parade.

If you want to see the huge parade floats best place to go would be Tha Phar Gate, it's a national monument where they will have tons of decorations to snap pictures with and activities like their beauty queen pageant, etc.

Imagine having dinner beside the river with this view, explains the name of the restaurant we dined in lol "Good View Restaurant" heard that this place is constantly crowded, so prior reservations are needed. If you are planning to walk-in chances of you getting a table is pretty slim and not to mention the long queue that starts at 6pm (Bangkok time)

The only regret i had was not walking out near towards the bridge with Dino, Baki kor & Becky after dinner if not could have gotten more beautiful close up shops of people releasing the lanterns into the air.

Somehow the hot air lantern concept really intrigues me because it's not like a hot air balloon where you can control the amount of hot air in and out. This just keeps on floating..and floating...and floating till god knows where :-P

Same goes to their Krathong which are traditional made using banana tree stump and leaves, decorated with intensive amount of details for those would usually cost more than 10 baht. 

Here is a tourist tip if you wanna save from spending too much on your 'Krathong'. A basic design like mine should cost around 10-50 baht (RM1-5) if you purchase it near the riverbank area where people gather to let their krathongs float but if you purchase them in the city the cost would start from 100 baht and above (RM10^) for one.

If you are planning to visit around like what i did before the festival, best to refrain from getting your krathongs early on the roadsides, stalls or vendors as you might end up paying a hefty sum for something small lol. Anyway if you do see a unique design, by all means go get'em as the cheaper ones are standardized designs.

Thanks Tony (our awesome guide) for the useful tip!

Really, i could sit by the riverbank for hours just watching the lanterns illuminate the skies of Thailand if the grass wasn't soaked from the rain earlier that evening lol.

Don't you agree that this one of those amazing cultures that you can only specifically experience it from it's place of origin and no matter where you go to celebrate this, you can never get this same feeling and festivity like Thailand. 

Though i do not speak thai but at least i learnt how to sing their traditional "Loy Krathong" song, it's actually pretty simple~
Got this lyrics from google but to learn how to sing along to it you can watch this video from youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP1N2kYZ-Gc

"วันเพ็ญเดือนสิบสอง น้ำนองเต็มตลิ่ง
Wan-pen duean sìp-sŏng , náam nong dtem dtà-lìng 

The full-moon day (of) the twelfth month, as water fills to the banks 

เราทั้งหลายชายหญิง สนุกกันจริง วันลอยกระทง
Rao tang-lăai chaai yĭng sà-nuk gan jing wan loi grà-tong 

We all both men and women are having fun in Loi Krathong day 

ลอย ลอยกระทง ลอย ลอยกระทง
loi loi grà-tong, loi loi grà-tong 

float float the Krathongs, float float the Krathongs 

ลอยกระทงกันแล้ว ขอเชิญน้องแก้วออกมารำวง
loi grà-tong gan láew,kŏr chern nóng gâew òrk maa ram-wong 

We have already floated the Krathong already, I would like to ask you (beloved younger lady) to come out and dance (Thai folk dance) 

รำวงวันลอยกระทง รำวงวันลอยกระทง
ram-wong wan loi grà-tong, ram-wong wan loi grà-tong 

dance in the Loi Krathong day, dance in the Loi Krathong day 

บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ
bun jà sòng hâi rao sùk-jai 

making merit will give us happiness"

XOXO,