As we push away we pray...

Well, it has been a mighty busy month and things are about to get busier. Sorry I have been so out of touch with my blog. I will try to give you a recap of things, okay?

So the big thing that has been happening lately is Loy Kratong (though Thais spell it as Krathong, but all the farang spell it as Kratong since that is the way it is said). This festival involves lanterns and these creations made from a banana tree and flowers, called a kratong, that you float on the river. The whole festival is to thank and apologize to the goddess of water. The kratong is put in the water and the further down the river it travels, the better luck you will have the following year. There is the Loy Kratong song, that you really should look up and listen to. Here is the English words to the song. And before you ask, yes, I know all the words and have been singing this song all week.

November full moon shines
Loy Kratong, Loy Kratong
And the water's high
In local rivers and the klong
Loy, Loy Kratong, Loy Loy Kratong
Loy Kratong is here
And everybody's full of cheer.
We're together at the klong
Each with his Kratong
As we push away we pray
We can see a better day.

I should probably tell you that "loy" in Thai means float and "kratong" is the banana and flower creation. I have been teaching about the festival in English, including the English version of the Loy Kratong song. Up here in the North, the lanterns hanging around town (not the ones we fly in the sky) date all the way back to Lanna tradition. How cool, right? The festival also includes a big beauty contest named after the first woman ever to make and float a kratong, Noppamas.

So, I decided to stay in Uttaradit for Loy Kratong, even though the events are bigger in other cities. I was going to just hang out with my friend, but they told me I had to go see the festivities by the river. Well here is my summary of my Loy Kratong experience: float a lantern, light a lantern, burn part of a tree, almost die a few times, laugh until I almost fall over and then crawl into bed. I figure you want a more thorough explanation, right? Okaaay.

I arrive at the river in town with two of my friends. I buy a lantern and we ask one of the locals to help us light the disk at the bottom of the lantern. Once it is lit, you have to hold it on the ground as hot air fills the lantern. Unfortunately, at this point we realize my lantern has a small tear and we are worried that it won't fly. It doesn't hurt to try though. You have to wait a good while for the hot air to fill the lantern. Finally the lantern was pushing back against our feet holding the lantern down. We raised up the lantern and go to let it go just as a gust of wind blows by. My lantern flies up into the sky and the wind blows it into a tree! The top of the tree then catches on fire! We died laughing!! Don't worry, everything was fine and this is a common occurrence on Loy Kratong, but still, it was hilarious. My lantern was not the only one in the trees, though. I laughed until I cried.

Then, we go to buy a kratong. We buy one together. We once again ask a local to light the joss sticks and then place it in the water after making a wish. A local man was in the river, helping the kratongs along and he helped put my kratong further out than I could from the makeshift peer. I felt like I was making a pilgrimage with all if the people reverently holding and placing their kratongs in the river. It was a touching experience. Then we went back up to the festivities and nearly died a few times. People were shooting off fireworks of various sizes, there were sparklers and low flying lanterns that were trying to take your head off. It was crazy. After a number of pictures and with the lantern released into the sky and the kratong placed in the river, our experience was over and we rolled exhausted into bed. I slept better last night than I have in a week.

Another thing: I have begun my Christmas shopping (small scale). Shopping always reminds me of my mother and our mother-daughter shopping trips. This time I am in Thailand shopping with a ladyboy and a gay man. It makes for a very different, but enjoyable, shopping trip. I found a small bit of red and green garland. Merry Christmas to me!

Well I am back to teaching and preparing for the crazy upcoming slew of events. I am teaching some of my kids about fortune tellers (the paper creation) this week. I found that I still remember how to make them, which impressed me. My older kids are doing projects on the environment and endangered animals. Also, one of my younger kids asked me what "Come Onnnn" means. Apparently I say that too much to this kid. I have no idea how to explain it and neither did my co-teacher. Sorry, kid.

Well the next month and a half is going to be so crazy. I think I will only be in Uttaradit for two, maybe three, weekends of the next 6 or 7. I am traveling for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and I also have the concert for the blind in December. In two weeks I get to take a train for the first time, so another new experience coming up. Loy Kratong is just the start. Welcome to the holiday season! And I will find a Christmas tree.