Preview of Brookaba’sblog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: www.travelpod.com This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Chiang Mai, Thailand Entry Title: “Loy Krathong Festival” Entry: “This weekend was the nationwide Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand. We debated over whether to go to Sukothai, where the biggest celebration is held every year, or to stay and check it out in Chiang Mai. In the end, the hassle of getting to Sukothai and the uncertainty of finding accommodation in the small town over such a big weekend convinced us to stay put. The people of Chiang Mai, clearly impatient to get the festival started, began playing around with fireworks and firecrackers as early as Thursday night. Loy Krathong must be a festival of miracles… people were setting them off here, there and everywhere with no concern for bystanders or buildings that might be in the way, yet we witnessed no accidents! Saturday night we walked to the Tha Pae Gate to watch a parade and a beauty contest, and of course to eye the markets. I bought some gifts for a few lucky family members. Sunday night was a grand affair. We set off to watch the festivities with a Canadian guy and a Dutch couple Petra had met at the pool. We waded into the sea of people to watch another, bigger parade, then followed the crowd all the way down to the river. The town was complete chaos, with locals and tourists alike setting of fireworks, lighting floating …

The release of several thousand paper lanterns into the night sky to celebrate Loi Krathong. A breathtaking experience which viewers should try to witness first hand. This was a surreal moment and if there is a heaven then it probably looks something like this.

Each year in Chiang Mai, Thailand there is a mass release of lanterns at Mae Jo. It’s an amazing site! *Johnny Ward redesigned his lifestyle after graduating uni in 2006 and has been living the dream since, showing people you don’t have to BE rich to LIVE rich. Traveling through more than 50 countries around the world, working in 5 and still on the go with Tibet to Ireland by land his next venture. Read about it all on onestep4ward.com

This festival occurred on November 20th, 2010 just north of Chiang Mai, Thailand. I was in Thailand for the beautiful diving, this was just a short detour! myscubadives.com

Preview of Brookaba’sblog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: www.travelpod.com This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Chiang Mai, Thailand Entry Title: “Loy Krathong Festival” Entry: “This weekend was the nationwide Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand. We debated over whether to go to Sukothai, where the biggest celebration is held every year, or to stay and check it out in Chiang Mai. In the end, the hassle of getting to Sukothai and the uncertainty of finding accommodation in the small town over such a big weekend convinced us to stay put. The people of Chiang Mai, clearly impatient to get the festival started, began playing around with fireworks and firecrackers as early as Thursday night. Loy Krathong must be a festival of miracles… people were setting them off here, there and everywhere with no concern for bystanders or buildings that might be in the way, yet we witnessed no accidents! Saturday night we walked to the Tha Pae Gate to watch a parade and a beauty contest, and of course to eye the markets. I bought some gifts for a few lucky family members. Sunday night was a grand affair. We set off to watch the festivities with a Canadian guy and a Dutch couple Petra had met at the pool. We waded into the sea of people to watch another, bigger parade, then followed the crowd all the way down to the river. The town was complete chaos, with locals and tourists alike setting of fireworks, lighting floating …

Preview of Brookaba’sblog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: www.travelpod.com This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Chiang Mai, Thailand Entry Title: “Loy Krathong Festival” Entry: “This weekend was the nationwide Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand. We debated over whether to go to Sukothai, where the biggest celebration is held every year, or to stay and check it out in Chiang Mai. In the end, the hassle of getting to Sukothai and the uncertainty of finding accommodation in the small town over such a big weekend convinced us to stay put. The people of Chiang Mai, clearly impatient to get the festival started, began playing around with fireworks and firecrackers as early as Thursday night. Loy Krathong must be a festival of miracles… people were setting them off here, there and everywhere with no concern for bystanders or buildings that might be in the way, yet we witnessed no accidents! Saturday night we walked to the Tha Pae Gate to watch a parade and a beauty contest, and of course to eye the markets. I bought some gifts for a few lucky family members. Sunday night was a grand affair. We set off to watch the festivities with a Canadian guy and a Dutch couple Petra had met at the pool. We waded into the sea of people to watch another, bigger parade, then followed the crowd all the way down to the river. The town was complete chaos, with locals and tourists alike setting of fireworks, lighting floating …

Preview of Brookaba’s blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: www.travelpod.com This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Chiang Mai, Thailand Entry Title: “Loy Krathong Festival” Entry: “This weekend was the nationwide Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand. We debated over whether to go to Sukothai, where the biggest celebration is held every year, or to stay and check it out in Chiang Mai. In the end, the hassle of getting to Sukothai and the uncertainty of finding accommodation in the small town over such a big weekend convinced us to stay put. The people of Chiang Mai, clearly impatient to get the festival started, began playing around with fireworks and firecrackers as early as Thursday night. Loy Krathong must be a festival of miracles… people were setting them off here, there and everywhere with no concern for bystanders or buildings that might be in the way, yet we witnessed no accidents! Saturday night we walked to the Tha Pae Gate to watch a parade and a beauty contest, and of course to eye the markets. I bought some gifts for a few lucky family members. Sunday night was a grand affair. We set off to watch the festivities with a Canadian guy and a Dutch couple Petra had met at the pool. We waded into the sea of people to watch another, bigger parade, then followed the crowd all the way down to the river. The town was complete chaos, with locals and tourists alike setting of fireworks, lighting …

Preview of Brookaba’s blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: www.travelpod.com This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Chiang Mai, Thailand Entry Title: “Loy Krathong Festival” Entry: “This weekend was the nationwide Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand. We debated over whether to go to Sukothai, where the biggest celebration is held every year, or to stay and check it out in Chiang Mai. In the end, the hassle of getting to Sukothai and the uncertainty of finding accommodation in the small town over such a big weekend convinced us to stay put. The people of Chiang Mai, clearly impatient to get the festival started, began playing around with fireworks and firecrackers as early as Thursday night. Loy Krathong must be a festival of miracles… people were setting them off here, there and everywhere with no concern for bystanders or buildings that might be in the way, yet we witnessed no accidents! Saturday night we walked to the Tha Pae Gate to watch a parade and a beauty contest, and of course to eye the markets. I bought some gifts for a few lucky family members. Sunday night was a grand affair. We set off to watch the festivities with a Canadian guy and a Dutch couple Petra had met at the pool. We waded into the sea of people to watch another, bigger parade, then followed the crowd all the way down to the river. The town was complete chaos, with locals and tourists alike setting of fireworks, lighting …

Preview of Brookaba’s blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: www.travelpod.com This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Chiang Mai, Thailand Entry Title: “Loy Krathong Festival” Entry: “This weekend was the nationwide Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand. We debated over whether to go to Sukothai, where the biggest celebration is held every year, or to stay and check it out in Chiang Mai. In the end, the hassle of getting to Sukothai and the uncertainty of finding accommodation in the small town over such a big weekend convinced us to stay put. The people of Chiang Mai, clearly impatient to get the festival started, began playing around with fireworks and firecrackers as early as Thursday night. Loy Krathong must be a festival of miracles… people were setting them off here, there and everywhere with no concern for bystanders or buildings that might be in the way, yet we witnessed no accidents! Saturday night we walked to the Tha Pae Gate to watch a parade and a beauty contest, and of course to eye the markets. I bought some gifts for a few lucky family members. Sunday night was a grand affair. We set off to watch the festivities with a Canadian guy and a Dutch couple Petra had met at the pool. We waded into the sea of people to watch another, bigger parade, then followed the crowd all the way down to the river. The town was complete chaos, with locals and tourists alike setting of fireworks, lighting …

A festival akin to New Year’s, we let go of the past things we don’t want and send up our wishes for the future into the sky via fiery paper lanterns, some propelled by fireworks. Everyone is out on the street, lots of joy and fireworks. Truly an amazing sight to see the hundreds and hundreds of lanterns ascending into the night sky. We laughed, ate, sang and danced, even stopped at a “fish spa” to have our callouses nibbled by tiny fish. What fun!!!!