When Should I Visit Thailand? Part 3
This blog will conclude our blog on planning your journey around Thailand based on festivals. Here is a link to Part 1, which covered from January to May and here is a link to Part 2 that covered from May to October. Let’s dive in and talk about the last two months of the year.
Loy Krathong and Yi Peng
Two holidays that bring a flutter of emails every year are Loy Krathong and Yi Peng. These holidays often coincide with each other, and it’s possible to see both. The adventurous could even plan a side trip into neighboring Myanmar to see Tazaungdaing Festival. This year’s official,
The highlight of Loy Krathong is the launching of tiny floats on Thailand’s waterways. While this festival is celebrated all over Thailand, it is perhaps most elaborately observed in the ancient Kingdom of Sukhothai. This festival includes a light and sound show amidst the ruins and other special activities that draw huge crowds. Although we haven’t been to this celebration, Sukhothai is a fantastic place in its own right and should be on your list, even as an overnight hop from Bangkok, on your way north. If you want to be in this magical place for Loy Krathong, stop reading and get on the internet right now to book a hotel room.
Yi Peng Lanterns
The Yi Peng takes place mostly in the north of Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai. Each year the releasing of these lanterns gets move tightly control as air traffic above Chiang Mai’s busy little airport must be diverted on the night of the allowed release. You can read about our experience here. Maybe you’ve seen the mass release of lanterns? This is a commercial event that bothers me on many levels. Just Google “Mae Jo lantern release” and we’ll speak no more about it.
Calling All Elephants
The Elephant Round-up Festival in Surin usually takes place during the third weekend in November. This festival brings hundreds of pachyderms to the somewhat sleepy town of Surin and is a sight to see. Animal rights activists have brought increased scrutiny to evens like elephants playing soccer and reenacting famous Thai battles. I remember a recent interview where mahouts swore that the elephants enjoyed these events. “How would you know?” the interviewer asked. “He makes happy noises throughout the whole festival!” was the mahout’s reply. Give the shows a miss if you feel strongly about this issue, but don’t miss seeing the elephants gorging on at the Elephant Buffet and learn firsthand what a happy elephant sounds like!
The Monkeys have Their Own Buffet
The last Sunday of November brings us to the Monkey Banquet Festival in Lopburi. While I’ve never attended this festival, I have a great affection for Lopburi and its macaque population. For extra fun you can take a train from Bangkok at 8:30 in the morning and arrive in Lopburi 2 hours later. This is a great town to walk around and take in the sights and feel the history dating back to the 6th Century BCE. This city has its share of Khmer ruins and if you can’t see the Khmer ruins at the other sights I’ll mention later, be sure to do a train trip to Lopburi. Anytime.
What About Christmas?
December. Well, December may feel like a strange time for a Westerner to be in a Buddhist country and that could lead to depression, were it not for all the tropical photos you can post on facebook for your envious friends back home. Christmas is celebrated as a commercial holiday in the Kingdom and decorations abound at the major shopping malls. Yes, there are Christian churches and programs geared for expats in most of the larger cities. Like all times of the year, if you miss tourists, especially young hip Western types, head to the Khao San Road or the Banglampu area in Bangkok.
I hear some of you say, “We don’t care about festivals. Just give us an idea of what there is to see!” Okay, okay, I feel your pain, and I want this blog to be as complete as possible. In part 4 of this blog, I’ll help you plan your trip and help you to travel deeper. Famous temples, beaches, agrotourism, rural experiences, and food to name a few topics.
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About the Authors
Photographer George Edward Giunca, and his Thai wife have traveled around Thailand armed with a circular fisheye lens to create a photo essay on the rich cultural diversity, and abundant natural beauty of the Kingdom of Thailand. Fleeing from angry water buffaloes, slapping huge mosquitoes, watching exotic festivals and religious rituals, gorging on delicious spicy food, applying aloe vera cream to sunburned skin, wading through rice paddies, getting drenched to the bone by heavy monsoon rains, and gawking at breath-taking scenery; made it a journey of epic proportions! The result is the book, THAILAND 180º. Later, they traveled extensively through Myanmar, Malaysia, and India, gathering a massive collections of 180º photos. They currently live in Chiang Mai where they continue to blog and are now working on a CHIANG MAI 180º book.
Here’s How to Order Your Copy of THAILAND 180º Collectors EditionToday!
In Thailand —>>>http://www.thailand180.com/thaiorder.html
The Rest of the world: We are offering our book on Amazon.com, below list price and I’ll pay for the shipping within the United States! http://amzn.to/1knDPRR
Not Familiar with Our Book???
This show details the origin of 180 Books, a series of art/travel books illustrated with a circular fisheye lens. By using infographics, pictures from our THAILAND 180º book, and never seen before images from our vault, we’ll demonstrate this unique lens and present our unique books.
Also, because there’s nothing to watch on TV, here’s a trailer about our book, “THAILAND 180”
Above is an interactive map of Thailand. If you click on a marker it reveals a photo from our THAILAND 180º book and a link to our blog article about the photo. Go Ahead~ Start Exploring ~Have Some Fun!
