Train ride to Chiang Mai

We’re off to the highlands of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand after a relatively short plane ride from Krabi in southern Thailand and the beach scene.  The decision was made to take a train ride through the middle of the country instead of a plane ride so we could see the sights. The down side to that was a long passage with questionable air conditioning and ultimately a flat butt.  The upside was clickity clacking through fields of rice, sugar cane, fruit groves, palm and banana trees, and other vegetables or fruit we couldn’t identify.  The jungle was...lush.  I could see how Tarzan might grab a vine and swing through the trees towards Jane as she was preparing a cuppucinno...oh, wait...I went off the rails there. Sorry. Anyway, it was an enjoyable, if long, ride.  Don’t think I need to do it again.

Loy Krathong Lantern Festival coinciding with
Yi Peng.

We happened to visit Chiang Mai at November’s full moon.  That’s the time the Thais celebrate the Loy Krathong and Yi Peng.  Loy Krathong is a celebration where the Thais gather around lakes, rivers, or canals and pay respect to the goddess of water by releasing small floats made of leaves and flowers with a candle and burning incense.  Our waiter suggested we put a small part of a fingernail and one hair into the mix for good luck.  I didn’t see him snicker when he left the table so we went ahead and pulled a few hairs, along with the nail.

Lanterns in the sky and on the water

Yi Peng is a festival of light that that takes place, primarily in northern Thailand.  Rice paper lanterns that have a little fire at the bottom are launched into the sky to send away the previous years bad luck and to make a wish for the coming year. And it is a spectacle to see.  These two festivals happen at the same time, so there are literally thousand upon thousand lanterns in the sky and thousands of lighted floats cruising down the Ping River.  In addition, the fireworks are everywhere.  And the city if packed with humanity from wall to food stall wall.  Exciting, absolutely beautiful, and you feel the energy of the city come alive.  Quite a sight. And a great experience.   Did I mention how good the food was...I think I did.  More later.