Loi Kratong

It was very nice to be able to take Benedict down to the river side for this year's Loi Kratong. There were a lot of recently born Thai babies down there too with their parents.  As usual Benedict attracted a lot of attention, this little white boy strapped to his dad's chest. The riverside and central market area were kicking because Loi Kratong is a big event here in Thailand. This was reinforced by the final two periods of school being cancelled to let the students make their kratongs. 

We took Benedict down to the river and we made our wishes and sent our humble little kratong onto the murky Maeklong river. This was happening all over Thailand to an accompaniment of music and fireworks.

I have to say these types of events really show Thailand at its best, especially in a place like Ratchaburi, where it is essentially a very local event. We don't have a significant community of non-Thais to pander to here largely due to there being no beach or sea! So the atmosphere was relaxed and fun. We ate some delicious food in the market, fish fried in garlic, and headed home at a sensible time. Fireworks were being dispatched into the skies until the wee small hours. No riots, no stabbings, no murders and no evidence of mass brawls and the like which sadly so often accompany communal celebrations in the UK.  Just a good time!