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Photos and stories from many of my travels in the past 5 years

Chiang Mai Loy krathong grand parade royal float

Thailand 2010: Last day of Loi Krathong; Sunday Grand Parade (Day 4, Part 2)

Date:  22nd November 2010

Today began with a visit to Chiang Mai Zoo, to pay a visit to see the city’s most famous residents. After a brief rest, I stepped out again to witness what the final night of the Yi Peng Festival had in store.

Loi Krathong start participants gather
The parade was about to start
Loy Krathong ornate float
Ornately decorated floats!
Loy Krathong tourists light man
This guy was attracting attention today as well
Loi Krathong Grand Parade start
Fascinating art
Yi Peng sunday parade silver float
Man, the work done on some of these floats!
Loy Krathong grand parade silver float
“Don’t call me now, I’m in a different era! You’re ruining it!”
Loi Krathong grand parade Thais dressed
Thai ‘princess’ and ‘prince’

Loi krathong red tshirt group float

Chiang Mai red t-shirt group parade
Not sure who this red t-shirt ‘army’ were representing

Loy Krathong parade pickup truck floatsLoy Krathong grand parade elephant floatYi Peng grand parade pink elephant floatLoy Krathong pagoda grand parade Chiang MaiLoy Krathong Thai king floatLoy Krathong pretty Thai girl grand paradeElaborate float Yi Peng festivalGolden float Loy krathong grand paradeLoy Krathong start of grand paradeChiang Mai Loy Krathong performers lights

Lord Ganesha Thai women nails float Yi Peng
I wonder if Thais worship Lord Ganesha too

Beautiful float grand parade Loy Krathong

Chiang Mai Loy Krathong performers
Hundreds of locals participate in the Grand Parade

Yi Peng float parade girlChiang Mai Yi Peng parade participants

Chiang Mai US consulate family float Loi Krathong parade
The lady sitting on the car is the Consul General of the US Consulate of Chiang Mai, along with her family

Chiang Mai Yi Peng grand parade American

Loy Krathong grand parade Japan particpants
Up ahead, I saw many Thais cosplaying. Hmm, I wonder which contingent this is? 🙂
Chiang Mai Loy Krathong celebrations Japan group parade
Why no surprise there! 🙂
Loy Krathong grand parade Japan float
Japan’s float
Loy Krathong grand parade Japan cosplay Chiang Mai
Lots of tributes to anime and videogame characters

Loy Krathong grand parade Japan cosplay Thailand

Loy Krathong grand parade Japan cosplay Gundam Chiang Mai
Even dressing up as a Gundam robot!
Lavish float Yi Peng grand parade Chiang Mai
Absolutely beautiful work
Loi Krathong grand parade cavalade
The cavalcade made their may down Thapae Road
Loi Krathong parade coverage cameramen
Cameramen readied themselves

Loi Krathong grand parade traditional drumsChiang Mai Loi Krathong parade traditional drumChiang Mai Loy Krathong grand parade woman carnival

Chiang Mai Yi Peng parade cow puppet
Not sure if the creature was meant to be a cow or a goat
Chiang Mai Yi Peng parade animal buddhist monks elders
But it did stop occasionally to be ‘fed’ money

Chiang Mai Yi Peng parade Thapae road
Chiang Mai Loy Krathong parade Thai traditional drum

Thai character Chiang Mai Yi Peng parade
I don’t who this character/mascot was

Chiang Mai Yi Peng parade march Thai mascotChiang Mai Yi Peng parade Thapae road marchYi Peng grand parade women floatLoy Krathong grand parade beautiful Thai womenChiang Mai Yi Peng parade men back tattoo

Thai man back tattoo art Chiang Mai
Awesome tattoo art

Chiang Mai Yi Peng festival Thai men traditionalChiang Mai Loy Krathong Yi Peng festival grand paradePretty Thai model traditional jewelry Yi Peng paradeChiang Mai marching band Yi Peng paradeChiang Mai Yi Peng parade women bannerAfter following the parade from up front, I got distracted.

Yes, it was food… but…

Fried bugs sale Chiang Mai vendor
Fried insects for sale!
Chiang Mai fried insects vendor Thailand
Was tempted to be all adventurous…
Fried insects cricket bamboo worm silkworm Chiang Mai
…but I hate insects when alive, leave alone when they are fried dead

Fortunately there were more appetizing food on sale.

Meatball stick street vendor Chiang MaiFried rice noodles pad thai vendor Chiang Mai Thailand

Fried seafood street vendor Chiang Mai Thailand
All this stuff was cheap
Barbecue boiled meat balls Chiang Mai
My friend Loi’s survival food
Chiang Mai barbecued meat street vendor
Lots, and lots of meat!

Okay, enough food. Back to the parade.

Chiang Mai Thepbodint school marching band Loy Krathong paradeChiang Mai Loy Krathong grand parade light truckChiang Mai market overbridgePing river Chiang Mai overbridge lights

Chiang Mai street Loy Krathong Thais
This being the last day of the festival, everybody was out
Ping river Loi Krathong devotees
Locals thronged the banks of Ping river
Chiang Mai US consulate wall paintings
Walls of the Consulate General of the United States in Chiang Mai
Loy Krathong grand parade vip stand judging
The various floats pass by these stands where judges select the best in show
Ping river candle lit krathongs floating
Meanwhile on the river banks…

Thai local releasing Krathong in water Chiang MaiKrathongs in ping river Chiang MaiChiang Mai karthongs ping riverPing river krathongs Chiang Mai Yi Peng festivalPing river steps Loy Krathong Thai family

Chiang Mai Loy Krathong parade audience stand cameraman
The eager crowd await the parade’s arrival through the final stage
Chiang Mai Loy Krathong grand parade police cars
Leading the parade
Yi Peng festival VIP arriving Chiang Mai
Some formalities
Loy Krathong festival fireworks last day Chiang Mai
…and then fireworks!

Yi Peng festival fireworks last day Chiang MaiPing river Loy Krathong other sideChiang Mai ping river lit krathongsChiang Mai Yi Peng festival ping river krathongs

Chiang Mai krathongs ping river Thailand
River gods ‘flooded’ with krathongs

Loy Krathong ping river decorated bridgeLoy Krathong ping river bridge lights

US consulate family car float Yi Peng festival parade
The American Consul family still doing the rounds

Ping river street lights Chiang Mai Yi peng festivalYi Peng festival parade crowds Chiang MaiThais releasing paper lanterns Ping riverPing river Loy Krathong float

Dining ping river Chiang Mai Yee Peng festival
You also have fancier dining options by Ping river

Chiang Mai schoolgirls celebrating Loy KrathongPing river at night Chiang Mai firework

Loy Krathong ping river boat ride Chiang Mai
Dinner boat rides are also quite popular

Ping river bridge bulbs shooting firework

Loy Krathong grand parade march
The parade making their way towards the municipality building

Yi Peng festival Chiang Mai grand parade people

Banana stem used in krathongs
The banana trunk slices are what forms the base of the krathongs

Chiang Mai Yi Peng festival Chinese temple paradeWatching so many people release khomloys into the sky (and the fact this was the last day of the festival), I told myself I better release a paper lantern myself now. I still hadn’t done it yet! The past three days, I was busy clicking away and it made me feel like I was on assignment, on work (which in some ways, it is).

Chiang Mai lanterns Ping river Thailand
So I bought a krathong and a khom loy from nearby

Loi Krathong lanterns in sky Chiang MaiI asked a local if I could borrow a light and instead she kindly shows me how to light the khomloy. She even helped hold it with me as the lantern filled up with hot air.

Khomloy paper lantern Chiang Mai Yi Peng festival
And there mine goes!
Thai lady krathongs in ping river
I then released my krathong after making my wish(es). That’s the Thai lady who helped me.

Krathongs floating ping river closeupKrathongs in water ThailandPing river fountain firework Yi Peng festival

Loy Krathong festival khomloy night skyAs I walked back up to the main road, I kept telling myself with the disappointment of missing the events at Sansai that I had to come back again and do it right. More importantly, after the ‘assignment’ at Mae Jo, I will not spend all my time taking photos. Instead, I’m going to have fun releasing paper lanterns and playing with fireworks — and I won’t be alone 😉

I went back to the main road for a few more photos.

Traditional Thai couple Yi Peng festival paradeLoykrathong performers parade gongThai man Loy Krathong parade holding lampsLoy Krathong Grand parade Thai traditional palanquinAmazing float Loy Krathong grand parade Chiang MaiThai baby girl Chiang Mai watching parade

Thai transgender aids awareness Chiang Mai
Transgenders spreading the message of safe sex
Thai girls posing condom AIDS awareness Chiang Mai
Condom-man distributing free condoms… and posing for photos with girls
Young Thai girl glowing head band Chiang Mai
These kind of headbands are all the craze for young girls out here
Nawarat bridge crowds Yi Peng festival
Nawarat bridge was packed with people

Ping river at night Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Thai king tribute gate
I headed back up Thapae road
Chiang Mai Loy krathong parade men
I pity the guys who had to carry the dancer in this heat for hours!

Chiang Mai Loi Krathong grand parade Thapae roadThai boys grand parade Chiang Mai Loi krathongThai girls traditional umbrella Yi Peng festival

Chiang Mai Loy krathong grand parade royal float
Really impressive, the work they put into these floats!

Chiang Mai grand parade silver elephant floatTraditional thai instruments Chiang Mai Loy KrathongChiang Mai Loi Krathong float Thapae roadTraditional Thai makeup Loy Krathong grand paradeChiang Mai Loy Krathong festival grand paradeChiang Mai Loi Krathong festival grand parade peopleChiang Mai Yi Peng festival traditional flags

Chiang Mai grand parade traditional palanquin
Don’t you know driving while talking on your mobile is wrong?
Chiang Mai Loy Krathong grand parade traditional palanquin broke
It broke! Poor girl must be so self-conscious now (even through it probably wasn’t due to her weight)

Thai Buddhist monk phone head wallThai Wat wall buddhist monk headsThai province girl grand parade Chiang MaiPretty Thai traditional girl grand parade Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai old Thai lady Loy Krathong grand parade
Hey, I couldn’t be biased
Thai king rama Chiang Mai Yi Peng grand parade
I’m really curious about the Indian connection in Thai history
Chiang Mai Loi Krathong grand parade elaborate float Thailand
These floats are all winners in my opinion
Chiang Mai grand parade Thai mythical animal puppet
This puppet was still doing the rounds
Cow puppet man drinking parade Chiang Mai
But even the men under the animal needed a break for water
Chiang Mai Thapae road Loy Krathong parade end
And that was the end of the parade…
Chiang Mai Thapae road junction street vendor
I walked back to Thapae gate to pick up some dinner
Chiang Mai fried rice shrimp cashews street food Thailand
Picked up some cashews, some fried rice and a shawarma
Leo beer can Chiang Mai Thailand
I even tried LEO beer for the first time. Essentially Singha’s offering to compete with Chang. My verdict? Chang is still better.

The fact that I had to split my last day in Chiang Mai into two posts is proof that this was a long day for me. I was quite tired, still feeling a bit feverish, but through it all — I was more than content with the photographs!

Tomorrow morning, I would head further up north to Chiang Rai and embark on the remainder of my journey across Thailand.

As a parting bonus, here’s a video of the some of the sights from today’s Grand Parade:


Next posts in this series:

Thailand 2010: Heading to Chiang Rai by bus, Wat Jedyod and Golden Clock Tower

Thailand 2010: Golden Triangle in Mae Sai; Chiang Rai’s White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)

Thailand 2010: Pattaya — Beach road, Viewpoint, Jomtien Beach, Walking Street

Thailand 2010: Back to Bangkok — Chinatown, Patpong, Platinum Mall and Chatuchak Market

Thailand 2010: Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Sampeng Market, JJ market (again)

Thailand 2010: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market tour, Cobra show… and leaving Bangkok

Previous posts in this series:

Thailand 2010: Chiang Mai Zoo (Day 4, Part 1)

Thailand 2010: Chiang Mai Loi Krathong celebrations; first Grand Parade

Thailand 2010: Chiang Mai cooking class; Loi Krathong celebrations in Mae Jo, Sansai

Thailand 2010: First day in Chiang Mai for Loi Krathong; driving up Doi Suthep

Thailand 2010: Arriving in Bangkok and preparing for Loi Krathong in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai zoo panda Lin Hui

Thailand 2010: Chiang Mai Zoo (Day 4, Part 1)

Date:  22nd November 2010

Yesterday evening was nice. Today was the last day of Loy Krathong, and I’m guessing tonight’s events were going to be a ‘grand finale’ to the festival. But first, I decided to move out of Rux Thai and take a single room at Centerplace Guesthouse because I was going to be out all day and tomorrow morning, I would leave for Chiang Rai.

A single room at Centerplace Guesthouse costs just 200 baht (Rs. 300/$6.7/€4.5).

After transferring my bags, I decided to spend my morning at Chiang Mai Zoo, which is en route to Doi Suthep.

Chiang Mai zoo entrance ThailandNow I knew Chiang Mai Zoo wasn’t going to be as impressive as Singapore Zoo, but the main reason I chose to visit the zoo is to see a rare animal I rank among my favourites in the animal kingdom — the giant panda!

Chiang Mai Zoo has three of them. But the entrance fees to the zoo are broken up by the individual attractions the place has to offer. The zoo fee costs just ฿100, but it does not include the chance to see the pandas. That’s another ฿100. Also, if you want avail the open air bus, that’s ฿20. So all-in-all, I paid ฿220 (Rs. 325/$7.2/€5) for my entry.

Chiang Mai entrance elephant fountainFlamingos Chiang Mai zoo ThailandChiang Mai zoo white parrot

Indian elephant Chiang Mai zoo
The Indian elephant

I walked a bit, saw a few animals at the entrance that I’ve seen many time before and then hopped on to the zoo bus to head straight for the pandas.

Chiang Mai zoo minibus
You have a driver who gives commentary about the attractions as you go along, but it’s only in Thai
Chiang Mai zoo panda statues
I got down here
Chiang Mai zoo Lin Ping house entrance
You hand over the panda entry ticket here
Chiang Mai zoo way to Lin Ping house
First up, Lin Ping, the youngest panda in Chiang Mai Zoo
Chiang Mai zoo Lin Ping playground
This is Lin Ping’s playground. So, where is Lin Ping? (Photo taken on Nokia E72)
Chiang Mai zoo Lin Ping sleep
To the extreme right corner… she was asleep (I hope)
Pandas in Thailand Chiang Mai zoo
Chiang Mai Zoo has 3 pandas, among the only 35 outside China

While young Lin Ping gets her massive play ground, her parents Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui are in a separate air-conditioned enclosure not too far away.

Chuang Chuang panda Chiang Mai zoo
“Ni hao” (Chinese for “hello”)
Chiang Mai zoo panda Lin Hui walking wood
This is the female panda Lin Hui

Chiang Mai zoo panda Lin Hui Chiang Mai zoo panda eating
Chiang Mai zoo panda Thailand
Chiang Mai zoo panda Thailand

Chiang Mai zoo panda Lin Hui playing
Play time for Lin Hui

Panda playing Chiang Mai zooChiang Mai zoo Lin Hui lookingChiang Mai panda walking ThailandChiang Mai zoo panda plants

Chiang Mai zoo Chuang Chuang eating
And this bloke here is Xuang Xuang (Chuang Chuang)
Chiang Mai zoo Xuang Xuang panda eating Thailand
Fussy eater! 🙂
Chiang Mai zoo Chuang Chuang sucking thumb
Post-brunch sucking-of-thumb*
Chiang Mai zoo Chuang Chuang eating bamboo
Then ‘tooth pick’ 🙂
Panda Xuang Xuang Chiang Mai zoo
Look at its ears! 🙂
Chiang Mai zoo panda Xuang Xuang eating
Lin Ping was actually born using insemination because this bloke wasn’t interested in ‘doing the job’ with wifey
Chiang Mai zoo Lin Hui eating bamboo
The entire process of how they inseminated Lin Hui is explained near Lin Ping’s section
Chuang Chuang Lin Hui pandas information Chiang Mai zoo
The first two pandas at Chiang Mai zoo

After getting my panda fix, I moved on.

Chiang Mai zoo monorail train
The zoo has a monorail service too (which costs extra as well)
Chiang Mai zoo 7eleven store
And the ubiqitous 7-Eleven can be found inside the zoo as well

I took the tram car again, and it stopped for a while at the newly opened aquarium.

Chiang Mai zoo aquarium entry fee
At those prices, I wasn’t keen on checking it out

Chiang Mai zoo aquarium lake

Chiang Mai zoo monorail service

Chiang Mai zoo ducks pond

Chiang Mai zoo sign Thailand

Chiang Mai zoo koala tree Thailand
Tree hug

Chiang Mai koalas tree

Chiang Mai zoo koala sleeping on tree
Koalas were busy sleeping

Chiang Mai zoo koala sleeping waking upChiang Mai zoo koala sleeping

Chiang Mai zoo koala sleeping fact
Natural born sleepers
Chiang Mai zoo Dunger koala tail
Dunger is one of the koalas
Chiang Mai zoo kids park
The Kids park

They have a kids section with a bunch of cute animals and some rather interesting tiny creatures.

Chiang Mai zoo pygmy marmoset Thailand
This creature is called the pygmy marmoset
Chiang Mai zoo pygmy marmoset
It’s a really tiny animal and it moved funnily

Pygmy marmoset Chiang Mai zooChiang Mai zoo kids parkChiang Mai zoo kids park garden flowers

Chiang Mai zoo deer park reindeers
I moved on to the deer section next

Chiang Mai zoo deer park

Chiang Mai zoo deer walkway
There’s an overhead walkway

Chiang Mai zoo reindeerChiang Mai zoo ibex deer

Lama Chiang Mai zoo
Lamas
Chiang Mai zoo steep hill
I walked to the next attraction
Chiang Mai zoo monorail track view
There was a huge tree trunk which had a set of stairs you could climb to get this view (Taken on my Nokia E72)

Next, I entered a birds enclosure.

Chiang Mai zoo Lady Amherst's pheasant
Lady Amherst’s pheasant
Chiang Mai zoo Lady Amherst's pheasant tail
Lovely looking thing
Great hornbill Chiang Mai zoo Thailand
Great Hornbill
Trumpeter hornbill Chiang Mai zoo
Trumpeter hornbill
Oriental pied hornbill Chiang Mai zoo
Oriental pied hornbill
Indian peacock Chiang Mai zoo
India’s national bird — the peacock (Edit: A reader just pointed out it took a dump. Didn’t even notice that until she told me!)
Country rooster Chiang Mai zoo
Got the lighting right on this one
Siamese fireback pheasant Chiang Mai zoo
Siamese fireback pheasant

Pheasant Chiang Mai zooPheasants Chiang Mai zoo

Chiang Mai zoo birds enclosure panorama
This is the birds enclosure (Panorama comprised of 6 shots)
White bellied sea eagle Chiang Mai zoo Thailand
Birds of prey next. This is the White bellied sea eagle
Black kite Chiang Mai zoo staring
A kite… staring at me

White breast kite Chiang Mai zoo

Grey head fish eagle Chiang Mai zoo
Grey head fish eagle
Black kite eyes Chiang Mai zoo
Seriously, stop staring
Black kite beak head Chiang Mai zoo
“Duuhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”
Ostrich Chiang Mai zoo
Ostrich (if you didn’t know)
Porcupine Chiang Mai zoo Thailand
Porcupines

After the birds, next up was a large open section entirely for Gibbons.

White gibbon monkey swinging Chiang Mai zoo
Apes with really long arms

Black gibbon teeth Chiang Mai zooGibbon monkey hanging tree Chiang Mai zoo

Gibbon swinging on tree Chiang Mai zoo
It was fun to watch these gibbons swing around

Gibbon sitting on tree Chiang Mai zoo

Chiang Mai zoo buddhist monks
The gibbons have a pretty large playground
Siamese crocodile Chiang Mai zoo
But they share the compound with a Siamese crocodile

Buddhist monk golden umbrella Chiang Mai zoo ThailandGibbon section Chiang Mai zooWhite handed gibbons Chiang Mai zooWhite handed gibbon closeup Chiang Mai zoo

Gibbons fighting Chiang Mai zoo Thailand
Fun to watch apes play-fight
White handed gibbon feet shape Chiang Mai zoo Thailand
Look at their feet. Nature and its designs!

White handed gibbons fighting Chiang Mai zoo ThailandWhite handed gibbon scratching Chiang Mai zoo

Rhinoceros Chiang Mai zoo Thailand
The only Rhinoceros in Thailand
Rhino stegosaurus head Chiang Mai zoo
When I saw this photo, I thought to myself “Looks so much like a stegosaurus”
Elephant ride Chiang Mai zoo Thailand
They have elephant rides here, costs extra of course

Chiang Mai zoo elephant ride Thailand

Humboldt penguins Chiang Mai zoo
Humboldt penguins, in a seperate temeprature-controlled zone

Penguins Chiang Mai zoo Thailand

Chiang Mai zoo Thailand pathway
It’s only at this point I realized Chiang Mai Zoo is quite big
View Chiang Mai city from Chiang Mai zoo
It occupies a large area and is quite hilly

Chiang Mai zoo mountain goat

Shooting club ATV Chiang Mai zoo Thailand
The irony of having a shooting club inside a zoo(!) is beyond me
Luge car station Chiang Mai zoo
The land has the slopes for luge riding, but I didn’t see anybody in the cars
Chiang Mai zoo tree panorama
Went in search for more animals
Black bear Chiang Mai zoo Thailand
The Asian black bear
Black bear sad face Chiang Mai zoo
🙁
Black bear Chiang Mai zoo wall
Poor thing only has his shadow to talk to
African lion Chiang Mai zoo
Didn’t look at her for too long
Monkey Chiang Mai zoo
More monkeys
Assamese macaque Chiang Mai zoo Thailand
Assamese macaque

Assamese macaques Chiang Mai zoo Thailand

Pig tailed macaque Chiang Mai zoo
Pig tailed macaque
Emu Chiang Mai zoo
Emu
Ostrich feather Chiang Mai zoo
The Bare-bum Ostrich*

Monorail track Chiang Mai zoo

White tiger Chiang Mai zoo
And finally, the beautiful white tiger

White tiger Chiang Mai zoo Thailand

Elephant Chiang Mai zoo
Passed the same elephant on the way out

Also on the way out, I couldn’t help but buy a small souvenir from Chiang Mai zoo. They were selling stuffed toys of the zoo’s main stars, the pandas. I bought a small Lin Ping souvenir for 150 baht.

All in all, I must have spent nearly 4 hours in Chiang Mai zoo. A lot longer than I thought I would spend. I mostly came to see the pandas and ended up seeing pretty much everything the zoo had to showcase.

Garden Chiang Mai zooSo is a visit to Chiang Mai zoo worth it? Well, Singapore Zoo didn’t have pandas (they only get them in 2012), and even koalas, when I visited back in September. So yes, this visit was time and money well-spent. At half the price of Singapore Zoo, you still see a lot of animals. Chiang Mai zoo also has animal shows and even a Night Safari. How good those are, I didn’t bother to find out of sheer dis-interest.

Entry Doi Suthep Chiang Mai Thailand
Go up this way for Doi Suthep
Chiang Mai afternoon road
I got back pretty late in the afternoon
Chiang Mai lunch rice seafood curry
So I had a late lunch at the small eatery
Chiang Mai afternoon Wat canal
Chiang Mai looked pleasant as ever
Chiang Mai afternoon Loy Krathong
Floats were gathering
Chiang Mai afternoon Loy Krathong float
Another Grand Parade tonight?

Chiang Mai Thapae road afternoon

Rachadamnoen road Chiang Mai
Rachadamnoen road looked empty today
Chiang Mai Yi Peng float preparations
I asked them what time it would start and they said ‘at sunset’

I had some time, so I decided to go back to my room and rest a bit.

Centerplace Guesthouse single room bed
This is what a single bed room at Centerplace Guesthouse looks like (Lin Ping on the bed is not included in the ฿200. I just put her there)
Centerplace guesthouse single room toilet
The toilet is clean, and has hot shower

I lied down for a while — this day wasn’t over yet.


Next posts in this series:

Next posts in this series:

Thailand 2010: Last day of Loi Krathong; Sunday Grand Parade (Day 4, Part 2)

Thailand 2010: Heading to Chiang Rai by bus, Wat Jedyod and Golden Clock Tower

Thailand 2010: Golden Triangle in Mae Sai; Chiang Rai’s White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)

Thailand 2010: Pattaya — Beach road, Viewpoint, Jomtien Beach, Walking Street

Thailand 2010: Back to Bangkok — Chinatown, Patpong, Platinum Mall and Chatuchak Market

Thailand 2010: Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Sampeng Market, JJ market (again)

Thailand 2010: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market tour, Cobra show… and leaving Bangkok

Previous posts in this series:

Thailand 2010: Chiang Mai Loi Krathong celebrations; first Grand Parade

Thailand 2010: Chiang Mai cooking class; Loi Krathong celebrations in Mae Jo, Sansai

Thailand 2010: First day in Chiang Mai for Loi Krathong; driving up Doi Suthep

Thailand 2010: Arriving in Bangkok and preparing for Loi Krathong in Chiang Mai

Yi Peng Chiang Mai big lanterns buddhists

Thailand 2010: Chiang Mai Loi Krathong celebrations; first Grand Parade

Date:  21st November 2010

After the unfortunate turn of events for me yesterday, I woke up today feeling a bit warmer inside. Not in a good way, more like having-a-body-temperature kind of way!

I woke up for a late breakfast, which I had at Rux Thai itself, and then went back to the room… to sulk. Hoping things would get better, health-wise and otherwise.

By the time I told myself there was no use sulking all day, I stepped out… at 6pm.

Loikroh road Yi Peng deserted look Chiang Mai
Lo Kroh looked deserted
Loi Kroh road bars Yi Peng decorations Chiang Mai
Many of the bars and restaurants were decorated in celebration of Yi Peng festival

I walked towards Thapae Gate to see if there was anything going on.

Thapae gate canal parking Chiang mai Thailand
Didn’t seem like much

Chiang Mai Thapae gate stalls Yi Peng 2010

Thapai gate food shawarma stall lady
Guess that takes care of dinner for tonight
Mr Salmon sushi street food Chiang Mai Thailand
Cheap sushi

Chiang Mai Thapae gate street food Loy Krathong 2010I walked a bit further, and things had started to ‘brighten’ up.

Chiang Mai Thapae gate Loy Krathong decoration
This wasn’t the only decoration Thapae gate got

Thapae Gate colorful lanterns display Chiang Mai Yi Peng

Thapae gate colourful lanterns display Yi Peng festival
Pretty

Thapae Gate yellow lanterns display Loi Krathong Chiang MaiChiang Mai Thapae gate Loy Krathong lantern decorationsChiang Mai Thapae colourful lanterns Loi Krathong celebrationsChiang Mai Thapae traditional lanterns Yi Peng festivalChiang Mai Thapae blue lanterns Yi Peng celebrationsChiang Mai Thapae green lanterns Yi Peng celebrationsChiang Mai Thapae red lanterns Yi Peng celebrationsThe one downside (sometimes) of carrying around a pro-looking camera is people assume you know how to take really good photographs and will do a better job than they can. I have often been asked to take photos of strangers using their point-and-shoot cameras and today was no exception.

Chiang Mai Thapae lanterns celebrations Mithun Divakaran
After being asked by some Taiwanese woman to take a few photos of her, I asked her to return the favour
Loy Krathong beauty contest stage Thapae gate Chiang Mai Thailand
They had a stage set up for some function
Chiang Mai Loy Krathong crowds Ratchadamnoen road
I crossed the road and walked to the other side, hoping to explore more
Chiang Mai Loy Krathong street shops lamps
Plenty of stalls set up everywhere
Chiang Mai Ratchadamnoen road crowd Loi Krathong
This is Ratchadamnoen road
Wat temple entrance Chiang Mai Loy Krathong
I entered this place out of curiosity
Baked chicken Thai herbs vendor Chiang Mai
Okay fine, it was the food!
Wat temple Chiang Mai Anthony Bourdain Yi Peng
Hey, it’s Anthony Bourdain!?*
Chiang Mai Wat Yi Peng street food eating outside
You can never go hungry in Thailand
Barbecued meat street food Chiang Mai Thailand
Unless you are strictly vegetarian
Wat Chiang Mai worship praying Thailand
Even though this was a temple…
Thai banana leaf omlette grilled Chiang Mai vendor
… it essentially got turned into a ‘food court’

Once outside, I asked Tourist Police officer (an American woman) whether there was anything special planned for today. She told me yesterday was the big release of the lanterns in Mae Jo, today there wouldn’t be anything special and tomorrow would be the concluding Grand Parade.

She didn’t come of as confident and ‘in-the-know’. Something I was used to by now.

Chiang Mai Wat Ratchadamnoen road

Chiang Mai Loi Krathong crowds Ratchadamnoen road
Still, I walked on

Chiang Mai Loy Krathong Ratchadamnoen road alley paintings for sale Thailand

Wat Phan entrance Chiang Mai Thailand
Steeped into another temple on Ratchadamnoen road
Wat Phan prayer hall Chiang Mai Thailand
Though I forgot to note down the name of the temple
Wat Phan shopping Chiang Mai Thailand
More stalls inside here as well
Wat Phan tourists eating Chiang Mai Thailand
Lots of eating here too

Wat Phan visitors eating Chiang Mai Thailand

Wat Phan god statues Chiang Mai Thailand

Wat Phan golden stupa Chiang Mai Thailand

Wat Phan huge gong Chiang Mai Thailand
I was sooo tempted to bang it

Wat Phan prayer Chiang Mai ThailandWat Phan buddha prayer Chiang Mai Thailand

Chiang Mai Loy Krathong parade start Ratchadamnoen road
I got back out to Ratchadamnoen road
Chiangmai Loy Krathong parade Ratchadamnoen road
Then I saw this…

Chiang Mai Loi Krathong parade Ratchadamnoen road

Chiang Mai Yi Peng parade start Ratchadamnoen road
… and it looked like a parade…
Loi Krathong Saturday parade Chiang Mai men
…which looked quite, grand

Yi Peng float grand parade Chiang Mai ThailandLoi Krathong saturday parade Chiang Mai ThailandLoi Krathong parade Thai girl Chiang MaiChiangmai Yi Peng parade float Ratchadamnoen roadLoy Krathong grand parade Thai float Chiang MaiChiang Mai Loi Kathrong parade Thai traditional dressed girlsChiang Mai Yi Peng parade mast Ratchadamnoen roadLoy Krathong Grand parade province girls Chiang Mai ThailandChiang Mai old building Ratchadamnoen roadHere’s part one of the videos I took of the parade:

Loy Krathong grand parade farm float- Chiang Mai Thailand
I take it the floats were showcasing Thailand’s culture from across all provinces
Loy Krathong grand parade college Chiang Mai Thailand
And I also take it these participating groups were colleges, schools, and other establishments

Loy Krathong grand parade nursing college Chiang Mai Thailand

Loi Krathong grand parade traditional girls Chiang Mai ThailandLoy Krathong grand parade fat boy Chiang Mai Thailand

Chiang Mai light man weird street artist Thailand
This guy wasn’t part of the parade… but was getting a lot of attention anyway

Chiang Mai Loy Krathong parade young girls Thailand

Here’s part two video of the parade:

Chiang Mai Loy krathong grand parade flash girl umbrella ThailandChiang Mai Loy Krathong grand locals float ThailandCollege students parade Loy Krathong Chiang Mai ThailandLoy Krathong grand parade students men Chiang Mai ThailandChiang Mai Loy Krathong boys parade ThailandChiang Mai Loy Krathong grand parade princess float ThailandChiang Mai Loy Krathong rotating lanterns parade Thailand
Chiang Mai Loy Krathong alley to temple

Chiang Mai Loy Krathong Wat alley lanterns Thais
Walked this alley out of curiosity

More celebrations awaited me inside.

Chiang Mai Loy Krathong Wat firecracker fountain ThaisChiang Mai Loi Krathong temple lantern touristsChiang Mai Loi Krathong Wat Tung Yu tourists

Chiang Mai Loy Krathong fireworks night sky
Lanterns from below joining the fireworks in the sky
Chiang Mai Loi Krathong Wat Tung Yu priest lighting lantern
Now it were the monks who wanted to light a big one
Chiang Mai Loi Krathong temple huge paper lantern
A really big one
Chiang Mai Loi Krathong Wat Tung Yu lighting big paper lantern
You obviously cannot use matchsticks to light a lantern this big
Chiang Mai Loi Krathong Wat Tung Yu lighting paper lantern waiting
Wait for it to heat up inside
Yi Peng Chiang Mai big lanterns buddhists
Wait for it…
Chiang Mai Loi Krathong buddhist priests releasing paper lantern
Okay, everybody’s waiting… just let go of it already!
Chiang Mai Loi Krathong Wat Tung Yu paper lantern with firecrackers
And it’s up
Chiang Mai Wat Tung Yu people leaving
I left
Chiang Mai full moon night sky lanterns
Near Rux Thai, this was the sight
Chiang Mai Thapae gate crowds gathered
Walked back to Thapae Gate

Chiang Mai Thapae river canal Loi Krathong

Chiang Mai Thapae gate Loi Krathong beauty contest
There was a beauty contest going on
Chiang Mai Loi Krathong beauty contest audience
Packed audience too
Chiang Mai Loy Krathong beauty contest
Switched to the 70-200mm lens for a closer look
Chiang Mai Thapae gate photographers 70-200 canon lens
I wasn’t the only one
Chiang Mai Miss Loy Krathong beauty contest
A rather ‘traditional’ looking beauty contest

Chiang Mai Miss Loy Krathong beauty contest contestant

Chiang Mai Miss Loy Krathong beauty contest judges Thailand
The judges-slash-sponsors
Chiang Mai Miss Loy Krathong beauty contest women
Just before the winner is announced, the women get the ‘God-I-hope-that-b***h-doesn’t-win!’-look
Chiang Mai Miss Loy Krathong beauty contest award
The winner
Chiang Mai Miss Loy Krathong beauty contest prize Thailand
She gets a placard…
Chiang Mai Miss Loy Krathong beauty contest winner
…which says something in Thai
Chiang Mai Miss Loy Krathong beauty contes Wai Wai runnerup
The runner-ups get a month’s supply of instant noodles*

Chiang Mai Miss Loy Krathong beauty contest stage light

Chiang Mai Miss Loy Krathong stage show dance Thapae gate

Chiang Mai Thapae gate Yi Peng celebrations lanterns
Lanterns were still floating up

Chiang Mai Miss Loy Krathong beauty contest audience

Chiang Mai Loy Krathong Thapae stage lantern
The stage cleared. I didn’t wait to see what was next.
Thapae road bars Yi Peng bursting crackers
I walked on down to Thapae Road next

Thapae road Inter bar Yi Peng bursting crackersAs I walked along, I saw a large crowd gather around someone.

Chiang Mai amazing street footballer Thailand
Everybody was watching this guy
Chiang Mai street footballer Thailand
He was mighty impressive

So I decided to take a video:

I tipped him 10 baht and continued down the road.

Chiang Mai street guitarist Thailand
There were a few other street performers as well
Wat Buppharam Chiang Mai Yi Peng fireworks
Lots of fireworks today… which is always nice
Wat Buppharam Chiang Mai Indian emblem four lions
Hey, those lion statues resemble the official emblem of India!

Curious as to what the possible ‘Indian connection’ could be, I went inside Wat Buppharam.

Wat Buppharam Chiang Mai Buddha statue worship
Looked like just another Buddhist temple to me

Wat Buppharam Chiang Mai dragon head stoneWat Buppharam Chiang Mai dragon statueWat Buppharam Chiang Mai elephant statueWat Buppharam Chiang Mai temple at night cloudsWat Buppharam man statueWat Buppharam Chiang Mai temple at night Yi PengI got back out to Thapae Road and made my way towards Nawarat bridge.

Thapae road camera man Loi Krathong
Lots of media

Thapae road Wat temple entrance

Thapae gate grand parade float lights
The parade was still on

Ta Pae road grand parade float Thai guy

Tapae road to Nawarat bridge Yi Peng crowds
It was crowded!
Chiang Mai Yi Peng rock concert
They had a stage set up… sadly for the band, very few were watching
Chiang Mai condom safe sex aids awareness Thailand
Volunteers in condom costumes distributed free condoms and promoted AIDS awareness
Chiang Mai Nawarat bridge Yi Peng crowded
The people on Nawarat bridge
Mae ping river Loy Krathong devotees
Many devotees releasing krathongs into Ping river
Mae ping river Loi Krathong river thieves
And if you’re wondering what those people in the waters are doing, they’re ‘stealing’

Stealing what? Money. When the locals pray and release the krathongs, they often place some money as an offering to the river goddess. These shameless people then wait for the krathongs to float their way and then take the money. CNNGo has a good article on these ‘river bandits’.

Chiang Mai Nawarat bridge Yi Peng khomloys city
It’s hard to capture what I saw with my eyes no matter how much I tried

It’s not  just the hundreds of paper lanterns in the sky in front of me. There were hundreds more to my left, right, behind me… everywhere! I kept wondering “How does one truly capture the experience in one frame!”

Chiang Mai nawarat bridge Yi Peng khomloy Thais

Chiang Mai bridge light bulbs
I moved to another bridge

Chiang Mai Maeping river celebrations firework

Praisanee road grand parade Loy Krathong
The parade was at the end of its run
Krathongs for sale Maeping river Chiang Mai
Krathongs and khomloys (paper lanterns) for sale
Chiang Mai steps to Maeping river
I walked down these steps
Rim Ping hotel Loy Krathong firework
Plenty of fireworks soon went off near Rim Ping Hotel

Rim Ping hotel Chiang Mai Loy Krathong fireworkRim Ping hotel Loy Krathong white firework

Rim Ping hotel Loy Krathong Chiang Mai firework
Kinda looks like the Death Star doesn’t it? 🙂

Rim Ping hotel Loy Krathong green fireworkMae Ping river Loi Krathong shooting fireworksMae Ping river Loy Krathong devotees stepsMae Ping river Loi Krathong elephant floatMae ping river Loy Krathong floatMae Ping river bridge light reflections water Loi KrathongChiang Mai Maeping river Yi Peng releasing krathongsChiang Mai Maeping river krathongs light reflectionsMae ping river bank Loykrathong devotees steps

Ping river Loykrathong devotees Chiang Mai
Ping river was packed with devotees
Chiang Mai Maeping river big floats
And a few big floats

Chiang Mai Loy Krathong lightbulbs khomloyChiang Mai Loy Krathong lightbulbs bridge revelers

Praisanee road roundabout Chiang Mai
I walked towards the Chiang Mai Municipality building
Chiang Mai municipal hall Yi Peng function
Cultural shows were going on
Chiang Mai Thai woman makeup geisha
One of the performers; dressed very geisha-like
Chiang Mai US embassy wall paintings
These paintings were on the walls of the US Consulate
Chiang Mai Thai cream pancake street vendor
I was starting to get hungry at this point
Chiang Mai flower shop display
Lots of flowers today as well
Chiang Mai roses red flowers wrapped newspaper
Not sure if these were roses
Praisanee road Chiang Mai Chinese temple
Some temple near the market
Praisanee road Loy Krathong locals celebrating
It was nearing midnight, time to head back to the room
Loy Krathong Loy Kroh road at night
Celebrations on Loy Kroh road were timid at best
Indian kitchen Pakistani food Chiang Mai Thailand
As seen at a small Indian eatery near Rux Thai

As I sat on my bed before going to sleep, I reviewed the snaps I had taken today. After yesterday’s disappointment, and how I felt when I woke up today, my mood was definitely more upbeat after I saw my photos.

Hope it gets better tomorrow!

 

* No, not really


Next posts in this series:

Thailand 2010: Chiang Mai Zoo (Day 4, Part 1)

Thailand 2010: Last day of Loi Krathong; Sunday Grand Parade (Day 4, Part 2)

Thailand 2010: Heading to Chiang Rai by bus, Wat Jedyod and Golden Clock Tower

Thailand 2010: Golden Triangle in Mae Sai; Chiang Rai’s White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)

Thailand 2010: Pattaya — Beach road, Viewpoint, Jomtien Beach, Walking Street

Thailand 2010: Back to Bangkok — Chinatown, Patpong, Platinum Mall and Chatuchak Market

Thailand 2010: Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Sampeng Market, JJ market (again)

Thailand 2010: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market tour, Cobra show… and leaving Bangkok

Previous posts in this series:

Thailand 2010: Chiang Mai cooking class; Loi Krathong celebrations in Mae Jo, Sansai

Thailand 2010: First day in Chiang Mai for Loi Krathong; driving up Doi Suthep

Thailand 2010: Arriving in Bangkok and preparing for Loi Krathong in Chiang Mai

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