Loi Kratong - Something has changed big-time

[connda]

Out here in rural Thailand Loi Kratong is celebrated just like in most of Thailand.  The celebration usually brings a two week lead up to the holiday punctuated with fireworks and firecrackers and Yee-Ping "Kom-Fai" air-lanterns on a nightly basis,  and during the day?  Parties, and folks just having fun! Now?  Everything is illegal, Mai?

This year?  <silence>  Almost nothing.  Virtually no noise. Nothing happening.  No one really gearing up for celebration - just?  Lot's of quiet. 
I would not know this is a holiday this weekend at all.  Usually I have to medicate our dog pack.  I've no reason to this year.  My pack isn't cowering in fear of all the noise.  There IS NO noise.  It's just a normal evening here on the day before Loi Kratong.

I have to congratulate the leaders of Thailand.  You people have finally realized your wish and have destroyed a number of Thai cultural institutions.  Now I guess its Build Back Better as well as whatever culture killing horror that will bring.  I assume that next in line for termination will be Songkran.  And Tourist High Season (ya'll have killed this year's High Season).  You've destroyed street markets, you've destroyed Thai cultural celebrations, you've destroyed Thai nightlife and entertainment, you've destroyed the essence of Thailand and the exact reason tourist come to visit.  Good job! 

Jeez.  I've lived here since 2007.  Loi Kratong has been one of the most magical holidays I have ever experience in all my world travels. The Loi Kratong evenings were simply awesome and awe-inspiring beyond belief.   Now? <crickets chirping>  I guess New Year's Eve will bring the same cultural death-knell. 

The Prayut government has put a stake through the heart of this (and probably most other) Thai cultural events.  What tourist in their right mind would now come to this phantom of what was once an incredible and culturally and heritage rich country?  Those few thousand "foreigners" you're getting are mostly returning Expatriates who have establish homes and lives here -  foreigners whom of course you people at the top visceral hate and consider to be a "national security risk" to the well being of Thailand.  Yes!  Me and those like me married to Thai women and supporting Thai families.  You hate us, and we know you hate us.  We're reminded annually if not every 90 days. Yet we stay for the sake of our families.  And we also see how the Thai culture which we love is being ripped apart by those of you at the top. 

Congratulations Uncle Tu and friends - excellent job destroying the Thai heritage.  I've said this before.  If I wasn't supporting a Thai family I'd leave.  The only thing left of Thailand of old is its racism, xenophobia, and hatred of foreigners unless they are wealthy and dripping money on the tarmac as they walk from their private jets to an upscale Thai hotel and Thai shopping mall.  That!  That is New Normal Thailand.  Expensive hotels, expensive Thai restaurants (the same you'd see in the US selling less than authentic food), and expensive shopping malls.  Everything else, including the culture and heritage, has been stripped of value and reduced to a facsimile of what once was a beautiful country. 

Build Back Better Thailand?  Congratulations to the power-mad, greed-ridden ilk.  You have destroyed everything that a Western tourist came here to experience.  Kudos!!!    And you've destroy the essence of what the common folk hold dear.  Keep it up.  You destroy the country entirely.  Then? 
 

Edited November 19, 2021 by connda

[Fat is a type of crazy]

One of my favourite thai cultural events was the candle festival in Ubon and I would hate to see things like that go. Same as Bangkok street food.  

But what is the government actually doing to get rid of Loi Kratong and similar festivals and events.

Even if cynical they would know it brings the tourists and tourists are money.

Maybe a bit quiet this year as everyone wakes up from lockdowns and constraints. 

 

[Kwasaki]

11 minutes ago, connda said:

The Loi Kratong evenings were simply awesome and awe-inspiring beyond belief.   Now? <crickets chirping>  I guess New Year's Eve will bring the same cultural death-knell. 

The Prayut government has put a stake through the heart of this (and probably most other) Thai cultural events. 

You really not know much try reading history, Old City is alight with Loi Kratong.

[Thailand]

Fireworks been going off for almost the last hour continuously in Chiang Mai and just a wild guess that copius amounts of alcohol being consumed.

Saw a few of the preparations in areas on the ouskirts in the last few days, they are definitely celebrating!

Not seen any lanterns yet but early days.

[KhunBENQ]

Absolutely dead here.

In the district town the Garuda flies with the all forbidden message.

So what you expect?

Texted with two women in Udon and Pattaya: won't go.

Mood is killed.

[farmerjo]

We missed it for the 1st time and i probably won't live it down.

It's to get rid of the bad spirits for the year so anything that goes wrong from now on will be my fault.????

[BritManToo]

Lots of fireworks going off all around in San Sai.

Not many floating lanterns.

[HappyExpat57]

I noticed the start of this cultural murder when the powers that be removed all the sidewalk bars on Sukhumvit Bangkok. Somehow, they had magical powers that could see into my pocket and know EXACTLY how much money I had. My friends and I would drink until the sun started coming up and the bin came to how much I had in my pocket including a generous tip. Those times were FUN! As far as I know, that was a unique Bangkok feature. They removed them, then moved on to many night street vendors, and the relentless push is turning Thailand into a gray amorphous "meh." The few dozen actual tourists Thailand is getting will report their disappointment and tourism will be officially finished.

[Kwasaki]

37 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Absolutely dead here.

In the district town the Garuda flies with the all forbidden message.

So what you expect?

Texted with two women in Udon and Pattaya: won't go.

Mood is killed.

Old City Sukhothai is packed with people and traffic is like Bkk at a stand still nearly through the village.

Fireworks from 7.30 pm until 11 pm+ every hour..

[mikebike]

1 hour ago, connda said:

I have to congratulate the leaders of Thailand.  You people have finally realized your wish and have destroyed a number of Thai cultural institutions.  Now I guess its Build Back Better as well as whatever culture killing horror that will bring.  I assume that next in line for termination will be Songkran.  And Tourist High Season (ya'll have killed this year's High Season).  You've destroyed street markets, you've destroyed Thai cultural celebrations, you've destroyed Thai nightlife and entertainment, you've destroyed the essence of Thailand and the exact reason tourist come to visit.  Good job! 

Jeez.  I've lived here since 2007.  Loi Kratong has been one of the most magical holidays I have ever experience in all my world travels. The Loi Kratong evenings were simply awesome and awe-inspiring beyond belief.   Now? <crickets chirping>  I guess New Year's Eve will bring the same cultural death-knell. 

The Prayut government has put a stake through the heart of this (and probably most other) Thai cultural events.  What tourist in their right mind would now come to this phantom of what was once an incredible and culturally and heritage rich country?  Those few thousand "foreigners" you're getting are mostly returning Expatriates who have establish homes and lives here -  foreigners whom of course you people at the top visceral hate and consider to be a "national security risk" to the well being of Thailand.  Yes!  Me and those like me married to Thai women and supporting Thai families.  You hate us, and we know you hate us.  We're reminded annually if not every 90 days. Yet we stay for the sake of our families.  And we also see how the Thai culture which we love is being ripped apart by those of you at the top. 

Congratulations Uncle Tu and friends - excellent job destroying the Thai heritage.  I've said this before.  If I wasn't supporting a Thai family I'd leave.  The only thing left of Thailand of old is its racism, xenophobia, and hatred of foreigners unless they are wealthy and dripping money on the tarmac as they walk from their private jets to an upscale Thai hotel and Thai shopping mall.  That!  That is New Normal Thailand.  Expensive hotels, expensive Thai restaurants (the same you'd see in the US selling less than authentic food), and expensive shopping malls.  Everything else, including the culture and heritage, has been stripped of value and reduced to a facsimile of what once was a beautiful country. 

Build Back Better Thailand?  Congratulations to the power-mad, greed-ridden ilk.  You have destroyed everything that a Western tourist came here to experience.  Kudos!!!    And you've destroy the essence of what the common folk hold dear.  Keep it up.  You destroy the country entirely.  Then?

Literally one of the stupidest posts I have seen on TV (oops AN).

 

Are you the only person in the entire country who expected "business as usual" for Loy Kratong?

[brewsterbudgen]

1 minute ago, mikebike said:

Literally one of the stupidest posts I have seen on TV (oops AN).

 

Are you the only person in the entire country who expected "business as usual" for Loy Kratong?

Anyone would think we weren't in the midst of a global pandemic ????

[mikebike]

26 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

I noticed the start of this cultural murder when the powers that be removed all the sidewalk bars on Sukhumvit Bangkok. Somehow, they had magical powers that could see into my pocket and know EXACTLY how much money I had. My friends and I would drink until the sun started coming up and the bin came to how much I had in my pocket including a generous tip. Those times were FUN! As far as I know, that was a unique Bangkok feature. They removed them, then moved on to many night street vendors, and the relentless push is turning Thailand into a gray amorphous "meh." The few dozen actual tourists Thailand is getting will report their disappointment and tourism will be officially finished.

Yep, nothing going on in the world which may have affected any cultural eventss... oiy vey.

[Nojohndoe]

38 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Lots of fireworks going off all around in San Sai.

Not many floating lanterns.

Same

[soi3eddie]

Khun connda, I propose you for POTY with this post alone. OK some others say that fireworks are going off where they are however you captured the mood IMO. Loi Krathong was usually a magical time and I have celebrated it in Nakhon Si Thammarat (unbelievable), Krabi, Lumphini Park, Pattaya beach, Wachirabenchathat Park and others. Tonight I'm happy to stay home in my condo.

 

I think you are right about killing of the cultural events. Mai Sanuk Loi! Will 2022 be the 3rd year without proper Songkhran celebrations? Not that we all love them but is important for Thais and their happiness.  You raise so many issues in your post which I totally agree with your sentiment. Thailand is not as it was and should be, and it's not just due to Covid which is a convenient excuse for restrictions and control on Thai freedoms. 

 

[mikebike]

1 minute ago, soi3eddie said:

Not that we all love them but is important for Thais and their happiness.

Really? I have lived in NST for 8 yrs now and all my Thai friends understand the restrictions. They are looking forward to enjoying celebrations again in the future but seem a lot less concerned about the delay than you are.

[jak2002003]

1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

You really not know much try reading history, Old City is alight with Loi Kratong.

I am in rural Chiang Mai and the festival is all go here.  Been to 2 temples and lots of people floating the kratongs on the klongs and lots of fireworks. 

 

Good to see all wearing masks...except the only farang there who had no mask and was drinking beer at the temple...classy. 

 

 

[jak2002003]

[1FinickyOne]

51 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Lots of fireworks going off all around in San Sai.

Not many floating lanterns.

Same in Doi Saket... we loy'ed our kratongs in the pond behind the house and watched the fireworks which are still blasting away... 

[ProbPossConf]

1 hour ago, Nojohndoe said:

  2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Lots of fireworks going off all around in San Sai.

Not many floating lanterns.

Did they close the CNX airport and cancelled all flights?

[Gottfrid]

3 hours ago, connda said:

This year?  <silence>  Almost nothing.  Virtually no noise. Nothing happening.  No one really gearing up for celebration - just?  Lot's of quiet. 

Oh yeah! You know it´s this little thing called Covid-19 that has been going on for a while.

[steven100]

3 hours ago, connda said:

This year?  <silence>  Almost nothing.  Virtually no noise. Nothing happening.  No one really gearing up for celebration - just?  Lot's of quiet.

sounds blissful .....   lets hope it's the norm 

[pgrahmm]

People all over the place here about 25k south of CM....One road closed down to allow access & parking = parking is full....

A little subdued in the flying lantern launching, but the water launching pace is brisk & backed up....Everybody I saw was masked + temp checks to go from area to area.... It's the first time I have seen a combo temp monitor that dispenses alcohol at the same time it displays your temp + built in counter to control entrance numbers.... Definitely a sober crowd....Vendors look like they are doing ok....

Fireworks are popping away & one cat is hiding under the bed....

[ikke1959]

Not in Phetchaburi. Here is said that there could be kratongs be floated in the water but no stalls with food and selling and no entertainment. We went to the temple and indeed no activities except a icecream car. But then we went to the beacj in Hat Chao Samran and there was a big very big party. Thousands of people, foodstalls and music and al kind of lights everywhere, just as a few year back. We did not stop but returned  immediately. That is a place where you can get Covid and in a few days you will read that everyone who has been there should do a test. Totally inresponsible.  But as usual in Thailand the organizers will get the money and bribe the others. We did not know there was a big party, because no signs, but in silence tell the people there is a party and see...... it works... No wonder that the rules can not be relaxed. Thailand has a culture of not following te rules   

[GrandPapillon]

don't worry, as soon as the silly general is gone, sanook will be back and everything will be normal again

 

the general will not survive this, and he knows it

 

everyone is preparing for the new shift, even Thaksin ????

 

Edited November 19, 2021 by GrandPapillon

[mahtin]

No fireworks, no lanterns.

Wife came back from the rice field where we just finished the harvest, said she saw some kids floating kratongs.

 

[HappyExpat57]

10 hours ago, mikebike said:

Yep, nothing going on in the world which may have affected any cultural eventss... oiy vey.

This started LONG before Covid.

[steven100]

6 hours ago, GrandPapillon said:

don't worry, as soon as the silly general is gone, sanook will be back and everything will be normal again

 

the general will not survive this, and he knows it

 

everyone is preparing for the new shift, even Thaksin ????

 

what nonsense .....   but it did give me a laugh ,    Lol

[tonray]

Last Night: Wat Bukkhallo Thonburi Bangkok....same throngs as usual

 

[shackleton]

Wow that was some post

There will be a Loy Krathong  next year and better

You do know  there is a Pandemic  on just now  

You need to remain positive things will get better roll on 2022 ????

[Pravda]

The real purpose of the festival is party afterwards and a lot of seggs.