Dear Members,

I would like to share with you my experience with Loi Krathong.

Last night the wife insisted we should go to float a krathong to the lake about 3kms from our house that is called Chonabot. (Nothing to do with country side)

As a good and obliging husband, got her in the car and off we went.

The trouble started about 1 km from Chonabot.

The road blocked solid with cars and motorcycles wising all around us.

Mai ben rai I said to the wife we will be there eventually.

It took us about half an hour to go through that km.

But what a delight to see all the lights all over the lake, people wandering around in the middle of the road and listen to that music shaking the car.

Now let’s find a spot to park……….took us another half an hour and 500 meters away from the lake to find a space and squeeze the car in.

Mai ben rai……as long as the wife is happy…………started walking towards the lake.

We had to walk on the road as there are no pavements in Chonabot and if there are some they are dug out, full of holes a hazard to walk on them.

Felt like a commando in the jungle, trying to avoid thousands of people, pushing me around, wising motorbikes next to me and sweating my guts with that unbearable heat.

Mai ben rai, half an hour later we arrived at the lake.

Next step to choose and buy a Krathong from a seller on the side of the road.

Big selection, with a range from 35Baht to 100Baht (last year they were 25Baht…..but Mai ben rai…….inflation)……..and of course, my darling, goes for the 100Baht.

My love, apple of my eyes, why do you want the expensive one?

We will just put it the water and it will disappear in no time.

Mai ben rai……got the expensive one.

Now my real troubles began, trying to push through all those people with kids running around, ice cream flying everywhere and crackers giving me a heart attack, to reach the bank of the lake so we can put the Krathong in.

But we did it and as I light the candle the wife asks.

Have you got the camera to take a picture of me?

Oooooops, my Darling, forgot it in the car.

The answer was spontaneous……..Useless you are……I have to think of everything.

Mai ber rai, love of my life, I won’t forget next year.

Cut the long story short, we had to wait for a long time for a little space to open so to push the Kratong in the lake.

She made a pray and off we went back towards the car.

Going back, she wanted me to get for her a floating lantern, but I did avoid buying it as I said.

The general said no to those lanterns, do you want to be convicted and sentenced to death?

Don’t think she appreciated that.

But Mai ben rai, we reached the car and as we sat down she turned round and said.

Shall we go now to Ban Phai Lake to see what is happening there?

Nasty and horrible thoughts went through my mind and I was thinking of the posters on TVF calling me a wife basher.

But I did manage to turn around with a smile on my face and say.

I don’t mind at all, my love, going there, but you must feel really exhausted by now……..so let me take you to a nice restaurant for dinner.

Are you proud of me people?

That’s my Loi Krathong story…….and I’m not looking forward for next year.

PS. Got the change handed to me, by the waitress, this time.

Edited November 7, 201411 yr by Costas2008

dude you sound old as faawwwkk. or just boring lol.

Edited November 7, 201411 yr by lust

dude you sound old as faawwwkk. or just boring lol.

Dude, lighten up and see the humour in it.

Edited November 7, 201411 yr by giddyup

dude you sound old as faawwwkk. or just boring lol.

No he,s Greek....................now you can understand why he,s posted this

I stayed in my room and watched current films that I downloaded from the place where the pirates play. The holiday was much quieter than most years because it was raining. It was a great Loi Krathong.

We put up one of those flying lanterns. Are we now marked for death? About 500 more were sent up, on our street alone. I am willing to point fingers in return for a lighter sentence. However, many tourists were doing the same thing as well, with police watching.

Two and a half hours to drive 3 kilometers, in Chiang Mai (kept getting blocked, before I realized I could just go around the canal and end up in the south east corner. A car pulled out just near Loi Kroh, and we had a great parking spot. Trouble was, lanterns were too wet to go up. A few did.

We soon tired of the lanterns and fireworks, and found a cozy bar to drink some beer. My wife doesn't drink, so she got me home safely. The bar turned out to be good fun....more so than trying to heat up wet lanterns.

My wife wanted to do it again, tonight. I said no. Thank goodness for the rain.

Edited November 7, 201411 yr by slipperylobster

You've got some patience, I'll give you that. I would've turned back when the 'trouble' started at the first km.

***** yep know what you mean

We took our krathong to the restaurant before floating him

I'll get my coat

After a fair amount of rain during the day, things cleared up at night and we were able stroll down to the pond to launch our Krathongs under a full moon, only lightly veiled by wispy clouds. From there we walked out to the front field where we watched our lantern rise dutifully to the heavens. It was quiet, peaceful and romantic.

Good story.

I strategically planned my Loi Krathong to avoid exactly what Costas described. It worked.

It is all about choosing unpopular bodies of water.

Motto of this tale: Strategically plan your Loi Krathong before anybody else plans for you.

Bloody anti-climax, Costa. I thiught you were going to tell us that you threw your wife into the lake. And then bought lottery tickets on the number of times she yelled help before she went under.

Good on you OP for a nice report. Now we can all feel so smug and superior.

Bloody anti-climax, Costa. I thiught you were going to tell us that you threw your wife into the lake. And then bought lottery tickets on the number of times she yelled help before she went under.

Or at least a love scene Costas.

these are beautiful hoildays, but...

i find myself increasingly unable to deal with the crowds. just too many people over here with loud voices, unable to relax and talking non-stop.

the thais appear to be having a good time. but most foreigners i see at public holiday venues just want to get out, or experience it and leave.

I'm a big fan of Loy Krathong and the most amazing venue yet for me was at the ruins of Sukhothai. Big crowds for sure but genuinely friendly people in a beautiful place. My first ever was in Chang Mai some years ago. The parade through town was the longest I'd ever seen. Just when you thought it was over it turned out to be just a big gap and here came another 20 minute section. Repeatedly.

I went to a greek wedding once, many years ago, similar story - traffic jams in the village, nowhere to park, florists gouging me, and then they started throwing crockery around !!!!! Give me Loy Kra Thong anyday !!!

We put our flower in the Canal with many others. 2 Metres further down a group of guys in a dingy was catching them and destroying them looking for the 5 Baht coin people put inside.In clear full view of everyone.No-one seemed to care,I warned them to leave ours alone.....Once again I'm doing and thinking different to those around me.

Bang Saen Beach Banned the lanterns and kept announcing it over the loud speakers. What a joke of a night.

They could have opened the night market one day early but that would have made to much sense. We went to the roof and watched the lanterns fly from miles away. very awesome sight.

Unfortunately If you are going to have a relationship with a Thai lady then this is all part of " The Loving Relationship " Although it sounds like you are " paying for everything " in your relationship? if so " why " ? I would of not gone in a car to drive 3 KM down the road!! why not walk? take a torch,i appreciate that some of the roads are not good but really driving 3 KM especially with the amount of cars and people about when you could of walked! ( and so much more " romantic " ... )

this year was much more enjoyable than last year. I don't care how much your gf huffs and puffs and throws a tantrum, do not under any circumstance goto Asiatique for loh krathong like I did last year. she got all excited about asiatique and no doubt she heard about it from co workers as they cackled like hens with delight.

the crowds started at the BTS and a man with a megaphone said the line for the boat to asiatique was so long that you wouldn't get there until tomorrow morning. the traffic was so bad getting a taxi was useless and the line for motorbikes stretched for miles. so off we walked through millions of people pushing and shoving our way on the sidewalk...absolutely pouring sweat and dodging motorbikes on the sidewalk, and after 2 hours of walking to get there we made it.

once we got there she insisted on some overpriced krathong and after about 7 thousand photos with the iphone we were finally ready to get this thing in the water.

That..my friend...is called being happily married...

CM was madness, what is normally a 15 minute drive from my daughter's school to our home took me over three hours. By then she wanted nothing to do with krathongs....

once we again pushed our way through the thai mobs, we finally got to someone with a long pole to put the krathong down into the river. it was quickly whisked away under the pier by the current, along with every single other persons.

this was seriously the most underwhelming experience I probably ever had.

my biggest question was who is going to clean up this mess? nothing like praying to the river gods by putting garbage in the rivers and lakes and hoping the government cleans it up. thai holidays suck.

at least this year was BETTER.

Unfortunately If you are going to have a relationship with a Thai lady then this is all part of " The Loving Relationship " Although it sounds like you are " paying for everything " in your relationship? if so " why " ? I would of not gone in a car to drive 3 KM down the road!! why not walk? take a torch,i appreciate that some of the roads are not good but really driving 3 KM especially with the amount of cars and people about when you could of walked! ( and so much more " romantic " ... )

Canarysun. Just try walking 3 Ks with the same physical appearance as Costas, he knows what I mean.

Call me a boring old fart with a considerate wife. She gave me the option and after declining trotted off with a krathong and the 2 kids for a couple of hours at the local festivities. For me a nice break staying in the A/C catching up on an episode of Sherlock with some cheese and crackers and a red wine (albiet, a cheap Aussie red). A very pleasant evening.

Most Thai festivals the same. I suggest you either accept that, enjoy it or don't attend. Costas was it really that bad and the 100Baht Kathrong that expensive?

How much did your dinner cost? Did you leave a coin as a tip for the waitress?

Regards from PEAP( the "Non Winger".)

I had a very nice evening on Thursday night, A walk round the park next to the river and a big pond, with Mrs Possum, plenty of people, no traffic jams, nice peaceful atmosphere, eating popcorn and ice cream, talking to vendors and policemen, everybody happy and enjoying themselves.

Yes, it was a beautiful evening. Try going a bit earlier next year Costas.

We put up one of those flying lanterns. Are we now marked for death? About 500 more were sent up, on our street alone. I am willing to point fingers in return for a lighter sentence. However, many tourists were doing the same thing as well, with police watching.

Two and a half hours to drive 3 kilometers, in Chiang Mai (kept getting blocked, before I realized I could just go around the canal and end up in the south east corner. A car pulled out just near Loi Kroh, and we had a great parking spot. Trouble was, lanterns were too wet to go up. A few did.

We soon tired of the lanterns and fireworks, and found a cozy bar to drink some beer. My wife doesn't drink, so she got me home safely. The bar turned out to be good fun....more so than trying to heat up wet lanterns.

My wife wanted to do it again, tonight. I said no. Thank goodness for the rain.

I left my car at the condo in the city and used a song tiaw.

Who says piracy is dead? Nothing less than 100baht, to Thae Pae gate and trying to get out of Thae Pae Rd, some insisted (and didn't get) 200baht from Thae Pae gate to Kad Suan Keow. Yes, the traffic was bad on the way out, but only for a few minutes.

I hope the tuk-tuk driver who insisted on 220baht to KSK is still waiting for a sucker.

However, the procession and the work they put in was worth the hassle, plus watching the fire lanterns. A great annual event.

We took our krathong to the restaurant before floating him

I'll get my coat

Brilliant

a Global Moderator with a sense of humour what ever next??