Loy Kratong In Koh Samui

[poorfarang]

Whats Loy Kratong like here in Samui? Where are the festivites?

Also, Im thinking about making my own Kratong. Is there a place where you can buy the supplies or do I have to go buy everything seperatly (banana leaf/etc)

Where can I buy those bags that float in the air with the candle? What are they even called?

Thanks

[Beachedwhale]

Whats Loy Kratong like here in Samui? Where are the festivites?

Also, Im thinking about making my own Kratong. Is there a place where you can buy the supplies or do I have to go buy everything seperatly (banana leaf/etc)

Where can I buy those bags that float in the air with the candle? What are they even called?

Thanks

The festivities in the Northern area of Samui are usually at Big Buddha but I believe this yer that the official festivities have moved to the recently completed Plai Leam Temple where you will have to put your Kratong into the fish pond as opposed to the sea. I believe that a lot of people will still go to Big Buddha as it is a special place and my understanding is that Loy Kratong has two main purposes, 1 to wish for luck and happiness in the future and one to say sorry to the sea for putting all the rubbish etc into it over the last year (hard to do that when putting the Kratong into the fish pond).

Closer to the time you will be able to buy all of the materials in the local markets and you will see roadside stalls popping up offering the materials and completed ones as well. The chinese lantern type things can generally be purchased in the Thai markets and the flower shop 20m on the left down the Ghost Road (from the Bangrak direction)

[southbot]

Hi.

My missus and me here on Samui do Loy Kratong every year.

Samui is fun for Loy Kratong. Nathon has a big showout. As mentioned, in the north, especially big buddha temple, it is BIG....

We just go to a small quiet beach in Lamai and let 'em loose there these days.

We got sick of all the rubbish on the beach from Loy Kratong, so now we do this for a few years since.

ENVIRONMENTALY FRIENDLY KRATONG:

So for years now we have made our kratong out of a loaf of bread.

When the kratong sinks, the fish eat the leftovers...

We do this.

1. get big fat loaf of round bread from any handy bakers on the island

2. carve it a bit to suit

3. carfully wrap the outside in several layers of banana leaf, leaving an open space on what will be the top. Use bamboo skewers or thin sticks to make the leaves stay in place, just stick 'em in and push 'em thru.

4. put some real flowers and leafs on it, just pick 'em and stick 'em into the bread exposed at the top.

5. put a half coconut shell on top, fill it with cooking oil, coil up some thick string, make a wick, this is a degradable candle for the kratong

6. insert a few ten baht coins for good luck, they don't degrad and fish don't eat 'em but some bugger will find them later (or sooner)

7. test your kratong in the bathtub or something first, make sure it don't just sink

8. I remember that we had to open the leaves again later once, put some small rocks in the bottom to give it balast, balance it better in the water

Off you go, do your kratong thing and PLEASE show off to all the Thais there about how your kratong is environmentaly friendly.

Save the world - Make a bread kratong!!!

PS: sorry missed the reference to Plai Leam Temple, of course, the many, many fish in the ponds there would FREAK OUT on a Bread Kratong. Wow! For sure, I didn't think of the tumultuous effect of tossing a bread kratong into a lake full of bread eating fish. I mean, that is what they sell you there to feed the fish - bread crumbs! Holy Mary Poppins!

Edited October 19, 2006 by southbot

[poorfarang]

The fish there would domolish your Kratong the second you drop it in the pond.

What about the bags that float in the air?

[Samuian]

The fish there would domolish your Kratong the second you drop it in the pond.

What about the bags that float in the air?

The 'Bags' once were made from ultrathin mulberry paper!

Welcome to the age of plastic!

Slices of Banana trees have been once in use and are a good alternative as well!

[southbot]

Last year I saw paper hot air bag/balloons for sale in several shops around the island, not too hard to find.

Our bread Kratong's do not simply sink immediately. Unless the fish can jump, which some can, they don't get the bread until the kratong sinks. In a lake with no waves it won't sink for about 30 minutes.

Then the fish have a day out on the left over loaf.

We made one from a half watermelon once too, worked ok until a wave hit it and it sank immediately.

I just hate so much to see all that plastic crap on all the beaches the day after loy kratong. Not to mention that the bits of plastic that fall off ain't exactly good stuff for marine life.

cya