Thursday, November 6, 2014

Remember

Hi,

It was a drippy day in Chiang Rai.  It rained off and on all day.  This evening there were sprinkles for Loi Krathong, but it didn't stop a thing.

Our 'Zany Day' song came from across the pond.  A few of you knew it, and some may still get it.  Here's more:
"When you were a child you were treated kind, but you were never brought up right.  You were always spoiled with a thousand toys, but still you cried all night.  Your mother who neglected you owes a million dollars tax.  And your father's still perfecting ways of making sealing wax.  You better stop, look around, here it comes.... Here comes  your __ __ __."  Clue:  The group that recorded this song is still active over 50 years later.  They just keep on rolling along.  It's a wonder they haven't broken down (555).

We had a very productive day today.  In town we did everything on our list, and it was a long list.  Back at the hacienda we had a pipe repaired by our electrical guy, Nueng.  We didn't know he had other skills.  One can never have too many 'handyman' resources.

The big adventure was the Loi Krathong celebration at Le Meridien Hotel.  Cat, Blue, Lisa and I had dinner with Stephan, Claire and Michele at La Favola Restaurant which is on the hotel grounds by the river.   We had fun talking and looking out at the fireworks from across the river.  Several city agencies set up an event directly across from Le Meridien and they had lighting effects, fireworks, and music.  After dinner we stood on a little dock by the river and watched all the Krathongs that had been set afloat upstream.  I had never seen this and it was fascinating to see the variations.  Some still had burning candles, others had turned over, while others were slowly sinking.  We watched hotel guests place Krathongs in the river and light lanterns that rose into the sky with sparklers dangling from them.  Local residents were told that it would be safe to set them off after 9:30pm, since flights from the airport had been changed to earlier times.  By the time we left the hotel the sky was filling with the orange glow of the lanterns. 

This photo by Blue shows a lantern just after lift-off, with sparklers adding a touch of excitement.


Here at home, there is the constant sound of explosions from the carnival across the river.  There are display fireworks, and lots of random firecrackers mixed with what sounds like bombs.  Add to that, the ever-present thumping bass and you have an idea of the ambient noise of the evening.  It's amazing to think that all over the city, there are streams of lanterns rising and fuses being lit.

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

               Peace,
                         Danny

"Can you remember who you were
before the world told you who
you should be?
~Unknown

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