1. Do no put your helmet upside down on the seat. Otherwise, you'll get a drenched head.
2. Only use the ponchos from 7-11 in cases of emergency. They're only 30 baht for a reason. Pink ponchos (with zippers) have now been purchased.
3. Make sure your helmet has a visor or face being pelted by torrential rains.
Jenna has been the designated driver, and I just hang on. She prefers to scoot around, and I prefer to kick back and enjoy the scenery- this is why we work so well together. Here's a snap of her when we were unknowingly getting caught up in the Vegetarian Festival procession (more on this to come as well):
This week has been one of early mornings. The Vegetarian Festival just ended last night. It is considered more of a Chinese Buddhist holiday, and is a big deal in Phuket. Vegetarian food isn't the norm here, but for ten days, many people will stick to a no-meat diet. Here is a link with more background on the meaning of the festival from the ever-so-trusty wiki site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Emperor_Gods_Festival
We were on holiday last year at this same time, but missed a large part of the festival- the street processions (too many late nights were not condusive to getting up early).
These walks are no ordinary parade. Men (and some women) can be seen walking in a trance with piercings through their faces. What makes it even more interesting is the objects in their face. Let me see....this year we saw remote control helicopters, a faucet, an assault rifle, and swords. These are just a few of the adornments featured. I wasn't sure what to expect, and found my heart skipping beats while waiting to see this. There were firecrackers going off everywhere, offerings placed neatly in front of shops and temples, and music mixed in with the 'warriors.' I couldn't help but notice how the kids were not fazed by any of their surroundings. A man wielding an ax while tranced out...no big deal. This may seem strange to a foreigner, but was a special time for many Thais. I thoroughly enjoyed getting a glimpse into a truly unique event.
After the first thirty minutes or so, I settled a bit, and was able to snap some photos. I must say, last weekend was the best photo weekend I've ever had. Me and Jenna are in the middle of choosing some of the best for the hello photography blog. Check it out!
Here is a sample from some of the sights during the festival. Beware...I did include one piercing photo. ouch.
Many more stories to come. Coffee is now calling, so they'll have to wait.
No comments:
Post a Comment