But Tomorrow I Start The Diet!

Loy Krathong

For nearly 800 Years Thai People celebrated the feast 'Loy Krathong' - Lights Festival - on Full Moon of the twelfth month of the lunar calendar, so in November, in honor of the goddess of water Mae Khong Kha. This year the festival falls on the 13th November.

During the celebration people suspend small boats made from banana sheets in the water. When they drift away, as they believe, they take along all the sins, sorrow, sickness and bad luck of the last year. At the same time they commit their good wishes for the new year to the goddess.

And of course, there is also a tradionell 'Loy Krathong' folk song ... playing morning until night on the radio and with everyone humming it whilst making their krathongs.

The Lyrics:

In Thai, using Roman characters:

Wan Pen Duan Sip Song
Nam Koh Nong Tem Taling
Rao Tanglai Chai Ying
Sanuk Ganjing Wan Loy Krathong
Loy Loy Krathong
Loy Loy Kratong,
Loy Krathong Gan Laew
Koh Chern Nong Kaew
Awk Ma Ram Wong
Ram Wong Wan Loy Krathong
Ram Wong Wan Loy Krathong
Boon Ja Song Hai Rao Suk Jai
Boon Ja Song Hai Rao Suk Jai

Translated into English:

The full moon of the twelfth month,
As water fills the banks,
We, all men and women,
Have really good fun on Loy Krathong day,
Float, float the krathongs,
Float, float the krathongs,
And after we have floated our krathongs,
I invite you my dear,
To come out and dance,
Ramwong [traditional dance] on Loy Krathong Day,
Ramwong on Loy Krathong Day,
Good merit brings us happiness,
Good merit brings us happiness,

Unfortunately this years Loy Krathong was impaired by heavy rainfalls.

Tempel Closed In Bangkok

During the Cremation Ceremony for the older sister of Thailands King Bumiphol, her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, which had died of cancer the beginning of the year, remains the Royal Palace and the main Temples in Bangkok closed from 14.November 2008 until 19.November 2008.

Danger In The Sea

Until a few years ago, they were still unknown in Thailand. Now a dangerous type of jellyfish has been discovered off the coast of Krabi Province and the island of Koh Phi Phi. The nettle animals can poison their victims with paralysis.

The coastal authorities have warned tourists accordingly on the island of Koh Phi Phi and in the Krabi Province, reported the 'Bangkok Post' on Wednesday.
Some species can have up to 60, sometimes several meters long, tentacles. The touch of the toxic animals causes severe burns and paralysis.

In fear of this animals australian swimmers use nettle safely swimsuits while bathe in the sea and whole beaches are fenced.

Reassuring for "Thung Makham" and the whole Pacific-Coast is, up to now the animals was sighted only in the Indian-Ocean.

Source: dpa/spiegel online

On The Wrong Way

Best Kuai Tiao in Town

For Fast-Food-Lovers Thailand is a Paradise. You'll get a snack at almost every street corner. At nearly any time.
A very clean and delicious one is the soups stand of Miss Ganjahna in Paknam ( at the roadcross near 7/Eleven). She offers one of the best Kuai Tiao's (Noodle Soups) I've ever had. And at a fair price.
Bon Appetit.