Loy Krathong at Nong Bua Lakes (Doi Saket)

[2wheels]

Friday 30th October

I rode to the site just to check the layout.

This chap was selling excellent coffee from his Royal Enfield 500.
His motto is "Make Coffee not War".
He is quite a celebrity around the Chiang Mai area.

OK, let's see what tomorrow (Saturday) brings.

 

[2wheels]

Saturday 31st October

I waited until around 9pm to ride to the lakes, by which time the roads to the lake were crammed with cars.
So it is much wiser to be on a small bike weaving through the traffic to the lakes.

Bike parked and this is the greeting site. (I only used my mobile 'phone camera this year)

The (what has become normal) temperature check for all who attended.
The place was crammed this year and a Thai friend told me that most were Thai Yai folk.

The lantern wall.

Floating candles.

OK, "Wewease Woger". I mean, "Release the lanterns".

One novelty this year was to try sending the lantern up through the hoop.
Success = 100 baht.

There were many yummy food stalls beside the lake.

And some colourful characters.

Then is was 'kaboom' time. Loy Kaboom?

And, after about an hour, I moved away from the lakes taking in the view against the full moon.

Next stop was at the excellent 'Pizza Plus' on the 1014 from/into Doi Saket where the charismatic and friendly Khun Sine and Eve
always provide good service and delicious food.

So tonight (Sunday) I will return to the lakes and try to see some live performances and krathong (floats).

 

[Brian]

Great pics of the lanterns

 

[2wheels]

Sunday 1st November

This is the night to visit.
Not so much traffic and not so many people but everything is happening.

25 baht for a krathong.

This little chap had a degradable krathong.

And he was a part-time coffee grinder beside that Royal Enfield coffee bike shown last night.

There were live performances throughout the night, mostly traditional.

And I couldn't resist another visit to the food stalls.

And if you prefer your snack more, shall we say, natural well here it is.

Nor a timely purchase from a shirt guy.
First time we've seen these at a Loy Krathong (and hopefully the last).

This chap was interesting.
That's his Honda TL125 in the background.
He has just returned from a ride to Luang Prabang (Laos) and back on it.
Apparently the tank holds only 4 litres, so there were frequent stops for fuel.
He loves the bike and says it is very reliable.
Yes, that's a delightful Mini 'taxi' in the background.

Members of the Royal Family visited these lakes a few decades ago and this a memorial to that occasion.

I found a walkway from where the krathong were launched.

And that was my Loy Krathong for 2020.

Oh, apart from nearly riding into an unlit mini parade on one of the back-roads.
A couple of pony riders resplendent in traditional costume. (Site noted for next year).

 

[2wheels]

And that little blue Mini?
Here it is.

 

[2wheels]

And where are the lakes?

 

[The Bigfella]

Excellent. Thanks mate. We did a ride down to Thapae Gate (so far) the night before last. Looked great. Yesterday was spent cooking (and eating) smoked ribs, which sort of cramped our ability to get out and about - and I haven't seen a single lantern in the sky this year from our place. I saw fireworks down south somewhere... and others over at the river, with large crackers going off all night for the last two nights. I've got a couple of minutes of video I will upload later.

As a matter of interest - how on earth did that guy get across the border (twice)?

 

[2wheels]

Here's a couple of serious fire-works which were quietly available 'somewhere'.

 

[The Bigfella]

Those of us in town had to be content with the passing parades. I got a smile from the female officer here... something to do with saluting with my left hand because my right hand was busy....

 

[2wheels]

Nong Bua lakes co-ordinates.