In 2017 late last year, I decided to tick one item off my bucket list and relish my Rapunzel dreams by attending a lights festival. I made my dreams come true in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai. This was my personal experience.
Loi Krathong is the festival of floating river lights – an act of setting off river Krathongs signifies letting go of past misgivings and bad luck. And Yi Peng is the festival of floating sky lanterns – an act of wishing and blessings. They are known to bring good fortune and blessings and both coincides around the same dates in the Thai Lana Calendar. More facts about the lights festival of Northern Thailand here.
In continuation of my previous adventure, I flew in from Chiang Rai and travelled to Chiang Mai by bus, shaving off a whopping SGD$300 of my trip during this Thai festive season. $300 is a lot to a backpacker.
Note: this is not the paid mass lantern release event that cost USD$80-USD$130.
I had the opportunity to immerse myself fully in the 3 days 3 nights local festivities while having the time of my life. I prefer attending the authentic festivals itself to experience the atmosphere, dance performances, festive bazaars, parades and have a taste of it first hand like a local. I’ve even had time to visit Wat Phra Singh during this Chiang Mai trip and maybe ate some delicious bugs (fried crickets) paired with a couple of beers on some nights.
Travel Tip: During festive seasons like these, it is advisable to pre-book your accommodations. I threw myself in Northern Thailand with no plans and missed my bus. Took the next bus the next day and had to walk for 3 hours just to find one available bed in a hostel in Chiang Mai. Please learn from my mistakes.
The whole city of Chiang Mai light up with lights, lanterns and fireworks at night. Festive music, dance performances and parades everywhere. These are the photos that I’ve gathered with my iphone from these 3 days and 3 nights. I swear my videos are 100 times more impressive. haha
Lighting up the Krathong
Walk around the busy bazaar, you can find delicious street food and 10-20 Baht Krathongs. That’s all you need, really.
Lighting up the Khom Loi
You can also find 30-50 Baht paper lanterns known as Khom Loi all around Chiang Mai Old City.
I swear the next time, I’m going to buy and bring a good DSLR camera along for such events.
The story of me chasing my dreams. Dreams do come true!
~The End~
It isn’t the pen – it’s the writer.
It isn’t the road – it’s the runner that counts.
-Anonymous
Hilary Travels 