Loy Krathong

While in Phuket it was full moon, the chance in Thailand to celebrate on the island of Kho Phangan with pretty much the biggest rave imaginable - but we were two boats a train ride and far too much money and hassle away from there.. Fortunately this full moon was the national celebration of Loy Krathong.. Loy being water and Krathong being the banana tree 'boat' you either buy or in our case make and cast off into the water. It's a celebration of light and water, with tourists and locals alike celebrating with sky lanterns, fireworks, krathongs and more or less the usual party atmosphere you could expect worldwide.. It was like star gazing - seeing so many lanterns going up was... Well i couldn't help but thinking of Tie Fighters from Star Wars..

We moved up to Chiang Mai the next day - and it was carrying on there still, with even more Tie Fighters!!! With some beautiful silky statuettes illuminating the night time streets and more fireworks it made this usually docile city explode with more than one bang.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN KRATHONG
- Get a floating circular base
- Using same size strips fold as if making a paper aeroplane, staple and trim into diamond like triangles; attach flat to base evenly
- Repeat but instead of trimming fold bottom edges in to force pointed end up.. Attach to base between last pieces
- Continue process until adequately elaborate
- Decorate with candles, josticks and flowers
- Sell to tourists for roughly £1.50-10 or
- Put money, hair and nail clipping aboard, light, pray and float away!!!!!!