Chiang Mai, Thailand
Friday, November 14, 2008
The last night of the festival we decided to participate in the southern tradition and float a khratong (banana leaf boat/shrine). The northern Thais have somewhat incorporated this southern custom into their festivities. While you certainly still see more lanterns than khratongs in Chiang Mai, the khratongs are not difficult to find, especially near the river. So we splurged the 80 cents or so to purchase one and carried it to the river. This time, in the slower-moving and less robust Ping River, I was able to hand-place the khratong in the water and watch it gently float away. What beautiful traditions Thailand has!
