The sky is ablaze with small, burning, hot-air balloon-like objects. They drift higher and higher into the night sky under the full moon. The candles, providing the hot air to lift them, flicker in the darkness over the ocean. They are called 'Khom Loy's'. It's a mesmerizing scene, impossible to look away. Below the khom loy's, the ocean tide is carrying hundreds of small, floating objects. They are lit with small candles and reflect off the water as they are carried out to sea. As the night hours deepen, the lanterns in the sky and floating kratongs in the water increase in numbers. Fireworks that sound like small bombs are exploding all along the beach. It's one of the most important and beautiful of all Thailand festivals. This holiday is an ancient tradition in this and several other Asian countries. It's a magical night, here in The Kingdom of Thailand.

A few days ago Somnang took me to the Cambodia/Thailand border on his moto, where I crossed the border into Thailand . I spent a couple of months here on my last trip and have missed all the things Thailand has to offer. The two countries, separated only by invisible, man-made borders, are so very different. 

Staying in the same hotel on the beach as last time, I have been soaking up the sun and enjoying all the fresh fruit. I made a few ex-pat friends here the last time and have been spending some time with them as well. They are from all parts of the world and have retired here, or bought businesses here. A few, like myself, are here for as long as it takes to escape the winter in their home countries. 

As I walk around the clean city, I am reminded that the sidewalks can be perilous. You must watch each step you take, don't get caught up in looking at the scenery along the way. The sidewalk may all of a sudden rise several inches or a foot, with a step up, without warning. There are holes just big enough to slip a foot in, or big enough for a car to fall in . Boards with nails protruding from them, or broken bricks, might be scattered all over the walkway. More often than not, there are no markers to warn pedestrians of the danger on the sidewalk. At night it could really be dangerous. Also, cars or motos might park on the sidewalk, causing the pedestrian to walk into the busy street. And, of course, as in all of SE Asia, the walks are often an extension of the local shop. Goods for sale flow out the front door to the sidewalk area. It's good be back in Thailand!

Today, there is a festival. It's probably the most beautiful of all the Thai celebrations. It's a national holiday and there are bouquets made of beautiful flowers and banana leaves.

It's called the Loy Kratong (festival of light) and is held on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month. The moon is bright and the tide is at it's highest. "Loy" means "to float" and "Kratong" refers to the lotus shaped containers that float on the water .

I walk down the street and on the beach. There are people everywhere making the kratongs. The krathongs are small basket floats that are decorated with flowers. The 'boat' part is made from dried bread, or from the trunk of a banana tree. The bread will dissolve in a few days and become food for the fish. I watch some locals cutting the banana tree trunks into small sections to be used to make the boats. The boat is wrapped in banana leaves, which will help the krathong to float away when placed in the water. The basket contains a candle and 3 incense sticks. Some are simple but pretty, others are elaborate and detailed.

The local people light the candles, place some coins inside, and set their krathongs free in the rivers, canals, or ocean. They believe the krathongs will bring them good luck in asking for forgiveness from the Goddess of Waters, for the abuse she has suffered over the past year. When the krathong is released, people make a wish . They believe if the candle remains burning until the krathong is out of sight, their wish will come true.

As night comes to the Gulf of Thailand, locals and tourists flood the beaches for the celebration. I didn't know there would be a holiday on this day. I saw all the preparation and asked at the hostel what was going on.

Many buy one of the paper lanterns, khom loy, and light the candle underneath it. They hold it until the candle generates enough hot air to lift the lantern from their hands. Then, they release it over the water, in this case the Gulf of Thailand. 

The heat causes the lantern to rise in the night sky and flies far away over the ocean, as the person releasing it watches. A far flying lantern means good things to come. Soon the sky, under the full moon, is full of these flying, burning objects.