Loy Krathong local style

Thailand's 'festival of lights'-  Loy Krathong,- is celebrated on November's full moon.

Living in an all Thai-but-me area rather than an apartment building full of other foreigners gives an opportunity to witness how my neighbours celebrate and prepare for this festival.

My neighbours spent several days preparing their Loy Kratong 'floats' out of discarded corn cob husks.

The husks were stripped, cut into ribbons and laid in the sun to dry for a day. These ribbons form the base for the Krathong 'float' which is intricately created by a mysterious folding and stapling process.

Further colourful adornments are made before candles are placed and the 'float' is lit and set adrift on a Thai waterway.

Additional to these 'floats', beautiful paper lanterns are released into the night sky. Spectacular displays are orchestrated throughout Thailand, however, I witnessed my neighbour's efforts, beginning with the entire extended family being crammed onto the back of a ute to rush to the local market to buy a lantern. Standing nearly as tall as an adult these lanterns are impressive and watching them slowly drift skywards is a calming and beautiful sight.

Poised to take photos of the release and flight, I was to be disappointed as it rose, slightly, and then swan-dived onto my other neighbour's roof. That was a little disappointing but my neighbours called to me:

"Mai pen rai, mai pen rai,"

"Never mind, never mind," and it's true, they didn't seem to mind at all.