12 November 2008, 8:08 am
On a clear moonlit Wedneday night, Buriram residents celebrated the annual harvest festival, also known as the "Loy Krathong." Giant candlelit laterns surged loftily into the skies as many stood gazing skyward to watch their magnificent ascension towards the heavens.
At eight o'clock the fireworks commenced in earnest. Bright colors filled the night sky. Everywhere we looked children were launching their krathongs upon the waterways, breathing short prayers for prosperity or health or even good grades for the coming year while for the teens and older adolescents and young adults, one witnessed their whispered hopes for the right future mate. Among the crowd of onlookers this evening were an Israeli-American family of four, currently residing in California, USA who have come a long way to enjoy their holidays in Thailand: Chuck, Yael and their two lovely, bright eyed daughters Danielle, aged 8 and Lia, aged 4 who just arrived in Buriram on the afternoon train.
Other notable out of town visitors included Dave Huxley and Natalie Lloyd from Birmingham England, who were also present parkside this evening to witness this annual spectacle. Dave and Natalie, who both are recent college graduates on a whirlwind, around the world adventure, had themselves only just arrived five days before here in Buriram to help out at the local orphanage, Tree of Life Christian Children's Center. On the second day of their visit to Buriram they accompanied me to the local university and observed a class of giggling freshmen girls.
These two are hooked on Buri Ram! Both seemed delighted that the University has hired them both to become part of the staff. This past Monday they were approved by the English Department at Buriram Rajabhat University as contract teachers for the current academic term which began only this week. Prior to their arrival in Buriram they had spent their last two months in a Borneo jungle area where they were assisting the efforts at an Orangutan Rescue Center to rehabilitate orphaned baby orangutans. Now they plan to settle in in Buriram for the coming year or two.
All six of these recent, delightful visitors were in agreement that Loy Krathong Buriram style was something to behold. And they have learned too, that Buriram is one of Thailand's nicest places to visit and who knows, they may even choose to settle down here permanently.
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