Loy Krathong (floating lantern) is one of the most celebrated annual festivals in Thailand, in the 12th lunar month when the moon is full. It originated in Sukhothai when Nang Noppamas, the favourite concubine of King Phra Ruang, built a lotus-shaped lantern which he then floated in the river.

It is now celebrated all over the country. People would float lanterns of all types of materials in the river to ask for forgiveness and good luck from the gods. There would also be parades, food and handicraft stalls, khon (mask) and traditional dance concerts and contests for best loy krathong as well as beauty contests named after Nang Noppamas.

Although I am a seasoned traveler to Thailand, I had never attended loy krathong before. I was fortunate to go to Thailand this month to photograph the festival in its last two days (actually it is held over five days). I can only say that it was one of the most colorful festivals I have ever been to.

I had originally planned to stay only in Bangkok for the loy krathong. However, due to extended mourning for the Supreme Patriarch of the Buddhists, it was announced that the loy krathong celebrations in Bangkok would be muted. I then decided to go to Sukhothai instead. By the time I made my decision to go to Sukhothai, there was no more available accommodation. I therefore had to be based in Pitsanulok(the locals call it by its short form, Pilok).

I first had to fly from Bangkok by Nok Air (a journey of around one hour, as opposed to seven hours by train or bus) to Pilok. It is another one hour bus ride to Sukhothai, and then a 20 minute ride by sǎwngthǎew to the main parking area outskirt of the Old City and then another 10-minute ride to the Old City itself where the main festivities are conducted.

On my first day, Saturday (which was the second to the last day of loy krathong), I reached the old city by 6.30 pm.

I was greeted by sights and sounds that delighted all my senses. I had a bit of difficulty orienting myself as there were very few signs in English and most of the local people could not understand or speak English. I decided to go with the flow and just let my senses bring me to wherever they were attracted to. That night I watched part of a khon performance and at another stage a group of folk dancers. There were of course people buying, praying and sending off their loy krathongs in the river within the old city. The places with the most visitors, however, were the food stalls where a stick of grilled pork or fish sausage would cost around 10 baht. Since I way staying in Pilok, I was quite conscious of my time and had to leave the old city by 9.30 pm. Fortunately, the bus terminal at Sukhothai is open 24/7 and there is a bus leaving every hour for Bangkok and passing by Pilok. I caught the 10.30 bus at the Sukhothai bus terminal. At Pilok bus terminal I had a 10-minute taxi ride, reaching my hotel, called P1 House, just before midnight. But by the time I finished downloading all my photos to my laptop, it was 2 a.m.