Roger and Stephen in Singapore: November 2013

Thursday, 28 November 2013

Loi Krathong festival

Our stay in Koh Samui coincided with the Loi Krathong festival and we were told that one of the more local spots to watch the festivities was in Nathon which was a short taxi ride from the hotel.
Loi Krathong is a festival that takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar and the festival originates from an ancient ritual paying respect to the water spirits. Loi means 'to float' and Krathong meaning is 'decorative float' so Loi Krathong is sometimes translated as 'floating crown' or 'floating decoration'. On the night of the full moon, Thai people will launch their Krathong on a river, or lake while making a wish as they do so.
The event was very popular and we ate local street food from the hawker vendors while watching the many floating sky lanterns being launched into the sky and Krathongs being floated in the water. Other entertainment included a competition for the best decorated Krathongs as well as beauty contest which are known as "Nopphamat Queen Contests"

Krathong competition

This Krathong was made out of playing cards

Close up of the playing cards

Krathong competition

Krathongs for the public to buy

A Krathong stall

Releasing the Krathongs into the river

The sky lantern being released

Sky lantern afloat

Nopphamat Queen Contestants

Sunday, 24 November 2013

Koh Samui long weekend

Koh Samui is an island off the east coast of Thailand and is a short 2 hour flight from Singapore which makes it an ideal spot for a weekend getaway.
Although November is the rainy season we were lucky to have only a few short rain showers each day similar to the current weather in Singapore.
We stayed at the InterContiental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort which is located away from the main tourist area called Chaweng which is on the east side of the island. The InterContiental is on the west side of the island and is built on a mountain side overlooking 5 islands rising out of the sea.
The InterContiental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort makes it in to the book '1000 Places to See Before You Die ' and it certainly had amazing views over the Gulf of Thailand which made it a very relaxing weekend.