Celebrations and festivals in Bangkok Thailand. From Buddhist religious festivals to global celebrations.
These are edited excerpts from our book A Potato in a Rice Field (Chapter 13): Today would be my first visit to the “Big Temple” of Broken Road, which is the central temple to the family’s strict Buddhist routine, and it would be the setting of many more ceremonies to come. But we do arrive …
Since my very first visit to the big temple, there has always been this rickety, wooden float abandoned beneath a shelter next to the front temple hall. And it has always been a bit of an eye-sore, to be honest, where the craftsmanship looks to be no better than rubbish. Or at least this is …
This time last year I wrote a similar post on the Bangkok Vegetarian Festival… in not so great words. To sum up I figured that “if Scrooge and the Grinch collaborated on a festival it would be the Bangkok Vegetarian Festival. Scrooge with the vegetarian theme and The Grinch backing it with 10 long long days”. …
Today marks the first day of Songkran festivities and with evening flights to Myanmar for the Thingyan festival, we have been forced to celebrate it quick and simple from the dry grounds of our Bangkok condo. While the nationwide water festival takes place around us this may sound somewhat bland and boring but it is also the …
Despite not being a Christian country, Christmas is well celebrated in Thailand. Of course Christmas here is all about commercialism and as always in Bangkok they do it well. Central to Christmas celebrations is Central World Mall where the front forecourt is strewn with company branded ornaments and Bangkok’s largest Christmas tree. The Central World …
Recent years have been less celebratory when it comes to Christmas Bangkok, last year (2016) due to the passing of King Bhumibol, and the years before that with the restrictions on fun by Thailand’s military government. The commercial districts will otherwise celebrate the festive season for three or four months, and I remember the flagship trees …
Chao Phraya River is the water of choice for visitors celebrating Loy Krathong in Bangkok. For me, I avoid it. The popular riverside areas are a pain to reach with heavy traffic, pushy crowds and in many cases you won’t even reach the river to float your own Krathong. Last visit we had someone do it …
I don’t think you will find larger crowds for Halloween in Bangkok. Sincerely impressive. On arrival we honestly didn’t expect much to be going on – after all Halloween is a midweek event with little local relevance. It is an event generally celebrated on the previous weekend when the city is happier to get boozed …
If Scrooge and the Grinch were to collaborate on a festival the ‘Kin Jay’ Chinese Vegetarian Festival would be it. Scrooge endorsing a vegetarian theme and the Grinch deciding it should last 10 days. Complete lunacy. Whoever thought up this meat free celebration must have been in a right sour ol’ mood. While I don’t …
If dressed well, with a fresh box of donuts then yes – Songkran is annoying. Do you expect me to eat water soaked donuts…? Bastards. For those new to Songkran in Thailand it is the celebrations for the Thai New Year where every street, in every town, in every region of Thailand goes a little …