Loi Krathong and Yi Peng Festivals, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Thousands of lanterns drift like stars in magical motion

I've enjoyed two fabulous evenings of Loi Krathong (floating crown/ decoration) and Yi Peng (full moon) celebrations which included a spectacular parade of floats tonight (so I'm not missing out on carnival from back home after all!). I know that the following photos aren't the best, but I am only 5'2"/1.57m tall and there were crowds of people... I resorted to the balcony of a coffee house thereby trading proximity for the higher viewpoint. 

Thousands of fireworks and lanterns have been set off into the night sky and, although the lanterns are a mesmerising, magical sight, I couldn't bring myself to set such a potential danger free.  Coming from a rural community, I know how animals, crops, people and property can suffer from these fiery items.

Dodging firecrackers, ducking from low trajectory fireworks and avoiding giant lanterns, lit and ready for release, punctuated my walk to the back street where I'd parked my bike. The "Elfin Safety" bods would never allow this in the nanny state of Europe - and so much fun would be missed!! 

I did buy a Krathong (biodegradable of course) to set afloat on the river Ping and, following tradition, placed money within it so that the river spirits would take away my troublesome cares.  After initially getting caught in an eddy that swirled it back toward the bank, my flower offering headed improbably upstream! I wondered what message the river spirits were trying to impart? Luckily, a helping hand from a passerby directed it back out toward the fast moving current and I sighed with relief as it finally bobbed downstream.

Oversized figures representing people from the member countries of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) attract old and young to take selfies.

Brightly lit static displays on the moat around the old city add to the festive mood.