Today at breakfast I decided to branch out and approach the “Asian” section where it looked like they were preparing soups for people. I had seen one gentleman walk by with a stir fry and I thought there was hope for me! So off I went and with not much tribulation convinced the couple that were operating the Asian buffet to cook me a simple stir fry with shrimp, squid, rice vermicelli, an egg and bean sprouts. Let’s call this Lynda’s customized fried rice but the rice was not fried in this case. The lady looked at me pretty weird when she gave the man soya sauce to put on the stir fry and I said – no – just water please as polite as I could muster, to impress upon them how urgent it is to follow my instructions. I watched the whole time and the male cook got it and I said gluten free and he nodded (which really in Asia does not mean much).
They both were so proud when I was extremely excited with the dish they produced for me! I was so happy that I wrote a note on my phone in That so the lady who was bussing tables could tell them how much this plate of food meant to me and how happy I was. At the same time a HUGE plate of bread arrived at our table – no idea why the bread keeps on multiplying each morning! I actually put brie cheese in between the bread slices and wrap them in my paper napkin (I have to be very careful that Andrew does not steal and shred it – it must be a guy thing as my Dad does the same thing) and have them for a snack later
Now, one of the reasons I picked this hotel in Pattaya was it had a beach and nice pictures of lounge chairs on the beach plus a hammock – which I love to lie in! Imagine my surprise at a hotel that said that “all traveled paths are wheelchair accessible” that there are 54 steps to go down to the beach. Not impressed! So the hotel offered to drive us down the road to the beach access so we could walk on the boardwalk back to in front of the hotel and use the lounge chairs and hammock. It was very nice of them! The man also met us a couple of hours later to bring us back, with as little sand as possible on our bodies! Andrew went for a swim in the ocean while I played in the water, picked up shells and hung out in the hammock and the beach chairs. Unfortunately, despite having 40 and 60 SPF lotion on AND a sun shade above me AND my hat on, there are some areas that got a bit pink such as my feet, knees and chest! Oh well, I was prepared and had bought Aloe lotion to apply if this happened and it came into good use! We had fun at the beach that day and there was still more fun to come!
When we were being driven to the beach I noticed some signs, despite being in Thai, that seemed to announce a party. I knew that either the 27th or 28th was Loy Krathong in Thailand – which is a big festival that happens in evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. As today was the 27th I asked the concierge if today was the night for the festival and was it going to be at where the hotel driver dropped us of? He said yes, but the driver was not available as he was driving people into Pattaya for the bigger party. I told him that I did not want the driver, we would walk now that we know how to get there. He was a bit horrified to hear me say that however what was he to do? Say no? The reason why is there are no sidewalks along the collector road that runs in front of the hotel – so I have to walk on the road with cars and more likely motorbikes whizzing past me. Well, that was okay during the early evening when we walked there but coming home was a total different story! At least we were walking against the traffic and for the 1st time on both of my vacations I actually missed my basket for my walker. It is where I stand my cell phone in flashlight mode at the front of the basket to act as a single headlight. So instead, we used Andrew’s cell phone and I held it in my hand as I pushed my walker along the side of the road. We walked the 8 blocks or so with no issues however the guard at the entrance of the property was sure surprised when we showed up in the dark! However I get ahead of myself – lets talk about the festival!
The Loy Krathong festival pays respects to the water spirits. The word ‘krathong’ refers to a small vessel or basket and ‘loy’ means to float. A krathong is traditionally a small floating container made from a slice of a banana tree trunk, and decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers or food and three incense sticks, and a candle. A small coin is sometimes included as an offering to the river spirits. There were some very beautiful and many different types being sold! On the night of the full moon, Thais launch their krathong on a river, canal, or the ocean, making a wish as they do so. There also was a competition for the best display of some large krathongs.
Along with selling the krathongs, there were TONS of people selling food too – mainly quick cook type things that people could eat at the beach or on the chairs provided. There were 2 stages of music going on and a bouncy thing for kids to play in. It was quite colourful, noisy and busy and it looked like the whole community came out to participate. There even were servers there from the Renaissance Hotel service alcoholic drinks (for sale).
Andrew and I went out onto the the temporary dock that he been installed at the beach to see how these krathongs are launched and to take pictures. We found though it was a pretty personal thing that happened so we really tried to not be intrusive. The “dock” was a jigsaw of floating containers, two containers high. We first noticed that there were life jackets hung on poles every 50 feet or so. Then we figured out why – the families go out onto the temporary dock and pray or whatever they want to do with the krathong, and then to get it into the water, a young boy slips into the pitch black water, and places the krathong in the water and then using a lighter, lights the thing and sends it on its way. There is just one problem – sometimes they are hard to light as the candle gets wet! So we watched these young boys struggle with the lighting and then eventually get tired and the life jacket is used to pull them in to the dock. I took some pictures for some families and a police officer, so they all could be in the picture with their krathongs which was really cool!
Then Andrew and I went back to the hotel as we were getting tired and hungry and decided it was time to relax. We had some snack items in the hotel room that we were going to have for dinner. We had only been in the hotel room about 5 minutes when AGAIN, a fireworks show started up! So now, two shows in 3 nights – this has been quite the experience!
