Phuket Vegetarian festival 2013 - last night

Normally on a Phuket blog everyone writes about starting day and processions during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. So why don't say what happen last day and specially last night?.

After nine days on Earth is time for the spirits of the Emperor Gods to go back to heaven. This evening in Kathu people were waiting for the time to gather at Kathu Shrine and get blessed by those possessed. To receive blessing must have observed the  "Jay" tradition for at least last three days. Then wear a white shirt and get to in time to Shire.

Kathu Village - The Shrine entrance

A lot of people queued up soon after sunset, to get a place to pass between two wings of "Ma Song", those that have let the spirits enter their bodies. the Ma Song will stamp everyone one the shoulders, the red stamps will be then well visible. More you get more you will be protected.

Blessing at Kathu Shrine

Ma Song blessing people

After the whole nine days on Vegan diet I have got two stamps on my shirt no so bad and should be enough for the year.

got two stamps

Tonight fire crackers and fireworks will be fired specially well the moon will go down to be sure all spirits will leave.

Kathu Shrine

Tomorrow everyone back to normal food and actually most chats during evening where about food tomorrow. After the Vegan diet that has last nine days people will aim to their favorite dishes.

Thanks for coming to Emperor Gods.

Phuket vegetarian festival is probably the most important tradition for Phuket people and during this time the year you will see how serious all this is taken. Don't think is just for tourist but enjoy the nice and festive atmosphere around and if you are here on holidays you will see something really special.

Phuket weather 4 to 6 October 2013 - Phuket vegetarian festival

After three days of really heavy rain this evening seems more quiet so activities for most important event in Phuket can go ahead.


On 4th October the Phuket vegetarian festival as officially started and during the night at the Shrines "lantern Poles" where raised to show the way to Emperor Gods that have descended to Earth. Firecrackers and fireworks lighted the dark sky, despite the rain.

Ban Bang Niaw Shrine - Phuket Town

During next nine days there will be processions and activities all around the island. The tradition says that people should purify their bodies and minds during this time. Food will be vegan, also some flavors such as onions and garlic are forbidden.

Some couple will even sleep in different houses to rejoin only on 14 October. That night will mark the end of Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Until then no alcohol and no smoking for those that adhere to the festival.

Everyone will ask other around "will you eat Je?". "Je" (the e sound like in wet) means follow the Chinese tradition and for nine days eat only vegan food, no alcohol, no smoking. Purify your body and your mind.

Can also decide to just do it for just last even, five or three days of the festival that will see many of Phuket resident busy all day looking for the vegan food offered on the streets and in the restaurants.

Food stalls in Phuket Town 5th October 2013

Around Phuket predominant color will be Yellow and red, many houses from Chinese descendants will be open to people to pray and give offers to Gods. Will be a lot of people wearing white to gain a better state of purification.

Chinese Tradinotial altar in Phuket Town

Side of this also are famous the parades that everyday, starting from the 7th, ill go from the Shrines into Phuket Town. Those elected and been possessed by the many spirits that have come down will perform during the parades with sharp objects passing through their cheeks.

And those in trance will bless and give fortune to the thousand believer and standers.

Nobody will mind if rain or hot, dry or flooded streets will wait for them.

Chinese Gods

The festival doesn't have fix dates need to check the lunar calendar this year it starts with new Moon on 4th October.

For more information and the schedule of Phuket Vegetarian Festival 

Grab your raincoats – Songkran is almost here!

Yes it has been a year since we celebrated Songkran, 2011, so get ready to do it again.  This year the celebration often referred to as the Water Festival is from Friday, 13th April through Sunday, 15th April. But since it is a national holiday in honor of Thai New Year many businesses will be closed giving their employees a long weekend that actually lasts until the 17th of April.  For those of you that have celebrated Songkran in Patong before, you know what to expect, so don’t complain when you find yourself soaked to the bone on your way to the store.  For those first time participants let me try to explain a little about what to expect during the several days that we celebrate Thai New Year, which is what Songkran means.  The best way I can describe the Songkran celebration in Patong is say that it a water gun fight to end all water gun fights that lasts the first two days.  Now it goes on all over the island so if you are traveling about other parts of Phuket during this period, be prepared to get wet.

Patong Beach is the epicenter of the celebration, thus if you are in Patong Friday the 13th or on Saturday the 14th, you will get wet and not just a little wet, but you will be soaked by people with all manner of water guns, buckets of water and all manner of containers so they can dump water on passers by.  If you want to take part in the celebration, first buy a squirt gun from one of the hundreds of vendors along the streets or that are sold in all the stores.  Next, fill your wet gun and head to Soi Bangla where most people like to wonder up and down squirting each other.  Don’t worry about running out of water, there are vendors with barrels of ice cold water that will happily refill your water gun for only 10 baht, but be prepared to get squirted and have ice cold water dumped on you as you wait to refill.  It is all great fun for everyone, although some people, mainly foreigners, do tend to go a bit overboard with very powerful squirt guns, so do be careful. Even the police are not immuned from getting soaked

You will not only get wet, but many Thai’s will cover you face with white powder as a sign of good luck and Buddha’s blessing.  So don’t be surprised when one person is dumping a bucket of water over you, while another is rubbing powder on your cheeks.

You may be asking how did the Songkran/Water Festival/Thai New Year Celebration evolve into this huge water gun fight?  So let’s look at the history of the celebration, the Thai people have celebrated Songkran for centuries to honor the “New Year” based on the Sun passing into a new astrological sign, in this case Aries.  You will be interested to learn that Songkran actually comes from a Sanskrit word, Songkhla, which means the movement or passing of the Sun into a new astrological sign.   Water has always been a important part of the celebration showing the main focus of happiness in the new year,   On the morning of Songkran Day the Thai people will give alms to Buddhist monks, bath Buddha images and pour water onto the hands of the elderly and most respected members of the community.  Following these solemn proceedings, it was customary for young Thai girls to throw water on each other in celebration and it from this practice that today’s huge water celebration has evolved.  The Grand Songkran Festival is celebrated in 13 provinces throughout Thailand in a variety of ways, with the largest being in Bangkok.

It is up to you whether you participate in Songkran and to what degree, but if you are looking for a good time with lots of good natured fun, load up you water guns and join in the celebration.  But don’t forget the solemn side of Songkran since it is probably one of the most important events on the Thai calendar.

18th Annual Phuket Bike Week - 2012

Hold on to you hats and get out the ear plugs because once again Patong is hosting Bike week.  This will be the 18th annual bike week held here in Patong, this year it is also referred to as “Asean Ride Together” to promote the unity among bikers.

For those of you who look forward to Bike Week every year there might be a bit of confusion, the event originally scheduled for the 6th through the 8th of April has been rescheduled to the 20th thru 22nd of April 2012 so adjust your calendars.

Those of you familiar with Bike Week already recognize that it is actually only a three day weekend with loads of activities aimed at both bikers and non-bikers.  For those first timers, the majority of activities occur in and around Patong’s Loma Park. 

If you are a big and fancy motorcycle enthusiast or if you just want to see some incredible bikes there will be a Motorcycle Exhibition everyday starting at 3 pm and running late into the night at the football field just across Beach Road from Loma Park.

If you want to enjoy a variety of music, there will be a several concerts/parties each evening with multiple bands performing, so you can count on lots of musical styles.

Have a fancy set of tattoos, then join the tattoo competition to see how yours stacks up against others from around the world.  If looking at beautiful women is your thing, then you will enjoy the Miss Phuket Bike Week Beauty contest.  Both of these competitions will be held on Friday and Saturday nights, with the finals on Sunday Night.

Miss Phuket Bike Week Contest

The Bike Week activities kick off at Loma Park around 6 pm on the 20th, with the Biker Games including a Tattoo Show, a Fire Dancing Show and a classical Thai dance show; during these shows there will be games with prizes.  Following the games three bands from Rock City will perform, with round 1 of the Miss Phuket Bike Week 2012 right after the bands finish.  More musical groups will perform after the preview, interrupted by a prize drawing around midnight.

On Saturday 21st of April, the Bike Week activities kick off at 4 pm with a couple of bands in a heated contest, followed by more fun and games including body painting and a tattoo show.  The official grand opening ceremony takes place with many local celebrities and government officials to welcome the many bikers and clubs from around Thailand as well as all over the world.  OK, if can’t speak Thai these ceremonies will be boring, but it maybe a good time to wonder about looking at the big bikes over at the football field or stop for something to eat and drink from the many vendors scattered throughout Loma Park.  Then once the opening ceremonies are finished, round 2 of the Miss Phuket Bike Week contest will be held; followed by more music until the wee hours of the morning. 

Bike Week is a fun event with a serious side and that is evident by two big events on Sunday, 22nd of April.  Starting at 3 pm we will have the tree planting to reduce global warming campaign by planting banana trees along the beach of Patong Beach on the way to Kamala Beach.

Immediately following the tree planting will be the driving tour for peace, the route will be from Patong to Karon, Kata, Nai Harn and Laem Phrom Thep and then back to Patong Beach to join the party in Loma Park where another heated contest is going on between two bands.   The finals of the tattoo and Miss Phuket Bike Week take place following the band contest, with a Cowboy, Indian and Reggae show separating the two.  A Memorial Ceremony to officially close out Bike Week, thanking all the participants will take place right after Miss Phuket Bike Week is crowned.  But that doesn’t mean the fun ends, there will be music with a variety of bands playing until 2 am.