Loy Krathong: Another Day, Another Internationally Famous Holiday in Thailand

Always Pass on Outdoor Karaoke

Unfortunately, Bangkok has banned these lanterns for safety reasons — a crime punishable by death (I’m being deadly serious). I guess planes flying through hoards of these lanterns feel a little like a naked swimmer in a dense sea of jellyfish.

In Bangkok, the peaceful tranquility of the paper lanterns was replaced with the raucous partying of live music and no open-container laws. Families headed home to prepare for the next day of work, and those who were left were the usual revelers of the midnight hour. Soaked from the brief storm and in no mood to karaoke incoherently to a crowd of Thais recently granted full clemency for their sins, I headed home.

Ryan Farley / Own Work

Although I didn’t witness it with my own two eyes, the next day the waterways were clogged with just as much non-biodegradable material as otherwise. Efforts have been made to penalize the use of harmful krathongs and incentivize the use of greener decorations, but much more needs to be done.

Remember that if you travel halfway around the world to partake in a culturally rich experience, do so in a thoughtful and respectful way. I can tell you that the morning after the beautiful celebration of color and repentance, most of us already had in mind what would we ask the river goddess forgiveness for at next year’s Loy Krathong…

Ryan Farley / Own Work