Magical Floating Lanterns

A sky full of floating lanterns is just as magical as I imagined.

The crowds and the popping and whistling crackers just faded away every time I looked up to see the drift of Loi Krathong lanterns, those just-released huge against a river of smaller lights.

As we moved, zooming around on a motorbike under harsh street lights, the lanterns look like stars that had crept closer to take a look. When we finally stopped — lost again — we could see the hypnotic movement of the lanterns, floating like breath, up and up.

Our lantern adventure, while magical, was also a lesson about the benefits of slowing down. Really slowing down so that niggling annoyances aren’t blown out of proportion.

My pre-dropout stressed self would have focused on the crowds, the noise of the crackers, being spewed on (which is being vomited on for non-Australian readers), getting lost, losing our friends in the traffic, getting lost again and having an aching back from carrying a sleepy two-year-old around for hours.

My post-dropout self was still bothered by the crowds, the noise, the spew, the lostness and the aching back. But, like an in-form athlete, I can bounce back much more quickly from each setback. I am more able to focus on what’s important — we are in amazing Thailand, looking an an amazing light show, Darling Man is happy, Miss M is entranced and we can come back tonight — or next year — and do it all again.

Your next chance to catch the Loy Krathong festival in Thailand is November 28, 2012. There are other amazing festivals in Thailand too. For a list, click here.

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By: Barbara

A career girl who dropped out, traveled, found love, and never got around to going home again. Now wrangling a cross-cultural relationship and two third culture kids.