Hi Everyone! As I find myself blessed with some internet time, I thought I'd give you a brief accounting of the Lie Ka Tone festival. I'm sure I have ampaly slaughtered the name, but to my American ears, that's what the festival's name sounded like, so I appologize to any of you who actually know how to say/spell it. So with that disclamer, on with the e-mail!
I had been hearing bits and pieces about what was supposed to happen at Lie Ka Tone, but was really not prepared when the real thing rolled around. John Holbrook had been staying at the Wilsons for the last couple days, and since he had never seen Lie Ka Tone, and will be headed back to the States for college soon, we both decided to head out and join the festivities. So after getting directions from PiDuang, John fired up Elsy, I hopped on the back, and we took off. (Now while his motercycle driving isn't perfect, It's better than mine, so I figured it'd be safer to ride!) We headed out into the hub-bub and John carefully menuvered Elsy around and between trucks and cars, and only gave me a couple scares. The traffic got thicker the closer we got to the bridge, so John parked elsy and we hoofed it.
For the past couple nights I had noticed what looked like mini-hot air balloons being let loose in the sky and had wanted to see one up close. As we got near the bridge, I got fortunate! There were a couple guys filling one up. These contraptions resemble an upside down white tube (with the top closed) around three feet high and a couple feet in diameter. They are weighted with a wire ring around the open bottom. There is a cilinder of cardboard (probably dipped in parafin John thought) suspended across the opening by wires. they set the cardboard on fire and it fills the hot air balloon with hot air (feature that!). John and I joined the other forigners in snapping a couple pictures. I tried to get a picture when they released the balloon, but it flew up way to fast!
John and I then headed across the bridge, snapping pictures, and fighting people as we went! John described it as being as crowded as a GC session! I haven't been to a GC session, so the best I could describe it was being in the middle of the rush to leave the stadium after a hockey game! Really packed. But not only were we trying to dodge people, but firecrackers too. Either a bunch of the people were just nuts or they were drunk, cause there were firecrackers going off everywhere! (on the way back, on ran almost between John's feet!)
Fought our way to the other side of the bridge, and joined an even more packed crowd, if possible, on our way down to the river bank. Passed a lot of people selling, what first appeared to be little arrangements of flowers with candles and inscence. I soon figured out that these were made out of a section of banana tree trunk, a couple inches thick, and decorated with really creative leaves, flowers, candles, and incence! Orchids were the most prominant, though I did also see some lillies (my two favorite flowers!) There were also quite a few roses. Flowers are really cheep in Asia!
Going with the flow fo the crowd to the river bank, we watched people say a prayer, put some money, or a piece of their hair on the float, light the candle and incense, and push it out into the river. The river was a mass of bobbing lights! It was beautiful! Just sat down there and enjoyed the sights. John and I also got a kick out of a couple guys taking the money out of the floats a little ways down river!
It was a slightly overcast night, but there was a full moon. Couldn't see any stars, but picture in your mind a winter sky full of stars, then imagine every one of them is a hot air balloon, and you'll get a similar picture to what we saw! Add that to the fireworks and a river full of bobbing candles... yeah... It was beautiful!!
On our way back to the bridge, I noticed there were eels, fish and turtles for sale. I wanted a couple little turtles for pets (they were only about an inch iin diameter) but hadn't brought any money... oh well.
Fought the crowds and avoided fireworks on the way back across the bridge. Found Elsy and headed back to the Wilson's place. I haven't figured out if John is a really good, or really bad driver, but a couple times he scared at least a few minutes of my life! Anyway, we got back and showed PiDuang all our pictures and asked her what the festival was for and what everything ment. Basically, it's to get rid of all the bad luck. Even turning the fish, eels and turtles loose in the river was for that.
I really enjoyed Lie Ka Tone, and am looking forward to the water fight festival in April! Should be fun! God Bless - Sha
