Loy Krathong in Sukothai

Karl spent about a week in Sukothai while they were having the Loy Krathong festival. For this festival, the Thai make small "boats" out of banana leaves and flowers. A candle goes in the center and it is floated on the river after dark.

As with any festival there are also fireworks, performances and parades. In the picture below, some performers take a break from their rehearsal for a picture.


The ruins in Sukothai were all light up for the celebrations.




Karl says that it was very hot during the parade so it understandable that some of the participants weren't exactly happy.




Karl also got some models to pose for him at that ruins.






I bet the models were happy to have a place to put their hats. They really don't look too comfortable and they are probably heavy too.

Pic, pic, ducks, more pics

I was looking at the emails Karl sent me this week and the subject lines read ... "Pic", "pic", "ducks", "more pics". For some reason, that seemed like an appropriate title for this post.

First, we have the pics Karl has been taking at the temples in the Angkor Wat complex with the traditional dancers.




These guys obviously aren't dancers but they were at the temple and Karl caught this quick shot.


Karl says that this little girl was trying to sell him a refrigerator magnet and she was successful. Karl wrote: "its hard to refuse such beautiful eyes"


This is a bas relief on the temple walls.


Karl also went to a shadow puppet show and even got to go behind the scenes.



Karl has also been spending some time just hanging out with the locals. Here are some pictures that he got at the market.




Now for the ducks ... Karl got this picture showing the creative method for transporting ducks to market on a motorcycle. Look closely, the ducks are alive and holding their heads up so they can get a better view of the scenery. Nothing looks quiet right when you are hanging upside down.

Guess What I Found!!

This video shows a place that Karl and I visited back in April. The train really does go right through the market. Actually, the market is setup on the railroad tracks. Although we were there and saw this event, I didn't think to take a video. Well, someone did and here it is.



Train runs through Market

Isn't it wild!!

Living the Dream

So Karl is off living his dream (for a few weeks) of taking pictures in exoctic places. Here are some of the pictures that he has sent me.

Dancers at Erawan Shrine, Bangkok Thailand.


Worshipper at Erawan Shrine, Bangkok Thailand.


Royal Barges in front of the Grand Palace, Bangkok Thailand


Grand Palace at night with a passing boat, Bangkok Thailand


Aspara Dancer at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap Cambodia



Aspara Dancer at Bayon, Siem Reap Cambodia


Dancer in Peacock Costume, Siem Reap Cambodia