Phichit Boat Festival

When someone says Thailand, the Phichit Boat Festival will now be what comes to my mind. This weekend has been the absolute highlight of my entire 4 weeks living in Thailand thus far. The festival apparently has lasted a couple weeks, but the biggest festivities were this weekend.

 We started on Friday after school with the night market. Everything was glowing and neon, even the drinks we got! Up and down the streets were crowded with vendors. And I don't just mean some food and clothes, although that was there too. I'm talking anything you could possibly want to buy was somehow packed into tight intersections; International soccer jerseys, gold jewelry with personal engravings, dufflebags/backpacking gear, clothes, puppies, mattresses, chairs, scooters, helmets, sponges, fruit/bugs/food, and toys ranging from kiddy rubix cubes to full-scale Zelda instruments.

Grasshoppers, Cockroaches, Maggots OH MY!

Barbie Army

After a night of gawking and figuring out prices (as well as holding the cutest fluffball at the puppy vendor for a while)..............

Literally the size of my hands and so fluffy I was gonna die

...............we came back on Saturday and I got down to some serious bartering. I came away with 3 shirts, 1 skirt, 1 p. shorts, 4 drinks, 1 tentacles on a stick, 1 sponge (long story) for about 15 USD. And let's not forget all the complimentary bites, 2 free jerseys, and the "backstage" chatting with the Semi-finalists at the Takraw Lot Huang competition and pictures with the Longboat Competition teams!!

Longboat Team

Longboat Team (still not sure why the "white" one is doing that face.)

                  Here's a funny note while I'm thinking about it. If you notice the Longboat team member with the white on his face. This is actually a very popular 'do' for the Thai people. Everyone wants to look white and "beautiful" so they rub this cream on their faces and their anti-sweat powder also gives a white appearance on their body. It's funny in America people get skin cancer trying to be more tan but here, they rub thick cream all over their faces (in the hot humidity) to be more white. Boys and girls alike.

 It might have been in China, but the Mulan story wasn't far off when they decked out her face completely white.














Overall, such a fun fun experience. I probably won't reach for many more squid tentacles on a stick, but the Mew ice-drink and fresh hazelnut bread was to die for.