Happy New Year- Thai Style

Today, April 13 ia the traditional Thai new year celebration. For this country it is 2569 and they have a wonderful holiday. People were everywhere with big buckets of water, huge water guns, and hoses flowing freely. Getting soaked with water is a wish for a year of happiness. The ship was greeted this morning with dancers and drummers, but because of the special day we also had a paste of wonderful smelling flowers wiped on our cheeks and arms. Plus someone with a small cup of flower filled water was pouring a little water. Through out the town of Phuket we saw pick-up trucks filled with many, many people. They rode around, hopped out and poured their water. The folks on motor scooters were the ones who really got wet. Everyone was having great fun!

We went first to a beautiful view point and saw the lovely beaches of this island. Then we went to a large Buddhist Temple complex Wat Chalong. While we were there the cutest little boy came up and shot me with his water pistol. Fun to see a whole community celebrate together. Our guide said they also celebrate January 1 and the Chinese New Year. These are people who like to party. Here we are at the Buddhist Temple. It was hot and humid, but it is a beautiful place to visit.

After the temple we went to a Folkloric performance of traditional Thai dances and martial arts. Was a facinating visit. Our guide told us how they worked with the girls in their early years to get their fingers to bend almost totally back to achieve that graceful look for the dances. The costumes were beautiful- wonderful silk and fancy gold head dresses. Even though we were mopping away the perspiration, we loved it. This tour company provides cold water, cold towels and a hand fan...and we used them all.

We did a little bit of shopping at the many stalls of clothing, wood, silk and a variety of local crafts. This is a beautiful place.