Vegetarian Festival

Well....was the first day of the festival today so we went to the first main event and well....i don't think i understand just why...i don't think i have ever seen such a deep sense of faith...very bizarre to watch as people go into trances- kids and adults who are dribblin and generally look like they are drugged up...very bizarre...
Well everyone squished up together to fit in as many people as possible and then everyone was told to lower themselves and kneel down...well that amount of people was not designed to fit in the space, i was not as bad as other people but was still starting to lose the feeling in the lower part of my leg and my feet. Well i had a kind lady next to me who explained a bit and said that there was royalty here and the different people go into trances to be closer to the spirits or something along those lines...then all of a sudden the drum beats got loud, the shaking head/dribbling people started shouting and going crazier and the tree (the trunk had been coated in gold leaf)was lifted into the air...rather precariously but obviously all safety standards adherred too and the tree was in the air and then the pyro begain. The louder the bang the better is the general rule- it scares off the bad spirits (obviously)- the bomb tanks that they are let off in are huge and it was just endless for a few minutes...
then all of a sudden another tree was lifted and carried over the people (we are all still kneeling) and then attached it to the other tree with candles attached to it and then threw random bits of trees up there too....not really sure why all of this to be honest...gifts i suppose and then more pyro went off...then more pyro....then more pyro....
I had gone with 5 lads and another girl and one of the lads got pickpocketed which was a sour end to the 'day of luck'...luckily he only had 400baht in it but unfortunately he had his teachers id and cards etc in it (not his passported), well the police went and stalked a few people and took him to the senators and he told them he had had his wallet stolen who after putting an announcement out for people to keep an eye on there wallets, they also put a plate out which went round the vip table and got a collection of money together which was a lovely gesture.
I think i have watched more films while being in thailand than i have in the last few months lol...the dvd collection is very impressive and just what i seem to do while having breakfast, browsing the internet, before i go out, when i come back.... just always on lol, have also watched a silly amount of friends and CSI which a few girls seemed to be addicted too. Was a day of rain today, hardly ever stopped, got soaked twice...was quite refreshing the first time...something nice about wandering the streets with thai music in the rain just browsing and letting the day go by. Don't get me wrong, was still in shorts and a strappy top so can't complain too much about the rain and had a lovely coconut and sugar pancake thingimagig (had a custard cream one this evening before eating pineapple and dragon fruit)
Will add links to my friends pictures of the festival once he has uploaded them...
Hope the weather is better there and everyone is well :)

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