Loy Khratong Festival
“Loy Khratong” in Thai, one of the most beautiful, colourful and lively festivals across Thailand is enthusiastically celebrated throughout the country over the full moon in November, the end of the lunar year. Celebrations take place over 3 nights, the most important night being the night of the full moon (21st of November this year) when folks pay homage to the river goddess a time to show one’s appreciation and give thanks to the life giving river.
Offerings are made to the river goddess in the form of “Khratong” which are small floats made from a slice of banana tree stem, 3 incense sticks, a candle and a flower arrangement (in times gone by a small amount of money would also have been added), these are offered up with a prayer and floated off into the stream creating a wonderful river of flowers and lit candles flowing downstream – quite a sight. The whole event is accompanied by the staccato cacophony of fireworks let off throughout the night by locals and the local authorities alike, truly a night like no other.
Today it is also seen as a time for ridding one’s bad fortune from the previous year as you symbolically float away all your bad fortune from the year past in either a Khratong on the river or up into the sky in a Lanna Lantern: for lovers it is also an important time to make overtures to the one you love, to float a Khratong together is quite a personal statement, a statement of intimacy.
The 3 nights also see parades through the cities main streets of decorated vehicles and processions of girls, students from local universities and staff members from local companies, all dressed in traditional dress carrying candles in procession, or dancing or beating drums following vehicles dressed in wonderful floral displays. From personal experience it is great to be on the street amongst the festival, watch the parade and wander down the streets with the locals.
To celebrate the beauty of life, the 5 Thai Relais & Chateaux properties offer you a uniquely Thai experience with the “Siam Hideaways"
2 consecutive nights in deluxe/suite in any Thai Relais & Chateaux property inclusive of :
Return airport transfers
A vip "wai" (a unique welcome from each property (welcome drink, tea ceremony...)
Daily breakfast
for 15,000THB – net (single or double occupancy)
valid between September 1 and December 20, 2010
We recommend you to follow our “Route du Bonheur” and visit 2 , 3 or all our 5 properties or simply relax and stay 4, 6, 8…. nights at the same property by combining the offers.
For details and reservation, contact:
The Scent Hotel
Restaurant and hotel on the seafront
The “Secret World” of the Scent Hotel is located on the island of Koh Samui, on the most tranquil and serene part of Bangrak Beach. The architecture of this beach-front hotel was inspired by both ancient Indochinese and colonial buildings. The beautiful rooms and suites are decorated in Chinese, Western and local styles and all come with either a pool view or an ocean view. The building opens onto a private beach and “Le Jaroen” restaurant has French, Mediterranean and local Thai cuisine. Secretly blended aromatic fragrances waft through the hotel and scents can even be tailor-made making a stay here peaceful, enchanting and truly memorable. ...Read more
Thailand, Koh Samui
