Lanterns fill the sky...Loy Krathong @Mae Jo University

If you google Chiang Mai, Thailand, the launch of khom loy lanterns at Mae Jo University is one of the top images that appears. This event occurs during Loy Krathong, one of biggest festivals in Thailand. I remember seeing an image close to this one while researching Chiang Mai just before we moved here in July of 2011 and thinking that I couldn't wait to experience the beauty of the sky lanterns first hand...
(not my picture btw)

This festival coincides with the  full moon of the 12th lunar month (according to the Thai calendar) and even has a special song...



This year we took we took the trip out to Mae Jo University to experience it first hand. To be perfectly honest I was nervous about going, at almost 32 weeks pregnant it could potentially be a really long day for me. Right now I have to consider the heat, how long I'll be walking, sitting or standing and the availability & proximity of bathrooms. We decided to drive separate so that we could have a little more control over our experience and we could leave at any time, if needed.
In total we were a group of about 12 people, we made a caravan out to the University complete with a picnic (left over turkey made into delicious sandwiches) This journey started around 3:00 pm.

We arrive, park, take a long walk to the site...so far so good!

I begin to overheat...I begin to ache in the low back & hips...I sweat continuously for the following 5 hours or so....not so good.

Along with thousands of others we listened to the chanting of the monks, sat during the meditation and anxiously awaited the moment to light our lanterns. At around 7:30 the time comes! Everyone is up, ground lanterns lit, we're ready and have forgotten about the heat and the wait. We're instructed to wait until the cue so everyone present can release their lantern at the same moment in order to "create the most spectacular vision in the world to behold" (according to the MC).

Fuad waiting next to the ground lantern. 

Fuad & I with our ground lantern.

The anticipation is building...the MC give very clear directions as to how to light the khom loy's, then asks us to SIT BACK DOWN?! The funny thing is the 7 or so teachers among the group immediately look at each and said, "you can't do that!" You can't give directions, while we're all ready to go, then make us wait longer!
The first launch occurs and it's bliss & smiles all around! It truly was a beautiful sight to behold!

 (this one is my picture)

First release...

 Fuad & I helped launch 3 lanterns. We had already determined our intention for each one and I have to admit as I watched the 3rd lantern float to the sky, I teared up...the scene and a sense of unity amongst those present overwhelmed me for a moment. I'm pretty sure Fuad felt the same way, we exchanged a knowing glance, the one where we acknowledge how blessed we are... to be here, to have these experiences, to have each other, to live this charmed & blessed that we live.

The last 2 lanterns our group launched...

Then we started the journey home...

I really don't think there is anyway to accurately describe the mess & chaos that followed the lantern launching so I'm going to keep this part short.

We got funneled into a bottleneck and it took us an HOUR to walk to our car. HOT, SWEATY people pushing up against each other with no regard whatsoever to personal body space. I struggled in my nearly 8 month pregnant body & mind not to have a complete melt down...we even joked about faking labor just to get through the crowd. (which we didn't do btw)

As we finally approached the car, the wind suddenly pick up, rain seemed imminent and the scene turned apocalyptic...people running to their transport, scooters racing down the street in an attempt to beat the coming storm, lightening & thunder coming consistently.   

We made it to the car just as it started to beat down...it took us another hour to drive home in an absolute downpour! 

We arrived to our part of town to flooded streets and no power. 

Fuad stated that it was as if God was responding to all that fire we put up into the sky...

In the end it was quite a memorable night.