This Bud's For You

Timing is everything, as I discovered when I flew up to Chiang Mai just in time for the final weekend of their annual Flower Festival. According to my Lonely Planet, it's the city's biggest festival of the year - what luck! The events were fantastic. The flower festival takes over several blocks in one corner of the old city, which is about a 2km by 2km square area surrounded by a moat and remains of the old city wall, built 700 years ago.


There was a main stage with various bands and dance acts performing. There were street vendors selling every type of greasy Thai food you can imagine. There were display areas with plants & flowers that had been judged, ribbons proudly announcing the winners from each category. My favorites were the orchids -- so many varieties, and all so delicate and beautiful.


There was also a parade, the floats decorated solely with flowers a la Pasadena's annual Rose Parade. Oh, and one event that I'm sorry I missed was the Flower Festival Princess Pageant - I would have loved to have seen the Thai version of a beauty pageant - I arrived one day too late for that spectacle.

At any rate, I think my favorite part was simply being at an authentic Thai event surrounded by locals. This was their festival, their celebration, not a fire show or tiger viewing opportunity, etc. designed for tourists. It was nice to have a glimpse into their biggest annual community event, and join them amongst the blossoms in celebration of their city and its beautiful flora & fauna.

Mere