We are here at the right time of year! Flower Festival and Chinese New Year (see the next post). The Festival started Friday night with the crowning of the “queen” of the festival, but Saturday starts with the parade. We make our way down to Warorot by the advertised 8am start time. Take our normal places by the post box and wait. And wait. the ceremonies obviously start at 8, but the parade doesn’t start until around 8:30. However, this year, there is a huge video screen right across the street so we can see the reviewing stands and all the activities going on there before the parade starts. No need to wade into the melee to watch – we just stand patiently on the side of the road.
We’ve done this before, so we now know how it works. Once the parade starts, everyone jams into the middle of the road getting as close s possible to the floats and marching bands. They all rush out in front ot take pictures then scamper bacck to the side to avoid being run over. Each entry into the parade has their own “security” detachment with them, who shoo people away from the float or band or what have you, and generally coordinates the marching and timing of their parade “charges”. It’s choreographed chaos, but oh so fun to watch.
Unfortunately, where we are, everything is badly back lit, so we take as many pictures as possible, but know that we can take more of the floats tomorrow when we go to the park where the parade ends. Below are some of the better shots.
Some of our favorites – look at the little guy in the front here in the orange. He couldn’t have been more than 18 months old and parading right down the street with the band.
Then there was this woman in the red – she thought she was the paparazzi. Always, always out in the middle of the street almost getting run over by the floats, running people over getting photos with her huge phone, and generally getting in people’s way. She was a riot!
And then there were all the “support” teams – these guys followed every marching entry in the parade – water, ice, extra parasols, costumes, wigs, you name it, they wheeled it down the street after their teams.
We stood and watched for a couple of hours, then hit the market again to refill our dwindling jackfruit and pomelo stocks. This time adding dip for our chicharonnes and more peanuts for our evening snacks.
On the way back to the condo we detoured down Loi Kroh on the side of the Night Market for lunch. Lots of little restaurants, but not many open for lunch. We didn’t want to go to Red Lion (British and pricey) and ended up at this little no name (well, no name we can remember) place next to Lemongrass which was delightful.
Ed had Pad Thai (again!) and I had Chicken and Cashews (again!). Both were great and totally hit the spot.
Later for dinner, we trolled the Night Market again and went to the Kabob Bar or Kabobish (both owned by the same guy right next to each other). The TripAdvisor reviews here said they had great Shawarma. Well, not anymore. No Shawarma – the owner said he doesn’t do that anymore. Sigh. So instead we had butter chicken and lamb roganjosh. Plus excellent garlic naan.
All very good, but still, the great Shawarma hunt continues!
We finish off the night at the Bamboo with Patrick (Pu is his Thai name, meaning grandpa because he was born with an “old” head, LOL), the singer….
…and Ganh (or Jessica as Patrick has nick named her!). She has on great earrings that I comment on, and she takes me to her friend’s stall where I buy a mtaching pair for myself. We’re styling now!
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