Quick! What comes to mind when you hear "floating lanterns?"
Tangled?
One of my favorite movies! And one of my favorite scenes in the movie is when they are watching the floating lanterns from the boat. I've always wanted to be a part of setting off floating lanterns! [I even say I really want to set some off at my wedding, whenever that might be…]
Then, when I signed up for the World Race, the picture on their website that represents Thailand is a picture of floating lanterns.
I looked more into it and found out it was something called "The Festival of Lights" which takes place in November. My route didn't have me in Thailand in November as far as I knew, so I quickly gave up on that. Then, I found out that my old squad (J squad from which I switched) was in Thailand in November! I felt like I had missed an opportunity of a lifetime!
But then, I arrived here in Chiang Mai in the wee hours of the morning on New Years Eve. After meeting our amazing contact, Emmi, we were given the night to celebrate in any way we wanted. There is a YWAM team here from Texas that we decided to tag a long with, since they new where to go. We took a song-taew to the Red Light District and separated once we got there. On the way, we saw lanterns on the horizon! My heart leapt for joy! There are lanterns!! I am going to see lanterns!! Once we got to the RLD, the Texas team went to visit the bars in which they had made friends. A few of the girls went with them.
Cathy, Michelle Kwak, and I headed to Tai Pae Gate, where they had a stage all set up for the countdown and celebration. Roads were blocked off for blocks and were now lined with stall after stall of street food. You could get anything there! Pad Thai, Rotee, fruits, teas, juices, crepes… There were also souvenir stalls mixed in with purses, clothes, jewelry, accessories… By the end of the night, I had eaten barbecued crocodile, barbecued ostrich, fresh orange juice, pad thai, rotee, and a few pieces of sushi.
Photo cred: Michelle Kwak
The floating lanterns could be seen floating in the night sky. They were being set off on almost every street corner. Vendors were selling the lanterns for 50 Baht a piece (~$1.67).
I didn't buy one since I was short on cash, but many of the girls did. Right before midnight, we reunited with our group and headed over to buy lanterns to set them off.
As the new year was rung in, fireworks went off, lanterns were being set free [some with fire works attached]. Every direction you looked there were lanterns and fireworks. It was an AMAZING experience!
Photo cred: Michelle Kwak
After a few last minutes snack purchases, we headed home for the night. We had to walk several blocks before finding a song-taew that was willing to drive us home to Won Gen. I didn't get to bed until almost 2am, but it was so worth it!
For the first time in four years, I celebrated New Year's Eve single. I had no one to kiss at midnight, no one to call and tell them 'I love you.' Instead, I was on the other side of the world from everything familiar about my life. What the heck is this life I'm living??? But this starts the beginning of a new chapter of life. A new year, a new chapter. For the first time in my life, I honestly have no idea what this New Year has in store. In the past, I could bank on going to school for most of the year, playing soccer… but this year, all I know is that I will be on the World Race for another 7 months [Lord willing…] and then, only God knows! Never have I ever been this unsure about my future. But God is teaching me it's ok not to know what lies ahead. It scares the crap out of me, to be honest!! I've finally accepted the fact that my life is completely out of my control! So buckle up, and get ready for a wild ride! I'm riding shotgun with Jesus this year!
Happy New Year! Bring on 2013!
