November in Thailand

November is a nice time of year to be in Thailand.  The rainy season has ended and the rice harvest is underway.  There are many festivals during this time of year.  Loy kratong is an important Thai festival held on the full moon of November.  All across Thailand people release beautifully decorated little rafts made from a cross section of banana stalks into the rivers.  Asking for the bad in their lives to go away with the river current and wish for a good future.  It is said the origins of the festival are from India and is to thank the river goddess for the waters that came during the monsoons and to ask for forgiveness.  In the north these lanterns made from rice paper called "Kom loy" are released into the skies.  I like how the lanterns light up the faces of those anticipating take off.  Some say we as Christians shouldn't participate in such things.  I like to focus on the desire of people want change in their lives and just the beauty of the glowing lanterns filling the sky. There is one temple where tens of thousands are released together and that is quite the sight to see.