Memo #1 Loy Krathong

Halloh. I arrived in Bangkok during the festival of lights, Loy Krathong. Thai people make or buy premade floats decorated with flowers leaves and candles. The candles are lit and these little 'boats' are launched into any wateray accessable. You make a wish and send it off. Most are made floatable by blocks of styrofoam. The aftermath of this festival is very messy. The canals and rivers of Bangkok are clogged with tons of of these little floats.
The city is trying to make the festival more 'green' by urging people to use floats made of biodegradable materials. I saw them in stores. They looked as though they had been made of bread, baked into loaves looking like flower pedals. They are then spray painted to further look like flower bouquets. The buyer then further personalizes with flowers and candles.
I understand that in Ching Mai it's quite a spectacle. The river Ping flows through the city making an ideal launching area. With 170,000 people in Chiang Mai, it must make quite a mess downriver.
I rested in BKK for two nights and hopped a train to the beach. Next stop, Hua Hin.
Bye for now, Doahlah