Being in Thailand at this time of year means Groundhog Day when it comes to new Year's Eves'. First of all we have what the Thai's call "Happy New Year", which is the usual 31 December jobbie. In April there is Songkran, which is the Thai New Year. Sandwiched in between is Chinese New Year, this year celebrated at the end of January. Mae Nam where I stay was originally a Chinese fishing village, consequently it is the spiritual centre for Thai Chinese here in Samui with a very impressive Chinese temple.
It's also evident how many of the houses and businesses are Chinese by the noise of the firecrackers and the half burnt remains of the red firecrackers littering the ground, especially at the temple.
The celebrations started on New Year's Eve eve, if that makes sense! Firecrackers and loud bangs went on all night. Next day, New Year's Eve itself, on my walk there were some very impressive offerings laid out on tables outside homes and businesses, lots of rice, a couple of roast duck and a line up of shot glasses.
Mixed in with all this were the paper copies of money, designer shoes and other luxuries. These, I understand are offerings to the ancestors, and if the amount of shot glasses are something to go by, the ancestors were in for a good party. The day, a Thursday, also coincided with the usual Walking Street night so it was a very lively and noisy evening here. Lots of different food on offer as usual, but even for Chinese New Year I wasn't trying the fried insects.
Lots of firecrackers and dragons and lions collecting money to the rhythmic sounds of the drums. The village was much quieter on New Year's Day itself, when the real business end of the celebrations were to be seen. Families exchanging presents, weird things being barbecued outside houses in the morning and groups of Chinese guys still enjoying their local whiskey from the evening before! And in the evening the real big golden dragon accompanied by his loud drum escort arrived to visit all the businesses who were sporting the ribbon of firecrackers outside.
In he would go, accept a financial contribution and then the firecrackers are lit. Not sure why they have to be so loud! And everyone in red shirts was a little confusing, I thought suddenly Samui had become more political...
So we say goodbye to the year of the snake. Seems like they know too that they are now "so last year" - the only ones I have seen on my morning walks have been dead ones. So now I expect to see horses wandering about on my walks...
And of course the other big news here in Thailand has been the election. The alcohol ban didn't take hold last weekend for the advance vote but I thought it might over the last couple of days for the real thing. But no, apart from notices in 7/11 and Freshmart informing us they cannot sell the stuff, the alcoholic life of the island goes on. Last night a Brit couple I was talking to wanted a Heineken, the hotel had run out so the bar man nipped up to Freshmart to buy one.... I guess they have done their bit by putting the notice up, actually obeying it seems another matter! Although in some areas of Thailand the bars were closed for the election but with spelling worthy of why why and stee rye I'm not sure the message was that clear. This did make me laugh!
So what other news? I have been to another returning guest party at the hotel where there was food, music and drinks. But I have worked out that these parties coincide with something meaningful in the Florist hotel family. Last time it was the kids arrived home from Melbourne, this time they flew back to Melbourne the next day... I reckon it saves him some tax and if so, good on 'em! Also big news about the Firestation, the nice bar I use now and again... (probably more again than now..). Ron, the US owner has fallen in love with a German girl, Susi, so has sold up and is off to Germany. It's been taken over by a French guy so I can look forward to some good French food next time. And Darling, my favourite of all the street dogs here has had a visit to the Vet - he is much calmer now...not sure he is that pleased about his missing bits though! And although he is a street dog he has been "adopted" by the Brits around here. Not surprised, he is so cute and I have to tell myself every time I see him that I can't bring him back to the UK.... No, I really can't.... Definitely not...
Ti, the cheeky chappie waiter has returned to the hotel and revived the beach restaurant, that, together with the weather settling down means that dinner on the beach with your toes in the sand is enjoyable again. Trips out to Nathon and Fisherman's Village Irish Bar for a much needed Shepherd's Pie have peppered my sybaritic existence here. I make the effort each morning and do my long walk with scenery like this.
Well, someone's gotta do it... And last night chatting to the Brit's, for some reason we talked about the lottery, reflecting that for some people looking at us having a cold wine as the sun sets after a lazy day on a warm tropical beach, it would seem that we had already hit the jackpot...
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Location:แม่น้ำ,Thailand
