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Experiences You Should Have Show Notes: Loi Krathong & Yi Peng Lantern Festival, Interview with Stephanie Perry
At age 41, Stephanie Perry quit her job to travel the world. She spent 12 months bathing elephants in Thailand, volunteering on an organic cricket farm in Cambodia and (most uncharacteristically) working as an au pair for a family in Australia. Stephanie started Vaycarious to help other women take off the Superwoman cape and spread their wings on a grown-up gap year.
I asked Stephanie Perry about a specific experience in the world that can be replicated that others should experience too, and she immediately responded with ‘Loi Krathong and Yi Peng lantern festivals in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
It’s so easy to look at pretty photos on your computer screensaver or look at vacation photos on Instagram, Pinterest, etc, but it’s 2019 now, and it’s time to make those amazing photos you’ve seen across the web a reality. It’s also time to start planning your trip to Thailand so you can experience the Loi Krathong and Yi Peng festival this fall.
Press play on the player above to hear this podcast episode on the Loi Krathong and Yi Peng lantern festivals in Chiang Mai with Stephanie Perry (or listen where you listen to podcasts).
Why did Stephanie Go to Thailand for these Lantern Festivals?
Stephanie was tired of looking at the screensaver on her computer for years and years, she wanted to experience life. When she turned 40, her life wasn’t where she wanted it to be at this point. She didn’t have kids, and it was upsetting to her. One day she said, either I’m going to be miserable about this, or I’m going to turn this into an opportunity. She decided it was the time to pick up and go, and this was her chance.
The first thing she decided that she was going to see the world. She decided she would take 12 months, empty her savings and see the world. She picked out festivals in cheaper countries and landed on Thailand. With only $14,000, she was able to spend a year in Thailand, which equates to $1200 a month.
She started in Phuket and then went North, then East and wanted to be in Chiang Mai during the Yi Peng and Loi Krathong festival.
What is the Loi Krathong Floating Lantern Festival?
Loi Krathong is a festival that takes place in Thailand, known as the Thai Festival of Lights. Loi means float and Krathong means lantern. It takes place on the first full moon in the month of November. It coincides with Yi Peng, however, it is a different festival. Thousands of candlelit floats are released into the Ping river in Thailand, while sky lanterns are being lifted off in the sky for the Yi Ping festival. Each lit lantern floating down the river, contains wishes, thoughts, and prayers.
As your Krathong floats away, it’s known to float away your troubles.
This festival will be taking place around November 11-13 in 2019. The dates do change every year, so definitely look it up!
What is the Yi Peng Sky Lantern Festival?
This festival is to show respect and honor to Buddha. It’s a time to celebrate the new year and wish good fortune and letting go of bad fortune that had happened in the past year. It’s a time for renewal and celebration by sending off thousands of sky lanterns.
Tips for Visiting Chiang Mai During the Festivals
- Get there early and watch the city come alive before the festivals
- Buy your plane tickets early and book your hotels well in advance (2 months in advance at a minimum)
- Definitely find yourself some mango sticky rice, your taste buds will thank you.
- Use tuk-tuks to get around or if you’re really on a budget you can get around via red pickup truck taxis (songtaew) that you can use to get around town. Just ask them if they are going in your direction.
- Get your typhoid and hepatitis A vaccinations before you go
- Come with an open spirit to embrace and explore and feel this amazing community.
Why Should You go to these Lantern Festivals?
It’s a very spiritual event. You have everyone coming together putting an end to a chapter and collective energy is welcoming in the new year. Whether you are a deep person or not, you can share this experience with strangers and feel a sense of community, and be around people who are wishing the best for each other. It’s an event that can change your life for the better and it is more than just good pictures for Instagram. These festivals give you a fresh start, where your troubles can fly or float away from you.
How to Make Loy Krathong and Yi Peng Lantern Festivals Environmentally Friendly
- Make your Krathong from sustainable materials
- Buy sustainable Krathongs made out of bamboo or natural materials
- Launch your Krathong in your hotel pool (if allowed) or another private pool instead of a river
- Consider not lighting a sky lantern at Yi Peng, but take pictures instead, because even the biodegradable lanterns still cause harm to the environment
This festival may not go on for years because of the environmental effects, but if you can watch this festival in person, it is something that you will never forget.
Top Things to Do & Eat in Chiang Mai
- Wat Chedi in Old Town
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in the hills (often called Doi Suthep)
- Night Bazaar in Old Town (souvenirs, shopping, eating, dessert, music)
- Elephant Sanctuaries (do your research on which ones that treat elephants well)
- Eat mango sticky rice
- Eat Thom Yum Soup… your taste buds will thank you.
Dengue Fever in Chiang Mai
Dengue Fever is something you should be concerned about when visiting Chiang Mai (or other parts of Thailand). You should take precaution when going to various areas in Thailand (including Chiang Mai) by:
- Covering your legs and arms
- Putting on DEET every day (even the middle of the day)
- Staying away from stagnant water
- Consider using netting if the area has lots of mosquitos
The CDC gives you more information on symptoms and more tips.
Are You Interested in Taking a Gap Year as an Adult?
Take this Quiz to find out if it is the right time for you to take time off to travel!
Are you in the process of making a New Years Resolution? Check out this episode on taking part of Water Cleanups and Using Less Plastic
This is so cool! I’ve always wanted to go to a lantern festival after seeing the beautiful photos. Thank you to Stephanie for sharing your experience!