Hatyai Lantern Festival 2011

Was supposed to blog about our visit to the annual Lantern festival last weekend but my hands were really full this week. You know the life of teachers especially during final weeks, test here and there and checking workbooks and test papers here and there (not to mention the making of grades and report cards) . I won't bore you with the details. I'm just glad I'm back in here and because it's weekend, I got to give myself a break- got to type my thoughts away.

This Lantern festival is held annually in Hatyai Park Municipality from November to February. Last year, they've featured 9 Amazing Lantern Zones, this year I wonder why they tagged the festival 11 Amazing Lanterns .I'm sorry I didn't get the details. We're just in a hurry ...taking a pose with each lantern takes time and with a tot in tow you can't expect him to be nice and go with the flow especially if he's sleepy. So that night I just "let go" of my "blogger attitude" (you know that stuff like getting to know each Lantern zones, taking notes to inform the readers what each lantern means or symbolize , taking photo of hundreds of lanterns and many other activities just to make sure you provide the accurate details and information to your readers). I just enjoy the moment with my family, savoring the rare opportunity of getting out at night and take pleasure of the lanterns around us.So far, there are 7 zones we've visited (closer look and in a distance)- Amazing Small World, Amazing Floating Lantern, Amazing Animal Planet, Amazing Lantern of the East, Amazing Chinese Lantern, Amazing Bird Paradise and Amazing Sculpture Lantern. The exhibits are both Thai and international. There are also cultural performances but we didn't get the chance to witness them.

It's year of the rabbit so at the entrance of the park, rabbits are waiting for you

New models of Coca-Cola, aren't they cool?

On stage is a band performing...they're singing love songs! What a romantic place to celebrate Valentine's day- a bridge over a lake and a band serenading you (we could pretend that they're singing for us!).

a temple with monks and palace guards in China

Hyzyd can't let go of his love of numbers. He spotted this one behind one of the palace guards above.

What's this? A lantern depicting Sangkayaw or the coconut shell race. It's commonly played in the Tagalog and Central Luzon provinces where a coconut shell is tied to a string under each foot; the string placed between the toe and the next one. The hand holds the loose end of the string. I just passed this lantern and didn't mind it until I noticed just now. Do other nationalities play it too? I'm not familiar with the lantern with stick and ring. Do you know what game it refers to?

International flags and Kokeshi dolls lantern lighted the path we walked .

A closer look of the kokeshi dolls lantern. One characteristic of kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms or legs.

We passed by a swinging bridge to get to the Animal Kingdom Lanterns. Some really get frightened when the bridge sways. It made me dizzy, really!

Though dizzy, I still managed to get a good shot of hubby (wag na kayong kumontra)

Here comes the animals-flying, swimming, crawling, walking...basta animals ...(Our Sunday School last Sunday was about God's creations and we focused on animals. It's a hands-on experience for Hyzyd. He gets to know the animals in a unique way . It's like a field trip to him. )

Warning: photo overload but I'm sure you'll love the cuddly pandas and the big bears.















Haven't visited here yet? Be sure to visit there before this months end because they'll be not be around next month. No entrance fee is required. Don't worry about packing your own food. You know Thailand, food is in every corner. Don't forget to bring your camera and be there when darkness falls so that you'll be mesmerized with the lights. If you're using lowtech digicam like moi (Canon PowershotA560), set it on "night scene" so that you'll capture the stronger lights of the lantern and you'll be seen too. Setting it on "Auto" will just make you "disappear"...I mean you'll only appear in silhouette form like our first attempt here:


See what I mean?

Whew!!!It's a long post with lotsa pictures but I hope it helps you having a glimpse of our Lantern festival here. To Hatyai Ice Dome we'll go next time. Have a nice day!

Get to know Herpes

My attention was drawn to the old billboard near our place and read the only English word "Family Day". I was reminded of the photo below the first Family Day I ever attended here in Thailand. I was invited by a Thai friend with his family to join them because they treated me as their eldest. I came to knew them in the chirch where I fellowshipped before and most of the church members commented that we're like sisters-I'm the older version of Mona (that's the name of the girl next to me). That's the start of our acquaintance and friendship.

April 14 each year is observed as Family Day in Thailand. The observance has been part of the Songkran period since 1991. As Songkran Festival brings family members for reunions, the Thai government in 1990 decided to designate April 14 Family Day. The designation is meant to underline the importance of the family institution.

It was during this time that the speaker talk about the morality of Thai has gradually deteriorated. If my memory serves me right, she also mentioned that figures like-half of the general population actually have herpes. Only a third of the infected population show visible signs of herpes. The other two thirds with who have can only transmit the virus to other people. That sounds a bit much,but I'm only going by what I heard. Herpes is an infection that is caused by a herpes simplex virus (HSV). Oral herpes causes cold sores around the mouth or face. Genital herpes affects the genitals, buttocks or anal area. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). You can get it from having sex, even oral sex. The virus can spread even when sores are not present. Mothers can also infect their babies during childbirth.

Some people have no symptoms. Others get sores near the area where the virus has entered the body. They turn into blisters, become itchy and painful, and then heal. The virus can be dangerous in newborn babies or in people with weak immune systems.

Most people have outbreaks several times a year. Over time, you get them less often. Medicines to help your body fight the virus can help lessen symptoms and decrease outbreaks. Correct usage of latex condoms can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading herpes.

When I heard about this, I remembered that Kris Aquino once came out publicly with the fact that she has herpes (generally she was referring to Genital Herpes, a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2.)- a brave plight appreciated by all those affected HSV.

It's truly inspiring when someone in a position of influence makes the choice to stand up and be counted as a person infected with herpes.

Now listen up. There is nothing terrible about herpes. It is a medical condition that is treatable. I wish that more celebrities would speak out about their herpes condition someday because they could make a lot of young men and women feel more normal rather than stigmatized. And with attention comes education, and perhaps a few more people would get the treatment that is easily obtainable.

Here are some tips on dealing with herpes:

* Talk to your doctor if you think you may have herpes.
* Remember that you're not alone. Millions of people have herpes.
* Keep yourself healthy and limit your stress.
* Don't touch your sores.
* Tell your sex partner and use condoms.