This was surely a unlike sense for me - I was taking guests of the Cape Panwa Hotel alongside me. Some of them had been alongside me previously hence they produce know what to facial expression but I am never sure what people intend of the festival the showtime time.
We arrived at about 7:30 am at the Clock Tower circle inwards Phuket Town. The roads were already strewn alongside an audience of people wearing their white clothing as well as the possessed walking the streets.
The atmosphere was tense as well as excitable - I produce non know what fourth dimension these people arrived!
I noticed directly the lay out of people inwards the procession who were carrying an effigy that I normally encounter within a Chinese Shrine, alongside the red frames which were empty inwards Kathu Shrine previously.
There were a lay out of Mah Song who were pierced as well as were followed yesteryear an entourage who were carrying bits as well as pieces for them. Then at that topographic point were the dangerous Mah Song who were carrying a cutting tool as well as hitting themselves alongside it or swinging it around them.
Then at that topographic point were Mah Song who were non pierced or abusing themselves - they were merely patrolling the streets alongside their entourage, distributing sweets or approving people alongside their flag.
Many Mah Song were beingness welcomed to offering tables which had been develop yesteryear families inwards front end of their properties - genuinely the banks also did this.
Actually I produce non recollect seeing many of the woman mortal Mah Songs which I convey seen inwards the processions final year?
Then came the explosions as well as the effigy carrying sedans. These wooden sedans were normally loaded alongside firecrackers as well as clearly when at that topographic point was a spark the chair would explode inwards a volume of smoke as well as cherry-red paper. There were also a lay out of properties where at that topographic point were poles which had a large cracker on the transcend as well as and hence a string wrapped around the stick.
These 'sticks' were normally held yesteryear a fellow member of the audience who held it over the sedan until at that topographic point was an explosion. Some sedans clearly relished the attending that this brought them as well as it seemed equally if at that topographic point was a 'runner' who would encourage onlookers to bring together in. Some sedan 'drivers' would outpouring upwards as well as downward equally the crackers ignited or convey friends 'fan' the explosion equally it was occurring - perhaps to cut back the length of fourth dimension the embers were on those carrying the sedan?
I produce convey to add together that the banks which are numerous inwards Phuket Town seemed to savour this - perhaps the bigger the banking concern the to a greater extent than prosperity?
This seemed to maintain through the streets - I followed the procession from the Clock Tower to the roundabout inwards Phuket Town as well as and hence took a diversion (instead of going to Jui Tui Shrine) - as well as afterwards met a lot of pierced Mah Song walk the banking concern streets - yesteryear Siam Indigo as well as The On On Hotel (newly renovated).
I followed the procession to Bang Neow Shrine where the sedans were rotating themselves 360 degrees (again leaping upwards as well as down) earlier entering the shrine. I as well as hence industrial plant life that it was odd that a lay out of the pierced Mah Songs were beingness asked to 'pose' for a photograph - strange.
It was at this signal that I was aware that at that topographic point were a lot of pierced Mah Songs who were no longer pierced.
On venturing farther I noticed that at that topographic point were a lay out of Mah Songs who were having their piercings removed nether the Lantern which was raised on the solar daytime earlier the start of the Festival.
This was fascinating - ane Mah Song inwards detail had no blood leaving his small-scale cutting - what is inwards the bottles of vegetable oil? There were some who were suffering a flake to a greater extent than hurting but this was non common.
After the piercings were removed the Man Song were brought into the shrine where at that topographic point was a physical care for of the spirt leaving the Man Song - some possessed looked a petty worse than others.
But what surprised me was the possessed Man Song who high-fived his woman parent after leaving the trance??
Thank you lot to everybody who joined - same ane time to a greater extent than or to a greater extent than side yesteryear side year?