Well, it's all over for some other year. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket, my favourite fourth dimension of twelvemonth too the most bizarre festival I cause got always seen. Nothing else similar it. The festival inwards 2012 ran from 14th - 24th Oct starting on the 14th amongst the raising of the Go Teng poles at all the Chinese shrines around the island, downward which the gods are invited to descend. Last twelvemonth I attended the ceremony for the pole raising too also a midnight ceremony - consider here. This year, function got inwards the fashion - concluding twelvemonth I was on vacation throughout the festival.
For the 2012 festival my married adult woman too I decided to stick to the vegetarian (เจ) diet for nine days. The festival started dorsum inwards the early on to mid 19th century (date unclear) when visiting Chinese used diet too ceremonies honouring the emperor gods to cure themselves of sickness. The locals inwards the Kathu expanse of Phuket were impressed too so the festival began. The nutrient is genuinely vegan - no meat, no dairy, no eggs .. also no alcohol. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 diet similar that is non so slowly for me! But nosotros stuck to the diet, good done us!
I suppose over the years the festival amongst its somewhat gruesome piercing ceremonies too large street processions has lost some of its deport on for me, it's much to a greater extent than familiar too I acknowledge when this year's festival started too I was working every day, I wasn't quite feeling equally enthusiastic equally previous years. Last year, existence on vacation I could selection too pick out what days to attend ceremonies or processions too had lots of fourth dimension to sort out out photos, addition my parents were hither too eager to consider the festival too. I wrote v split upwards weblog pages virtually the 2011 vegetarian festival! Which I acknowledge was mayhap likewise much. Fascinating for me, but mayhap endless pierced cheeks too firecrackers is non everyone's loving cup of tea. Well this twelvemonth the outset ceremony I checked out was on the 17th, heading to Sapam shrine early on inwards the morn (about 6am) to encounter a lensman friend called Adriano, acquire some pics too hash out photograph techniques. We genuinely got in that location a fleck early on - Sapam is a modest shrine too nil much happened until 7am. I was determined to acquire some unlike pictures, non merely pierced faces!
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vZywq65FudXhOql1Idy4WeSc7coB2UmJSacHku_5EnENJoQTDuZc6M1zLbe7K0dHYjkFz-QmZWMixB1b3TB3ytcQpBRijKRrIp7MbQnKt8Ew5opY-DFfPRtB7hrTIRBA=s0-d)
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(above) Scenes at Sapam Shrine, 17th October. More here.
Adriano teaches photography courses hither inwards Phuket which include a walk inwards Phuket Town taking pictures too and so an editing session where yous tin lav acquire some tricks of the trade. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few days subsequently Adriano gave me a Photoshop lesson at abode - thanks!
On the even of the 17th in that location was a street procession inwards Kathu hamlet too merely similar concluding twelvemonth I almost missed it. I drove to the hamlet merely earlier 7pm too almost drove into the front end of the procession. Sitting inwards the automobile which I'd thrown to the side of the route patch they ran past! Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 modest gap appeared so I could nip into a side street, green too dash out amongst camera. This procession is for the nativity too expiry gods, groups of immature men ship statues through the streets too in that location are lots too lots of firecrackers...
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OK, starting to experience the festival now.... And the really side past times side morning, some other 6am start at Sam Kong shrine on the N border of Phuket Town. As I arrived I saw a grouping of virtually xx Russians apparently on some variety of festival tour, all wearing build novel white clothes... wearing white is some other aspect of the festival. The white colouring stuff represents cleanliness. I produce crusade to apparel a white shirt at the shrines, but I don't cause got white trousers. It's non vital but they produce nation yous should non apparel black. Sam Kong was quite busy. The outset guy to acquire pierced had a scrum of people around him, lots of people trying to acquire a photo, holding cameras over heads, necks straining ... don't worry there'll live on plenty more. Within fifteen minutes in that location are Ma Song getting pierced all over the grounds of the shrine. I could non resist. Took lots of piercing photos that morn :)
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The total laid from Sam Kong Shrine is here. But I also got some really overnice option photos. Not a driblet of blood inwards sight.
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_u6pHNH-mdyGKAB4fTtXbQqS8CHFjebD6vefS36JZU5LyuMl1zruhI2-pn4izf26UI6Crx4-LKA5AhLzLRCpf76jh3RSR0oifOZUjzJgqi47SiCqx_jiXvXBMeuEhw-dQ=s0-d)
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Moving on too sure inwards festival mood now, too already v days into "the diet", in that location was a large street procession on 20th Oct inwards Phuket Town, i of the biggest ones, starting at Bang Neow shrine. I did non acquire to the shrine, merely stayed around the former town equally the procession went by. Thalang Road is a proficient house to be, though I wandered around several streets next the olfactory belongings of firecrackers.
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t0ch1qeclDDNRYhRzIiQ36wheICyoW-L1WEXT3LqOchfpol15J35-MoU1rVnn8gNpRCKVwbSmTUt0HFytsO6zSxQzBY7EZQ-ADD3FUGhOkjP-Zh3i7wZbC8ek1COHeHA=s0-d)
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![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vGWpjQOPqgSzn3-STIP8ynf5KV-_keg55QuG4tOgJCrkUK2nJ2eMQY7q--uJnGUt4lCyNsFVSPsOdfxGiD8EGFgZe6fkz7xvRsE5_CFZYKo7MLl6NLv4HOCWyudjKT=s0-d)
The elderly dyad higher upwards are Phuket natives, their menage unit of measurement runs the old herb shop on Thalang Road too also the Kopitiam cafe where I stopped for breakfast equally the procession passed correct past times the door! I finished inwards a hurry equally the firecrackers started up, pregnant the statues of the gods were passing. Many of the gangs carrying the statues stopped exterior a draw of piece of occupation solid close the cafe to live on pelted amongst firecrackers. I crouched downward equally unopen equally I dared to crusade too acquire some photos of the Boom! I'm nevertheless waiting to acquire that perfect motion painting of exploding firecrackers, but the i below is pretty close.
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sz_qlO8EcNvIv1r1HMkaWnTT3yLLPVWGo9DmWUP35Qi2itTWoaQ46CuW-U8zL8U0cbILMUKe0pu6gckEhCqIB-x66zSqgbxDcQOmeVAApirP9khCgnSi7XiKrBPFf0qA=s0-d)
The dissonance too fume is incredible. Next fourth dimension I mightiness merely recall virtually a facemask too some cotton fiber wool for my ears - it's deafening too yous cause got to live on careful non to breathe inwards likewise much smoke, but I beloved getting inwards close!
More photos from Oct 20th : Bang Neow Shrine Vegetarian Procession
Watching the processions inwards town inwards great, too since they unremarkably striking town around seven - 8am, no demand to acquire upwards likewise early on (compared to my 5:30am wake upwards to view shrines at 6am for piercing). I similar the fact that it all happens early, so I tin lav nevertheless acquire to function on time! Getting photos inwards a procession tin lav live on tricky, equally they merely maintain walking, so yous cause got a moving subject. In the shrines is easier inwards i way, equally the pierced Ma Song unremarkably sit down for a patch earlier the procession starts, but on the other hand, it's early on morn too low-cal levels are low. I crusade to acquire "different" photos every year. Not merely bloody pierced cheeks.
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vBOwinwXcIi-NLrDG2U5ZWQ5ag-65onIZCO7Ig615tmXeEvx4Wwhe41k2UH36BGERyyr3hTan8J0EqEvS65wvNOInOzlxrpFmbJLq23xgeF9GJlcJpby4zGDMgf75KtA=s0-d)
On Lord's Day 21st was the biggest procession, from Jui Tui shrine inwards town. I skipped this one. Later saw some video on TV patch I was having lunch. Some of the nastiest piercing I cause got seen. After seeing so much of the festival .. this photograph nevertheless shocked me! Don't look. And too so on Mon 22nd, it was the plough of Kathu shrine - my local, merely a v infinitesimal scooter ride from our house. They start early. I was in that location earlier 6am, Sun non fifty-fifty upwards yet, but the shrine was packed too many piercings had already taken place. Have to acquire in that location 5:30am side past times side year!
First affair I saw equally I entered the shrine ...
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vDhUtwzOUO8DsoKw_-ivNrJoONNE3yRqARP-6aeuDNMLi70-8NhdbKdZW_mWw5ccP2fVpekWpVOA4Du9zTCgLhPJjWa3aqOIisBv3mdtxFmqEugtqYfvxZcLXpATJNug=s0-d)
It was crowded too amongst Ma Song too their helpers all over the shrine, it was difficult to know where to expect too where to stand upwards when non taking photos. Actually that morn I had a slight feeling of "why did I wake upwards so early". Stood chatting amongst other photographers too bloggers including Tim, who writes his ain Phuket weblog too Diane who takes really overnice photos. I experience that side past times side twelvemonth I demand to notice a novel angle for photos, too I volition crusade to consider to a greater extent than of the other festival activities such equally firewalking too bladed ladder climbing.
Kathu shrine has something that most of the other shrines don't have. Female Ma Song getting pierced faces. I recall alone Kathu too Jui Tui allow woman soul piercing. I've non seen a lady amongst anything gruesome through their face, alone the to a greater extent than traditional skewers similar inwards the photos below.
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uOcy3CzEU7cxRadNfpnHF0nRgsMeuJCzjp9Y0sCnySIhjgs5J0JAqbJs8zSNZRZNpxaY1zoK-kuyhWg5-xIkui-TTvBy5yzigyiI6Ev6go9DoCVwGvt89rSfXqW58kSg=s0-d)
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vpimfYkCdlv7ABybgay6x2DpZKJGiECBaKkCwh4FChQAzpij9ILyAPQIb-M0cBiEyGjN1If7xYY2PIi3-9EKxZBx4NbUBGX-9binN0PqtokBX81lJ6BeDnqGhewi8MnQ=s0-d)
Can live on tricky sometimes getting a photograph without other people getting inwards the way, or other cameras getting inwards the shot! Whoever is holding the photographic tv camera higher upwards is sticking it correct inwards her face. I've never seen whatsoever objection to photos at the festival, but ... I recall a sure score of honour should live on shown. Meanwhile the manful soul Ma Song were getting the common assortment of guns, knives, metallic sculptures, swords, electrical goods too plants stuck through their cheeks too through tongues too.
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ufVKieOfb5vNwk7RoqeHKKjh1CkLfc0RhYoydeksgjpVASbUKLMmWguWegUo84dbkO21MuUgV057xb805_-9SiVLaHTIszz4Vmovvx1f51AFYbMDZwTfQIAjMRQ8qjpg=s0-d)
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t5OdZL3333D79GUMoEc6q25tug_Qkemudc0ep5KVq8e8jXMiK5oCU2nslNlJLVrp6OVE3vhFIc90bh8Av5glEV-naOK0k5OP4GNASqrsytOHcNH4X0UigksiteWgy1=s0-d)
Little past times little, a few at a time, the pierced Ma Song too followers headed out of the shrine on the walk to Phuket Town. From Kathu to Sapan Hin is virtually 10km. At the raise of the procession come upwards the statues of the gods ...
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s3ew2ttFFABQ2luY3t9bG7WEFDchhkHUBdJojIaWyOaOI5ZDBi1b5DVCnITYHg4QlhyW4Fsn9j7Rd2evs8awiharLGuldyghCPJ418KaQ8PpMgPc6Vq1gc0EY4YMipXw=s0-d)
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t1iXNwJrY-3T1iv8z4PIlZc4GXAzim8F7IQWE_xtkvKdwn4ICkk9Qe8bNxS9K06IcE2-HRo-IFUkFXvRF2EM7ot7EJ6Kr7DkJINieY9c7_8lVxfRxZ9qClWArzBZmlpg=s0-d)
And a few stragglers ....
![The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is in all probability my favourite final result inwards Phuket Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_v8GDpu7e768SreE9DPXFp8FmgfE0ess2WAu2AJ-TAtG_BO7fmvFZvAIP8tUP4Bk8r8cBXCJnMbjklKMit8sMCrwM7CaPTDrHIQbhQCf3isYHDr3K1NrNNTI0L6RDYU=s0-d)
With the procession past, the build clean upwards crews rapidly arrive. The streets are all build clean merely minutes after the procession too normal daily life continues. The festival continued some other ii days, but that was plenty for me this year. Hope to cause got to a greater extent than fourth dimension for it side past times side year. The Phuket vegetarian festival has many stories to tell. I've never genuinely mentioned that much virtually the nutrient before, so volition crusade too write virtually that side past times side year. Dates for the Phuket vegetarian festival 2013. The festival volition start on the even of Oct fourth too terminate on the 14th. Looking forrard to it already!
One concluding photograph .. at Sam Kong Shrine. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 protestation against gasoline prices?
Sumber http://jamie-monk.blogspot.com
For the 2012 festival my married adult woman too I decided to stick to the vegetarian (เจ) diet for nine days. The festival started dorsum inwards the early on to mid 19th century (date unclear) when visiting Chinese used diet too ceremonies honouring the emperor gods to cure themselves of sickness. The locals inwards the Kathu expanse of Phuket were impressed too so the festival began. The nutrient is genuinely vegan - no meat, no dairy, no eggs .. also no alcohol. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 diet similar that is non so slowly for me! But nosotros stuck to the diet, good done us!
I suppose over the years the festival amongst its somewhat gruesome piercing ceremonies too large street processions has lost some of its deport on for me, it's much to a greater extent than familiar too I acknowledge when this year's festival started too I was working every day, I wasn't quite feeling equally enthusiastic equally previous years. Last year, existence on vacation I could selection too pick out what days to attend ceremonies or processions too had lots of fourth dimension to sort out out photos, addition my parents were hither too eager to consider the festival too. I wrote v split upwards weblog pages virtually the 2011 vegetarian festival! Which I acknowledge was mayhap likewise much. Fascinating for me, but mayhap endless pierced cheeks too firecrackers is non everyone's loving cup of tea. Well this twelvemonth the outset ceremony I checked out was on the 17th, heading to Sapam shrine early on inwards the morn (about 6am) to encounter a lensman friend called Adriano, acquire some pics too hash out photograph techniques. We genuinely got in that location a fleck early on - Sapam is a modest shrine too nil much happened until 7am. I was determined to acquire some unlike pictures, non merely pierced faces!
(above) Scenes at Sapam Shrine, 17th October. More here.
Adriano teaches photography courses hither inwards Phuket which include a walk inwards Phuket Town taking pictures too and so an editing session where yous tin lav acquire some tricks of the trade. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few days subsequently Adriano gave me a Photoshop lesson at abode - thanks!
On the even of the 17th in that location was a street procession inwards Kathu hamlet too merely similar concluding twelvemonth I almost missed it. I drove to the hamlet merely earlier 7pm too almost drove into the front end of the procession. Sitting inwards the automobile which I'd thrown to the side of the route patch they ran past! Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 modest gap appeared so I could nip into a side street, green too dash out amongst camera. This procession is for the nativity too expiry gods, groups of immature men ship statues through the streets too in that location are lots too lots of firecrackers...
OK, starting to experience the festival now.... And the really side past times side morning, some other 6am start at Sam Kong shrine on the N border of Phuket Town. As I arrived I saw a grouping of virtually xx Russians apparently on some variety of festival tour, all wearing build novel white clothes... wearing white is some other aspect of the festival. The white colouring stuff represents cleanliness. I produce crusade to apparel a white shirt at the shrines, but I don't cause got white trousers. It's non vital but they produce nation yous should non apparel black. Sam Kong was quite busy. The outset guy to acquire pierced had a scrum of people around him, lots of people trying to acquire a photo, holding cameras over heads, necks straining ... don't worry there'll live on plenty more. Within fifteen minutes in that location are Ma Song getting pierced all over the grounds of the shrine. I could non resist. Took lots of piercing photos that morn :)
The total laid from Sam Kong Shrine is here. But I also got some really overnice option photos. Not a driblet of blood inwards sight.
Moving on too sure inwards festival mood now, too already v days into "the diet", in that location was a large street procession on 20th Oct inwards Phuket Town, i of the biggest ones, starting at Bang Neow shrine. I did non acquire to the shrine, merely stayed around the former town equally the procession went by. Thalang Road is a proficient house to be, though I wandered around several streets next the olfactory belongings of firecrackers.
The elderly dyad higher upwards are Phuket natives, their menage unit of measurement runs the old herb shop on Thalang Road too also the Kopitiam cafe where I stopped for breakfast equally the procession passed correct past times the door! I finished inwards a hurry equally the firecrackers started up, pregnant the statues of the gods were passing. Many of the gangs carrying the statues stopped exterior a draw of piece of occupation solid close the cafe to live on pelted amongst firecrackers. I crouched downward equally unopen equally I dared to crusade too acquire some photos of the Boom! I'm nevertheless waiting to acquire that perfect motion painting of exploding firecrackers, but the i below is pretty close.
The dissonance too fume is incredible. Next fourth dimension I mightiness merely recall virtually a facemask too some cotton fiber wool for my ears - it's deafening too yous cause got to live on careful non to breathe inwards likewise much smoke, but I beloved getting inwards close!
More photos from Oct 20th : Bang Neow Shrine Vegetarian Procession
Watching the processions inwards town inwards great, too since they unremarkably striking town around seven - 8am, no demand to acquire upwards likewise early on (compared to my 5:30am wake upwards to view shrines at 6am for piercing). I similar the fact that it all happens early, so I tin lav nevertheless acquire to function on time! Getting photos inwards a procession tin lav live on tricky, equally they merely maintain walking, so yous cause got a moving subject. In the shrines is easier inwards i way, equally the pierced Ma Song unremarkably sit down for a patch earlier the procession starts, but on the other hand, it's early on morn too low-cal levels are low. I crusade to acquire "different" photos every year. Not merely bloody pierced cheeks.
On Lord's Day 21st was the biggest procession, from Jui Tui shrine inwards town. I skipped this one. Later saw some video on TV patch I was having lunch. Some of the nastiest piercing I cause got seen. After seeing so much of the festival .. this photograph nevertheless shocked me! Don't look. And too so on Mon 22nd, it was the plough of Kathu shrine - my local, merely a v infinitesimal scooter ride from our house. They start early. I was in that location earlier 6am, Sun non fifty-fifty upwards yet, but the shrine was packed too many piercings had already taken place. Have to acquire in that location 5:30am side past times side year!
First affair I saw equally I entered the shrine ...
It was crowded too amongst Ma Song too their helpers all over the shrine, it was difficult to know where to expect too where to stand upwards when non taking photos. Actually that morn I had a slight feeling of "why did I wake upwards so early". Stood chatting amongst other photographers too bloggers including Tim, who writes his ain Phuket weblog too Diane who takes really overnice photos. I experience that side past times side twelvemonth I demand to notice a novel angle for photos, too I volition crusade to consider to a greater extent than of the other festival activities such equally firewalking too bladed ladder climbing.
Kathu shrine has something that most of the other shrines don't have. Female Ma Song getting pierced faces. I recall alone Kathu too Jui Tui allow woman soul piercing. I've non seen a lady amongst anything gruesome through their face, alone the to a greater extent than traditional skewers similar inwards the photos below.
Can live on tricky sometimes getting a photograph without other people getting inwards the way, or other cameras getting inwards the shot! Whoever is holding the photographic tv camera higher upwards is sticking it correct inwards her face. I've never seen whatsoever objection to photos at the festival, but ... I recall a sure score of honour should live on shown. Meanwhile the manful soul Ma Song were getting the common assortment of guns, knives, metallic sculptures, swords, electrical goods too plants stuck through their cheeks too through tongues too.
Little past times little, a few at a time, the pierced Ma Song too followers headed out of the shrine on the walk to Phuket Town. From Kathu to Sapan Hin is virtually 10km. At the raise of the procession come upwards the statues of the gods ...
And a few stragglers ....
With the procession past, the build clean upwards crews rapidly arrive. The streets are all build clean merely minutes after the procession too normal daily life continues. The festival continued some other ii days, but that was plenty for me this year. Hope to cause got to a greater extent than fourth dimension for it side past times side year. The Phuket vegetarian festival has many stories to tell. I've never genuinely mentioned that much virtually the nutrient before, so volition crusade too write virtually that side past times side year. Dates for the Phuket vegetarian festival 2013. The festival volition start on the even of Oct fourth too terminate on the 14th. Looking forrard to it already!
One concluding photograph .. at Sam Kong Shrine. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 protestation against gasoline prices?