Another Day Of Only One Post,

as I took too many photographs! as usual,

first thing glad rags on,

as we walked to the corner where Steve and Kai picked us up,

we were soon London bound, 

passing this tree in Wandsworth, it looked so nice green leaves at the bottom slowly turning yellow, red then crimson the further up the tree you looked,

and here we were in Wimbledon, 

and this is where we are, the Buddhapadipa Temple, 

we were here to celebrate with many others Loy Krathong, which is a Thai festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and in nearby countries with significant South Western Tai cultures, it is actually on Monday 27 November 2023, but it is celebrated here today the 19th. 

so naturally a pose in front of the temple from Diana,

and a close up,

and here is Kai,

we looked at some Krathongs, 

lots here for sale, 

but what is a Krathong? from SOAS University of London:

"In Thai the word loy means ‘float’ and krathong refers to a ‘basket, vessel or boat’, so the basic meaning of Loy Krathong is ‘float a basket’. There are various stories attached to the history of Loy Krathong. One belief is that as the festival coincides with the end of the main rice harvest, Thai people see it as a chance to pay their thanks to the Water Goddess, Phra Mae Khongkha for a year’s worth of rain. As well as to apologise for polluting the waters.

Others see it as a chance to wash away any sins from the past year and welcome good fortune and luck in the coming year. It’s a way for them to let go of any hatred, grudges or negative energy. People often include a fingernail or lock of hair in their lotus shaped vessels, which is seen as letting go and starting afresh, free from negative feelings. It’s believed that if your candle stays alight until your krathong disappears, you’ll have a year of good luck",

we started walking round the temple grounds,

the building behind the girls is where the monks living here sleep,

a quick pose, 

in the pond there were a number of Krathongs,

tat had already been launched,

and nice they looked too,

in the centre of the courtyard,

the the temples Krathong,

which Diana took photographs of, 

as well as Kai,

then it was my turn, 

the work that goes into a Krathong,

has to be seen to be believed, 

the top of the Krathong,

a quick pose,

as we continued our walk,

in front of the temple a number of offerings,

and a bowl where incense could be burnt,

along the drive a number of tents where prayers could be said under the directorship of a monk,

the side of the temple,

on our right the food stalls,

on our left the stage,

where during the day various performances will take place,

in front of us stalls selling hard goods,

as well as food,

 and vegetables to take home,

like these,

some of the hard goods on offer,

now a choice for the girls,

the agony of choice!

there were also some Krathongs here,

these two swans looking at each other,

Kai bought a few things here, 

we then entered the food area,

a common sight in any Thai market, 

bananas being fried,

lots to choose from,

the girls started queueing,

Steve and myself wandered off,

looking at some of the foods,

the girls were back,

Steve and myself had bought a few things too, fish pancakes, spring rolls and prawns on toast,

a pose from Steve,

one of the many stalls,

I am not sure what the girls bought, but they were enjoying it!

we walked back to the temple,

group pose,

then myself and Steve,

the girls bought their Krathongs,

all set, 

on the way to the pond these two ladies in traditional Thai dress were having their photographs taken,

and were joined by two others,

now the tricky bit,

light the candles,

and put the Krathongs into the water, 

with out falling in!

all went well,

thankfully,

the girls watched their Krathongs float away,

who knows what the next year will bring?

and here is a video that Steve took of the girls putting their Krathongs into the pond, and guess who nearly slipped in?

by now,

there were a number of Krathongs in the pond,

and by the candle to light them with,

there are lots more on the way,

this lady, 

by the pond, 

praying as she readied to release her Krathong,

lots here now,

in so many colours,

 

we walked towards one of the two bridges,

on the island it leads to,

a display of flowers,

and well I just had to!

we walked past a nature area, 

next to it some statues had been placed,

a look back to the island,

and flower display,

we made our way past the stage,

where some traditional Thai dancing was taking place,

to the appreciation of the crowd,

time to buy a few bits and pieces,

Diana knew what she wanted to buy,

but I am not sure,

which of all of these, 

it was, 

but here it is,

along with some other purchases, 

Diana had mentioned she wanted to buy a couple of fish, I am not sure what they are, but I will make sure I am outside when she starts cooking them, for myself it is not a nice aroma when they are cooking at all,

we passed the message tree on the way out,

how come both Steve and myself ended up with all of the shopping?

I mentioned that the temple was in Wimbledon, most famous for its tennis tournaments, and here it is, the most famous of them all,

Centre Court, arriving home Steve and Kai called in for a coffee when they dropped us off, after saying our goodbyes and thanking Steve and Kai for taking us, it was time for our evening meal,

so first a read and a sherry,

Diana was still full from today, so just some mango and rice, 

for myself a fillet steak with onion rings, curly chips, carrots and broccoli, 

eyes down and tuck in!

photograph BBCi Player, after our meal we snacked on some panettone as we watched Planet Earth III episode 5 Forests, which we both enjoyed, the camera work has to be seen to be believed,

changing channels this was just starting, and Diana said she would like to watch it, The Thing from Another World, after which Diana was off to bed, another early start tomorrow, for myself a real treat,

photograph, Sergei Eisenstein (date unknown) courtesy of Moscovery, from Artland, in a series titled The Directors, tonight's director was my personal favourite, Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein 1898 - 1948, he was a Soviet film director, born in Riga, Latvia, a screenwriter, film editor and film theorist, He was a pioneer in the theory and practice of montage, and was noted in particular for his silent films Strike, Battleship Potemkin and October, as well as the historical epics Alexander Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible, three of which I have on DVD's, a documentary I really enjoyed, after which I too was off to bed.