Ork Phansa Festival

9.2
Superb 1 review
0.5 km from centre - Chiang Mai (Thai Motorcycle Tours.com Co. Ltd)
Duration: 11 Days
From: Maha Sarakham
To: Nakhon Phanom
Languages: English, Thai
The Buddhist lent lasts for three months and traditionally coincides with the rainy season. This festival falls on the last day of the Lent. Consider the implications a moment...? We get to motorcycle across Thailand enjoying all the celebrations
Ok Phansa is the day that marks the end of the Buddhist Lent period. Buddhist Lent is the annual three-month retreat during rainy season observed by monks who stay in a particular temple and are not a

See more at : https://www.thailandee.com/en/events-thailand/ok-phansa-231
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Motorcycling through Thailand

From Chiang Mai we ride East some 600Km, an adventure in itself as there are many routes to choose from, absolutely spoiled for choice! Pretty much unable to travel through a village (let alone province!) without being distracted by some form of excess. I could pretty much double the size of this site purely with the activities over the next week or two, honestly! Not even exaggerating! Honestly, I even considered dedicating an entire category to it, and a page-per-experience, but just too much, the choices are bewildering! Instead we'll cherry-pick the best examples in each field and with a little massaging of the 11-Day-Tour's Start/Finish dates we should be able to squeeze two experiences into each Tour. First-up, my favourite, insanity personified!

The Buffalo Racing Festival. With their jockeys clinging on, buffaloes race at surprisingly quick speeds in what is also a celebration of this animal’s exalted status in the agricultural arena.

Obviously there's a complete ban on alcohol sales over the weekend, couldn't have the racers impeded in any way?! Yeah, right smilewink

Ok Phansa is the day that marks the end of the Buddhist Lent period. Buddhist Lent is the annual three-month retreat during rainy season observed by monks who stay in a particular temple and are not a

See more at : https://www.thailandee.com/en/events-thailand/ok-phansa-231
Copyright © Thailandee.com
Ok Phansa is the day that marks the end of the Buddhist Lent period. Buddhist Lent is the annual three-month retreat during rainy season observed by monks who stay in a particular temple and are not a

See more at : https://www.thailandee.com/en/events-thailand/ok-phansa-231
Copyright © Thailandee.com

The Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession in which locals float the Lai Reua Fai or illuminated boats down the Mekong River. Loaded with food, flowers, incense sticks, candles and handmade lanterns, the boats make a spectacular sight. And really is quite a spectacle! I mention this next because usually the following weekend after Conburi Buffalo's, so here's our first pair;

It is not uncommon to see boat processions carrying the Thai faithful. During the day, some places will hold boat races. As the day draws to a close, the boats will often be used to transport flowers and candles, usually taking on a religious or patriotic theme. Taking place in Samut Prakan from is the Rap Bua Festival, an ancient Buddhist tradition of the local people of Bang Phli district and where the highlight is a magnificent barge procession of a replica of the Luangpho To Buddhist image along Khlong Samrong.

 

The Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle Festival 2022 from 2– 5 October, with amazing wax sculptures on display and long-boat races on Nong Han Reservoir. The intricate sculptures in the form of entire cities, elaborate deities and shrines are paraded around town and are helping to gain increased international recognition for this event.

 

We'll call this our "Cultured Pair"?

For visitors to Thailand, perhaps nothing beats the giant Naga Fireballs. This amazing show of lights is thought to be the work of igniting gases spontaneously, releasing fireballs that soar to the sky. The breath-taking show has special meaning for the locals and is a surreal experience for foreigners. They can best be viewed along the Mekong River for over 20km between Pak-Ngeum district, about 80km south of the Laos capital Vientiane, and Phonephisai district in Nong Khai province, Thailand. One of the more mysterious of events on the Thailand events calendar, this centres around the as yet unexplained fireballs that annually erupt into the sky from the Mekong River. I've seen them, can't explain it?! However over 6,000,000 people arrived over the weekend last year so a) going on bikes is a necessity to stand a chance with the jams, and again booking 12+ months or more in advance if accommodation is required. Nongkhai is around 50k from the epicentre actually, Phon Pisai being where there's greatest chance of experiencing the fireballs but also absolutely ram-jam-packed! We'll get you as close as feasibly possible.

 

 We also have DragonBoat Races in Nakhon Phanom which would pair up nicely with this, You should see these guys go! Bpuk's father's involved with a team so you'll see Fifty drunken guys paddling like crazy in our TMT Company Colours! We rarely win against the truly International-standard competition but have a great laugh taking part!!

 

Above; Cambodia vs. Laos & China Vs. Thailand, truly International Event and very exciting. Truly the Dragonboat World Championships!

Central To The Buddhist Way of Life;

Wan Awk Phansa is an important festival for devout Thais as it marks the end of lent as well as the start of a new season following the end of heavy rains. The holiday is recognised as a public holiday in Thailand and is marked on the full moon day of the eleventh lunar month. In signifying the end of the lent period for Buddhists, the festival highlights the importance of abstaining from meat, alcohol and smoking. On this day, the locals will make their way to the temples to make petitions as well as offerings. Often, the visit involves heading back to the temple of one’s birthplace. This is often accompanied by candlelit gatherings where the locals walk around the temple carrying a candle, a lotus bud and three incense sticks. Rule #1; Buddhism isn't a religion, it's a way of life. There IS no saving your piety for the audience on Sunday to show it off - a religion implies faith, which by its very nature also relies upon the tiniest possibility of doubt. There is ZERO doubt here, I've studied both the devout and irreverent, the only difference being how often/whether they bother to visit the temple & have a chinwag with the Monks. One look at relative crime rates, demonstrations, petitions, basic aggression in society proves that theirs works, and ours is so sadly lacking. We've so much to learn.

 

  • Venezuela  James
    12/06/2017
    Great Roads Good hotels good people
    • Extended Tours
    • Couples / Groups
    • Adventure Biking
    9.2 / 10
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Booking
Total:
96,970฿
Honda CB650R
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Yamaha MT-07
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Suzuki V-Strom 650
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Honda Hornet
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Suzuki V-Strom 800
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Suzuki V-Strom 1050
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Ducati Monster
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Departs at
07:45
Important information
  • Accommodation basing on twin-sharing rooms.
  • Airport transfer.
  • English / Thai-speaking guide service.
  • Sightseeing, admission fees and entrance fees all-inclusive as specified.
  • All meals, accommodation, fuel, bikes, maintenance items
  • VAT and service charge also included.
  • Guests expected to organise Travel / Riding insurance with their home providers.
  • All of airfares, airport tax, visa fee
  • Personal expenses, optional visit and other services unspecified
  • Surcharge for special occasion, gala dinner on Christmas, New Year,…
  • Please Follow This Booking Advisory: For your convenience you may book flights after Your Tour, Consequently grab the BEST airfares, usually 8-10weeks before travel
  • i) Book Required Tour. Dreate User Account for your convenience later
  • iii) We'll Check your Booking & be in touch (usually within 48hrs): Confirming Your Booking / Dates / Extras etc
  • iv) Remit Deposit Amount (15%) of Invoice (Taxes all Included in our prices)
  • v) You're Booked! We'll be in touch regarding details, bits & pieces. Your Booking remains infinitely variable apart from the 'Core-Tour-Dates', anything else maybe edited by you, at any time for your personal convenience
  • Please take a look at our FAQ's Page Here, there will be the answers that I'm then able to elaborate on for individual cases
  • Payment in full required 60days before Tour Commences. Cancellation after that date; 80% until 30days, 50% until 14days & 30% after
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