The Weekend!

We went with Pin to the vegetarian festival this morning. She wanted us to see the preformances, where people put objects through their cheeks/mouths.
We got there at 7:00am, which was very earlier, because we went to the "disco" last night. It was a dance club, with English music. Very Fancy and extremely overstaffed.
We had a lot of fun. As you are walking in the street, they have it blocked off so no cars can drive on it, and there was a man with a iguana, and he asks for money and takes a picture for you and lets you hold it, or have it climb on your arm. We didnt give him any money but Jessica got to have it climb up her arm.
Our friend Lorraine took a picture, but she hasnt sent it to us yet. Maybe next week?

At the Vegetarian Festival, they had street food, or sit down restaurants. Everyone there had to wear white. And there was Yellow Flags everywhere. From what we understand, the three colors combined to symbolize vegetarianism are red,yellow, and white. red represents the blood,. and yellow and white represent puirity .
I was given a red,yellow and white handmade braclet that is supposed to bring "good luck" Pin said. It was given to me by one of the preformers who had a sword sticking through one cheek and out the other.

(this is jessica) We got there and the road was blocked off. Jess was expecting it to be kindof like the buskers but glorified where you go to where the "act" is and watch, but it was actualyl a parade from 7-1pm (so we had to get up early... even though we got home last night at 2am)... the parade is sacred. when you see somethign that you highly respect or are impressed by you have to waii (WHY), which means that you put your hands together in a prayer position at your chest and bow, depending on the age. It is tradition to put these things, wide, kinves, poles, odd things (one guy had snakes in his cheeks), etc because the mouth is the area which commits the initial sin of eating meat.

It was incredible. so we're standing on the side of the road as group after group after group of people come walking through. dressed head to toe in white, other than the "performer" him/herself. they are dressed vibrantly to bring attention to them and their sacrifice for the vegetarian festival.

the food was amazing too...mmmm yummmyy

one of my (jessica still) favourite parts of the day was when I Asked the owner of a vegetarian sit down place if he was a vegetarian forever and he said yes , and I said "me too" and he looked at me with an all new expression and reached out to shake my hand and said "congratulations".... it was really really touching and brought a tear to my eye. Someone understands? It's really nice to be accepted for who you are all the time.

(Reffa) Firecrackers were constantly going off all day. We stayed till about 11:00 and then Pin took us for a drive to see a few of the beaches that are further out of our town. They were less commercialized, and more private. Less expensive as well. They were AMAZING by the way

After we got back to the Hotel; Me, Jess, Daryl, Lorraine, Moisy and Greg went to Katon Beach and swam for about 2 hours. Then sat on the sand and talked and laughed and then all went out for supper together.

We had supper at a place that was right on the beach, it was right on the rocky shore near the forests.

A great weekend. Nice to have a break from our 11-hour school days!
Only homework we have is to practise our Thai.
To Swim- Waai nam
To Go- Bpai
um... (i'm trying to think of ones I used today...we are trying to use them when we talk)
Mai Tee Nee- Come here
Tee nee- Here
Tee nan- There
Her- Ter
I - Chan
Mai- No
Meow - Cat (hahaha)
Prong Nee- Tomorrow
etc..