Posts/November, 2008/

10,000 Lanterns : 10,000 Wishes

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

**All photos were taken by Nik.

Fifteen hours later, and I am still in awe of watching 10,000+ lanterns float through the sky.  I suspect that I will still be in awe of this moment 15 years from now.  In fact, I think I might look at these photos every single day for the rest of my life.  And the most amazing part is that not only did 10,000+ lanterns float through the sky; 10,000+ people launched them into the sky, and Nik and I were among them!

The Buddhist tradition states that when you release a lantern, Kome Loy, into the sky, you are releasing your misgivings and are to make a wish.  This cleansing ritual makes it difficult to think of anything but how beautiful our lives are as we watched everyone’s wish float toward the heavens.

My wish is to celebrate Loy Krathong with my entire family through the act of releasing Kome Loy into the sky!

I also took a short video of the main release that Nik put to music.  You can watch a high quality version here on YouTube.  It is amazing!!!!

Nik also posted a lot of photos from our day of beauty: Fire in the Sky

The Floating Lantern Ceremony is part of Northern Thailand’s Loy Krathong Festival, also known as Yee Peng, and is held at the Buddhist Meditation Center, Tudong Ka Sathaan Lanna, behind the Mae Jo Agricultural University in San Sai District, Chiang Mai.

A Historical Day at Home

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
Poster by Yee Haw Industries in Knoxville, TN

Poster by Yee Haw Industries in Knoxville, TN

You can buy one of these posters for your own collection here at Yee Haw’s website.

Leh, India in Photos

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008
Fresh mountain flowers have been planted throughout Leh giving the town.  They contrast sharply with the whitewashed earthen buildings making it feel like you're walking through a painting!!

Fresh mountain flowers have been planted throughout Leh giving the town. They contrast sharply with the whitewashed earthen buildings making it feel like you're walking through a painting!!

Here are the earthen bricks I mentioned above.  Also beautiful in their own right!!

Here are the earthen bricks I mentioned above. Also beautiful in their own right!!

We started our day every day at Gizmo's.  They have an amazing breakfast of eggs, toast, hashbrowns and coffee.

We started our day every day at Gesmo's. They have an amazing breakfast of eggs, toast, hash browns and coffee.Â

We spent several hours a day wandering through the narrow streets of Leh looking to see what we could find.  The architecture of this town is so simple but when you see it as a whole, it becomes quite complex.  I could wander here forever.

We spent several hours a day wandering through the narrow streets of Leh looking to see what we could find. The architecture of this town is so simple but when you see it as a whole, it becomes quite complex. I could wander here forever.

More buildings we wandered around.

More buildings we wandered around.

I pressume that this might be the door the family cow enters at night to sleep.  Almost every home had one.

I presume that this might be the door the family cow enters at night to sleep. Almost every home had one.

There are a few commercial streets in town that are filled with handicrafts, sweets, trekking gear and rooftop restaurants.

There are a few commercial streets in town that are filled with handicrafts, sweets, trekking gear and rooftop restaurants.

Guest House Guest House...there must be a million guest houses in this town!!  If the two we stayed at are any sign, then the quality of accomodation is top notch!!

Guest House Guest House...there must be a million guest houses in this town!! If the two we stayed at are any sign, then the quality of accommodation is top notch!!

Pad locks are the norm here in India.  Most doors only have one, but some have three or five.

Pad locks are the norm here in India. Most doors only have one, but some have three or five.

River blue...as you will see in a photo below, the color of the Indus River has inspired the color palette of the town.

Indus River Blue...as you will see in a photo below, the color of the Indus River has inspired the color palette of the town.

Prayer flags drape across the Buddhist Stupa to the south of town.

Prayer flags drape across the Buddhist Stupa to the south of town.

The view of the river valley from the top of the stupa.  These tall skinny mountain trees were stunning.

The view of the river valley from the top of the stupa. These tall skinny mountain trees were stunning.

Nik enjoying the beauty of the Indus Valley.

Nik enjoying the beauty of the Indus Valley.

Prayer flags of all shapes, sizes and colors.

Prayer flags of all shapes, sizes and colors.

This is the entry side to the Leh palace.  It was built in the 17th Century and is now in a general state of disrepair.  It was fascinating to walk through the rooms and imagine what it must have been like to live or work here.

This is the entry side to the Leh palace. It was built in the 17th Century and is now in a general state of disrepair. It was fascinating to walk through the rooms and imagine what it must have been like to live or work here.

Leh, as seen from the palace.

Leh, as seen from the palace.

Green Water Can

Green Water Can

A palace made from the mountains.

A palace made from the mountains.

Leh View Restaurant...Nik and I went here twice for lunch.  The food was good, but the view is why we came back.

Leh View Restaurant...Nik and I went here twice for lunch. The food was good, but the view is why we came back.

Shanti Stupa.  We came up here one day at sunset, and we barely made it in time.

Shanti Stupa. We came up here one day to watch the sunset, and we barely made it in time.

Sunset over the Himalayas.

Sunset over the Himalayas.

We took the local bus a couple times to nearby villages.  This one took us to Basgo.

We took the local bus a couple times to nearby villages. This one took us to Basgo.

We got our best view of the Indus River on the bus...as it twisted and turned around the mountains.  See the Indus River Blue?

We got our best view of the Indus River on the bus...as it twisted and turned around the mountains. See...Indus River Blue!

The Chamba Gompa in Basgo.

The Chamba Gompa in Basgo.

A door to no where.  A door draped with prayers.

A door to no where. A door draped with prayers.

The view from the plane as we left leh.  We will be back soon for another adventure in heaven!

The view from the plane as we left leh. We will be back soon for another adventure in heaven!

Click here for my previous blog entry about Leh: Shey and Thiksey, India

Nik’s Blog: The First Two Days in Leh, India

Nik’s Blog: Trips to Chamba Gompa and Shanti Stupa

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