Bun Bangfai aka Rocket Festival

The first I hear about Bangfai Festival is when I hear loud music being played and when I asked Moni what was that she told me another village is celebrating Bangfai and I should go to the road to have a look. This is what I saw coming towards me:

The guy in the skirt I think is just a regular guy dressed in drag rather than an actual lady-boy sorry to disappoint you bunch who have an unhealthy obsession with lady-boys. Well when they saw there was a westerner in the village they all got excited and insisted I had a little dance with them. Unfortunately Moni didn't get the hang of the video camera and we only got this very short clip.

Bungfai I am told is a fertility festival which is to help bring rain. Have a read of it here if you like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_Festival
So after this brief passing of another villages Bangfai march a day or two later our village started our Bangfai with giving of gifts and food at one of the local temples as well as some fireworks.

 While I was watching the festivities a little gecko ran up my foot and started eating some little flies that came near me :)

The 2nd day of our village Bangfai they marched around the village playing music, dancing and drinking. When they came past our house I of course got involved which they were delighted with and that was the first time I got to meet our village chief. Everyone was trying to talk to me but they couldn't speak a word of English.

The 3rd day of Bangfai all 23 villages in the local area came together and marched through the middle of the area to the government building where they celebrated Bangfai in a dance competition. The competition is judged by the best dancers, the effort put into the march, the persons involved (the more important people the better). Well I of course joined in the march/dance and the dance off and even though our village was nowhere near as organised and elegant as other villages (ours was mainly a load of very drunk men just trying to survive the march) we apparently managed to get fourth place and winning some money I am told due to me getting involved as they had never seen a westerner take part in these activities before. This was also the first time I got filmed by a Thailand news station and maybe got on TV but sadly I didn't check as I don't have a TV.
The fourth and final day consisted of more drinking and a rocket firework competition were the rockets are judged by how high and straight they go. There was also professional singing, dancing and other activities such as a fair all day.

Well I had fun over the course of Bangfai and by the way it worked as we got rain the next day probably just a coincidence as it is the start of the wet season :P