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WARNING graphic images are included
PHUKET'S Governor Tree Ackaradecha celebrated his 59th birthday today by accepting two bottles of Australian wine from Aussie honorary consul Larry Cunningham this morning . . . then joining the abstaining crowd for the start of the Vegetarian Festival this afternoon.
Next year's Vegetarian Festival will bring the end of his whirlwind 12-month tenure.
The raising of lantern poles at Phuket's Chinese temples today marked the beginning of nine days of parades and vegetarian food for adherents, and especially for the entranced warriors.
Phuketwan found possibly the youngest warrior on the island on the shoulders of his father among the crowds that packed Jui Tui Temple in Phuket City.
Other youngsters were there, too. Schoolgirls in uniform were taking photos of warriors slashing their tongues with swords and bloodying their backs with hatchets, in the process absorbing the pain of life on behalf of everyone else.
Such is the contrast of the festival. There were confronting scenes of warriors shedding red, and tended scenes of other warriors blessing young and old participants.
Top it all off with brilliant costumes and a barrage of fireworks, and it's Phuket's culture at its most colorful . . . or crazy.
Over the next nine days, thousands of observers will have the chance to be the judges.
PHOTO ALBUM Psst. Wanna know where to find the best vegetarian meals on Phuket? Come with us to Joe's place, where pizza and Japanese are on the menu.
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