LOY KRATONG is probably Thailand's most romantic festival and tourists who are on Phuket for November 12 should not miss the opportunity to savor it.

You too can send off your dreams for the future on a banana leaf boat. Add a candle, perhaps a small personal token, maybe a coin or two.

Watch other boats bob across the water. Dreams meander and mix.

An evening of such sublime imagery seldom fails to capture the heart.

Thais will cast their boat into the water, watch and pray. Sometimes, couples will also buy a small bird from a vendor and free it to symbolise their spirits.

Most of Phuket's large tourist centres and many resorts celebrate Loy Kratong. Usually, there is accompanying entertainment most of the evening.

Fairgrounds spring up, and often beauty contests are held for young women or children.

While still water is ideal for the kratong banana leaf boats, the sea is preferred by some.

Larger festival also sometimes launch sky lanterns, or khom loy, to light up the night.

Here is a selection of some of the places around the island already celebrating loy kratong:

Rawai: A fleet of audio pickups has been around the island, advertising the festival over several days beside the Nai Harn Lake, leading to November 12. Parades, kratong design competitions and singing contests are just a few of the activities. Miss Tiffany Universe contestants are due to appear on November 13.

Karon: A long strip of food and fashion stalls has been erected near the new restaurant centre between the beach and Karon Lake. Performances on stage on November 12.

Phuket City: The lagoon at Saphan Hin and the beach are both popular with city dwellers for launching kratong. So is the lake in Suan Luong Park. A parade will lead to Saphan Hin from the government offices with Governor Preecha Ruangjan formally opening festivities with a speech at 6pm.

Patong: On November 11, a katoey beauty contest will be held, together with dance performances by Prince of Songkla students from 4pm. On November 12, as part of the night-long celebrations from 4pm, a beauty contest will be held.

Kan Eang@Pier in Chalong is having live jazz and traditional Thai dancing (bookings 076 381212, 086 5391549) The Playhouse in Patong is advertising a night of celebration from 7pm, with dinner and a show for 1000 baht. Silk restaurant is also celebrating. The White Box at Kalim is promoting British dj Steve Bray and will be partying from 6pm until late, with sky lanterns to light for the first 100 guests. Down at Karon, the Mali Waterfront will also be partying.

The Millennium Resort in Patong is offering a special dinner and Thai dance performance for 999 baht. On November 11, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket will hold a dinner, a beauty contest and lantern launchings for 1800 baht, while the following night the Sheraton Grande Laguna offers cocktails, a Thai cultural performance, dinner and a complimentary kratong from 2200 baht.

Many other special events have been tailored to local communities and resorts across the island.

Please make sure your kratong is a genuine banana leaf, not polystyrene.

Phuket Bar Owners Asked To Mourn, Too
From Friday November 14, an elaborate royal cremation will bring three days during which bars, restaurants and entertainment venues are being asked to close or to behave in a more subdued fashion. People are asked to wear black.
Phuket Bar Owners Asked To Mourn, Too