Friday, January 23, 2015

The Bo Sang Umbrella Festival

Jim had read in one of our guide books, and I had read in our in flight  magazine that the Bo Sang Umbrella Festival would be happening the same weekend we would be in Chaing Mai. The festival  was about a 9 km songthaeu ride out of town, and we decided to take our chances. We were not dissapointed. 
Bo Sang is where all the painted paper and silk umbrellas  come from, and the festival is an opportunity  to put that on display in full vibrant color. 

Behind us, you can see several examples in all colors and sizes


The best part of our visit was by far the parade. It had a marching band, with this young drum majorette  at the head 

And floats with children dressed in traditional costume. I managed to capture  a pretty excellent  nose picker in this shot 

And no parade  would be complete without floats

That were so tall, each float had a guy with a tall stick to push those pesky power lines out of the way

The theme  of this year's  festival was we are one Asean. As such, there was one float for every Asean country,


Accompanied  by adults  also in traditional dress of that country

Thailand was the last country  float, and they brought out the white elephant for the occasion.


Here I am posing with the more traditional style paper umbrella

Both the opening and closing of the festival  was led by these ladies on bicycles. Each representing the Asean countries, these ladies would go on over the weekend to compete for the title of Miss Bo Sang.

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