The unforgetable Vegetarian Festival

 

“The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It is believed that the vegetarian festival and its accompanying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those who religiously observe this rite. During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Sacred rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs are performed by entranced devotees known as ‘Ma Song’”.

 

What the festival means for teachers is a week off from school. Most of them left on vacation to different parts of Thailand or neighboring countries. I was invited to go rock climbing to Krabi, which was what I came for in my first visit to Thailand, three years ago. I found several lame excuses (the weather forecast announced rain; I have not climbed in more than two years…) and a really good one for not going, and I am glad I did not. The last week was a very transforming time for me and staying in Phuket was an opportunity to find the inner peace I needed.

I spent lots of time with John, who was in Phuket and moved back to England on Thursday. We hanged around town, went to the beach, shopped and ate at the weekend market, swam at Patra Mansion’s pool, went to Trivia night, enjoyed a barbecue in front of a beach in Rawai, went dancing at Laguna, ate at different places, rode around the island… His family was visiting so I had the pleasure of having dinner with them at the restaurant on Rang Hill (delicious food and gorgeous view) and getting a pedicure and lots of street foods with his brother, Luke.

Kata Noi beach at dusk
 

Yesterday I moved into John’s lovely apartment (he insists that it is my apartment now, but I still cannot call it that). I feel a mix of satisfaction and emptiness. But mostly, I feel grateful.