They don´t beg for a coke...

© Frank P. Schneidewind

...but instead of a few coins or small bills (which they sure not are able to keep), I give them a sodapopdrink, like a local Coke, Fanta or Sprite. The people exploiting children, the beggarkid-pimps aren't far in most cases and toddlers carried aren't necessarily trolling along with their real moms. All is setup for the soft hearted tourists with their ATMs, creditcards and fat wallets. Studies have proven, that slumkids are being used as a tool for this trade. I strongly object that but the kids eyes....

The Coke is maybe something they never had, only the rich kids, if any there buy foreign brands. But they sure can use the refreshment and the calorie-boost.

Sure, some may say, they're often a bit young for a drink like that, but given the option of the 3 flavors here, the youngest grab mostly for the dark Coke. Nobody will take a drink away from the kid I gave it to and the adult beggar will opt for the deposit of the empty bottle.

Other kids will surely pop up out of nowhere within seconds, because their watchful eyes were trained on you for quite a while.

In some cases, I had to flee from there because a small crowd of kids quickly attracts a big one!

The dealers of Coca-Cola and Fanta will give you a really good price, if negotiating skills are netural to you. 500 Riels or 8 bottles for a Dollar is the going street-price. Don't get taken there!

If you ask for a photo, they never said "no". Its hot any time of the year and dehydration is a serious problem amongst street kids. Tap water ain't potable here and rain is being delivered free only if you have Rainy Season.

The smiles you'll earn will be genuine and if you're a big spender on beggars, consider financing a well for a community, it will bear your name for about 200$ and be drilled and installed under supervision of a respected German citizen, who lives in rural Tani and is involved in all sorts of community projects like wells and schools for the "have-nots". Contact the admin for an email address to contact if you wish.

The smiles are so adorable and the kids remember you next year, should you return here.

This little Sprite-lover lady drank the whole 10 or 12 oz. oz. bottle in a few minutes!

But be prepared for a few extra bottles for the late kids that did ran far to you. The rumor about the foreigner handing out free quality drinks spread faster, than wildfires in the Californian high desert.

Phi Ta Khon Festival - Loei

© Frank P. Schneidewind

Once every year, the small community called Dansai in the hills of Loei Province is the epicenter of ethnic festival activity in Thailand - it's "Phi Ta Khon" time again and enthusiasts come from near and far into this one-horse-town. The ghost festival is being held in mid-summer once yearly and the spectacular event lasts 3 days. Parted well into a timely schedule most activity but the initial one are in daytime. The awakening every year is a nightly merit making ritual. The Tourism Authority of Thailand started to promote this festival, so foreigners do came in greater numbers every year. The website: www.tessabandansai.com has a schedule, Dansai is about 450 KM north of Bangkok. The last weekend in July is the most probable time for the following years.

The ghost masks are all handpainted and very colorful, the matching costumes hand-sewn.

Here, ancient buddhist rites were mixed with more modern fertility rites,
the masks, shrouds and penile symbols are significant for it.

Many hundred kids of all ages participate in contests and a lot of activity
centers around Wat Phon Chai.

Keaw-Asa road will be your prime spot for viewing and photographing the Phi Ta Khon in groups dancing and marching down this long street.

The richness in colors is endless and the proud participants give all they can to excel!

Groups often appear in matching colors to represent their clans.

The wooden penis-like symbols bring the fertility aspect.

But quite a few of the actors are minors

Some have bells attached to their backsides!

The prettiest ghosts are often done by female actresses (check the fingers!)

The woven baskettop is an affixed topping for the palm-produced faceparts.

Teams after Teams walk by and squirt their imaginary semen into the crowds.

The individual groups take collective rests, good photo-opportunities!

If you go there once, you sure won't be there for the last time.

Locals make souvenir miniatures for sale.

And the ghosts love to pose for you for a photo.