Monday 25 October 2010 was a big day out in the sun for a few thousand inhabitants of amphur Khao Chakan, the 'amphur anniversary parade and festival'.
Where? Sa Kaeo province east of Bangkok, Khao Chakan town is 18km south of Sa Kaeo town on highway 317 the main road south from SK to Chanthaburi, comprising four tambons: Khao Chakan, Nong Wa, Phra Phloeng and Khao Sam Sip. Population (2008) 57,000.
The district is named after the hills of Khao Chakan, a group of limestone hills raising out of the valley alluvium. Within the hills are several caves, including the cave temple Wat Tham Khao Chakan.
Offerings for the temple monkeys, of which there are hundreds. My first ever visit there in 2009 put me off monkeys for life when one attacked a freind and her child.
The parade was set to start from the western end of the town, and the four-lane highway was closed and traffic diverted to allow for the decorated trucks, bands and dancers to go through the town and finish at the temple in the hills approx 1500m away.