Khao Chakan, Amphur Anniversary Parade and Festival'. [/I]

[genghis61]

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.

[genghis61]

we arrived early - didn't know what time the parade was due to begin (4pm) and spent an hour watching the children having their last-minute practices of dance and music at the school.

Some of the boys were less than enthusiastic at spending a Monday afternoon in costume and banging two pieces of wood together for two hours.

and a late lunch for some of the dancers

[genghis61]

the theme was - same as every year I am told - a mountain (Khao Chakan), monkeys and bats. And so it shall be.

Our local Nong Wa effort had the added bonus of a man dressed as a tiger (some imagination required)

A secondary contest appeared to be which tambon had the loudest sound system; in which case this one was a clear winner. It didn't play music, just a simple booming bass drum sound 'boom boom boom' (!) or perhaps 'doom doom doom' for Lord of The Rings fans, because that's what i sounded like, the bass shook the ground. The guys on board expect to get there hearing back early 2011.

runner up - and I liked the genuine rural touch - was this one towed by Mr Kubota. Volume turned up to 11 of course.

[genghis61]

[pescator]

A nice off the beaten track report. Thanks.

[genghis61]

.

[genghis61]

When the parade reached the temple it was time for a break, dinner for the important amphur/orbortor folk and more entertainment through the evening (we didn't stay)

[genghis61]

.

standard rural highway town, main road runs through the town centre - 4 lanes wide with a grass/shrub median either side, with a one-way two-lane road with parking ether side for local use.

For us KC is our local town, 26km from home and it has the nearest ATMs, pharmacy, and small Tesco-Lotus and 7/11 stores right next to each other.

Move along folks, nothing to see here