Surreal start

We just attended the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. There is so much to say here...the Chinese Buddhists in Thailand view this as a period of purification and atonement - therefore they eat vegetarian and vegan food, wear white, and some even do extreme things like driving swords through their cheeks and then parade though the streets. It was a surreal experience, from the pouring monsoon rains to the smoke-filled streets (from fireworks set off to scare bad spirits away), to people possessed by some of the gods invited to descend for the 10-day festival, to the huge swords or other objects driven through people's faces. We didn't take any photos, but if you want to read more, check out the official site or this blog (warning: graphic photos).