Street Monk - Chiang Mai

Not saying it's because of a hard-knock life, but this monk stood out.

It was his Sak Yant tattoo and his deep red robe.  A walk showing an unusual uniqueness in a sea of monks, swinging the fabric as he moved.  He walked alone, when there were thousands of others around.

I shot this at an event in Chiang Mai where 12600 monks gathered to accept alms for the flood victims in southern Thailand.

Shot November 27, 2011

A Fiery Lift Off - Chiang Mai

It's early in the morning, and the park is filled with hot air balloons hurriedly trying to set up.  For each balloon, teams of people work together to attach the basket, test the burners, and roll out the balloon itself.

Then comes this.

The pilot pulls the levers to let the maximum amount of fuel to feed the burners.  Preparing for liftoff, and to fly in the sky.

The Thailand International Balloon Festival happens yearly in Chiang Mai around November.  You can read more about the festival here, and check out a photo essay my friend Dan shot of the same event over at Canvas of Light.

Shot November 25th, 2011

12600 Monks, One Street - Chiang Mai

A sea of orange pouring through the streets.  12600 monks, in their exceptionally bright robes like 12600 burning candles.

The occasion was the alms giving ceremony in Chiang Mai, with the public urged to bring donations of canned & non-perishable food.  This year, the donations would be turned over to the victims of the disastrous flooding that has recently taken place in Thailand and made news headlines around the world.

On an early morning last month, I woke up to witness the ceremony... (click for the full gallery)

Click to read more ...

Lunar Eclipse - Chiang Mai

The last lunar eclipse of 2011 happened this evening.  For the uninitiated, this event happens when the earth casts its shadow from the sun onto the moon, and it happens roughly 2 times a year on average.  If you see it, and whether or not it's full or partial depends on where you are on our lovely planet Earth.

Even though the clouds conspired to obstruct my view for much of the evening, we were able to sneak a peek here and there.  This shot, taken as the eclipse crawled towards totality, was about as clear as a shot that I could get.

I wanted to be an astronaut.  I mean, as a kid, who didn't?  A bit of a space nerd, I used to launch rockets and point out stars and constellations to anyone within earshot.  I've seen more than a few lunar eclipses myself, so it was a little strange to hear that it was the first one for so many people I was with tonight.  Oddly enough, most of my memories of lunar eclipses involve 4am alarms in the dead of Saskatchewan winters.  Needless to say, it was a little milder in Chiang Mai this evening.

Shot Dec 10th, 2011