So Sunday I did the next best thing and rode down to Thai Town for an early New Year's Festival. The Buddhist New Year 2550 actually starts on April 13, but in Los Angeles they got an early start. The main street was blocked off for about a half mile and filled with vendors and food booths (yum). The Singha Beer Garden off one street was crowded all day, though I had to pass it up as I never drink and ride. Thai boxing was on center stage all day, and was a big hit, no pun intended.
In December the King will turn 80. This photo of him in an ice sculpture was just outside the beer garden.
A popular type of folk dancing, Ramwong.
The best part, though, was that there were smiling people everywhere, all speaking Thai and enjoying the festivities. There was very little of the traditional water-throwing that goes on during this celebration in Thailand, but the atmosphere was fun anyway.
At the end of the afternoon, with tired legs and feet, I sat down and waited for the finale: a group of students who came from Thailand just to demonstrate cultural dancing at this festival. They did a great job and capped the day nicely before I headed back over the mountains.
For years, my family had to look at a large velvet painting of a Thai dancer I bought in the Philippines. Here's the real thing.
This day the ride was not remarkable, but the destination was. Happy New Year!
