Tribal Trappings – Asian Ethnic Art, Artifacts, Textiles and Folk Art Tribal Trappings – Thoughts about Thailand, Chiang Mai, things tribal including textiles, ethnographica and folk art <data:blog.pageTitle/>

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Everything's Coming Up.... Orchids!

The first weekend of February always heralds the approaching end of our 'cool season' with the annual Flower Festival, which includes the ubiquitous beauty contest, a fabulous display of award-winning orchids and bonsai, and of course, a terrific parade. Thais know how to throw a parade: marching bands in sometimes-kooky theme attire


alternate with ornate, flower-filled floats bearing beautiful ladies, and/or celebrating the King







and are interspersed with handsome couples in historic costume,


sword dancers, Lan Na gong and drum groups, hilltribes in their respective ethnic outfits (Hmong shown here),

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and phalanxes of traditionally-attired Thais representing villages or companies or other entities. The Fashionistas were also out in force, with some curious interpretations of Western fashions, notwithstanding ironic t-shirts.




The favorite fashion accessory was the colorful Thai umbrella.



Watching the parade-watchers was also good sport.







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