Lots of people walk around with a bike sticking out of their face…

Fireworks, body modification, white gowns…must mean the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is back in town~

This is one of the craziest holidays in Southeast Asia…and is an experience to say the least!!

If your in Phuket–the festival goes until Sunday the 17th—you should check it out :)

Sunday October 10th
Street procession starting 7am for Sapam Shrine – this shrine is a few km north of Phuket Town (about a 10km walk from the shrine to Sapan Hin). You will always find the TV news and lots of photographers at the first procession, as everyone wants to get the first photos for the paper, and local TV always covers the festival. Since it’s a Sunday, I might try to get to this one.

Monday October 11th
Street procession from Sam Kong Shrine. They will walk from the shrine in the north of town not far from Tesco Lotus, past the Bangkok-Phuket Hospital and through old Phuket town.
Tuesday October 12th
Street procession – Ban Tha Rue shrine which is in the Thalang area of Phuket in the center of the island – this used to be the main town in Phuket a few hundred years ago and there are several historic temples in the area and an annual festival celebrating the history of Phuket.

Wednesday October 13th
Lots of things going on today… In the morning, a street procession in Phuket Town for the Bang Neow Shrine, which is in the south of the town on Phuket Road, one of the biggest and most important shrines participating in the festival. Bang Neow is only a mile from Sapan Hin, so they walk first north around the old town and then back south to Sapan Hin and back to the shrine. Expect big crowds on this day. There is also a procession for Cherng Talay Shrine which takes place in Thalang district. Maybe a good one to see if your hotel is in Kamala, Surin or Bang Tao.
Later in the day – Fire Walking at several locations including Sapam Shrine, Sapan Hin (participants from Jui Tui shrine) and Sui Boon Tong shrine (just west of the market and not far from Jui Tui shrine in Phuket Town). Fire walking kicks off around 8pm.

Thursday October 14th
Street procession starting at Jui Tui shrine, which is the biggest shrine in town – you find it just west of the main market in Phuket Town.  Hard to get into the shrine, better to find a spot just outside or along the procession route – the route easy to find – just follow the people!
Later in the day, there are lots of events at various shrines including bladed ladder climbing at Sam Kong and Bang Neow shrines and “nail bridge crossing” at Sapam Shrine.

Friday October 15th
Street procession from Kathu shrine to Phuket Town. It’s a fair walk this one, about 10km from Kathu Shrine all the way to town, around the old town and ending at Sapan Hin. Later in the evening on the 15th – fire walking at Bang Neow, Cherng Talay and Sam Kong shrines.

Saturday October 16th
The last day of the festival. There is a procession for Sui Boon Tong shrine, then events such as firewalking at Kathu shrine at 3pm – in the evening/night there is a huge procession around Phuket Town, with people carrying statues of the gods to Sapan Hin. Millions of firecrackers and fireworks.  I hear it’s advisable to wear something more than flip flops or you’ll get burnt toes!

Sunday October 17th
Around 5pm the lantern poles are lowered at the shrines marking the very end of the festival.