Image by John Shedick (Creative Commons License)Experiences You Should Have Show Notes: Loi Krathong & Yi Peng Lantern Festival, Interview with Stephanie PerryAt age 41, Stephanie Perry quit her job to travel the world. She spent 12 months bathing elephants in Thailand, volunteering on an organic cricket farm in Cambodia and (most uncharacteristically) working as an au pair for a family in Australia. Stephanie started Vaycarious to help other women take off the Superwoman cape and spread their wings on a grown-up gap year.

I asked Stephanie Perry about a specific experience in the world that can be replicated that others should experience too, and she immediately responded with 'Loi Krathong and Yi Peng lantern festivals in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

It's so easy to look at pretty photos on your computer screensaver or look at vacation photos on Instagram, Pinterest, etc, but it's 2019 now, and it's time to make those amazing photos you've seen across the web a reality. It's also time to start planning your trip to Thailand so you can experience the Loi Krathong and Yi Peng festival this fall.

Press play on the player above to hear this podcast episode on the Loi Krathong and Yi Peng lantern festivals in Chiang Mai with Stephanie Perry (or listen where you listen to podcasts).

Why did Stephanie Go to Thailand for these Lantern Festivals?Stephanie was tired of looking at the screensaver on her computer for years and years, she wanted to experience life. When she turned 40, her life wasn't where she wanted it to be at this point. She didn't have kids, and it was upsetting to her. One day she said, either I'm going to be miserable about this, or I'm going to turn this into an opportunity. She decided it was the time to pick up and go, and this was her chance.

The first thing she decided that she was going to see the world. She decided she would take 12 months, empty her savings and see the world. She picked out festivals in cheaper countries and landed on Thailand. With only $14,000, she was able to spend a year in Thailand, which equates to $1200 a month.

She started in Phuket and then went North, then East and wanted to be in Chiang Mai during the Yi Peng and Loi Krathong festival.

What is the Loi Krathong Floating Lantern Festival?Loi Krathong is a festival that takes place in Thailand, known as the Thai Festival of Lights. Loi means float and Krathong means lantern. It takes place on the first full moon in the month of November. It coincides with Yi Peng, however, it is a different festival. Thousands of candlelit floats are released into the Ping river in Thailand, while sky lanterns are being lifted off in the sky for the Yi Ping festival. Each lit lantern floating down the river, contains wishes, thoughts, and prayers.

As your Krathong floats away, it's known to float away your troubles.

This festival will be taking place around November 11-13 in 2019. The dates do change every year, so definitely look it up!

Photo by Stephanie PerryWhat is the Yi Peng Sky Lantern Festival?This festival is to show respect and honor to Buddha. It's a time to celebrate the new year and wish good fortune and letting go of bad fortune that had happened in the past year. It's a time for renewal and celebration by sending off thousands of sky lanterns.Tips for Visiting Chiang Mai During the Festivals

Get there early and watch the city come alive before the festivalsBuy your plane tickets early and book your hotels well in advance (2 months in advance at a minimum)Definitely find yourself some mango sticky rice, your taste buds will thank you.Use tuk-tuks to get around or if you're really on a budget you can get around via red pickup truck taxis (songtaew) that you can use to get around town. Just ask them if they are going in your direction.Get your typhoid and hepatitis A vaccinations before you goCome with an open spirit to embrace and explore and feel this amazing communit...