A Rambling Writer Rerun: Thailand, part 5: Chinese New Year in Bangkok

Join Thor and me as we celebrate Chinese New Year in Bangkok, starting with traditional Thai dancers.

NOTE: Due to health issues, Thor and I haven’t been able to do much travel the past few years, so here’s our Thailand trip from 2020. We were lucky to squeak through the pandemic flight closures that February of 2020 as we returned from our three-week trip. Crazy times just keep getting crazier. So escape for a few minutes from our new American dystopia to a country as beautiful and colorful as a dream! I’ll interrupt the reruns with occasional book reviews or Geezer Adventures…. (This blog series began 3/15/2025.)

In our semi-jet-lagged state, we were a bit slow to realize that all the red lanterns and other decorations at the hotel were honoring Chinese New Year.

After our first long day touring the wats, Thor gave me a birthday present of a couple’s Thai massage at the hotel spa, followed by dinner theater of Thai dancers presenting a traditional story. Hanuman the monkey god saved the day from evil demons. The masked figure reminded me of native dancers in my Pacific Northwest with wooden Raven masks acting out mischievous antics. Tricksters seem to be universal!

Here’s a YouTube video of some of the dancing, as well as a dragon who wound around the tables.

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You will find The Rambling Writer’s blog posts here every Saturday. Sara’s latest novel from Book View Café is Pause, a First Place winner of the Chanticleer Somerset Award and an International Pulpwood Queens Book Club selection. “A must-read novel about friendship, love, and killer hot flashes.” (Mindy Klasky). It’s also a love letter to the breathtaking wilderness of Sara’s native Pacific Northwest. Sign up for her quarterly email newsletter at www.sarastamey.com