Loy Kratong, or Yee Peng, as it is called in Chiang Mai, was celebrated with the annual Lantern Parade which took place on November 9th, the Small Krathong Parade on the 10th and the Grand Parade on the 11th. Yee Peng is held on a full moon of the 2nd month of the Lanna calendar. Most people usually make khom loi from a thin fabric, such as rice paper, to which a candle or fuel cell is attached. When the fuel cell is lit, the resulting hot air which is trapped inside the lantern creates enough lift for the khom loi to float up in to the sky. 
In addition, people will also decorate their houses, gardens and temples with khom fai, intricately shaped paper lanterns which take on different forms. Khom thue are lanterns which are carried around hanging from a stick, khom khwaen are the hanging lanterns, and khom pariwat which are placed at temples and which revolve due to the heat of the candle inside.
The day of Loy Krathong fell on the 10th and many people flocked to the river to float their Krathong and to join in the grand release of Khom Fai from the bridges and in front of the Municipal building on the river.
The 11th saw the Grand Parade with magnificent floats in amazing detail peopled by gorgeously dressed beautiful girls and handsome boys in traditional costumes. While many floats were in honor of HM the King, others portrayed scenes from ancient stories and myths.
While Bangkokians are preparing for the worst, Chiang Mai residents have rapidly recovered from what were the worst floods since 2005. Below some impressive pictures from september 2011.
Briton arrested for 530,000 Baht bank robbery in Chiang Mai
Briton Michael Ludwig Wynn, 64
CHIANG MAI: Last night Chiang Mai Police arrested a British citizen, Mr. Michael Ludwig Wynn, 64, for robbing a bank in Chiang Mai at around at about 2.15pm on October 5.
Siam Commercial Bank’s Diamond Market branch in Somphet was robbed of 535,000 Baht. His motorcycle and part of the cash was seized during the arrest.
I have always wondered how long it would take for these banks to get robbed. Considering they have no safety glass or security whatsoever, they seem like an easy target where huge amounts of money are counted right behind the counters.
