The incredible costumes and characters at the Toronto Pride Parade (SFW)

by Chris | Jul 4, 2016 | Canada, Events, Festivals, and Seasons |

The Toronto Pride Parade 2016 capped off an unprecedented month-plus long event… and is that Justin Trudeau? With Orlando still in the collective consciousness, a number of floats commemorated the lives lost in Florida. Go on and wave the transgender flag! This...

A few photos from the Taste of Asia Toronto festival

by Chris | Jun 27, 2016 | Canada, Events, Festivals, and Seasons |

After seven years in Asia, you can get a little homesick. Although it might not come as a surprise to GTA residents, the two-day Taste of Asia event wasn’t the only Asian food festival happening in Toronto this year. (The Asia Food Fest happened in April and...

You’ve heard of Dia De Los Muertos – 5 other awesome and weird Mexican festivals to join

by Chris | Nov 7, 2014 | Events, Festivals, and Seasons, Mexico, Places |

So Mexico (and a few expats around the world) recently celebrated Dia De Los Muertos – the Day of the Dead. The two-day festival features people honoring their loved ones at the graveyard in a fiesta-like atmosphere. It got me thinking, though – what other...

(VIDEO) Thailand’s Ghost Festival – Phi Ta Khon (NSFW)

by Chris | Jul 7, 2014 | Bizarre, Events, Festivals, and Seasons, Northern Thailand, Places, Temples, Thailand |

Described as a bawdy rainmaking festival, the Phi Ta Khon (also spelled Pee Ta Kon) is an annual three-day festival in the tiny town of Dan Sai in northern Thailand. While there’s plenty of religious significance to the events, the bewildered tourist will find...

Event: the Thailand Travel Mart, along with reflections and numbers

by Chris | Jun 9, 2014 | Events, Festivals, and Seasons, Opinion, Reviews |

Call this part 2 of the Digital Innovation Bloggers Conference post. The day after the Blogger Matchup wrapped up, the Thailand Travel Mart opened up (Wednesday, June 4th). This shouldn’t be confused with the Thailand Tourism Festival – leave it to...

Event: 2014 Digital Innovation Asia bloggers conference

by Chris | Jun 6, 2014 | Events, Festivals, and Seasons | 1 comment

So this was a first – a bloggers conference in Bangkok saw me travel to Thailand’s capital city for the first time in awhile. Instead of flying in from Khon Kaen, I opted for an overnight bus to Bangkok – not the worst idea I’ve ever had, but...

VIDEO: the 5 rules of Songkran

by Chris | Apr 21, 2014 | Eastern Thailand, Events, Festivals, and Seasons, Thailand |

Be gentle, folks – it’s my first video. If you didn’t get the chance to attend a Songkran festival in Thailand, this is your chance to take a part of it in. Watch me first before reading on! Songkran is the annual Thai holiday of water. Sure, there...

How to not suck at… attending a parade

by Chris | Feb 11, 2014 | Events, Festivals, and Seasons, Life, Northern Thailand, Thailand | 2 comments

A quick aside: last weekend we attended the Chiang Mai Flower Festival – since this is One Weird Globe and not ‘mainstream stuff to see like the rest of the tourists, I’ll simply point you to my photos on my photo blog. Head to chrisbacke.com to see...

Destination: the Loi Krathong festival

by Chris | Nov 27, 2013 | Events, Festivals, and Seasons |

The Ping river east of the Old City in Chiang Mai comes alive for a few nights ever year for the Loi Krathong festival. The festival officially coincides with the 12th full moon on Thai’s lunar calendar, but in fact runs about a week in whole. I’ve been a...

Destination: the Yi Pang Lantern Ceremony (Chiang Mai)

by Chris | Nov 25, 2013 | Events, Festivals, and Seasons, Northern Thailand, Places, Thailand |

This is the festival to attend if you enjoy all the pictures of the pretty lanterns. Held at Mae Jo University north of Chiang Mai, it’s put on not by the local government, but a Buddhist organization called the Duang Tawan Santiparb Foundation. Plenty of food...