Shadow puppet (Nang Talung) was one form of public entertrainment in the south of Thailand.
It is still very popular at village festivals, temple fairs and celebrations such as marriages, etc. Its characters are made from intricately cut - out and articulated shapes of leather. They are delicately coloured, but this does not show during a perforance as the puppets appear only in shadow against a white sheet, with light shining through from behind. They are manipulated with rods control movements of the arms.

Performances may have a religious theme or be an episode from the Ramayana epic which contains dozens of individual stories. They may also be specially written to include up-to-the minute reflections, songs, and poems about local events and matters of current interest in the district or country. There are hundreds of different characters each with a distinctive silhouettem, but the show will almost always include a clown, funny old man, scatter - brained old woman or rather stupid yokel, who are all great favourites with the fun - loving audiences. Nakhon Si Thammarat province has one of the town's most popular shadow puppeteers named Mr. Suchart Sapsin. Like all good Nang Talung puppet masters, he is a man of many talents. He is not only expert in the craft of making the puppets but is also an award - winning writer and poet. He is narrator, speaking or singing all the parts using different voices, and is a superb mimic. And he does all this as he manipulates the characters from behind the illuminated screen. Suchat is one of the national artists.

Loy krathong
is a thai tradition practiced sincd tha andient time. Loy Krathong festival begins from the middle of October until the middle of November in the time of high-level ruver which is full of water.

The popular time for the festival is in November full moon shine, because of the full moon. The moon’s light makes the river look clear and clean in the night. The good atmosphere is suitable for Loy Krathong festival.
Loy Krathong was originally called Phraratchaphithi (Royal ceremony) ” Jong Plean Chak Kome, Loy Kome”, a Phram Tradition. The purpose was for paying respect to three Gods, Phra Issuan, Phra Narai as well as Phra Phrom.
When Thai People accepted Buddism. Loy Kome Tradition for paying respect to Phra Barommasaririkathat (Buddha’s Relics), Phra Chulamanee in the heaven called Daowadeung was begun. Loy Kome for paying respect to Phraphuthabath was made at the bank of Nummathanthi river, india.
Nang Nophamas, a wife of Phra Ruang who was the King of Sukhothai invented Krathong in the form of lotus and other forms for giving the King. Krathong were released to the river according to the King’s order. In the book called “Tamrab Taosrichulalak”, the King said “From today until the future, Kome in the form of lotus are invented eternally by Kings of Thailand on the auspicious day in November full moon shine, to pay respect to Phra Phuthabath Numkathanathi.
In the time of Rattanakosin, the big and elegant Krathong was beatiful mada according to a book of Rattanakosin belonging to Chaopraya to Chaopraya Thipha Ratchawong. When in November, at the date of fourteen-fifteen waxing moon, and first waning moon, originally the cousin of the king and government officers with strength were requested to invent the big krathong of Jong plean tradition.
Krathong were made in the form of barrel, pae Yuak (raft made of banana trees) which was 8-9 sok wide and 10-11 sok high for the purpose of contest. Krathong n the form of Khaosumeru, 4 continents or shelves were soometimes invented. They were decorated with Kueng Sod (decorations of fresh flowers of leaves) byhundreds of people until experts was nearly 20 chang or more.
At the present, Loy Krathong tradition is held in most of provinces. It is consicered to be the annual important festival, especially, themanifestation of bigand small Krathong, Krathong as well as Miss Krathong contest are held in Chiangmai.
Loy Kome festival is still popular in the north and northeastern of Thailand. Papers will be made for a big colorful Kome. Kome will be released into the air by smoke. But in the night, fire will be set by torch at the mouth of Kome in order to make the smoke go through Kome. After that, Kome will go into the sky. Kome and moon’s light as well as star are beautifully seen in the night.

When visiting or living in another country, especially one with a culture as different as Thailand, it's worth learning a little about the culture and customs.
Not only will you go home with a little more knowledge of the world around you but it will certainly help when meeting the local Thai people. Much like the rest of Asia, Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist culture and much of its rules about how to be polite come direct from their religious beliefs. Though many of the customs may seem strange to a Westerner it's always worth remembering that you are in a foreign country and are ambassadors from your own, so though you may not get it right every time, an effort to understand and use Thai culture and customs will certainly be appreciated in Thailand.

Hands and Feet In Thai culture the head is spiritually the highest part of the body ans the feet the lowest and considered unclean. You should never touch any adult Thai on the head, especially if they are older than you, and it is even wise to avoid the heads of young boys as one day they may become monks.
You should never point your feet at someone or an object as this is considered disrespectful. A child can burst into tears because he has done something wrong and instead of his Father hitting him or scolding him he simply pointed his foot as the boy to show he had no respect for him.

Greetings-How & When to Wai The traditional Thai greeting is the Wai. The Wai is a prayer like gesture made with the palms of your hands begin put together accompanied by a slight nod and sometimes a lowering of the eyes.
The height of the hands varies as to the status person you are waiing, but generally speaking if it is person of importance for example, a monk or an older person, then the top of your fingers should be raised to the top of your nose.
A lot of people make the mistake of waiing too often and waiing a person they need not wai. The Thais will look on this as a bit strange. You do not need to Wai shopkeepers, waitresses or people in the service industry though they may Wai you, and as a general rule a foreigner needs to Wai very few people and they are either people older and respected personally, a friend's parents, or the owners of a home you are visiting.You will also find a handshake works just as well especially with a lot of Thai people, as they know this is the foreign greeting and is still a respectful thing to do.

Losing Face A lot is said about the tradition of a Thai losing face. There is no point explaining it here as foreigners have the same tradition. To understand it better and to put it in very simple terms, you just need to rename it is Western terms. Losing face is when you are made to look foolish in public. Of course the concept to Thai"face" can be explained in much deeper depth that this, but the above is a simple rule that works well for everyone.
To make some lose face is unadvised as people often take an unkindly to this as you would in the West. Be aware that for a Thai to lose fase is a very bad thing so try to avoid making them lose face at all costs.

howing Affection The Thais especially elder frown upon public displays of affection, even innocently holding hands and certainly kissing in public. This is becoming less now as Thailand becomes increasingly modern and westernised and many of the younger Thais will not be bothered by this.

Dress Shoes should be removed when entering a Thai home. You'll often see stacks of shoes outside an apartment room.
If you visit an official place such as the immigration office, always dress neatly. Shirtless, with no shoes on will not start you off the right way with the officials as they consider it disrespectful.
When going to a religious site again always dress respectfully and without showing too much flesh. Hot pants, shorts, no top etc. are not fitting clothers for these places and you will often not be allowed into them.
Shoes can be worn inside the temple grounds but not in the area where the main Buddha image is kept.