Today was our daughters schools spots day, along with about another 15 schools in Udon Thani. All these kind of events are treated as a very colourful and pageantry day. It all takes place at the current home of Udon Thani football club on the ring road and begins with all the schools, and some of the army parading around the running track and filling up the central grassed area.
I don't mind admitting that I am a bit of sucker when it comes to watching these kind of events, mostly because of the vast array of colours and dress that is on show, so obviously it was a 'camera on standby' kind of day. Once the parade was over, the National Anthem is given an airing while the Thai National flag is raised. The timing of the flag hoisting was erratic, to say the least so it looks like all the practice put in went to waste!
Sadly I arrived too late to see much of the parade so do not have many pictures of that aspect. What did strike me though was that I was eager to capture images of some of the kids in their splendid clothes, so with the help of the wife I went off to ask people if they would pose for a picture. Every parent we asked were more than delighted that I had showed an interest in taking a picture of their child - can you imagine that in the UK? I am sure I would be accused of being some kind of pervert, and swiftly pounced upon by an angry mob of paranoid mums and dads!
Having seen the reaction of the happy parents, it struck me just how ridiculously paranoid the UK has become when it comes to protecting the kids, and my wife just cannot believe that it is has become unacceptable to take pictures of children. I found it hard to disagree, sadly.