<div style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="see clips that are hot right now"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_embed/4744945e-507e-4443-94dc-a7b37eb1ef9e/89F9BDA3-C981-46C2-BBF1-986DEBDB450F/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/" href="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/" style="font-size: 11px;">thebizzare.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">Welcome to the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in Thailand…<SPAN id="more-1095" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0"></SPAN><BR aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0" /><IMG id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253662996077643938" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0" border="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X2sjPjJJdH8/SOjCqOrSiKI/AAAAAAAAGak/QRY7DaPIGis/s400/2piercing_dorn_DW_Wi_676932g.jpg" width="400" height="267" />It is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar.<BR aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0" /><IMG id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253662993006495170" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0" border="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_X2sjPjJJdH8/SOjCqDPEhcI/AAAAAAAAGas/sX3g-VQL9g8/s400/3piercing_bohrer1_DW_676937g.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0"><IMG id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253662998605139138" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0" border="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X2sjPjJJdH8/SOjCqYF5DMI/AAAAAAAAGa0/hYRkVRPg490/s400/4piercing_bohrer2_DW_676938g.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">bestow good fortune upon those who religiously observe this rite.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0"><IMG id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253663000948402354" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0" border="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_X2sjPjJJdH8/SOjCqg0kaLI/AAAAAAAAGa8/vsSZf_lK1gs/s400/5piercing_schwerter__676935g.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet…</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/8D4D7581-763A-4526-BB71-9F4547AFFB77" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">… for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/8F3C1C2E-2A1F-4E20-95BA-40E9B60B220B" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">Sacred rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples…</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/D11F7454-EE5C-4218-A8D4-465388F5C134" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">… and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot coals…</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/205827CE-160E-43CB-ABEF-09DF82108B59" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">… and ascending ladders with bladed rungs…</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/2A2FFF02-E110-4E67-99DC-ACE0BA8F0455" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">… are performed by entranced devotees known as “Ma Song”.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/0826E459-37CD-4C0A-B055-3784D0760A40" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">The festival started in 1825…</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/F058A8D2-258D-41F0-9E12-48C942FE46B6" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">… the paricipants are not allowed to eat meat or have sex at the time of the festival.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/C97470D5-DCF6-4E0A-8A6F-3E20C5EE41E2" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">For obvious reasons participants are asked to use only sterile blades, spears and guns.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/FD6FCD50-4CC9-4F66-863A-884D40A71BCB" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">According to physicians there is a risk of HIV and…</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/93F4901A-2104-4A39-B74B-AA248A3BCD09" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">… hepatitis infections.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/924DDDE6-75A9-4659-A46B-4F4D86A02514" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">The highlight of the festival is…</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/E588F582-6359-463D-8184-B70C67538348" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">… the procession in Phuket.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/8256BA36-50EE-4AA2-9C01-4A97D7197F98" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">With a lot of…</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content6.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/453F9EB9-6475-426C-935F-14EA9FA5E797" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><P id="fullimage_intro" aria-level="0" aria-posinset="0" aria-setsize="0">… fireworks…</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content7.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/950BEAC9-A772-4C42-9902-DCC45AFE31B7" alt="" /></div></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://thebizzare.com/bizarre-stuff/extreme-piercing-phuket-vegetarian-festival/"><div align="center"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/blog_cache/thebizzare.com/img/0B828607-0414-4FAE-8929-7C6206E5AB77" alt="" /></div></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;</td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/89F9BDA3-C981-46C2-BBF1-986DEBDB450F/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content9.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></div>

New from the makers of Clipmarks:  Amplify.com - Don't just share the news...Amplify it!