No meat here, only the piercing and slicing of human flesh.

Legend has it that over 150 years ago a travelling Chinese Opera company fell gravely ill whilst on tour in Phuket. In hopes of better health, members of the company turned to a vegetarian diet and miraculously recovered. They realised they had forgotten to pay their respects to the Gods, so continued this tradition annually there on.

This has evolved to an elaborate annual 10 day festival during the 9th Lunar month where strict vegetarian diets are observed.

'Mediums' undergo bodily sacrifice and feel no pain as they are possessed by the Gods. For 10 days it is a common encounter to see heavily pierced faces, syringe threaded skin and sword-cut flesh parading the streets of Phuket, all in the means for good-merit making.