World Heritage Fair (13-22 Dec)



Welcome to Thailand’s capital city of a prosperous past. Experience an ancient city that’s rich of culture and history. 

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair 2013 is a traditional temple fair that celebrate this beautiful city with activities such as folk dance, traditional Thai instrument playing, mini floating market and raffle draw for the municipality Red Cross.
December 13-22, 2013 
At: Phra Nakon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park

text from Kasemkij facebook 

Flora Festival 2013 - Royal Park Rajapruek (Chiang Mai)


This looks like a good time to visit - our previous visit to this location was lovely.

Royal Park Rajapruek, Highland Research and Development Institute (Public Organization) cooperated with Royal Project Foundation will hold “Flora Festival 2013” under the concept “Colorful Flowers” which are the 4th times of festival in winter season at Royal Park Rajapruek, Chiang Mai Province. The festival will be held on 1 December 2013 - 28 February 2014 from 08.00 am. – 08.00 pm. at Royal Park Rajapruek, Chiang Mai. 

The purpose of the festival is to commemorate His Majesty the King and publicize the knowledge related to the benevolence of His Majesty the King and the Royal Family concerning the development of life to Thai people based on the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy and the New Theory Agriculture, to promote agricultural learning and Biological diversity, encourage the attitude toward reducing global warming, green economic, promote the tourism and also publicize excellent cultural of Chiang Mai.

In This Festival, will display the various of temperate flowers which are colorful and blooming to welcome the visitors through 90 days and see the 7 wonders such as the elegant of “Royal Pavilion” , the exhibition of benevolence of His Majesty the King, King Bhumibol Tulip exhibition, The largest orchid park in the northern of Thailand, amazing vegetable pergola, 7 special menus from 7 mounts at Royal Project Restaurant, New Theory Agriculture and new garden from leading organizations of Thailand such as Port Authority of Thailand, Krungthai Bank PCL., Thai Airways International PLC., PTT PLC., Muang Thai Insurance PCL., Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives and Charoen Pokphand PCL. will join permanent exhibition to commemorate His Majesty the King and publicize the success of operation of each organizations.

 Through the festival, tourists can join the commemorate activities, Orchid Contest, Musical Fountain, and enjoy with Music in the garden from famous singers among the most beautiful atmosphere in Chiang Mai such as Aof-Pongsak/Lula/Pop Pong kool/Two Popetorn/ETC/King The Voice and Lanna Singer, cultural shows, Folk music show and international show. Tourists can join the special activities in special day such as Christmas, Countdown to New Year, Children’s day, Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.

Royal Park Rajapruek invites you to experience memorable moments of colorful flowers in Flora Festival 2013 on 1 December 2013 – 28 February 2014 from 08.00 am. – 08.00 pm. at Royal Park Rajapruek, Chiang Mai for more information please contact 053 – 114110-5 or www.royalparkrajapruek.org.


Monkey Party in Lopburi (24 Nov)




One of the more unique festivals in Thailand is the annual Monkey Party in Lopburi, about 150 kms north of Bangkok. It was started some twenty years ago by a local businessman called Yongyuth Kitwatananuson. He put on a buffet lunch for the monkeys as a way to say thank you to the animals for all the tourist money that they had brought to the city. This soon became a tradition and is now firmly an event on the national festival calendar.

Text is from Richard Barrow




Surin Elephant Round-up (16-17 Nov)


Text and photo from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Elephant procession
Elephant breakfast
Surin Elephant Round-up Show 2009.
Surin Elephant Round-up Show 2009.
The Surin Elephant Round-up usually takes place on the third weekend of November in Surin provinceIsanThailand. It is of recent origin, first held in 1960. The people of Surin were traditionally excellent at capturing elephants inCambodia, then training them as working animalsCivil war in Cambodia and the elephant's decreasing economic importance has forced the elephant handlers (mahouts) to turn to entertainment to make a living.
The event consists of a series of shows displaying the strength and skill of the animals, such as football games andtugs of war.

Elephant Round-Up[edit]

The Elephant Breakfast is a small part of the festival and is held on the Friday morning. A procession of up to over 300 elephants (2005) start marching through Surin city from the railway station area toward the Elephant roundabout at the south end of the city on the Prasat road.
The elephants carry dignitaries and also some tourists who dismount their steeds on arrival. Some elephants carry mahouts in authentic battle outfits from the Thai - Khmer - Laos battles. Intermingled with the elephant procession are local school children and teachers in traditional dress, dancing and playing music.
Once all the elephants have arrived then the banquet can begin, the tables of fruits are quickly cleared by the large team of elephants. Whatever leftovers there may be is not lost, as the local people take the leftovers to their own homes.
On the following morning (Saturday) the elephants and mahoots congregate at the Elephant Stadium to the south east of the city centre. Here the main show is performed culminating in a re-enactment of the battles of a past century. The show is repeated on Sunday morning.

Phuket International Sport Fishing (13 - 16 Nov)

Image from Phuket International
The annual Phuket International Sportfishing Tournament takes place in November in Chalong again this year. The team that earns the most points per kilo during the tournament wins! Prizes will also be given to the teams that catch the largest fish (by weight) in each eligible species and a release trophy will be awarded to the team that releases the most billfish.

text from MyDestination 


Good Luck!



Phimai Festival (7-10 Nov)


image from word press

For more than a century Thailand have celebrated the Phimai festival every year in November in the beautiful Phimai historical park.
This year from November 10. to November 13. the town of Phimai together with TAT (Tourist Authority of Thailand) hosts this festival to celebrate the region and its history.


The city will be buzzing for four days. You will be amazed with the beautiful temple Prasat Hin Phimai that for this event is the center of a big light and sound presentation. The Phimai historical park area will be filled with local art, exhibitions, cultural performances and amazing competitions and prizes.

The highlight of the festival is the boat race where beautiful colorful dragon boats compete on the Mun river in a race that have taking place year after year for several hundred years. This spectacular event does not only draw thousands of visitors from all over the world, it is also often attended by the royal family.

text from Travel Issan
Saw this advertised on the front page of the Bangkok Post
and this is 2012.



The Ginger Wizard and Guinness World Record attempt (1 Nov)



We were invited to see this spectacle at Central Festival and of course we went - Jemma was happy with the iPad (along with the other children).


The record was close twice and wow did the audience share this with the 'Ginger Wizard'!


Sorry that he did not manage to beat the World Record but that does mean that he can visit us again next year?

Thanks for the invite.


King Chulalongkorn Day (23rd Oct)




23 October of every year is a national holiday in Thailand as it marks “King Chulalongkorn Day". It is the memorial day of the passing away of King Chulalongkorn, otherwise known as King Rama V. 

King Chulalongkorn led several major reforms in Thailand, for example in the areas of Thai educational system, military affairs, State Railway and Slave Liberation Act without bloodshed in Thailand.

the text is from Cafe Kantary facebook page


        

Car Free Day (21-22 Sep)


This is something which I would like to see a little more of in Phuket - I guess there may be something happening here but I am not aware of anything as I am writing this.

With all of the furore about the taxi problems I do not think that this will happen here... anyway my bike needs to be fixed.

กำหนดการ (ร่าง)
กรุงเทพมหานคร ลงทะเบียน 23 จุด กระจายตามสะดวกทั่วกรุงเทพฯและปริมณฑล ตามต้องการ
06.00-06.30 น. ลงทะเบียนรับเสื้อโครงการ พร้อมอาหารเช้าตามจุดที่ลงทะเบียน 21 จุดกระจายตามสะดวกทั่วกรุงเทพฯและปริมณฑล ตั้งขบวนปั่นรณรงค์ด้วยขบวนจักรยานสีธงไตรรงค์มุ่งสู่ ท้องสนามหลวง
08.00 น. ณ ท้องสนามหลวง ผู้ว่าราชการกรุงเทพมหานคร ประธานในพิธี  ร่วมร้องเพลงชาติพร้อมกันทั่วประเทศอีก 76 จังหวัดซึ่งจัดกิจกรรมรณรงค์ในท้องถิ่นของตนเองพร้อมกันทั่วประเทศ

08.30 น. พิธีปล่อยขบวนเคลื่อนตัว ด้วยขบวนจักรยานสีธงไตรรงค์ที่ยาวที่สุดในโลก มุ่งสู่ลานเซ็นทรัลเวิลด์ พลาซ่า ราชประสงค์ ปทุมวัน กรุงเทพมหานคร มีจุดรับฝากจักรยาน
10.00 น. พิธีเปิด ร่วมกิจกรรมนิทรรศการความรู้ สันทนาการต่างๆ12.00 น. ร่วมรับประทานอาหารกลางวัน ร่วมกิจกรรมต่างๆ ตามอัธยาศัย15.00 น. กลุ่มต่างๆ ร่วมตั้งขบวนปั่นกลับจุดรวมพล

21-22 กันยายน 2556
ณ ลาน เซ็นทรัลเวิลด์ พลาซ่า  10.00 – 22.00 น.   ชมนิทรรศการความรู้ กิจกรรมสันทนาการต่างๆ งานออกร้านเกี่ยวกับจักรยานเพื่อชาวจักรยาน มีจุดรับฝากจักรยาน
ส่วนต่างจังหวัดทั่วประเทศ
08.00 น. ร่วมร้องเพลงชาติพร้อมกันทั่วประเทศ ร่วมรณรงค์ในท้องถิ่นของตนเองด้วยขบวนจักรยานสีธงไตรรงค์เช่นกันทั่วประเทศ และกิจกรรมต่างๆ ร่วมกับกลุ่มและองค์กรภายในท้องถิ่น
รายละเอียดอาจเปลี่ยนแปลงได้ตามตามเหมาะสม

Looks interesting though - they do have a facebook page, an email address with their Website.



Moon Festival (19-21 Sept)


This is always something that is worth making a visit - there is a great deal of information about the Festival and I thank the TAT for giving me some details.


The actual celebration for the moon (fireworks are going off as I speak) is actually this evening - Thursday 19th September BUT there was the beginning of the Festival set up in Queen Sirikit Park.


This looks like it is going to be fun but I will not be able to make this one - the photographs are of the stalls which were set up on the Wednesday.

Information below was used in a Teaching Lesson
The Moon Festival is held in honour of the Quan Yin (the Goddess of Mercy) and the moon – which is why it is always celebrated at the Full Moon period.


It is a Festival of Harmony because it is a time where all the family members come back to the home and they will eat the Mooncakes together.

The Mooncake
Traditionally the Mooncake was a full rounded pastry – approximately 10 cm in diameter and 4/5 cm thick.
The filling was usually made of read bean, Chinese peanuts and spices and a lotus seed.
Many of the more expensive Mooncakes would be baked with a salted duck egg in the middle – giving it a beautiful pattern when it was cut.
Now you are able to purchase the Mooncake with a number of different fillings - Swensens ice cream also make one!


Ko Hor Mooncake Shop
Do you want to see them being made? Phuket Old Town (near Robinsons)
A wonderful place to visit.




Pearl of the Andaman open surfing contest (20-22 Sep)

(not Phuket ;))

Surf hard, Party harder!!!

 QuikSilver presents 'Pearl of the Andaman Open', a three-day surfing competition. 

Surfers can enter in the following categories: Open short board, Open long board, Women and groms.


Awards and a closing party will be at Surf House Phuket.


The entry fee is 500 Baht. Registration is at the venue.
Phone 081 956 5854

10th International Arm Wrestling


Okay this is something that I have not taken seriously since I was at school - and I was not the teacher but a pupil.

Well the Annual International Arm Wrestling took place in Pattaya this year.

Elephant Polo in Hua Hin

image from Thaivisa
There is a lot of information and links out there (on the Internet) to find out more information about this Elephant Polo Tournament - even a facebook.


There is obviously a great deal of History to this event - remember that elaphants are a greatly revered animal in Thailand so I do not know how this mixes into Thai culture.

Anyway - looks interesting!

I have heard rumours that there should be Elephant Polo in the grounds of The Blue Elephant in Phuket or there will be a fine needed to be paid?


Por Tor Festival 2013


Por Tor Festival 2013


We gathered at Queen Sirikit Park this year - 

I have written about the Por Tor Festival a number of times so I hope not to copy what I have written previously.




It is called 'The Hungry Ghost Festival'  because the people which are of Chinese descent believe that once a year their ancestors will visit them on Earth. The dead ancestors are welcomed with food and the turtles are made and shared to welcome longevity.

There was a traditional parade being organised and I recognised the same man who was also at the front of the Vegetarian Parade last year - one of the three musketeers.

The parade began with gusto and excitement - wonderful atmosphere. The parade wound it's way through the streets of Phuket Old Town - the traffic was delayed and we all watched the parade.

The parade leaders went to Jui Tui Shrine whilst the rest of the parade went towards the local market.


The parade was joined by a dancing Chinese dragon which danced in the streets.



Then there were firecrackers - just on the floor. Odd that a tourist drove over the firecrackers... 


The firecrackers exploded in front of the dragon and the parade walked into the car park (first floor).


I believe that the lady on the left is a Politician?
It was at this point that I noticed that some people had joined the parade - they were at the front and one person was carrying what looked like an urn which looked like it was from the front of a Chinese Shrine. It looked pretty heavy as well - I had not noticed this before - but everyone was trying to touch it and take a photograph so it must have had significance!


We all proceeded to the first floor where there was a plethora of red turtles and lots of food placed on tables. In the middle was what looked like an offering table in a Chinese Shrine. This was where the Urn was placed and all the people gathered and knelt on the red carpet - just like a Chinese Shrine.


Then police came in carrying red turtles - couldn't think of a phrase to go with the pictures though...


Prayers were said, noodles share, joss sticks lit and fireworks on the roof were lit.

A special afternoon - thank you.