Living Arts Festival (27 Feb - 10 Mar)

We have had some Living Art in Phuket during the recent Phuket Old Town Festival but a whole week of different arts looks great - I do wonder whether have the 3D chalk paintings in Phuket.

Actually reminded me of watching 'Mary Poppins' last night....

Shrine of the Serene reopens (20-25 Feb)

during the night of the Chinese Festival

I have always visited the Shrine of the Serene and have watched it be renovated over the past few years and this week is their time for celebrating all of this..

Note: Shrine of the Serene Light

         Sin Jia Geng Shrine

         Sam Thang Shrine 

         Teng Gong Tong Shrine - all seem to be the same place?

The text is from the Phuket News.

The foundations for the shrine, originally called the Sin Jia Geng, were laid 122 years ago, in 1891. Until the renovation, it was a private shrine of the Tan clan, one of Phuket’s largest and richest extended families. Its construction was funded mostly by Tan Kuad, also known as Luang Amnart Nararak.

To mark the completion of the renovations, a range of celebrations are currently underway. The programme is as follows:

February 20, 7:30pm –Pai Chid Chae (Worshipping Seven Gods and Goddesses);

February 21, 5pm –Sae Yid Ong Sun Tai Sai (Ong Sun Tai Sai’s Birthday); Ko Gun (Feeding the Soldier Spirits); and Pai Chid Chae (Worshipping Seven Gods and Goddesses);

February 22, 7:30pm –Pai Chid Chae (Worshipping Seven Gods and Goddesses);

February 23, 7:30pm –Po Un (a ceremony to drive out bad fortune)

February 24, 5:30pm –Nguan Xiao Hoy (Chinese Lantern Festival Celebration);and Ko Gun (Feeding the Soldier Spirits);

February 25, 5pm –Sae Yid Pud Gua Jo Si (Pud Gua Jo Si’s Birthday); Ko Gun(Feeding the Soldier Spirits); and Sang Ti Gong (Farewell to the Spirits).

View Chinese Shrines in Phuket in a larger map

The Phuket International Blues Rock Festival (22 - 23 Feb)

image from Phuket Tatler

The Phuket International Blues Rock Festival is back in its eighth year on the weekend of February 22-23, 2013. The event attracts artists from around the world as well as local performers. Apart from entertainment and musical enjoyment, this event also raises funds for local charities. In 2012 101,000 baht went to the Ban Bangtao School and the Rotary Club of Patong Beach. International performers came from Australia, Canada, Malaysia and Sweden.

Date         :     February 22-23, 2013

Website   :     www.phuketbluesfestival.com

Call          :     08-6682-2639

        

Old Phuket Town and Chinese New Year Festival

We stayed at the Casa Blanca in Phuket Old Town for something new, it was a hit with Jemma and it was easy to park - until we realised that  the Festivals would be running whilst we were there!

This year it was the 14th Old Phuket Town and we have enjoyed every one of them.

There was a stage built in Queen Sirikit Park where there were performances throughout the 3 days of celebrations. The performances were fun and all with Chinese outfits on - Jemma's was too small....

The roads all around here were closed in the afternoon to traffic and the stalls and places for the shows were being set up - I missed Jamie's children playing on one of the corners, maybe Route 66 next time?

Rasada Road, Phuket Road, Phang Nga Road and Talang Road were strewn with small and big street stalls - there seemed to be every type of food for sale here - from the ubiquitous deep fried insects, pancakes, roti, sushi, potato sticks the list was endless.

Then there were the artists along Rasada Road - from the professionals with their easels, aerosols etc to the people and the chalk on the road - wonderful.

We wandered around - remembering (of course) to pay homage to the Giant Sea Dragon in the park. I popped into the Indy Market but I think most of the vendors were in the bigger festival.

Then we were met by the tall people and the ladies dressed as 1970 Superheroes? - the significance of this I do not understand but hey it was a lot of fun. 

After finding the candy-floss and the bubble tea that was me for the night.

Of course there was 'Gang Nam Dancing' - by one or three people.

We left Phuket Town and drove to Mee Ton Poe 3 for dinner - I think that we were their last customers - great Hokkien Noodles here.

Wat Chalong Temple Fair (10-17 Feb)

Last year we visited the Wat Chalong Temple Fair and we had a great time amongst the variety of different things to look at.

This year was similar and we chose to visit at night time.

I am not sure how long the Wat Chalong Temple Fair has been running for but after reading articles on the Internet I understand that it was started because of the enormous response that was made to the Chinese New Year Festivities.

Not sure that I really know though.

Wat Chalong is a beautifully managed Wat in Phuket and it is worth any time of the year.

The roads leading to the Wat are lined with florescent tube lighting and then side roads are opened and there are a plethora of places to park for 40 Baht.  

On entering Wat Chalong I was surprised by the number of people - it was certainly crowded with Thai people buying a number of things. The number of things to choose from was enormous - Siamese Fighting Fish, helium balloons, toys, food and clothes.

Wat Chalong was still open and many people were taking the opportunity to enter in. Be prepared to be shocked by the firecrackers which are set off every so often.

Certainly worth a visit.

View Buddhist Temples in Phuket in a larger map

Phuket Bike Show (1 - 2 Feb)

Phuket Bike Show is not on my list of things to do - but you may want to?

Sapan Hin is a favourite of ours.

37th Chiang Mai Flower Festival (1-3 Feb)

The annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival 2013 is returning to Chiang Mai again with its gorgeous flower parade created from various kinds of most beautiful flowers. The festival will be held from February 1-3, 2013 at Suan Buak Haad public park (inside the city moat-Koo Hueng Corner).

Chiang Mai’s renowned horticultural festival is back to town again featuring parades of colorful flowers and impressive showcases of traditional and contemporary floral art with a total of 222 varieties of flowering and ornamental plants as well as agricultural exhibitions, Floral Beauty Queen Contest, and other recreational activities.

For the past 36 years, Chiang Mai has long been maintaining its tradition in hosting the annual flower festival and it has gained more and more popularity among both locals and tourists.

Not only noted for its beautiful floral celebration, Chiang Mai also serves as the one of the biggest horticultural industry of Thailand exporting fresh cut flowers, ornamental plants, and a range of other horticultural products.

Date: February 1-3, 2013
Venue: Nong Buak Haad Park, Tha Pae Gate plaza, and Navarat Bridge, Chiang Mai
For more information please contact: 053-276140-2 or TAT Call Center-1672 - text from 

This is an event which is colourful and a lot of fun - we visited in 2010.