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Thailand Sand Sculpture Festival On the auspicious occasion of HM. King Bhumibols’ 80th Birthday Anniversary this year, the World Sand Sculpture Festival is being held in Thailand from 28 November 2007 to 28 March 2008. Originated in 1993 in Europe, the festival is well-known for displaying exquisite craftsmanship on the gigantic sand statues. In Chachoengsao Province 82 km to the east of Bangkok, more than 80 pieces of sand sculptures created by over 70 professional sand sculptors worldwide will be exhibited on 4.8 acres of land.
Festival of fruits Starting this weekend, the eastern province of Chanthaburi will be holding its annual fruit festival. It's a specially happy time for kids as they can pluck rambutan, mangosteen or longan fresh from the trees and eat them too. Make a wish When the Chinese's New Year approaches people flock to temples or shrines to ask for prosperity and happiness. High on their list are Wat Jeenpracha Samosorn in Chachoengsao and the shrine of Chao Pho Khaoyai on Ko Si Chang off Si Racha district, Chon Buri. Both temples can be visited in a day. Gardens of deligh Royal Flora Ratchaphruek has blossomed at last. Following a massive amount of preparation and a feverish rise in anticipation, the 92-day horticultural tribute to His Majesty the King has opened in Chiang Mai.
Continuing until January 31, it's a floral exposition where everything is on a grand scale, from the breadth of the show grounds and height of the pavilions to the sheer, stunning volume of plants and flowers on view. Tour de Thailand:help on wheels Thailand-based American cyclist Christopher Byrd is off on another ride across the country next month to raise money for charity and promote eco-tourism.
Byrd expects to have 250 other cyclists with him for the SangSom Tour de Thailand from Chiang Mai to Phuket, covering more than 2,000 kilometres. Spiritual in spikes With four million visitors enjoying its fancy beach resorts, bacchanalian nightlife and upscale malls, Phuket certainly isn't undiscovered. Many might even suggest that the Pearl of the Andaman has become something of a paradise lost.
But the island is also host to one of Thailand's better-kept secrets. Every year for nine days, Phuket town explodes in a frenzy of sights and sounds, as locals take to the streets to celebrate one of the world's most bizarre and macabre festivals. A treat for plant lovers Horticulture Fair 2006 scheduled December 1-6 at the Rose Garden Riverside in Nakhon Pathom brings together experts and breeders from 17 nations who will showcase plants and flowers native to their parts of the world. Beachside bonanza Cha-am is holding its 8th "Kin Hoy, Do Nok, Tok Muek" festival from tomorrow to October 7. The event will feature a broad spectrum of shellfish dishes, including a chance to learn how to catch squids and have them cooked fresh for you as well as to watch birds in mangrove forest. Lent day rites lend colour It rained hard the night before the Buddhist Lent Day or Wan Khao Phansa which took place last week. Old folks in Ubon Ratchathani believe it was a good omen for the rain would wash away all dirt collecting on the candles specially carved for the occasion. Festival marks Buddhist Lent The annual "Tak Bat Dok Mai Festival" will be held July 10-11 at Wat Phra Phutthabat Ratchaworamaha Wihan in Phra Phutthabat District of Saraburi Province. "Tak Bat Dok Mai" floral merit-making ceremony is performed at a temple that shelters a footprint of Lord Buddha, a highly revered ancestral place of worship and a national landmark. Riding the waves The fifth Ko Samui Regatta is already making waves with several international teams and individuals confirming participation in this year's event slated May 21-27. A highlight of the Asian sailing circuit, the week-long extravaganza attracts leading sailors around the globe and is famous for fun-filled racing action and passionate partying. Going ballistic Yasothon's traditional Boon Bang Fai Rocket Festival carries more international flavour as Malaysia has entered the fray joining Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Japan this year. Songkran all the way Songkran, the Thai New Year, officially takes off today. It is fun time as Thai people enjoy the longest holiday of the year. In the sweltering summer, people splash water at each other, which is a welcome respite from the heat, and the young ones pay their respects to seniors and the elderly. If you are looking for pointers to celebrate the occasion, here are a few. Jam time in Pattaya The Grand Pattaya International Music Festival 2006 scheduled March 17-19 will be spread over three stages marked yellow, green and orange, and run from 6pm until 1am. The yellow stage in Pattaya Soi 6 will feature 200 singers from GMM Grammy, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Bakery Music, Black Sheep, Music Bugs, Love Is, Warner Music, Sure Audio, Music Train 1995, Mang Pong, U2 Record, Master Tape and guest artists from Korea and Japan. Tying the knot Northern-style wedding ceremonies organised by the Lanna Folk Museum, one of Chiang Mai's oldest teak houses, are gaining popularity among foreign love couples travelling there to tie the knot.They are in a foreign land and part of the delight of travelling here is learning and embracing the culture of the place for this once in a lifetime occasion, says Jumpol Chutima of the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Centre, of which the museum is a part. Double celebration Chinese New Year celebrations promise an array of Sino-Thai cultural delights that will make 60 years of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne a memorable anniversary.
The historical Yaowarat Road will be given a make over with a myriad of Chinese cuisine and cultural shows during January 29-30 to welcome the Year of the Dog. Festival to focus on old Phuket town In an attempt to maintain a balance between a popular modern resort island and its rich cultural heritage, Phuket will hold the 8th Old Phuket Town Festival next month, when the island's rich history and architecture will be brought to the fore. The festival will be held on Feb 3-5 at Phuket's ''Streets of Culture'' _ Thalang road, Soi Romanee and Krabi road. Pets on show at Rose Garden This weekend is ideal for family outing as the Rose Garden in Nakhon Pathom is playing host to the 5th Grand Pet Show. Starting tomorrow, it runs until Sunday and will feature animals ranging from cats and dogs to chicken, goats, rabbits and aquarium fish. Big field for PIMEX Phuket International Marine Expo (PIMEX) will run December 8-11 at the Boat Lagoon. Foreign kings, queens invited to special royal celebrations Kings and queens worldwide have been invited to Thailand's celebrations of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's ascension to the throne in June next year. Hua Hin vintage car rally The Tourism Authority of Thailand, hoteliers, and the Vintage Car Club of Thailand are organising the 3rd Hua Hin Vintage Car Parade from Dec 16-18. Charity marathon Fitness enthusiasts, charity workers and members of the public will be returning to Banyan Tree Bangkok on September 18 for the 7th Vertical Marathon. The finishing point for the marathon is the hotel's former helipad that now serves as the Vertigo restaurant, on the 61st floor. Food festival in Chachoengsao The province of Chachoengsao is holding a food festival from August 26-28 on Phanom Phattana Road in Phanom Sarakham District. Showcase of local and Asian talent Realised with a minimum budget and total free-spiritedness, the Thai Short Film and Video Festival tees off its 9th edition this year on Aug 6 and ends on Aug 17. Although the number of short-film events in Bangkok has doubled in recent years, this original festival, hosted by the Thai Film Foundation, remains a major gathering of enthusiasts, and rightly claims a respected status among filmmakers and audiences alike.
Joint effort to support Thai sailing In a move aimed at boosting the growing popularity of sailing events in Thailand, the organisers of the annual Phuket King's Cup Regatta - Asia's biggest yachting event - have pledged sponsorship support for Evason Phuket Raceweek, Thailand's only "green season" regatta. Candlelit rites on tsunami anniversary A campaign to give Andaman Sea resorts a mega-event to commemorate the tsunami tragedy anniversary December 26 is losing steam due to opposition from local community leaders and hoteliers based in Phuket. Fashion Week organisers take cue from Hong Kong The first world-class Thai fashion event, Bangkok Fashion 2005, will adapt key management and organisational strategies from Hong Kong Fashion Week. Marking the start of Buddhist Lent with flowers Buddhist Lent, the three-month retreat into monkhood every rainy season, is just around the corner. It signals a time when monks remain in monasteries to concentrate on Buddha's teachings. But for laymen and adventure travellers, it's time to explore the lush wild greenery across the country brought about by monsoon rain. It's also that time of the year when flowers are in full bloom. The Ubon Ratchathani candle festival welcomes the arrival of the Buddhist Lent Ubon Ratchathani province in Northeastern Thailand honours Buddhist Lent with a showcase of exquisitely carved candles representing the royal Supannahong boat and mythical Thai gods and goddesses. JAZZ on a Thai beach Now in its fourth year, the Hua Hin Jazz Festival promises to be an eye-opening musical celebration. Visaka Puja Day Procession& Buddhist Merit-Making Rituals The Visakha Puja religious ceremony marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha and is the holiest of all the auspicious Buddhist events. All over the country, Thais visit the temples to listen to sermons by revered monks and make mer Mekong fairs Two tourism exhibitions aimed at boosting travel in the Mekong sub-region have been scheduled for June 16-19 at Bangkok's Impact Exhibition Centre. PM praises pagent's success The Miss Universe 2005 pageant was just what Thailand needed to bring back tourists after the tsunami disaster last last year, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday. BUN BANG FAI ROCKET FESTIVAL
Born of the traditional beliefs of the Isan people, the sprightly "Bun Bang Fai" Rocket Festival, the most celebrated of Isan's merit-making rituals, has been strictly observed by the residents of Isan for generations and is essentially an annual ritual to ensure that the seasonal rains fall at the appropriate time in the planting cycle. In this process, Buddhist merit-making traditions are also observed and reinforced.
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