Thailand - Beautiful Surat Thani watershed forest attracts thousands of tourists.

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After its beautiful and uplifting smartphone photos circulated on Thai social media, Ban Nam Rad watershed forest in Surat Thani's Khiri Rat Nikhom district has become a popular attraction in recent months, attracting at least 1,000 visitors a day. 

The clear-water pond, about the size of a standard swimming pool, is supplied by a natural spring that the locals also believe to be holy. 

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 On behalf of the local community volunteers who oversee and take care of the attraction, Tambon Ban Tamniab kamnan Sujin Nakbumrung said: “We don't collect any fee from tourists but require them to sign a daily registration book before entering, in order to assess the best way to improve the forest conservation. 

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“We also ask that tourists adhere to regulations which include the ban on food, soap, shampoo and alcohol drinks. Some areas of the forest are also restricted, so as to keep this 2,000-rai forestland fertile and its wildlife and plants protected.”

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He said they intended to make Ban Nam Rad watershed forest a model of conservation tourism.

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Cambodia - Herd of Elephants rescued from muddy bomb crater

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Eleven wild elephants were rescued on Saturday in Mondulkiri’s Keo Seima protected area after becoming trapped in a former bomb crater without food for four days, though rangers will continue to monitor the herd to ensure it reaccepts one juvenile who was handled by humans during the rescue.

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Olly Griffin, a technical advisor with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), said the operation was a “big team effort” between civil society groups, government authorities and local villagers.

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“A large part of the credit goes to the local people from the area, who showed concern and compassion for the plight of the elephants,” Griffin said yesterday.

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The 3-metre-deep bomb crater had been repurposed as a water storage pond, and Griffin said the elephants may have been seeking water when they became trapped. 

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Keo Sopheak, director of the province’s environmental department, said the walls of the pit were too steep for the elephants to climb out of, and as the water began to dry, they became mired in the mud.

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“After we watered them, some villagers helped cut bamboo leaves for them to eat because they do not have food for four days. We dug out the sides of the pit and placed wood planks for them to walk on,” said Sopheak.

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WCS supplied equipment likes ropes and digging tools, which allowed 10 of the 11 elephants to successfully exit on their own.

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One young elephant, however, was too weak to leave unassisted. Griffin explained that as the sun began to set and the pit began to fill with rainwater, rescuers made the difficult decision to tie a rope to the young elephant and forcibly pull it out of the pit.

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“The mother may abandon the elephant,” Griffin said, noting that the herd may be spooked if the youngster smells like humans.

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“It ran off in the same direction as the rest of the herd … We will send some rangers to observe whether or not he is accepted.”

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Yan Socheat, one of village rescuers, said locals were aware that there were elephants in the area for about a week, but didn’t realise they were in trouble.

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Video footage shows rescuers pulling out the young elephant, who subsequently tramples one of his liberators as he flees. Socheat said the rescuer was stunned, but uninjured. 

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Additional reporting by Andrew Nachemson

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Thailand - Buri Ram set for MotoGP bonanza

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A GOVERNMENT plan for Buri Ram to host MotoGP international motorcycle road racing has been eagerly welcomed by local residents and businesses alike – with almost Bt2 billion in revenue expected to be earned and some Bt500 million going to the northeastern province.

In financial terms, the big-bike event is expected to benefit not only Buri Ram but also neighbouring provinces such as Surin, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said. 

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“We want to promote tourism in the Northeast, where there are fewer tourists than other regions. The Tourism Authority of Thailand sees that sport can be the answer in helping bring in tourism revenue,” she said.

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The Tourism and Sports Ministry estimated that the MotoGP event would attract around 110,000 spectators and bring in revenue of Bt1.89 billion, the minister said. The event would be broadcast to around 500 million viewers worldwide, more than any other racing sport event, she added.

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 Kobkarn said she expected the event to also benefit related businesses in Thailand, such as parts manufacturing and assembling of big bikes.

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Hotelier Wasan Thepnakorn, who is an adviser to the Association of Hotel Businesses in Buri Ram, said at least 100,000 motorsport fans from all over the world would flock to the province to watch the MotoGP competition.

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“I believe at least Bt400 million to Bt500 million will change hands during the racing period, with the money going to hotels, food shops and tourist destinations,” he said. “We thank the government and all the relevant sectors to make it possible for this world-class competition to be held in Thailand.”

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He added that the event was expected to help boost the local economy, particularly the tourism sector. The Cabinet last Tuesday approved a Bt300-million budget to cover licence fees for Thailand to host the MotoGP championship annually from 2018 to 2020. 

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The government will pay Bt100 million a year in licence fees to the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the ruling body of the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix. Regarding organisation costs, the government is seeking support from the private sector, according to Kobkarn. 

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The Buriram United Interna-tional Circuit will be the venue for the first MotoGP in Thailand.

A source in the motorsport circles said that MotoGP was the most popular motorcycle-racing event, with a strong following worldwide.

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While the Thai private sector is capable of affording the MotoGP licence fees, a government role would help boost the event’s image, the source said. “With only a company playing host, the event would not be grand enough,” the source said.

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At present, there are 18 MotoGP venues around the world, with four of them in Asia and Oceania – Qatar, Japan, Malaysia and Australia. There is a plan by Dorna Sports, the MotoGP commercial rights-holder, to increase the venues to 20 by adding Finland and Thailand.

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Source - TheNation

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Bangkok - Changes to Sanam Luang mourners area

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Some adjustments will be implemented from April 1 for people arriving at Sanam Luang to pay their respects before the royal urn of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall in Bangkok.

Following a meeting of the Peace and Order Maintaining Command on Friday, Deputy First Army Region commander Maj-General Pongsawat Pannachit said the adjustment was needed because Sanam Luang would be prepared as the ceremonial ground for the upcoming Royal Ploughing Ceremony.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Department of Public Work is currently preparing the southern area of Sanam Luang to support mourners, with an administrative tent and medical team set up there.

From April 1, officials and volunteers will provide snacks to visitors each morning, Pongsawat said.

Later each day, people can receive food from charity tents at two areas near the Mother Earth Squeezing Her Hair Statue and the old Government Lottery Office. 

Those visiting the "Yen Sira Phro Phra Boriban" exhibition building at Sanam Luang will have a tent especially for them at the area opposite the Appeals Court.

A shuttle bus service from the Grand Palace's Thevapirom Gate to the exhibition building will be available.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony will be held in May on the Phuetcha Mongkhon holiday to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season.

The ceremony, rooted in Brahman belief, will involve two sacred oxen ploughing a furrow in the ceremonial ground while rice seeds are sown. 

After the ploughing, the oxen will be offered food such as rice, corn, green beans, sesame, fresh-cut grass, water and rice whisky.

There will be a prediction on whether the coming growing season will be bountiful based on what the oxen eat.

Thailand - Gods and kings to be honoured at Phanom Rung festival

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 is from March 31 to April 2 hosting an annual festival in which the faithful ascend a hill to pay homage to deities.

Beginning with a traditional ritual early in the morning each day, people carry offerings to the Hindu god Shiva and other immortals at the top of a hill.
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A procession paying tribute to Their Majesties King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his late father King Bhumibol is also scheduled. The parade will have 10 divinities riding floats in the form of a swan, elephant, cow, rhinoceros, lion, peacock, naga serpent, horse, buffalo and human giant.
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In the evenings, Phanum Rung Castle will provide the backdrop for a 20-minute “4D mapping” projection show illustrating the site’s history and sacred nature.
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Other plans include dance and other cultural performances onstage and a grand light-and-sound show depicting Phanom Rung’s history as inspired by the popular TV drama series “Nakee”, shot in large part at the castle.
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There’ll be a market selling local food favourites and hand-woven silk and cotton. 
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Source - TheNation
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Indonesia - 2017 Lake Toba tourism calendar released

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 The North Sumatra administration has just released its 2017 Lake Toba Tourism Calendar, comprising a schedule of cultural events in the Lake Toba area.

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Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said the calendar was important to attract travelers. “Schedule and location certainty is important [for travelers]. The days and months must not be altered because it is a reference for the travelers,” Arief stated, as quoted by kompas.com on Monday.

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(Read also: Hundreds flock to Lake Madirda to observe Melasti)

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Arief also stressed the shift of traveler behavior, particularly among young travelers. “Do not expect them to come [to the destination] if they couldn’t find a fixed schedule,” he said. The minister also mentioned that travelers may have booked their travel in advance. “Imagine how troubled they would be if the schedule changed.”

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The calendar of events was released to help promote Lake Toba, one of Indonesia’s 10 priority destinations of 2017. Among the activities included in the calendar of events are festivals, carnivals, music shows and sports events.

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North Sumatra Deputy Governor Nurhazijah Marpaung said all tourism stakeholders in the province were ready to make Lake Toba an international destination. She also explained that tourist activities in Lake Toba were expected to account for Rp 16 trillion (US$ 75 million) in regional gross domestic product, and create 300,000 new jobs in North Sumatra.

Below is the list of events scheduled on the calendar.

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Temple deputy abbot Phra Thatthacheevo of using temple funds to trade in stocks

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Dhammakaya Temple deputy abbot fights charge

Pathum Thani-based Dhammakaya Temple deputy abbot Phra Thatthacheevo on Wednesday morning presented himself to public prosecutors of the Thanyaburi Provincial Court to fight the charge of violating a junta order to present himself before the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief. 

The embattled monk, who was accompanied by lawyers, refused to comment to media.

The DSI also accused Phra Thatthacheevo of using temple funds to trade in stocks – an alleged offence that could result in him being charged with abuse of authority under Article 157 of the Criminal Code.