Showing posts with label Celebrations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Celebrations. Show all posts

Tuesday 7 August 2018

Thailand - #Phuket named second best beach in the world


Phuket is celebrating its most recent award after being named the ‘Second Best Beach in the World’ by business publication US News & World Report.

It continues to win accolades from major international media for its white sands, aquamarine waters and limestone cliffs that attract millions of travelers every year. This island was hailed as “a little piece of paradise” according to the magazine.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, said everyone in Phuket, both public and private stakeholders should take pride in this achievement as it demonstrates the island’s appeal as one of the world’s most desirable beach destinations.

“Obviously we are delighted to win this important award. The fact the honour comes from the US News & World Report is even more gratifying given its target audience and readership.


 “In the past, Phuket has won several other prestigious awards for its beaches as well, so we are very grateful for the continued recognition.” Mr. Yuthasak added.

Phuket continues to expand its appeal as it tries to shift upmarket. It is also quickly established itself as one of the super-yacht hubs of Southeast Asia, a tropical playground for various groups of tourists who enjoy the island’s charms.

Along with its tropical appeal, Phuket beckons travellers wanting to experience its world-famous cuisine. Phuket was listed by UNESCO as a Gastronomic City in 2015 and will be included in the Michelin Guide Bangkok, Phuket and Phang Nga 2019.

https://12go.asia/?z=581915

Tuesday 10 July 2018

Khao Phansa festivals across Thailand


One of the most charming festivals celebrated in Thailand is Khao Phansa, or Buddhist Lent Day, which marks the official start of the rainy season. It also marks the period when monks traditionally retreat to their temples for a three-month period of study and meditation.

Khao Phansa day itself is a day of special celebration and is held on the full moon of the eighth lunar month which this year falls on 28 July. But many of the celebrations to mark the festival will take place over several days during the last week of July.

Here’s a rundown of what’s on during Khao Phansa 2018 and where:

Ubon Ratchathani International Wax Candle Festival and Wax Candle Procession

Date: 23-28 July 2018

Venue: Ubon Ratchathani City Areas

The International Wax Candle Festival and Wax Candle Procession takes place in Thung Si Mueang Park, Ubon Ratchathani. Teams come from all over the world to compete and the detail on the wax artworks is staggering, with some being colossal in scale. It’s a great place to explore unique local cultures as the locals wear traditional dress and show off their age-old folk dances.

Nakhon Ratchasima Candle Procession

Date: 26-28 July 2018

Venue: Thao Suranari Monument

At the Thao Suranari Monument in Mueang Korat, there will be a wax candle contest, a candle parade, and merit-making activities. Held annually to promote the local art and culture, the festival will also feature a number of cultural activities including Khon, a traditional masked dance performance.

Nakhon Phanom Candle Festival

Date: 28 July 2018

Venue: Wat Phra That Phanom

The Lao-influenced culture of Nakhon Phanom gives a different twist to the Khao Phansa celebrations. The festival centres on the iconic local pagoda of Wat Phra That Phanom and there is always a procession of exquisitely carved candles to enjoy as well as the Miss Candle Beauty contest where local beauties hope to be named winner.

Ayutthaya Aquatic Phansa Festival

Date: 28 July 2018

Venue: Lad Chado market, Ayutthaya

The ancient capital of Ayutthaya hosts very memorable Khao Phansa celebrations, as the candles are taken to the local temples in more than 200 colourful boats that float down the city’s ancient Lad Chado canal. Visitors can also enjoy a taste of rural life, beauty pageants, and local games.

Suphanburi Khao Phansa Candle Procession

Date: 27-28 July 2018

Venue: Wat Pa Laylai Woraviharn, Tambon Rua Yai, Mueang Suphan Buri

Students from local art colleges compete to put on the most impressive candle displays. There are huge sculptures depicting creatures and heroes from Thai myth and these are proudly paraded around town. Visitors also enjoy exhibitions about the ways of life of the local tribal people and colourful displays of folk dancing.

Saraburi Khao Phansa Festival
Date: 26-28 July 2018

Venue: Wat Phra Putthabat Ratchaworamahaviharn, Saraburi

During Khao Phansa in Saraburi, people visit the local shrine of the Buddha’s Footprint where yellow and white flowers are offered to monks (Tak Bat Dok Mai) as a way of making merit. This has become a big event and now thousands of people join to give alms to the monks as they ascend the steep stairs of the shrine.

Nan Candle Festival

Date: 29 July 2018

Venue: Bunyuen Royal Temple, Wiang Sa district, Nan

Visitors can join local people as they offer food to the monks in the morning. Later in the day, they can join the almsgiving of candles to the temple and take part in other merit-making activities that offer insight into the culture of Thai Buddhism.

Source - The Nation

Thursday 13 April 2017

Bangkok - Songkran: Six main roads closed for water fighting festivities

.
Despite official announcements that Songkran is supposed to be less riotous this year due to the mourning period for the late king, six roads will still be closed off for more restrained water-fighting celebrations. 
.
The other surprising directive that has been announced for this year’s celebrations is that it has to be less sexy, with both sexy dance moves and sexy clothes being banned although how they are going to define sexiness and enforce a ban on it remains to be seen. 
.
Let’s see how toned down the shenanigans are on the roads that have been designated for celebrating: Khaosan, Chakkra Phong, Bowonniwet, Sib Sam Hang, Tanao, and Silom.
.
The Royal Gazette announced yesterday that those roads will be closed to all vehicles from noon until midnight on April 13-15. Khaosan, one of the major water fighting destinations for both Thais and foreigners, will also close today from noon until midnight for water fighting.
.
The temporary regulations also ban pickup trucks from carrying water tanks and partiers and any vehicle that plays very loud music from April 13-15.
.
.

Thursday 14 April 2016

Return to Thai tradition, saving water the themes for this Songkran


The Kingdom kicked off the three-day Songkran festival yesterday in a more traditional and frugal manner, as saving water appeared to be the main goal of authorities and event organizers.

Revellers during Songkran, billed as the world's biggest water fight, were urged to help conserve water since Thailand is experiencing its worst drought in decades.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Metropolitan Police have banned the sale of high-pressure water guns as they consume more water and pose a safety threat to targeted passers-by. Sellers of such guns risk a maximum prison sentence of six months and fines of up to Bt50,000.

However, many celebrants, most of them foreigners, were still seen carrying such guns in places like Khao San Road and Silom.

People have been urged to use small water guns or even spray bottles to conserve water. In some areas, revellers were given punctured plastic bottles that they can use to squeeze water at others.
Authorities have also geared up to scrub the celebration clean of alcohol, topless dancers and other such "indecencies", by threatening to arrest scantily-clad women and banning the sale of alcohol at raucous street parties in a bid to bring the festival back to its traditional roots.

In response to the government's policy to save water and conserve Thai tradition and culture this Songkran, the Culture Ministry and its allies have organised Songkran celebrations at temples and is inviting people to make merit. Thailand's first cross-country prayer for Songkran will be held at different temples, Culture Minister Weera Rojpojanarat said yesterday. 


He made these comments after presiding over the launch of "Songkran in Temples: Attending Thai-style New Year Prayers and Saving Water" activity at Wat Arun and another event highlighting the worship of nine sacred Buddha images at Wat Pathumwanaram. Weera said the prayer campaign, to run until April 17, has received cooperation from monastic sites and communities nationwide.

In Bangkok, six key temples joined the programme by holding Songkran activities and traditional shows. The temples involved were Wat Benchamabophit, Wat Phra Chettuphon or Wat Pho, Wat Rachathiwat, Wat Pathumwanaram, Wat Prayurawongsawas and Wat Arun.

The Khunnadhamma community at Wat Hongrattanaram also made arrangements for alms offering, water blessing of Buddha images and the making of pagodas from sand, he said, adding that people could call (02) 422 8812 for more information.

Traditional flair was also brought to Mahasarakham Hospital in the Northeast, with doctors and nurses at the emergency unit dressing in traditional attire. They said such clothing did not get in their way, while many visitors welcomed this gesture and asked to take photographs with them.

Many Thais as well as people in neighbouring countries joined merit-making events to usher in the New Year. In Bung Kan's Muang district, provincial governor Pongsak Preechawit led local residents and Laotian people to offer alms to 80 monks yesterday morning. Water-splashing celebrations also were joined by Thais and their neighbours alike, with nearly 10,000 Myanmar citizens from Koh Song crossing the border in Ranong yesterday to join the fun, make merit at local temples and to visit local attractions.

In the Northeast, owner of Buri Ram United football club Newin Chidchob set up a large tent with a sign reading "Morgue" in a move to control chaos-creating drunken youth at the grand Songkran party being held at the i-Mobile Stadium in Buri Ram. 


Read More on The Nation

*****
For the Best ‪#‎Hotels‬ and ‪#‎Resorts‬‬
We help you with your ‪#‎Bookings‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

ASIAN-BESTHOTELS
THAILAND-BESTHOTELS
BANGKOK-BESTHOTELS
EUROPEAN-BESTHOTELS
HOLLAND-BESTHOTELS
THAILAND-BESTHOTELS

VIP-BESTHOTELS


PLANET-ASIAN
GERRIT-TIENKAMP
TRIPADVISOR‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER



Tuesday 2 February 2016

Bangkok gets set for Chinese New Year


Dig out your red clothes, hang up paper lanterns and pick up some firecrackers — Chinese New Year is returning to Bangkok.

The biggest celebrations will take place on Yaowarat Road in the heart of Chinatown, with cultural displays, dance and musical performances to usher in the Year of the Monkey.

Kicking off on Feb. 7, the Chinatown festivities will also feature lantern decorations, dragon parades and lion dances, street stalls selling Chinese cuisine and souvenirs, and entertainment from famous artists, including troupes and performers from China.


 Visanu Jaroensilp, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) deputy governor for Tourism Products and Business said: “Thailand’s celebrations to mark the 2016 Chinese New Year will be even more special, as this is a significant year for the country. 

“This year marks the 41st year of Sino-Thai diplomatic relations, and the 12th anniversary of cooperation between TAT and the Chinese Ministry of Culture in co-hosting the Chinese New Year celebrations in Thailand.”


TAT estimates a boost in tourism revenue from the celebrations,  with about 1.01 million international tourists are expected to visit from Feb. 6-14. 

Of those vistorss, an estimated 476,000 are expected to come from countries with Chinese communities including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia.
 
***** 

Thursday 31 December 2015

We wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year


We wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year
Wij wensen u allen een gelukkig en gezond Nieuwjaar
Wir wünschen Ihnen allen ein frohes und gesundes neues Jahr
Kami berharap Anda semua Happy dan Sehat Tahun Baru
Nais ka naming isang Happy at Healthy New Year lahat
Nous vous souhaitons à tous une bonne et heureuse année
Kami mengucapkan selamat Tahun Baru dan Sihat
เราหวังว่าทุกท่านสวัสดีปีใหม่และมีสุขภาพดี (Sawadee Pi Mai)
Мы желаем вам всем счастливого и здорового Нового года
យើងសូមឱ្យអ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នាសប្បាយចិត្តនិងមានសុខភាពល្អឆ្នាំថ្មីមួយ
우리는 모두 행복하고 건강한 새해 소원

Did you know: #‎Bangkok‬ is 6 hours ahead of ‪#‎Amsterdam‬ / ‪#‎London‬
*****
For the Best ‪#‎Hotels‬ and ‪#‎Resorts‬‬
We help you with your ‪#‎Bookings‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬


CLICK HERE FOR YOUR BOOKING


ASIAN-BESTHOTELS
BANGKOK-BESTHOTELS
EUROPEAN-BESTHOTELS
HOLLAND-BESTHOTELS
VIP-BESTHOTELS

PLANET-ASIAN
GERRIT-TIENKAMP
TRIPADVISOR‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
.
.