The organisers of the Phuket International Boat Show recently held a “Bangkok Preview” in the capital to introduce the boating lifestyle to city residents. Over the weekend, more than 300 visitors came to the Preview and showed a strong interest, with some expected to attend the Phuket International Boat Show in January 2010 at Royal Phuket Marina.
Mr. Andy Dowden, Event Director, said “We received strong interest from visitors in Bangkok. We had a number of visitors to the Bangkok Preview enabling us to boost interest in the Phuket show to a wider target audience.”
”PIMEX is the major international boat show in the region and one that I have to attend. Results from past years have been very good: we have met many new potential customers and generated strong sales leads. The Phuket International Boat Show provides an excellent opportunity to showcase our marine brands,” commented Mr. Hakan Lange, Managing Director of Derani Yachts, a long term exhibitor of PIMEX.
Since it's beginning, PIMEX has been a key driver in the growth of Phuket’s marine tourism industry, which has grown year-on-year by approximately 10%. The show has a proven track record with sales successes and strong visitor numbers for seven consecutive years. The show’s exhibitors include many major brands of motorboats and sailing yachts, as well as a variety of marine tourism products and services, yacht brokers, luxury real estate and other lifestyle products from Phuket, Thailand and around the world.
”We are pleased that PIMEX continues to be proactive and make efforts to attract the right visitors, and to open up new markets such as Bangkok, to the marine lifestyle. We believe these new markets will be very encouraging for the future of marine tourism in Thailand,” said Mr. Quentin Lowe, Group Brokerage Manager of Simpson Marine.
As the event draws near, exhibitor bookings are strong. The Phuket International Boat Show continues to retain its crown as being the biggest boat show in the region in terms of in- water boat displays, with many new brands having confirmed to exhibit at the show for the first time this year. New arrivals at this year's show includes two superyachts from Europe - a 32 metre Mangusta and a 26 metre Pershing – both of which are clear signs that the marine industry is weathering the economic storm. Combined with an increase in international exhibitors and visitors, the 2010 Phuket International Boat Show is shaping up to be the best yet.
Now in it's seventh year, the Phuket International Boat Show will be held January 7-10, 2010, at Royal Phuket Marina in Phuket, Thailand and is supported by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau with support and enthusiasm from the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Sports Authority of Thailand. Co-Sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand with the Bangkok Pan Pacific Hotel as Official Supplier, Media Partners include 91.5FM Phuket Island Radio, Asia Pacific Boating, Asia Spa, China Boating, Director, International Herald Tribune, Jet Asia Pacific, Luxury Properties, Millionaire Asia, Newspaper Direct, Phuket Gazette, Prestige Thailand and The Nation.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
dusitD2 baraquda pattaya: Asia’s only Finalist at FX Awards 2009
Pattaya, Thailand – The dusitD2 baraquda pattaya was recognised as one of the Best Hotel Designs worldwide at the FX International Interior Design Awards 2009 ceremony organised by FX Design Magazine of the United Kingdom and held on 24 November 2009 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.
FX Magazine selected dusitD2 baraquda pattaya as a finalist in the hotel category, the judging panel of industry experts declaring the resort hotel to be “creative, functional and welcoming, especially for its size”. The other 2009 finalists included W Hotel downtown, Atlanta; The W, New York; Andels’s Lodz; Andel’s Berlin; and Boundary, London, which was the winner. Finalists were selected based on aesthetic appeal, practicality and functionality of design.
“We are honoured to have been selected as a finalist for the FX International Interior Design Awards 2009,” said Mr. Paolo Randone, General Manager of dusitD2 baraquda pattaya. “We strive to be as distinctive as we can and we appreciate that our efforts are recognised.”
The prestigious FX International Interior Design Awards is organized by FX Magazine, the leading UK commercial interiors publication. The FX International Interior Design Awards have been celebrating excellence in design for the last ten years, with previous winners including some of the biggest names in international design.
Just a 90-minute drive from Bangkok and located within Pattaya’s entertainment and shopping district, the 72-room hotel is at the doorstep of Pattaya’s exciting caf้ scene and a short ferry ride to the white sand beaches of Koh Larn (Coral Island).
FX Magazine selected dusitD2 baraquda pattaya as a finalist in the hotel category, the judging panel of industry experts declaring the resort hotel to be “creative, functional and welcoming, especially for its size”. The other 2009 finalists included W Hotel downtown, Atlanta; The W, New York; Andels’s Lodz; Andel’s Berlin; and Boundary, London, which was the winner. Finalists were selected based on aesthetic appeal, practicality and functionality of design.
“We are honoured to have been selected as a finalist for the FX International Interior Design Awards 2009,” said Mr. Paolo Randone, General Manager of dusitD2 baraquda pattaya. “We strive to be as distinctive as we can and we appreciate that our efforts are recognised.”
The prestigious FX International Interior Design Awards is organized by FX Magazine, the leading UK commercial interiors publication. The FX International Interior Design Awards have been celebrating excellence in design for the last ten years, with previous winners including some of the biggest names in international design.
Just a 90-minute drive from Bangkok and located within Pattaya’s entertainment and shopping district, the 72-room hotel is at the doorstep of Pattaya’s exciting caf้ scene and a short ferry ride to the white sand beaches of Koh Larn (Coral Island).
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
ETIHAD TO JOIN SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL USERS GROUP
Etihad Airways has joined the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group (SAFUG), an airline-led industry working group established in 2008 to accelerate the commercialisation and availability of sustainable biofuels.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: ““Etihad recognises the need for step-changes in aviation to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and meet our industry’s carbon reduction goal. We also recognise that any fuel alternatives must be morally, socially and environmentally acceptable, while not compromising the future sustainability of the aviation industry.”
SAFUG members are bound by stringent criteria for the development of non fossil fuels, including the following:
The development of plant sources must be undertaken in a manner that is non-competitive with food, with biodiversity impacts minimised and without jeopardizing drinking water supplies. The total lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from plant growth, harvesting, processing and end-use should be significantly less than that from fossil sources. In developing economies, development projects should include provisions or outcomes that improve socio-economic conditions for small-scale farmers and their families and that do not require the involuntary displacement of local populations. High conservation value areas and native eco-systems should not be cleared and converted for jet fuel plant source development.
Each SAFUG member has pledged to work through the Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels (RSB), a global multi-stakeholder initiative consisting of leading environmental organizations, financiers, biofuel developers, biofuel-interested petroleum companies, the transportation sector, developing-world poverty alleviation associations, research entities, and governments.
“Abu Dhabi, our home base, has itself made a strong commitment towards sustainability and in the promotion of renewable energy through the establishment of Masdar City, which will the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency,” Mr Hogan said.
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi. Currently Etihad offers flights to over 55 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: ““Etihad recognises the need for step-changes in aviation to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and meet our industry’s carbon reduction goal. We also recognise that any fuel alternatives must be morally, socially and environmentally acceptable, while not compromising the future sustainability of the aviation industry.”
SAFUG members are bound by stringent criteria for the development of non fossil fuels, including the following:
The development of plant sources must be undertaken in a manner that is non-competitive with food, with biodiversity impacts minimised and without jeopardizing drinking water supplies. The total lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from plant growth, harvesting, processing and end-use should be significantly less than that from fossil sources. In developing economies, development projects should include provisions or outcomes that improve socio-economic conditions for small-scale farmers and their families and that do not require the involuntary displacement of local populations. High conservation value areas and native eco-systems should not be cleared and converted for jet fuel plant source development.
Each SAFUG member has pledged to work through the Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels (RSB), a global multi-stakeholder initiative consisting of leading environmental organizations, financiers, biofuel developers, biofuel-interested petroleum companies, the transportation sector, developing-world poverty alleviation associations, research entities, and governments.
“Abu Dhabi, our home base, has itself made a strong commitment towards sustainability and in the promotion of renewable energy through the establishment of Masdar City, which will the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency,” Mr Hogan said.
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi. Currently Etihad offers flights to over 55 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
MADAME TUSSAUDS COMES TO BANGKOK
Global Leisure Giant Merlin Entertainments Partners With Siam Piwat to Bring US $15m Iconic Visitor Attraction to Bangkok
The world’s second largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin Entertainments (Merlin), announced today that it is planning to bring its most iconic and popular attraction to Thailand for the very first time - Madame Tussauds Bangkok will open in the Siam Discovery in September 2010.. The US $15m visitor attraction will be the company’s tenth Madame Tussauds worldwide, and the third to open in Asia, joining very established and successful sister attractions in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
One of the most famous, unique and best loved ‘celebrity’ brands in the world, Madame Tussauds Bangkok is destined to be the “must do” attraction for all visitors. Madame Tussauds is looking to work closely with Bangkok tourist and leisure organisations to promote the opening, and to ensure that in the future the attraction plays a key role in encouraging visitors both from overseas, and from other parts of Thailand and the region, to the City. The original wax attraction, Madame Tussauds’ world class wax figures will also be at the centre of a planned major redevelopment of the Siam Discovery and surrounding area.
200 Years of Quality
Madame Tussauds Bangkok will be the ultimate celebrity experience, and not like any other attraction. Its sculptors produce wax figures of such quality and so lifelike that visitors, and celebrities alike, often have to do a double take. With no bars, ropes or barriers around the figures visitors have no problem believing that they really are standing beside, or even ‘acting/competing’ with their heroes in some of the exciting interactive parts of the attraction which have become such a popular part of what the attraction offers
This is the result of 200 years of Madame Tussauds’ expertise and painstaking research for every figure. Each one takes a minimum of 3 months to make, and many are produced following sittings with the celebrities themselves. They are all produced as a result of hundreds of separate measurements, hours matching skin tone, eye and hair colour - with every individual hair inserted separately. Celebrities themselves and film studio wardrobe departments often supply clothing for the figures, or designers will reproduce significant or iconic outfits as exact replicas for us. A famous example of this is HRH Princess Diana’s wedding dress which was on display in the London attraction the day after the wedding and was made in tandem with the original dress by the designers – and with her approval. No one else has this relationship with the famous – who regard inclusion in Madame Tussauds as a huge honour and recognition of their status and achievement.
Most importantly each of the Madame Tussauds’ attractions is quite different from one another, reflecting not only the culture, people, history and colour of the City in which they are located; but also featuring global figures from politics, entertainment, music and sport which have helped to shape the world. Madame Tussauds Bangkok will be no exception, the company is already working with a number of top Thai celebrities and has lots of very exciting plans for the City which will be revealed at a special preview event next Spring
Merlin Entertainments Midway Managing Director Glenn Earlam said: “We are delighted to be opening a Madame Tussauds in Bangkok which is such an exciting and vibrant city, and which gives us so much scope to create what I believe will be one of our best attractions ever. It will be a unique attraction, in a unique City.’
‘We are particularly delighted to be working with the team at Siam Piwat, the owners of Siam Discovery, who have done so much to make this project a reality. Their plans for the redevelopment of the Siam Discovery are very exciting and we are proud to be a part of it. This is a super prime location in one of the leading shopping centres and busiest and most important malls in Bangkok. I have no doubt the attraction will be hugely successful. ’
Mrs. Chadatip Chutrakul, President and CEO of Siam Piwat Company Limited, commenting on the Siam Discovery redevelopment plan said, “We are preparing a major renovation of both the interior and exterior of Siam Discovery, introducing an exciting element to the heart of Bangkok’s most prominent shopping area. It is also our great pleasure to welcome the world renowned visitor attraction operator, Merlin Entertainments which will be bringing its most iconic and popular attraction --Madame Tussauds Bangkok, to Thailand. Being entrusted by such a respectable multi-national company is a reflection of Siam Discovery’s great potential, and we take pride in drawing large foreign investments to Thailand and contributing to the growth of the country’s economy and tourism.”
The Bangkok project is one of three new attractions – on three continents - which Merlin has scheduled to open in 2010 – the others are a LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Manchester, UK; and a SEA LIFE aquarium in Phoenix Arizona, USA. This is in line with the company’s strategy to roll out its primary ‘midway’ brands (short stay, indoor attractions) around the world. Madame Tussauds Bangkok will be the Group’s 61st attraction globally, and underlines the importance of Asia and the Far East as a key development market for Merlin.
The world’s second largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin Entertainments (Merlin), announced today that it is planning to bring its most iconic and popular attraction to Thailand for the very first time - Madame Tussauds Bangkok will open in the Siam Discovery in September 2010.. The US $15m visitor attraction will be the company’s tenth Madame Tussauds worldwide, and the third to open in Asia, joining very established and successful sister attractions in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
One of the most famous, unique and best loved ‘celebrity’ brands in the world, Madame Tussauds Bangkok is destined to be the “must do” attraction for all visitors. Madame Tussauds is looking to work closely with Bangkok tourist and leisure organisations to promote the opening, and to ensure that in the future the attraction plays a key role in encouraging visitors both from overseas, and from other parts of Thailand and the region, to the City. The original wax attraction, Madame Tussauds’ world class wax figures will also be at the centre of a planned major redevelopment of the Siam Discovery and surrounding area.
200 Years of Quality
Madame Tussauds Bangkok will be the ultimate celebrity experience, and not like any other attraction. Its sculptors produce wax figures of such quality and so lifelike that visitors, and celebrities alike, often have to do a double take. With no bars, ropes or barriers around the figures visitors have no problem believing that they really are standing beside, or even ‘acting/competing’ with their heroes in some of the exciting interactive parts of the attraction which have become such a popular part of what the attraction offers
This is the result of 200 years of Madame Tussauds’ expertise and painstaking research for every figure. Each one takes a minimum of 3 months to make, and many are produced following sittings with the celebrities themselves. They are all produced as a result of hundreds of separate measurements, hours matching skin tone, eye and hair colour - with every individual hair inserted separately. Celebrities themselves and film studio wardrobe departments often supply clothing for the figures, or designers will reproduce significant or iconic outfits as exact replicas for us. A famous example of this is HRH Princess Diana’s wedding dress which was on display in the London attraction the day after the wedding and was made in tandem with the original dress by the designers – and with her approval. No one else has this relationship with the famous – who regard inclusion in Madame Tussauds as a huge honour and recognition of their status and achievement.
Most importantly each of the Madame Tussauds’ attractions is quite different from one another, reflecting not only the culture, people, history and colour of the City in which they are located; but also featuring global figures from politics, entertainment, music and sport which have helped to shape the world. Madame Tussauds Bangkok will be no exception, the company is already working with a number of top Thai celebrities and has lots of very exciting plans for the City which will be revealed at a special preview event next Spring
Merlin Entertainments Midway Managing Director Glenn Earlam said: “We are delighted to be opening a Madame Tussauds in Bangkok which is such an exciting and vibrant city, and which gives us so much scope to create what I believe will be one of our best attractions ever. It will be a unique attraction, in a unique City.’
‘We are particularly delighted to be working with the team at Siam Piwat, the owners of Siam Discovery, who have done so much to make this project a reality. Their plans for the redevelopment of the Siam Discovery are very exciting and we are proud to be a part of it. This is a super prime location in one of the leading shopping centres and busiest and most important malls in Bangkok. I have no doubt the attraction will be hugely successful. ’
Mrs. Chadatip Chutrakul, President and CEO of Siam Piwat Company Limited, commenting on the Siam Discovery redevelopment plan said, “We are preparing a major renovation of both the interior and exterior of Siam Discovery, introducing an exciting element to the heart of Bangkok’s most prominent shopping area. It is also our great pleasure to welcome the world renowned visitor attraction operator, Merlin Entertainments which will be bringing its most iconic and popular attraction --Madame Tussauds Bangkok, to Thailand. Being entrusted by such a respectable multi-national company is a reflection of Siam Discovery’s great potential, and we take pride in drawing large foreign investments to Thailand and contributing to the growth of the country’s economy and tourism.”
The Bangkok project is one of three new attractions – on three continents - which Merlin has scheduled to open in 2010 – the others are a LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Manchester, UK; and a SEA LIFE aquarium in Phoenix Arizona, USA. This is in line with the company’s strategy to roll out its primary ‘midway’ brands (short stay, indoor attractions) around the world. Madame Tussauds Bangkok will be the Group’s 61st attraction globally, and underlines the importance of Asia and the Far East as a key development market for Merlin.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
HONG KONG WINTERFEST 2009 A Holiday Celebration Like No Other! 27 November 2009 – 3 January 2010
When the city’s skyscrapers are decked out in Christmas-themed illuminations, the child in every one of us resurfaces with delight. Hong Kong is rolling out its red carpet for the holiday season, to welcome visitors of all ages to a celebration that’s hard to beat. From 27 November 2009 to 3 January 2010, the Hong Kong Winterfest will be the centerstage of exceptional celebrations.
“Asia’s World City” will be sparkling and scintillating, with a full array of entertainment, activities and visual treats for every member of the family. Stunning Christmas lights will surround the harbour, popular tourist spots, food districts and shopping malls, while buildings will be transformed into giant neon-lit paintings. Carol singers will be performing all around, bringing good cheer to all corners for the season.
At Hong Kong Disneyland, the celebration will be grand, so you and your loved ones can live your Christmas dream that will set your heart aglow. At the Ocean Park Christmas Sensation, amazing illusions and magic tricks will be on the roster. A world-class ice-skating show and an exciting tube ride down a snowy, icy slope are among the highlights to look forward to. Santa’s Lodge will be open to all those who would like a cheery welcome and a true taste of the Yuletide spirit.
And of course, the party will not be complete with Hong Kong’s New Year Countdown Celebrations. Salute the New Year in true Hong Kong style by j oining the large crowds that line Victoria Harbour for a one-of-a-kind welcome to 2010! Breathtaking fireworks and the mesmerizing party ambience will certainly remain etched in your mind for years to come!
Since terrific shopping and incredible bargain-hunting are synonymous with Hong Kong, you will not be disappointed as you discover the generous discounts and promotions that will allow you to go on a mega shopping spree to fill your suitcases! And gourmets and gourmands will just love the Feast as they take up the fantastic wine and dine offers as restaurants in the popular food districts serve up a fabulous selection of festive menus.
So for unparalleled excitement and holiday thrills, book your family and friends now for the Winterfest, a celebration like no other – in a travel destination like no other – Hong Kong!
For more details about Winterfest please take a look at website discoverhongkong.com
“Asia’s World City” will be sparkling and scintillating, with a full array of entertainment, activities and visual treats for every member of the family. Stunning Christmas lights will surround the harbour, popular tourist spots, food districts and shopping malls, while buildings will be transformed into giant neon-lit paintings. Carol singers will be performing all around, bringing good cheer to all corners for the season.
At Hong Kong Disneyland, the celebration will be grand, so you and your loved ones can live your Christmas dream that will set your heart aglow. At the Ocean Park Christmas Sensation, amazing illusions and magic tricks will be on the roster. A world-class ice-skating show and an exciting tube ride down a snowy, icy slope are among the highlights to look forward to. Santa’s Lodge will be open to all those who would like a cheery welcome and a true taste of the Yuletide spirit.
And of course, the party will not be complete with Hong Kong’s New Year Countdown Celebrations. Salute the New Year in true Hong Kong style by j oining the large crowds that line Victoria Harbour for a one-of-a-kind welcome to 2010! Breathtaking fireworks and the mesmerizing party ambience will certainly remain etched in your mind for years to come!
Since terrific shopping and incredible bargain-hunting are synonymous with Hong Kong, you will not be disappointed as you discover the generous discounts and promotions that will allow you to go on a mega shopping spree to fill your suitcases! And gourmets and gourmands will just love the Feast as they take up the fantastic wine and dine offers as restaurants in the popular food districts serve up a fabulous selection of festive menus.
So for unparalleled excitement and holiday thrills, book your family and friends now for the Winterfest, a celebration like no other – in a travel destination like no other – Hong Kong!
For more details about Winterfest please take a look at website discoverhongkong.com
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Goldfish and steamed dumplings
Hong Kong is sometimes compared to an enormous department store; go shopping there and you're bound to find what you're looking for eventually. A highlight of any visit to the city is a trip to one of its numerous markets. Many of these specialise in items such as fish, flowers, jewellery or song birds.
Qiang Wu is still not sure what he should do. He has spent the entire morning at the bird market on Yuen Po Street. He wants to buy a bird for his small apartment but he cannot decide which one he prefers. There are over 70 traders at this market in Mong Kok district and all of them are selling colourful song birds native to many different regions of the world.
Qiang already has a favourite but first he wants to have a chat with the men standing with bird cages at the edge of the market.Just as some people meet up for a coffee when they take their dogs for a walk, elderly Hong Kong men like to take their song birds for a stroll to the bird market in the morning.
Just a few streets away is an equally interesting spectacle: the goldfish market. Goldfish are very suited to the crowded conditions in which most of Hong Kong's seven million people live. Tung Choi Street is crowded with tiny shops selling colourful fish from aquariums or pre-packed in water-filled plastic bags pinned to their walls.Everything from goldfish to fish tanks and fish food is on sale here.
A few streets away is the flower market on Flower Market Road,one of the most colourful locales in the whole city, according to Denny Ip, who works as a movie-location scout."It's always very crowded here ahead of the Chinese New Year festivities with people buying plants to bring luck and wealth for the next 12 months."
There are plenty more markets in Mong Kok apart from these three. The clothing markets in Fa Yuen are nearby and include the Ladies' Market where women can find shoes and accessories at bargain prices.
And if you're thinking of buying some jewellery check out the Jade Market. This delicately hued precious stone, which is found in Burma, China, Australia and Taiwan, is believed by the Chinese to possess mysterious powers.
As night falls, things start getting really busy along Temple Street.The Night Market in Yau-Ma-Tei district on Kowloon has most everything you'd need. There are fortune tellers sitting beside chess players, street musicians singing Cantonese operas and everywhere people can be seen eating steamed meals. To complement the Ladies' Market, Temple Street has men's clothing on offer.
Also well known is the Stanley Market on the south coast which appears far removed from Hong Kong's skyscrapers and jammed streets. The many hairpin bends in the road provide views of the South China Sea and of pretty residential areas.
In contrast to most of the other markets the traders here are less likely to offer a great deal."Too many tourists come here and pay the prices indicated on the labels," says Denny. Which explains why it's practically impossible to haggle with the vendors here.
Qiang Wu is still not sure what he should do. He has spent the entire morning at the bird market on Yuen Po Street. He wants to buy a bird for his small apartment but he cannot decide which one he prefers. There are over 70 traders at this market in Mong Kok district and all of them are selling colourful song birds native to many different regions of the world.
Qiang already has a favourite but first he wants to have a chat with the men standing with bird cages at the edge of the market.Just as some people meet up for a coffee when they take their dogs for a walk, elderly Hong Kong men like to take their song birds for a stroll to the bird market in the morning.
Just a few streets away is an equally interesting spectacle: the goldfish market. Goldfish are very suited to the crowded conditions in which most of Hong Kong's seven million people live. Tung Choi Street is crowded with tiny shops selling colourful fish from aquariums or pre-packed in water-filled plastic bags pinned to their walls.Everything from goldfish to fish tanks and fish food is on sale here.
A few streets away is the flower market on Flower Market Road,one of the most colourful locales in the whole city, according to Denny Ip, who works as a movie-location scout."It's always very crowded here ahead of the Chinese New Year festivities with people buying plants to bring luck and wealth for the next 12 months."
There are plenty more markets in Mong Kok apart from these three. The clothing markets in Fa Yuen are nearby and include the Ladies' Market where women can find shoes and accessories at bargain prices.
And if you're thinking of buying some jewellery check out the Jade Market. This delicately hued precious stone, which is found in Burma, China, Australia and Taiwan, is believed by the Chinese to possess mysterious powers.
As night falls, things start getting really busy along Temple Street.The Night Market in Yau-Ma-Tei district on Kowloon has most everything you'd need. There are fortune tellers sitting beside chess players, street musicians singing Cantonese operas and everywhere people can be seen eating steamed meals. To complement the Ladies' Market, Temple Street has men's clothing on offer.
Also well known is the Stanley Market on the south coast which appears far removed from Hong Kong's skyscrapers and jammed streets. The many hairpin bends in the road provide views of the South China Sea and of pretty residential areas.
In contrast to most of the other markets the traders here are less likely to offer a great deal."Too many tourists come here and pay the prices indicated on the labels," says Denny. Which explains why it's practically impossible to haggle with the vendors here.
Best way to book hotels
What's the best way to book a hotel? That's becoming trickier as hotels try everything they can to drum up business in one of their most challenging years.Average daily hotel rates in the United States are expected to drop 9.7 per cent for the year, to US$96.43, according to Smith Travel Research, which tracks the industry. That would be the steepest year-over-year decrease since Smith began tracking hotel data in 1987. To fill rooms, hotels are offering special sales on their own web sites, turning to third-party sites like Expedia.com to sell excess inventory and even quietly acquiescing to travellers who call up or walk in and haggle.
"It would not be unusual for travellers to find rates as much as 40 per cent below last year if they're a little bit resourceful and flexible," said Bjorn Hanson, a hospitality professor at New York University."Each hotel is trying to manage its inventory and occupancy and rate uniquely," he said, which creates more opportunities for travellers.
To see how low hotels will go, I recently tested out four booking methods across a range of properties in New York City - one of the most expensive hotel markets in the United States - by comparing prices for a Thursday night in October on the hotel's own website,Expedia.com and the reservation phone line. For good measure, I also hoofed it to the hotel itself and haggled with the front desk. In each instance I did not reveal my affiliation with The New York Times and presented myself as just another traveller.Of the five hotels I compared, only one - the venerable Four Seasons New York - stuck to the same rate. It was a whopping US$855 a night for a "moderate room" on the hotel's website,US$855 on Expedia.com and US$855 when I called. What happened when I showed up in person?"Eight-hundred-fifty-five dollars," a front-desk clerk assured me in a thick Central European accent."That would be our cheapest, ma'am." he added, when I demurred over the price. A female clerk nodded in agreement, hardly looking up from her computer to glance at the dishevelled traveller who dared to ask for a discount. Harrumph."Alright," I said in the most exasperated tone I could muster, then quickly pivoted on my heels
for a deliberate exit.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Cen'Most hotels offer
tral Park was more accommodating,a best-rate at least on the phone. Initially, the reservation agent quoted US$795 for guarantee that a king - the same rate found on Expedia and its own web site. But promises guests
when I said,"I was hoping for somean additional 25
dropped the rate US$100, showing thing lower," she immediately per cent discount that even luxury hotels are willing to cut a deal if you ask. But that's if a lower rate is against Ritz-Carlton policy, I later found within 24
for comment."The policy of the learned when I called the company hours of booking'Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is for rate integrity across all channels of distribution whether made online,toll-free reservations or through travel professionals," Vivian Deuschl,a spokeswoman, said."The hotel erred in quoting a rate lower than US$795."
But was it a mistake? About a week later, the reservation line once again extended the US$100 discount when I asked if there was anything cheaper than the initial US$795 quoted. So it can pay to pick up the phone.
A phone call to the Westin New York at Times Square also paid off. First the reservation agent quoted a rate of US$479 a night,about US$10 higher than the hotel's web site (Expedia was sold out).But the reservation agent offered to search for corporate or other discounts. My AAA membership brought the rate down to US$455.08 - something that did not occur to me while I was searching on the hotel's site. I also went in person to the hotel, but by the time I arrived at 7pm, it was completely sold out.
In one case, a web search yielded the best price. Expedia offered the cheapest rate at the Courtyard New York Manhattan/Times Square South at US$322 a night, US$57 less than the price for the same room type on the hotel's own web site, the reservations line or at the front desk.
Expedia said it doesn't try to outdo its suppliers."We don't view ourselves as competing with the hotel itself," said Tim MacDonald,general manager of Expedia.com. But he acknowledged that it happens sometimes, as when a hotel offers Expedia a low rate and shuts down the sale on its own web site.
John Wolf, a spokesman for Marriott, which owns the Courtyard,said the hotel reloads its rates on Thursdays, so there may have been a lag in the case of my discount."What happened to you was a fluke," he said.
Like most major hotel chains, Marriott offers a best-rate guarantee that promises guests an additional 25 per cent discount if a lower rate is found within 24 hours of booking. But that policy applies only to its own booking channels, not third-party web sites. That might explain why the Courtyard's gray-haired desk clerk frowned and shook his head when I slapped the Expedia printout on the counter and asked if the hotel could match it.
But who, you might ask, really books a hotel by walking in the same day with suitcase in hand. More people than you might think.On a typical weeknight, the Courtyard gets 15 to 20 walk-ins for its 244 rooms. Still, even if you booked well in advance, it's worth inquiring about the cheapest rate that evening before you check in.
It was pouring rain by the time I arrived at the upscale 60 Thompson Hotel in SoHo. Maybe my drenched state worked in my favour because even though the lowest rate listed on the hotel's web site had been US$499 for a room with a king-size bed, the front desk knocked off another US$20 when I asked for a walk-up rate.(Still,it would have been cheaper had I booked by phone earlier in the day. A reservation agent was able to find a queen for US$459, but by the time I stopped by the hotel that evening, the queen had already been taken.)
It turns out that 60 Thompson has a more liberal pricing policy than some of the large chain hotels in the test. While the boutique hotel group also strives for rate parity across booking systems,Stephen Brandman, co-owner of Thompson Hotels, said that rates greatly depend on availability and seasonality and change several times a day."We have an average occupancy of over 90 per cent year round," he said,"and this can only be achieved by lowering prices when demand requires and raising prices when demand permits."
The lesson? No matter what kind of hotel you're booking, it pays to shop around. To get a baseline, first compare rates online at the hotel's web site and at sites like Expedia. Then pick up the phone and ask for a deal. The reservation agent may discover a lower rate you couldn't find online on your own.
Also, consider signing up for an organisation like AAA. A membership costs about US$58 including a one-time enrollment fee and tends to pay for itself with discounts of 5 to 15 per cent off the best available rate at many hotel chains. And for due diligence, ask the front desk for its best rate before you check in. There's nothing to lose by asking, and you may end up with a lower rate or a better room.
"It would not be unusual for travellers to find rates as much as 40 per cent below last year if they're a little bit resourceful and flexible," said Bjorn Hanson, a hospitality professor at New York University."Each hotel is trying to manage its inventory and occupancy and rate uniquely," he said, which creates more opportunities for travellers.
To see how low hotels will go, I recently tested out four booking methods across a range of properties in New York City - one of the most expensive hotel markets in the United States - by comparing prices for a Thursday night in October on the hotel's own website,Expedia.com and the reservation phone line. For good measure, I also hoofed it to the hotel itself and haggled with the front desk. In each instance I did not reveal my affiliation with The New York Times and presented myself as just another traveller.Of the five hotels I compared, only one - the venerable Four Seasons New York - stuck to the same rate. It was a whopping US$855 a night for a "moderate room" on the hotel's website,US$855 on Expedia.com and US$855 when I called. What happened when I showed up in person?"Eight-hundred-fifty-five dollars," a front-desk clerk assured me in a thick Central European accent."That would be our cheapest, ma'am." he added, when I demurred over the price. A female clerk nodded in agreement, hardly looking up from her computer to glance at the dishevelled traveller who dared to ask for a discount. Harrumph."Alright," I said in the most exasperated tone I could muster, then quickly pivoted on my heels
for a deliberate exit.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Cen'Most hotels offer
tral Park was more accommodating,a best-rate at least on the phone. Initially, the reservation agent quoted US$795 for guarantee that a king - the same rate found on Expedia and its own web site. But promises guests
when I said,"I was hoping for somean additional 25
dropped the rate US$100, showing thing lower," she immediately per cent discount that even luxury hotels are willing to cut a deal if you ask. But that's if a lower rate is against Ritz-Carlton policy, I later found within 24
for comment."The policy of the learned when I called the company hours of booking'Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is for rate integrity across all channels of distribution whether made online,toll-free reservations or through travel professionals," Vivian Deuschl,a spokeswoman, said."The hotel erred in quoting a rate lower than US$795."
But was it a mistake? About a week later, the reservation line once again extended the US$100 discount when I asked if there was anything cheaper than the initial US$795 quoted. So it can pay to pick up the phone.
A phone call to the Westin New York at Times Square also paid off. First the reservation agent quoted a rate of US$479 a night,about US$10 higher than the hotel's web site (Expedia was sold out).But the reservation agent offered to search for corporate or other discounts. My AAA membership brought the rate down to US$455.08 - something that did not occur to me while I was searching on the hotel's site. I also went in person to the hotel, but by the time I arrived at 7pm, it was completely sold out.
In one case, a web search yielded the best price. Expedia offered the cheapest rate at the Courtyard New York Manhattan/Times Square South at US$322 a night, US$57 less than the price for the same room type on the hotel's own web site, the reservations line or at the front desk.
Expedia said it doesn't try to outdo its suppliers."We don't view ourselves as competing with the hotel itself," said Tim MacDonald,general manager of Expedia.com. But he acknowledged that it happens sometimes, as when a hotel offers Expedia a low rate and shuts down the sale on its own web site.
John Wolf, a spokesman for Marriott, which owns the Courtyard,said the hotel reloads its rates on Thursdays, so there may have been a lag in the case of my discount."What happened to you was a fluke," he said.
Like most major hotel chains, Marriott offers a best-rate guarantee that promises guests an additional 25 per cent discount if a lower rate is found within 24 hours of booking. But that policy applies only to its own booking channels, not third-party web sites. That might explain why the Courtyard's gray-haired desk clerk frowned and shook his head when I slapped the Expedia printout on the counter and asked if the hotel could match it.
But who, you might ask, really books a hotel by walking in the same day with suitcase in hand. More people than you might think.On a typical weeknight, the Courtyard gets 15 to 20 walk-ins for its 244 rooms. Still, even if you booked well in advance, it's worth inquiring about the cheapest rate that evening before you check in.
It was pouring rain by the time I arrived at the upscale 60 Thompson Hotel in SoHo. Maybe my drenched state worked in my favour because even though the lowest rate listed on the hotel's web site had been US$499 for a room with a king-size bed, the front desk knocked off another US$20 when I asked for a walk-up rate.(Still,it would have been cheaper had I booked by phone earlier in the day. A reservation agent was able to find a queen for US$459, but by the time I stopped by the hotel that evening, the queen had already been taken.)
It turns out that 60 Thompson has a more liberal pricing policy than some of the large chain hotels in the test. While the boutique hotel group also strives for rate parity across booking systems,Stephen Brandman, co-owner of Thompson Hotels, said that rates greatly depend on availability and seasonality and change several times a day."We have an average occupancy of over 90 per cent year round," he said,"and this can only be achieved by lowering prices when demand requires and raising prices when demand permits."
The lesson? No matter what kind of hotel you're booking, it pays to shop around. To get a baseline, first compare rates online at the hotel's web site and at sites like Expedia. Then pick up the phone and ask for a deal. The reservation agent may discover a lower rate you couldn't find online on your own.
Also, consider signing up for an organisation like AAA. A membership costs about US$58 including a one-time enrollment fee and tends to pay for itself with discounts of 5 to 15 per cent off the best available rate at many hotel chains. And for due diligence, ask the front desk for its best rate before you check in. There's nothing to lose by asking, and you may end up with a lower rate or a better room.
A new destination for eco-tourists
Chiang Mai last month carved out a new district, its 25th, and then proceeded to unveil plans to develop and turn it into its latest nature and eco-tourist destination.
Named after the late Princess Galyani Vadhana the new district,165 kilometres northwest of the provincial town, has a population of 16,000 spread over 21 villages occupying 700-square-kilometres in tambon Ban Chan, Chaem Luang and Mae Dad, said Chiang Mai Governor Amornphan Nimanan.
The majority of its residents are ethnic Karen, Mong and Lisor hill tribe farmers in employ of royally initiated projects growing vegetable, fruit and other cash crops.
With pleasant weather all year round,the district is also noted for its vast pine forest around Ban Wat Chan, a village perched at an elevation of 1,000 metres above sea level.
An existing art and craft centre, now under renovation, will initially serve as the district office, but a new one will be built on an 80-rai plot in tambon Chaem Luang in due course.
Additionally, there are plans to build a highland sports complex and a herbal study centre for which an allocation of 300 million baht will be sought from the government.
To get to the new district, take Highway 1095(Mae Malai-Pai) from Chiang Mai town and turn left into ChomchaengBan Muang Rae Road. Alternatively, take a public bus plying the Chiang Mai-Wat Chan route. Tourism memo inked
The tourism offices of Xishuangbanna in China's Yunnan Province and Chiang Rai have signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the movement of tourists and logistics along the 1,800-km-long R3A highway linking Kunming with Bangkok.
The memorandum signed recently in Chiang Khong district seeks to promote land travel and also calls for low-cost air links between Chiang Rai and Jinghong,the main city of Xishuangbanna, said Chiang Rai Governor Sumeth Saengnimnuan.
Last year some 1.7 million tourists visited Chiang Rai of which 11 per cent were from China. Their number is expected to increase slightly this year. Bird sanctuary
A newly-opened tourist centre at Talay Noi, a wetland home to some 43,000 birds representing 187 species, in Khuan Khanun district of Phattalung comes fully equipped with high-speed Internet as well as tourist information available to visitors both in Thai and English.
October to March is high tourist season in this 285,625 rai wetland area during which migrating birds flee harsh winter in the northern hemisphere to seek refuge around this tropical lake, pulling in avid bird-watchers and nature lovers in droves.
Apart from bird watching, visitors can observe the lifestyle of fishermen inhabiting the wetland and stop by Krajud Rong Fang to watch a group of housewives weaving lepironia mats, baskets and purses. Airport gets a facelift
Some 5.3 million passengers transited through Phuket International Airport last year and their number is expected to increase to 6.5 million by the end of this year.
Preparing for the upcoming high tourist season, the airport is planning to spend 30 million baht to polish up its image and present its best face to the arriving tourists.
According to its Managing Director Pratheung Sornkum, the money will be used to improve road surface around the airport, car park, toilets, passenger terminals and buy two more X-ray security machines.
The airport also plans to expand its passenger capacity to 12.5 million annually by 2013.NokAir tie-up
Low-cost airline Nok Air has joined hands with SF Cinema City to sell air tickets via 13 of the latter's outlets in Bangkok and Phuket.
Nok Air CEO Patee Sarasin said the arrangement would suit those whose lifestyle revolves around cinemas and shopping malls.
The airline is offering 100 baht discount to those who purchase a roundtrip ticket with 5-kg extra baggage allowance on the Phuket route, and 50 per cent discount coupons redeemable at Budget Car Rental.
If the tickets are bought at SF Jungceylon in Phuket or at Central Phuket, buyers get 200 baht discount for a BangkokPhuket round-trip.
The offer is valid until Nov 30. Adventure race
The 4th Yara Bangkok Challenge 2009,part of the Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series already run in Kanchanaburi,Chiang Mai and Samui Island, kicks off Nov 14 in Nong Chok district of Bangkok.
The event is a test of endurance involving trekking, mountain biking, swimming, and canoeing over a distance of 50 kilometres in which two-man teams compete in a gruelling race that lasts hours depending on physical fitness of the participants. More than 100 teams are expected for the race.
Visit www.ama-events.com for more information. Big field for regatta
The 23rd King's Cup Regatta scheduled Nov 28-Dec 5 off Kata Beach promises a big field with boats from Australia,Britain, China and Russia joining local teams vying for honours at an event that heralds the start of high tourist season in Phuket.
Kevin Whitcraft, president of the organising committee, is hoping some 2,000 high spending international tourists to converge in Phuket for the event which is expected to pump some 40 million baht into the local economy.
Named after the late Princess Galyani Vadhana the new district,165 kilometres northwest of the provincial town, has a population of 16,000 spread over 21 villages occupying 700-square-kilometres in tambon Ban Chan, Chaem Luang and Mae Dad, said Chiang Mai Governor Amornphan Nimanan.
The majority of its residents are ethnic Karen, Mong and Lisor hill tribe farmers in employ of royally initiated projects growing vegetable, fruit and other cash crops.
With pleasant weather all year round,the district is also noted for its vast pine forest around Ban Wat Chan, a village perched at an elevation of 1,000 metres above sea level.
An existing art and craft centre, now under renovation, will initially serve as the district office, but a new one will be built on an 80-rai plot in tambon Chaem Luang in due course.
Additionally, there are plans to build a highland sports complex and a herbal study centre for which an allocation of 300 million baht will be sought from the government.
To get to the new district, take Highway 1095(Mae Malai-Pai) from Chiang Mai town and turn left into ChomchaengBan Muang Rae Road. Alternatively, take a public bus plying the Chiang Mai-Wat Chan route. Tourism memo inked
The tourism offices of Xishuangbanna in China's Yunnan Province and Chiang Rai have signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the movement of tourists and logistics along the 1,800-km-long R3A highway linking Kunming with Bangkok.
The memorandum signed recently in Chiang Khong district seeks to promote land travel and also calls for low-cost air links between Chiang Rai and Jinghong,the main city of Xishuangbanna, said Chiang Rai Governor Sumeth Saengnimnuan.
Last year some 1.7 million tourists visited Chiang Rai of which 11 per cent were from China. Their number is expected to increase slightly this year. Bird sanctuary
A newly-opened tourist centre at Talay Noi, a wetland home to some 43,000 birds representing 187 species, in Khuan Khanun district of Phattalung comes fully equipped with high-speed Internet as well as tourist information available to visitors both in Thai and English.
October to March is high tourist season in this 285,625 rai wetland area during which migrating birds flee harsh winter in the northern hemisphere to seek refuge around this tropical lake, pulling in avid bird-watchers and nature lovers in droves.
Apart from bird watching, visitors can observe the lifestyle of fishermen inhabiting the wetland and stop by Krajud Rong Fang to watch a group of housewives weaving lepironia mats, baskets and purses. Airport gets a facelift
Some 5.3 million passengers transited through Phuket International Airport last year and their number is expected to increase to 6.5 million by the end of this year.
Preparing for the upcoming high tourist season, the airport is planning to spend 30 million baht to polish up its image and present its best face to the arriving tourists.
According to its Managing Director Pratheung Sornkum, the money will be used to improve road surface around the airport, car park, toilets, passenger terminals and buy two more X-ray security machines.
The airport also plans to expand its passenger capacity to 12.5 million annually by 2013.NokAir tie-up
Low-cost airline Nok Air has joined hands with SF Cinema City to sell air tickets via 13 of the latter's outlets in Bangkok and Phuket.
Nok Air CEO Patee Sarasin said the arrangement would suit those whose lifestyle revolves around cinemas and shopping malls.
The airline is offering 100 baht discount to those who purchase a roundtrip ticket with 5-kg extra baggage allowance on the Phuket route, and 50 per cent discount coupons redeemable at Budget Car Rental.
If the tickets are bought at SF Jungceylon in Phuket or at Central Phuket, buyers get 200 baht discount for a BangkokPhuket round-trip.
The offer is valid until Nov 30. Adventure race
The 4th Yara Bangkok Challenge 2009,part of the Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series already run in Kanchanaburi,Chiang Mai and Samui Island, kicks off Nov 14 in Nong Chok district of Bangkok.
The event is a test of endurance involving trekking, mountain biking, swimming, and canoeing over a distance of 50 kilometres in which two-man teams compete in a gruelling race that lasts hours depending on physical fitness of the participants. More than 100 teams are expected for the race.
Visit www.ama-events.com for more information. Big field for regatta
The 23rd King's Cup Regatta scheduled Nov 28-Dec 5 off Kata Beach promises a big field with boats from Australia,Britain, China and Russia joining local teams vying for honours at an event that heralds the start of high tourist season in Phuket.
Kevin Whitcraft, president of the organising committee, is hoping some 2,000 high spending international tourists to converge in Phuket for the event which is expected to pump some 40 million baht into the local economy.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Phayao's flying lanterns
As the nation celebrates the Loy Krathong, Phayao will mark the event with Yi Peng or lantern festival, from tomorrow to November 3 at the main lake in provincial town.
The lantern festival and Loy Krathong differ in that the former is celebrated by releasing lighted lanterns into the sky at night, while the latter involves release of krathong floral floats into rivers and canals. Some 10,000 lanterns will be released on the first three days of the festival, featuring light and sound show,live music, sale of OTOP products, local delicacies and Nang Noppamas beauty pageant. For further details, call its PR office at 054-449-704.
The lantern festival and Loy Krathong differ in that the former is celebrated by releasing lighted lanterns into the sky at night, while the latter involves release of krathong floral floats into rivers and canals. Some 10,000 lanterns will be released on the first three days of the festival, featuring light and sound show,live music, sale of OTOP products, local delicacies and Nang Noppamas beauty pageant. For further details, call its PR office at 054-449-704.
Pride of place for Koh Phithak
Koh Phithak, a small fishing community in Chumphon's Lang Suan district, is the most admired homestay destination in Thailand, according to a survey by the Tourism Development Office.
The island off mainland Chumphon was a hideout for pirates and criminals until the 1870s and without a name.It wasn't until 1943 that it's given a name and registered as a fishing village.
Fifteen homes on the island have opened their doors to tourists to whom they offer activities such as boat rides around Koh Pithak and nearby islands, snorkelling,a taste of their daily lifestyle and how to catch fish and bait squids.
In addition to Koh Phithak, other homestay destinations featuring in the survey's top-10 list are Ban Pho in Mukdahan, Koh Ket in Kalasin, Ban Tham Phung in Surat Thani, Ban Rim Klong and Tha Kha in Samut Songkhram, A Homestay on Koh Muk, Trang and Thong Tom Yai in Chumphon.
Disability no bar
The Institute of Health Promotion for People with Disability has joined hands with Chulalongkorn University to introduce a tourism programme for senior citizens and physically handicapped people.
The programme is listed in a book titled Living Life complete with maps. It cites five routes - BangkokChon Buri-Rayong, Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima-Nakhon Phanom, Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai, BangkokNakhon Pathom-Kanchanaburi, and Bangkok-Song KhlaNakhon Si Thammarat - that are travel friendly to elderly people and those with disability, together with a list of accommodations and restaurants.
Visit www.thaihealth.or.th or call 02-298-0500 for details.
Late boomers
Tour operators and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have compiled a list of 13 tourist spots around the country that have experienced a tourism boom in recent years.
Top of the list are the Sino-Portuguese buildings in Phuket's old quarter. Dating back more than a century these buildings, under which sit quaint shophouses, are outstanding for their unique mix of Chinese and Portuguese architecture.
Other attractions on the list are Pai in Mae Hong Son,the Chiang Mai Zoo, Bang Namphung floating market in Samut Prakan, Khaosok National Park in Surat Thani, a hot waterfall in Krabi, Ban Wat Chan in Chiang Mai,Kathu Mining Museum in Phuket, the old Wat Kate community in Chiang Mai, the century-old Ang Sila in Chon Buri, Tha PomKlong Song Nam nature trail in Krabi, Phi Hua To cave in Krabi noted for its pre-historic paintings and the Office of Agricultural Extension and Development in Krabi.
A shot in the arm
The government has set aside almost 150 million baht to renovate three tourist spots in Suphan Buri and Phichit.
The allocation is part of the government's "Thai Khem Kaeng" initiative to boost and strengthen tourism in the provinces.
Some 46 million baht will go to beautification of the Suphan Buri city shrine and its surrounds, and used for building a fence around the shrine, a drainage system and a facility for sale of OTOP products, while Bung Chawak public park will receive 40 million baht to install a garbage incinerator, a bio-fertiliser plant and for park upkeep and expansion.
Bung Si Fai, the country's third largest lake and home to more than 100 bird species, in Phichit Province has been allocated 60 million baht, to be spent on boosting its profile and appeal among tourists.
Online bookings up
Online travel agency bookings in Asia Pacific has grown 34 per cent compared to last year, according to Amadeus,a provider of IT solutions for tourism and travel industry.
"Travel agencies need to evolve in line with this trend and leverage the Internet to their advantage," said Amadeus' director for Asia Business Solutions Olivier Froger.
To promote online bookings among travel agencies,the company has launched an upgraded version of its Agency Internet Engine (AAIE) solution that is customised for the Asian region.
Called AAIE (Asia), it allows travel agencies to align content and other applications such as profiles or midoffice functions with their web sites and customise the web site with functions of hotel booking and car rental service.
It also has options for online payment by credit cards,PayPal, AsiaPay and also has a graphical seatmap function enabling travel agents' customers to select their seats online.
Lufthansa relaunch
Lufthansa will relaunch on-board broadband Internet service on long-distance flights in the middle of next year after suspending it three years ago due to weak demand.
Called FlyNet, the service allows passengers to use laptop computers or smart phones such as iPhone and BlackBerry to read email, access web sites and send SMS mid-flight, thanks to a satellite-based technology provided by Panasonic of Japan,
"In terms of communications, Lufthansa customers can look forward to a top-tier inflight service," said Wolfgang Mayrhuber, its CEO and chairman."On longhaul routes, we offer business travellers, in particular, a range of communications options on par with those available at powerful hotspots or upmarket hotels."
The island off mainland Chumphon was a hideout for pirates and criminals until the 1870s and without a name.It wasn't until 1943 that it's given a name and registered as a fishing village.
Fifteen homes on the island have opened their doors to tourists to whom they offer activities such as boat rides around Koh Pithak and nearby islands, snorkelling,a taste of their daily lifestyle and how to catch fish and bait squids.
In addition to Koh Phithak, other homestay destinations featuring in the survey's top-10 list are Ban Pho in Mukdahan, Koh Ket in Kalasin, Ban Tham Phung in Surat Thani, Ban Rim Klong and Tha Kha in Samut Songkhram, A Homestay on Koh Muk, Trang and Thong Tom Yai in Chumphon.
Disability no bar
The Institute of Health Promotion for People with Disability has joined hands with Chulalongkorn University to introduce a tourism programme for senior citizens and physically handicapped people.
The programme is listed in a book titled Living Life complete with maps. It cites five routes - BangkokChon Buri-Rayong, Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima-Nakhon Phanom, Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai, BangkokNakhon Pathom-Kanchanaburi, and Bangkok-Song KhlaNakhon Si Thammarat - that are travel friendly to elderly people and those with disability, together with a list of accommodations and restaurants.
Visit www.thaihealth.or.th or call 02-298-0500 for details.
Late boomers
Tour operators and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have compiled a list of 13 tourist spots around the country that have experienced a tourism boom in recent years.
Top of the list are the Sino-Portuguese buildings in Phuket's old quarter. Dating back more than a century these buildings, under which sit quaint shophouses, are outstanding for their unique mix of Chinese and Portuguese architecture.
Other attractions on the list are Pai in Mae Hong Son,the Chiang Mai Zoo, Bang Namphung floating market in Samut Prakan, Khaosok National Park in Surat Thani, a hot waterfall in Krabi, Ban Wat Chan in Chiang Mai,Kathu Mining Museum in Phuket, the old Wat Kate community in Chiang Mai, the century-old Ang Sila in Chon Buri, Tha PomKlong Song Nam nature trail in Krabi, Phi Hua To cave in Krabi noted for its pre-historic paintings and the Office of Agricultural Extension and Development in Krabi.
A shot in the arm
The government has set aside almost 150 million baht to renovate three tourist spots in Suphan Buri and Phichit.
The allocation is part of the government's "Thai Khem Kaeng" initiative to boost and strengthen tourism in the provinces.
Some 46 million baht will go to beautification of the Suphan Buri city shrine and its surrounds, and used for building a fence around the shrine, a drainage system and a facility for sale of OTOP products, while Bung Chawak public park will receive 40 million baht to install a garbage incinerator, a bio-fertiliser plant and for park upkeep and expansion.
Bung Si Fai, the country's third largest lake and home to more than 100 bird species, in Phichit Province has been allocated 60 million baht, to be spent on boosting its profile and appeal among tourists.
Online bookings up
Online travel agency bookings in Asia Pacific has grown 34 per cent compared to last year, according to Amadeus,a provider of IT solutions for tourism and travel industry.
"Travel agencies need to evolve in line with this trend and leverage the Internet to their advantage," said Amadeus' director for Asia Business Solutions Olivier Froger.
To promote online bookings among travel agencies,the company has launched an upgraded version of its Agency Internet Engine (AAIE) solution that is customised for the Asian region.
Called AAIE (Asia), it allows travel agencies to align content and other applications such as profiles or midoffice functions with their web sites and customise the web site with functions of hotel booking and car rental service.
It also has options for online payment by credit cards,PayPal, AsiaPay and also has a graphical seatmap function enabling travel agents' customers to select their seats online.
Lufthansa relaunch
Lufthansa will relaunch on-board broadband Internet service on long-distance flights in the middle of next year after suspending it three years ago due to weak demand.
Called FlyNet, the service allows passengers to use laptop computers or smart phones such as iPhone and BlackBerry to read email, access web sites and send SMS mid-flight, thanks to a satellite-based technology provided by Panasonic of Japan,
"In terms of communications, Lufthansa customers can look forward to a top-tier inflight service," said Wolfgang Mayrhuber, its CEO and chairman."On longhaul routes, we offer business travellers, in particular, a range of communications options on par with those available at powerful hotspots or upmarket hotels."
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Facebook to boost tourism
Tourism should take advantage of social networking as a tool to attract new visitors while carefully monitoring bad corporate image, said the president of the Tourism Technology Association (TTA).
Apichai Sakulsureeyadej, president of the TTA, said that the increasing popularity of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter as well as using YouTube and blogs as marketing tools allows tourist to share their experiences and suggestions about the country.
Currently, at least 50 percent of travellers do their research over the Internet prior to embarking on their trip. Many of these travellers also plan, book, and pay through various websites. The rate of online information for users and buyers of tourism products is increasing at an alarming rate. Around 80 percent of those tourists who use the Internet use social network sites.
Use of social networking sites is going beyond normal e-marketing that uses the Web as a new channel to sell or send email marketing. So if the country uses networking sites it will be easier to reach those travellers and have a beneficial effect on Thai tourism.
For example, if a tourist takes pictures of a beautiful place and posts the photos on Facebook and connects with their network of friends, those pictures may be more effective than if the TTA or the hotel operators had posted them.
There are successes in some countries that already use social networking sites such as Australia. Activities on Twitter and Facebook are getting those who have visited Australia to talk and tweet about their experiences.
Moreover, new research by academics at Bournemouth University in the UK showed that Information Acquisition obtaining up-to date information - was found to be the most influential factor for users of tourist social networks, followed by Social-Psychological factors such as seeking identity, forming relationships and seeking a sense of belonging, and hedonistic benefits including having fun with content, entertainment and being amused.
The research was carried out on Internet users in South Korea, which has one of the largest populations of Internet users in the world.
However, the country and tourism operators should be aware of carefully monitoring feedback and responding to negative opinions rather than ignoring and deleting negative views.
Early next year the TTA will collaborate with the National Statistics Office (NSO)on the first "National ICT for Tourism Survey" done within Thailand. Apichai believes that the information will give the ICT industry a better idea on which areas of technology to focus when catering to the tourism industry.
It will be easier to transform the tourism industry to become a knowledge and information rich industry, giving the operators in Thailand the edge over competition from other countries in marketing, internal management, service levels and technology-savvy staff.
"In today's economic environment,the tourism industry relies heavily on Information Technology. Technology is embedded within every stage of the travel life-cycle. It is important that the tourism operators have the knowledge of how technology can empower their businesses to do better,"Apichai said.
Apichai Sakulsureeyadej, president of the TTA, said that the increasing popularity of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter as well as using YouTube and blogs as marketing tools allows tourist to share their experiences and suggestions about the country.
Currently, at least 50 percent of travellers do their research over the Internet prior to embarking on their trip. Many of these travellers also plan, book, and pay through various websites. The rate of online information for users and buyers of tourism products is increasing at an alarming rate. Around 80 percent of those tourists who use the Internet use social network sites.
Use of social networking sites is going beyond normal e-marketing that uses the Web as a new channel to sell or send email marketing. So if the country uses networking sites it will be easier to reach those travellers and have a beneficial effect on Thai tourism.
For example, if a tourist takes pictures of a beautiful place and posts the photos on Facebook and connects with their network of friends, those pictures may be more effective than if the TTA or the hotel operators had posted them.
There are successes in some countries that already use social networking sites such as Australia. Activities on Twitter and Facebook are getting those who have visited Australia to talk and tweet about their experiences.
Moreover, new research by academics at Bournemouth University in the UK showed that Information Acquisition obtaining up-to date information - was found to be the most influential factor for users of tourist social networks, followed by Social-Psychological factors such as seeking identity, forming relationships and seeking a sense of belonging, and hedonistic benefits including having fun with content, entertainment and being amused.
The research was carried out on Internet users in South Korea, which has one of the largest populations of Internet users in the world.
However, the country and tourism operators should be aware of carefully monitoring feedback and responding to negative opinions rather than ignoring and deleting negative views.
Early next year the TTA will collaborate with the National Statistics Office (NSO)on the first "National ICT for Tourism Survey" done within Thailand. Apichai believes that the information will give the ICT industry a better idea on which areas of technology to focus when catering to the tourism industry.
It will be easier to transform the tourism industry to become a knowledge and information rich industry, giving the operators in Thailand the edge over competition from other countries in marketing, internal management, service levels and technology-savvy staff.
"In today's economic environment,the tourism industry relies heavily on Information Technology. Technology is embedded within every stage of the travel life-cycle. It is important that the tourism operators have the knowledge of how technology can empower their businesses to do better,"Apichai said.
CHIANG MAI BANKING ON LOY KRATHONG
The Loy Krathong festival in Chiang Mai should draw at least 30,000 tourists a day and Bt500 million in money circulating over its five-day stretch starting on October 31.
Chalermsak Suranant, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Chiang Mai office, said the economic recovery and the northern province's cultural attractions should whet the appetite of locals and foreigners to travel.
Four and five-star hotels have already reported festival bookings of 70 per cent of available rooms, which is better than last year at the same time, and two more weeks are still left for the festival,he said.
Boonlert Buranupakorn, president of the provincial administrative organisation, said all corners of the city would be decorated with flowers and on November 2 the city wil float three giant lanterns representing the three pandas living in Chiang mai Zoo.
On the next day, visitors will enjoy a special fireworks show.
Last quarter, the tourism in the province slowed, but the situation should recover this quarter, he said.
"Tourism revenue should be close to last yea's level, with a slight upside or downside gain," he said.
Last year, the province generated Bt38 billion in tourism incom, welcoming 5 million tourists, of whom 70 per cent were Thais.
Chalermsak Suranant, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Chiang Mai office, said the economic recovery and the northern province's cultural attractions should whet the appetite of locals and foreigners to travel.
Four and five-star hotels have already reported festival bookings of 70 per cent of available rooms, which is better than last year at the same time, and two more weeks are still left for the festival,he said.
Boonlert Buranupakorn, president of the provincial administrative organisation, said all corners of the city would be decorated with flowers and on November 2 the city wil float three giant lanterns representing the three pandas living in Chiang mai Zoo.
On the next day, visitors will enjoy a special fireworks show.
Last quarter, the tourism in the province slowed, but the situation should recover this quarter, he said.
"Tourism revenue should be close to last yea's level, with a slight upside or downside gain," he said.
Last year, the province generated Bt38 billion in tourism incom, welcoming 5 million tourists, of whom 70 per cent were Thais.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
1,000 ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES
One thousandideas, places and activities to inspire and entertain,for both travellers and lovers of life alike By Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Experiences will inspire travellers - armchair and actual - to start ticking off their own boxes of places they've always wanted to see and things they've always wanted to do, including:
TOP PARKS AND RESERVES
Forget just photographs - these mustsees are even more dazzling up close.
Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia
The steaming sands of Namib Naukluft National Park are the most perfect stretch of desolate desert - even photographs of the windswept ridges elicit thirst. The dunes at Sossusvlei, commonly believed to be the oldest in the world, are the preserve's biggest draw. The forceful winds that swerve through the terrain have carved out hills as high as 300-metres. Strong thermal winds also make hot-air ballooning a popular way to discover the preserve from a different angle. From up in the air, the undulating terrain almost looks like the curling waves of an orange ocean.
Banff National Park, Canada
In a country so incredibly large, it comes as no surprise that everything at Banff National Park is supersized - foxes are foxier, bears are grizzlier and moose could be mistaken for furry school buses. The idyllic region was discovered in the late 1800s, during the building of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and was quickly transformed into a nature preserve. Covering 6,641 square kilometres, the park is a natural wildlife corridor in the seemingly impen-etrable Rocky Mountains - visitors will often be treated to a parade of Canada's iconic beasts. At Banff , bear hugs are taken literally.
Mungo National Park, Australia
Over the last few decades, several places in Australia's legendary outback have become the top spots on many tourists' todo lists: Alice Springs, the Blue Mountains,even Uluru. Mungo National Park has somehowmanaged to fly under the radar.This quiet preserve, sheltered around clay mounds known as the Walls of China,whispers with a rich history of ancient lakes and roaming megafauna. Skeletal remains prove that humans thrived within the park's boundaries more than 40,000 years ago but today, Mungo's desert-like expanse is so deserted, that it's possible to glimpse the curvature of the earth.
Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
Welcome to Jurassic Park - you can almost hear the theme song playing in surround sound while you venture between the soaring limestone karsts. Add a prancing Tyrannosaurus rex and Thailand's first protected preserve would be a dead ringer for Crichton's prehistoric Disneyland. This dripping, juicy jungle is part of the oldest
rainforest in the world, where snakes,monkeys and tigers lurk within the tangle of lazy vines. The park also features the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia kerrii ,which can reach more than 80cm in diameter. It has no roots or leaves of its own;instead it lives parasitically inside the roots of the liana plant.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, US
Like a '56 Chevy or a Big Mac, the Grand Canyon is an American classic and undoubtedly the biggest "kick" on Route 66.The Grand Canyon's endless vistas of gorges and chasms are a favourite locale for geologists - the delicate history of the earth is locked in these myriad shelves of colourful rock. Those who descend into the wide earthen scars will uncover a semiarid terrain punctuated by hundreds of secret grottos. At the canyon's ultimate depth of 1.8km the planet's prehistoric landscape is revealed.
Northeast Greenland National Park, Greenland
In an age troubled by pollution and threatened by melting icecaps, Greenland's national park proves that the planet's glaciers haven't disappeared just yet. The biggest national park in the world, measuring roughly twice the size of France, is an unspoilt hinterland home to the polar bears and walruses that cavort between crystalline icebergs. The tiny town of Ittoqqortoormiit is the unofficial gateway into the silent, frigid kingdom. Visitors are limited to surveying scientists and extreme adventurers, but tours are available.
2008 Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd.All rights reserved. For more information
visit www.lonelyplanet.com.
This is an edited extract from Lonely Planet's '1000 Ultimate Experiences'ฉ Lonely Planet Publications,2009.
Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Experiences will inspire travellers - armchair and actual - to start ticking off their own boxes of places they've always wanted to see and things they've always wanted to do, including:
TOP PARKS AND RESERVES
Forget just photographs - these mustsees are even more dazzling up close.
Namib Naukluft National Park, Namibia
The steaming sands of Namib Naukluft National Park are the most perfect stretch of desolate desert - even photographs of the windswept ridges elicit thirst. The dunes at Sossusvlei, commonly believed to be the oldest in the world, are the preserve's biggest draw. The forceful winds that swerve through the terrain have carved out hills as high as 300-metres. Strong thermal winds also make hot-air ballooning a popular way to discover the preserve from a different angle. From up in the air, the undulating terrain almost looks like the curling waves of an orange ocean.
Banff National Park, Canada
In a country so incredibly large, it comes as no surprise that everything at Banff National Park is supersized - foxes are foxier, bears are grizzlier and moose could be mistaken for furry school buses. The idyllic region was discovered in the late 1800s, during the building of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and was quickly transformed into a nature preserve. Covering 6,641 square kilometres, the park is a natural wildlife corridor in the seemingly impen-etrable Rocky Mountains - visitors will often be treated to a parade of Canada's iconic beasts. At Banff , bear hugs are taken literally.
Mungo National Park, Australia
Over the last few decades, several places in Australia's legendary outback have become the top spots on many tourists' todo lists: Alice Springs, the Blue Mountains,even Uluru. Mungo National Park has somehowmanaged to fly under the radar.This quiet preserve, sheltered around clay mounds known as the Walls of China,whispers with a rich history of ancient lakes and roaming megafauna. Skeletal remains prove that humans thrived within the park's boundaries more than 40,000 years ago but today, Mungo's desert-like expanse is so deserted, that it's possible to glimpse the curvature of the earth.
Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
Welcome to Jurassic Park - you can almost hear the theme song playing in surround sound while you venture between the soaring limestone karsts. Add a prancing Tyrannosaurus rex and Thailand's first protected preserve would be a dead ringer for Crichton's prehistoric Disneyland. This dripping, juicy jungle is part of the oldest
rainforest in the world, where snakes,monkeys and tigers lurk within the tangle of lazy vines. The park also features the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia kerrii ,which can reach more than 80cm in diameter. It has no roots or leaves of its own;instead it lives parasitically inside the roots of the liana plant.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, US
Like a '56 Chevy or a Big Mac, the Grand Canyon is an American classic and undoubtedly the biggest "kick" on Route 66.The Grand Canyon's endless vistas of gorges and chasms are a favourite locale for geologists - the delicate history of the earth is locked in these myriad shelves of colourful rock. Those who descend into the wide earthen scars will uncover a semiarid terrain punctuated by hundreds of secret grottos. At the canyon's ultimate depth of 1.8km the planet's prehistoric landscape is revealed.
Northeast Greenland National Park, Greenland
In an age troubled by pollution and threatened by melting icecaps, Greenland's national park proves that the planet's glaciers haven't disappeared just yet. The biggest national park in the world, measuring roughly twice the size of France, is an unspoilt hinterland home to the polar bears and walruses that cavort between crystalline icebergs. The tiny town of Ittoqqortoormiit is the unofficial gateway into the silent, frigid kingdom. Visitors are limited to surveying scientists and extreme adventurers, but tours are available.
2008 Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd.All rights reserved. For more information
visit www.lonelyplanet.com.
This is an edited extract from Lonely Planet's '1000 Ultimate Experiences'ฉ Lonely Planet Publications,2009.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
INSTABILITY KILLS OFF AUSTRALIAN PLAN FOR BT20 BN IN INVESTMENTS
Jayco, an Australian member of the Elite Card scheme, has abandoned its Bt20-billion ecotourism and motor-home plans following internal troubles at Thailand Privilege Card, domestic political instability and the recent injunction on investment projects in Map Ta Phut. Soontaree Chanprasit, president of Aktiv Holding, said an authorised representative of Thailand Privilege Card, many Elite Card members had changed their minds about investing in Thailand, due to negative investment conditions.
She said several more Elite Card members, mostly from Japan, Australia and Europe, had delayed real-estate development, mostly resort homes and condominiums.
Soontaree said Jayco now planned to invest in ecotourism in China and Vietnam, while the motor-home business would go to China, due to the lower costs there, particularly for labour.
The Australian firm is now putting up for sale the first plot of land acquired for the ecotourism project. The 40-rai plot is worth Bt100 million, Soontaree said.
Jayco and T-sam, the parent company of Aktiv, earlier formed a joint venture called Thai Australian Capital.
Jayco makes camper trailers. Its website says it is now one of the most recognised brands in Australia and that a Jayco is a "home away from home" for hundreds of thousands of Australians.
She said Elite Card members had also cut down on their travel to Thailand, particularly from Japan and South Korea. However, as the tourism high season starts, more members from Europe are visiting the Kingdom.
She added that the South Korean Embassy had expressed a desire to discuss with Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa the future of Thailand Privilege Card (TPC), the Elite Card operator.
Chumpol is scheduled to fly to South Korea next month in a bid to woo back tourists.
The government has not yet finalised the fate of TPC, which was established during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration to boost inward travel, activity and investment among high-spending foreigners.
In return for an annual fee, Elite Card members are entitled to a package of benefits, including a multiple-entry visa.
However, as the government tries to cut the benefits, the number of members has dwindled.
"Jayco now plans to invest in ecotourism in China and Vietnam,while the motor-home business will go to China,due to the lower costs there,particularly for labour."
She said several more Elite Card members, mostly from Japan, Australia and Europe, had delayed real-estate development, mostly resort homes and condominiums.
Soontaree said Jayco now planned to invest in ecotourism in China and Vietnam, while the motor-home business would go to China, due to the lower costs there, particularly for labour.
The Australian firm is now putting up for sale the first plot of land acquired for the ecotourism project. The 40-rai plot is worth Bt100 million, Soontaree said.
Jayco and T-sam, the parent company of Aktiv, earlier formed a joint venture called Thai Australian Capital.
Jayco makes camper trailers. Its website says it is now one of the most recognised brands in Australia and that a Jayco is a "home away from home" for hundreds of thousands of Australians.
She said Elite Card members had also cut down on their travel to Thailand, particularly from Japan and South Korea. However, as the tourism high season starts, more members from Europe are visiting the Kingdom.
She added that the South Korean Embassy had expressed a desire to discuss with Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa the future of Thailand Privilege Card (TPC), the Elite Card operator.
Chumpol is scheduled to fly to South Korea next month in a bid to woo back tourists.
The government has not yet finalised the fate of TPC, which was established during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration to boost inward travel, activity and investment among high-spending foreigners.
In return for an annual fee, Elite Card members are entitled to a package of benefits, including a multiple-entry visa.
However, as the government tries to cut the benefits, the number of members has dwindled.
"Jayco now plans to invest in ecotourism in China and Vietnam,while the motor-home business will go to China,due to the lower costs there,particularly for labour."
Sunday, October 11, 2009
HOLLYWOOD COMES TO BANGKOK
An international star-studded event to promote Thailand's annual film festival, gems and tourism By Usnisa Sukhsvasti
It was literally a red carpet night when Beauty Gems hosted a gala dinner at Chatrium Suites Bangkok in conjunction with the National Film Association.
Titled "Hollywood Night in Bangkok", the evening was held to welcome actors attending
the Bangkok Film Festival 2009, as well as to
promote Thailand's gems industry as well as
film and tourism industries.
Among the Hollywood faces were RachelNichols (Scarlett in G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra ),Olivia Thirlby (Leah in Juno ) and Sung Kang Fast and Furious, Knight Rider, Forbidden Warrior Guests walked the red carpet in their full regalia of glittering jewellery, stopping en route to view Beauty Gems' latest Stars of Hollywood collection created specially for this event, with such evocative names as Chicago, Dream Girl and the highlight, Moulin Rouge, this last set being a diamond and ruby creation valued at 65 million baht.
These and other sparkling baubles worth 500 million baht were finely presented by Thailand's leading models: Pi-chanat Sagakorn, Yosawadee Hasadeewichit, Marisa Annita,Pakaramai Potranant, Rasri Watcharapolmek and Michel Wagot.Security was tight, to say the least.
During the dinner, which comprised an East-meets-West menu, guests also enjoyed a mini concert by Suthasinee "Pat" Buddhinan and Puvanart Kunplin, both of whom were splendidly accessorised by Beauty Gems as well.A few lucky guests went home with additional items to add to their jewellery boxes after winning the lucky dip.
It was literally a red carpet night when Beauty Gems hosted a gala dinner at Chatrium Suites Bangkok in conjunction with the National Film Association.
Titled "Hollywood Night in Bangkok", the evening was held to welcome actors attending
the Bangkok Film Festival 2009, as well as to
promote Thailand's gems industry as well as
film and tourism industries.
Among the Hollywood faces were RachelNichols (Scarlett in G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra ),Olivia Thirlby (Leah in Juno ) and Sung Kang Fast and Furious, Knight Rider, Forbidden Warrior Guests walked the red carpet in their full regalia of glittering jewellery, stopping en route to view Beauty Gems' latest Stars of Hollywood collection created specially for this event, with such evocative names as Chicago, Dream Girl and the highlight, Moulin Rouge, this last set being a diamond and ruby creation valued at 65 million baht.
These and other sparkling baubles worth 500 million baht were finely presented by Thailand's leading models: Pi-chanat Sagakorn, Yosawadee Hasadeewichit, Marisa Annita,Pakaramai Potranant, Rasri Watcharapolmek and Michel Wagot.Security was tight, to say the least.
During the dinner, which comprised an East-meets-West menu, guests also enjoyed a mini concert by Suthasinee "Pat" Buddhinan and Puvanart Kunplin, both of whom were splendidly accessorised by Beauty Gems as well.A few lucky guests went home with additional items to add to their jewellery boxes after winning the lucky dip.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
GROUP AIMS TO BOOST DOMESTIC TOURISM
Nine domestic tourism associations and two related bodies have recntly formed the Federation of thailand Tourism Network Associatios to boost local tourism.
"The establishment of FETTNA is a new hope to help members in the provinces survive amid the cirsis," Wirote sitaprasertnand, the federations' first president, said yesterday.
The federation will strive to stimulate local tourism and work closely with tourism operators in Bangkok and upcountry, he said.
The tourism industry has been struggling for years due to the economic turndown and political problems. Many opeators have already gone out of business, Wirote said.
To rebuild domestic tourism, the federation will work with its members to create a strategic plan, which will be revealed on Wednesday.
Some urgent measures are ncluded, such as a tourism fair, which is set to be held soon in order to help operators get customers, he said.
Representatives of existing tourism associations are working for themselves, not really for the members, he said, adding that they are also involved in politics.
"My federation will be free from politics as has been happening other associations," he said.
The problems of the tourism industry have not been resolved bcause of the disarray between two big groups of tourism associations - the Thai Hotels Association and Association of Thai Travel Agents - and the Tourism Council of Thailand, he said.
Both groups are working with government bodies to bring foreign tourists into the country rather than help international tourism.
The 11 members of the federation are the Association of Thai Tour Operators, the Thai Tourism Promotion Association, the Professional Tourists Guide Association, the Tourist Transport Association, the Thai Travel Agents Association, the Thai Spa Association, the Thai Amusement and Leisure parks Association, the Association of Northern Tourism Federation, the Thai Boat Association, the Office of Tourism Media and Environment and the Fine Arts Faculty of Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon.
"The establishment of FETTNA is a new hope to help members in the provinces survive amid the cirsis," Wirote sitaprasertnand, the federations' first president, said yesterday.
The federation will strive to stimulate local tourism and work closely with tourism operators in Bangkok and upcountry, he said.
The tourism industry has been struggling for years due to the economic turndown and political problems. Many opeators have already gone out of business, Wirote said.
To rebuild domestic tourism, the federation will work with its members to create a strategic plan, which will be revealed on Wednesday.
Some urgent measures are ncluded, such as a tourism fair, which is set to be held soon in order to help operators get customers, he said.
Representatives of existing tourism associations are working for themselves, not really for the members, he said, adding that they are also involved in politics.
"My federation will be free from politics as has been happening other associations," he said.
The problems of the tourism industry have not been resolved bcause of the disarray between two big groups of tourism associations - the Thai Hotels Association and Association of Thai Travel Agents - and the Tourism Council of Thailand, he said.
Both groups are working with government bodies to bring foreign tourists into the country rather than help international tourism.
The 11 members of the federation are the Association of Thai Tour Operators, the Thai Tourism Promotion Association, the Professional Tourists Guide Association, the Tourist Transport Association, the Thai Travel Agents Association, the Thai Spa Association, the Thai Amusement and Leisure parks Association, the Association of Northern Tourism Federation, the Thai Boat Association, the Office of Tourism Media and Environment and the Fine Arts Faculty of Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Abhisit flags tourism as new hope
The government plans to overhaul the country's investment policy by replacing unwanted manufacturing projects with tourism developments, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says.
The move follows the Central Administrative Court's order last Tuesday suspending the operating permits of 76 projects, many of them in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate and nearby areas in Rayong.
The government has appealed against the order to the Supreme Administrative Court.
Mr Abhisit said on his weekly TV and radio programme yesterday the government had assigned the National Economic and Social Development Board to study which industrial projects the country did not want and look into the possibility of whether tourism projects could replace them.
The impact of those scrapped projects on the economy and job creation would also be studied.
Mr Abhisit said the government was trying to balance the interests between industrial developers and local communities.
He said it was necessary for the government to appeal the court order regarding the industrial projects as it wanted to see what final guidelines the court would give for projects that have been granted government approval.
Meanwhile Suthi Atchasai, a leader of the People's Eastern Network, yesterday denounced the government's decision to appeal the court ruling,saying the appeal was not appropriate as Map Ta Phut residents would be badly affected if the projects went ahead.
Mr Suthi lashed out at the government for paying too much attention to the economy and industrial development and ignoring the plight of local residents living near the project sites.
He vowed to lead local residents to Bangkok on foot to protest against the government's decision.
He said unless the government changed its stand, his group would petition His Majesty against the government for failing to pay heed to the King's sufficiency economy concept.
The move follows the Central Administrative Court's order last Tuesday suspending the operating permits of 76 projects, many of them in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate and nearby areas in Rayong.
The government has appealed against the order to the Supreme Administrative Court.
Mr Abhisit said on his weekly TV and radio programme yesterday the government had assigned the National Economic and Social Development Board to study which industrial projects the country did not want and look into the possibility of whether tourism projects could replace them.
The impact of those scrapped projects on the economy and job creation would also be studied.
Mr Abhisit said the government was trying to balance the interests between industrial developers and local communities.
He said it was necessary for the government to appeal the court order regarding the industrial projects as it wanted to see what final guidelines the court would give for projects that have been granted government approval.
Meanwhile Suthi Atchasai, a leader of the People's Eastern Network, yesterday denounced the government's decision to appeal the court ruling,saying the appeal was not appropriate as Map Ta Phut residents would be badly affected if the projects went ahead.
Mr Suthi lashed out at the government for paying too much attention to the economy and industrial development and ignoring the plight of local residents living near the project sites.
He vowed to lead local residents to Bangkok on foot to protest against the government's decision.
He said unless the government changed its stand, his group would petition His Majesty against the government for failing to pay heed to the King's sufficiency economy concept.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
TAT GETS NEW CHAIRMAN THIS WEEK
The search for both a governor and chairman for the Tourism Authority of Thailand is drawing wide attention, as the next leaders will have fully authority over spending of TAT's huge annual and extra budgets.
Besides the nearly Bt5 billion annual budget earmarked for TAT over the years, comes Bt4 billion to Bt5 billion granted later each year. Some urgent financial assistance may also be added if a calamity strikes the tourism industry as has happened almost every year.
The stakes are juicy enough to attract many people to contend for the positions and their financial clout.
This year, TAT is shaken again as the organisation is in the process of filling the vacancies of governor and chairman.
Altogether 10 outsiders and two insiders appear to be in the running for governor. One of the applicants will be carefully selected by January.
Before getting the new governor, TAT will this week welcome its new chairman of the board, to be appointed by Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa.
The last chairman, Weerasak Kowsurat, quit the board earlier.
TAT's labour union has complained aloud that a group of politicians is standing behind the scenes.
Union chief Prasert Vorapitak said politicians are trying to send their people to control the management of TAT and they may abuse their power.
He said Chumpol on September 14 ordered the TAT board to shuffle five deputy governors, including transferring Auggaphol Brickshawana to an advisory role at TAT.
However, Chumpol has denied the accusation and said the selection of the governor and chairman would be transparent. He also said he would not revoke the board's changes to the management team.
More than 200 TAT employees last week stood up to support an internal candidate to be the next governor to prevent politicians from interfering in management.
"The union has given a short timeframe for the board to revoke the decisions [on deputy governors]. It will retaliate if the board is silent about the calls," Prasert said.
Besides the nearly Bt5 billion annual budget earmarked for TAT over the years, comes Bt4 billion to Bt5 billion granted later each year. Some urgent financial assistance may also be added if a calamity strikes the tourism industry as has happened almost every year.
The stakes are juicy enough to attract many people to contend for the positions and their financial clout.
This year, TAT is shaken again as the organisation is in the process of filling the vacancies of governor and chairman.
Altogether 10 outsiders and two insiders appear to be in the running for governor. One of the applicants will be carefully selected by January.
Before getting the new governor, TAT will this week welcome its new chairman of the board, to be appointed by Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa.
The last chairman, Weerasak Kowsurat, quit the board earlier.
TAT's labour union has complained aloud that a group of politicians is standing behind the scenes.
Union chief Prasert Vorapitak said politicians are trying to send their people to control the management of TAT and they may abuse their power.
He said Chumpol on September 14 ordered the TAT board to shuffle five deputy governors, including transferring Auggaphol Brickshawana to an advisory role at TAT.
However, Chumpol has denied the accusation and said the selection of the governor and chairman would be transparent. He also said he would not revoke the board's changes to the management team.
More than 200 TAT employees last week stood up to support an internal candidate to be the next governor to prevent politicians from interfering in management.
"The union has given a short timeframe for the board to revoke the decisions [on deputy governors]. It will retaliate if the board is silent about the calls," Prasert said.
TWILIGHT OF THE MATADORS
In the Catalonian region of Spain, some are trying to put an end to what many regard as part of the local culture - bullfighting By Michael Kimmelman
In Catalonia, a persistently separatistminded region of Spain, bullfighting has been in trouble for ages. And the economy hasn't helped. Ticket prices are akin to opera's. Fights are expensive to produce. The number of bullfights plummeted across Spain this year.
But Jose Tomas still draws enormous crowds. For aficionados, he is the last best hope for toreo, as bullfighting is called.Reclusive, a matador of unearthly fearlessness and calm, steeped in history and mystery, he retired in 2002, at only 27 and at the height of his fame, only to return unexpectedly five years later in Barcelona for what turned out to be the first sell-out in 20 years at the 19,000-seat Plaza Monumental, the city's beautiful old brick-and-tile bullring.
Last Sunday he was back, for another special occasion - perhaps the last bullfight ever in Catalonia.
Over the last three decades or so, dwindling interest among young Catalans has combined with pressure from animal-rights advocates and from Catalan nationalists to cripple toreo in Catalonia. Across the region's four provinces, bullrings have closed; Barcelona's is the only one still active.
Now a referendum before the Catalan parliament would end bullfighting altogether.There has long been talk in that part of Spain about a total prohibition on toreo. Fans have played it down. But this time, even aficionados think a ban is likely to pass.
So Sunday's corrida - the term refers to an afternoon's regular card of three matadors and six bulls - was more than just the last bullfight of the season. It was possibly the end of an era. And Jose Tomas (Jose Tomas Roman Martin, but everybody knows him by his double-barreled first name) had come,in what seemed almost like a last-ditch attempt, to lend his box office appeal and artistry to the anti-ban side.
Artistry, that is, to aficionados. There is the art of the ritual, ancient and colourful,with its sequence of movements, firmly established but, because the bulls always vary, different each time and entailing a kind of balletic grace on the part of the matadors,who are judged not least by whether they can make the bulls look graceful, too. Bullfighting is a matter of Spanish cultural patrimony, fans say. Europe may wish to come together around common social and economic interests, but national cultures must be respected, and toreo represents cultural diversity.
Opponents see it otherwise, of course. A dozen or so animal-rights protesters stood outside the arena last Sunday, holding aloft handmade signs splattered with red paint.
Up the street, at La Gran Pena, a bar favoured by aficionados, Isabel Bardon, the bar's owner, balanced a tray of beers while navigating a swarm of patrons, some craning their necks to see the retired matador, who was smiling for photographs beside older men smoking thick cigars."It would be bad news for me and my business," she speculated about the ban's possible approval.
It might be, who knows? What's clear is that during the early years of the last century,Barcelona had no fewer than three bullrings.It was a mecca for aficionados. There were more corridas there from the 1920s to the 1960s than in any other Spanish city.
But Catalan nationalists began to spread the notion that toreo was an imposition on Catalonia by Franco's fascist regime, which promoted it, like flamenco, as a patriotic symbol. Opposition to bullfighting became a declaration of separatism by other means.Animal rights came along and fueled the nationalists' agenda.
That the issue remains, above all, political is demonstrated over the border, in the Catalan region of southern France, where bullfighting is embraced as fiercely as it is opposed in Spanish Catalonia, for exactly the same separatist reasons, in that case because it is banned in Paris.
"At a point when Europe is becoming bigger and more multicultural, Barcelona is becoming smaller and more Catalan," is how Robert Elms, a British travel writer who has lived there, saw the situation. He came to see Jose Tomas and remarked, before the corrida,how the dark but magical city he once knew has become a shiny, designer-label hub that nonetheless looks increasingly inward.
"It's vanity," he said "That's the only word.Vanity describes an insecure culture." The possible ban on bullfighting, he added, is akin to a law requiring schoolchildren to receive much of their education in Catalan,not Spanish.
Paco March nodded at the mention of that connection. A Barcelona native, he is the bullfighting columnist for La Vanguardia ,the city's second biggest newspaper.
"I feel rage that in the name of democracy,"Mr March said of the pending referendum,"a minority of opponents of toreo could erase the rights of another minority, aficionados, who are enjoying what is in this country a legal spectacle that expresses deep truths about life and death taken to their extreme."
Aficionados point out how bullfighting makes death plain and visible at a time when most people, those who can do so, choose to put distance between themselves and the reality of it. Some of these same people condone factory farming by eating meat, but they condemn bullfights. Or they go to bullfights in places like Portugal, where the bulls are not killed by matadors. They're killed afterward, offstage, so nobody has to watch.
To matadors, that's truly unfair, because it denies them their duty to the bulls, with whom they have fought, and spares them the particular vulnerability they are meant to experience at this point in the bullfight.
Whether or not you buy this argument, it would be a mistake to conclude that an end to bullfighting there portends its prohibition across Spain. While nearly three-quarters of Spaniards say they have no interest in bullfighting, they're loath to have foreigners tell them what they can or can't do. Spain has consistently resisted pressure from the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights to end toreo. What will end it,if anything, is public indifference, competition from things like soccer and video games,and the passing of a generation of aficionados.
And so, in the failing light of a warm early autumn afternoon, amid the bursts of flashbulbs and chants of "Torero!" and "Ole!",Jose Tomas appeared at least one last time in Barcelona, the standard-bearer for an afflicted art. He orchestrated his usual series of hair-raising passes with the bulls. Like Roger Federer, he makes every action look impossibly slow and stylish.
"This artful corrida to end the season may have been the last in this plaza," lamented El Pais , the Spanish newspaper, the next morning."What a shame if politicians banned bullfighting here."
Mr March, the bullfighting writer from La Vanguardia , put it more bluntly."We want to be different from the rest of Spain by not killing bulls," he said."But we're just killing off our own culture."
In Catalonia, a persistently separatistminded region of Spain, bullfighting has been in trouble for ages. And the economy hasn't helped. Ticket prices are akin to opera's. Fights are expensive to produce. The number of bullfights plummeted across Spain this year.
But Jose Tomas still draws enormous crowds. For aficionados, he is the last best hope for toreo, as bullfighting is called.Reclusive, a matador of unearthly fearlessness and calm, steeped in history and mystery, he retired in 2002, at only 27 and at the height of his fame, only to return unexpectedly five years later in Barcelona for what turned out to be the first sell-out in 20 years at the 19,000-seat Plaza Monumental, the city's beautiful old brick-and-tile bullring.
Last Sunday he was back, for another special occasion - perhaps the last bullfight ever in Catalonia.
Over the last three decades or so, dwindling interest among young Catalans has combined with pressure from animal-rights advocates and from Catalan nationalists to cripple toreo in Catalonia. Across the region's four provinces, bullrings have closed; Barcelona's is the only one still active.
Now a referendum before the Catalan parliament would end bullfighting altogether.There has long been talk in that part of Spain about a total prohibition on toreo. Fans have played it down. But this time, even aficionados think a ban is likely to pass.
So Sunday's corrida - the term refers to an afternoon's regular card of three matadors and six bulls - was more than just the last bullfight of the season. It was possibly the end of an era. And Jose Tomas (Jose Tomas Roman Martin, but everybody knows him by his double-barreled first name) had come,in what seemed almost like a last-ditch attempt, to lend his box office appeal and artistry to the anti-ban side.
Artistry, that is, to aficionados. There is the art of the ritual, ancient and colourful,with its sequence of movements, firmly established but, because the bulls always vary, different each time and entailing a kind of balletic grace on the part of the matadors,who are judged not least by whether they can make the bulls look graceful, too. Bullfighting is a matter of Spanish cultural patrimony, fans say. Europe may wish to come together around common social and economic interests, but national cultures must be respected, and toreo represents cultural diversity.
Opponents see it otherwise, of course. A dozen or so animal-rights protesters stood outside the arena last Sunday, holding aloft handmade signs splattered with red paint.
Up the street, at La Gran Pena, a bar favoured by aficionados, Isabel Bardon, the bar's owner, balanced a tray of beers while navigating a swarm of patrons, some craning their necks to see the retired matador, who was smiling for photographs beside older men smoking thick cigars."It would be bad news for me and my business," she speculated about the ban's possible approval.
It might be, who knows? What's clear is that during the early years of the last century,Barcelona had no fewer than three bullrings.It was a mecca for aficionados. There were more corridas there from the 1920s to the 1960s than in any other Spanish city.
But Catalan nationalists began to spread the notion that toreo was an imposition on Catalonia by Franco's fascist regime, which promoted it, like flamenco, as a patriotic symbol. Opposition to bullfighting became a declaration of separatism by other means.Animal rights came along and fueled the nationalists' agenda.
That the issue remains, above all, political is demonstrated over the border, in the Catalan region of southern France, where bullfighting is embraced as fiercely as it is opposed in Spanish Catalonia, for exactly the same separatist reasons, in that case because it is banned in Paris.
"At a point when Europe is becoming bigger and more multicultural, Barcelona is becoming smaller and more Catalan," is how Robert Elms, a British travel writer who has lived there, saw the situation. He came to see Jose Tomas and remarked, before the corrida,how the dark but magical city he once knew has become a shiny, designer-label hub that nonetheless looks increasingly inward.
"It's vanity," he said "That's the only word.Vanity describes an insecure culture." The possible ban on bullfighting, he added, is akin to a law requiring schoolchildren to receive much of their education in Catalan,not Spanish.
Paco March nodded at the mention of that connection. A Barcelona native, he is the bullfighting columnist for La Vanguardia ,the city's second biggest newspaper.
"I feel rage that in the name of democracy,"Mr March said of the pending referendum,"a minority of opponents of toreo could erase the rights of another minority, aficionados, who are enjoying what is in this country a legal spectacle that expresses deep truths about life and death taken to their extreme."
Aficionados point out how bullfighting makes death plain and visible at a time when most people, those who can do so, choose to put distance between themselves and the reality of it. Some of these same people condone factory farming by eating meat, but they condemn bullfights. Or they go to bullfights in places like Portugal, where the bulls are not killed by matadors. They're killed afterward, offstage, so nobody has to watch.
To matadors, that's truly unfair, because it denies them their duty to the bulls, with whom they have fought, and spares them the particular vulnerability they are meant to experience at this point in the bullfight.
Whether or not you buy this argument, it would be a mistake to conclude that an end to bullfighting there portends its prohibition across Spain. While nearly three-quarters of Spaniards say they have no interest in bullfighting, they're loath to have foreigners tell them what they can or can't do. Spain has consistently resisted pressure from the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights to end toreo. What will end it,if anything, is public indifference, competition from things like soccer and video games,and the passing of a generation of aficionados.
And so, in the failing light of a warm early autumn afternoon, amid the bursts of flashbulbs and chants of "Torero!" and "Ole!",Jose Tomas appeared at least one last time in Barcelona, the standard-bearer for an afflicted art. He orchestrated his usual series of hair-raising passes with the bulls. Like Roger Federer, he makes every action look impossibly slow and stylish.
"This artful corrida to end the season may have been the last in this plaza," lamented El Pais , the Spanish newspaper, the next morning."What a shame if politicians banned bullfighting here."
Mr March, the bullfighting writer from La Vanguardia , put it more bluntly."We want to be different from the rest of Spain by not killing bulls," he said."But we're just killing off our own culture."
A TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE
The joys of a peaceful existence by the waterways continues undisturbed By Suthon Sukphisit
These days, floating markets seem to be getting a lot of promotion by the tourism people. These markets, with vendors paddling around in boats selling produce and prepared food, are open on weekends and are usually located fairly close to Bangkok. The Taling Chan floating market is not hard to reach after you cross the Pin Klao Bridge, the Bang Phueng floating market is within easy access via the Rama IX Bridge, and there are several others,like the Lamphya floating market in Nakhon Pathom and the Bang Khla market in Chachoengsao, that are only a short drive away.
But when one considers how and to whom these places are being promoted, a question comes to mind: Does the lifestyle reflected in them, with people paddling around in boats to conduct their buying and selling transactions, still exist in Thailand, or is it only a colourful spectacle staged for tourists?
The answer is that this way of living,making use of waterways for travel and other aspects of daily life, is still very much with us. Many large rivers, like the Chao Phraya and the Nakhon Chaisi, branch off into large and small canals that connect with each other to form networks, and all the land adjoining them was originally cultivated as orchards and crop fields.
Farming is the traditional occupation of the Thai people, and one in which they have excelled for centuries. Boats were the only means of transport for conveying produce to markets and for travel. Selling food and other merchandise by boat was the best way to do business with people who lived next to the water, except that instead of paddling boats, over time motors were used for extra speed.
Today, roads and lanes have been constructed to access the cultivated land, and more newly-built houses are erected next to them. But the people who live in them mostly prefer a modern lifestyle with jobs outside the area, to which they commute by car and other motor vehicles.
Most of those who reside inside the agricultural zone still live by the water,however, and are accustomed to the way of life that goes with it. In these communities, people who have to commute to the city for work or school make the trip into town in long-tailed boats that leave from piers on rivers and canals and return home the same way.
Those who stay at home and make their living from their orchards and fields still adhere to the old ways. In the early morning,the monks from the local temple make their rounds in small boats, and the local people go out onto the pier to put food into their alms bowls. Later in the morning,boats selling freshly-brewed coffee and sweet snacks appear. At noon and shortly after, there will be other vendors, selling noodles, fresh food like shrimp, pork, fish,chicken and vegetables, and dried goods for home cooking, along with other products grown or raised in the local farms.In the late afternoon and early evening,sweets and popular dishes like stewed duck
ped phalo ) and stewed pork (moo phalo )will be offered.
Visiting relatives and friends and running errands is easier by boat than walking out to the road to wait for public transport.There are many places, in fact, where there is no bus service available.
In the afternoon, clothes are given a simple washing at home, and later in the evening people bathe at the edge of the canal. If they think the water might not be clean enough, they wash themselves a second time using water from the tap.Then, when the other members of the family return home from work or school,everyone eats supper together. They go to bed early and wake up early.
As most of the families in these waterside communities have known each other for generations, when an important family event like a wedding or funeral is going to take place, they let each other know. Some of these functions, weddings, for example,are different now from what they were in the past. If the persons getting married are more comfortable with the more modern style of Thai culture, they may not want to have the ceremony and celebration held at home. Instead, the festivities will take place at a hotel or the location of an organisation that can arrange the wedding meal as a buffet or to jeen (Chinese-style banquet, where the guests seat at tables and are served a set menu of, usually, nine or 10 dishes).
Funerals are still held at the local temple.All the local people consider it important to help with the ceremony or to express their sympathy. The temple pier becomes crowded with boats, and the men help with the ceremony itself while the women prepare food for the guests, usually khao tom (rice soup) with chicken or fish, and noodle dishes.
The most important of these events is an ordination ceremony. Thais still consider it essential for young men to go into the monkhood, preferably before they commence working in a job or before getting married, since after that it will be difficult for them to find enough time. A young man who ordains for the duration of the Buddhist Lent, from Khao Phansa until Ogg Phansa , will remain in the monkhood for three months.
An ordination is a major event for the family concerned. They will arrange lunch,to be served at the temple, for the monks and for their guests. All the food will be prepared by the local housewives in a kitchen set up right at the temple. A full array of dishes will be offered:Yam (sour-hot salads),khanom jeen nam phrik (fermented rice noodles in a sauce made from pureed mung beans and seasoning),kaeng kheow wan kai (a spicy, coconut cream-based curry with chicken meat),nam phrik kapi (a chilli dip made with kapi, or fermented shrimp paste) served with vegetables that might include feathery cha-om leaves or aubergine fried in egg batter, and fruit.
When the invited guests arrive, they are given the food right away, served as a set of dishes called samrap in Thai, accompanied by glasses and pitchers of water and ice. The more the guests relax and enjoy the meal, the more honoured the family feels.
One other event in which the whole community participates and helps out is the kathin ceremony, at which robes are offered to monks, usually before the start of Buddhist Lent. Here, again, a communal kitchen is set up, but the food is simpler,and may include khanom jeen with nam phrik or another spicy, coconut creambased, pureed fish sauce called nam ya ,kaeng kheow wan, and a spicy stir-fry,
This life lifestyle is still very prevalent among farmers who live next to Thailand's rivers and canals. It flourishes in the Klong Orm area of Nonthaburi, in Bang Kruai,and along the Bangkok Noi, Mahasawat,Thaweewatana and Yong canals. All of these waterways connect with each other,and they can all be toured by boat.
Taking the time to go and sample, and thereby get a feeling for, this simple and satisfying way of life is a most-satisfying experience for anyone drawn to Thai tradition. It is a central part of the country's culture that all the modernisation and change that has washed over us has left happily intact.
These days, floating markets seem to be getting a lot of promotion by the tourism people. These markets, with vendors paddling around in boats selling produce and prepared food, are open on weekends and are usually located fairly close to Bangkok. The Taling Chan floating market is not hard to reach after you cross the Pin Klao Bridge, the Bang Phueng floating market is within easy access via the Rama IX Bridge, and there are several others,like the Lamphya floating market in Nakhon Pathom and the Bang Khla market in Chachoengsao, that are only a short drive away.
But when one considers how and to whom these places are being promoted, a question comes to mind: Does the lifestyle reflected in them, with people paddling around in boats to conduct their buying and selling transactions, still exist in Thailand, or is it only a colourful spectacle staged for tourists?
The answer is that this way of living,making use of waterways for travel and other aspects of daily life, is still very much with us. Many large rivers, like the Chao Phraya and the Nakhon Chaisi, branch off into large and small canals that connect with each other to form networks, and all the land adjoining them was originally cultivated as orchards and crop fields.
Farming is the traditional occupation of the Thai people, and one in which they have excelled for centuries. Boats were the only means of transport for conveying produce to markets and for travel. Selling food and other merchandise by boat was the best way to do business with people who lived next to the water, except that instead of paddling boats, over time motors were used for extra speed.
Today, roads and lanes have been constructed to access the cultivated land, and more newly-built houses are erected next to them. But the people who live in them mostly prefer a modern lifestyle with jobs outside the area, to which they commute by car and other motor vehicles.
Most of those who reside inside the agricultural zone still live by the water,however, and are accustomed to the way of life that goes with it. In these communities, people who have to commute to the city for work or school make the trip into town in long-tailed boats that leave from piers on rivers and canals and return home the same way.
Those who stay at home and make their living from their orchards and fields still adhere to the old ways. In the early morning,the monks from the local temple make their rounds in small boats, and the local people go out onto the pier to put food into their alms bowls. Later in the morning,boats selling freshly-brewed coffee and sweet snacks appear. At noon and shortly after, there will be other vendors, selling noodles, fresh food like shrimp, pork, fish,chicken and vegetables, and dried goods for home cooking, along with other products grown or raised in the local farms.In the late afternoon and early evening,sweets and popular dishes like stewed duck
ped phalo ) and stewed pork (moo phalo )will be offered.
Visiting relatives and friends and running errands is easier by boat than walking out to the road to wait for public transport.There are many places, in fact, where there is no bus service available.
In the afternoon, clothes are given a simple washing at home, and later in the evening people bathe at the edge of the canal. If they think the water might not be clean enough, they wash themselves a second time using water from the tap.Then, when the other members of the family return home from work or school,everyone eats supper together. They go to bed early and wake up early.
As most of the families in these waterside communities have known each other for generations, when an important family event like a wedding or funeral is going to take place, they let each other know. Some of these functions, weddings, for example,are different now from what they were in the past. If the persons getting married are more comfortable with the more modern style of Thai culture, they may not want to have the ceremony and celebration held at home. Instead, the festivities will take place at a hotel or the location of an organisation that can arrange the wedding meal as a buffet or to jeen (Chinese-style banquet, where the guests seat at tables and are served a set menu of, usually, nine or 10 dishes).
Funerals are still held at the local temple.All the local people consider it important to help with the ceremony or to express their sympathy. The temple pier becomes crowded with boats, and the men help with the ceremony itself while the women prepare food for the guests, usually khao tom (rice soup) with chicken or fish, and noodle dishes.
The most important of these events is an ordination ceremony. Thais still consider it essential for young men to go into the monkhood, preferably before they commence working in a job or before getting married, since after that it will be difficult for them to find enough time. A young man who ordains for the duration of the Buddhist Lent, from Khao Phansa until Ogg Phansa , will remain in the monkhood for three months.
An ordination is a major event for the family concerned. They will arrange lunch,to be served at the temple, for the monks and for their guests. All the food will be prepared by the local housewives in a kitchen set up right at the temple. A full array of dishes will be offered:Yam (sour-hot salads),khanom jeen nam phrik (fermented rice noodles in a sauce made from pureed mung beans and seasoning),kaeng kheow wan kai (a spicy, coconut cream-based curry with chicken meat),nam phrik kapi (a chilli dip made with kapi, or fermented shrimp paste) served with vegetables that might include feathery cha-om leaves or aubergine fried in egg batter, and fruit.
When the invited guests arrive, they are given the food right away, served as a set of dishes called samrap in Thai, accompanied by glasses and pitchers of water and ice. The more the guests relax and enjoy the meal, the more honoured the family feels.
One other event in which the whole community participates and helps out is the kathin ceremony, at which robes are offered to monks, usually before the start of Buddhist Lent. Here, again, a communal kitchen is set up, but the food is simpler,and may include khanom jeen with nam phrik or another spicy, coconut creambased, pureed fish sauce called nam ya ,kaeng kheow wan, and a spicy stir-fry,
This life lifestyle is still very prevalent among farmers who live next to Thailand's rivers and canals. It flourishes in the Klong Orm area of Nonthaburi, in Bang Kruai,and along the Bangkok Noi, Mahasawat,Thaweewatana and Yong canals. All of these waterways connect with each other,and they can all be toured by boat.
Taking the time to go and sample, and thereby get a feeling for, this simple and satisfying way of life is a most-satisfying experience for anyone drawn to Thai tradition. It is a central part of the country's culture that all the modernisation and change that has washed over us has left happily intact.
THE JOY OF TRAVEL
ML Kalyakorn Kasemsri loves the adventure of seeing the world, and she wants
to share it By Panpimol Krishnamra
"I'm independent,down-to-earth,easy-going and I love to eat street food as long as it tastes good
ML Kalyakorn Kasemsri, or Khem, whizzed through the door looking bright, energetic and amiable as always. Appearing relaxed in jeans and a T-shirt, the founder of the online magazine Worldtraveljoy.com was dressed as she often is on her working jaunts, minus the platform heels, of course.
Perhaps the healthy glow comes from her lifestyle. The 36-year-old said:"I enjoy healthy living. It was how my mother raised me. I always eat fruit and vegetables. I don't drink sodas and coffee, but I do drink tea occasionally."
ML Kalyakorn also enjoys exercising,but due to her schedule she chooses sports she can do alone, such as swimming and jogging. She works out for no less that two hours at a time, four times per week.
During our interview it was apparent that ML Kalyakorn wanted to get one thing off her chest - her annoyance that some people pigeon-hole her in the category of "high-society person".
"My ML title is an image, and I was born with it. I'm not at all snobbish. I love socialising and am very approachable and friendly. I'm independent, down-to-earth,easy-going and I love to eat street food as long as it tastes good," she said.
Known for her adventurous spirit and active style, it was a fitting decision to launch the online travel magazine.
"I dare say that it's Thailand's first and only bilingual online travel magazine,"she said.
Worldtraveljoy.com is divided into four sections - where to go, where to eat,photo album and VDO clips. The website provides interesting and valuable information on a number of attractive travel destinations, all based on ML Kalyakorn's personal experiences. Among the travel tips are recommended hotels and restaurants, including their signature dishes.
"I try to be neutral about my recommendations. I give both positives and negatives, because people have different tastes."
The site has a photo album of each destination, as well as video clips showing highlights of each trip, such as the underwater world during a diving trip.
ML Kalyakorn tries to make Worldtraveljoy.com a full-circuit information centre on travel. She explained:"The good thing about my website is that the videos serve as an archive that people can view all the time. Whenever anyone wants to go somewhere, they can always come visit my website. The information will always be there."
She also organises first-class tour packages upon request. She explained:"You know how some people like their privacy and like to travel without a guide? So they ask me to arrange an itinerary for them. I give recommendations on accommodation,where to dine, what to do and more."
The destinations she chooses to visit tend to be exotic."There are many things that people often overlook. I have a close group of friends that I travel with, but usually I'm very independent and often do things by myself," said the oldest of three siblings.
"I am very adventurous and outrageous all the time," she confessed."Whenever I go diving, I always like to stay under longer than perhaps I should. In Malaysia, I was excited by the mating nudibranch, or sea slugs. I was taking pictures of them and I was separated from my diving group. I happened onto a rope and grabbed it because I knew it would lead me to the boat.But then it ripped, and that really scared me.
"The current was very strong, and the visibility was terrible.
"I couldn't even see my own hands under the water. It was very deep in the ocean. I was running out of oxygen and wanted to ascend right up, but I was afraid that my lungs would burst. It was the longest three minutes of my entire life. When I finally got to the surface I blew the whistle,but there was no boat in sight.
"It's a good thing I wore a bright pink pair of fins. I took them off and started waving them around. It was then that the boat saw me and came to pick me up."
She was rebellious as a 13-year-old, the leader of a gang at her Australian boarding school. Once she ordered her friends to catch some cockroaches and put them under the housemistress' pillow. Chaos ensued, she recalled.
There is a much more feminine side to ML Kalyakorn, however. She loves to cook.Whenever she goes abroad she heads to a supermarket to buy cooking utensils and ingredients to bring back home.
You wouldn't know it by her figure, but she also loves to eat. Her strenuous exercise regime keeps her slim.
"I usually go on a trip once a month,"she said."I'm a pretty simple person. I wear jeans, T-shirt and sneakers on trips,but when I attend social functions in Thailand I put on a dress. I don't really have a fixed style. I like variety. This is why I can't work in an office."
It's easy to see that her travels have left a deep impression. She said enthusiastically:"Oh, some countries are so peaceful! For instance, Tibet is a very peaceful country and people are content with what they have. You can totally feel the difference between people that live on the flat land and those up in the mountains. Those who live in the mountains are surrounded by nature, trees, blue sky and serenity.There's no sound of car engines or smell of exhaust pipes."
As for Thailand, Krabi is often her choice for the scenic beach and ocean. She's been nine times.
Another of her passions is design, which she studied at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom."When I stay at a hotel I love looking at its unique architecture and study its origin and history."
She is a shareholder in Nama Company,a design business whose name translates to "raw" in Japanese.
It means clean and simple, which equates to the company's style of work, ML Kalyakorn explained.
Her role is in account management,meeting clients and throwing in ideas.
"A lot of my input comes from my travelling, from the architecture and designs that I have seen. My travels turn into great ideas that I can present to my clients."
to share it By Panpimol Krishnamra
"I'm independent,down-to-earth,easy-going and I love to eat street food as long as it tastes good
ML Kalyakorn Kasemsri, or Khem, whizzed through the door looking bright, energetic and amiable as always. Appearing relaxed in jeans and a T-shirt, the founder of the online magazine Worldtraveljoy.com was dressed as she often is on her working jaunts, minus the platform heels, of course.
Perhaps the healthy glow comes from her lifestyle. The 36-year-old said:"I enjoy healthy living. It was how my mother raised me. I always eat fruit and vegetables. I don't drink sodas and coffee, but I do drink tea occasionally."
ML Kalyakorn also enjoys exercising,but due to her schedule she chooses sports she can do alone, such as swimming and jogging. She works out for no less that two hours at a time, four times per week.
During our interview it was apparent that ML Kalyakorn wanted to get one thing off her chest - her annoyance that some people pigeon-hole her in the category of "high-society person".
"My ML title is an image, and I was born with it. I'm not at all snobbish. I love socialising and am very approachable and friendly. I'm independent, down-to-earth,easy-going and I love to eat street food as long as it tastes good," she said.
Known for her adventurous spirit and active style, it was a fitting decision to launch the online travel magazine.
"I dare say that it's Thailand's first and only bilingual online travel magazine,"she said.
Worldtraveljoy.com is divided into four sections - where to go, where to eat,photo album and VDO clips. The website provides interesting and valuable information on a number of attractive travel destinations, all based on ML Kalyakorn's personal experiences. Among the travel tips are recommended hotels and restaurants, including their signature dishes.
"I try to be neutral about my recommendations. I give both positives and negatives, because people have different tastes."
The site has a photo album of each destination, as well as video clips showing highlights of each trip, such as the underwater world during a diving trip.
ML Kalyakorn tries to make Worldtraveljoy.com a full-circuit information centre on travel. She explained:"The good thing about my website is that the videos serve as an archive that people can view all the time. Whenever anyone wants to go somewhere, they can always come visit my website. The information will always be there."
She also organises first-class tour packages upon request. She explained:"You know how some people like their privacy and like to travel without a guide? So they ask me to arrange an itinerary for them. I give recommendations on accommodation,where to dine, what to do and more."
The destinations she chooses to visit tend to be exotic."There are many things that people often overlook. I have a close group of friends that I travel with, but usually I'm very independent and often do things by myself," said the oldest of three siblings.
"I am very adventurous and outrageous all the time," she confessed."Whenever I go diving, I always like to stay under longer than perhaps I should. In Malaysia, I was excited by the mating nudibranch, or sea slugs. I was taking pictures of them and I was separated from my diving group. I happened onto a rope and grabbed it because I knew it would lead me to the boat.But then it ripped, and that really scared me.
"The current was very strong, and the visibility was terrible.
"I couldn't even see my own hands under the water. It was very deep in the ocean. I was running out of oxygen and wanted to ascend right up, but I was afraid that my lungs would burst. It was the longest three minutes of my entire life. When I finally got to the surface I blew the whistle,but there was no boat in sight.
"It's a good thing I wore a bright pink pair of fins. I took them off and started waving them around. It was then that the boat saw me and came to pick me up."
She was rebellious as a 13-year-old, the leader of a gang at her Australian boarding school. Once she ordered her friends to catch some cockroaches and put them under the housemistress' pillow. Chaos ensued, she recalled.
There is a much more feminine side to ML Kalyakorn, however. She loves to cook.Whenever she goes abroad she heads to a supermarket to buy cooking utensils and ingredients to bring back home.
You wouldn't know it by her figure, but she also loves to eat. Her strenuous exercise regime keeps her slim.
"I usually go on a trip once a month,"she said."I'm a pretty simple person. I wear jeans, T-shirt and sneakers on trips,but when I attend social functions in Thailand I put on a dress. I don't really have a fixed style. I like variety. This is why I can't work in an office."
It's easy to see that her travels have left a deep impression. She said enthusiastically:"Oh, some countries are so peaceful! For instance, Tibet is a very peaceful country and people are content with what they have. You can totally feel the difference between people that live on the flat land and those up in the mountains. Those who live in the mountains are surrounded by nature, trees, blue sky and serenity.There's no sound of car engines or smell of exhaust pipes."
As for Thailand, Krabi is often her choice for the scenic beach and ocean. She's been nine times.
Another of her passions is design, which she studied at Middlesex University in the United Kingdom."When I stay at a hotel I love looking at its unique architecture and study its origin and history."
She is a shareholder in Nama Company,a design business whose name translates to "raw" in Japanese.
It means clean and simple, which equates to the company's style of work, ML Kalyakorn explained.
Her role is in account management,meeting clients and throwing in ideas.
"A lot of my input comes from my travelling, from the architecture and designs that I have seen. My travels turn into great ideas that I can present to my clients."
EXPERIENCE NEPAL
In Nepal, the real entertainment is off way off the beaten track By Joe Bindloss
Cresting the heights of the Himalaya, Nepal looms large in travellers' imaginations. And why not? Its well-developed tourist infrastructure and range of attractions mean that travellers can scramble up mountains, wander through rhododendron forests, seek spiritual solitude or get lost in vibrant festivals.Nepal offers a travel experience that can be challenging, calming or strenuous,depending on your whim. But whatever you choose to do, Nepal is never anything less than invigorating.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHS
Nepal may be home to mighty Everest,but you don't need the lungs of a Sherpa to tackle a trek in the Nepal Himalaya.With a range of trails at every conceivable degree of difficulty and distance, there is an opportunity for just about everyone to lace up their boots and experience the country as the Nepalis do - on foot.
Everest base camp trek
Appropriately enough, the trek to the base camp on the highest mountain on earth is a challenging trail taking you from the lowlands into the mighty Himalaya.
Annapurna sanctuary trek
A relatively short trek that packs a powerful punch as it takes in a breathtaking mountain amphitheatre of peaks and glaciers.
Annapurna circuit
The spellbinding valleys around Manang and Jomsom create a breathtaking backdrop on this ever-changing trek - one of the world's classic walks.
Helambu trek
Easily accessible from Kathmandu, and taking no more than eight days, the Helambu trek offers a great introduction to trekking in Nepal and is a good winter choice.
Short treks from Pokhara
Trekking needn't be a major undertaking.From Pokhara there are short treks to Ghachok, Chisopani and other spots.
Teahouse trekking
Whether you are huddled by a cosy lodge stove or soaking up the afternoon sun on a spectacular terrace, it's the warm, hospitable environment of Nepal's lodges that sets apart trekking in Nepal.
Wet and wild
There's more to do in Nepal's rugged mountainscapes and wide open spaces than just trekking.
Hardcore adrenaline junkies, or anyone seeking adventure, can throw themselves into those fantastic plunging valleys, endless vistas and racing rivers, and the forests of the Terai offer a chance to spot a tiger or a one-horned rhinoceros.
Rafting and kayaking
There's a lot of water working its way down from Nepal's peaks, enough to keep keen rafters and kayakers occupied -and breathless with white-water exertion.
Bungee jumping
There's nothing quite like gritting your teeth and throwing yourself headlong into a Himalayan gorge, and bungee aficionados will find one of Asia's deepest drops.
Paragliding
Paragliding offers you an opportunity to soar silently like the majestic griffon over the valleys around Pokhara.
Mountain biking
A mountain bike is a terrific way of getting off the beaten track and reaching remote and untouched corners of the country under your own steam.
Chitwan National Park
The vast expanse of Chitwan is home to Nepal's signature species - rhinos, tigers,sloth bears and elephants - and is just the place to do an elephant-top safari.
Canyoning
The ultimate in water sports, canyoning among mighty boulders, waterfalls and natural water slides will set your pulse racing.
FESTIVALS
Nothing better reveals the cultural richness of Nepal than its festivals. Masked dances,chariot races and tugs of war attract large crowds and enthusiastic participants. Visiting a festival, you will see the Nepalis at their colourful, energetic best.
Losar
Triggered by the new moon in February,Losar marks the Tibetan New Year and involves 15 days of celebrations for Tibetan communities across the Himalaya.
Bisket Jatra
The Nepalis celebrate their New Year with the festival of Bisket Jatra, which features huge crowds dragging tottering chariots through the winding backstreets of the Kathmandu Valley.
Holi
Known as the Festival of Colour, Holi must be the most riotous celebration on the Nepali calendar.
Dasain
Celebrating the victory of the goddess Durga over the forces of evil, Dasain is the most important festival across Nepal.
2008 Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd.All rights reserved. For more information
visit www.lonelyplanet.com.
This is an edited extract from Lonely Planet's Nepal guidebook,8th edition by Joe Bindloss, et al,ฉ Lonely Planet Publications,2009.
Cresting the heights of the Himalaya, Nepal looms large in travellers' imaginations. And why not? Its well-developed tourist infrastructure and range of attractions mean that travellers can scramble up mountains, wander through rhododendron forests, seek spiritual solitude or get lost in vibrant festivals.Nepal offers a travel experience that can be challenging, calming or strenuous,depending on your whim. But whatever you choose to do, Nepal is never anything less than invigorating.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHS
Nepal may be home to mighty Everest,but you don't need the lungs of a Sherpa to tackle a trek in the Nepal Himalaya.With a range of trails at every conceivable degree of difficulty and distance, there is an opportunity for just about everyone to lace up their boots and experience the country as the Nepalis do - on foot.
Everest base camp trek
Appropriately enough, the trek to the base camp on the highest mountain on earth is a challenging trail taking you from the lowlands into the mighty Himalaya.
Annapurna sanctuary trek
A relatively short trek that packs a powerful punch as it takes in a breathtaking mountain amphitheatre of peaks and glaciers.
Annapurna circuit
The spellbinding valleys around Manang and Jomsom create a breathtaking backdrop on this ever-changing trek - one of the world's classic walks.
Helambu trek
Easily accessible from Kathmandu, and taking no more than eight days, the Helambu trek offers a great introduction to trekking in Nepal and is a good winter choice.
Short treks from Pokhara
Trekking needn't be a major undertaking.From Pokhara there are short treks to Ghachok, Chisopani and other spots.
Teahouse trekking
Whether you are huddled by a cosy lodge stove or soaking up the afternoon sun on a spectacular terrace, it's the warm, hospitable environment of Nepal's lodges that sets apart trekking in Nepal.
Wet and wild
There's more to do in Nepal's rugged mountainscapes and wide open spaces than just trekking.
Hardcore adrenaline junkies, or anyone seeking adventure, can throw themselves into those fantastic plunging valleys, endless vistas and racing rivers, and the forests of the Terai offer a chance to spot a tiger or a one-horned rhinoceros.
Rafting and kayaking
There's a lot of water working its way down from Nepal's peaks, enough to keep keen rafters and kayakers occupied -and breathless with white-water exertion.
Bungee jumping
There's nothing quite like gritting your teeth and throwing yourself headlong into a Himalayan gorge, and bungee aficionados will find one of Asia's deepest drops.
Paragliding
Paragliding offers you an opportunity to soar silently like the majestic griffon over the valleys around Pokhara.
Mountain biking
A mountain bike is a terrific way of getting off the beaten track and reaching remote and untouched corners of the country under your own steam.
Chitwan National Park
The vast expanse of Chitwan is home to Nepal's signature species - rhinos, tigers,sloth bears and elephants - and is just the place to do an elephant-top safari.
Canyoning
The ultimate in water sports, canyoning among mighty boulders, waterfalls and natural water slides will set your pulse racing.
FESTIVALS
Nothing better reveals the cultural richness of Nepal than its festivals. Masked dances,chariot races and tugs of war attract large crowds and enthusiastic participants. Visiting a festival, you will see the Nepalis at their colourful, energetic best.
Losar
Triggered by the new moon in February,Losar marks the Tibetan New Year and involves 15 days of celebrations for Tibetan communities across the Himalaya.
Bisket Jatra
The Nepalis celebrate their New Year with the festival of Bisket Jatra, which features huge crowds dragging tottering chariots through the winding backstreets of the Kathmandu Valley.
Holi
Known as the Festival of Colour, Holi must be the most riotous celebration on the Nepali calendar.
Dasain
Celebrating the victory of the goddess Durga over the forces of evil, Dasain is the most important festival across Nepal.
2008 Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd.All rights reserved. For more information
visit www.lonelyplanet.com.
This is an edited extract from Lonely Planet's Nepal guidebook,8th edition by Joe Bindloss, et al,ฉ Lonely Planet Publications,2009.
TEMPLES' CONTRASTS MARK CHANGING TIMES
Wat Ratchapradit and Wat Ratchabophit are separated by much more than the old city moat By Peerawat Jariyasombat
Behind Saran Rom Park, just a stone's throw from the Grand Palace, there are two beautiful temples by the old city moat that reflect big changes that took place more than 100 years ago in old Siam. And fortunately for those who like to linger off the beaten path,these two temples are not included in most tourist maps.
On the western side of the moat is Wat Ratchapradit, built in 1864 by King Rama IV as the first temple for the Dhammayut Buddhist sect.
The establishment of Wat Ratchapradit completed the trilogy of ancient royal temples that includes Wat Maha That and Wat Rat Burana.
Wat Ratchapradit is laid out in an ancient style which had been forgotten in the early Rattanakosin Era. The marbledecorated pagoda, or Pasan Chedi, was placed at the centre of the temple complex,flanked by the ubosoth and vihara.
It is common for temples in Thailand to surround the ubosoth with sema, or stone leaves, marking the territory where monks may hold religious rituals. But this temple placed sema on the temple walls, allowing the monks to hold religious rituals at any place in the temple compound.
The pagoda is surrounded with significant buildings, such as Phra Chom Hall on the west side, which houses a life-size statue of King Rama IV. On the east side is the Tripitaka hall, and on the south is a Khmer-style stupa housing the ashes of important monks who resided in the temple.
On the north side is the wonderfully decorated vihara. The door and window arches - delicately carved from thick teak and beautified with gold leaf and mirrors - are decorated in the shape of the Thai crown. The murals of the vihara are very important historical records depicting important royal ceremonies of ancient times, some of which are still held today, such as Songkran and Loy Kratong.
Perhaps the most striking mural shows the solar eclipse of Aug 18,1868, as witnessed by King Rama IV in Wa Kor, Prachuap Khiri Khan province. A talented astronomer, the King had predicted the eclipse.
Tragically, King Rama IV died of malaria soon after the eclipse.
The murals reflect the traditional lifestyle in Siam during the reign of King Rama IV, before the big changes that took place during the reign of his successor, King Rama V, who built Wat Ratchabophit a year after his accession to the throne on the other side of the old city moat.
This temple has a similar layout as Wat Ratchapradit, with a pagoda at the centre surrounded by the ubosoth and vihara, but it has a distinctly different style.
One thing that makes Wat Ratchabophit so outstanding is the millions of colourful mosaics which decorate every square inch of the elegant temple. The impressive decoration prompted the title of "the temple of Benjarong", referring to the multi-coloured porcelain which became famous during the reign of King Rama V.
Although the exteriors of the temple buildings embody excellent traditional Thai art, the interiors of the ubosoth and vihara are surprisingly Western in style.The ceilings are beautified with Gothic art, blended with a gilded motif in Thai style.
The decoration mirrors the great influence the West began to hold in Siam about a century ago. During that period the country accepted art and knowledge from abroad which helped develop the kingdom in the areas of transportation,mobility, architecture, public heath and military science.
Even the temple's doors are decorated with soldiers in typically western uniforms,instead of angels or warriors as is traditional.
WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF WAT RATCHAPRADIT AND WAT RATCHABOPHIT?
"Here it is is very beautiful, serene and peaceful."SOMPHONG MARASI,EMPLOYEE
"Wat Ratchabophit is very beautiful, but there are some things that take away from its stunning beauty."CHATCHAWAL SAE CHUNG,STUDENT
"The temples are beautiful and quite peaceful. They are real temples."SUVIMON KULTHAMYOTHIN,HOUSEWIFE
HOW TO GET THERE
Wat Ratchapradit is on Saran Rom Road, north of Saran Rom Park and just across from the Grand Palace.Wat Ratchabophit is located across the moat from Wat Ratchapradit.
The area can be reached by bus numbers 1,2,60 and 512.
Behind Saran Rom Park, just a stone's throw from the Grand Palace, there are two beautiful temples by the old city moat that reflect big changes that took place more than 100 years ago in old Siam. And fortunately for those who like to linger off the beaten path,these two temples are not included in most tourist maps.
On the western side of the moat is Wat Ratchapradit, built in 1864 by King Rama IV as the first temple for the Dhammayut Buddhist sect.
The establishment of Wat Ratchapradit completed the trilogy of ancient royal temples that includes Wat Maha That and Wat Rat Burana.
Wat Ratchapradit is laid out in an ancient style which had been forgotten in the early Rattanakosin Era. The marbledecorated pagoda, or Pasan Chedi, was placed at the centre of the temple complex,flanked by the ubosoth and vihara.
It is common for temples in Thailand to surround the ubosoth with sema, or stone leaves, marking the territory where monks may hold religious rituals. But this temple placed sema on the temple walls, allowing the monks to hold religious rituals at any place in the temple compound.
The pagoda is surrounded with significant buildings, such as Phra Chom Hall on the west side, which houses a life-size statue of King Rama IV. On the east side is the Tripitaka hall, and on the south is a Khmer-style stupa housing the ashes of important monks who resided in the temple.
On the north side is the wonderfully decorated vihara. The door and window arches - delicately carved from thick teak and beautified with gold leaf and mirrors - are decorated in the shape of the Thai crown. The murals of the vihara are very important historical records depicting important royal ceremonies of ancient times, some of which are still held today, such as Songkran and Loy Kratong.
Perhaps the most striking mural shows the solar eclipse of Aug 18,1868, as witnessed by King Rama IV in Wa Kor, Prachuap Khiri Khan province. A talented astronomer, the King had predicted the eclipse.
Tragically, King Rama IV died of malaria soon after the eclipse.
The murals reflect the traditional lifestyle in Siam during the reign of King Rama IV, before the big changes that took place during the reign of his successor, King Rama V, who built Wat Ratchabophit a year after his accession to the throne on the other side of the old city moat.
This temple has a similar layout as Wat Ratchapradit, with a pagoda at the centre surrounded by the ubosoth and vihara, but it has a distinctly different style.
One thing that makes Wat Ratchabophit so outstanding is the millions of colourful mosaics which decorate every square inch of the elegant temple. The impressive decoration prompted the title of "the temple of Benjarong", referring to the multi-coloured porcelain which became famous during the reign of King Rama V.
Although the exteriors of the temple buildings embody excellent traditional Thai art, the interiors of the ubosoth and vihara are surprisingly Western in style.The ceilings are beautified with Gothic art, blended with a gilded motif in Thai style.
The decoration mirrors the great influence the West began to hold in Siam about a century ago. During that period the country accepted art and knowledge from abroad which helped develop the kingdom in the areas of transportation,mobility, architecture, public heath and military science.
Even the temple's doors are decorated with soldiers in typically western uniforms,instead of angels or warriors as is traditional.
WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF WAT RATCHAPRADIT AND WAT RATCHABOPHIT?
"Here it is is very beautiful, serene and peaceful."SOMPHONG MARASI,EMPLOYEE
"Wat Ratchabophit is very beautiful, but there are some things that take away from its stunning beauty."CHATCHAWAL SAE CHUNG,STUDENT
"The temples are beautiful and quite peaceful. They are real temples."SUVIMON KULTHAMYOTHIN,HOUSEWIFE
HOW TO GET THERE
Wat Ratchapradit is on Saran Rom Road, north of Saran Rom Park and just across from the Grand Palace.Wat Ratchabophit is located across the moat from Wat Ratchapradit.
The area can be reached by bus numbers 1,2,60 and 512.
TIMOR LESTE'S REDEEMING FEATURES
If you can suffer the still basic tourist facilities in the capital Dili, there are spectacular sights to see in this young country.
Beyond the white-sand beaches and vestiges of colonial legacy left by the Portuguese, Dili boasts few places of interest for those travelling to Timor Leste.
The country has a long history of colonisation and war, with the Portuguese ruling over the barren territory for 450 years until Indonesia assumed control in 1974. After a long independence struggle, Timor leste finally wrestled its destiny from Indonesia's grip in 1999.
the former port city is bordered by a mountain range to the east, south and west and the sea to the north. Many of the old colonial buildings, including the old government offices and the post office, still retain their original architectural design but most remain in use and cannot be visited by tourists. An exception is the government complex, which boasts vast gardens and roads with wide, well=paved walkways.
But why head there when you could be at one of Dili's beaches, relaxing under the shady banyan trees, sipping locally harvested arabica coffee or a freshly picked coconut?
The most renowned is Pantai Pasir Putih (white sand beach), situated about four kilometres east of Dili. As the name suggests, this lazy getaway charms visitors with its white sand and clear, calm water. With just a few minor ripples in the sea, the location is dieal for children.
Locally famous as a family picnic spot, visitors to Pantai Pasir Putih can enjoy the gorgeous views of tall, sunbaked hills and the beach itself. During the working week, the spot is very quiet.
Nightlife is virtually non-existent, so don't come expecting a discotheque or cinema. There are red-light hot spots disguised as massage parlours, which locals claim cater mainly to expatriates.
The bottom line is that tourist facilities still very rudimentary - Dili has a long way to go before it will attract global travellers seeking out a classy holiday. However, there is Hotel Lus Clarita, just a stone's throw from parties regularly on Friday and Saturday nights.
Los Palos, at the eastern tip of Timor Island, is becoming a more popular spot for tourists. Around six hours by car from Dili over bumpy roads and seemingly endless hills, the area features some fanstastic beaches and gives a glimpse of the local culture.
Timor Leste is acclaimed for its indigenous woven cloth, easily found in major shops or being sold from road-side stalls, most likely by the villagers who made it.
Another big draw for tourists is the Jesus Christ the King statue (missing this landmark is like going to Italy without dropping by the Vatican - or so the locals say).
Visiting the giant icon is worth the exhausting trek through scrub areas and along the ridges of barren hills.
Along the one-kilometre paved pathway leading to the statue are small grottoes depicting the Via Dolorosa. Beginning with Jesus being condemned to death at the lowest grotto, the frieze finishes towards the top of the path with Jesus being resurrected from the dead. It's a shame that many of the grottoes have been vandalised.
If you decide to make a pilgrimage, don't forget to fuel up at breakfast - and take along extra water. All vehicles have to park by the beach at the foot of the hill, so you must continue on foot. On a hot day, it's a good idea to take an umbrella or wide-brimmed hat as protection.
The tall bronze statue perches on top of a limestone cliff, with a majestic view over Dili and the white beaches with their clear waters. The capital's main buildings and ships moored at the port can be made out in the distance.
Every Easter, around 5,000 people gather for mass in the large open area surrounding the statue. One final push is needed to actually reach the base of the monument, but it is certainly worth it. The breathtaking view of the blue sea in all directions quickly overcomes feelings of exhaustion.
The gargantuan statue was built in 1996 by the Indonesian colonial administration as an effort to win over the people of Timor Leste.
Transportation in Dili is a major headache for visitors, with taxis virtually the only option. mini-buses are available, but learning the routes, switching buses and waiting for long periods are hassles.
Even though taxi drivers are generally very friendly, some provide terribly poor service. The cars are mostly run-down with no air-conditioners or meters. Officially, the fare is supposed to be US$1 (Bt33) per in-city trip, but the driver may charge you up to $5 on the pretext that your destination appears to be "farther than he thinks".
Our driver charged us an additional $10 for each hour he waited without telling us beforehand. Cabbies also get very picky after sunset. Although the streets may be empty, drivers will sometimes faltly refuse to take you, without providing a reason. Later, I learned that they avoid certain areas notorious for crime. Pointing at his broken windshield, a driver said it was pelted with stones by drunken youths.
As long as you pack your sense of humour, Timor Leste is a lovely country.
Beyond the white-sand beaches and vestiges of colonial legacy left by the Portuguese, Dili boasts few places of interest for those travelling to Timor Leste.
The country has a long history of colonisation and war, with the Portuguese ruling over the barren territory for 450 years until Indonesia assumed control in 1974. After a long independence struggle, Timor leste finally wrestled its destiny from Indonesia's grip in 1999.
the former port city is bordered by a mountain range to the east, south and west and the sea to the north. Many of the old colonial buildings, including the old government offices and the post office, still retain their original architectural design but most remain in use and cannot be visited by tourists. An exception is the government complex, which boasts vast gardens and roads with wide, well=paved walkways.
But why head there when you could be at one of Dili's beaches, relaxing under the shady banyan trees, sipping locally harvested arabica coffee or a freshly picked coconut?
The most renowned is Pantai Pasir Putih (white sand beach), situated about four kilometres east of Dili. As the name suggests, this lazy getaway charms visitors with its white sand and clear, calm water. With just a few minor ripples in the sea, the location is dieal for children.
Locally famous as a family picnic spot, visitors to Pantai Pasir Putih can enjoy the gorgeous views of tall, sunbaked hills and the beach itself. During the working week, the spot is very quiet.
Nightlife is virtually non-existent, so don't come expecting a discotheque or cinema. There are red-light hot spots disguised as massage parlours, which locals claim cater mainly to expatriates.
The bottom line is that tourist facilities still very rudimentary - Dili has a long way to go before it will attract global travellers seeking out a classy holiday. However, there is Hotel Lus Clarita, just a stone's throw from parties regularly on Friday and Saturday nights.
Los Palos, at the eastern tip of Timor Island, is becoming a more popular spot for tourists. Around six hours by car from Dili over bumpy roads and seemingly endless hills, the area features some fanstastic beaches and gives a glimpse of the local culture.
Timor Leste is acclaimed for its indigenous woven cloth, easily found in major shops or being sold from road-side stalls, most likely by the villagers who made it.
Another big draw for tourists is the Jesus Christ the King statue (missing this landmark is like going to Italy without dropping by the Vatican - or so the locals say).
Visiting the giant icon is worth the exhausting trek through scrub areas and along the ridges of barren hills.
Along the one-kilometre paved pathway leading to the statue are small grottoes depicting the Via Dolorosa. Beginning with Jesus being condemned to death at the lowest grotto, the frieze finishes towards the top of the path with Jesus being resurrected from the dead. It's a shame that many of the grottoes have been vandalised.
If you decide to make a pilgrimage, don't forget to fuel up at breakfast - and take along extra water. All vehicles have to park by the beach at the foot of the hill, so you must continue on foot. On a hot day, it's a good idea to take an umbrella or wide-brimmed hat as protection.
The tall bronze statue perches on top of a limestone cliff, with a majestic view over Dili and the white beaches with their clear waters. The capital's main buildings and ships moored at the port can be made out in the distance.
Every Easter, around 5,000 people gather for mass in the large open area surrounding the statue. One final push is needed to actually reach the base of the monument, but it is certainly worth it. The breathtaking view of the blue sea in all directions quickly overcomes feelings of exhaustion.
The gargantuan statue was built in 1996 by the Indonesian colonial administration as an effort to win over the people of Timor Leste.
Transportation in Dili is a major headache for visitors, with taxis virtually the only option. mini-buses are available, but learning the routes, switching buses and waiting for long periods are hassles.
Even though taxi drivers are generally very friendly, some provide terribly poor service. The cars are mostly run-down with no air-conditioners or meters. Officially, the fare is supposed to be US$1 (Bt33) per in-city trip, but the driver may charge you up to $5 on the pretext that your destination appears to be "farther than he thinks".
Our driver charged us an additional $10 for each hour he waited without telling us beforehand. Cabbies also get very picky after sunset. Although the streets may be empty, drivers will sometimes faltly refuse to take you, without providing a reason. Later, I learned that they avoid certain areas notorious for crime. Pointing at his broken windshield, a driver said it was pelted with stones by drunken youths.
As long as you pack your sense of humour, Timor Leste is a lovely country.
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