June On Trip

1.Phi Ta Khon Festival
   Photo from Thailand http://www.ubonmag.com/
   June 25 - 27, 2010
   Dan Sai District, Loei District and Province
A HAPPY GATHERING OF FUN-LOVING SPIRITS
   The Phi Ta Khon festival is unique to the Dan Sai district in Loei Province and reflects the local Isan belief in ghosts and spirits. Held once a year, it is part of a grand merit-making festival known as the "Boon Luang" festival.
   The origins of the Phi Ta Khon Festival can be found in the tale of Lord Buddha's last great incarnation before attaining Enlightenment. In Buddhist accounts, it is said that when Prince Vessandara, the Buddha's penultimate incarnation, returned to his city, it was such a joyous occasion that the village spirits came forth to join the welcoming parade. This very colourful and vibrant Phi Ta Khon procession is the central focus of the celebrations.
    In a lively re-enactment of the tale, the young men of the community dress up as "spirits" wearing long trailing costumes made from colourful strips of cloth sewn together.
    The hideous-looking Phi Ta Khon mask which is made of dried sticky rice husk is painted in bright red, green or other colours, and features the characteristic long pointed nose. This completes the transformation. The clanging sound of the square cowbells worn around the waist announces the presence of the spirits who wield phallic-shaped long-handled swords decorated with red paint. The good-natured, fun-loving spirits mingle among the crowd, teasing and amusing all who take part in the procession. Spectators and visitors are welcome to join in the fun.
   There are two types of "spirits" featured in the Phi Ta Khon procession namely the "Phi Ta Khon Yai" — the supreme Phi Ta Khon, and the "Phi Ta Khon Lek", the ones that are commonly found. The making of the Phi Ta Khon Yai involves the performance of a sacred ritual to seek the blessings of the supreme powers before work on the Phi Ta Khon Yai masks can be initiated. It is also a task reserved exclusively for the descendants of families in which the tradition of making Phi Ta Khon masks has been practised for several generations. The Phi Ta Khon Yai is made of bamboo and is dressed in either male or female attire.
 Contact information:
 Accommodation in Dan Sai District
   - Phu Pha Nam Resort Tel: 042 078078-9
   - Rang Yen Resort Tel: 042 809511 – 3, 042 809514
   - Lay Leelawadee Resort Tel: 042 801277
   - SB Resort Tel: 042 891918
   - Na Thum Nam Taeng Homestay Tel: 042 892339,891583, 042 086 8624812
 Accommodation in Phu Ruea District
   - Phu Dara Resort Tel: 042 801138-9
   - Phu Ruea Busba Tel: 042 899330, 042 899229
   - Phu Ruea Resort Tel: 042 899048, 042 899042
   - Baan Thongchai Resort Tel: 042 899116
Contact information:
   Tourism Authority of Thailand, Loei Office
   Tel: +66 (0) 4281 2812;Fax: +66 (0) 4281 1480 ; E-mail: tatloei@tat.or.th
   DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS - QUICK REFERENCE
   Loei is a border town adjacent to present-day Laos, formerly known as the Lan Xang Kingdom in the past. Many of the temples and archaeological sites in Loei thus reflect the influence of the Lan Xang artistic style, particularly the sloping roof covered with wooden tiles commonly found in Loei. Other distinctive features can be seen in the Ubosot or ordination hall and the Viharn, the assembly hall.
  * PHRA THAT SI SONG RAK STUPA
     The temple which was built in 1560 is of special significance as it symbolizes the fraternal relationship between two kings, namely Somdet Phra Maha Chakkaphat of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and Phra Chao Chaiya Chetthathirat of the Lan Xang Kingdom, who took a pledge of peace at the stupa that neither would encroach on the other's territory, and to unify their forces against the invading army.
     The Lan-Xang style stupa is located on a hill by the Man River and marks the borderline between the two kingdoms. The stupa is a 30-metres high brick-and-concrete structure in the shape of a "cubical lotus", similar to the Phra That Phanom stupa in Nakhon Phanom Province, Phrat That Luang in Vientianne and other such stupas found along the banks of the Mekong River.
     * WAT PHO CHAI TEMPLE
     The temple was built in the late Ayutthaya period and has served as the town's sanctuary and moral refuge for generations.
    Assumed to be of the Chiang Saen period, the temple houses a magnificent statue depicting the meditating Buddha with an elongated face and a flamboyant top-knot. The mural paintings in the Viharn or assembly hall depict the Jataka, the ten previous lives of the Lord Buddha. An inscription on the northern wall suggests that the mural paintings were completed in 1852 during the reign of King Rama IV. Mural paintings on the outer walls of the viharn were completed in 1916.
    * PHRA THAT SATCHA STUPA
    Phra That Satcha literally means the temple of truthful pledge.
    One year following the collapse of the Phra That Phanom in Nakhon Phanom, considered to be the most revered Buddhist stupa in Northeastern Thailand, this 33-metre high stupa was constructed on a large rocky foundation.
    Modelled after the original Phra That Phanom, the Phra That Satcha was constructed to continue the religious symbolism represented by the original stupa in Nakhon Phanom. This helped to heal the sense of loss following the tragic collapse of the original stupa and re-proclaimed the pledge to preserve Buddhism in the region.
    Relics of the Lord Buddha and his followers and soil from the original Phra That Phanom were consecrated within the new stupa. A gilded Buddha's footprint is housed within the stupa
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2.Thailand Tourism Festival
   Date : June 2010
   Venue : Challenger Hall 1-2, Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition Centre
   Pakkred District, Nonthaburi
   Admission is free.
    At 40,000 square metres, the Thailand Tourism Festival (TTF) is billed as the country’s largest travel and tourism showcase event that includes a vast range of activities to promote the preservation of Thai culture, traditions and local way of life.
   Spectacular stage performances and live demonstrations of local arts and crafts add a colourful festive feel to the event as hundreds of professional travel and tourism operators and service providers from all regions of Thailand offer quality tourism products and services and travel specialists help individual travellers and families to plan their trips.
    For first-time visitors to Thailand, TTF provides an excellent introduction to the Thai kingdom. A visit to TTF is also a quick and convenient way to get the latest updates on new tourism products and services, as well as to compare prices and shop for the best bargains and attractive deals — all in one stop.
    Given the popularity of the event with Thai travellers, especially families, travel and tourism operators and service providers, particularly small and medium enterprise (SMEs) which are noted for their unique one-of-a-kind niche product offerings, turn up in strength.
    The domestic travel fair is divided into 3 key zones:
    - Exhibition zone
    - Tourism Activities zone
    - Regional Cuisines zone
    TRAVEL AND TOURISM OPERATORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS
    The 2009 Thailand Tourism Festival will feature the following exhibition categories: Tour operators, airlines, hotels and resorts, car rental and Thai crafts. Travel or tourism-related state agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will also be located in this zone.
    THE TOURISM ACTIVITIES ZONE
Highlights
   - Cultural and Community-based Tourism
    Exhibits, cultural presentations and live demonstrations in this zone offer insight into local customs and traditions. Activities undertaken reflect the local way of life. In addition to live demonstrations of traditional village crafts, enjoy the lively scenes presented by the traditional markets and floating markets.
   - Ecotourism and Adventure Travel
   For nature lovers, Thailand offers a tremendous diversity of natural habitats that includes land-based eco-systems, forests and mountainous landscape, waterfalls and streams, mangrove forests as well as marine eco-systems. Learn about environmentally-friendly travel and ecotourism options that will help to minimize our carbon footprint and help reverse the effects of global warming. Also make the most of this rare opportunity to learn about environmentally-friendly initiatives spearheaded by a selection of award-winning organizations. For adventure seekers, Thailand’s military camps are offering innovative Green Adventure activity programmes.
    - Health Tourism
    This special activity zone promotes a better understanding of health tourism. Visitors will be able to witness (or experience) a live demonstration of traditional Thai massage and the regional variations of this ancient healing technique. Leading hospitals participating in the fair will be offering visitors a basic health check-up on site. Wellness promotional packages will also be available on offer. In addition to live demonstrations of food for health and yoga for health, health and wellness professionals will also be on-hand to provide health tips and advice.
    - Traditional Crafts and Souvenirs
    Thai artisans are noted for their tradition of artistic excellence and superb craftsmanship. Enjoy live demonstrations of a range of village crafts from various award-winning communities throughout Thailand and shop for some of the finest hand-crafted items brought together under one roof at the Thailand Tourism Festival.
    For more information please call 1672
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3.Hua Hin Jazz Festival
   Date : 12 - 14 June 2010
   Venue : Hua Hin Beach, Prachuap Khiri Khan
   Music lovers flock to Hua Hin. Annual jazz festival draws top bands from region.
   Music lovers, from Bangkok and neighbouring countries keep their calendars free, mid-June, so they can head south from Bangkok down Highway 4 to the small upscale resort of Hua Hin where they can enjoy a music festival that delivers the best jazz and blue bands from around Asia.
   The 8th Hua Hin Jazz Festival will be held, 12 to 14 June, at two sites at Hua Hin, 200 km south of Bangkok, in Prachuab Khiri Khan Province. Entrance to all performances is free.
    Hua Hin has been associated with the country’s jazz community since the 1950s and the jazz festival is organised annually in honour of the musical talents of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
    Organisers also point out that the event celebrates the occasion of Hua Hin’s 100th anniversary.
     The festival draws on the inspiration of HM the King, who has penned a host of jazz compositions and is a fine saxophone player in his own right. Hua Hin is also an important base from where HM King has initiated rural projects over the years that promote village economies in nearby provinces. Therefore, the town is justly proud of its royal heritage, second only to the Thai capital, Bangkok. A seaside location and its variety of accommodation, across all categories, help to make it an ideal venue to host a music festival
    The International jazz scene will be represented by three bands – Shakatak from the UK, Malene Mortensen, Denmark and Popsanova, Brazil.
    Out of Asia the audience can enjoy the music of Noon a famous band from Japan, Estrella from Malaysia and the ever popular Brass Monkeys from the Philippines.
    More than 15 Thai jazz bands are booked to perform including, Infinity, Bangkok Connection, Gail Dila and Mellow Motif.
    Bands will perform on three stages on the beach and at Phonkingphet Public Park in the town centre. Performances during the three-day festival are free and continue from 1530 until midnight.
   The event is managed by Plus 5 Company and Fatima Broadcasting International Company on behalf of provincial offices and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
    Contact :
    TAT Call Center 1672
    TAT Phetchaburi Office, Tel : 66 (0) 3247 1005-6
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4.Baby panda joins celebrity list
   Thailand animal lovers celebrate birth of a panda at Chiang Mai Zoo.
   This has to be the Southeast Asia’s most famous zoo after global TV networks turned their lens on a remarkable new born baby; a female panda born at Chiang Mai Zoo, late May.
    Mum and Dad, Lin Hui and Xuang Xuang, have lived at the northern Thailand zoo for the last six years, under a loan agreement with the Chinese Government that lasts just 10 years.
    TV cameras from all major channels focused on the tiny tot made all the more famous because it was conceived by artificial insemination and marked a first for the Thai veterinarian team. Thailand joins the US and Japan as the only countries to breed pandas in captivity.
    Born 27 May, after six years of almost comical efforts to get the female panda pregnant, the birth surprised even zoo officials. It turned out to be the month’s good new story rising above the usual negative news that swamps TV viewers.
    It was all the more fascinating in the context of past efforts by zoo officials to get the two Chinese pandas to mate naturally. Zoo keepers arranged a mock wedding and even showed them porn movies of other pandas mating. It was a dismal failure, until medical science came to the rescue.
    Overnight, the baby was a world celebrity and the only sad note was news that within two years the baby panda would have to return to its homeland.
    The panda family is the biggest draw at Chiang Mai Zoo, earning a treasure chest in gate fees that have reached an astronomical figure. You would have to be a football star to attract a fan club of the size the panda family has drawn to the zoo.
    Tourists and residents flock to this northern zoo to watch these rare creatures in their posh quarters.
    Leading the family’s admirers, Thailand’s Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjaijiva, says he will check out if China might be prepared to relax regulations and allow the baby to stay beyond the two years stated in the loan contract.
    If successful, the baby could possibly remain with mum and dad until their stay in Thailand concludes in another four years.
    While sensitive talks between PMs unfold the zoo is planning to celebrate the panda’s birth in style.
    Thousands of visitors are expected to visit the zoo just to see this tiny tot a rare site for travellers interested in these cute and iconic creatures.
    Since the grown-up pandas arrived, the zoo’s gate rose to around 3,000 visitors on a weekend. But there is a good deal more to see at this zoo. It is credited with being probably the best in the country and even has a night safari zoo.
    There are various activities arranged by the zoo to attract visitors. This month, 12 to 21 June the zoo hosts the World Animal Art and Photo Gallery, that encourages visitors and residents to enter their favourite animal photos in a contest. They have to depict animals smiling, not an easy task if the subject is a crocodile. In addition, the zoo features a water colour painting workshop; rare animal photo auction, finger paint, photo fair and gallery. Check out  http://www.a-plusgroup.com/
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5.Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2009
   Date : 1 June to 31 August 2009
   Venue : Department stores, hotels, restaurants, and tourist attraction nationwide
   Thailand’s annual “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale” got underway this month and continues to offer visitors great bargains right through to 31 August.
    This year, as fuel prices escalate, both visitors and residents are looking for more value and bigger discounts when they are shopping. Thailand never disappoints.
     Most mega stores and shopping malls are offering discounts of between 10 to 70%, so there are bargains galore for the shopper prepared to browse around the stores.
     Fortunately, most of Bangkok’s major shopping malls and stores are located close to the city’s skytrain or metro transport systems, making it very convenient to hop from one store to the next.
     Both the Skytrain and the Metro, offer day use stored-value cards for visitors to make it even more convenient to use the two systems.
     Bangkok’s main shopping districts and streets are to be found along Ploenchit and Sukhumvit roads.
     Many of the department stores have direct bridge linking them to Skytrain stations. Just a short walk from the Skytrain stations and visitors discover some pretty impressive department stores and shopping plazas namely Siam Discovery Centre, Siam Centre, Central World Plaza, Erawan Bangkok, Amarin Plaza, Gaysorn, Central Chidlom, Home Pro Plus, Robinson Department Store, The Emporium and The Mall Department Store.
     Discounts are also available in King Power duty free shops, both at Suvarnabhumi Airport and downtown locations. There are even discount deals on luxury treatments at spas, a round of golf at a selection of courses at all major tourist destinations, travel packages and even medical check-ups at world-class hospitals.
     The three-month campaign also embraces a variety of destinations beyond Bangkok such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hua Hin, Cha-am, Pattaya, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udorn Thani, Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai and Samui Island.
      Grand Sale prizes are offered in conjunction with the campaign sponsor, Visa Card, and include bargain holiday packages to premier destinations such as Phuket and Samui.
      Contact : Tourism Investment Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand
      Tel : 66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 2951
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6.Tour de Isan 2009
    Date : 27 June - 7 July 2009
    The 2nd Annual Tour de Isan is an 11 day charity bicycle tour through the Northeast region of Thailand, known as "Isan." This event starts in the town of Nong Khai and the Thai/Laos border and then winds 800 kilometers along the mighty Mekong River to Ubon Ratchathani with some days off along the route for rest, relaxation, and sightseeing. We will take you through the emerald green rice fields of the northeast heartland and show you the beauty and ecological importance of the Mekhong River. This ride shows you where few tourists have ventured before and finishes in the city of Ubon Ratchathani during their lovely Annual Candle Festival.
     All riders must raise a minimum of US$ 1000 in donations to participate in the Tour de Isan 2009.
    For further information
    Website : www.tourdeasia.org ,www.tourdethailand.com/tour-de-isaan.html