Boat Racing at Bang Phli

Towards the end of the Rainy Season, people from all around Thailand come together to race boats on their local canals and rivers. At Bang Phli, where we went this morning, this happens a few days before the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat. At this time, the rivers are at their highest level.

Read more »

The Lotus Throwing Festival in Bang Phli

One of my favourite festivals in Thailand is the Rap Bua Festival in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan. I usually go every year now. In English, the festival translates as "Lotus Receiving Festival". However, it has another name in Thai which I think describes it more accurately. This is "Yon Bua Festival" which translates as the "Lotus Throwing Festival".

Read more »

Water Buffalo Festival in Chonburi

Probably one of the most amazing festivals in Thailand has to be the Buffalo Racing in Chonburi. It is also one of the oldest running festivals as the banners in Chonburi City proclaimed it to be the 138th year that this has been held. Picture this.

Read more »

Phra Samut Chedi Worshipping Ceremony

Mr. Surachai Khanasa, the Governor of Samut Prakan Province, took part in a ceremony this morning to announce to the Gods and Angles in Heaven that they will be holding the annual Worship Fair for Phra Samut Chedi. During the ceremony, they also sought good luck for the period of the Temple Fair which will take place for eleven days between 9th and 20th October 2009. They prayed for no rain and also for it to be incident free.

Read more »

Boat Racing at Phra Pradaeng

Long-boat racing is a traditional festival that is usually held towards the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat. These races happen all over the country. Some of the biggest take place at Ayutthaya, Phichit, Phitsanulok and Narathiwat. They also have boat racing at Phra Pradaeng in Samut Prakan where boat races have been taking place for over 100 years.

Read more »

Temple Fair Parade

The annual Temple Fair in Samut Prakan kicked off early this morning with the parade through town. The fair at Phra Samut Chedi has been going on now for 182 years which I believe makes it the longest running temple fair in Thailand. Certainly one of the oldest. In the olden days, people would come down from Bangkok by boat. Back then, this temple used to be in the middle of the river. These days it is now on the West Bank but the fair is still as popular.

Read more »

Sacred Red Cloth Ceremony

Today saw the start of the 182nd Phra Samut Chedi Temple Fair in Samut Prakan. This takes place every year five days after the full moon in October. It goes on for twelve days and twelve nights and includes mandy sideshow games as well as a lot of really delicious food. The event started today with a parade of the sacred red cloth through the towns of Samut Prakan and Phra Pradaeng.

Read more »

Traditional Sports Festival

The Temple Fair in Samut Prakan has now reached its fourth day. Today is the 8th day of the waning moon of the 11th lunar month. On this day every year, the local people from Phra Samut Chedi District come together to compete in various traditional games. The event was presided over by Mr. Surachai Khanasa, the Governor of Samut Prakan.

Read more »

Candlelight Procession at Phra Samut Chedi

On the evening of the fourth day of the Phra Samut Chedi Temple Fair, it is traditional for the local people to come together to take part in chanting and a candlelight procession around the pagoda. This happens every year and it is always a beautiful sight. The best way to come to this temple is by ferry boat from Paknam Market.

Read more »

Vegetarian Festival in Samut Prakan

Today marks the start of the Vegetarian Festival in Thailand. In Samut Prakan it runs from 17th to 27th October 2009. We went to Thong Siang Vegetarian House in Samut Prakan to watch this opening ceremony. The event was a signal for the nine Gods to come down to earth. Something similar happened all over Thailand today. During the following ten days, people will keep a strict vegetarian diet and also obey ten basic rules which will help cleanse their mind and body.

Read more »

Boat Parade on Gulf of Thailand

One of my favourite festivals in Thailand is undoubtedly Luang Phor Pan Worshipping Festival in Bang Bo District of Samut Prakan. I went last year for the first time and had no idea what to expect. There were so many surprises that I had a really great day. I went again this morning fearing that it wouldn’t be special any more. However, it still was as fantastic and intense as ever. The highlight of the day is the boat parade out into the Gulf of Thailand.

Read more »

An Early Loy Krathong

Everyone knows about Loy Krathong that happens on the full moon in November. However, not many people know that we have another Loy Krathong in October. The phrase “loy krathong” means to float a bowl shaped container. It is not a festival like Christmas which celebrates a particular event. You can actually float a krathong at any time of the year.

Read more »

The Chinese Dragon Dance

After nine days and nights of eating a vegan diet and keeping the 10 precepts, the Vegetarian Festival in Thailand is finally over. The festival ended with a large parade through the town of Paknam early on the morning of 27th October. At about 7 a.m., at the city hall, a gigantic “krathong” was hoisted over the river wall and down onto a makeshift raft.

Read more »

Loy Krathong Sai

   This year I have been to several Loy Krathong Festivals.The first was Loy Krathong Jay which was held back in October during the Vegetarian Festival. Then the normal Loy Krathong during the full moon of November. Then, this weekend I went to Loy Krathong Sai at Bang Krasop in Phra Pradaeng District of Samut Prakan.

Read more »

Songkran at Bang Namphueng Floating Market

If you are looking for a place to escape the craziness of the Songkran celebrations then try the fast emerging Bang Nampheung Floating Market. It is just across the river from Bangkok in Samut Prakan in the place where many people call the "lungs of the city". This is due to the fact that the land here is mainly undeveloped and that there are still jungles of some sorts here.

Read more »

Songkran Pictures

The Songkran Water Festival was a resounding success this year despite the protests and riots in Bangkok. These are some of the pictures that I took this week in Samut Prakan.

Read more »

Pouring Water on Monks at Songkran

One of the more traditional events that took place during Songkran recently was “song nam phra”. This is the practice of bathing Buddha images with rose scented water. Most tourists, and even some Thai teenagers, seem to think that Songkran is only about throwing water at each other.

Read more »

Sand Pagodas for Songkran

Taking a break from the hectic Songkran celebrations the other day, I went to Wat Chai Mongkol in Samut Prakan. It was like an oasis in the middle of a war zone. In the surrounding area, roaming pickup trucks, packed with people armed to the teeth, were patrolling the streets looking for people to squirt with their guns.

Read more »

Miss Songkran Beauty Contest

One of the main events organized during Songkran celebrations around Thailand is the Miss Songkran Beauty Contest. The one that I went to on Friday night was held at the municipal offices in Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan.

Read more »

Parade of the Pagoda Pinnacles

The Mon people, in the communities surrounding Wat Bang Ya Phraek in Phra Pradaeng District of Samut Prakan, took part in a parade and merit making activities this afternoon. In Thai, this parade is called “ngan hae yot phra chedi sai”. Which is basically a parade to carry the pinnacle or slender spires for the sand pagodas.

Read more »

Night Tour and Show at Ancient Siam

 

Last night I was invited to visit Ancient Siam in Samut Prakan for their night tour and dinner theatre. This is not a regular feature but a special event for this weekend and next weekend on 14-16th May 2010. I have been to the Ancient Siam (formerly known as Ancient City) literally hundreds of times but I have never been there in the dark. So, I jumped at this chance to tour the grounds at night. 

Read more »

Respect for Thai Teachers Ceremony

 

The most important event to be held at Sriwittayapaknam School is the annual Wai Kru Ceremony. Like other schools around the country this always takes place towards the start of the new academic year and always on a Thursday. The students pay respect to their teachers by presenting them with flowers and going down onto the floor to do a krab which is the most respectful way to show respect.

Read more »

Songkran Fun at Ancient Siam

As you probably all know now, Thailand is celebrating Songkran this week, which is the traditional Thai new year. It is basically a week of waterfights, but there are also some other traditional aspects to the festival which I will tell you about later.

Read more »

Smiling Fruits Festival at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Mr. Nirun Thiranartsin, the Suvarnabhumi Airport Director, presided over the opening ceremony of the “Smiling Fruits @ Suvarnabhumi Airport” this morning at the airport. The fruit festival is for promoting the various Thai fruits to international passengers arriving and departing from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Read more »

Candle Festival in Thailand

Over the recent long holiday weekend in Thailand, we celebrated two important Buddhist holidays: Asarnha Bucha and Khao Phansa. The first takes place on the full moon day of the eighth lunar month. It commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon to his first five disciples.

Read more »

Tak Bat Thewo Festival

One of the most beautiful festivals in Thailand is Tak Bat Thewo which takes places on the last day of the three month Buddhist Rains Retreat. This event, in Uthai Thani, has started to become popular over the last few years and I was really glad to be able to go for myself this year during the full moon in October.

Read more »

Steam Train Trips in Thailand

If you are a steam train enthusiast then you will be happy to hear that the State Railway of Thailand are organizing their annual steam train trip this weekend to mark the birthday of H.M. The King. However, unlike previous years, there are three separate programmes on offer going three different directions over the long holiday weekend.

Read more »

Yee Peng Festival in Chiang Mai

    One of the most beautiful festivals in Thailand takes place on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month. It is known in Thai as Loy Krathong, but is sometimes referred to as the Festival of Lights.

Read more »

Thailand International Balloon Festival

Written by chowtip

I recently attended the Thailand International Balloon and Adventure Sports Festival 2010 which this year was being held in Nakhon Nayok. This is the fourth time that the Balloon Festival has been held in Thailand. The first two years it took place in the area of the Khao Yai National Park. Then last year it was held at the historical park in Ayutthaya.

Read more »

84 World Tennis Invitation Hua Hin

Kim Clijsters

This afternoon, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) invited two of the world’s leading tennis players, Ms. Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Ms. Kim Clijsters of Belgium, to enjoy a cruise on the Chao Phraya River before they take part in the 84 World Tennis Invitation Hua Hin 2011.

Read more »

New Year Merit Making

Happy New Year 2012! I hope everyone had fun celebrating last night and managed to get safely back home. This time of year is really dangerous on the roads and I prefer to stay at home rather than travel to other provinces. Too many drunk drivers out there. However, the big exodus from Bangkok still went ahead leaving a virtually empty city.

Read more »

Jao Por Tap Festival

The Chinese people of Samrong in Samut Prakan Province believe that their God Jao Por Tap will help them get rich. Behind Imperial World, on the old Paknam Railway Road, they have built a large Chinese shrine dedicated to this God. Every year during January, they hold a parade through town which is attended by literally thousands of local people.

Read more »

Light and Sound Show at Grand Palace

If you are in Bangkok at the moment then you shouldn’t pass up on the opportunity to go and see a light and sound show at the Grand Palace called “The Golden Heritage of the Rattanakosin Era”. It is running from now until 28th February 2011. It pays homage to the kings of the Chakri Dynasty, but more importantly it is a celebration of H.M. The King’s 84th birthday which takes place at the end of this year.

Read more »

Paknam Pho Chinese New Year Festival

The most important date on the festival calendar for Nakhon Sawan is the annual Paknam Pho Chinese New Year Festival which lasts for 12 days and 12 nights. The highlights are definitely the two “Chao Por-Chao Mae” Processions which take place in the evening and then the following morning.

Read more »

Hae Pha Khuen Festival in Nakhon Si Thammarat

One of the most important places to celebrate Makha Bucha Day, a Buddhist holiday, is at Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan. This royal temple, in Nakhon Si Thammarat in Southern Thailand, houses a relic of the Lord Buddha. On the full moon day during February every year, local people take part in a parade called Hae Pha Khuen That. They believe that taking part will bring them good fortune and success in life.

Read more »

Muay Thai Festival in Ayutthaya

Muay Thai is truly an international sport these days as people all around the world compete in this ancient form of boxing. However, the spiritual home is definitely here in Thailand with the home base being in the ancient capital of Ayutthaya. Yesterday, 350 boxers from 35 different countries came together at Wat Mahathat to take part in the Wai Khru Ceremony.

Read more »

Photos of Pattaya Music Festival

This weekend, Thailand is hosting one of Asia’s biggest beach music festivals. The Pattaya International Music Festival, 18-20 March 2011,  is now in its tenth year and is bigger and better than ever. The opening night was on Friday which I attended. It continues over the weekend with both Thai and international singers.

Read more »

Songkran at Nakaphirom Park: 10-15 April

Many foreign tourists, and even some Thais, seem to think that Songkran is only about the water fights. But, there is another side to this festival which is more traditional. It is possible to experience what I call the real Songkran at various places around Thailand. In Bangkok, one of the best places to go is at Nakaraphirom Park which is alongside the Chao Phraya River and next to the pier at Tha Tien. It is a new park with some excellent river views including Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn.

Read more »

Songkran at Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall

A good place to enjoy the traditional side of Songkran, and probably learn a bit about its culture and history, is at the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue in Bangkok. For this month, until 30th April 2011, they have a free exhibition where you can learn about Songkran in the four regions of Thailand. I certainly learned a lot and you will find the information boards in both Thai and English.

Read more »

Phi Ta Khon Festival

One of the most unique and colourful festivals in Thailand is Phi Ta Khon that takes place every year in Dansai in Loei Province. It is sometimes translated into English as the Ghost Festival as many people wear ghost masks during the processions. Really the festival is called Bun Luang which is a combination of two different festivals. These are Bun Phra Wet and Bun Bang Fai. The first is the continuous listening of thirteen sermons. The other involves the firing of rockets to ask for sufficient rain.

Read more »

Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani

One of the biggest and most beautiful festivals in Thailand is the Candle Procession which marks the start of the Buddhist Lent. In Thai this is called Khao Phansa which is the day after the full moon in July.

Read more »

23rd Lopburi Monkey Festival

One of the most popular festivals in the central region of Thailand is the Monkey Festival held annually in Lopburi. The city is about 150 kms north-east of Bangkok and is a convenient stopover on the northern railway line to Chiang Mai. The iconic Khmer ruin in this city is Prang Sam Yot, which was originally a Hindu shrine. However, it is its inhabitants that is of more interest to both local and foreign tourists. In and around the Khmer temple can be found literally hundreds of Crab-Eating Macaques.

Read more »

Bangkok International Wine Fair

The Bangkok International Wine Fair (BIWF) is Thailand’s first fully-fledged wine show. Their aim is to connect small and boutique wine producers with agents/distributors for Thailand and the wider region of mainland Southeast Asia – a fast-growing market of over 300 million people.

Read more »

Bangkok Air Show: 9-11 December

The annual Bangkok Air Show and Civil Aviation Exhibition 2010 takes place at Don Muang Airport in Bangkok from 9-11 December 2011. As well as an exhibition on Thai aviation history there will be a chance to see close up 86 aircraft on the tarmac at the airport and also an aerial display.

Read more »

Bangkok - Hua Hin Double Century: 23rd Jan

The historic town of Hua Hin will serve as a finish line January 23 when an estimated 500 participants in the Bangkok-Hua Hin Double Century bicycle ride come pedaling in.

Read more »

Ayutthaya World Heritage & Red Cross Fair: 10-19 Dec

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, in collaboration with the relevant government agencies, private sector, and people of Ayutthaya, have organised the Fair to celebrate the “World Heritage City” every year under the name of “Ayutthaya World Heritage”.

Read more »

Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series

“After the tremendous success of the other races of the Series in Kanchanaburi, Nong Chok and Chiang Mai, it was important to have a competition in the South” explains Serge Henkens, the Race Director and managing director of Active Management Asia.

Read more »

Amazing I-San Fair: 27-30 January 2011

The “Amazing I-San Fair 2011” will be held during 27-30 January 2011, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok. It will highlight the tremendous diversity of the northeastern region, as reflected in its art and culture, ancient traditions, local cuisine, indigenous crafts, folk music, song and dance, and traditional festivals.

Read more »

7th World Thai Martial Arts Festival: 15-17 March 2011

         The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) together with Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Administrative Organization, and the Association Institute of Thai Martial Arts will organize “The 7th World Thai Martial Arts Festival and Wai Kru Muay Thai Ceremony 2011” between 15-17 March 2011, at Nai Khanom Tom Monument, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Stadium.

Read more »

4th Phuket Japanese Festival

Tourism Authority of Thailand, Phuket Office and Phuket Japanese Association will hold “The 4th Phuket Japanese Festival” on the 7th of March 2009 at Queen Sirikit Park in Phuket Town.

As we are one of the parts of Phuket, we would like to provide the opportunity to the local people who is working for the tourism and local students interested in Japan and Japanese people through the Japanese traditional festival which introduce the Japanese culture and foods, and we hope these experiences will help them to be familiar with Japanese tourists.

Read more »