Songkran Music Festival

Songkran Music Festival

Date : 14th April 09

Venue : Lake View Dance Arena, Koh Samui, Surat Thani

14th April 09. Lake View Dance Arena, Koh Samui. The very 1st Songkran International Dance Music Festival ever. Be there!!!This Songkran, come and Join 5,000 ravers at the largest outdoor venue in South East Asia.Featuring DJ Judge Jules, other DJs’ on the night will include Graham Gold, Gary Gecko, Asambai, Simon Solo, Adam Matson, David Sambor and DJ A.Alongside inflatable water pools, foam machines and a waterproof VIP area, Revellers can also enjoy traditional Thai and European food, plus a fun cabaret and casino.Kicking off at 6pm and ending at 6am the following day, guests are guaranteed 12 hours of the finest non-stop music and entertainment. And with tickets at just 400 Baht in advance, the best money you could spend this Songkran. See you there!!!

Ticket, Travel and Hotel Package is also available.

See http://www.totalreservation.com/ for more information.

Or call (66)2- 833- 5555 / (66)86 - 046- 0240

Phra Nakhon Khiri Muang Phet Fair

Phra Nakhon Khiri Muang Phet Fair

Date : 10 - 19 April 2009

Venue : Khao Wang and Around the City Limit of Phetchaburi

"Khao Wang" is a hill located in the heart of Phetchaburi city, it is the location of frist hill palace of Thailand. "Phra Nakhon Khiri" palace was built by King Chomklao (Mongkut), or the Rama IV reign, in 1859, with Chao Phaya Sri Suriyawong (Chuang Bunnag) was the chief architect. It was builtl with a palace temple, Wat Phra Keo Noi, a stupa, to contain the relics of Lord Buddha named by the Kings as Chompetch relics and planted temple trees on both sides connecting the three hills and the group of the throne halls.
Phra Nakhon Khiri is a main tourist attraction of Phetchaburi with importance in history, culture and natural beauty. In 1935 it was registered as a historical place and in 1979 was declared as a national museum of the monument type. every year from Febuary through April the temple trees on Khao Wang hill almost 200 years old numbering 1,263 trees all showed off more than one million flowers.

Phra Nakhon Khiri or Khao Wang hill has been the place of the annual fair of Phetchaburi continuously up to 22 times. In 2009 it will reach the 150th anniversary. The 2009 annual fair uses the concept of "150th Anniversary to Mark King Rama IV" scheduled to be held from April 10-19, 2009 at Khao Wang and around the city limit of Phetchaburi. It combines with the Phetchaburi Red Cross Fair for the public and tourists to participate in the activities and make merits with the Phetchaburi Red Cross Society.

Activities at Phra Nakhon Khiri - Phetchaburi City

The ceremony is to worship the city pillar shrine/the ancestral kings, exhibition to honor the ancestral kings and sustainable economy, the performances of Department of Fine Arts, a parade to honor the kings and the Phetchaburi way of life. Performances on the central stage, a contest of sweet Phetchaburi beauties, demonstration of foods and local sweets, ox chariot racing, decoration of lights and fairworks on Khao Wang each night. They will set up booths selling OTOPs at the fair, set up sales booths at the Red Cross fair and selling Phetchaburi Red Cross raffle to win the cup of HRH Princess Somdet Phrathep Rattanasuda Siam Baromratch Kumari.

Worshipping Ceremony

09.00 hrs. - Ceremony to worship the city pillar shrine at the shrine ground.

09.39 hrs. - Ceremony to worship the ancestral kings, the King Ramas IV (King Mongkut), V and VI reigns at the yard in front of Phra Nakhon Khiri (Khao Wang)Dress Code : Normal white dress

Opening ceremony at the yard in front of Phra Nakhon Khiri (Khao Wang)

09.00 hrs. - Honorable guests and ceremonial participants get together at the ceremonial area.

20.00 hrs. - Chairman arrives at the ceremonial area. - Music band plays the propitious song.

20.09 hrs. - Phetchaburi governor addresses the audience to open the fair and gives souvenirs souvenirs to the fair supporters. - Ceremonial chairman performs the opening ceremony. - Chairman reviews the honoring parade. - Chairman visits the activities on Khao Wang.

Dress Code : Batik clothes.

Performances at the Central Stage

April 10, 2009 Performances by musical bands / performances of districts & governmental agencies, set off 600 fireworks at 20.00 hrs.

April 11, 2009 Performances by musical bands / beauty contest of Phetchaburi sweet girls, eliminating round (the 1st set), set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.

April 12, 2009 Performances by musical bands / beauty contest of Phetchaburi sweet girls, eliminating round (the 2nd set), set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.

April 13, 2009 Performances by musical bands / performances of districts & governmental agencies, set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.

April 14, 2009 Performances by musical bands / performances of districts & governmental agencies, set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.

April 15, 2009 Performances by musical bands / performances of districts & governmental agencies, set off 600 fireworks at 20.00 hrs.

April 16, 2009 Performances by musical bands / performances of districts & governmental agencies, set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.

April 17, 2009 Performances by musical bands / performances of districts & governmental agencies, set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.

April 18, 2009 Performances by musical bands / beauty contest at the final round, set off 200 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.

April 19, 2009 Performances by musical bands / performances of districts & governmental agencies, drawing of the Red Coss raffle, and set off 600 fireworks at 21.00 hrs.

For more information :

TAT Call Center 1672

TAT Phetchaburi Office,

Tel. 66 (0) 3247 1005-6

Magic moments in Khmer heritage

Magic moments in Khmer heritage
A splash of sunlight penetrating an ancient temple cloister signals a distinctive celebration at Prasat Phanom Rung.

Knowing the exact moment to witness a spectacular sunrise through the doorway of an ancient Hindu temple requires a detailed calculation. The most auspicious day is 3 April; the time, 0602.32 at sunrise, as the amber sun is perfectly aligned in the centre of the main doorway to a temple standing on a former volcanic mountain in northeast Thailand.
Actually, the sun rays pass straight through 15 perfectly aligned doorways of Prasat Phanom Rung, a revered and ancient Hindu monastery, just four times a year -– two sets of sunrises, in April and September, and two sets of sunsets, in March and October.These spectacular solar-related events, that also bear religious significance in the Hindu faithful, span just three days –- 2, 3 and 4 April. The second day is considered the most auspicious as the sun is visible dead centre of the outer doorway of this Khmer Hindu temple. Sun rays cast light through 15 aligned doorways that span 75 metres of the temple’s inner courtyard illuminating a revered lingam deep in the main sanctuary. On the other two days, the sun passes one of the corners of these doorways.

Located about 120 km east of Nakhon Ratchasima, the gateway to the northeast region, Prasat Phanom Rung presents a picturesque setting high above the surrounding countryside. A series of steps lead to this ancient monument that stands on the peak of an extinct volcano offering panoramic views of rice fields and hazy mountains on the border with Cambodia.
While photographers will not want to miss the opportunity to capture the 3 April sunrise perfectly aligned within the lintels of the doorways, most visitors will settle for the evening festivals and a colourful light and sound show organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand performing nightly from 2 to 4 April.
Officially known as the “Ascent of the Mountain Annual Festival” or the “Festival Of The Thousand Year Miracle of the Phanom Rung Grand Shrine” the celebrations start with the religious significance of the sunrises, but continue with community festivities on each of the three days, well into the night.
The 80-minute light and sound show, that start at 20:00, highlights the history of Prasat Phanom Rung and explains the significance of the sunrise and its alignment with the temple’s courtyard doors. The show is described as an “extravagant outdoor Son et Lumiere performances led by a large cast of actors, dancers and acrobats.”This evening spectacular, held within the temple complex, compliments the daytime activities that start with the sunrise ceremonies and are followed by colourful festivities throughout the day. In the afternoon there is almost a carnival spirit as visitors enjoy the local food specialities sold at stalls, the folk music and dances as well as handicraft displays. Many visitors are tempted to stay on to admire the floodlight sanctuary, or slumber through night under the stars to ensure they have a prime spot to participate in the sunrise ceremonies on the following morning.

5th World Thai Martial Arts Festival and Waikru Muaythai Ceremony (Nai Khanomtom Day)

5th World Thai Martial Arts Festival and Waikru Muaythai Ceremony (Nai Khanomtom Day)

CELEBRATION NAIKHANOM TOM DAY ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE OF THAI MARTIAL ARTS & WORLD MUAYTHAI FEDERATION

Wai-Kru Ceremony Muay Boran & Krabi – Krabong SeminarNai Khanomtom Pro/Championships Belt

Date: 15th - 17th March 2009,

Venue: City of Ayutthaya Stadium, Ayutthaya, Thailand

In Muay Thai, the boxer will always preface the fight with Wai Kru and this tradition is still practised nowadays. This ceremony is usually performed to rousing Thai music from pipes and drums, and with the initial Ram Muay (the boxing movement). The Wai Kru & Ram Muay are useful, since the Boxer gains encouragement from paying homage to his Teachers and feels that he is not on his own: he has his Teacher & the other Teachers of the Muay Thai discipline to support him.

The Wai Kru process will also give him time to concentrate & revise what he has learned, as well as display the nature of his weapons and the high degree of his skill. The steps, movements & use of his weapons are designed to warm up the body’s muscles, survey the field of play & conceal the contestant’s style of fighting. When the traditional Sarama music sounds around the ring it is recognised by all who are present as a symbol of deference & respect. Prior to the fight, the music helps to urge the fighter on, and rouses his spirit until he is ready to face his opponent in the boxing ring in manly combat.

Programs

Sunday 15th March 2009

07.00 - 16.00 hr. Seminar of Muay Boran Courses & Krabi Krabong

08.00 - 16.00 hr. Competition of Amateur Muay Thai, Muay Thai Boran and Krabi Krabong 17.30 hr. Introduction to all the Grand Masters and Masters all Ranking of Kru. Oats of respect to all teachers. Present Mongkon and blessing to the new comers. The Fighter for Muaythai ready for the start.

19.30 hr. Welcome Party

Monday 16th March 2009

07.00 - 16.00 hr. Seminar of Muay Boran & Krabi Krabong Courses

08.00 - 16.00 hr. Competition of Mae Mai Muay Thai, Amateur Muay Thai, Muay Thai Boran and Krabi Krabong (Semi-Finals)

10.00 - 16.00 hr. Local Thai Sports Show… Muay Thai Boran, Muay Tabchak and fighting cock

19.00 - 20.00 hr. Competition of Aerobic Muay Thai

Tuesday 17th March 2009 "WORLD MUAYTHAI DAY (NAI KHANOMTOM DAY)"

07.00 hr. For anyone must go to pay respect and holy

10.00 - 15.00 hr. Ceremony at Nai Khanomtom statue. President arrival at the statue Start of the Holy Ceremony The final 3 bout of Amateur, Final Muay Boran, demonstration Presentation of Wai Kru, Mae Mai & Amateur Medals And Special Nai Khanomtom Amateur Local Thai Sports Show… Muay Thai Boran, Muay Tabchak and fighting cock

10.00 - 16.00 hr. Closing Ceremony

For More Information :

www.ideabar.com/muaythai

Pattaya International Music Festival 2009

Pattaya International Music Festival 2009
Cool music to beat summer heat

Pattaya International Music Festival gets underway 20 March to help residents and visitors to beat recession blues.
The grand Pattaya Music Festival is back in town to entertain music lovers. This is an unrivalled opportunity to enjoy a weekend of listening and dancing to beautiful music performed by more than 100 musicians. Fun awaits everyone, 20 to 22 March.
Postponed last year, the festival is back and promises to be an annual event. According to Pattaya’s city hall it was revived to lighten the mood to give residents and tourists all the more reason to smile and enjoy the resort. It echoes the sentiments of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night – “if music be the food of love play on”…
The event is also part of a wider nation-wide campaign “Amazing Thailand Amazing Value” managed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to deliver events and value-for-money features to Thai and international travellers.
For music lovers it will certainly enhance their holiday and will also help to turn Pattaya into a musical paradise broadening its appeal.
The event is supported by well-known music companies such as GMM Grammy and its partners Modernine TV, Channel [V] Thailand, Channel [V] International and the Korea Foundation for International Exchange.
International musicians will be flown in by recording companies such as SM Entertainment from Korea, EEG from Hong Kong, Ocean Butterfly from China, House of Indies from Vietnam, Halo Music from Malaysia, AMPHEAD from Australia, INDEE RECORDS from Laos, and AVEX from Taiwan.
Visitors can choose their own style of music too. Are you into Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, or Rock musicω The event features three music stages located at the Bali Hai pier at the southern end of the main bay, central Pattaya, and Pattaya Soi 4. Music themes will rotate between all three stages.
On Friday 20 March, visitors can enjoy Pop songs at the Bali Hai, Rock at central Pattaya and easy listening music at Soi 4. On Saturday, Pop and Rock will be performed at the Bali Hai stage, Hip-Hop at central Pattaya, and Jazz at Soi 4, while on Sunday, visitors can enjoy Rock at Bali Hai, Country Western music at central Pattaya, and Pop Rock at Soi 4.
Thai musicians include Golf&Mike, Pancake, Clash, ABNormal, Paradox, Bodyslam, Ebola, Zeal, Joey Boy and THE STAR.
International artists such as SHINEE and Girl’s generation from Korea, Kym Jin Sha from China, Cirque due Freak from Australia, Minh Thu from Vietnam, Rynn Lim from Malaysia, and Kenny Kwan from Hong Kong will also join the event.
TAT is responsible for two of the stages, one at the south Pattaya pier (Bali Hai) and one at Soi 4 on Pattaya beach road. The third stage in central Pattaya, is funded by a Bt10 million budget and run by Pattaya city and Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organisation.

For more information
TAT Call Center 1672
TAT Pattaya 66 (0) 3842 1005-6
e-mail : tatchon@tat.or.th

Visit Ranong along Andaman Festival 2009 - "Hot Spring City Healthy Town"

Visit Ranong along Andaman Festival 2009 - "Hot Spring City Healthy Town"

Date : 13 - 19 March 2009

Venue : Ranong Municipacity

Village tourism activities at 14.30 - 21.30 hrs.

Experience the atmosphere tourism activities. And interesting attractions of Ranong Province. In a show like.

- Raft bam boos downstreaming simulation, Simulated firefly tour.

- Simuleted local Attractions, Pa-yam Island, Elephant Island and beautiful waterfall

- Seeing crafts demonstrations from local sources.

- Meet the travel services agent and promotion packages from them.
- Demonstration of Thai ancient market at 14.30 - 21.30 hrs.experience the local ancient market and Ranong dressing

- sales of local products and enjoy with local foods

For more information

TAT Call Center 1672

Phuket International Blues Rock Festival

Phuket International Blues Rock Festival
Date : 19 - 22 February, 2009
Venue : Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, Phuket

The 2009 Phuket International Blues Rock Festival promises to be bigger than ever with at least 12 acts performing on stage during the two-night event. Now a firm fixture in Phuket’s annual entertainment calendar, the festival attracts top blues bands from around Thailand, while two popular bands from Australia and the US return once more.
Ricky Zen will once again MC the event which will have a minimum of twelve acts total with five international bands, and its headliner will be none other than Eric Bibb! Eric is a New York native but has lived in Europe most of his adult life. He is one of the greatest contemporary bluesers and tours constantly all over the world. We are very pleased to have been able to secure this wonderful artist for the 2009 show. Next on the big newcomer list is California’s Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88s. Mitch is a world class New Orleans style boogie-woogie piano man and has set crowds abuzz around the world for 30+ years. From Europe comes Bert Deivert & Janne Zander, a top rated blues duo from Sweden. The OZ contribution to the festival this year is a beautiful lady from the city of Perth in Western Australia. Her name is KNIKI and her voice is grunty, strong and sexy. Having listened to her just released second cd, "JUST", we just felt compelled to invite her to the 2009 show.

The 2009 festival will see a tribute act for the first time: "Chasing Jimi" - a Tribute to Jimi Hendrix featuring Jimmy Fame (USA).By popular demand Rich Harper will return along with The Blues Machine and Bangkok’s Cannonball. Our very own Groove Doctors fronted by Tony ’Hacksaw’ Wilson will also be back for some on-stage surgery. See The Bands page, and more coming – stay tuned!

Established to support local charities, this year’s event will donate funds to charities that organise education for young children -- the Phuket International Women’s Club and the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation.

For more information
www.phuketbluesfestival.com

The North Face River Kwai Trophy 2009

The North Face River Kwai Trophy 2009
Date : 28 February 2009
Venue : Saiyok district, Kanchanaburi

Under the banner of the Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series, the event will attract 120 teams comprising of two participants in each team, who will tackle an adventure course that includes running, mountain biking, swimming and kayaking. The race route travels along scenic trails and explore the mountainnns and farmlands of western Thailand.Backing the event are the Tourism Authority of Thailand and North Face, while the actual running of the event comes under sports activity specialist, Active Management Asia.
Extreme adventure racing, that test stamina and team work, has grown in popularity in Thailand with the Kanchanaburi event attracting nearly 60% of its participants from neighbouring countries such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, as well as participants from even Europe. The 2006 augural event gained 46 team registrations, while the 2007 event grew to attract 80 teams and 120 teams in the 2008 event. Now 120 teams, of two participants in each team, will participate in the 2009 event.
There are three signature events in the 2009 series. The season kicks off with the River Kwai Trophy in Kanchanaburi, followed by the inaugural Chiang Mai Challenge, 10 May and the second Bangkok Challenge, hosted in Nong Chok district, on the outskirts of the capital, this November.

For more information,
visit www.riverkwaitrophy.com

Bor Sang Umbrella and Sankampaeng Handicraft Festival

Bor Sang Umbrella and Sankampaeng Handicraft Festival

Date : 16 to 18 January 2009

Venue : Bor Sang village, Chiang Mai

Bor Sang, on highway 1006 heading east from Chiang Mai, appears to be a typical sleepy rural village, the kind the tour bus speeds by giving you just a fleeting glimpse of its two-storey wooden houses. But hidden in the tiny lanes, villagers have perfected a craft that creates the country’s most famous umbrellas.
For more than 100 years, the village has been associated with the production of umbrellas made from Saa paper derived from mulberry tree bark. According to local history, a monk travelled to neighbouring Myanmar, where he came across Saa paper umbrellas that offered protection against both the sun and rain.
He returned with the production technique and introduced the umbrella to the elders of Bor Sang village, who added their own artistic skills to create a distinctive colourful, but very practical, umbrella. At first it was just a profitable hobby that supplemented the villagers’ earnings from the annual rice crop. However, with time production of the Saa paper umbrellas prospered, prompting villagers to establish a handicraft cooperative in 1941 that now organises the annual festival.

Using silk and cotton, weaved at neighbouring Sankampaeng, villagers eventually added a second line of umbrellas decorated with images of the north, its flowers and birds, all intricately hand-painted. Today, Bor Sang village exports both Saa-paper and silk umbrellas. They are seen at trade shows in a variety of sizes, from giant parasols that offer a shady canopy from the sun, to miniscule variations that adorn popular cocktail drinks.

To celebrate success the village hosts a three-day festival every January. Streets are illuminated by lanterns, while hundreds of umbrellas are hung from the rafters and beams of houses and shops. Bands play, while villagers compete to design the year’s most attractive umbrella. Concerts, a food festival and beauty contest all compete for the attention of the audience, a mix of both tourists and residents, who gather here to celebrate Bor Sang’s innovative handicraft skills.

Throughout the year, tourists visit the village, a short 6 km drive from Chiang Mai, to buy umbrellas and study the process and skills that go into making a handicraft entirely from natural products. But nothing quite compares with the buzz that permeates the village during this colourful three-day handicraft festival, every January. It is a scene that represents village hospitality and charm at its very best.

For more information

TAT Chiang Mai Office, Tel. 66 (0) 5324 8604, 5324 8607, 5324 1466