PATTAYA COUNTDOWN

PATTAYA COUNTDOWN
December 25 – 31, 2008
19.00 – 01.00 hrs
Bali Hai Pier, Pattaya
Admission is free.

Highlights
Pattaya, Asia’s premier beach resort and one of Thailand's leading international seaside playgrounds, will be hosting a grand Pattaya Countdown and New Year extravaganza along Bali Hai beach. The festive celebrations kicks-off on Christmas evening (25 December) and continues right through to 1.00 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Admission is free.

The leading brands with retail outlets in Pattaya will be participating in the festive extravaganza. Temporary stalls will be located near Bali Hai Pier. Browse around looking for terrific offers and great buys and indulge in some last-minute festive shopping.

Participate in fun and games and win a few lucky prizes or have fun taking part in song and dance contests.

Enjoy the Thai cultural presentations and showreels showcasing the very best that Thailand offers or simply enjoy the concert performances by Thai artists under the Grammy label, such as So Cool, Paradox, Tik Shiro, Black Head, Slot Machine, Istinct, Boy Peace Maker, Buddha Bless, Playground and Pancake as well as artists from The Star … and move to the beat all night long.

Pattaya’s New Year Countdown will culminate in an awesome fireworks display that will light up the night sky for an impressive 15 minutes.

Contact information:
Tourism Authority of Thailand, Pattaya Office
Tel: +66 (0) 3842 3990 ,(0) 3842 7667, (0) 3842 8750
Fax: +66 (0) 3842 9113
E-mail: tatchon@tat.or.th

http://www.tatnews.org

CHIANG RAI TRAVEL SEASON

CHIANG RAI TRAVEL SEASON
Welcome to Chiang Rai

December 20, 2008 - January 5, 2009 (every year)
WHIRLIGIG NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

These annual New Year celebrations are staged by the Akha tribes in the districts of Mueang Chiang Rai, Chiang Sean, Mae Suai and Mae Fah Luang. Akha families perform religious ceremonies and Akha communities in Chiang Rai stage tribal shows, performances of native music and other tribal activities as part of the local festivities.

Contact information:
Akha associate
Tel: +66 (0) 5371 4250

Doi Tung Development Project
Tel: +66 (0) 5376 7015-7 #265

December 28, 2008 - January 2, 2009 (every year)
TEA, SAKURA, AND TRIBAL OF DOI MAE SALONG BAN SANTI KIRI
In the districts of Mae Salong Nok and Mae Fah Luang

Savour the taste of Doi Mae Salong tea. Admire the scenic landscape with Sakura flowers in bloom set against a mountainous backdrop. Enjoy a tribal culture show and shop for local products at the fair.

Contact information:
Mae Salong Nok Sub-District Administrative Organization
Tel: +66 (0) 5376 5129

December 2008 (every year)
TEA AND FRESH COFFEE-TASTING AND TRIBAL CULTURE PROMOTION
At Wawi Ban Wawi Moo 1 village, Wawi, Mae Suai District

Taste Doi Wawi tea and fresh coffee from Doi Chang. Enjoy a tribal culture show and watch tribal sports competitions.

Contact information:
Wawi Sub-District Administrative Organization
Tel: +66 (0) 5360 5950

Administrative Office Mae Suai District
Tel: +66 (0) 5378 6125

December 27, 2008 - January 5, 2009 (every year)
5TH CHIANG RAI FLOWER FESTIVAL
By Chiang Rai Beach

The highlights of the 5th Chiang Rai Flower Festival include a parade of floral floats, a Miss Thin Thai Ngam Beauty contest, an orchid contest, a flower and ornamental plant contest and an agricultural produce fair.

Contact information:
Chiang Rai Province Administrative Organization
Tel: +66 (0) 5360 1235

January 1-10, 2009
2ND YUNNAN CHINESE FOOD FESTIVAL AND BLOOMING SAKURA
At Doi Phatang
Parking Area of Military base Moo 14, Por, Wiang Kaen District

Have a taste of Yunnan food and enjoy the colourful cultural presentations of tribal life, including the Yunnan, Mong, Yao, Thai Lue tribal shows. Admire the breathtaking scenery of sakura flowers in bloom and winter flowers of Doi Phatang. Visitors will also have an opportunity to shop for local products at the fair. For a change of pace, festival highlights include a mountain-bike competition and a marathon over the Doi Phatang mountain range.

Contact information:
Por Sub-District Administrative Organization
Tel: +66 (0) 5391 8265

January 24-28, 2009 (every year)
BLOOMING FLOWER, SWEET STRAWBERRY AND PRODUCTS
Pong Pha Sub-District Administrative Organization Office

The fair presents an opportunity for visitors to view and shop for a variety of strawberry products and enjoy shows, floral booth decorations and flower contests.

Contact information:
Pong Pha Sub-District Administrative Organization
Tel: +66 (0) 5364 6627, (0) 5364 6085

January 26 - February 4, 2009 (every year)
KING MENGRAI FESTIVAL 2009
At the monument of the King Mengrai

The King Mengrai festival is staged annually to pay homage to the great king.
However there’s a fun-filled aspect to the festival with a local product fair, stage shows and a variety of entertainment to create a festive ambience. Exhibitions organized by state and private sector organizations reflect enthusiastic community participation in staging the event as an expression of gratitude and pride in local traditions.

Contact information: Chiang Rai Administrative Office
Tel: +66 (0) 5371 1612, 0 5374 4341

February 13-15, 2009 (every year)
BLOOMING SIEW FLOWER FESTIVAL
At Phu Chi Fah, Ban Rom Fah Thai, TabTao, Thoeng District

Phu Chi Fah is a popular destination for wishing to immerse themselves in Nature’s embrace. Noted for its ‘sea of mist’ that blankets the mountain peaks, nature-lover converge to enjoy the spectacular setting, peace and tranquillity.

The Siew Flower Festival provides added attractions. Admire Siew flowers in full bloom and enjoy the colourful tribal shows.

Contact information:
Thoeng District
Tel: +66 (0) 5364 6627, 05364 6085

TabTao Sub-District Administrative Organization
Tel: +66 (0) 5318 9111

February 14, 2009 (every year) start 06.00 pm.
22nd "AMAZING VALLEY OF LOVE" TRIBAL RELATION FESTIVAL
At Ban Huai Mae Sai village, Moo 11, Mae Yao, Muang District

The modern-day descendants of the tribal peoples of Chiang Rai move with the times. To celebrate St Valentine’s Day, the local tribal communities of Chiang Rai will be staging a light-and-sound presentation by the various tribes in Mae Yao Sub-District offering a glimpse of their way of life. Various aspects of the festival are designed to highlight native art, culture and folk wisdom. Visitors will be presented with an opportunity to enjoy a traditional tribal dinner and to view and purchase tribal products.

Contact information:
Mae Yao Sub-District Administrative Organization
Tel: +66 (0) 5373 7359 ext. 16
Web site: www.maeyaomail.com

March 9-10, 2009
PHRA THAT DOI TUNG STUPA WORSHIPING CEREMONY AND BATHING RITUAL

Phra Thai Doi Tung, a historic landmark of Chiang Rai province, houses the relics of Lord Buddha and is considered to be a sacred stupa, highly revered by local residents. On certain dates as determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar, local residents and visitors from afar make a holy pilgrimage to Phra Thai Doi Tung to pay their respects at the sacred site.

14th –15th day of waxing moon in the fourth month
At Wat Phra Maha Chinna That Chao Doi Tung temple and at the Phra That Doi Tung sacred stupa in Mae Sai District

14th day of waxing moon
Dhamma practice
The preparation of consecrated water to bathe the Phra That Doi Tung stupa

15th day of waxing moon:
Buddhist merit-making offerings of dried food and other essential supplies are presented to monks. Pay respects at the Phra Thai Doi Tung stupa and conduct the ritual bathing of the stupa.

Contact information:
Chiang Rai Culture Office
Tel: +66 (0) 5371 7420

Mae Sai Education Office
Tel: +66 (0) 5373 1842

http://www.tatnews.org

Farm Chokchai

At kilometre 159 on the Friendship Highway, Farm Chokchai springs into view with huge signs, restaurants, ice-cream shops, and quite often large crowds of people. These are clues to its status as the largest and most advanced dairy farm in Asia. It is also one of Nakhon Ratchasima’s most dynamic tourist attractions.

Started in 1957 by Thailand’s first homegrown cowboy, Chokchai Bulakul, Farm Chokchai has evolved from raising beef cattle to breeding dairy herds. It welcomes visitors by the thousands, and is the only dairy farm in the kingdom to open its doors to an inquisitive public.

Farm Chokchai covers 20,000 rai, or 8,000 acres, in five locations around the Pakchong-Khao Yai area, and has 5,000 head of dairy cows, primarily Holstein-Friesian stock with their familiar black and white hides. These are bred for sale and for producing the raw milk that is pasteurized. Other products from the Chokchai Umm! Milk brand include yoghurt, ice cream and milk candy.

Agro tours began in 2000 after Chokchai’s son Choak took the innovative decision to try agro-tourism. He felt this was the best way to satisfy the many requests for farm visits from people who wanted to find out what makes the place tick. Since then, visitors have been enthusiastically riding around the farm in tractor-driven wagons on two-hour tours. Guides offer fascinating details of dairy farm life mixed with a bit of cowboy entertainment. There is also plenty of time to get up close and personal with some very friendly animals.

So what do you get to see and do? A video history of Farm Chokchai and a peek at the pioneering machinery used in the early days gets the tour under way, moving on to the more intimate details at the centre of every successful dairy farm, such as artificial insemination, calf rearing and milking. The need for hygiene is stressed at every stage. Children get the opportunity to try their hand at milking, and can ask questions about the bull’s activities and role in life.

Cows are milked three times a day, contributing to a daily production of over 36 tons. This is automatically moved into the next-door collection centre ready for pasteurization and turning into ice cream.

Next comes a tour around the farm to show cows being fed and grazed, water treatment, hay making and silage. Plenty of clean water, rich feed and waste treatment ensure the animals remain healthy and high producers of milk.

For entertainment, the farm’s cowboys put on a wild west show featuring horses, cattle, lariats and guns, coupled with opportunities to enjoy pony and buggy rides. Last but not least, the petting zoo allows visitors to touch and feed deer, goats, rabbits and calves. At the end is a comical animal show that makes everyone leave with a smile.

The agro knowledge tours have proved such a big hit that more than 400,000 visitors a year come to enjoy the feeling of life on a farm. From Tuesday to Friday, tours (maximum 80 people) are offered at 10.00 am and 2.00 pm, price 235 baht (half price for kids). At weekends and holidays, the fee is 250 baht with tours conducted throughout the day. Be warned that the weekends can get very crowded with as many as 18 tours a day. Advance booking is advised and essential for groups requiring English-speaking guides.

For visitors who want a more intimate look at farm life and a very relaxing back-to-nature experience, Farm Chokchai’s Boutique Camp opened in 2004 as a secluded place for city people to enjoy the great outdoors. The one-night two-day package includes a definitive farm tour, a workshop where you learn how to make your own ice cream, a BBQ dinner under the stars, sleeping in luxurious, air-conditioned tents in a very quiet, private forest, and a picnic breakfast before checking out with the ice cream that you made..

Rounding off any visit, at the farm entrance are outlets selling cowboy souvenirs, meals at the renowned Chokchai Steakhouse, steak and burger huts, plus lots of ice cream and Umm! Milk products.

Little wonder that Farm Chokchai is a multiple winner of the Thailand Tourism Awards for Agro-Tourism.

Web site:
www.farmchokchai.com/en/farmtour/farmtour.asp
www.farmchokchai.com/en/umm_milk/ummmilk_home.asp.

http://www.tatnews.org

6th Khon Kaen International Marathon

6th Khon Kaen International Marathon
Date : Sunday , January 25, 2009
Venue : Khon Kaen university


At the town’s university, runners can join the full 42-km marathon, a half marathon or a shorter 10- km race with staggered starts. Organised by the Khon Kaen University Alumni, the run follows a scenic course around the city and university campus taking advantage of the cooler temperatures that January brings to this region.

Khon Kaen 6th International Marathon
Free half day tour to the Dinosaur Exhibition in Kalasin Province
For race competitors and those accompanying them
24-25 January 2009, 13.00 to 16.30 hrs.

A bus will depart from the parking area at the Golden Jubilee Convention Hall (location of the marathon Expo) at 13.00 to travel 105 Km to the impressive and informative dinosaur museum and exhibition in Kalasin province, the site where many dinosaur skeletons and bones have been discovered. The bus will return to the Golden Jubilee Convention Hall at 16.30 hours.

If you are interested in joining this trip, you can sign up at the pre-race expo/registration on 23-24 January 2009.

For more information
Khon Kaen University Alumni Association, Khon Kaen University,
Tel. 66 4320 2388-9, 66 4320 2750, 66 4320 2222-41 Ext. 1900, 1499
Website : www.khonkaenmarathon.com
Email: jackykkmarathon@hotmail.com , lekthip@hotmail.com

http://www.tourismthailand.org/festival-event/grand-content-5567.html

Pai Reggae Music Festival 2009

Pai Reggae Music Festival 2009
Date : 24 - 25 January, 2009
Venue : Pai Tree House Resort ,Pai, Mae Hong Sorn


An unusual music festival is scheduled in the far north western province of Mae Hong Son, 24 to 25 February. The tiny village of Pai, a favourite destination with travellers who are eager to exchange their worries and work stress for a peaceful laid-back vacation, is not your standard venue for a Reggae music festival. Surrounded misty mountains Pai is better known for its idyllic environment and natural beauty where you can enjoy a simple guesthouse scene, treks to hill tribe villages and white-water rafting.


Now Pai is also the venue for the annual Reggae Musical Festival hosted at the quaint Pai Tree House. Here Reggae musicians from Pai and neighbouring districts will entertain visitors and locals just for the fun of playing their favourite music for friends and visitors alike.

Welcome to Reggae Music Festival 2009
"GREEN WORLD PAI SEASON"
The concept and theme behind this year Pai Reggae Festival is Global Warming. We want to make everyone aware that it is a problem that won’t go away. Everybody needs to make some effort, never mind how big or small. We want to spread the word to the world that Pai is a place to put on your holiday agenda, visit us, visit a place some call heaven, any time of the year. We join together with tour companies and travel agents and welcome their support for the party of the year. Set on 24-25 January 2009 at Pai Tree House Resort (Public area, Nong Krating Domain, Vieng Nei , Pai Mae Hong Sorn)

Free!! Member card in which you in green season (June-Aug)
will get free Shuttle bus and 25-50 % discount on room and adventure.

Pai Maehongson Thailand Reggae Festival 24-25 Jan 2009 # 4
Ticket price 390 Baht/day and receive premium gift at the event.
• Receive 1 Drink Free!
• VCD Pai Maehongson Reggae Festival 2008
• CD’s UTOPAI
• Premium Postcard 2009
• Premium Handbill 2009
• Get discount 40 % for book shop at this event and BANANA WORLD FESTIVAL
• Special!!..2 in 1 of ticket (Pai Maehongson Thailand Reggae Festival &BANANA WORLD FESTIVAL)
- Ticket of Pai Maehongson Thailand Reggae Festival
- Get discount 20-50 % for booking at resort and adventure activity in “GREEN SEASON 90 DAYS” JUNE-JULY-AUGUST
- Ticket of GREEN WORLD SEASON & BANANA WORLD FESTIVAL Since 3-7 JUNE 2009

**
1. Green Season Card Credit able to use on Green season only.
2. Member settle from 1 June 2009 – 30 September 2009

Online Booking www.thaiticketmajor.com
Call Center 02-262-3456
Due to 17 Jan 09

For more information call
• Pai Arts Club : 081-4931246
• Tourism Pai 053 699 935
• Travel Police 115 ,1699 , 053 611 812
• Pai Police Station 053 699 218
http://paireggaefest.com

http://www.tourismthailand.org

Bangkok Jazz Festival 2008 (postponed)

Bangkok Jazz Festival 2008 (postponed)


Venue : Sanam Suea Pa, Dusit District, Bangkok
Relax in the chilled-out atmosphere inspired by jazz music from many international well-known artists.


Contact:
- Advertising and Public Relations Strategies Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel : 66 (0) 2250 5500 Ext : 1511
- Telephone : 66 (0) 2203 1240-7 Fax : 66 (0) 2203 1248
Website : www.bangkokjazzfestival.com
www.tourismthailand.org
E-mail : info@bangkokjazzfestival.com, bangkokjazzman@yahoo.com
http://www.tourismthailand.org/festival-event/grand-content-2731.html

Bangkok 2009 Countdown Party

Bangkok 2009 Countdown Party
Date : 1st December 2008 - 15th January 2009
Venue : Bangkok

Activities
1. Lighting Decoration : 1st December 2008 – 15th January 2009
at Ploenchit – Ratchaprasong – Pratumwan area, Bangkok
2. Countdown from 31st December 2008 – 1st January 2009 at Ratchaprasong area, Bangkok
3. Live concert and various entertainment activities/ Light and Sound show/ Countdown to the year 2009
4. Worship for luck with 9 temples
- Wat Kanlayanamit Woramahawihan
- Wat Chanasongkhram Ratchaworamahawihan
- Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmangkhalaram (Wat Pho)
- Wat Phrasirattanasatsadaram (Wat Phra Khao)
- Wat Rakhang Khositaramworamahawihan
- Wat Suthat Thepwararamworamahawihan
- Wat Arun Ratchawararamworamahawihan (Wat Chang)
- Wat Bawonniwetwihan
- Wat Saket Ratchaworamahawihan

Contact:
- Events Planning Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel : 0 2250 5500 Ext : 3465-7
- TAT Call Centre 1672
Website : www.tourismthailand.org

Thailand International Balloon Festival 2008

Date : 3^rd – 7^th December 2008
Venue : Khao Yai (War Dog Battalion, Pak Chong), Nakhon Ratchasima

The event is expected to attract over 300,000 spectators to witness a colourful showcase of hot air balloons from all over the world, including the USA, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and Malaysia.

The first Festival, held in 2007, attracted over 150,000 Thai and foreign spectators and received wide coverage in all media.

The Thailand International Balloon Festival builds international awareness of Thailand, showcasing the wonderful weather conditions for balloon flying and the country’s unique and beautiful hinterland, proving that Thailand is more than a sunny beach!

Live Concerts; Farmers Fair; Fun Games/ Races; Fireworks; Wine Tasting; Food Tasting; Horse Shows; Dog Shows; Cowboy Shows; Archery; Marching Bands; and the Musical Balloon Glow & Festival Of Light & Fire.

Contact :
Earth Wind and Fire Company Limited
158/60 Moo 6 Cheungdoi, Doi Saket Chiang Mai, Thailand 50220
Tel : +66 53 - 292 - 224
Fax : +66 53 - 292 - 226
Website : www.thailandballoonfestival.com
Email : info@wind-and-fire.com