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TROOPING OF THE COLOURS
The Royal Plaza, Bangkok
Their Majesties the King and Queen preside over this impressive annual event, held in the Royal Plaza near the equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn. Dressed in colourful uniforms, amid much pomp and ceremony, members of the elite Royal Guards swear anew allegiance to the King and march past members of the Royal Family.
H.M. THE KING’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Nationwide
The deep reverence felt by all Thais for their King is perhaps unique in the modern world, and his birthday provides an annual occasion for public expression. Government buildings, businesses, and homes all over the country are elaborately decorated and the area around the Grand Palace is spectacularly illuminated.
I-SAN KITE FESTIVAL
Huai Rat Stadium, Buri Ram
This annual competition features various forms of traditional Thai kites; and includes surrogate battles of the sexes featuring Chula (male) and Pakpao (female) kites.
Khon Kaen Silk Fair
Khon Kaen City Hall, Khon Kaen
Celebrations include traditional float (krathong) and beauty contests,
handicrafts demonstrations and exhibitions, and krathong-launching beneath the full moon.
Date : 29 November - 10 December ,2005
Place : Khon Kaen
Internationally, Thailand has always been famous for its lustrous silk. One of the major centres of silk production, Khon Kaen is the venue of a fair to promote silk weaving and sericulture. This event is held in conjunction with the Phuk Siao friendship ritual of the northeast. Colourful street processions and typical Isan cultural shows as well as exhibits on the silk industry add to the fun of the fair.
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Date : December 31, 2005 – January 1, 2006
Place : At The World Trade Center & Sanam Luang, Bangkok Bangkok
Ring in the year 2006 with a wide range of festivities held nationwide and count down the last minutes of 2005 alongside thousands of people at Silom, Siam Square and Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui Island, etc.
IMPORTANT
Event dates and programme details may be subject to change. To ensure you have the most updated
information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.
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C
HIANG MAI FOOD FESTIVAL
Tha Pae Gate, Chiang Mai
This annual festival of Chiang Mai’s great dishes features demonstrations of
fruit carving and ancient Thai desserts, and charming Lanna cultural shows. Inexpensive but nevertheless excellent food is sold at Tha Pae Gate. |
Date : December 10, 2005
Place : Nationwide
Observed in celebration of the peaceful transformation from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.
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Date : December 13-19,2005
Place : Ayutthaya Historical Park, Ayutthaya
Extensive light and sound show re-enacts the ancient capital’s glorious past amid the ruins designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
IMPORTANT
Event dates and programme details may be subject to change. To ensure you have the most updated
information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.
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Date : December 1, 2005 – January 31, 2006
Place : Ubon Ratchathani
IMPORTANT
Event dates and programme details may be subject to change. To ensure you have the most updated
information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.
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Date : December 5, 2005
Place : Phuket
After two years away, the Phuket King's Cup regatta goes back to the dramatic scenery of Koh Phi Phi - scenery that made the regatta famous - for the start of 2002's racing. Traditionally the regatta, being held this year from 30 November to 7 December, has either started in Koh Phi Phi or found its way there during the week.
A number of reasons kept the regatta at Kata Beach Resort, in the south of Phuket Island, for the last two years, but this year the organising committee has decided it is time for a change.
The new King's Cup president, Andy Dowden, believes it is essential to keep the regatta fresh, to bring in change when it benefits the participants. The warm welcome received by the organising committee from Phi Phi Cabana Hotel during the site inspection trip clinched their decision.
This year's provisional programme will see boats registering in Phi Phi on 30 November, with the first day's racing on Monday 2 December in the waters around Phi Phi islands. The long Andaman Sea Race back to Kata Beach is scheduled for 3 December.
The venue is not the only change to affect the King's Cup this year. The organising committee itself has seen transformation too. First, racing stalwart Dowden has relinquished the reigns of the race committee to assume the demanding role of King's Cup President - an honour long overdue.
The new Vice President for racing is Admiral (retired) Varong Songcharoen. Adm. Varong, who is a former commander of Thailand's Royal Naval Academy and Naval Attaché to Paris and Madrid, has been with the regatta since 1996 and has been a yacht-racing enthusiast for 38 years.
Further strengthening the organising committee is Niyom Tassaneetipagorn. Khun Niyom is an Assistant Vice President with Laguna Resorts and Hotels; he brings to the regatta a wealth of experience in local community relations at a time when the organisers are determined to stress the relevance and importance of the King's Cup to Phuket - and to ensure the local residents get in on the fun.
With Phi Phi back in the loop, new blood on the regatta organising committee and the recent extension for visiting yachts to one year instead of six months, 2002 looks like being a great year for Phuket and its regatta. The only other thing the organisers and participants are counting on is some wind.
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