The Moon Festival : The Chinese Moon Day

The Chinese Moon Festival is on the 15th of the 8th lunar month. It's also known as the Mid-autumn Festival. Chinese culture is deeply imbedded in traditional festivals. Just like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the West, the Moon Festival is one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese.

The Moon Festival is full of legendary stories. Legend says that Chang Er flew to the moon, where she has lived ever since. You might see her dancing on the moon during the Moon Festival. The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon, eat moon cakes, and sing moon poems. With the full moon, the legend, the family and the poems, you can't help thinking that this is really a perfect world. That is why the Chinese are so fond of the Moon Festival.

The Moon Festival is also a romantic one. A perfect night for the festival is if it is a quiet night without a silk of cloud and with a little mild breeze from the sea. Lovers spend such a romatic night together tasting the delicious moon cake with some wine while watching the full moon. Even for a couple who can't be together, they can still enjoy the night by watching the moon at the same time so it seems that they are together at that hour. A great number of poetry has been devoted to this romantic festival. Hope the Moon Festival will bring you happiness.

The moon cake is the food for the Moon Festival. The Chinese eat the moon cake at night with the full moon in the sky. Here are a few pictures of the typical moon cake

Phu Kradueng : National Park of Thailand

Phu Kradueng National Park

The located in Amphoe Phu Kradueng of the Loei Province, is one of the famous national parks of Thailand, with a high point of 1360 m. Every year tens of thousands of people come to make the climb up this famous mountain. It received the title of a nationally protected forest in the year 1943, and was proclaimed a national park on the 7th of October 1959, the second national park of Thailand after Khao Yai National Park.

Travelling to Phu Kradueng
The easiest route to Phu Kradueng, is to take a bus from Khon Kaen to Pha Nok Kao. Get off in front of 'Raan J Gim' From there a minibus is available to take you to the central office of the park. The minibus takes approximately half an hour. The park office closes at 15.00, as climbers will not have enough time to climb the mountain before dark.

Geography

Phu Kradung is a sandstone mountain with a vast plateau on top, surrounded by smaller hills. The highest peak is 1,316m above sea level. It is the watershed for the Pong River, which feeds the reservoir of Ubonrat Dam and Nong Wai Dam in Khon Kaen Province. The plateau of Phu Kradung is composed of pine forest and grassland, which have a variety of flowers, creeks, waterfalls and rocky fields. These features make in the park most pleasant.

Climate

Phu Kradung is a cool and comfortable all year round. The average temperature is 15 degrees celsius. In the cool season, temperatures of the coldest nights reaches feezing. In the rainy season, the weather can change quicky. Fog and low clouds tend to hang low over the landscape. Cliffs may collapse under their own weight after the soil which underlies the sandstone cap is eroded by heavy rain. Heavy rains can also cause flash floods in the streams which run down the mountain. Thus, the park will be closed during June and September every year for visitors safety and forest recovering.

Phu Soi-dao : Sea Flower memorable beauty.

Phu Soi-dao National Park is situated in an approximately area of 78.34 square kilometers or 48,962.5 rai, covering the areas of Pa Nam-pad National Conserved Forest, Tambol Muang-jedton, Tambol Na-khum, Tambol Ban Koak, Ban Koak District, Huai Moon District, Nam-pad District of Uttaradit Province, and Tambol Bor-pak, Chattrakarn District of Pittsanulok Province. The topography of the National Park consist of beautiful virgin forests, which are the sources of streams and rivers. Major sightseeing spots include Phu Soi-dao Waterfall, a beautiful 5-step waterfall situated in an approximate area of 1,000 rai, which can be accessed by an asphaltic road to facilitate the travelling for recreational purpose.

Topography
The geographical features of the National Park consist of high mountains (500-1,800 meters above the sea level), extending northwards and being used as the boundary between Thailand and Laos. The areas of mountains and forests are approximately 85 percent of the total area of the National Park, meanwhile, the areas of flatlands are approximately 15 percent thereof.

Climate

The weather here is very comfortable all year round. Its average highest temperature is about 35.0 degrees celsius and the lowest is about 13.0 degrees celsius or the mid-average is 27.0 degrees celsius. The average rainfall is 1,334.4 milimeters/year. Its raining season starts from May to October while the winter starts from November till February and summer starts from April to June.

Flora and Fauna
The weather at the National Park is cool and breezy throughout the year and can be divided into 3 seasons including the rainy season (May-October), winter (November-February), and summer (April-June). The average highest temperature is 35.0°C and the lowest temperature is 13.0°C, meanwhile, the average temperature is 27.0°C; and the average rainfall is 1,344.4 mm/year.

Doi Inthanon : The highest mountain in Thailand.

Doi Inthanon National Park covers the areas of Sanpatong District, Chomthong District, Mae Chaem District, Mae Wang District, and Toi Lor Sub-district of Chiang Mai Province within an approximate area of 482 square kilometers. The National Park consists of high mountains, including Doi Inthanon, which is the highest mountaintop in Thailand and the source of many rivers such as Ping River, where the Bhumipol Dam is situated and generating the electrical power. The National Park has beautiful natural scenery such as waterfalls, particularly Mae Ya Waterfall, which is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand.

Historically, the mountain of Doi Inthanon was refered to as Doi Ang Ka. Prince Intharawichayanon, the last ruler of Chiang Mai, realized the importance of the country’s forests, especially in the north, where the forest serve as the watershed for the country. He was interested in helping and supporting people who were investigating the history in his area. So he requested that his body must be placed on the summit of Doi Ang Ka. After his death, the mountain was renamed Inthanon, a short version of his name. Today, visitors can see the Inthanon Wichayanon stupa on the summit of Doi Ang Ka.

The geographical features of the National Park consists of high mountains, including Doi Inthanon, which is the highest mountaintop in Thailand (2,565 meters above the sea level), followed by Doi Huamodluang (2,330 meters above the sea level). Doi Inthanon is the source of many rivers including Mae Klang, Mae Pakong, Mae Pon, Mae Hoi, Mae Ya, Mae Chaem, Mae Khan, and being part of Ping River, where the Bhumipol Dam is situated and generating the electrical power.

Summit of Doi Inthanon
Summit of Doi Inthanon offers fine views to visitors, especially during November and December. On the summit, there is a stupa containing the body of prince Intharawichayonon, whose chronicle placed on the back of the marble plaque nearby. However photographing any parts of the radar station s forbidden.

Pattaya Nightstyle : Embodiment of foreign tourists.

Pattaya's Night and its supplement Pattaya News Flash are one big site full of information about Pattaya and Thailand. Pattaya at Night provides all the information for a great and successful holiday in Pattaya. Pattaya News Flash publishes the latest news as well as funny stories and pictures from Pattaya and Thailand. We hope you will enjoy it.

he Walking Street is the center of Pattaya's nightlife, with hundreds of bars, A-Go-Go clubs and dancings. Other areas are in Soi 7, Soi 8 and Soi Yamato, in Soi Praisanie (around the post office), along Pattaya's 2nd Road and in Soi Buakhaow.

A new growing area is at the 3rd Pattaya Road, from North Pattaya Road to the South Pattaya Road as well as in Soi Chayaphoon and Soi Lengkee, both between Soi Buokaow and the 3rd Road.

Another large Beer Bar area is located in Soi 2, across BigC's Shopping Center.

Pattaya Naklua has a large area with bars too. It starts at the North Pattaya Road. For more information please check the Pattaya Street Map.

Beer Bars Beer Bars in Pattaya are mostly open air girlie bars (or Bar Beer, as the Thai's call them). Some of the beer bars have life music. Beer bars not only serve beer, you can order anything from Cola to Whisky.

The girls in this bars talk (a little bit of ) english and like to play games (domino or 4-in-a-row). When you 'pick-up' a girl from a beer bar you have to pay a bar fine (usualy between 200 and 300 Baht). Another 500 to 1000 Baht you have to pay to the girl.

Dancing Pattaya has many Dancingfloors. A lot of Freelancers are working at Dancings. If you like one of the ladies, smile to her. If she likes you too, she will approch you. Dancings don't ask for a Bar fine, but the ladies usually takes between 1000 and 3000 Baht a night. Sometimes you can bargain.

Live Music in Pattaya Pattaya has a lot of venues providing live Music Entertainments.

Closed and open Restaurants as well as some Bars employ Musicians to entertain their Guests. The Repertoire ranges from Bee Gees to Elvis Immitations, from American or German Songs to Loogthung (some kind of Thai Country Songs).

Songkran Festival :Thai New Year in Pattaya city

Songkran Festival is the traditional Thai New Year, it is the time when Thais go the Temples offering food to the Buddhist monks, freeing birds or turtles back into the wild (It is believed if you free a turtle it will give you a longer life), houses are spring-cleaned, scented water is sprinkled on their elders as a sign of respect!

Songkran (don’t mix with Songkrant as this means WAR!) means movement or displacement, refers to the Sun is moving into the New Year. New year days last from April 13th-15th, annually.

April 13th is called Maha Songkran day. April 14th is called Wan Nao, and April 15th is called the beginning of new year day. These may be called differently in the north from region to region, but still easy to understand. For example, April 13th, called Sungkarnlong day, means the old body, mind and spirits of the old year are leaving. April 14th, called Wan Nao, April 15th, called Wan Paya Wan, means a first important day of the New Year.

Songkran days are also without a doubt family days and where possible the families leave the big cities to spend time with their families and pay respect in recognition of everything they did for them. The traditional greeting is 'Sawadee Pi Mai', which means "Happy New Year".

Wan Lai Festival

Songkran Festival - a lot of water As the heat in Thailand intensifies once the month of April comes, Thai ancestors were wise enough to initiate the Songkran Festival as a way to cool off from the heat, celebrating Thai New Year at the same time. In the central region Songkran is usually held on the 13th, 14th and 15th of April whilst in the east the activities commence on the 18th and 19th April as "Wan Lai" (Flowing Day) Jomtien and Pattaya hold their festival on the 19th with activities such as water pouring for the elders, processions and the fun of soaking each other with water, foreigners do not escape they are a prime target.

Visakabucha Day : Important Dates in Buddhist Thailand

The Three Most Important holy days of the year for Thai Buddhists all include the word "Bucha", which means to pay homage. Asaraha Bucha commemorates the day the Lord Buddha preached his first sermon. Makha Bucha marks both the occasion when 1,350 of the Buddha 146’s disciples (monks) gathered without prior notice and listened to the Buddha elaborate some of his most important teachings in a sermon, as well as the day he foresaw his own death and attainment of Nibbana (Nirvana). But the most auspicious of the three is Visakha Bucha, which simultaneously commemorates three important anniversaries in the life of Siddharta Gautama, the Lord Buudha: his birth, his enlightenment, and his death.

The word Visakabucha stands for Visakapoonnameebucha which implies the worship of his Lord Buddha in the middle of the 6th lunar month. Buddhist regard this day as the Lord Buddha’s recalling Day. There occur three incidents related to his Lord Buddha’s life on Visakabucha including his birthday (80 B.C), the enlightenment day (35 B.C.), and the Nirvana day (1 B.C.).

Influenced by Sri Lanka where the King commemorated magnificent Visakabucha ceremony, the ceremony also happened in Thailand during the Sukhothai period because of religious connection between the two countries. However, no evidence of the activity was found during Thonburi and early Ratanakosin period, but in the reign of King Rama II, the ceremony was once again rearranged.

Common activities Buddhist do today fall on merit making: offering food to priest in morning time; behaving themselves according to Buddhism’s Five Percepts, etc. Some of them make a visit to temple to attend the sermon or practice the meditation while some set birds and fish free. And after sunset, the candle lit procession is usually done clockwise around each temple’s church.

On this occasion, a grand religious ceremony is also held at Phuttha Monthon in Nakhon Pathom Province where the statue of the Walking Buddha is located. Here the candle lit procession is usually led by a royal family member. Buddhists from nearby and other provinces can come to take part in the procession.

Khaosan Road : Center of foreign tourists

Khaosan Road or Khao Sarn Road (Thai: ถนนข้าวสาร) is a short street in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Banglamphu area of (Phra Nakhon district) about 1 km north of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew.

"Khaosan" translates as "milled rice", a reminder that in former times the street was a major Bangkok rice market. In the last 20 years, however, Khaosan Road has developed into a world famous "backpacker ghetto". It offers cheap accommodation, ranging from 'mattress in a box' style hotels to reasonably priced 3-star hotels. In an essay on the backpacker culture of Khaosan Road, Susan Orlean called it "The Place to Disappear." It is also a base of travel: coaches leave daily for all major tourist destinations in Thailand, from Chiang Mai in the North to Ko Pha Ngan in the South, and there are many relatively inexpensive travel agents who can arrange visas and transportion to the neighboring countries of Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia, as well as Vietnam.

Khaosan shops sell handcrafts, paintings, clothes, pirated CDs, DVDs, and second-hand books, plus many useful backpacker items.

Khaosan Road in recent years has become popular with local residents, especially artists and art students. There are several pubs and bars, where backpackers meet to discuss their travels. The area is internationally known as a center of dancing, partying, and just prior to the traditional Thai New Year (Songkran festival) of April 13 to April 15, water splashing that usually turns into a huge water fight. One Thai writer has described Khaosan as "a short road that has the longest dream in the world."

A Buddhist temple under royal patronage, the centuries old Wat Chana Songkram, is directly opposite Khaosarn Road to the west, while the area to the northwest contains an Islamic community and several small mosques.

Hello Thailand : How much you know about Thailand?

Thailand, formerly Siam, is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast and Indonesia and India in the Andaman Sea to the southwest.

Geography
Thailand has a land area of 513,115 sq.km.(approx. 127,008 acres) bordered by Malaysia (South), Myanmar (West & North), Laos (North & East) and Cambodia (Southeast). The country's east coast borders the Gulf of Thailand and the west coast abuts the Andaman Sea. The country is divided geographically into four main zones-the fertile central plains, dominated by the Chao Phraya River; the 300-metre-high northeast plateau, the kingdom's most barren region ; the mountainous North; and the tropical southern peninsula.