'Veg Out' at Sri panwa Phuket's Vegetarian Festival

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. October 14, 2008

PHUKET, Thailand, September 9, 2008. Join the team at Sri panwa, Phuket's newest and most exciting boutique resort, to experience the Phuket Vegetarian Festival like a true local. The Vegetarian Festival is one of the most unique and fascinating celebrations in Asia.

Pierced cheeks, bladed ladders, hot oil baths and fiery ember walks - a fascinating display of profound religious conviction and moral strength. It's all part of the fun at Phuket's traditional vegetarian festival, a two-hundred year old ritual rooted in ancient Chinese customs and beliefs. A visit to the festival is a memory for life and a must-see for anyone traveling in south-east Asia during the autumn months.

Phuket's vegetarian festival is a reminder of Phuket's tin mining heritage. It originated in 1825 among Chinese workers in tin mines on the island, combining local beliefs with ancient Chinese customs. Ritual vegetarianism, practiced by many on the island during the festival, is believed to bring good luck and ward off disease, while the colourful processions through town represent the arrival of sacred Chinese scriptures and objects on the island nearly 200 years ago.

The festival is perhaps most famous for the body mortification 'feats of the Ma-Song'. The Ma-Song, or entranced devotees, endure extraordinary feats such as bathing in hot oil, climbing sharp-bladed ladders, walking on fiery embers and shunting sharp metal objects through their cheeks. This is done to invoke the Chinese god of the living Lam Tao, and god of the dead Pak Tao. The practice is thought to bring good luck to the island and spare the populace from pain and suffering. Needless to say, the Ma Song are held in very high esteem in the community.

During the vegetarian festival, Sri panwa will be offering private and personal guided tours of Phuket town and the festival processions. Led by a knowledgeable member of our team, this gives you a rare opportunity to experience the festival in the same way as a Phuket local does. Learn why the festival takes place, speak to the Ma-Song and sample the aural, visual and culinary delights associated with the festival.

Once they've seen enough, guests can return to their luxury pool villa, perched nearly 60 metres above sea level, and enjoy the rest of their visit to the magical island.

Sri panwa's 'Veg Out' Package

From September 28 until October 8, 2008 Sri panwa's 'Veg Out' Package offers four days, three nights in a One-bedroom Pool Villa, including return airport transfers, a welcome jug of "Veg Out" fruity smoothie in the villa upon arrival, a guided tour of the Vegetarian Festival, a traditional ancient body treatment at Sai Spa, daily breakfast and a private dinner tailored to the special occasion for two starting at THB86,000.

For more information please visit www.sripanwa.com or e-mail [email protected]

About Sri panwa

Perched on the tip of scenic Cape Panwa in the southeast of Phuket, Sri panwa is an exclusive and secluded new resort comprised entirely of private pool villas set in lush tropical gardens. It has already been voted one of the top five resorts in Thailand and acclaimed as "one of the seductive hotels in the world". Kenny G and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay are already counted among its high profile international guests.

Sri panwa's one and two-bedroom pool villas and residential villas of two-to-six bedrooms all have private terraces, decks and salas, infinity-edge swimming pools and outdoor bathing areas overlooking the Andaman Sea and outlying islands

Sri panwa is a family owned and managed estate. It is the first resort by one of Thailand's most famous developers, the Charn Issara Group, who are known for developing some of Thailand's landmark residential and commercial buildings and the ultra cool Bangkok Royal City Avenue (RCA) bar, restaurant and nightlife district.

Their first resort is run and managed by owner Songkran Issara's 26-year old son Vorasit "Wan" Issara and his young and energetic team, who welcome guests as members of the family.

Sri panwa's signature restaurant Baba (www.babaphuket.com) offers relaxed dining with spectacular sea views, and is renowned on the island for both its authentic Andaman specialties, high-quality western cuisine, seafood and fresh grills. Baba hosts lively parties once a month featuring guest chefs and guest DJs from Bangkok - and sometimes even further afield.

Sri panwa also offers the tranquil 'Sai Spa & Wellness' retreat for indulgent pampering from traditional Thai and Swedish massages to facials, invigorating body-wraps, water therapy, aromatherapy, reflexology, yoga, cleansing and exfoliation. The spa menu also includes romantic pampering for couples and relaxing in-villa treatments on request.

Among numerous accolades, Sri panwa was described as "One of the most seductive hotels in the world" by Thailand's Anywhere magazine, and ranked among the "Top five resorts in Thailand" by Honeymoon + Travel magazine.

Sri panwa (www.sripanwa.com) is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.