Thailand Travel Notes

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. October 14, 2008

BANGKOK, Thailand, Janaury 5, 2007. Traveling in Thailand, whether you head up north or explore the central plains or the resorts in the south, is a special experience that combines some of the most elaborate festivities with near-perfect weather conditions.

There is particular joy along the Andaman Coast where Phuket and the other sea-facing communities have mostly finished restoration after the tragic tsunami right after Christmas in 2004. Detection buoys and other emergency systems are now evident throughout the Indian Ocean region to give additional confidence. (More below on that.)

We will always remember those who were lost, but now their families and friends have had their livelihoods restored. Those remarkable days and the heroic recovery are the subject of the recent HBO miniseries and another from BBC, "Tsunami - The Aftermath." But the happiest confirmation of life restored and again vibrant are the accolades from publications like Cond'e Nast Traveler and other first-tier international travel publications recommending Thailand's Andaman again as a touring priority.

The enthusiasm of travel agents across North America and their crafting of attractive packages have been additionally reassuring. With the help of agents and journalists alike, Thailand is again at the top of most lists for year-end trips and voyages.

More precious to Thais, in the year ahead, Thailand will celebrate the 80th Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty the King. 2007 will be a year-long gala with any number of activities to fit your tastes and preferences. The New Year is a time of new resolutions. My New Year's resolution is to make sure that all of you have supported Thailand over the past 24 months receive my personal thanks and have an opportunity to return to the Land of Smiles which is once again one of the prime destinations in the world for business and leisure travel.

HONORING HIS MAJESTY THE KING

In 2007, Thailand will celebrate the 80th Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty the King. Visit the newly launched website www.thairoyalprojects.com to discover the lifetime achievements of His Majesty King Bhumibol. Nine of the most outstanding achievements are highlighted there, culled from over 3,000 nationwide. All nine share a common theme of sustainable development, returning each area to original and traditional roots with an eye to improving life for those who are less privileged.

Among the projects included is the Royal Agricultural Station Angkhang in Chiang Mai where the former opium poppy fields have been turned into splendid arrays of brightly cultivated and marketable flowers and fruits orchards. Also highlighted are the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park in Chiang Rai which has the largest and best collection of artifacts depicting the history of Lanna Kingdom and the unique Hall of Opium in Chiang Rai, a 5,600 square meters multi-media facility along the banks of the Mekong River that takes visitors through the dread and mysterious world when opium ruled the economies of much of South Asia. To plan your visit to these nine royal initiative projects, you can simply check suggested itineraries at the website.

THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF TSUNAMI

On December 26, 2004, Thailand was among the twelve countries hit by a series of giant tsunami waves. Across the region, more than 200,000 lives were confirmed lost and thousands of others are still missing. To mark the second anniversary of this tragedy, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Phuket Provincial Administration Office and Patong Municipality will jointly host ceremonies on 26 December to remember and honor the victims.

Visitors and guests will assemble at Loma Park, Patong Beach to remember and honor those who lost their lives in a Buddhist merit-making ceremony. Merit-making and blessing rituals will be performed. Later, in the evening, visitors and guests will assemble at the same place for a more secular Tsunami Day memorial service. Flowers and floral wreaths will be laid, candles will be lit and traditional khome loi floating lanterns will be released in memory of the victims.

FIRST TSUNAMI DETECTION BUOY FOR THE INDIAN OCEAN

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce has joined the government of Thailand in launching the first Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami (DART) buoy station in the Indian Ocean. These high-tech devices will assist in detecting tsunamis. The Thai buoy is the first of 22 so-called "tsunameters" planned for the Indian Ocean's regional tsunami warning system. It is owned and maintained by the Thailand Meteorological Department which will operate it in conjunction with our National Disaster Warning Center. The system will provide real-time tsunami detection and warning as the first waves travel across open waters.

FIRST SUNRISE OF NEW YEAR 2007 IN THAILAND OVER MEKONG RIVER

Many believe that Ubon Ratchathani, 620 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, is the best place to enjoy the mighty Mekong River. Ubon Ratchathani is the first province in the kingdom to greet the sunrise thus certainly the best place to welcome 2007.

Along the riverside, Ubon Ratchathani's rugged but extraordinary landscape is punctuated by craggy cliff-faces, rocky terrain dotted with towering columns, odd-shaped rock formations, and torrential cataracts. This has made river cruising, trekking and camping both more adventurous and memorable. Traveling in this area along the river is most popular between November to April when the water level is not too high.

Take time to check out four routes in particular: the Pha Taem Route, the Khong Chaim Temple - Mun Route; the Two-Colored River Kaeng Tana - Ban Woen Buek Route; and the Ban Pak La - Ban Khan Tha Kwien Route. Along the way, visitors can also enjoy numerous prehistoric cave paintings. These are truly trips back in time to the very cradle of civilization for Northeastern Thailand.

OCEAN-TO-OCEAN RELAY RUN

If driving across the peninsular of Thailand from the gulf of Thailand in the Pacific Ocean to the Andaman Sea is not challenging enough, try running across in the Ocean-to-Ocean Relay Run on February 11th, 2007. Total distance is 136.6 kilometers.

The race starts from the Pacific Ocean at Haad Kaew, Songkhla province, then crosses the Songkhla Lake area, before continuing on to Satun province where runners will run along Khuan Kalong district to La-ngu, ending at Pakbara Pier at the Andaman Sea.

Runners will enjoy scenic ocean views all along the route. This will be the Thailand 3rd Ocean-to-Ocean Run - a one-of-a-kind sunrise-to-sunset race.

BANGKOK SHOPPING STREET FESTIVAL

Bangkok is famous for its shop-'til-you-drop experiences. During this festive season with Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Bangkok Shopping Street Festival offers a Happiness@Ratchaprasong theme. The event extends from the Maneeya Centre to Central World Plaza at the Ratchaprasong-Rajdamri intersection.

With nine, nine-meter- tall Christmas trees, Bangkok's Shopping Street has been transformed into a magical wonderland by night. You will find along the way gardens, shopping malls and plazas, department stores, hotels, banks, office buildings, pedestrian bridges, and the SkyWalk - a delightful maze of interconnected elevated passages and traffic islands along the road are decorated with thousands of colorful decorative lights that twinkle through the night.

Though it certainly doesn't snow in Thailand, Christmas trees of every shopping mall, plaza, garden or hotel lobby take on a festive look that competes with the best that northern capitals like London, New York and even Moscow offer. Enjoy shopping at Bangkok Shopping Street Festival until January 15, 2007. Free shuttle services are available throughout December from 6 - 10 p.m. and on December 31st from 6 - 12 p.m.