Tag Archives: Thailand

I am Back!!

Hello! How are you? I’m back, or better, I should be back from the beginning of next year.

I’ve been so busy with my job and private life that I nearly forgotten about this Blog but I should have more free time from next year and I’d like to update you all on the topics we all love.

PS – few changes are planned for this Blog in 2019, stay tuned.

Call Girls part 1

I recently read a book on Thai prostitutes and found their stories and views on their job very interesting.

Bee, 31 years old.

‘I was 25 years old. I was not a virgin. I was not stupid. In Thailand I made 8,000 baht a month working in a shopping mall. As a call girl (in England) I could make 8,000 baht a day. What would you do?’

It makes me wonder what people would do if they could get in a day what they make in a month. Would you work as prostitute? I doubt I would but I suppose in certain cases it could be the best option.

 

Have you eaten? Would you eat?

Have you eaten? Would you eat?

Bugs and insects aren’t too bad and are good for your health. Read the article and let me know what you think.

Thailand – Bugs have been on the menu in Thailand for ages but only recently have they migrated from the forests to commercial farms and factories.

“The crickets you see on sale in Thailand are mostly from farms,” said Yupa Hanboonsong, assistant professor in entomology at Khon Kaen University. “We have around 20,000 cricket farmers in the north-east.”

Yupa and fellow entomologist Tasanee Jamjanya began introducing cricket-raising techniques as an alternative source of income and protein for farmers in north-eastern Thailand about 15 years ago. For some, the tiny insects have turned into a substantial source of revenue.

“If we are running at full capacity, we can make a profit of 200,000 baht (6,450 dollars) in one month,” said Pranee Hackl, a cricket entrepreneur in Khon Kaen province’s Nonthon district, 330 kilometres north-east of Bangkok.

Pranee, 47, and her Austrian husband, Oswald, 61, qualify as large-scale farmers in Thailand’s cricket industry.

Her farm boasts 150 concrete cricket pens, where the insects are hatched, fed and raised for about six weeks until they are big enough to be sold.

The venture has not been without challenges. Like other commercially raised animals, crickets are vulnerable to diseases and weather changes, but unlike chickens and cattle, little is known about crickets.

“There are no real experts on cricket raising,” Pranee said. “This is a new profession, so you have to learn by experimenting.”

Pranee, for instance, went from raising the insects 12 months to six months a year because she found they were too vulnerable to fungi and viruses during Thailand’s rainy season.

The market is also unpredictable.

Since she started up seven years ago, the price of crickets has fallen from 180 to 100 baht per kilogram, evidence of growing competition.

Thailand’s bug business is relatively well-established with impressive market logistics in place nationwide.

There are three wholesale hubs for insects, including Long Klua in Sa Keow province on the Thai-Cambodian border, Kalasin town in north-east Thailand and Talad Thai in Pathum Thani, just north of Bangkok.

Some bugs are now travelling from farms in north-eastern Thailand as far afield as the Middle East.

“We have a customer who is sending insects to Israel to sell to Thais working there,” said Keowjai Danook, 36, an insect wholesaler at Talad Thai.

Most of Thailand’s overseas labourers hail from the north-eastern region of Isaan, the country’s most impoverished, where insects have always been part of the daily diet.

Isaan natives living in Bangkok comprise the capital’s largest market for insects, but they have also become popular snacks at tourist spots, such as Khao Sarn Road, a backpackers hangout.

Crickets are generally sold on carts on Bangkok’ streets along with other delicacies such as water bugs and silk larvae. Upcountry, they are sold in stalls along the highway.

The most popular method of preparation is to deep-fry crickets in oil and then sprinkle them with lemongrass slivers and chillies. They are crunchy and taste like fried shrimp.

While demand for edible insects persists in north-eastern and northern Thailand, the growing market in Bangkok has been driven by middle men and steady supplies now that the bugs are coming from farms rather than forests, vendors said.

“You get a good profit on insects,” said Jarunee Rodpai, 59, owner of the Pha Da insect shop at Talad Thai. “We never have problems with supply, and insects are small and inexpensive to keep in a refrigerator.”

New forms of packaging are also emerging.

The Kuntamala Frozen Foods Co two years ago set up a factory to produce frozen meals of bamboo caterpillars, silk worm pupa and crickets in Bangkok, depending on supplies from the northern city of Chiang Mai.

Thailand is not unique in its tradition of entomophagy, but it is a leader in the region in terms of farming insects and processing them, said Yupa, who is helping the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on a project to introduce insect farming to neighbouring Laos.

The UN agency has been promoting insects as an alternative source of food for both people and livestock for the past decade. Experts see their greatest commercial potential in the feed-meal sector.

“The feed sector is the most imminent, particularly for providing protein in fish and chicken rations,” said Paul Vantomme, senior forestry officer for the FAO in Rome.

“We raise a huge amount of cattle, chicken, fish, so where are we going to get the protein to feed them?” Vantomme said. “There isn’t much forest left to deforest, and there’s not much fish left in the ocean, so we need to look at all alternatives, including insects.”

Article taken from Chingrai Times.

 

TAT to hold Miracle of Thai Food and Fruit Festival 2012

 

BANGKOK, 16 May 2012 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is set to host the ‘Miracle of Thai Food and Fruit Festival 2012’ with over 40 booths selling products from across the country in order to stimulate the country’s tourism and economy.

The Miracle of Thai Food and Fruit Festival 2012 will feature Thai food from four regions, popular Thai food among locals and foreigners, as well as seasonal fruit.

CNNGo has previously ranked Thai food among the 50 most delicious dishes in the world, with Massaman Curry topping the list at number 1, followed by Tom Yum Goong at number 8, Nam Tok Moo at 19 and Som Tam at number 46. Thus, the TAT will help Thai entrepreneurs in boosting the economy by promoting food which are well-known among foreigners.

The TAT expects that the organization of this event will also stimulate the country’s tourism as well as the economy. The overall spending by the event’s visitors last year stood at 30 billion baht. Meanwhile, a 10% growth has been estimated for this year.

The Miracle of Thai Food and Fruit Festival 2012 will be held during 25-27 May at Central World.

TAT Launches Special Adventure Travel Website, “100 Unforgettable Experiences”

Bangkok, May 15, 2012 – Adventure travel enthusiasts seeking to try their hand at 100 Unforgettable Experiences in Thailand can log onto a new website http://adventure.tourismthailand.org and take their pick.
Thailand is an adventure traveller’s dream destination with a range of national parks bursting with flora and fauna. In recent years, adventure travel has become a high-growth segment of travel as visitors become more discerning and seek more experiences, especially those that bring them more into contact with nature.
The website covers adventure travel opportunities in 33 Thai provinces and is divided by type of activities, such as rafting, diving, elephant jungle riding, rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, diving, spelunking, and many more. It offers tips, advice, guidelines, and information on preserving local nature and culture, as well as search and rescue facilities.
Visitors of different age groups and physical capabilities will also find something to arouse their interest. There are suggested activities for women travellers, families, senior citizens, and hard-core adventure travellers.
Richly illustrated with superb photographs and video clips, the dual-language Thai-English website categorises all activities by theme and colour, so that they can be easily found either by category or by province.
In addition to a listing of the Top 5 Destinations visited, the website has been maximised with extensive use of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tags to allow both Thais and foreigners to trace the relevant information through the popular Internet search engines.
Visitors can share information of destinations and activities with friends and colleagues via social media. The site will be regularly updated with new information.
Along with the new website, the TAT has produced 2,000 copies of the same information in print format in Thai and 1,125 copies in English. Both books have been printed on recycled paper and use soybean ink. The book is also available in electronic format via a searchable PDF file, which can be downloaded or distributed via CD-ROM.
Mr Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of the TAT, said, “Adventure travel has become very popular in recent years and is likely to grow in the years ahead, for both domestic and foreign visitors. We are very proud of the many adventure travel opportunities in Thailand and have designed the entire package of information to help visitors make us their first-choice destination.
“There is no doubt that it will help meet our strategic policy objective to boost our average length of stay, more evenly distribute tourism earnings around the country and make Thailand an all-year destination. Most importantly, it will help us strengthen Thailand’s brand image as a quality, value for money destination.” added the TAT Governor.

10 Sinful Cities

According to Traveler’s Digest

10. Full Moon Parties, Koh Phangan Island,Thailand
Bungalows range from $2 to $20, but who wants to sleep when over 10,000 tourists flock to Haad Rin Beach, where drinks are free-pouring and DJs are spinning the best in hip-hop, techno, rap, and reggae. For show (i.e. when you are drunk and delirious by the beach), jugglers and fire-eaters entertain the crowd.

 9. Monaco
If you really want to live like a true player, then visit this grandiose and charming principality in Europe that many call the continent’s most fascinating vacation spot. Get ready to abuse the checkbook though. Did you really think royalty cuts corners?

 8. Ios, Greece
How could you omit the Greek Islands? Where generally sane, well-mannered folks congregate only to go crazy, get drunk, dance on tables and deprive themselves of sleep and all other things pure?

 7. Gold Cost, Australia
Surf’s up! Sex and alcohol blend in a wonderful orgy of vices. The Gold Coast also offers the tourists the first topless car wash alongside the Best Beauty Down Under Contest. Imagine that; beautiful girls put coins in parking meters so you can party more — it’s only fair at $13 a car wash.

 6. Goa, India (November and February)
New age enlightenment for the twenty-something crowd. Flights could fetch as much as $1000, but at $8 per room, you will have enough spending money to fly like a kite. A stay here will give new meaning to decadence. You thought Aerosmith was reckless in the 1970s? You ain’t seen nothing yet.

 5. Gatecrasher, England
Very few music festivals match the energy, adrenaline and debauchery levels shown in the Sheffield area Festival at the monstrous and epic Gatecrasher; where Trance meets Techno meets Electronica (meets sweat, drugs and alcohol). If you have ever had the fortune of visiting this event, you know what we’re talking about.

 4. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
You have to hand it to the Dutch. As hard as it might be to believe, some locals felt that the Red Light District was not organized or structured enough to greet the World’s Best. So lo and behold comes the annual Cannabis Cup in mid-November. For the recoveringtourists, visit the Seksmuseum.

 3. Las Vegas, Nevada
Okay, the original sin city has disrupted marriages before they even began, torn families apart, and probably ended a few lives ominously. What else could you possibly ask for? Oh and it’s also the setting of many a great movie about partying hardy.

 2. New Orleans, Louisiana
The city’s spicy food is great, its historic blues music is even better, its lax (more like nonexistent) drinking laws are a lifesaver as bars are open 24 hours a day. This sin city has rapidly dislodged and out-Vegased Las Vegas… no small feat. Of course, it helps to have a Mardi Gras, a.k.a show your boobs for my beads event in the streets.

 1. Pattaya, Thailand
Government officials refer to their city as the “Sexual Disneyland”; the mantra is “if you can suck it, use it, eat it, feel it, taste it or abuse it, Pattaya never sleeps and it is the best resort for you.” Three million visitors flock here every year to partake in casual sex and sexual freedom in the city’s 275 hotels and 35,000 rooms (which range between $10 to $80 a night).

Chiang Mai Fest 2012

March 23 to April 7, 2012
At the Three Kings Monument, Chiang Mai

Earth Wind and Fire and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) are joining hands to reintroduce the Chiang Mai Fest to the cultural surroundings of the Three Kings Monument from March 23 to April 7, 2012.

Yut Wanichanond, Consultant of Earth Wind and Fire, said following a much-hyped inaugural year in 2011 as a three-day event, the Chiang Mai Fest would return this year with 16 days of packed programmes. “The Chiang Mai Fest 2012 will be even bigger, starting with the First International Street Painting Festival in Thailand,” he said.

The inaugural Street Painting Festival will bring in world-famous chalk painters such as Melanie Van Latum and Lysa Ashley from the USA and Tony Cuboliquido from Italy to turn streets, pavements and temporary walls at the Three Kings Monument into an outdoor art exhibition and workshop from March 23 to April 7.

The “Art on Street” exhibition will start with a curtain raiser at the Old District Court on Friday, 23 March from 17.00 to 18.00 hrs. The Chiang Mai Fest 2012 will also reintroduce the city’s first and only International Music Festival from April 6- 7.

In its second year, the two-day event will feature world-class performances by international artists such as German contemporary singer Thomas Kiessling, South African opera – classic pop crossover male vocal group Il Quinto, American Blues and Soul revivalist band Blues Brothers and Thai musical maestro Neung Jakkawal.

Last year, the three-day Chiang Mai Fest attracted nearly 10,000 visitors and generated 150 million Baht revenue to Chiang Mai, as well as boosted tourists’ length of stay in the city from 2 to 15 days during the Songkran Festival.

“This year, we expect the 16-day Chiang Mai Fest to attract over 35,000 local and international visitors and help to generate some 200-300 million Baht in tourism-related revenue,” Yut Wanichanond added.

Mr Wiwatchai Boonyapak, Events Department Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the Chiang Mai Fest 2012 would attract more tourists to Chiang Mai between late-March and early-April in addition to the expected high turnouts during the Songkran Festival.

“The Chiang Mai Fest 2012 will boost tourism revenue and raise the image of Chiang Mai as the centre of international music, art and culture,” Mr Wiwatchai said.

For more information, please contact
Tel: +66 (0) 53 292 224
E-mail: info@wind-and-fire.com
Web site: www.chiangmaifest.com

Chinese New Year Celebrations 2012 in Thailand

Bangkok, January 11, 2012 — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will mark the 37th Anniversary of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations between January 19-29, 2012 with a range of lively, colourful Chinese New Year festivities in Bangkok and ten provinces nationwide. This year’s celebrations will be even more special than the previous years as it coincides with three other auspicious occasions that are very significant to the Thai people. These three auspicious occasions are the 84th Birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the 80th Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, and the 60th Birthday of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.In cooperation with the Chinese Government, various Thai-Chinese associations, government agencies and private companies, the celebrations will be held in Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan, Suphan Buri, Ratchaburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Songkhla, Phuket and Trang. Here is the full list:

NAKHON SAWAN CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2012, January 16 – 27, 2012,
throughout the city of Nakhon SawanThe province of Nakhon Sawan is known to the locals by its other name — Pak Nam Pho. This is where the Ping, Wang, Yom, and Nan Rivers converge to form the Chao Phraya River — the ‘River of Kings’. Hence, the province is frequently referred to as the ‘gateway’ to the North.

Nakhon Sawan is famous for the Chao Pho-Chao Mae Pak Nam Pho Fair and procession, organised by Thais of Chinese ancestry in Nakhon Sawan province during the Chinese New Year celebrations. The festivities are held in honour of Chao Pho Pak Nam Pho, a highly revered deity; hence, the origin of its name.

Special performance of folk dances from the city of Xinji in Hebei province in northern China will be performed on January 24-26, 2012.

Local residents seek blessings for the 2012 Chinese New Year – the Year of the Dragon – by paying homage to Chao Pho and Chao Mae Pak Nam Pho, the guardian spirits of Nakhon Sawan province. Visitors and residents are invited to take part in merit-making activities at Lan Bun Thepachao, the Garden of Chinese Deities.
SINO-SIAMESE RELATIONSHIP FESTIVAL, January 20 – 22, 2012, 17.00 – 21.00 hrs at the Ayutthaya Tourism Centre (Old Provincial Hall)Ayutthaya provincial authorities have received exceptional cooperation and support from the People’s Republic of China Ministry of Culture in jointly staging a spectacular cultural showcase as part of the province’s Sino-Siamese Relationship Festival – a celebration of Chinese as well as Thai culture.

The cultural showcase sponsored by the Chinese state authorities will be presented by a cast of 180 performers from Inner Mongolia, the city of Xinji in Hebei province in northern China, Qinghai Tibetan (Qingzang) Plateau, and Kansu province.

This includes a performance by the Chinese National Orchestra, a live demonstration of kung fu martial arts and Chinese acrobatics. Visitors will be presented with an opportunity to taste a wide variety of Thai and Chinese delicacies and shop for products from the PRC such as fine Chinese silks and ceramic and porcelain products from Jiangxi province, the home of Chinese porcelain.
NAKHON RATCHASIMA (KORAT) CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL, January 20 – 25, 2012, at the Thao Suranaree Memorial Plaza, Suan Suranaree (Suranaree Park) Suan Anusornstan (Anusornstan Park) in Nakhon Ratchasima provincial centre and town (Amphoe Mueang)The 2012 Chinese New Year celebrations in Nakhon Ratchasima province, also known as Korat, are being staged under the theme “In Search of Chin Shi”. The cultural highlights being presented as part of the festivities pay tribute to the first great emperor of the Chin Dynasty, Chin Shih Huang-ti (also known as Qin Shi Huang or Qin Er Shi).

Festival activities will take place in several dedicated zones such as Chinatown, The Forbidden Palace on the Central Stage, cultural performances and Food Street with a multitude of shops and food stalls offering a great variety of delicious food.
HAT YAI CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL, January 21 – 25, 2012, at Srinakhorn Foundation School, Songkhla province.The festive highlights include 1) a ceremony hosted in honour of His Majesty the King, 2) Chinese acrobatic show from Kansu province, the People’s Republic of China, 3) a spectacular fireworks and light-and-sound show with colourful bursts of fireworks taking the shape of waterfalls, silver dragon and golden dragon, 3) Silver dragon, Golden dragon and Lion Dance show from Nakhon Sawan province, 4) concert by Chinese singers and Nadech and Yaya – both popular local artists representing Thai TV Channel 3, 5) Miss Hatyai Chinese 2012 contest and China Doll 2012 contest, 6) international karaoke singing contest, and 7) local residents and visitors are invited to take part in merit-making activities and pay homage to nine sacred gods in accordance with Chinese customs and traditions.
RATCHABURI CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL, January 22 – 26, 2012, in front of the Ratchaburi National MuseumThe highlight will be a demonstration of Kung fu martial arts from Beijing, PRC. The Ratchaburi Chinatown Procession, water screen and fireworks display and Young Mr & Miss Chinatown contest and Mr and Miss Chinatown contest will be held on January 24 – 26.
BANGKOK CHINATOWN CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2012, Grand Opening Ceremony on January 23, 2012, at Chalermphrakiat Gate, Odeon Circle, Yaowarat Road, Sampantawong District, BangkokHer Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside at the Bangkok Chinatown Chinese New Year official opening ceremony on January 23. Two shows – one featuring a Thai cultural showcase and the other hosted and presented by the People’s Republic of China Ministry of Culture. This will be followed by a 1.5 hour Yaowaraj Cultural Showcase.
CHIANG MAI CHINATOWN CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL, January 23 – 24, 2012, at Lao Chow Lane, Chiang MaiThe Chiang Mai Chinatown Chinese New Year Festival presents a rare opportunity to enjoy a musical performance by the Chinese National Opera on January 24. Witness the Golden Dragon and Golden Lion Procession and a cultural procession staged by the province’s ethnic Chinese Tai Seua tribes people.
SUPHAN BURI CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL, January 23 – 29, 2012, at the Museum of the Descendants of the Dragon in Suphan BuriThe grand opening ceremony of the Suphan Buri Chinese New Year Festival will be held on January 24 and the cultural performances will be held on January 24 – 29, 2012. The programme of engaging cultural presentations from the People’s Republic of China features the following highlights ; 1) Thousand Arms Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy and Compassion, 2) Chinese acrobatic performance, 3) light and pyrotechnics show and Heavenly Glowing Dragon display, 4) fireworks show, and 5) folk music performance.
AYUTTHAYA ANCIENT CITY CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2012, January 24 – 29, 2012, at Naresuan Road from Chao Phrom Market to Chao Ai Chao Yi Chedi.Major highlights include a Dragon Contest, Chinese teng leng lantern displays, Young Miss Chinese contest, the Best of Ayutthaya Food Festival and the Chinese food eating contest.

Dragon contest: The procession staged by the 108 Chinese shrines in the 16 districts of Ayutthaya province presents an opportunity for local residents to pay homage to Chinese deities and guardian spirits who watch over them and ensure their good fortune and well-being.

The Best of Ayutthaya Food Festival and a retro-market are staged to capture the atmosphere of traditional markets in times past. The event is being organised with the support of organisations representing various Chinese family names.
PHUKET CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2012, January 28 – 30, 2012, at Phuket Old Town – Klang Road, Thalang Road, Thepkasatri Road, Phuket.The festive highlights include 1) a procession in honour of His Majesty the King, 2) Baba Yaya Peranakan Procession, 3) journey back in time as Old Phuket turns back the clock and visitors are treated to a rare performance of a Portuguese-style stage play presented by the Thai Peranakan Association based in Phuket town, 4) local cultural showcase with colourful presentations of local culture, traditions and way of life on the tropical island paradise of Phuket, and 5) Phuket residents observe time-honoured traditions and pay homage to the highly revered Goddess Kuan Yin and other Chinese deities and guardian spirits.

For further information on Chinese New Year celebrations in Thailand, please check outhttp://www.tatnews.org/events/events/2012/jan/5775.asp

100 Most Amazing Places in Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) conducted an online survey during February to April 2011 to find out the “100 Most Amazing Places in Thailand”. Launched under the campaign theme “Your Amazing Places in Thailand that Always Amaze You”, a total of 3,389 travellers from 68 countries around the world who have visited Thailand participated. The results announced on 29 June 2011 are as follows (first 25).

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) conducted an online survey during February to April 2011 to find out the “100 Most Amazing Places in Thailand”. Launched under the campaign theme “Your Amazing Places in Thailand that Always Amaze You”, a total of 3,389 travellers from 68 countries around the world who have visited Thailand participated. The results announced on 29 June 2011 are as follows (first 25). If you’d like to see the complete list click here.

1 Krabi Mu Ko Phi Phi (Phi Phi Islands) 340 2.24
2 Surat Thani Ko Tao 337 2.22
3 Chon Buri Hat Pattaya 302 1.99
4 Chon Buri Alcazar Cabaret 247 1.63
5 Phuket Hat Patong 245 1.61
6 Rayong Ko Samet 236 1.55
7 Phang-nga Mu Ko Similan National Park 222 1.46
8 Bangkok Chatuchak Weekend Market 215 1.42
9 Krabi Ao Maya 210 1.38
10 Chon Buri Hat Chom Thian 204 1.34
11 Surat Thani Ko Nang Yuan 203 1.34
12 Surat Thani Ko Samui 201 1.32
13 Prachuap Khiri Khan Hat Hua Hin 197 1.30
14 Bangkok Khao San Road 192 1.26
15 Surat Thani Ko Pha-ngan 182 1.20
16 Krabi Sa Morakot 180 1.19
17 Chiang Rai Phu Chi Fa Forest Park 174 1.15
18 Bangkok The Grand Palace 166 1.09
19 Chiang Mai San Kamphaeng Hot Springs 165 1.09
20 Krabi Ao Nang 163 1.07

Thailand Golf Championship: 15-18 December 2011

The Thailand Golf Championship has been established with the objective of building the highest profile professional sports event in Thailand which will soon become a pillar of the sports calendar for many years to come by inviting the best players around the world to compete at the Thailand’s finest golf cours

The Thailand Golf Championship will take up the prestigious position as the Tour’s season-ending tournament offering US$ 1 million prize purse and is listed as the flagship full field event on the Asian Tour’s schedule. To help mark the inaugural Thailand Golf Championship, this year’s US Open champion Rory McIlroy, British Open winner Darren Clarke and world number two Lee Westwood have committed to meet the golf fans in Thailand at Amata Spring Golf and Country Club in Chonburi from December 15-18, 2011.

The gathering of world-class stars and the finest players from the Asian Tour will provide a wonderful and dramatic setting as the season-ending tournament in Asia as well as a perfect opportunity to Thai professionals and amateurs to compete in the premier world-class tournament.

More information here.