Still Time to Enjoy Thailand Grand Invitation Including the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek in Chiang MaiPrepared by Harold Stephens
Travel Correspondent for Thai Airways International
This year, the year 2006, the sixth year of this century, is a year that will go down in Thai history. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Accession to the Throne of His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. No king in the history of the Kingdom has reigned longer than His Majesty, King Bhumibol, making him the longest reigning living monarch in the world today.
To honour their king, the people of Thailand had been holding year-long celebrations and, for the occasion, the people of the world are invited. It is a warm and gracious invitation to all four corners of the earth, to all people of all nations, to come join him and the people in the country’s nationwide CELEBRATE THAILAND campaign.
“Man has always searched for reasons and excuses to celebrate,” the former Prime Minister said, “and no one knows how to celebrate better than the Thai people. It’s in our blood. The Thai way of life is, in fact, a continuous series of celebrations. This year, certainly, is very special as the Thai people focus their year-round celebrations to be held nationwide to honour their beloved King.”
It is a fact, Thailand is renowned for her ability to welcome and satisfy everyone, young and old, from every nation and every race. A programme of the major events had been prepared and although the year is nearing its end, some grand festivals are yet to come.
This past January, as part of the year-long ceremony, Bangkok saw The Royal Throphy: Europe vs. Asia Golf Championship and the Grand Chinese New Year celebrations which were staged with great success.
February: The Grand Bangkok International Film Festival, 17-27 February was staged with great success and proved to be very popular with the Thai people.
March: This month saw the Grand Music & Dance Festival, Pattaya Beach, 17-19 March and The Grand International Kites Festival, Hua Hin, 11-15 March.
April: Then came the Grand Songkran Festival, nationwide, 13-15 April, and the whole country got wet in fun and laughter.
May: The Royal Ploughing Ceremony, Bangkok, was held on 11 May 2006.
June: This was the biggest celebration of the century, the Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty's Accession to the Throne, Nationwide, and held 9 June. It was truly spectacular. Major dress rehearsals of the Grand Royal Barge Procession were held for the public from 6-9 June.
The Grand Royal Barge Procession took place in the late afternoon on the Chao Phraya Rived in Bangkok on 12 June, and was witnessed by dignitaries and many heads of state from around the world.
July: The Grand Festival & International Candle Carving Competition, Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani were held from 5-l I July.
August: This month was no less important with The Grand Celebration of H.M. the Queen's Birthday, Nationwide, 12 August.
September: The Grand International Boat Races, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya were held 9-10 September. And the city celebrated with The Grand Opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport.
With October near an end, there is still two months left for celebrating the Thailand Grand Invitation 2006.
Starting off in November is the time to visit the old capital of Ayutthaya for the Bocelli and the Royal Concert at the World Heritage Site, Phra Nakhon Si, Ayutthaya.
A date not to miss is November 5th, The Grand Loi Krathong Festival, held nationwide, 5 November. “Loi” means “to float”. “Krathong” is a lotus-shaped boat usually decorated with banana leaves, flowers, candles, coins and incense sticks. The festival originated in Thailand to ask for the Mother of Water's forgiveness for polluting the water.
The Thai tradition of Loy Krathong started off in the ancient capital of Sukhothai, before the Ayutthaya period, but is now celebrated throughout Thailand, with the festivities in Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya being particularly well known.
In Chiang Mai province in Northern Thailand, people celebrate Loi Krathong in a unique fashion. As well as floating Krathongs on the river, they launch illuminated Lanna-style hot air balloons into the evening sky. They have their own special name for the occasion: the Northern Lantern Festival and the Yipeng Loi Krathong festival.
In Bangkok a good place to see the festival at Klong Lord, Banglamphoo. Of course, every major hotel in Bangkok will have some sort of celebration using their swimming pools, or those hotels on the Chao Phraya River will have their guests light candles and float their own Krathongs on the river. The waterways of Thailand can look very beautiful with the multitude of glittering candles dotting their path and often the sky is lit up with fireworks.
Also in Chiang Mai from November 1 to January 31 is the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek at THE ROYAL PAVILION (Haw Kham). This is Thailand’s new landmark, the Royal Pavilion. It was constructed in the exquisite Lanna (northern Thai) style and houses exhibits relating to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s agricultural theories and projects. Designed to be a center of knowledge, the Royal Pavilion is an important element in Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006. With a total area of over 6,000 square meters, the Royal Pavilion has two floors and is part wood, part concrete. The Lanna architectural style can be traced back hundreds of years. The decoration also includes various other sculptures.
An exhibition called “An Agricultural King — A Brilliance that Benefits the People” is housed on the first floor.
Mr. Wallop Bhukkanasut, THAI’s Executive Vice President, has just announced that Thai Airways and State Railway of Thailand offer “Ratchaphruek Travelling Pass” for the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006, Chiang Mai. The event will be held to celebrate the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the Throne and the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary 5th December 2007. The pass offers a special transportation rate on the route Bangkok – Chiang Mai — Bangkok. THAI’s Catering Department also provides passengers traveling by rail free meal box during the promotional period.
The 3,300 baht package will be available from now onwards at any THAI’s ticket office. It includes one air ticket and one rail ticket from Bangkok to Chiang Mai where passengers will have an opportunity to select to travel to Chiang Mai either by air or rail and use the remaining ticket on the way back to Bangkok. The only catch is the air tickets are available on Tuesdays – Thursdays only.
There’s more in December to celebrate. The Grand Celebration of H.M. the King's 79th Birthday, nationwide, is held on December 5th. There follows the Grand Jazz Festival, Bangkok, from 19-20 December. And finally the entire kingdom celebrates The Grand New Year's Celebration from 31 December to I January 2007.
Other than THAI’s Ratchaphruek Travelling Pass, Royal Orchid Holidays will be offering many special tours and fares during the celebrations. Check at any THAI office.
Next week I would like to tell readers something about Thailand’s ten national parks. QUESTIONS & ANSWERSDear Mr. Stephens, I just read your article on Bangladesh. It is a very comprehensive and well-written guide to this somewhat unknown country. Thank you for introducing our country to the world.
However, I did find a big mistake at the beginning of the article. You have mentioned that Prof. Yunus got his noble prize in Economics. Although he is a renowned economist and his micro-credit theory is an unique one, he got the noble prize for peace and not economics. The prize citation reads: ""The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2006, divided into two equal parts, to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank for their efforts to create economic and social development from below. Lasting peace cannot be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out of poverty. Micro-credit is one such means. Development from below also serves to advance democracy and human rights......" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6047286.stm)
Despite the mistake, I found it an interesting read and would to like to thank you for your wonderful effort.
Kind regards, Nashtara Islam.
Postgraduate Researcher, Holywell Mechatronics Research Center. Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Loughborough University, United Kingdom
Dear Nashtara, Thank you for your nice comments, and I appreciate your correction about the Nobel Pease Prize. I took the liberty of checking into your background, very impressive, and I think your country should be very well pleased with your achievements too. It’s all about education, isn’t it? —HS
Harold Stephens
Bangkok
E-mail: ROH Weekly Travel (booking@inet.co.th)
Note: The article is the personal view of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the view of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited. | 
