Kathu Festival Phuket – A Celebration of Culture and Tradition

Phuket has risen from its lazy traditional village to become a popular tourist hub in the east with its pristine beaches and warm waters drawing tourists from around the globe to bask in and enjoy the sun, sand and surf in this tropical paradise. Kathu is actually one of the three districts of Phuket Island. Muang and Thalang are the other two and Kathu includes the popular Pantong Beach and Kamala Beach as well as the island between Pantong and Phuket. Kathu used to be a tin mining industry based village especially in the 19th and early 20th century and although the tin industry is not flourishing as it used to, the little town has retained its traditional cultures and practices. The Kathu Festival is one such that celebrates the old ways and the rich cultural diversity and vibrancy of the land.

Usually celebrated in the month of July, the festival lasts around three days when street parades are organised with locals dressed in elaborate costumes and dancers glide to the thump of age old tunes. With the years the festival has built its reputation as an elaborate festival of colour and music and builds in size and eloquence each year. Apart from the flamboyance, historical information regarding the mining industry can be learnt at the parade from the great tin mining exhibit as well as discovering the different costumes and the background story of these vibrant garments and twinkling headdresses.

The land of smiles it truly is with the locals beaming from ear to ear, dancing and eating and simply enjoying themselves in the streets. The main roads on which the parade goes is blocked off during those few days in the evening hours and vendors selling local delicacies from fire breathing spicy to sticky sweets line the sides from end to end. The tantalising aromas, the scintillating sounds of the thousands of trinkets that make up the headdresses and ornament the garments as well as the thumping beat of drums and seductive traditional music will leave you entranced in cultural finery.

Millennium Resort Patong Phuket is a renowned Pantong beach resort for its luxurious surroundings and pristine setting, ideal for the perfect vacation at a Phuket resort.

Hua Hin Golf Festival – Golfing Fun in Thailand

While holidaying at a destination that gives you a chance to play on some of the most scenic courses in the region is incentive enough for golfers, the Hua Hin Golf Festival adds even more to the allure of this idyllic coastal getaway. This annual festival generally takes place between August and September and those in search of beach hotels Hua Hin Thailand has to offer that makes an ideal base for their stay can consider Anantara Hua Hin Thailand Resort. One of the best Hua Hin hotels in the area, this well placed property is also within easy reach of several golf courses including the Palm Hills course.

Attracting amateur and veteran golfers alike, the Hua Hin Golf Festival gives you the chance to play at some of the region’s leading courses that offer significant discounts on their green fees. During the festival period many courses also have exciting competitions and tournaments that add to the excitement of playing here. Palm Hills, Sea Pine, Royal Hua Hin and Majestic Creek are some of the golf courses that have been associated with the festival and let you enjoy a truly unforgettable day out on the greens.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Phuket Fantasea Show – Flamboyant Cultural Theme Park

Phuket is an island with many colourful cultural attractions. An ideally located Phuket resort will let you explore all the top tourist attractions in the island and experience every exciting cultural event. Millennium Resort Patong Phuket is one of the top Patong resorts that would offer you a perfect relaxing holiday experience. One of the must visit sites when holidaying in Phuket is Fantasea Show which displays a rich cultural heritage of the country. With the incorporation of the advanced technology and effects, Phuket Fantasea Show boasts many a vibrant shows and segments including Fantasy of a Kingdom Culture Illusion Show, Palace of the Elephant and Carnival Village. This exciting theme park promises to bring joy to the whole family regardless the age and preferences and you could also enjoy other facilities such as Golden Kinnaree Buffet Restaurant and Suriyamas Seafood Buffet Restaurant when you visit the place.

Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry. Google+

Phuket Seafood Festival – A culinary journey

This is a Festival of restaurants showcasing their seafood dishes, offering discounts and introducing visitors to a wide range of seafood dishes. In this gustatory, food lovers can taste seafood dishes prepared in various styles by chefs, whilst there are also lobster promotions and fish grilled on coconut husks served with tamarind sauce. At the same time experience the comforts at a Sports hotel Thailand for ultimate privacy and relaxation for singles, couples and families. For a wonderful holiday experience in retreats in Thailand choose Thanyapura Hotel with the festive combination of regional seafood cuisine and a range of international seafood dishes to be washed down with beer, Chinese tea, fresh juices or coffee.

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Phuket Race Week – an exhilarating regatta filled with fun, challenges and entertainment

The Phuket race week is an award winning regatta that welcomes an international fleet of boats and sailors to the southeast coast of Phuket. It is known to be one of the best tourist attractions in Thailand. The Phuket race week stands out not only as an excellent sailing event but it is also popular for its extravagant parties and entertainment off shore.

The Phuket race week was prestigiously awarded the best Asian regatta of the year at the Asia boating awards 2011 which recognizes the topnotch of Asia’s marine industry under twenty three categories. It is the only Regatta in Thailand to be presented with this award.

The race takes place for a period of nine days with four days of yacht racing and five days of great beachside partying. The race offers opportunity for competitive racers as well as those who are less serious about the contest and takes part for fun. The regatta offers six to seven classes of races, which includes cruising, bareboat and charter yachts. Apart from being recoginsed for its internationally accepted competition strategy, the race week is known for its legendary evening parties which participants say “keeps getting better and better each year”. The race has successfully completed a decade with a steady growth in participants to compete and attend the races. It is one of the biggest in Phuket and attracts a large gathering of tourists from around the world. In 2013 it will take place during the month of July and this year’s event will be bigger and better since it will be its 10th successful year.

Phuket is all about having a good time and enjoying the sunny beaches of Thailand and what better way to celebrate the oceanic beauty than being a part of a regatta. Holiday-goers can indulge in the most hospitable lodging, mouthwatering cuisine, entertaining nightlife and enjoy the beautiful beaches that the country is known for.

The Thanyapura hotel is an ultra modern boutique hotel in Phuket that is conveniently located with access to many of the city’s prime locations. This sports hotel Thailand would be the ideal getaway if you are attending the Phuket race week or not. It is a unique hotel that will make your holiday an unforgettable one awakening your heart, mind and body.

Cultural Shows in Thailand

A traveller to Thailand can explore its many aspects and among these its distinctive culture takes prominence. When selecting a Bangkok hotel or more specifically a Sukhumvit hotel to be based at, Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Bangkok is an excellent choice. To catch an insight in to the rich local heritage witness some of the cultural shows in the country. On the top of this list is a world-class cultural performance known as Siam Niramit featuring numerous performers in vibrant costumes. The cultural shows at places such as Aksra Theatre, Sampran Riverside and national Theatre are also quite popular.

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Songkran festival – Splash the sins away

Although New Year was traditionally celebrated at the beginning of the year in 1888, April now marks the beginning of the year in Thailand since 1940s. Initially adopted from an Indian Festival this festival has been celebrated for centuries. The most colourful celebrations are held in Chiang Mai, where celebrations go on for about 6 days. It’s a great time for Tourists to bask in the sun along with the locals celebrating the festivities and associating local culture.

Most Buddhists visit monasteries and give food to the monks, cleanse Buddha images and with fragrant water, praying for good luck and prosperity during the dawning new year. Colourfully decorated sand sculptures are also a common site in monasteries. Much to the disappointment of traditional Thailanders, the emphasis has shifted to a more pleasurable aspect from the spiritual aspect of the festival.

Good Cheer follows throughout the streets as people throw water on one another and indulge in various religious activities. The water is meant as a way of washing all the sins away. Pageants and festivities crowd the streets making it a great time to travel to this amazingly colourful country. The festival is celebrated in different parts of Thailand in much the same way. Phuket is an exotic location in Thailand, popular among many travellers to the east, for its blend of culture, natural beauty and as an adventurous getaway. Retreats in Thailand celebrate the Songkran festival by decorating the atmosphere beautifully and celebrating with food and good cheer.

A famous Boutique Hotel in Phuket is the Tanyapura, Among other Retreats in Thailand this heavenly hotel has a charm of its own. This cosy hotel in Phuket offers mouth watering delicacies and amazing service standard within its elegantly and practically decorated premise. Providing a great base to enjoy the wonders of this tropical area from, this hotel offers star class service standards at a reasonable price. What more would you want from a holiday but to be a part of the fun, the frolic with its people and to enjoy the beauty of such exotic surroundings. All this and more can be experienced when you to travel to amazing Thailand.

Weddings in Hua Hin – A Magical Experience

If you want to experience paradise on earth visit Hua Hin, one of the oldest towns that Thailand has. Hua Hin is absolutely beautiful and is known by many both locally and internationally as one of the most romantic destinations to host a wedding.

Hua Hin is a very small town. The town having a population of only around 70,000 gives it an authentic and un-spoilt charm. Way back in history Hua Hins unique beauty and serene ambience was recognized by royalty. King Prajadhipok somewhere in the early 1900 built his summer citadel in Hua Hin and named it the ‘Wang Klai Kang Won’ which is translated to ‘Far from Worries’; a perfect description to the tranquility one feels in Hua Hin. Whoever stayed in it, fell in love with it and hence it earned the reputation of love; a place, rather a paradise where one can celebrate the marital commitment of love. Lately having weddings in Hua Hin has become a trend. People from all around the world fly over to this quaint little town in Thailand to exchange their vows and celebrate the bonds of matrimony. Weddings in Hua Hin are like marrying in fairy land. The backdrop of nature is so blissful and the soothing ambience gives one the perfect foundation to a lifelong commitment in love. Hua Hins popularity gave rise to some of the most exotic hotels and resorts within the five mile immaculate beach. This gives couples the added advantage of luxurious banquet halls if you are more interested in a royal setting. The resorts also make a perfect honeymoon destination. After exchanging your vows at the hall or the perfect beachside, check into one of the resorts and experience the magic of love, luxury and comfort all in a single location.

Among the many magnificent Hua Hin hotels the Anantara Hua Hin Thailand Resort tops the charts. The setting in this resort is simply unmatched. It is exquisite, luxurious and perfect for romance. Guests at Anantara fall in love with the place as it stands proudly as the finest of all Beach Hotels Hua Hin Thailand has.

Chao Le Boat Floating Festival: Enjoy the Festivity of Beautiful Thailand

Thailand’s calendar is speckled with festivals and holidays of religious and cultural importance. While some are observed through the entire country, regional ethic groups celebrate their own festivals in their home towns. These unique festivals are attracting crowds that travel across the globe just to glimpse these foreign traditions.

The Moken or Sea Gypsies are of an Austronesian ethnicity and live mainly in the islands off the west coast of Thailand. For the Thai, they are known as the Chao Le or ‘people of the sea’. They follow a nomadic tribal way of life that is mainly based on the sea. Accumulated through countless generations, their knowledge of the surrounding Andaman Seas is quite profound. In fact due to generations of diving and swimming in the sea, they have developed a visual focus that allows them to see better underwater. After finding food by means of fishing and foraging, the excess is sold to mainland or island markets to trade for other necessities. Traditional wooden boats called ‘kabang’ are sometimes used for housing as well as hunting and are greatly valued and preserved by the Chao Le.

As seafarers, the Chao Le has used Phuket islands for centuries and is known as the oldest inhabitants of the islands. Their own deities of the seas are honoured each June and November in the Loi Reua Festival. Three days of celebration bring all the Chao Le in the region to their permanent settlements around Phuket, like Koh Sireh, Rawai and Sapam. Similar in style to the Thai festival of Loy Krathong, festivities take place throughout the day. During the last night, models of their traditional boats are decorated with garlands of flowers and candles. Little wooden dolls filled with bits of hair and nail clippings of the people who are praying for protection are put into the boats and floated off into the sea. Hoping to drive away the evil and bring in good luck, the famous Chao Le dance of Ram Rong Ngeng is performed around the vessels before setting them adrift.

Use your stay at a Phuket beach resort to experience the island in a unique way. The Anantara Phuket Resort Thailand joins the heritage of the island culture with modern luxuries. It is this combination that makes your stay at this Phuket resort a memorable one.

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.

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Krabi Boek Fa Andaman Festival – A Grand Inauguration of the season of Tourism

Every year Krabi soars with life at the Krabi Boek Fa Andaman Festival. A cultural treat, this festival ornaments the city in a tasteful traditional sense. Krabi as it is makes the pinnacle of tourist attractions in Thailand. The beauty this little town boasts of is too much for words and every year hundreds of enthusiastic holiday makers fly to Thailand to bask in the breathtaking ambience of beautiful Krabi.

The Krabi Boek Fa Andaman Festival has earned a name of popularity in Krabi. It is not just an artistic occasion; it is an insight into the origins and roots of Thailand. Krabi has a primary Indian influence. The Boek Fa Andaman has the charm and essence of Indian festivals that is exhibited in the color, style and magnificence, typical in Indian functions. Krabis Indian influence can also be widely seen in the culture and social life of the Krabi’s, their special occasions are always glittering with color and the above quoted festival is no exception. It is a festival that is adorned by Indian richness which is exhibited by a number of parades, cultural performances and musical shows. There are also a number of sea kayak competitions, boat races and local product sales in the festival. All in all the Festival is Krabi’s way of inaugurating the tourist season in the area and greeting its plethora of tourists.

The Krabi Boek Fa Andaman Festival is literally translated as the opening of the Andaman Sea. By opening it means welcoming and hence the festival shows a keen enthusiasm on serving its tourists. To enjoy the beautiful Krabi Boek Andaman try booking your holiday somewhere during the month of November for the festival is an annual event that takes place between the 16th and 18th of November.

After you are welcomed into the Krabi world you will be keen on thoroughly touring the city surroundings. While visiting the city, stay at the Anantara Si Kao Thailand. This Trang Resort is by far everybody’s favorite. Living up to the Anantara name and class, the luxury you experience here is unmatched making it the finest of all Krabi Resorts.

Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry.

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