Thailand Festivals and Events 2009-2010
September 2009
International Swan Boat Races
Date: 19 Sep 2009 - 20 Sep 2009
Venue: Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Craft Centre
Teams compete for prizes in the 21st annual swan boat races at the Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Craft Centre, 19 to 20 September.
Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre, Ayutthaya province, is worth visiting any time of the year, but it has a special fascination for visitors in September, when the riverside complex hosts the annual international swan boat races.
Now in its 21st year, the dates were changed this year to 19 to 20 September moving back a week from its usual mid-month slot. But it still promises to be a tough, contested, series of races with nine international teams, mainly from around Asia, vying for the annual trophy.
Teams that have already confirmed their attendance include Penang Municipal Park Club Malaysia, Singapore Barbarian A, Singapore Barbarian B, Philippines National Dragon Boat Team, China Nanhai Zhonalian Dragon Boat Team, Dragon Boat and Boat Racing Federation of India and Thailand A, B, and C squads. Two teams surviving the knock-out races will compete for the Prime Minister’s Cup on the final day.
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Spotlight on Bangkok’s Film Festival
Date: 24 Sep 2009 - 30 Sep 2009
Venue: Bangkok
Now in its seventh year the curtain will rise on the annual Bangkok Film Festival, 24 to 30 September, in the heart of Bangkok’s downtown swank shopping district. The spectacular event promises to deliver more than 80 exciting films with the focus on a new generation of film makers particularly from throughout Asia.
The event is co-hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand, with the gala opening set in the forecourt of the upscale Central World shopping mall.
The opening ceremony promises to be an extravagant affair reflecting classical art and Thai heritage, while the welcome dinner will be hosted near the Chao Phraya River to accentuate the city’s rich and historical ambience.
Other events and film showings will be at various venues including Paragon Cineplex, Siam Paragon Shopping Complex, SF World Cinema and Central World.
Thailand has for decades earned a reputation as superb location for shooting international movies. A Google search of movies shot on location, in part or whole, in the country confirms its popularity with over 700 examples. Its popularity as movie location has helped to ensure that the local film industry has also prospered and improved in quality.
This development is reflected in comments made recently to Hollywood’s foremost entertainment publication, Variety, which interviewed, Jareuk Kaljareuk, chairman of the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand, who also acts as the festival director.
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Golf Bargains Galore
Date: 1 Aug 2009 - 30 Sep 2009
Venue: Hua Hin and Cha-am
It could be tagged the best golf offer in Asia and it is perfect timing as the bargains on the greens are now matched by superb discounts offered on air travel and accommodation.
Hua Hin and Cha-am, twin resorts on the west side of the Gulf of Thailand, annually host the Hua Hin/Cha-am Golf Festival that runs throughout August and September.
For golf enthusiasts it is pure magic. The option of playing eight competition level golf courses all within easy reach of the two resorts, at incredibly low green fees, is undeniably an offer too good to refuse.
Tourism Authority of Thailand’s offices in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces, in co-operation with the Phetchaburi- Prachuap Khiri Khan Golf Course Association, host the annual event to support tourism and promote golfing, a valuable niche market that helps the resorts to generate substantial business during the traditional low-season.
Over the last three years, the festival has been fine-tuned to the point it is now recognised as a premier event for Asia’s golfing community.
The promotional offers include the opportunity to play golf at any of the eight selected golf courses, throughout August and September, for only Bt800 — without doubt the lowest green fees of the year.
The exception is Springfield Golf Course, which will increase its green fee for September.
There are also invitations to compete in organised tournaments every Sunday for just Bt1,200 (includes caddy fee and dinner), with lots of lucky prizes. The player achieving a hole-in-one at designated holes will win a car on the last day of the festival.
There are also prizes presented for the 'longest drive' contests and an opportunity to shop for specially-discounted golf products with 10 to 30% reduction on Pro Shop prices at all courses.
Of course, specialised golf travel firms are keen to tap the potential of this popular festival by offering “Golf Lovers” packages at the “heavenly seaside resorts of Hua Hin and Cha-am”.
Approximate prices for all-inclusive golf packages range from Bt11,000 for two nights’ accommodation, two rounds of golf and transfers. A five-night stay with four rounds of golf sells would cost approximately Bt19,000. Trips offered by travel companies can usually be confirmed and paid for online.
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Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series
Date: 19 Sep 2009
Venue: Koh Samui
The Ibis Koh Samui Trophy brings the new, spectacular and fast growing sport of Adventure Racing to the South of Thailand.
Supported by Ibis, The Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Tourism Association of Koh Samui and the Thai Hotel Association of Koh Samui, this inaugural Adventure Race is set to attract 150 teams from around the world.
Scheduled on September 19 and part of the Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series, the race will start and finish from the magnificent Bohput beach in front of the IBIS hotel in Bohput.
Adventure Racing is a highly visual and dynamic sport genre, stretching competitors to their limits. It is a sport that is rapidly capturing the imagination of sport people in Thailand and around the world.
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The 10th Lunar Month Making Merit
Date: 5 Sep 2009 - 19 Sep 2009
Venue: Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan and Suan Somdej Phra Sinagarindra 84 Thung Tha Lat Park), Amphoe Mueang, Nakhon Si Thammarat
Features a large and splendorous event of Nakhon Si Thammarat, experience the spectacular procession from Sanam Na Mueang to Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan. Purchase various local products on sale and enjoy various forms of entertainment.
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Bathing Buddha Ceremony
Date: 17 Sep 2009 - 21 Sep 2009
Venue: Phetchabun City Hall, in front of Traipoom Temple and Botchanamarn Temple
A Bathing Buddha, or Um Phra Dam Nam ceremony, is held during September each year. It is a traditional religious and well known ritual held annually in Phetchabun.
Buddha statue, called Phra Buddha Mahadhamaracha cast in the ornamental Lop Buri style, was found in the Pasak River by a group of farmers four hundred years ago and it was then taken to be housed in Wat Trai Phum. According to a legend, the Buddha statue was disappeared twice from the temple and was later found in water.
The ceremony starts at 1 p.m. The Buddha statue is carried around town and put under a tent in Wat Trai Phum, so buddhists can pay respect to the image and stick gold leaf on the body of the Buddha statue. In the evening, prayers are chanted. At night, there are various kinds of entertainment. The next morning, people make merit as it is Sat Thai Day. Foods, including Krayasat and other necessities are given to monks. The Buddha statue is then taken to be immersed in the Pasak River by the local governor of Phetchabun in the belief that this act brings happiness and fertility to the province and traditional dances are performed to show respect to the Buddha statue.
After the ceremony, the water in the river is regarded as sacred. As a result, people swim in it or take the water to drink before the boat racing begins.
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