NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS (January 1) Al Sanam Luang An annual event, normally held every January I in locations around Sanam Luang, Bangkok,and marked by early morning Buddhist meritmaking and afternoon and evening folk entertainment.
AMAZING CHINATOWN (January 10 Dccember) Al Yaoioarat Street Amazing Chinatown project arranged to promote Amazing Thailand Year will be held on Yaowarat Street on the first weekend of each month.
Activities include Chinese-style flower decorations; Thai & Chinese cultural perfor¬mances; various contests and product sale.
MUSIC IN THE PARK (January-December) Al Lumphini Park
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is hosting a Thai music festival performed by a symphony orchestra every Sunday between 17:00 and 19:00 hours in Lumphini Park Between Jalluary and April and in December it wilI be held outdoors at the Palm tree Garden and indoors at Lumphini Hall between May and November
.
FEBRUARY
MAGHA PUJA HOLY DAY This important Buddhist holy day celebrates the occasion when 1,250 of the Lord Buddha's disciples spontaneously gathered to hear him preach, Meritmaking ceremonies take place during the day at temples throughout the country, while at night triple candlelit circumambience are staged around monastery chapel.
MARCH
THAI SPORTS & KITE FLYING SEASON ( March-April) Al Sanam Luang Lolourful kites from many countries including Thailand will be flown in March and April
Each afternoon at 16:00 hours, you can enjoy watching teams launching huge Thai Chula kites to battle the small Pakpao kites, each trying to pull the other out of the sky, The coordination and teamwork is fascinating, In the Northwest corner are Talamo competi¬tions, in which teams vie with one another to kick a rattan
ball into an overhead basket.
THE 21st BANGKOK GEMS & JEWELLERY FAIR (March 14-17) At The Queen Siriki National Convention Centre Time for the precious stone lover. The 21st International trade Fair fix Gems & Jewellery, precious stones, loose stones and accessories.
APRIL
THE 19th INTERNATIONAL BANGKOK MOTOR SHOW (April 1-9) At Bangkok International trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) This show presents car lovers with a taste of future technology and new cars. The 1998 show will be at Bangkok International trade & Exhibi¬tion Centre (BlTEC), where cars, motorcycles and autoparts companies come to sell their products. BITEC's facilities include a main exhibition hall, outdoor exhibition areas, a loading area, a convention hall, and parking areas. Showtime will be from noon until 20.00 hours each day.
THE 13th BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL FASHION FAIR (April 1-5)
At Queen Siriki National Convention Centre The international trade fair for garments, textiles, and fashion accessories.
SONGKRAN FESTIVAL (April 13) Highlight Spots: Sanam Luang and Khao San Road and Man's area in Phra Pradaeng district The traditional Thai New Year is an occasion for merriment in Bangkok and other parts of the country, with religIOus ceremonies as well as public
festivities. Anyone who ventures out on to the streets is likely to get a thorough soaking, but all in a spirit offun, and a welcome respite from the peak season heat.
This
tradition is celebrated citywide, most notably at Sanarn Luang, close to the Grand
Palace, where the revered Phra Buddha Sihing image is displayed and bathed by devotees. Also at Wisut Kasat area, where a Miss Songkran beauty contest is accompanied by meritmaking, and paying respect to elders.
Khao San Road is one of the high-spots in the city to experience day and night water¬throwing activities between locals and tourists - all conducted in good humour.
At Phra Pradaeng, along the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya river, where most of the Mon people live, Songkran is celebrated in more rowdy fashion between April 14
and 16.
THE 9th BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL GIFT & HOUSEWARE FAIR (April 18-22) At Queen Siriki National Convention Centre The international trade fair for gifts, decorative items and handicrafts, household products, home textiles, artificial flowers and plants, stationary, toys and games, christmas decorations and small electrical appliances.
THAILAND FOOD FESTIVAL (April 29 - May 3) At Queen Siriki National Convention Centre This festival will confirm Thailand's role as a major food exporter and manufacturing centre, attracting food import¬ers from far and wide. The festival will also feature food exhibitions, business meetings, product sales, and food-makinj demonstrations.
MAY
ROYAL PLOUGHING CEREMONY (May 8) At Sanam Luang This ancient Brahman ritu: celebrates the official com mencement of the rice-planting season and is staged at Sanam Luang, in the large field across from the Grand Palace. Colourful costumes are worn bv the participants who perform ' various ceremonies which are believed to forecast the abundance of the next rice crop.
VISAKHA PUJA (May 10) Highlight Spots : Wat Benrhamabophit (Marble Temple)
This is the holiest of all Buddhist relig-ious days, marking the birth, enlig-htenment, and death of the Lord Buddha. As on Magha Puja holy day, temples throughout the country are crowded and candlelig-ht processions take place around major temples.
Shortly after sunset, Wat Benchamabophit will be crowded with devotees, and this temple is one of the best for taking photog-raphs of the ceremonies.
JUNE
AMAZING THAILAND GRAND SALE (June 1-30) At World trade Centre Plaza This event will promote the Amazing- Thailand Year. The Amazing- Thailand Grand Sale is organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Export Promotion Department. Many famous shopping malls and stores will jointly sell their goods and products at heavily discounted prices.
JULY
ASALHA PUJA (July 8) Highlight Spots : Temples on Rallanakosin Islund This event will promote the Amazing- Thailand Year. The Amazing- Thailand Grand Sale is organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Export Promotion Department. Many famous shopping malls and stores will jointly sell their goods and products at heavily discounted prices.
AUGUST
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN' 5 BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS "Thai Mother 's Day" (Augustn 12) Highlight Spot: Sanam Luang Throughout Thailand, public buildings are decorated to honour Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on the occasion of her birthday. The most splendid are to be seen in Bangkok, particularly along Ratchadamnoen Avenue and in the area around the Grand Palace, where both govern men t offices and streets are garlanded with coloured lights
.
SEPTEMBER
THE 22nd BANGKOK GEMS & JEWELLERY FAIR (Setrtember 9-12)
At The Queen Sirikit Nationa Convention Centre Again, for the precious stone lover. The
in ternational trade fair for gems & jewellery, preciolls stones, loose
stones and accessories.
BANGKOK LEATHER WEEK '98 (Septembn 30 - Oaoher 6) At Queen Sirikit National Conoention Centre An international trade exhibition for leather g-oods from factory outlets.
NOVEMBER
VENICE OF THE EAST (Novemher) Taking place on both sides of the canal at Rattanakosin Island are cruises passing- by canals called Khlong Lot, Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem, Khlong Maha Nak,
Khlong Bang Lamphu Bon and Khlong Bang Lamphu Lang. There is also boat racing.
LOI KRATHONG AND CANDLE FESTIVAL Highlight Spots: Along the Chao Plirava River Banks Loi Krathong, is an ancient tradition that first originated in Sukhothai, the first Thai capital. It is appropriate to hold this memorable festival in the charg-ed atmosphere of the ruins of this ancient city. Krathong-s are floated on rivers to take away bad luck.This full-moon festival is celebrated nation-wide. In Bangkok, krathongs with lighted candles can be seen from the banks of rivers and canals.
AMAZING THAILAND GRAND SALE (November 15 - December 15) At World trade Centre Plaza Limilar to the.lune event, this sale helps promote the Amazing Thailand Year. The Amazing Thailand Gran? Sale is organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
and the Export Promotion Department. Many famous shopping malls and stores willjointly sell their goods and products at heavily discounted prices.
DECEMBER
trOOPING OF THE COLOURS (December 3) At the Royal Plaza Their Majesties the King and Queen preside over this impressive event held each year in the Royal Plaza near the equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn. Dressed in colourful uniforms, amid great pomp and ceremony, members of the elite Royal Guards swear allegiance to the King and march past members of the Roval Familv.
HIS MAJESTY THE KINGS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS " Nation's Day " "Thai Father's Day" December 5) Highlight Spots : Sauam Luang The deep reverence felt by all Thai people for their king is perhaps unique in the modern world, and his birthday provides an annual occasion for public expression, Government buildings, busi¬nesses, and homes all over the country are elabo¬rately decorated and the area around the Grand Palace is spectacularly illuminated.
The yeal 1999 mark the nnd birthday of His Majesty the King, a hIghly auspIcIOUS occasion celebrating the completion of his sixth 12-year cycle. The whole nation will join hands in celebrating this
auspICIOUS year.
ASEAN ART FESTIVAL (December 6-20) At Silpakorn University This festival features arts
and architectural exhibitions, and various art performances including paintings, dances and music from ASEAN countries.
THE 13th ASIAN GAMES (December 6-20)
AI the National Stadium, Bangkok and other Bangkok' and provincial venues Essentially the "Asian Olympics," the 13th Asian Garnes or Bangkok Games, will attract athletes from forty¬three countries to compete in thirty-six types of sports. For the first time ever, this event will be telecast, some 400 hours in all, bv satellite to millions of viewers around the world. The Asian Games' logo incorporates a letter "A" and a traditional Thai house. The Asian Games' mascot is a Thai elephant called "Chai Yo".
The BangkOk Asian Games - Friendship Beyond Frontiers
The entire Thai nation has been mobilised in a concertive effort to prepare for the Asian Games. In addition, the Royal Thai Government and the Olympic Council of Asia have man¬dated that the Bangkok Asian Games Organising Committee (BAGOC) has
to carry out its obligations to the fullest. And BAGOC is doing just that, not only to ensure preparations for the Games are compete but also to turn the event into the most successful ever. As mentioned, this country of 60 million has previously held three Asian Games in 1966,1970, and 1978 respectively. Twenty years on, the Asides will once more visit Thailand, heralding a historic record matched by no other Asian Games host country.Preparations for the 141 athletic venues training sites to cope with tile expected 10,000 athletes and officials as Well as some 5,000 media personnel areweH in advance. Construction of the three main complexes are now completed. The first of these is the Thammasat University Rangsit Campus Sports Complex which houses the main stadium and aquatic centre, seven indoor stadiums, 5,000 accommodation units for use as the athletes, village, an international zone for all kinds of support facilities, the Asian Garnes park and landscape, a training track, and public utilities system. All construction projects mentioned here have been completed in May of this year.
The second main complex is the Hua Mak Sports Complex. This will house the royal main stadium, an indoor stadium, a velodrome and shoot¬ing range, and two skeet shooting ranges. The final touches are being added to the shooting and skeet shoot¬ing ranges, while the main structures of the other sites are already in completion.
The third major complex is the Muang Thong Thani or Bangkok Land Sports Complex. This will comprise five indoor stadiums, a billiard and snooker hall, a tennis centre court and 12 others, an outdoor rugby stadium, two swimming pools, a synthetic track for athletic training, the main press centre, and the press village.
In addition, state-of-the-artinformarion technology is being employed for the Games. More than 1 ,600 workstations and multimedia touch-screen PCs. are being linked with over
200 servers to facilitate information on the 13th Asian Games. To complete these ultra-modern communication networks, three Thai satellites
will be on handto link the event directly to anywhere in the world.
