Z Bar Udon Thani

10/09/2017

Long Boat Races across Thailand
There are a good number of Long boat Festivals across Thailand with the majority staged during the Thai Buddhist Lent Period and around Wan Ok Phansa Day (5th October 2017), normally September and October each year, it is also the time of the year when the rivers are also at their highest.
A Brief History of Long Boat Races
Long Boat-Racing is one of Thailand’s oldest traditions and the events have been arranged continuously since the Ayutthaya time (approx. 600 years ago) When they were used to enhance the physical and mental strength of the men folk, as the country was almost Continuously at war with its neighbouring countries of Burma Lao and Cambodia.
What today’s festivals all have in common is a great atmosphere punctured by the tumultuous noise and vibrant colours that take hold of your senses and leaves you wanting more. Combine this with the assault on your taste buds and nostrils from the vast army of people selling local produce including delicious food and drink and you can tell why the Thai people enjoy these festivities so much.

Listed here are a number of the biggest events across the Kingdom

Long Boat Races across Thailand Let the noise colour and smells whisk you away to another time in Thailand's wonderful past

10/09/2017

Thailand confirmed on 2018 MotoGP calendar
Date of inaugural Thailand MotoGP still to be confirmed.
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/881498/1/thailand-confirmed-on-2018-motogp-calendar

10/09/2017

Phraya Krai Phakdi Memorial Fair, San Don Ta Festival and Worshipping City Pillar
When: 16 - 21 September 2017
Where: The field in front of Khukhan municipal office, Si Sa Ket. Northeast Thailand

This annual event is a vibrant and sacred ritual of paying respect to the Khukhan City Pillar shrine, (see our post Human sacrifices in Thailand), along with paying homage to Chao Pho Lak Mueang (เจ้าพ่อหลักเมือง), the city spirit deity. Further respect is shown to Phraya Krai Phakdi Si Nakhon Lamduan (Ta kacha), the first ruler of the region.
Watch the ritual to respectfully invite spirits of ancestors, an offerings contest, Khukhan Banana contest, Kao Tom Mud contest and a local colourful parade. Plus a number of different local cultural performances and of course as this is still Thailand, there will be a whole host of vendors selling local produce and handicraft and the famous Pisang Awak bananas and other kinds of bananas grown in the province.
Added to this event (from 19-21st Sept), is the moving and beautiful tradition that embodies the people of the region, their centuries of contact with their Cambodian neighbours and a time to remember those lost in the Killing Fields. That of the San Don Ta Festival
For more on these events see our post http://asia-backpackers.com/major-si-sa-ket-festivals-september/

09/09/2017

Narathiwat Specialty Fair 2017 and Kor-lae boat, Longboat, and Yor-kong boat Race for Royal Trophy 2017

When: 21 - 25 Sep 2017
When: The Pavillion Commemorating the 50th anniversary of King Bhumibol's reign, next to Tha Prayasai Dam, Mueang, Narathiwat
Witness Kor-lae boat, longboat, Yor-kong boat Race for Royal Trophy. Enjoy a special event held by Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen, including an exhibition about the foundation and its products. Watch the impressive process of carving imitated Kor-lae boat. Picture and info from TAT
Narathiwat Provincial Office Tel: 0 7364 2636 Narathiwat Municipality Tel: 0 7351 1048 or +66 7352 2411

09/09/2017

Air Race 1 World Cup Thailand 2017
WHEN: 17 – 19 September 2017 all-day
WHERE: U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport in Sattahip, Chonburi
Thailand has confirmed it will host Air Race 1 World Cup Thailand 2017 from 17 to 19 November, 2017 at the U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport located on the Royal Thai Navy Base in Sattahip, Chonburi province.
This year’s Air Race 1 World Cup is expected to be the largest ever with more teams competing than in any other international competitive flying event. Interest in the sport continues to grow dramatically year on year, and this is the only international air race where multiple airplane races are flown at the same time.
Other special attractions also held with Air Race 1 during the three-day event include the World Muay Thai Angels 2017, the Aerobatics Show plus exhibitions of aviation technology and super cars.
Air Race 1 is the highest international level of the sport previously known as’ Formula One Air Racing’ for over 70 years.
It is considered the purest form of air racing with eight airplanes competing directly against each other. Pilots attempt to cross the finish line first after eight laps of high-speed, low-altitude flying around a tight five-kilometre circuit at 450kph just 10 metres off the ground.
CONTACT: TAT Pattaya Office +66 (0) 3842 7667

09/09/2017

Its officially 'Wonderful Weirdos Day'
look around you can you see any one that fits the bill?

08/09/2017

San Don Ta Festival
When: 30 September – 1 October 2016 (2017 TBA)
Where: Phraya Krai Phakdi Sinakorn Lamduan Park in Khu Khan District, Si Sa Ket Province Eastern Thailand

The two day festival of San Don Ta is a time when the Khmer descendents of this province, pay homage to their dead ancestors.
The Festival is known as ‘Ancestors’ Day (Pchum Ben)’ or the Khmer Festival of the Dead, in neighbouring Cambodia. This annual event is actually the culmination of a fifteen-day observance called Dak Ben, throughout which Khmer people are encouraged to visit at least seven pagodas to make offerings to dead ancestors and light candles to guide the spirits of the dead to these offerings. The first fourteen days are called Kan Ben (“observed celebration”); the 15th day is called Brochum Ben or Pchum Ben Day. During Kan Ben, people give Buddhist monks gifts of food and candles. At night Buddhist monks recite a protective prayer; it is possibly the biggest annual event on the Khmer calendar
Observant Khmers will also throw a rice-sesame seed mixture onto temple grounds, called Bai Ben which is left for lost souls or those who have no relatives alive to send offerings. This observance helps feed the spirits of the ancestors who roam the world on Pchum Ben and are consequently hungry from not having eaten all year.
The event includes the ancestor- offering parade, featuring people in their individual traditional attire, accompanied by traditional (some would call Isan) music. There are also a number of contests, demonstrations and folk art performances and of course a huge range of local food, drink and handicrafts to feast upon.
For more on the festival including other festivals that are similar in nature see our post http://asia-backpackers.com/san-don-ta-festival/

08/09/2017

Celebrate India turning 70 with shows, art and more
See Indian dances, Indian art and shop for Ayurvedic products at a festival celebrating 70 years of independence on the subcontinent with events through the rest of the year.
The Embassy of India is hosting Festival of India in Thailand, with traditional dance performances, art exhibitions and other cultural events also marking 70 years of Indian-Thai diplomatic relations.
For more information about the Festival of India in Thailand, contact the Indian Embassy https://www.facebook.com/IndianEmbassyThailand/

07/09/2017

How much do you Know about Thailand?
Here is a simple, refreshing and natural Thai weight loss drink that can be enjoyed hot or cold.
To prepare first boil some fresh ginger and once strained, add lime and honey to your taste. Simple....s

07/09/2017

Festivals and special events across Thailand in September 2017
September in Thailand is one of the quietest month in the year for festivals, but that said it is still has so much to offer from the sporting events, you can take part in, to those best left to others.
The Kingdom is also awash with ancient spiritual events that in some cases celebrate the dead as they return to this realm to visit their relatives. Listed in our post are 29 or so of the biggest festivals across Thailand
http://asia-backpackers.com/september-festivals-in-thailand/

06/09/2017

A new set of commemorative banknotes featuring the late King Bhumibol will be released on 20 September 2017

06/09/2017

Snakebird Watching Festival in Thailand
WHEN: 01 July 2017 – 30 September 2017 all-day
WHERE: Phra Prong Water Reservoir, Chongkum sub-district, Wattana Nakhon district, Sa Kaeo
During July to September, Phra Prong Water Reservoir in Sa Kaeo province will be a dream destination for anyone who want to experience snakebird watching in Thailand. It is the time when Oriental Darter or ‘snakebird’ a large-sized waterfowl of tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia can be largely seen at this area.
Previously, this bird were rare to be seen and they were classified as globally threatened and nearly became extinct from Thailand. But since 2005, they were found migrating from elsewhere to many areas in Sa Kaeo province, especially at Phra Prong Water Reservoir which has become their breeding grounds.
Observing the life of the snakebirds and watching how they catch the fish can be fun and exciting experience and local authorities are inviting visitors to visit Sa Kaeo at this time of the year for the snakebird watching festival and you will come to realise why the Oriental Darter is nicknamed as ‘snakebird’.
Aside from snakebirds, several other birds can be spotted at this time too such as open-billed storks, drongo, Black-crowned night heron, Little cormorant, Purple heron and many more.
Tourists can rent a boat for snakebird watching trip and enjoy birds and waterfowls in natural habitats. Such opportunity makes this one of the must-visit Thailand Events and Festivals.
Phra Prong Water Reservoir is located in Chongkum sub-district, Wattana Nakhon district, Sa Kaeo province in the Eastern Region of Thailand.
Contact TAT Nakhon Nayok Office +66 (0) 3731 2282