Happy Christmas"s Day 2011

‎**★** 。*˛
˛°_██_.。../ ♥ \ .˛* .˛。.˛.*.★* December*★ 。*
˛. (´• ̮•)*.。*/♫.♫ \*˛.* ˛_Π___.♥Everyone! ♥ ˛* ˛*
.°( . • . ) ˛°./• '♫ ' •\.˛*./______/~＼*. ˛*.。˛* ˛.*。
*(...'•'.. ) *˛. ╬╬╬╬˛°. ｜田 田 ｜門｜╬╬╬╬╬*˚ *♥♫♫♥*\'..........
Merry Christmas…...... *♥•♦♫••♥*'"""






santa__claus Santa Claus
Tonights the night! Make sure you leave your stocking out to be filled, and leave something to eat & drink for me, see you later. Ho Ho Ho
MERRY¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ★¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨CHRISTMAS ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨**¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨*o*¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ JESUS¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨*♥*o*¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨IS THE ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨**o**♥*o¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ REASON¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨**♥**o**o*¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨THAT ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨**o**♥***♥*o¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨WE¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨*****♥*o**o***¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨HAVE¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨**♥**o*****o**♥* ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨******o*****♥**o* *¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ CHRIST¨¨¨¨¨¨****o**♥**♥**o***♥ **¨¨¨¨¨¨¨MAS ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨____l_l_____Let Your Light ++ Love Shine
♥ ♥ ♥~GOD BLESS U N FAMILY!

Long Lve the King of Thailandand in The World

ขอพระองค์ทรงพระเจริญ
ยิ่งยืนนาน
.
• ¤*¨¨*¤.¸¸. ..¸.☼ ¤*¨¨*¤.¸¸. ..¸.☼
\¸. .¸¸.
.\¸.¤*¨¨*¤ .¸¸.¸.¤¤*¨¨*¤.¸¸. ..¸.☼
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/ \ .....// I love The King of Thailand.\\

.
• ¤*¨¨*¤.¸¸. ..¸. ☼
\¸. ทรงพระเจริญ .¸¸.
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/ \ .....// เรารักพระเจ้าอยู่หัว \

"The Birth of The King.of Thailand"on 5th December

_/\_ We Love The King
⁀) ✫ ✫ ✫.
`⋎´✫¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•✫ Long Live The King
..✫¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.✫ทรงพระเจริญ
☻/ღ˚ •。♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。
/▌*˛˚ ░ ░Long Live The Kingน* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。
/ \ ˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥♥* ✰˚ღ。Long Live The King* ˛˚ ♥♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥

‎We Love The King _/\_ ทรงพระเจริญ ⁀) ✫ ✫ ✫. `⋎´✫¸.•°*”˜˜”*°✫ทรงพระเจริญ .*”ทรงพระเจริญ ☻/ทรงพระเจริญยิ่งยืนนาน* °♥ ˚ ˛ ˚♥♥。 เรารักพระเจ้าอยู่หัว* ˛˚ ♥♥ 。✰

"flood retreat"By Ministry of Tourism and Sports!!

"Assistant Minister of Tourism has announced his charityfootball event "flood retreat".Which will be held on November 28, 2554 at 14:00 pm at the Supachalasai(NationalStadium), Rama 1.Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand"

Dok Bua Tong Giant Wild Mexican Sunflower Blooming Season

November 1 - December 13, 2011

On Doi Mae U-kor, Mae Hong Son
The hills and valleys of Mae Hong Son, one of Thailand's most naturally scenic areas, turn to gold when the Dok Bua Tong Giant Wild Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia Diversifolia) comes into full bloom during this period.

When the flowers fade, the seeds are collected and made into insecticides.

Doi Mae U-kor mountain peak in Khun Yuam district of Mae Hong Son is considered to be the an excellent location to enjoy the splendour of the sunflowers in full bloom.

Surin Elephant Round-up Show & Elephant Show

November 19 – 20, 2011
At the elephant arena
RED CROSS FAIR
At Srinarong Stadium

The majestic Thai elephant has long been a central element in Thai culture and has held a respected place in Thai history. A symbol of power and grace, the elephant was revered by the ancient kings.

Elephants have been prominently featured in Thai legend, literature, art and architecture, and during the reign of King Rama II, an image of the auspicious elephant, symbolic of the King, was featured on the flag.

In daily life, as man and elephant depend on each other, the elephant is treated as part of the 'family'. The everyday life of the Thai elephant and its keeper is the central theme of the world-famous Surin elephant round-up held annually.The Ban Ta Klang Elephant Village in Surin Province is the home of the Kui, who, for centuries, have tended to and trained elephants for use throughout Thailand. These handlers have great respect for their elephants.
The majority of elephant owners and mahouts in Thailand today are descendants of the "Kui" tribe (or "Suay" in Thai). They are thought to have migrated from Cambodia to settle largely in the northeastern provinces near the Cambodian border. Known for their expertise in capturing, domesticating and training wild elephants, the life-long relationship of the mahout with his elephant is an integral element of Kui culture, tradition and the way of life. The elephant is his companion and a family member.
The Surin Elephant Round-up Show has been organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand since 1960 and has been well-received internationally.

Surin Tourist Promotion Association
Tickets for the Surin Elephant Round-up and Elephant Show and the November 20 “Legend of Prasat Srikhoraphum” Light-and-Sound performance are also available from the Surin Tourist Promotion Association.
Tel: 0-4451-5832

Contact information:
Tourism Authority of Thailand, Surin Office
Tel: +66 (0) 4451 4447-8, (0) 4451 8529
Fax: +66 (0) 4451 8530
E-mail: tatsurin@tat.or.th
More information: www.tatnews.org


Surin Elephant Round-Up and Elephant Show (November 21 - 22, 2009: Srinarong Stadium, Surin)
Surin Elephant Round-Up and Elephant Show (November 21 - 22, 2009: Srinarong Stadium, Surin)

Act 1
Invitation to the gods - a ritual invocation
The look begins with "Wai Kru, a strict ritual an act of that account to" run adopted Grand Masters "and a consultant in art as aggressively as non-disabled limb.

Indra, the Vedic god of the sky, clouds and rain fell, and Guardian of Middle falls on the apple on his mount, Erawan, an elephant better. Civic Participation artists Krujang Klaisritong recited verses of poetry.

Act 2
Descent into human affairs
The arena will open withApple elephant trapped in the bond with children. The children, in an acceptable costume, comedy dressed in an elephant.

The agreement in the middle of the career mahout and his albatross is usually a continuously amazed by their teenage days. In rural communities, commercial properties accept an ancestor of elephants for generations, centuries-old skills in the tribulation and the rise of the elephants are kept ancestors fund was stunned to son. In the aboveNow, are incorporated in the ancestors of the elephant ancestors. male employees and albatross on another anniversary, the albatross as a subsidiary of the "family" is discussed.

Elephants and young children with plenty of teenage boys normally occur for the award to the ancestral elephants quietly forward to what life with a specific animal. A waist belt is forged. The agreement is based on love and complete security in one individual. The albatrossis actually true to its mahout.

Act 3
Race for the baton
In nature, elephants live in herds of LED Klong cha ", the head of the herd management.

Act 4
The taking of Elephant Farm
In recent times, the seizure of elephants revealed acute agricultural expertise acute incredible adventure. The men of the apple was abroad from home for months. About 300 elephants quietly resolved assignment in this affirmation of ancient techniques in the seizure of prey agriculturalElephants. Act 4 includes an affirmation of the "Phi Pakarn" angelic ritual, which is carried out raids in the area of crisis at the Albatros.

Surin province is the home of the Kui, who accepted for centuries to reach more and elephants for use throughout the country. Membership of "Kui" (or "Suay" in Thai) are expected to migrate from Cambodia reach accept abundant in the north-east of the date of application of the cambodian border. Known for their ability to gather,tamed elephants and training, agricultural life of the contract with its mahout Albatros an essential aspect of Kui culture, attitude and lifestyle. The albatross is his company and a member of the ancestors. These operators take into account large for their elephants.

Act 5
Festival: Every daily activities and traditions
Key activities of the scenes used in the composition and limited tradition and community, including

The limited cultural, community andTraditions in this area has presented reflect the inseparable bond and respect the fact that men and the elephant.

Act 6
to drive the forest
is a confirmation of agricultural techniques in the kidnapping of elephants and elephant training methods used at work.

It is a continuation of the history of elephant behavior and over the centuries, these intelligent creatures to accept a basic allotment of the Thai way of life have been. recommended to be abeneficent creature, an elephant belonging to the three main institutions of the country - the nation, the worship of the king, through the centuries have led to its rise on the seal of civic symbol.

Regarded as the attribute of wealth and power and grace that befits a monarch, in ancient times, elephants were used as mounts in war time. The Baron had elephants, which must be perceived in the situation. The use of elephants in the aristocratic and ceremoniesRituals still prevails today. White elephants or Chang Samkhan, allegorical of the King, approved, animals are useful and appreciated unusually high.

In the past, elephants were mostly complex bus bodies and objects. While there are accounts of amaranth allegorical "War Elephant 'in the bill are the kings of Siam, but some of the finest elephants were used for operations and served in aboriginal gang attack. Most were settled only. Transportation

Law 7
Elephants at war
This is a presentation of the ancient art of war behind Albatros.

Act 8
Grande Finale and Farewell
The Albatros Surin close look with plenty of clothes in about 2000 artists so far and hundreds of elephants.

THAI TRAVEL NEWS RECENT COMMENTS Essential Flood Information for Foreign Tourists in Thailand

Ayutthaya Already Welcoming Back First Tourists



When I drove up to Ayutthaya today I wasn’t really sure what to expect. But what I found was a very dry Asian Highway and the majority of the inner part of Ayutthaya city bone dry and dusty. However, I did see some communities along the river where they were still flooded very deep up to the roof in some places. There is also a lot of farmland under water. But, I didn’t expect to see Phra Si Sanphet in such good condition. As you can see it suffered very little damage and the grass has already recovered. Hardly any muddy patches. I was also surprised to see a coach party of German tourists leaving as I was parking my car. I was told that there was also a group of French tourists earlier. In addition there were a Japanese couple who were cycling around the city.


In front of Phra Si Sanphet there was this group of souvenir sellers desperate to sell me something. They said they hadn’t seen any tourists for a long time. The tour groups only started to come during the last three days. Nearby Phra Mongkhon Bophit with the big seated Buddha looks alright though the doors were locked. I was told it might not open for another month or so. The market area where they sell souvenirs was devastated in the flood but they were hard at work cleaning today. I was told that there will be a 1,000 people here tomorrow to help clean up all the rubbish. So, I would think that this particular area would be in pretty good condition by next weekend. Incidentally, there was no-one collecting money on the gate here


Nearby there is an elephant center where tourists can pay to go on an elephant back ride around the main tourist attractions here. However, today there were no tourists and the site was still dirty after the floods. However, the elephants were busy helping to clean up and there were also workers giving the place a new coat of paint. I was told that they will be open again on Monday 15th November to give any tourists that come a ride around this part of the city. It was reported in the newspaper that the Elephant Kraal was opening on Monday. However, that is a mistake as it is still under water. It is this place that is opening on Monday.

If you have been to Ayutthaya then you will know that there are quite a few ruins scattered around the old city on both sides of the river. I found some of them were dry already while others, like this one at Wat Mahathat is still flooded in some areas of the temple. There was no-one there today apart from a few keen photographers. I had to wade through 30 cms of water to get this picture of the famous Buddha head surrounded by a tree. Normally it takes a long time to get a picture as there are so many tourists. Not so today! You can just see the water line for the floods at the top of this picture. So, you can see it has come down far. Again they are not charging for you to visit this temple.

The two floating markets in Ayutthaya are still deeply flooded. The one I tried to visit is reported to be under 2-3 meters of water. Locals tell me that it could be several months before the floating market re-opens. One major temple in Ayutthaya that didn’t see any flooding despite being next to the river is Wat Phanan Choeng. This has a massive seated Buddha which is popular with both Thai worshippers and foreign tourists. But the car park was practically empty. As I was leaving two foreign tourists arrived with a Thai guide. Again, this is a Buddha image that takes a long time to take a picture because so many people in the way trying to take their own picture. But not today.

My last stop was another famous temple. This one called Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon. This one also looked like it was saved from the floods but the guy I bought an ice cream from told me it was flooded to nearly waist height for nearly a month. However, it had been dry for about ten days. The local district office had already organized a big clean-up at this temple last week so it looked good as new. This is a great temple to come and visit if you have never been before. There are other temples that you can also visit now but I ran out of time. I will try and go again in a couple of weeks.


I drove to Ayutthaya on the tollway from Don Muang to Rangsit. It was practically dry all the way to the Asian Highway but the traffic was very slow moving. The picture above was the only wet section. It took me nearly four hours. Coming back I turned off at Khlong Luang and headed for the Outer Ring Road on the Eastern side. I had heard that the northern section was impassable for small cars so I was hoping for the best to start halfway down. However, at KM25 there was also a short section of flooded road with potholes that was causing tailbacks. But I passed in my car alright. Coming back took nearly 3 hours. On the elevated tollway, be careful of parked cars, pedestrians and motorcycles going the wrong way!

I also stopped at the train station not expecting any activity. However, it was very busy. All trains running north to places like Lop Buri and Chiang Mai were running normally. There was even this train going to Bangkok though the trip is Train > Bus > Train. I found plenty of food today around the city as well as bottled water. Some shops had big piles of bottled water. A bowl of noodles was only 30 baht which is the normal price. I told them to keep the change every time as they were being honest. If you decide to come here, don’t bring a packed lunch. Help the locals by buying from them. In summary, Ayutthaya is ready for adventurous tourists or ones on package tours. In a week or two it will be even better. But, don’t expect everything to be back to normal until the end of the year at the earliest.

2012 to be a Miracle Year for Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has announced its latest marketing campaign known as ‘The Miracle Years of Thailand’. The new advertising strategy doubles up with a mission to double tourist numbers and income by 2014.

@ Krabi

Floods lapping at heart of Thailand's capital

With Thai government officials saying there was nothing more they could do to protect the capital,


Bangkok, from flooding, tens oBANGKOK — With Thai government officials saying there was nothing more they could do to protect the capital, Bangkok, from flooding, tens of thousands of people were fleeing Thursday, jamming train and bus stations and clogging the southern highways out of town.

Water rose in outlying neighborhoods and rippled across the banks of the Chao Phraya River, but the streets of central Bangkok remained dry and unusually quiet. Government offices, schools and a number of major shopping malls had shut down or were closing early.

People stowed their cars in high garages or triple-parked on highway overpasses, and crowded onto the city's elevated train and subway. Hastily built walls of sandbags and cement guarded the entrances to shops, homes, hotels and hospitals.

Grocery shelves were stripped of essentials; some shops imposed a rationing system on shrinking stocks of items such as instant noodles, rice and eggs. In many places, food vendors and their carts had disappeared from the sidewalks.

The floods, the heaviest in Thailand in more than 50 years, have drenched one-third of the country's provinces, killed nearly 400 people and displaced more than 110,000 others. For weeks, the water has crept down from the central plains, flowing south toward the Gulf of Thailand. Bangkok is in the way, and it is literally surrounded by behemoth pools of water flowing around and through it via a complex network of canals and rivers.

By Thursday, flooding had inundated seven of Bangkok's 50 districts, most on the northern outskirts. There, roads have turned into rivers and homes and businesses are swamped.

The flooding started three months ago with heavy rain and what seems to have been a badly timed release of water from dams, and has been moving south toward the capital, inundating cities such as Ayutthaya.

As floodwaters approached Bangkok, the government seemed overwhelmed by the threat. A series of contradictory official statements in the past two weeks has coalesced into predictions of high water that could disrupt city life for weeks. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has warned of a worst-case scenario in which water could rise in some areas to about 6 feet, and remain for a month or more. On Thursday, Yingluck said the flood had overwhelmed all efforts to contain it.

"It seems like we're fighting against the forces of nature," she said. "The truth is, we need to let it flow naturally out to the sea, and what we can do now is to manage it."

A young and inexperienced politician with an untried Cabinet of sometimes competing ministers, Yingluck has become the target of criticism in this severely polarized nation. Cartoons, doctored photographs and false derogatory rumors have spread on the Internet and social networks.

The coming weekend is of particular concern, when the enormous runoff from the north could combine with high tides to overflow the Chao Phraya River.

On Thursday, Bangkok residents who had not fled moved with their belongings to upper floors of their homes, or took refuge in Buddhist temples, some of which were already surrounded by water.

The river has overflowed, sending ankle-high water lapping at the white exterior walls of Bangkok's gilded Grand Palace, a treasured complex that once housed the kingdom's monarchy and is a major tourist attraction.

The water has receded with the tides, slightly flooding the area in the morning and evening, but leaving it dry in the afternoon.

After visiting the Grand Palace on Thursday, U.S. tourist Kathy Kiernan said she wasn't too concerned about flooding in the capital.

"We were a little worried when we got in to see sandbags around our hotel," said Kiernan, 47, of Salt Lake City, Utah. "But so far it's pretty normal."

Though flooding shut down Bangkok's Don Muang International Airport on Wednesday, it was operating as usual Thursday.

Several foreign governments issued advisories urging citizens against all but essential travel to Bangkok. The U.S. Embassy cautioned Americans that ground travel around Thailand was difficult and the situation should be monitored closely.fthousands of people were fleeing Thursday, jamming train and bus stations and clogging the southern highways out of town.

Floods hit Bangkok

On Thursday, October 20th, the Thai government announced that the capital Bangkok could no longer be protected from flooding due to the massive volume of water built-up at the north of the city.


On Thursday, October 20th, the , the Thai government announced that the capital Bangkok could no longer be protected from flooding due to the massive volume of water built-up at the north of the city. Consequently, sluice gates have been opened allowing the water to flow through the city. According to authorities, Central Bangkok is protected by flood barriers which have been reinforced by security forces over the past days. The government is trying to save inner Bangkok diverting the water in the eastern suburbs. The most affected districts should be Sai Mai, Klong Sam Wa, Kannayao, Min Buri, Lat Krabang, Bang Khen and Nong Chok. Several suburbs in northern Bangkok are already under water. On Wednesday, October 19th, authorities urged the population to stay on alert and move to higher ground in preparation of flooding. Severe road transport disruptions are expected in coming hours due to flooding and landslides.
Thailand is facing its worst flooding in decades. Since July, heavy rains have triggered severe floods in most of the country, killing at least 320 people, affecting thousands others and damaging seriously the country’s infrastructures. In most of Thailand, the monsoon runs from May to October, with September and October being the peak of the rainy season. In the south-eastern part of the Thai peninsula, the monsoon runs from November to March.
People travelling to Thailand must listen to local and international media in order to get updated information. Stay away from flooded areas and obey to all recommendations given by local authorities. If you are told to evacuate, do so and follow specific routes. Confirm all your travel arrangements and allow more time for travel. Travellers must be aware that several western embassies advise their citizens against all but essential travel to the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla, where an Islamic insurgency is going on.

Official Statement Situation Update:Flooding in Thailand

 

 

 

Kind to be noted, The Royal Barge !!

The Royal Barge Procession rehearsal on Oct 13 & 18 has been postponed till get further notice.

Bangkok voted Asia's best food and wine destination

Edging out Hong Kong, the street food mega-city clinched top spot on Tripadvisor.com's Traveler's Choice list

Given how popular Thai cuisine is around the world, it's not at all surprising Bangkok would be voted the top Asian food destination.
Travel website Tripadvisor.com has announced the winners of its "2011 Traveler's Choice Food and Wine Destinations" awards, with Bangkok beating out Hong Kong to claim top prize in the Asia category.

But though Bangkok might be making great strides where wine appreciation is concerned, it's definitely the food and not the drink that earned this street food mega-city the top spot on the list.

Here are the full lists of Asia, United States and European winners.

2011 Travelers' Choice Food and Wine Asia Destinations

1. Bangkok, Thailand
2. Hong Kong
3. Seminyak, Indonesia
4. Singapore
5. Sapporo, Japan
6. Hoi An, Vietnam
7. Kyoto, Japan
8. Seoul, Korea
9. Osaka, Japan
10. Koh Samui, Thailand

2011 Travelers' Choice Food and Wine U.S. Destinations

1. New Orleans, Louisiana
2. Napa, California
3. Chicago, Illinois
4. Charleston, South Carolina
5. San Francisco, California
6. New York City, New York
7. Savannah, Georgia
8. Santa Fe, New Mexico
9. Las Vegas, Nevada
10. Asheville, North Carolina

2011 Travelers' Choice Food and Wine Europe Destinations

1. Florence, Italy
2. Paris, France
3. Rome, Italy
4. Sorrento, Italy
5. York, England
6. Siena, Italy
7. Bologna, Italy
8. San Sebastian, Spain
9. Barcelona, Spain
10. Edinburgh, Scotland

TripAdvisor says its inaugural Travelers' Choice Food and Wine Destinations award winners were determined based on traveler ratings and TripAdvisor reviews.

Karen people in Northern Thailand

Karen children wearing multiple brass rings around their necks pose at a village

Thailand’s ethnic Karen minority are facing a crisis due to encroaching modernization and misunderstandings about their way of life and livelihood. Their lands have been made National Parks, thus destroying their traditional rotational farming system. Moreover, many do not have citizenship even though they were born in Thailand.
The recent burnings of the homes of some 50 Karen families in Petchaburi province is a case in point. Destruction of Karen homes has also taken place in other parts of the country.
Karen people in Thailand are found along the western border area, from Mae Hong Son province in the north down to Ratchaburi and Petchaburi provinces west of Bangkok. They live in forest and highland areas, mostly doing subsistence rice farming.
The Karen have been accused of causing deforestation due to their rotational farming practice. In fact, they respect the forest as something divine and do not cut down big trees. Their houses are made from bamboo rather than wood. There’s also a traditional practice of tying the umbilical cord of a newly born child to a big tree, so that tree spirit would protect the child as it grows up. It is forbidden to cut down such a tree.
The rotational farming system actually encapsulates the Karen people’s wisdom in protecting the forest and natural resources.

Karen people were originally from Myanmar but wars have resulted in them seeking refuge in Thailand in the 18th century
A Karen family typically cultivates between six and seven rai of land with rice for a particular year. The following year, another piece of land of similar area is cultivated, and this is repeated for seven years before coming back to the same piece of land.
This rotation of farming land allows the soil to replenish itself without the use of chemical fertilizers. In this system, seven fixed pieces of land are used by the family on a rotation basis. Thus, there is no invasion of new lands.
The Thai government passed a resolution in August 2010 saying it recognizes the wisdom and way of life of the Karen people, including the rotational farming system. Academic circles have also stated that they accept the wisdom of the Karen’s rotational farming system, and are pushing for it to be recognized as a world heritage.

In spite of this, there have been many problems and conflicts. A major factor is the declaration of several national parks across the country since 1961 by the Forestry Department. Many areas that have been declared national parks are in the traditional lands of the Karen. As they have no land titles to lands that their ancestors have settled on for decades, many Karen have been forced to move out of the forest.
National parks are created because huge parts of the country have suffered serious deforestation, resulting in other calamities such as heavy flooding. It needs to be noted that deforestation is not caused by the Karen people’s traditional lifestyle but by logging activities of investors.
Sometimes Karen people are hired as laborers by logging companies, and so are accused of destroying the forest. Even though logging concessions were stopped in 1989, illegal logging still takes place.

Saeclee dance," a courtship dance common to the Karen people
New land provided by the government for the Karen that have been evicted from national parks is insufficient. Moreover, they need to use chemical fertilizers to keep the same piece of land fertile year after year. Needless to say, they cannot practice rotational farming. Some have even been arrested for even collecting bamboo shoots for food in forest areas designated as national parks.
This change in lifestyle has forced many to become daily-wage laborers in towns, which leads to another problem: They do not have Thai ID cards. This opens them to exploitation by employers. They are not protected under Thai law and don’t have access to social welfare programs.
The process of applying for Thai citizenship is complex and takes time. This is because the Thai government is wary that ethnic minorities from across the border in Myanmar might also be trying to apply for Thai citizenship. Often the Karen are accused of being illegal migrants, even though they and their ancestors have always been on the Thai side of the border.
In this context, the local Church has been working to empower the Karen to maintain a livelihood and preserve their culture, and also bring about greater understanding between them and government authorities.
The Diocesan Social Action Center of Ratchaburi diocese, for instance, has been working with Karen communities in 100 villages in Ratchaburi, Petchaburi and Kanchanaburi provinces for some 20 years.

Karen refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border, focusing on refugee camp education
We encourage them to preserve their culture, try to keep them in the forest and help them to be self-sufficient by introducing farming of other crops such as chili and fruits. We also do surveys on their land use and report these to the government. We show the government that their activities are not the major cause of deforestation, and in fact help preserve the forest. We try to build mutual understanding between the government bureaucracy and the Karen people.
We also provide vocational training and set up micro-credit financing, especially in the towns. Recently we started a program to educate them against being trafficked, which they are vulnerable to in the towns.
On the citizenship issue, the Church center is helping the Karen to get ID cards. For example, one needs a birth certificate to get an ID card, but normally they don’t have these because they were born in the forest area far from any district office. We try to find witnesses, such as midwives and elders, to testify that one was born at a certain date at a certain location, in order to get a birth certificate. We try to get school certificates for those who went to school, as added evidence that they grew up here.
The other two Catholic diocese covering the areas where the Karen are, in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Sawan dioceses, have implemented similar programs.
Sornsak Pornjongmun has worked with the Ratchaburi Diocesan Social Action Center since 1994. The ethnic Karen layman now serves as field staff under the center’s ethnic minorities cultural restoration for project

กรมการท่องเที่ยว (Department of Tourism)กระทรวงการท่องเที่ยวและกีฬา (MOTS.)

กรมการท่องเที่ยว (Department of Tourism)
กระทรวงการท่องเที่ยวและกีฬา (MOTS.)

The Colour of Thailand

The Colour of Thailand

Phi Ta Khon Festival – Loei

Once every year, the small community called Dansai in the hills of Loei Province is the epicenter of ethnic festival activity in Thailand – it's "Phi Ta Khon" time again and enthusiasts come from near and far into this one-horse-town. The ghost festival is being held in mid-summer once yearly and the spectacular event lasts 3 days. Parted well into a timely schedule most activity but the initial one are in daytime. The awakening every year is a nightly merit making ritual. The Tourism Authority of Thailand started to promote this festival, so foreigners do came in greater numbers every year. The website: www.tessabandansai.com has a schedule, Dansai is about 450 KM north of Bangkok.




Remark : The prettiest ghosts are often done by female actresses
(check the fingers!) Ha Ha Ha !!

I Love Thailand

5 small but fantastic Bangkok museums !!

5 small but fantastic Bangkok museums
These Bangkok museums might be low on floor space, but they pack a big cultural punch. Who's up for modern art and tapeworms?

Museum of Siam's "Typically Thai" room highlights all things associated with the average Thai lifestyle.
The city's big tourist sights - the Grand Palace or Wat Pho - get all the hype.

But if you're looking for another perspective on Thai history, an interactive place to take the kids or just a spot to go on a rainy afternoon, check out any of these five small Bangkok museums.

1. Museum of Siam.

A Modern, Interactive Museum in the Heart of the Old City,. The Museum of Siam. Helps grown-up Visitors Grapple with the very definition of Eng-Ness, while Youngersters spend time sorting through the Dirt in the Mock Archeology site or shooting Old-fashioned. weapons.

Open daily except Mondays, 10 am-6 pm.

Sanam Chai Road. Tel. +66 (0) 2622 2599.

2. Silpa Bhirasri Museum.

Insight into the Modern Art Movement for Eng, V. Isit the Office and at the Studio of Florentine Corrado Feroci. Silpa Bhirasri Museum. ,. just a Few minutes away from the National Museum.

Feroci came to the country in the 1920s at the request of King Rama V and changed his name to Silpa Bhirasri when he became a Thai citizen.

He worked on numerous public projects, including Victory Monument, Democracy Monument and Rama IV's statue in Lumpini Park, and later founded Silpakorn University, Thailand's leading fine arts school.

Open Monday to Friday, 9 am-4 pm.

Fine Arts Department, Na Pra Lan Road. Tel. +66 (0) 2223 6162.

3. Bang Khunphrom Palace & The Bank of Thailand Museum.

This colonial-era building on the river has been transformed into an intimate museum dedicated to all things money.

The Bank of United States Khunphrom Bang Palace & Museum. Displays Start with shells and Beads from Ancient civilizations and move to the Country's first minted Coins and currencies.

Call ahead to arrange a visit.

273 Samsen Road. Tel. +66 (0) 2283 5286.

4. Suan Pakkad Palace Museum.

Remaining one of only a Handful of Royal Residences in the City,. Suan Pakkad. has been turned into a Small Culture Museum of Eng.

Just a Few minutes from the BTS Station Phaya Eng,. all on the Lush Grounds Eight Wooden Houses hold. different exhibits, from Musical Instruments to household Items.

Highlights include the Ban Chiang pottery collection and a restored 17th-century lacquer pavilion.

Open daily, 9 am-4 pm.

352-354 Sri Ayudhya Road. Tel. +66 (0) 2246 1775.

5. The Bangkokian Museum.

The mundane becomes fascinating at this little house off of one of Chinatown's main streets, where middle-class life in 1950s Thailand has been carefully preserved.

Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am-4 pm.

273 Charoen Krung Soi 43. Tel. +66 (0) 2233 7027.

More great Bangkok museums.

Here are a few other unique Bangkok museums that have been featured on CNNGo.

Bangkok's Museum of Counterfeit Goods.

An exhibit at a city law firm shows just how far crooks will go to manufacture fake products, and highlights the dangers the industry creates.

Thailand's Condom Museum.

All the colors of the sexual rainbow are on display inside the Ministry of Health's recently opened condom museum, deep in the bowels of Nonthaburi.

The Corrections Museum.

An intriguing palace of pain and misery offering an exciting journey through "Thai torture techniques and capital punishment through the ages.".

Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall.

A high-tech interactive museum, Nitas Rattanakosin recaps two centuries of Bangkok history in one day.

Siriraj Medical Museum.

A dark cluster of a half-dozen museums specializing in anatomy, tapeworms, natural history and autopsy photos

Flood updates for Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Sukhothai (29 September)

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has released the following situation update for 29th September 2011:


Chiang Mai
The level of water in the Upper Ping River has increased rapidly causing overflowing river banks in low lying areas. The water level has risen 4.0 metres exceeding the critical level of 3.70 metres. The measurement of the water levels was taken at Kaeo Naowarat Bridge. The water has overflowed into the local roads from Chiang Mai to Lamphun, in front of the TAT Chiang Mai Office, the Chiang Mai Municipality into Ban Pha Phrao Nok, some parts of the Charoen Prathet Road and the road underneath the Pha Dat Road has been completely shut off. From the floods on 23 September 2011, Doi Fa Hom Pok National Park in Fang District in Chiang Mai is still affected.

Chiang Rai
There is continued rainfall in 80% of the Chiang Rai province, the water levels in the rivers running through Chiang Rai are still at critical levels although the levels have not overflowed. There has been reports of a mud slide onto the road from Mae Suai district to Fang district at Kilometre 17 marker although officials have now cleared the way and this road is open again but take caution when traveling around that area as mud slides are a rather common occurrence.

Sukhothai
The water levels have decreased consistently. The problems en route to tourist attractions on Route 12 from the town centre to the Sukhothai Historical Park have now eased and small vehicles are able to pass through.

Thailand to Host the World Travel Awards on 28th September 2011

Tourism Transparent Service