"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