Stories tagged with heritage
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Khao Yai crowded on New Year
Thailand’s biggest and most popular National Park is experiencing large crowds as visitors come for the extended New Year weekend. With more than 15,000 people expected traffic at the park entrance was backed up for more than a kilometre.
Located just two hours drive northeast of Bangkok, the park – which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, is extremely popular with Bangkok residents. Long weekends, especially New Year, often see the park crowded as visitors come to experience it’s natural environment, witness its spectacular waterfalls and picnic or camp in the cool mountainous environment.
The 4,200 beds available at park camp sites and chalets have long since been booked out, but many day trippers have swelled the numbers. Most visitors are Thai, and foreigners with flexible plans are advised to come after the long weekend is over.
Elsewhere in Thailand other popular sites were experiencing crowding, especially in the North where Thais like to traditionally head during the cool season to experience the chilly weather – a novelty in Thailand. Doi Suithep Temple in Chiang Mai was especially busy, with parking overflowing the capacity.
In Chiang Rai, where a flower pageant has been organised, 15,000 tourists showed up hoping to get tickets. Twenty thousand were also said to have visited the colourful Royal Gardens at Doi Tung nearby.
And danger struck in the South as a result of crowding, when an overloaded boat capsized during a tour of the Ang Thong Archipelago near Samui. No one was injured or died but it’s a chronic problem.
With the locals also travelling in huge numbers until the second of January, foreigners are advised to plan carefully, and avoid popular areas unless they have reservations, efficient transportation and patience. National Highways are particularly dangerous with 1,117 accidents reported over the weekend until Sunday, resulting in 118 deaths.
guide to Khao Yai
Posted by: Andrew on 31 Dec 2007, 07:22 -
Chiang Mai International Heritage Festival 2008
Chiang Mai’s first international heritage festival has just been announced and although short notice has been given, the organizers are hoping to see in excess of 300,000 visitors over the three-day event between February 14 and 17.
Officially known as the Chiang Mai International Heritage Festival 2008, the event is hoped to eventually emulate the success of the Edinburgh Festival and will rely heavily on the support of Chiang Mai's expat community, where they will get the chance to promote their country through music, dance, mime, and national dress. Promoters will also have the opportunity to sell cultural items
The festival is open to all residents but will appeal mainly to foreigners and allocated booths measuring six by three metres will be provided free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
The venue was chosen as Ratchapruek – the site of the Royal Flora 2006 – and the festival will be a first and a very big deal for Thailand as a whole. In addition, it is being held in-conjunction with the First International Viva-Weddings in the Air on February 14, Valentines Day.
Couples will attempt to break the Guinness world record by getting married in 14 hot air balloons and both events are likely going to generate huge interest during this time, with organizers Earth Wind and Fire Company Ltd., estimating a 400,000 attendance figure.
Nationalities from all over the globe are eligible to take part in the main festival and those interested must register their details on the website: Chiang Mai Heritage
The closing date for entry is January 15 2008.
Posted by: Andrew on 24 Dec 2007, 02:20