Mekong River International Multi-Sport ITU Asian Cup 2009

Date : 27th - 29th March 2009

Venue : Along the Mekong river, Amphoe Mueang Nong Khai, Nong Khai

Hightlights :Buddy Bike & Run

Aquathlon Asian Cup Series 2009

Duathlon Asian Cup Series 2009

Triathlon ITU Asian Cup 2009

Let’s see Thai-Lao Friendship Brideg, OTOP Fair, Food Fair, etc.

For More Information :
Triathlon Association of Thailand, Tel. 66 (0) 2578 4515, (0) 814 843 335
TAT Udon Thani, Tel. 66 (0) 4232 5406-7
Events Planning Division,TAT, Tel. 66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 3475-77
TAT Call Center 1672
website : www.thaitriathlon.org

From TourismThailand.Org - The Official Website for Tourism in Thailand

King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament

Date : 23 - 30 March 2009

Venue : Anantara Golden Triangle Resort, Chiang Rai

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas have announced the 2009 dates for the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament. The highly popular event will take place from March 23 to March 29 in the northernmost region of Thailand known as the Golden Triangle.

A blessing ceremony will be held before the opening match where monks sprinkle holy water over both players and animals to ensure a successful tournament. In addition, a parade of northern traditional-style dancers, hill-tribe villagers in traditional costume, elephant spirit men (Khru Ba Yai), colourfully decorated pachyderms and teams holding up their respective country flags will kick off the weeklong competition held on the banks of the Ruak River which divides Thailand from Burma.

During the first five years of the tournament, the event took place in the Royal seaside town of Hua Hin before moving to the native home of elephants in 2006 – the Golden Triangle. The tournament was introduced to Thailand in 2001 by Anantara Resorts and is a charitable event that raises money for the country’s National Elephant Institute in Lampang, northern Thailand.

In just seven years the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament has gone from a small two-day event with six teams into a week-long extravaganza, which in 2008 featured 12 teams from four continents encompassing 40 players from at least 15 countries.

Through its own Elephant Camp located within the grounds of the Anantara Resort Golden Triangle, the property’s focus on the future of Thailand’s pachyderm population forms an integral part of the resort’s operations. On an ongoing basis, resident Elephant Camp Director, John Roberts, works closely with the Thai government’s Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang to develop Anantara’s camp as an elephant sanctuary.

To date the tournament has raised over US$200,000 for the National Elephant Institute, which provides medical care, sustenance, employment, and mahout training to Thailand’s elephant population. In 2008 the funds were used to run the custom build ambulance that was donated at the opening ceremony of the most recent tournament. It is estimated that Thailand has around 2,500 domesticated elephants and 1,500 wild elephants. This is down from an elephant population of around 50,000 in 1950 and 100,000 in 1900.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) fully endorses the King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament, having identified it as one of the country’s prime annual special events. It will take place in the grounds of Anantara Resort Golden Triangle, and spectator entrance is free.


For more information
On King’s Cup Elephant Polo, please visit http://www.anantaraelephantpolo.com/

Anantara Resort Golden Triangle is located 60km north of Chiang Rai’s international airport.

For enquiries and reservations, please call + 66 (0) 5378 4084 or + 66 (0) 2 477 0760
or email infogt@anantara.com


For more information please visit http://www.anantara.com/


From TourismThailand.Org - The Official Website for Tourism in Thailand

5 th World Thai Martial Arts Festival

Date: 15th - 17th March 2009

Venue: City of Ayutthaya Stadium, Ayutthaya, Thailand

CELEBRATION NAIKHANOM TOM DAY ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE OF THAI MARTIAL ARTS & WORLD MUAYTHAI FEDERATIONWai-Kru Ceremony Muay Boran & Krabi – Krabong SeminarNai Khanomtom Pro/Championships Belt

In Muay Thai, the boxer will always preface the fight with Wai Kru and this tradition is still practised nowadays. This ceremony is usually performed to rousing Thai music from pipes and drums, and with the initial Ram Muay (the boxing movement). The Wai Kru & Ram Muay are useful, since the Boxer gains encouragement from paying homage to his Teachers and feels that he is not on his own: he has his Teacher & the other Teachers of the Muay Thai discipline to support him.

The Wai Kru process will also give him time to concentrate & revise what he has learned, as well as display the nature of his weapons and the high degree of his skill. The steps, movements & use of his weapons are designed to warm up the body’s muscles, survey the field of play & conceal the contestant’s style of fighting. When the traditional Sarama music sounds around the ring it is recognised by all who are present as a symbol of deference & respect. Prior to the fight, the music helps to urge the fighter on, and rouses his spirit until he is ready to face his opponent in the boxing ring in manly combat.

Programs
Sunday 15th March 2009
07.00 - 16.00 hr. Seminar of Muay Boran Courses & Krabi Krabong
08.00 - 16.00 hr. Competition of Amateur Muay Thai, Muay Thai Boran and Krabi Krabong 17.30 hr. Introduction to all the Grand Masters and Masters all Ranking of Kru. Oats of respect to all teachers. Present Mongkon and blessing to the new comers. The Fighter for Muaythai ready for the start.
19.30 hr. Welcome Party

Monday 16th March 2009
07.00 - 16.00 hr. Seminar of Muay Boran & Krabi Krabong Courses
08.00 - 16.00 hr. Competition of Mae Mai Muay Thai, Amateur Muay Thai, Muay Thai Boran and Krabi Krabong (Semi-Finals)
10.00 - 16.00 hr. Local Thai Sports Show… Muay Thai Boran, Muay Tabchak and fighting cock
19.00 - 20.00 hr. Competition of Aerobic Muay Thai

Tuesday 17th March 2009
"WORLD MUAYTHAI DAY (NAI KHANOMTOM DAY)"
07.00 hr. For anyone must go to pay respect and holy
10.00 - 15.00 hr. Ceremony at Nai Khanomtom statue. President arrival at the statue Start of the Holy Ceremony The final 3 bout of Amateur, Final Muay Boran, demonstration Presentation of Wai Kru, Mae Mai & Amateur Medals And Special Nai Khanomtom Amateur Local Thai Sports Show… Muay Thai Boran, Muay Tabchak and fighting cock
10.00 - 16.00 hr. Closing Ceremony

For More Information : www.ideabar.com/muaythai

From TourismThailand.Org - The Official Website for Tourism in Thailand

Phangan Triathlon 2009

Date : March 14 -15, 2009

Venue (Start/Finish) : Thongsala beach, Koh Phangan, Suratthani, Thailand

Koh Phangan Tourism Promotion association, Koh Tao Tourism Association and Phangan Triathlon Association are hosting the Second Phangan Triathlcn to help build a reputation as attractive triathlon destination.

Distances :

1. Duathlon : Run 10 Km. Bike 40 Km. Run 5 Km.

2. Triathlon : Swim 1.5 Km. Bike 40 Km. Run 10 Km.

3. Triathlon Team Competition : for three (male and female)

4. Triathlon : The age under 15 and Team : Swim 500 M. Bike 15 Km. Run 5 Km.

Prize money for the duathlon open category is Bt5,000 and Bt8,000 male open.Triathlon prize money is Bt10,000, except for male open, Bt12,000 and age under 15 Bt5,000.

For more information : www.phangantriathlon.com

From TourismThailand.Org - The Official Website for Tourism in Thailand

Thai Elephant Week

Date : 13 March 2009

Venue : Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, Lampang

Thailand’s most noble beast, the elephant is the star of two important events this month. In the northern province of Lampang, people interested in the welfare and care of these noble animals gather for Thai Elephant Week, 13 March at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre.The scene of documentary films made for worldwide TV audience, the conservation centre, located in Hang Chat district in Lampang province, is a renowned refuge where elephants, both healthy and invalid, can be cared for and respected.

In this day visitors can learn from mahouts about the traditions and practices that help to maintain an elephant’s health and well-being. On the lighter side, visitors can also join the mahouts, feeding the elephants in the style of the northern Khantok dinner. Considered an ancient royal tradition adopted by princes and high-ranking officials of the Lanna Kingdom, the Khantok dinner is at the pinnacle of traditional northern cuisine.

So what better way to recognise and respect our elephants than to give them a Khantok treat?

For more information
TAT Chiang Mai Office, Tel 66 (0) 5324 8604, 66 (0) 5324 8607
Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, Tel 66 (0) 5424 7979
www.thailandelephant.org

From TourismThailand.Org - The Official Website for Tourism in Thailand

The 24th ASEAN Barred Ground Dove Festival

Date : 7 - 8 March 2008
Venue : Khwan Mueang Park, Mueang District, Yala

Thais have long believed that doves are creatures which bring good luck to those who rare them. They are also regarded as symbols of purity and peach. Those with qualities specified by ancient texts are believed to bestow great wealth and honor upon their owners. The ASEAN Barred Ground Dove Festival attracts dove-lovers from the southern part of Thailand as well as from neighboring countries. The major highlight is a dove-cooing and red-whiskered bulbul singing competition. Local products are on sale as well.

Contact :
TAT Narathiwat Office, Tel. 66 (0) 7351 6144, 7352 2411
Yala Municipality Office, Tel. 66 (0) 7321 4898

From TourismThailand.Org - The Official Website for Tourism in Thailand

4th Phuket Japanese Festival

Tourism Authority of Thailand, Phuket Office and Phuket Japanese Association will hold “The 4th Phuket Japanese Festival” on the 7th of March 2009 at Queen Sirikit Park in Phuket Town.

As we are one of the parts of Phuket, we would like to provide the opportunity to the local people who is working for the tourism and local students interested in Japan and Japanese people through the Japanese traditional festival which introduce the Japanese culture and foods, and we hope these experiences will help them to be familiar with Japanese tourists.

And also, we hope this festival make Japanese children in Phuket improve their knowledge of Japan.

Due to the economic crisis and the Bangkok Airport closed last year, it is very hard situation for Japanese market. So we hope this festival shows the good news of Phuket through the media to Japan and can be contributed to the tourism as we usually had done in the past.
This festival is supported by Tourism Authority of Thailand (Phuket Office), Japan Embassy in Bangkok, The Japan Foundation, Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok, and Japanese Association in Thailand, Fujifilm and Japan Airlines which are our special sponsors.

The highlights of the festival are “Free photo taken with Kimono by Fujifilm” and “JAL Air Ticket to Japan” for the lucky draw.

Also, In order to promote further exchanges between Japan and Mekong Region Countries (Kingdom of Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Union of Myanmar, Kingdom of Thailand, and Socialist Republic of Viet Nam), it was decided at the Japan-Mekong Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in January 2008 to celebrate the year 2009 as "Mekong-Japan Exchange Year." By the government.

In this Japanese festival, it came to co-sponsor with The Japan Foundation, Bangkok, and to screen the movies as a film festival, and it is authorized as one of the events of the Japan - Mekong Exchange Year. Two movies will be shown (“YUKI NI NEGAUKOTO” and “BEAT KIDS”).

The movies will be shown at the Baan Kathu School one day before the festival on March 6, 2009 and it is also one of the promotions for the festival.

We will hold the first speech contest during the festival. We would like to provide the opportunity to the students who are studying Japanese hard, and we hope they use this event for the improved motivation to further studying Japanese.

In others, the Heisei Nozomi no Kai, Japanese acting volunteer group comes from Japan to show the Edo folk craft as same as the last time, and you will enjoy it. And also we will organize Thai Classical Dancing Performance to present Thai Traditional cultural for relationship between Thailand and Japan; such as local Thai dessert.

Additionally, we have much more things at the festival. Lucky draw free ticket and free gift will be distributed, first come and first served basis. We are waiting for many people coming on that day.

More information Contact:
TAT Phuket Office Tel. 076 – 212213, 211036
or
Phuket Japanese Association Tel. 076 – 234446

From TourismThailand.Org - The Official Website for Tourism in Thailand

Honda LPGA Thailand 2009

Date : February 26 – March 1, 2009

Venie : Pattaya’s Siam Country Club, Chon Buri

Following the successes of the Honda LPGA Thailand 2006 and 2007, Mr. Kenji Otaka, President of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Ltd. announces Honda’s continued support of the Honda LPGA Thailand 2009 “Since its inauguration in 2006, the Honda LPGA Thailand has now become one of the highlights in the LPGA Tournament, and forms an integral part of the LPGA calendar. The tournament was a huge success last year which attracted more than 25,000 spectators at the golf course and secured the participation of world-class LPGA golfers.”

It is indeed an honour for Honda, in its capacity as title sponsor, to team up with our partners in organizing this Honda LPGA Thailand 2009 which will be held at Siam Country Club, Pattaya. For fans and enthusiasts, they will be treated to four days of world-class golf, watching their favourite players in action as they attempt to beat their personal best scores to win the top cash prize from US$ 1.45 million prize purse.

As well as thrilling the golf fans with a keenly fought contest, the tournament allows them to see top-ranked professionals of the Ladies Professional Golf Association competing this year. Honda is delighted to confirm the participation of the world’s leading female golfers, Ms. Lorena Ochoa, and Ms. Paula Creamer, who will both take part in next year’s exciting tournament. The Honda LPGA 2009 will be spiced up with an additional Hole-in-one prize of the new Honda Accord 2.4 EL valued at 1.5 million baht.

The player field of Honda LPGA Thailand 2009 will comprise of 50 leading LPGA Tour players and 10 sponsor invites, competing for a purse of US$1.45 million over 72 holes stroke play with no cut in the field. The strong player field of Honda LPGA Thailand 2009 will ensure the Thailand crowds experience the most exciting actions at Pattaya in the weekend of February 26 to March 1, 2009.

For More Information

TAT Pattaya Office Tel. 66 (0) 3842 8750, 66 (0) 3842 7667

http://www.lpgathailand.com

From TourismThailand.Org - The Official Website for Tourism in Thailand

The North Face River Kwai Trophy 2009

Date : 28 February 2009

Venue : Saiyok district, Kanchanaburi

Under the banner of the Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series, the event will attract 120 teams comprising of two participants in each team, who will tackle an adventure course that includes running, mountain biking, swimming and kayaking. The race route travels along scenic trails and explore the mountainnns and farmlands of western Thailand.Backing the event are the Tourism Authority of Thailand and North Face, while the actual running of the event comes under sports activity specialist, Active Management Asia.

Extreme adventure racing, that test stamina and team work, has grown in popularity in Thailand with the Kanchanaburi event attracting nearly 60% of its participants from neighbouring countries such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, as well as participants from even Europe. The 2006 augural event gained 46 team registrations, while the 2007 event grew to attract 80 teams and 120 teams in the 2008 event. Now 120 teams, of two participants in each team, will participate in the 2009 event.

There are three signature events in the 2009 series. The season kicks off with the River Kwai Trophy in Kanchanaburi, followed by the inaugural Chiang Mai Challenge, 10 May and the second Bangkok Challenge, hosted in Nong Chok district, on the outskirts of the capital, this November.

For more information, visit www.riverkwaitrophy.com

Phuket International Blues Rock Festival

Date : 19 - 22 February, 2009
Venue : Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, Phuket

The 2009 Phuket International Blues Rock Festival promises to be bigger than ever with at least 12 acts performing on stage during the two-night event. Now a firm fixture in Phuket’s annual entertainment calendar, the festival attracts top blues bands from around Thailand, while two popular bands from Australia and the US return once more.



Ricky Zen will once again MC the event which will have a minimum of twelve acts total with five international bands, and its headliner will be none other than Eric Bibb! Eric is a New York native but has lived in Europe most of his adult life. He is one of the greatest contemporary bluesers and tours constantly all over the world. We are very pleased to have been able to secure this wonderful artist for the 2009 show. Next on the big newcomer list is California’s Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88s. Mitch is a world class New Orleans style boogie-woogie piano man and has set crowds abuzz around the world for 30+ years. From Europe comes Bert Deivert & Janne Zander, a top rated blues duo from Sweden. The OZ contribution to the festival this year is a beautiful lady from the city of Perth in Western Australia. Her name is KNIKI and her voice is grunty, strong and sexy. Having listened to her just released second cd, "JUST", we just felt compelled to invite her to the 2009 show.

The 2009 festival will see a tribute act for the first time: "Chasing Jimi" - a Tribute to Jimi Hendrix featuring Jimmy Fame (USA).By popular demand Rich Harper will return along with The Blues Machine and Bangkok’s Cannonball. Our very own Groove Doctors fronted by Tony ’Hacksaw’ Wilson will also be back for some on-stage surgery. See The Bands page, and more coming – stay tuned!

Established to support local charities, this year’s event will donate funds to charities that organise education for young children -- the Phuket International Women’s Club and the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation.

For more information
www.phuketbluesfestival.com

Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony

Date : 13-15 February 2009

Venue : Ko Kradan, Sikao District, Trang

The brides and grooms parade through the city streets and attend lavish parties. The wedding ceremony will be held on the beach in a traditional Thai style while the registration procedure will take place underwater off Ko Kradan.

For more informations :

TAT Trang Office, Tel : 66 (0) 7521 5867, 7521 1058, 7521 1085

Trang Tourism Coordination Centre, Tel. 66 (0) 7521 5867-8

Trang Chamber of Commerce, Tel. 66 (0) 2545 3322

Website : www.underwaterwedding.com