Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [5]
HM THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY 12 Aug
The Queen’s Birthday (12 August) is a public holiday and national mother’s day. In Bangkok, the day is marked with cultural displays at Sanam Luang (Click here) as well as festive lights lining the royal avenue of Th Ratchadamnoen Klang.
SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER
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VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL Sep-Oct
A holiday from meat is taken for nine days (during the ninth lunar month) in adherence with Chinese Buddhist beliefs of mind and body purification. Cities with large Thai-Chinese populations, such as Bangkok (Click here), Trang (Click here) and Krabi (Click here), are festooned with yellow banners heralding vegetarian vendors, and merit-makers dressed in white shuffle off for meditation retreats. In Phuket the festival gets extreme, with entranced marchers turning themselves into human shish kebabs (Click here).
ORK PHANSAA Oct-Nov
The end of the Buddhist lent (three lunar months after Khao Phansaa) is marked by the gà·tïn ceremony, in which new robes are given to the monks by merit-makers. The peculiar natural phenomenon known as the ‘naga fireballs’ (Click here) coincides with Ork Phansaa.
NOVEMBER
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SURIN ELEPHANT ROUND-UP Nov
Held on the third weekend of November, Thailand’s biggest elephant show celebrates this northeastern province’s most famous residents. The event in Surin (Click here) begins with a colourful elephant parade culminating in a fruit buffet for the pachyderms. Re-enactments of Thai battles showcase mahouts and elephants wearing royal military garb.
LOI KRATHONG Nov-Dec
One of Thailand’s most beloved festivals, Loi Krathong is celebrated on the first full moon of the 12th lunar month. The festival thanks the river goddess for providing life to the fields and forests and asks for forgiveness for the polluting ways of humans. Small handmade boats (called kràthong or grà·tong) are sent adrift in the country’s waterways. The grà·tong are origami-like vessels made from banana leaves, they’re decorated with flowers, and incense, candles and coins are placed in them. Loi Krathong is a peculiarly Thai festival that probably originated in Sukhothai (Click here). In Chiang Mai the festival is also called Yi Peng (Click here).
DECEMBER
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HM THE KING’S BIRTHDAY 5 Dec
Honouring the king’s birthday on 5 December, this public holiday hosts parades and merit-makingevents; it is also recognised as national father’s day. Th Ratchadamnoen Klang in Bangkok (Click here) is decorated with lights and regalia. Everyone wears yellow shirts, the colour associated with the king’s birthday. Phuket (Click here) also holds the Kings Cup Regatta during the first week of the month in honour of the monarch.
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Itineraries
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CLASSIC ROUTES
JUST A QUICKIE Two Weeks/Bangkok to Bangkok
A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING One Month/Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima
BEACH BINGING Three Weeks/Surat Thani to Khao Lak
ROADS LESS TRAVELLED
ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENT Three Weeks/Mae Sot to Chiang Rai
TAILORED TRIPS
SOUTHERN COMFORT & CULTURE
CULTURE GEEKS
MIGHTY MEKONG RIVER RUN
THAILAND FOR KIDS
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CLASSIC ROUTES
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JUST A QUICKIE Two Weeks/Bangkok to Bangkok
Fly from Bangkok to Ko Samui or Phuket. Return to Bangkok and fly, train or bus to Chiang Mai. Rent a car for trips around Chiang Mai.
Even if you’re only doing a Thailand ‘pop-in’, you can still pack in a full itinerary thanks to the affordability of domestic flights. Start off in Bangkok (Click here) and then fly to the tropical beach resorts of Ko Samui (Click here) or Phuket (Click here). Although both are international superstars, there are plenty of quiet corners, and beaches with personalities to suit every sand hunter. If you find yourself on a spot that fits like a wet bathing suit, shop around the island before plotting your escape route to the next destination.
Once you’ve tired of sand and sun, fly up to Chiang Mai (Click here) for a Thai cooking class and temple-spotting.