Thailand New Years 2011

Thailand is all geared up for New Years 2011 with celebrations throughout the country getting ready to kick off very soon.

Pattaya Countdown has had the town all a buzz this week with the week long celebrations leading up to New Years 2011. Fireworks displays every night along with concerts, thousands of merchants selling their wares and all kinds of great food.As well there have been dance parties set up on the beach and at Central Festival all week with many pretty Thai girls dancing their asses off.

New Years eve in Thailand promises to be a great one and I think Pattaya might just be leading the charge this year. With all the great parties and fun available though it would be wise to consider that this is one of the deadliest times in Thailand each year. If you have to drive make it short and please don’t be stupid and drive drunk! With all the available public transportation in Thailand, especially in the major tourist destinations such as Bangkok and Pattaya, you have more than enough choices to find a safe way to and from your New Years Partying.

For me personally,  New Years eve 2011 in Thailand will be a bitter sweet reminder of a year full of change and a coming year full of hope. The highs of the past year were sweet as can be but they were countered by lows that that were much lower than needed. I hope 2011 is much more of an even keel.

To all my friends, family and loved ones, I wish you all the happiest of New Years. I hope you all have a chance to spend the evening with loved ones being reminded of the great things of 2010 and the great things to come in 2011.

Have a Safe, Healthy and Happy New Years in Thailand or wherever you may be and may all of your dreams and wishes for 2011 come true.

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Pattaya Countdown 2011

The updated Pattaya Countdown 2011 schedule through the end of the year. New Years eve will be very crowded at Bali Hai Pier so you will definitely want to get there early for a good spot to watch the bands and the fireworks.

For those who want to relax and take the night in on their own terms you can watch the Pattaya Countdown festivities from Bali Hai Pier on Modern Nine T.V. from 22:30pm  to 1:30am

I’ts been announced that CNN will be on hand to film the Pattaya Countdown festivities on New Years Eve for their cable news channel as well.

Be well, be safe and have a wonderful New Years with your loved ones.

Pattaya Countdown Schedule

December 25, 2553.

19:00 to 19:30 am Opening Ceremony.

19:30 to 20:30 am Pictures Works officially opened.

20:30 to 20:40 pm fireworks display lights.

20:40 to 21:40 am Misic Motor Show.

21.40-22-30 pm shows Meryh X’Mas / Opening Act1.

22:30 pm, concert by the artist Gene Kasidit / Thaitanium.

December 26, 2553.

19:00 to 19:30 am starting activities on the stage.

19:30 to 20:30 am Misic Motor Show.

20:30 to 20:40 am the show King of Thailand.

20:40 to 21:05 pm fireworks display lights.

21.05-22-15 pm concert

22:15 pm, concert by the artist Big Ass / No More Tear.

December 27, 2553.

19:00 to 19:30 am starting activities on the stage.

19:30 to 20:30 am Misic Motor Show.

20:30 to 20:40 am the show King of Thailand.

20:40 to 21:05 pm fireworks display lights.

21.05-22-15 pm concert

22:15 pm, concerts from artists Zom Amara / Joey Boy / Lion Northern Tigers under / DJ.Spydamonkee.

December 28, 2553.

19:00 to 19:30 am starting activities on the stage.

19:30 to 20:30 am Misic Motor Show.

20:30 to 20:40 am the show King of Thailand.

20:40 to 21:05 pm fireworks display lights.

21.05-22-15 pm concert

22:15 pm, concerts from artists Chin Degree / ice defender

29 Dec 2553.

19:00 to 19:30 am starting activities on the stage.

19:30 to 20:30 am Misic Motor Show.

20:30 to 20:40 am the show King of Thailand.

20:40 to 21:05 pm fireworks display lights.

21.05-22-15 pm concert

22:15 pm, concerts from artists Apaporn Sawan / Ying Yong balance lotus beauty.

December 30, 2553.

19:00 to 19:30 am starting activities on the stage.

19:30 to 20:30 am Misic Motor Show.

20:30 to 20:40 am the show King of Thailand.

20:40 to 21:05 pm fireworks display lights.

21.05-22-15 pm concert

22:15 pm, concerts from artists Potato / Instinct.

** Date and time display and performances by various artists, Grammy or places are subject to change without notice **.

Last night New Year’s Eve. New Year 31 Dec 2553.

22:30 to 01:30 pm with performances from artists Bodyslam, Klear, Da Endorphine, Kala, The Star 6.

Pattaya Countdown 2011. With a fireworks display around Pattaya.Broadcast live on Modern Nine TV, beginning at 22:30 to 1:30 pm

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Christmas kicks off a week long gala in Pattaya leading up to New Years Eve. So, if you are in town prepare to have some fun and if not I’m sure I can get some pictures and videos for you.

Below are some videos and pictures that made for a great Christmas. I hope you and yours had a great day as well.

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Pattaya is stepping up the festivities this year by playing host to the longest New Years celebrations in all of Thailand. Pattaya Countdown 2011 will take place at Bali Hai Pier nightly from 6pm to 1am starting on December 25th and ending on December 31st.

The week long festivities will begin on Christmas day with Christmas tree decorating followed by fireworks over the bay. There will also be a fair all week long with merchants selling delicious foods from all regions of Thailand as well as souvenirs and crafts.

The Pattaya Countdown 2011 will also play host to many different types of shows and entertainment including traditional Thai song and dance as well as Thai artisans from all over Thailand.

There will also be many concerts and appearances by Thai pop artists and celebrities such as  Lu La, Clash, Bird Thongchai, Da Endorphin, Pang Nakharin Kingsak, Nut Meria, Body Slam, Mouse B.O.Y., Pu Black Head, Mos Patiphan, Potato, Paradox, Pancake, Rethorspect, Rut The Star, Sweet Mullet, B Suklit, Boy Peace Maker, Am Soawalak, So Cool, The Star 6 team, and representatives of Miss Thailand 2010.

Many of the events featured during Pattaya Countdown 2011 will be broadcast live on Modern Nine TV MCOT1, True Vision Channel 98 from 10.30pm to 1am and the Bang Channel, broadcasting from 6pm to 1am.

This will surely be a week to remember as we get ready to say goodbye to 2010. Schedule of Events below.

For this and many more events taking place around Thailand please check out the Thailand Events Calender.

December 25, 2553.

19:00 to 19:30 am Opening Ceremony.

19:30 to 20:30 am Pictures Works officially opened.

20:30 to 20:40 pm fireworks display lights.

20:40 to 21:40 am Misic Motor Show.

21.40-22-30 pm shows Meryh X’Mas / Opening Act1.

22:30 pm, concert by the artist Gene Kasidit / Thaitanium.

December 26, 2553.

19:00 to 19:30 am starting activities on the stage.

19:30 to 20:30 am Misic Motor Show.

20:30 to 20:40 am the show King of Thailand.

20:40 to 21:05 pm fireworks display lights.

21.05-22-15 pm concert

22:15 pm, concert by the artist Big Ass / No More Tear.

December 27, 2553.

19:00 to 19:30 am starting activities on the stage.

19:30 to 20:30 am Misic Motor Show.

20:30 to 20:40 am the show King of Thailand.

20:40 to 21:05 pm fireworks display lights.

21.05-22-15 pm concert

22:15 pm, concerts from artists Zom Amara / Joey Boy / Lion Northern Tigers under / DJ.Spydamonkee.

December 28, 2553.

19:00 to 19:30 am starting activities on the stage.

19:30 to 20:30 am Misic Motor Show.

20:30 to 20:40 am the show King of Thailand.

20:40 to 21:05 pm fireworks display lights.

21.05-22-15 pm concert

22:15 pm, concerts from artists Chin Degree / ice defender

29 Dec 2553.

19:00 to 19:30 am starting activities on the stage.

19:30 to 20:30 am Misic Motor Show.

20:30 to 20:40 am the show King of Thailand.

20:40 to 21:05 pm fireworks display lights.

21.05-22-15 pm concert

22:15 pm, concerts from artists Apaporn Sawan / Ying Yong balance lotus beauty.

December 30, 2553.

19:00 to 19:30 am starting activities on the stage.

19:30 to 20:30 am Misic Motor Show.

20:30 to 20:40 am the show King of Thailand.

20:40 to 21:05 pm fireworks display lights.

21.05-22-15 pm concert

22:15 pm, concerts from artists Potato / Instinct.

** Date and time display and performances by various artists, Grammy or places are subject to change without notice **.

Last night New Year’s Eve. New Year 31 Dec 2553.

22:30 to 01:30 pm with performances from artists Bodyslam, Klear, Da Endorphine, Kala, The Star 6.

With the iconic grand spectacular. With a fireworks display around Pattaya. Broadcast live on Modern Nine TV, beginning at 22:30 to 1:30 pm

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I used to find it disturbing years ago in America when Christmas started creeping up on us earlier and earlier. It used to be that the day after Thanksgiving was the official start to the Christmas holidays for businesses. You would see Christmas trees going up in store windows and lights being strung across eaves of stores with the obligatory Merry Christmas signs. Of course, these days in America it’s almost illegal to utter such foul language as” Merry Christmas”. It all has to be sanitary and unnattached such as saying “Happy Holidays”.

Nowadays you start seeing holiday stuff even earlier but being an American living in America you kinda take it for granted and it all becomes part of the corporate machines subliminal scenery.

Living in Thailand Christmas creeps up early too. I did a double take the day after Halloween when I went to the Avenue Market to pick up a few things and was confronted by a Christmas tree all lit up with packages wrapped and placed under it and Santa Claus standing beside it pointing to a sign on the tree that read ” Merry Christmas”. For the Thai’s though Christmas has a different meaning and outlook.

The beginning of November is the start of high season and hopefully jolly St. Nick will be bringing many tourists to the Land of Smiles with money laden pockets. It’s also the holiday season with Loy Krathong coming up next weekend ( November 21 ) and the Christmas/New Years holidays just around the corner which means much sanook ( fun ) for everyone.

I don’t mind seeing Christmas decorations going up early in Thailand, it doesn’t cause the same shopping/holiday stress it does in the States. Here it’s all about the fun, decorations and cute Thai girls wearing Santa hats…Santa’s elves if you will.

Plus I have the added joy of knowing that I won’t be shoveling snow this year, and when someone tells me there is a cool front moving in I know that means it might dip down to 75 degrees at midnight, brrrrrr.

There is also the joy of hearing a Thai girl saying “Merry Christmas” for the very first time

The holiday season never felt so right…

I’ll be out of town until Wednesday…heading to Bangkok, Udon Thani and Laos so hopefully like Santa I will be bringing back many goodies for all the good boys and girls and some coal for myself.

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Thai’s love sanook ( fun ) and nothing provides more sanook than a good holiday, even if it’s a borrowed one. Halloween fits the bill amazingly well and in certain areas of Thailand like Pattaya it is celebrated just as well as in the West. While you won’t find children going door to door looking for tasty treats you will find a great party atmosphere where dressing up is all part of the nights fun for adults and kids alike.

In the past Pattaya has gone all out for Halloween with parties and concerts at Bali Hai Pier as well as costume contests but this year seemed rather subdued with little fan fare to mark the day. The Hard Rock Cafe had two nights of parties but the final night on Halloween didn’t seem to be too festive, the bar was full but the party atmosphere didn’t seem there. Just across the street from the Hard Rock the city of Pattaya put on a small costume contest with live music that was fun for a little bit.

The real fun though usually happens on Walking street with falang and Thai’s alike dressing up and having a great time.

I spent the night walking around town from the Hard Rock Cafe all the way up to Walking Street and found more than a few people in the Halloween spirit as you can see below.

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Most westerners will recognize King Chulalongkorn as the boy king depicted in the movie and musical The King and I.

King Chulalongkorn is one of Thailand’s most revered and important kings. During his reign from 1868 to 1910 he brought many reforms to Thailand that helped to modernize the country.

Born on September 20, 1853 he ascended the throne in 1868 at the age of 15 and reigned for 42 years until his death in 1910.

Ushering in a new age for Thailand he was very interested in the West and learned much of the western governments and politics while extending friendship to such countries as America, Great Britain, France, and Russia. King Chulalongkorn was the first Thai King to travel extensively, visiting neighboring countries often and Europe two times.

Of his many reforms while King the most important was the abolition of slavery. As he took the throne over 1/3 of the Thai population at the time were slaves. Slavery was for life and the children of slaves were also slaves which kept the slave population growing.

A Thai could buy their way out of slavery but the price was excessive and for the most part beyond the slaves means to pay, making them a slave for life.

On August 21st 1874 King Chulalongkorn issued the Royal Slave Ablation Act which was the beginning of the end for slavery in Thailand. The act allowed for children born of slaves in or after 1868, the year of his coronation, had the right to reduce their slave price every year and by the time they were 21 if they had not already bought their freedom they would be freed. The Act also fixed the price of a slave to be half as much as it was originally. All other slaves were to have their debt lowered to 1 baht a month until they had their freedom.

The act sought to prohibit children being born into slavery and slave trading in general.

Among his other accomplishments King Chulalongkorn established a much broader political system of ministries, expanded the national railway system, established mail and telegraph services, and Began a system of public utilities with emphasis on education and health.

King Chulaongkorn is one of the most honored Thai kings to ever live. His picture can be found in every Thai house and it is widely belevied that paying respect to him will bring prosperity and good luck.

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Queen Regent Sirkit was born on August 12th 1939 to  Colonel Mom Chao Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakorn and Mom Luang Bua Kitiyakorn. She was named Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakorn. The title “Mom Rajawongse” means that she is a child of a Mom Chao the most junior class of Thai princes and descended from royalty. Her grandfather, HRH Prince Kitiyakorn Voralaksana Prince of Chandaburi, was the son of King Rama V. Her grandfather was the older brother of HRH Prince Mahidol of Songkla, Who was King Bhumibol’s father.

The Queen met her King while both were studying abroad in Switzerland. They became close after the Prince was injured and hospitalized following a motorcycle accident and the Queen visited him Daily. They were engaged in Lausanne, Switzerland in November of 1949 and were married the following year when the king returned to Thailand to take up his Royal Duties.

Today everyone will be wearing blue in honor of the Queen’s Birthday. Every day of the week in Thailand is assigned a color and the Queen was born on a Friday which is signified by blue.

The Queens Birthday not only represents Mothers Day in Thailand but it is also a national holiday and all banks and government offices will be closed. There will be many celebrations throughout Thailand in honor of their Queen who is well loved and revered in the rural areas as well in the Muslim south due to her work promoting tolerance and understanding of the Muslim Minorities in Thailand.

Happy Birthday your Majesty!

In case you might be wondering what color your day of the week is:

Sunday – red
Monday – yellow
Tuesday – pink
Wednesday – green
Thursday – orange
Friday – blue
Saturday – purple

Technically this post is early by American time but Thailand is 12 hours ahead of us.

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Buddhist statue at Wat Phra That Phanome

Today marks the beginning of Buddhist lent in Thailand. Buddhist Lent starts on the first day of the waning moon of the 8th lunar month (July) and ends on the 15th day of the 11th lunar month (October). Also known as the rains retreat or Khao Phansa in Thai.

it’s a time when all Buddhist monks will spend the next three months of the rainy season in permanent dwellings. In early Buddhism it was believed that if a monk or holy man traveled during this time when crops started growing they might accidentally trample new plants. Buddha himself said all that follow him should also follow in this tradition. This is the day that Buddhist monks will take a vow to stay in one place or temple which will house them from the coming storms and rain.

During Lent Buddhist monks aside from staying in one particular temple will teach those that wish to become ordained in the Buddhist doctrine. This will be the beginning of their studies.

Followers of Buddhism during lent are to refrain from bad actions such as alcohol or drug use, anything that would cause followers to lead an inappropriate life. During this time they will gain merit by meditating, listening to sermons and observing the 5 precepts. The precepts are

• Abstain from harming living things
• Abstain from taking things not freely given
• Abstain from indulging in sexual misconduct
• Abstain from speaking falsly
• Abstain from using intoxicating drinks or drugs that cause heedlessness

In Thailand The monks will vow to stay in one temple and not leave the temple grounds. Normally the monks would walk the surrounding city or country every morning to receive offerings from the people but being growing season Buddha doesn’t want them to trample new seedlings.
The beginning of Buddhist lent in Thailand is a celebration centered around the ceremony of giving candles to the temples for religious worship.  Colorful candle processions will be organized at each temple where the offering will be made by many participants. The procession itself will have many large ornate candles carved from bees wax into shapes of temples, religious figures, and creatures.

Offerings outside temple

The act of donating candles to the temple for religious worship is supposed to give great blessings to the donor. They will also offer food and other necessities to the monks and then the procession will walk three times around the temple. After which prayers and meditations will be done.

At this time a lot of buddhist followers will make resolutions to be a better person by giving up smoking or alchohol and observing the 5 precepts of Buddhism.

No matter what religion you are visitors are always welcome to take part in the ceremonies. Just visiting a temple on a non-holiday and making an offering is a very soothing experience that you shouldn’t miss out on if you get the chance.

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Throughout Thailand people will be heading to temples to take part in ceremonies and give flowers, incense, and other gifts to Pay respect to the great teacher Buddha. At temples such as Wat Phra That Phanom many people will gather and circle the great pagoda three times before giving their respects. The great pagoda at Wat Phra That Phanome was built eight years after Buddha’s death and houses his collar bone which is revered as a holy relic.

The following history of Visakha Bucha is courtesy of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Vancouver.

VISAKHA BUCHA
(Vesak) means the worship of the Buddha on the full moon day of the
sixth lunar month. It usually falls in May. In the case of a year with
an extra eighth lunar month–Adhikamasa (there are 13 full moons in
that year)– the Visakha Bucha Day falls on the full moon day of the
seventh lunar month.

BIRTH-ENLIGHTENMENT-PASSING AWAY

The Vesak full moon day
(The full moon day of Sixth lunar month)

Visakha
Bucha Day is one of the most important days in Buddhism because of
three important incidents in the life of The Buddha, i.e. the birth,
the enlightenment and the passing away, miraculously fall on the same
month and date, the Vesak full moon day. .So each year, Buddhists
throughout the world gather together to perform the worship to
recollect the wisdom, purity and compassion of the Buddha.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Buddha was a king by birth. His clan name was Gotama. He was born
in Sakya Kingdom, eighty years before the Buddhist Era (around 2625
year ago), at Lumbini Park (now called Rummindel, in Nepal, north of
India), in Madhayama Pradesa, located between Kapilavastu, capital of
the Sakya Kingdom and Devadaha, capital of the Koliya Kingdom, on
Friday, the Vesak full moon day in the year of the dog.

Prince Siddhatha (the Buddha’s personal name) was the son of King
Suddhodana and Queen Sirimahamaya. On his birthday, Queen Sirimahamaya
who was pregnant, wanted to pay a visit to Devadaha wich was her native
country.

In the morning of the Vesak Full moon day, the Queen left Kapilavastu
on a visit to Devadaha. Approaching a lovely park of Sals trees called
Lumbini, located between the two capitals but nearer to Devadaha, the
Queen wanted to visit the park and when she arrived at a Sal tree she
started contractions and gave birth to a son there. When the Kings of
Kapilavastu and Devadaha learned this, they were very happy and
arranged a procession back to Kapilavastu.

Prince Siddhatta was brought up in the midst of luxury, led the happy
life of a privileged youth and married at the age of 16 to Princess
Yasodhara or Bimba who bore him a son, Rahula.

He discontened and took on the life of a wandering ascetic a the bank of the Anoma River. He was then 29.

He studied the mystic practices of the foremost Brahmin ascetics and
realized that such practices were not the way to enlightenment. He went
on his own way applying the reflective thought of conscious meditation
to a rational simple life of moderation.

At the age of 35, he attained Enlightenment at Uruvelasenanigama
subdistrict, Magadha State, (nowadays, located in the area of Buddha
Kaya, Bihar State, India), on Wednesday, the Vesak Full moon day, the
year of the cock, forty five years before the Buddhist Era.

The Dhamma discovered by the Buddha was Ariyasacca or the Four Noble Truths, namely:

The Noble Truth of Suffering

The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering

The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering

The Noble Truth of the Path leading to the Extinction of Suffering

After having attained Enlightenment, the Buddha wandered from place to
place teaching his discoveries to people who are accessible to
instruction, helping large numbers of them achieve various levels of
spiritual attainment. He sent his followers to spread Buddhism in
capitals, cities and upcountry, until Buddhism was firmly established
and widely spread.

The Buddha passed away on Tuesday, the Vesak full moon day in the year
of the small snake under the two Sal trees in the Sala Grove of the
Mallas in Kusinara, capital of the Malla State, (nowadays located in
Kusinagara of Uttrarapradesa, India) at the age of eighty (around 2545
years ago).

The performance of the rituals on Visakha Bucha day had been
continuously observed in Jambudavipa or India, the motherland of
Buddhism, for a long time before Buddhism spread to Sri Lanka and
Thailand. There, the Visakha worship has been continually observed to
the present day.

In Thailand, Visakha Bucha observance began during the Sukhuthai period
(around 700 years ago), because of the close religious relations
between Thailand and Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan monks came to propagate
Buddhism in Thailand and were highly respected. Thai monks also went to
study in Sri Lanka. It’s believed that, those monks introduced this
ceremony to the King and people at that time.

More pictures of Wat Phra That Phanom can be seen in the gallery Wat Phra That Phanom.

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