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Colours of Thailand: Purple
Graduation day at Chiang Mai University (CMU). Purple is the colour associated with CMU and these little graduation teddy bears were proving to be a popular purchase at 150 Baht.
Songkran New Year festival is associated with water as Thais welcome in the traditional New Year, but it’s also a
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Songkran Sanuk
If you’ve visited Thailand during the Songkran Water Festival, you don’t need me to tell you what a unique experience it is. And if you haven’t had the opportunity to see it in person yet, I hope you like these photos that were all taken in Chiang Mai during the 2013 Songkran celeb
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Thai Fried Rice - Khao Phat
Ingredients will vary slightly depending on where you are, but typically will include egg, tomato, onion and garlic. Depending on your individual preferences you may wish to include chicken, pork, shrimp or crab.
Fried rice with chicken = khao phat gai
Fried rice with pork = khao phat moo
Fried ric
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Fresh Spring Rolls (Paw Pia Sot)
Although fresh spring rolls are more commonly associated with Vietnam or China, they do feature as appetizers in a number of restaurants in Thailand. Fresh spring rolls (known as paw pia sot in Thai) can be found at some hawker stalls and many vegetarian restaurants will also have them on the menu.
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Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Ayutthaya
One of the most impressive ancient temples in Ayutthaya, Wat Chaiwatthanaram was established in 1630 A.D. during the reign of King Prasatthong. There are a number of different theories for why the temple was built. Some believe that the king constructed the monastery in order to make-merit for his m
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Coronation Day Public Holiday in Thailand
In Thailand, May 5 is a public holiday to commemorate Coronation Day, known in Thai as Wan Chatramongkhol.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej came to the throne in June 1946 following the death of his brother. However, the king was only 18 at the time and it was decided that the new monarch should
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Dates for the Sky Lantern Launch at Mae Jo (Chiang Mai) 2013
This information is specifically for those wishing to attend the mass sky lantern release which takes place at Mae Jo, just outside the city of Chiang Mai as part of the annual that the paid ticketed event aimed at overseas visitors is Saturday, November 23. There is still no confirmed date for the
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Phra Sumen Fort and Park, Bangkok
It might need a stretch of the imagination for today’s visitors to the Thai capital to picture it, but when Bangkok was founded in 1782 it was a compact walled city with fortifications to protect it from invaders. That original area of Bangkok, also known as Ratanakosin Island, now only has a
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Wat Phra Si Sanphet and the Royal Palace, Ayutthaya
The distinctive three pagodas of Wat Phra Si Sanphet are one of the most famous sights in Ayutthaya. Much like the iconic Buddha head in tree roots at nearby Wat Phra Mahathat, images of this historic temple adorn the front of many of the post-cards and travel books that are sold in Ayutthaya.
In 1
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The Three Jewels of Buddhism
If you visit a Buddhist temple in Thailand, you will notice that the people making a prayer inside the main hall of the wat will bow down three times in front of the principal Buddha image. In the temple grounds you may also see people walking around with offerings in their hand which consist of thr
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Khao Tao, Hua Hin
A 20-minute drive to the south of Hua Hin sits Khao Tao, a name which translates as Turtle Hill. Khao Tao tends to be better-known amongst Thai tourists than foreign visitors and with two beaches close by, an inland lake, a small fishing village, some excellent local restaurants and great views over
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Nong Nooch Botanical Gardens, Pattaya
A trip to Nong Nooch gardens makes for an excellent half-day or full-day excursion for those staying in the nearby beach resort of Pattaya. With its scenic setting, the family-friendly Nong Nooch tropical gardens have enough attractions to keep visitors of all ages happy. The Thai cultural and eleph
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The Emerald Buddha
For more than 200 years the most important Buddha image in Thailand has resided at the temple of Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok. But the 66cm high statue has not always been kept in Bangkok, nor has it always been in Thailand.
Phra Kaeo Morakot (Emerald Buddha Image) is made from jade; the use of the word
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Yaksha - the Guardian Giants
If you’ve ever travelled via Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport, you’ve probably seen at least one of these imposing figures with their fangs, painted faces and bulging eyes. Known in Buddhist mythology as yaksha, they are guardian warriors who keep away evil spirits and can be seen at
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Pig Shrine (Sahachat Memorial) Bangkok
The Sahachat Memorial was built in 1913 by three members of the Siamese royal family to honour Queen Sri Phatcharinthra’s 50th birthday. It might seem like an unusual idea for a sculpture, but the queen was born in the Year of the Pig as were the three people who sponsored the memorial includi
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Chiang Rai's Golden Clocktower
Designed by Thai artist Chalermchai Khositpipat and unveiled in 2008 in honour of His Majesty the King, Chiang Rai’s elaborate golden clocktower (Hoh Nalika Chalerm Prakiat) is a work of art and tourist attraction in its own right. Chalermchai was the man who built the White Temple in Chiang R
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Boats to and from Ko Samet
There is a frequent boat service to and from Ko Samet and although there is a scheduled timetable, don’t expect the boats to stick rigidly to it. All boats to and from Ko Samet will wait until there are enough passengers before departing which means that you could have to wait for up to an hou
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Friends Holding Hands
In Thailand, it’s quite common to see female office workers walking along the street hand-in-hand during their lunch-hour. It’s a part of Thai culture where friends, especially female friends, will hold hands with each other. And age isn’t a factor; from kindergarten to university
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Democracy Monument, Bangkok
Erected to commemorate the 1932 coup which brought about the end of the absolute monarchy in Siam, the Democracy Monument (Anusawari Prachathipatai) certainly isn’t one of Bangkok’s more attractive landmarks. It is, however, one of the most symbolic and has witnessed some of ThailandR
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Don't Stand on the Threshold
I’ve written before about what you should and shouldn’t do when you visit a Thai temple. Most people seem to know about taking their shoes off before entering inside the temple building(s). At many of the popular temples in Thailand that are frequented by tourists there are reminders in
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