Khantoke Chang Festival - February 14-17 2007 at Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, Lampang

The Khantoke Chang Festival will be held on February 14 -17 2007 at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, Hang Chat District, Lampang Province.

The Thai Elephants Conservation Centre is a training school that teaches mahouts and elephant keepers on how to care for and train young elephants. It also has a facility that provides free veterinary services to sick and old elephants from all over the country. The centre is located in the Thung Kwian forest park in Hang Chat district, about 32 kilometres from Lampang town.The Khantok Chang Fair is held at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre every year on the first weekend of February. In this event, elephants are feasted with an assortment of their favourite fruits and vegetables served on a big northern style food tray called “Tok”. Talent shows from the elephants are also part of the activities.

Add comment January 8th, 2007

Chiang Mai Flower Festival - February 02-04 2007

The Chiang Mai Flower Festival is similar to other flower festivals held around the world such as Taiwan’s In-Season Flower Festival, Japan’s Sakura Festival and the Netherland’s and Belgium’s Flower Parades.

Thailand’s first Flower Festival was hosted by Chiang Mai in 1977. It was such a big success that it became an annual event in Thailand since then. The festival’s interesting highlights is the many beautiful flower floats decorated with different species of flowers. Each flower, each petal, each shade of colour is carefully selected and positioned on the float to form patterns, words and pictures.
Every float conveys a unique message of its own; some tell of Chiang Mai’s rich heritage, others speak of the life style of
Thai people, some illustrate a religious principles or show some event of Buddha’s life, others look to the past with

scenes from history, and still others express a contemporary idea with abstract and modern designs.

The parade begins at Chiang Mai Railway Station and passes Nawarat Bridge and ends at Nong Buak Hat Park.

At the Park there are competitions for various categories of flowers, fruit and vegetables, for flower arrangements and miniature gardens as well as hundreds of stalls selling everything you can imagine. As the festival is very popular for both the tourists and locals so most of the hotels are generally full so be warned to book in advance!

All in all - if you will be in Chiang Mai during the above dates, this event is one of the most interesting sites that you should not miss!

Add comment January 8th, 2007