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Updated Swine Flu In Thailand

The rising death toll from the Mexican swine flu epidemic sent a wave of panic around the world on Monday with the United States declaring a public health emergency and other nations ordering border clampdowns.
In Thailand, airport health officials began using thermal screening equipment to monitor passengers arriving from the southern United States and Mexico for flu-like symptoms includIng fever.
China and Thailand joined Russia in banning meat imports from Mexico and the five US states where 20 swine flu cases have been confirmed.
Thai health officials joined other governments in warning against unnecessary travel to Mexico. Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said the number of confirmed and suspected swine flu deaths had hit 149. In the capital, Mexico City, residents donned blue face masks and stocked up on food and water in anticipation of a long lock-down.
The Mexican health minister said the victims were aged between 20 and 50.
US and European officials on Monday advised citizens against most travel to Mexico as a swine flu virus that began there spread to the United States and beyond. With 40 cases now reported in the US, President Barack Obama urged calm, saying there was reason for concern but not yet "a cause for alarm." Cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the US, Canada and Spain. Scotland confirmed two cases on Monday evening. Mexican President Felipe Calderon called for calm but governments around the world ordered emergency measures to contain suspected cases and stock markets blamed the flu for a new share battering.
The European Union began organising an emergency meeting of health ministers, and governments put strict security around flights from Mexico, taking any suspected cases into quarantine.
The World Health Organisation has warned that swine flu -- apparently born out of a mix of human and avian flu viruses that infected pigs -- could become a pandemic and called for all nations to "intensify surveillance".
The number of suspected cases in Mexico has reached 1,614, up from 1,324, the health minister said on national television.
President Calderon urged people to join efforts to contain the virus. He said Mexicans had to "move fast, but to maintain calm and cooperate with the authorities."
Mexico City was deserted after its 20 million residents were ordered to avoid crowds, and a football game at the 105,000-seat Aztec stadium was played with no fans on Sunday.
The only confirmed cases outside Mexico are the 20 in the United States and six in Canada.
Richard Besser, acting head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said there were eight confirmed cases in New York City, seven in California, two in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio.
An official said the US government intends to release a quarter of the national stockpile of 50 million doses of the Tamiflu and Relenza anti-viral drugs.
The Defense Department, she added, had procured seven million treatment courses of Tamiflu.
After China, Thailand and Russia banned some US pork imports, US officials insisted it was virtually impossible to catch swine flu from eating meat as long as it is properly cooked.
Authorities across the Asia-Pacific region, which has in recent years been at the forefront of the SARS and bird flu epidemics, stepped up checks at airports and urged the public to be on guard for symptoms.
Ten New Zealand students who recently traveled to Mexico are "likely" to have contracted swine fever, Health Minister Tony Ryall said -- the first suspected cases in the region of more than three billion people.
Two people admitted to an Australian hospital with flu symptoms after returning from Mexico finally tested negative for deadly swine flu.
In Malaysia, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said even travelers arriving from the United States were being screened. Thai authorities installed thermal scanners at Bangkok airport to monitor passengers.
Spain screened all passengers arriving off flights from Mexico and tested eight suspected swine flu cases. Two patients in Scotland were also under observation after their return from Mexico.
However, four suspicious cases in France were given the all-clear.
Nine people in Colombia and one in Brazil were placed under observation after they arrived from Mexico with flu symptoms.
In the Middle East, a 26-year-old Israeli was hospitalized in Netanya on returning from Mexico.
Swiss pharmaceutical group Roche said it was ready to send out more stocks of Tamiflu, which it manufactures, but stock markets around the world took fright over the outbreak.
Airline stocks in particular plunged on worries that governments could impose travel restrictions.
"Swine flu is ripping through the markets creating uncertainty in its wake," said Manoj Ladwa, senior trader at financial spread-betting firm ETX Capital in London.
Health officials in Hong Kong, which was at the forefront of the Sars epidemic in 2003 and has since been on alert for bird flu, said they would detain anyone with symptoms of swine flu after arriving from an infected area.
China warned international travellers to be alert for any signs of infection and banned all pork imports from Mexico and parts of the United States, despite health officials saying the current outbreak was being spread by human-to-human contact.
The most common measure being put in place was the use of thermal scanners, which have been a common feature in many Asian airports since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) epidemic six years ago.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said the country was well prepared to deal with any new flu outbreak thanks to a plan drawn up during the 2003 bird flu scare, with stocks of anti-flu medication in place.
Japan said it would fast-track efforts to find a vaccine, while one company pulled back the families of staff based in Mexico, travel agencies scrapped package tours and drug stores reported a brisk trade in face masks.
Hong Kong announced some of the toughest measures to ward against an outbreak, warning that passengers arriving from affected areas and showing flu-like symptoms would be quarantined.
"We will take that patient to the hospital and let him stay there and have a test and until the test result is negative, we won't allow him to get out of the hospital," said Thomas Tsang, from the city's centre for health protection.
Airlines were broadcasting messages on selected inbound flights advising passengers to report symptoms such as sudden fever.
In Vietnam, where 56 people have died from bird flu since 2003, airport screening was focused on passengers arriving from North America, the Thanh Nien newspaper reported.
"The city must take immediate measures to prevent and cope with the dangerous disease," Nguyen Van Chau, the director of Ho Chi Minh City's health department, was quoted as saying.
Thailand, which recorded 17 fatal human cases of bird flu between 2004 and the last outbreak in August 2006, began screening passengers arriving at its main international airport in Bangkok.
Australian Health Minister Nicola Roxon said that all planes arriving from the Americas would be required to report on the health status of passengers before receiving permission to land and that anyone with flu-like symptoms would be quarantined.
Despite the World Health organisation warning at the weekend that the virus had the potential to cause a pandemic, Taiwan Health Minister Yeh Chin-chuan urged the public to remain calm.
"There is no need to panic over the outbreak at the moment. The present situation is like a tropical storm emerging on the other side of the Pacific which poses no immediate threat to people here," he said.
Philippine authorities announced that they were screening passengers arriving from Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York and urged people to avoid hugging and kissing at public gatherings. All air passengers arriving in Thailand from infected areas will be monitored by thermal scanners for signs of a fever, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said on Monday. Mr Witthaya said health cards detailing the outbreak of swine flu will be distributed to both departing and arriving passengers.
The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of influenza in Mexico and the US a “public health emergency of international concern” on Sunday.
Swine flu is a type of influenza virus usually found in pigs. The most common version is H1N1, and the current virus causing concern is a new variation of an H1N1 virus.
Swine flu does not typically pass to humans directly, but such transmission can occur. The current swine flu virus is concerning to health experts because it has shown the ability to pass from human to human.
veterinarian Rungroj Thanawongnuvej, of Chulalongkorn University, said the deadly strain of the virus causing the infections had not been detected in Thailand.
The difference between bird flu and swine flu is that swine flu is less deadly, with a lower proportion of fatalities.
The bird flu virus affects all systems of human body, but the swine virus affects only the respiratory system.
The symptoms include fever, runny nose, coughing, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhea, he said.Cooked pork will not transmit the virus to consumer, he said.
Thai pig raisers issued a statement insisting that Thai pork was safe to eat.

From: Bangkok Post

Swine Flu in Thailand

The Thai government has assured foreign investors of their safety from the swine flu outbreak while visiting the country.Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told a press conference earlier on Tuesday that his administration will try its best to make overseas tourists feel safe from the swine influenza which has killed more than 100 people in Mexico already.Abhisit also told the nation that there has not been any confirmed case of infection in Thailand yet.However, local news have reported that a 42-year-old woman has just been admitted to Chulalongkorn Hospital today for suspected contraction of the deadly virus. Reports also stated that the country’s first flu suspect returned from Mexico earlier this month before falling sick. Meanwhile, the government has set up a special taskforce to monitor the situation in the kingdom. The team is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasat.In addition, Abhisit denied claims that the government has forbidden Thais from traveling to risk countries including Mexico and certain states in the U.S.However, he affirmed that strict measures are now in place to watch over the arrivals of suspected patients.At the same time, Public Health Minister, Witthaya Kaewparadai, has asked those with plans to visit the countries where the virus could be spreading to put off their plans for some time.

Moreover, Bangkok Governor, give 600,000 pcs of mask for people to prevent from the Swine Flu.

From: Moneychannel.com

Bangkok, The Transportations

BTS Sky Train: BTS Sky Train stations can mostly be found in commercial areas of Sukhumvit and Silom, it is fast and safe. The sky train is divided into 2 lines: Sukhumvit line (On Nut Station-Mo Chit Station), and Silom lines (Saphan Taksin Station-National Stadium Station). The sky train has a minimum and maximum fare of 10-40 baht. Tourists may buy 30 day tourist tickets to save money, only 250 baht/10 trips, or day tickets, 100 baht (unlimited trips). The BTS Tourist Information Centers is open daily from 8.00 a.m. - 8.00 p.m. atthe following stations:Siam, Nana and Saphan Taksin. For more information, call: 0-2617-7340.

BMCL Subway: BMCL Subway is another comfortable and fast transportation choice. The beginning of “Chalerm Ratcha Mongkhon” line is Hua Lum Phong station (also the main train station in Bangkok), total of 18 stations, major stations at: The Queen Sirikit's International Convention and Exhibition Center, Silom, Suan Lumpini, Asoke, Ratchada, Ladprao and Pahonyotin road. The Asoke and Silom stations are connected to the the BTS. There are also "Park & Ride" at Ladprao and Phra Ram 9 Stations. BMCL Subway has a minimum and maximum fare of 10-15 baht (For trial period only)The BMCL subway is open daily from 06.00 a.m. - 12.00 midnight. For more information, call: 0-2264-5200.

Buses:
There are a lot of buses offered in Bangkok going to all places, with a fare starting at 3.5 baht for open air buses. Air-conditioned blue buses have minimum and maximum fares from 8 to 16 baht. Euro II or Orange air-conditioned buses charge 10-20 baht. Air-conditioned microbuses charge a flat fare of 20 baht all routes. For more information call 184 or 0-2246-0973.A buses route map is available at bookshops. A free city map can also be picked up at The Bangkok Tourist Division office, Bangkok Tourist Information Booths throughout Bangkok and the TAT office .
Taxis: Taxis in Bangkok are metered. They charge a minimum of 35 baht, for the first 3 kilometers, and approximately 5 baht per kilometer thereafter.When in Traffice the meter is timed and calculated in the fare.



Tuk-Tuk: These three-wheeled 'open-air' motorised taxis are popular for short journeys. Fares must be bargained in advance. Minimum fares, for journeys of up to 3 kilometers, are approximately 30 baht.




Boats: There are various types of boat identified in color flags. Boat service on the Chao Phraya River connects Bangkok with the northern neighbouring province of Nonthaburi, starting from the Tha Nam Non Pier and ending at Saphan Taksin Pier (Sathorn).Boat (no flag) stop at all pier, has a minimum fare of 8 baht.Rapid boat (orang flag) has a fare of 10 baht all routes.Express boat (yellow flag) stop at only on crowded and main piers. The Express boat has a fare of 15 baht all routes. After rush hour, these boat are used for tourist purpose. There are guide boats for travellrs with guide to give information about the riverside. The boat with blue flag, is the fastest stopping only on 3 pier, ThaNamNon Pier, Siriraj Pier and SaphanTaksin (Sathorn) Pier.It has a minimum and maximum fares from 25-35 baht. (For trial period, it just newly had this type)Boats run daily from 06.00 A.M-06.40 P.M.

Motorcycles Taxi: In rush hours, there is a lot of traffic jam, if your late and want to be on time you can try the motorcycle taxi. Fares must be bargained in advance. Minimum fares are 5 baht. You need to bargain the fare before taking the ride.

Wat Rong Khun, Chiang Rai

Wat Rong Khun, a white beautiful temple in Chiang Rai, the north end of Thailand. This temple was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a well-known Thai visual Buddihist imagery artist.
The temple is built with all white color which means the purity of the Loard Buddha. In front of the temple there are a bridge leading to the temple whichmean the crossing over from the rebirth to Nivarana orthe Adobe of Buddha, a paire of giant fang stands for sin.



People waiting to see the fauntain show.


Art that showing the unique style of Chalermchai




Faountain and light show in the night




Hands from hell in front of the temple

Some sample of art from Chalermchai


Remark: Wat Rong Khun Open daily from 6.30am to 6.00pm

Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing

Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing
Some countries have their own flighting style to protect themselve, such as Karate in Japan, and Kung Fu in China. The Thai flighting style is Muay Thai.Muay Thai is an ancient Thai matial art. It originated in the Ayutthaya. Nowadays, Muay Thai becomes a kind of sports. Muay Thai takes five rounds per match and three minutes duration. A match is decided by a knockout or by points.

Before starting the match, it is the time of "WAI KHU" dance-the slow motion dance to pay respect to his teacher. The dance shows his appearance and is the way to warm up before the competition, while dancing the boxer wears headband which called Mongkhol in order to bestow luck to the wearer. The headband will be remove after Wai Khu dance by the boxer's trainer.In the match, each boxer will flow out all his ability and flighting skill to win the oponent by using his knees, feet, elbows, and shoulders, and prevent his body from the opponent. From the homage dance to the end of match, Thai musical ban, comprising a Javanese clarinet, drums and cybals, accompanies the match.

Watches and cheers " Muay Thai " is an exciting activity that visitors shouldn't miss. A unique and charming sport of Muay Thai reflects well Thai style and Thai heritage.

Where to see>> Lumpini StadiumAddress : Rama IV RoadFlight Nights : Tuesday and Fridays from 6.30 pm., Saturday afternoons 5-8 pm., Saturday nights from 8.30 pm.Ticket fare : 500, 1,000, 1,500 Baht>> Ratchadamnoen StadiumAddress : Ratchadamnoen Nok AvenueFlight Nights : Mondays, Wednesday, Thursdays starting at 6.30 pm., Sundays from 8.30 p.m.-12.00 p.m.and 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Ticket fare : 500, 1,000, 1,500 Baht

Special thanks for information form http://www.bangkokview.com/

The Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand

The Grand Palace is an important place which you shouldn’t miss visiting. The Grand Palace was built in 1782. It’s more than 200 years ago. Beside the Rayal Chapel (Wat Phra Kaeaw), where the Emerald Buddha is enshrined, there are the principal audience halls. It consists of :

>> Borom Phiman Hall ( Phra Thinang Borom Phiman) was built in the western style in 1909. At present it is served as the Royal Guest House for heads of State and guests of Thai majesties.>>The Chakri Maha Prasat Hall is an impressive building. The hall was constructed in the plans of a British architect in a Victorian Style, but covered with a roof of pure Thai Style.


>>Phra Maha Montian Hall Group consists of three connecting buildings.The Amarindr Vinichai Hall is the anterior part. Originally, it was the formal audience hall where the King met his offiers for state business. Now, it is used for many ceremonies such as the King’s birthdays and Coronation Day. The Phaisal Thaksin Hall is in the middle of Hall group. The Hall contains gorgeous pavilion on which the King appears on the important ceremonies. T he Chakraphat Phiman Hall, the last of the halls, was originally used as a place of residence.

>> The Dusit Maha Prasat Hall is considered as the finest building inside the Grand Palace, the principal function of the hall has been a hall for the lying-in-state of Kings, Queens, and Royal family.>> Aphorn Phimok Prasat was built entirely of wood by King Rama IV. While four levels of saddle roof cover the north and south arms, the shorter east and west arms have only two levels of saddle roof. A prasat spire rises over the intersection. It was built as a changing room to be used before descending a flight of steps onto a platform to mount a palanquin.

Opening Hours: Open to the public everyday, from 8.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.Admission Fee: Baht 200 for foreigners, and free for Thais. The admission fee also includes admission to the Grand Palace.Dress Code: Visitors are required to dress appropriately. Visitors need to wear a long sleeved t-shirt and long skirt or trouser. Sandals (without ankle or heel straps) can not be worn.

Special thank for information form: http://www.bangkokview.com/

Bankok History

Bangkok, Thailand's capital, was founded in 1782 by King Rama I (named Yodfa Chulaloke). Bankok is called by the Thais “Krung Thep”, which means “City Of Angels”. Bangkok is located on the low-flat plain of the Chao Phya River which flows from the North down to the Gulf of Thailand. In the old days, Bangkok was just a small agricultural and fishing village where people traveled mainly by rowing boats. After Krung Sri Ayuthaya, an ancient capital of 417 years old, was finally conquered and severely destroyed by the Burmese. With patriotism, a nobleman named "Taksin" led Thai people to fight against the Burmese army, and finally managed to drive them out of the country. After the final victory, General Taksin assumed the throne, he decided to establish the new capital called "Krung Thonburi", because Ayuthaya was too large for his small army to protect. He was later named "King Taksin the Great", and ruled over Krung Thonburi for 14 years. Unfortunately, King Taksin was overthrown and executed by a group of his own noblemen.Bangkok was instituted as the new capital in 1782 by Yodfa Chulaloke. Being a far-sighted man, Yodfa Chulaloke saw that Krung Thonburi would be too small to be a great capital in the future; he then moved the capital to another side of Chao Phya Riverbank. The location was then selected with the consideration as a natural defense from enemies and the richness of water for lives earning. Yodfa Chulaloke succeeded the throne and was the 1st Monarch of the present Chakri Dynasty.

Special Thanks http://www.bangkokview.com/ for good informations

Interesting Activities in Songkran Festival

When it is the time of Songkran or Thai New Year Festival, it is the time of recreation and traditional party. Thai will prepare themselves for the good time by doing these:

Beautiful new dresses: Thai people will arrange traditional new costume with various of colors and material especially Thai silk to wear in the Songkran festival in order to show how they are happy and bring good luck in the forthcoming year.
Food and snack to serve Buddhist Monk. The food will be cooked neatly with the high-quality raw materials. This is in order to donation to Buddhist and good virtue. Not only the food they provide for monk but the food will also be sent to their neighbors in order to share their feeling of happiness and keep a good relation.
Before Songkran, Thai will clean their house and also the public place such as street or lane to welcome the good luck. The altar that located image Buddha will be cleaned as well. The cloth will also wash and clean in believe that the dirty as a symbol of suffer and trouble will be leave with the passed year. And the New Year will be clean, bright, and happy.
Temple is one place that needs to be cleaned before Songkran. Everybody in a village or community will gather at the temple in their village in the morning and they will clean the church, Stupa, Buddha image, temple wall etc for the coming festival.

Attractive activities during Songkran Days:
Tak Bart or Give food offering to Buddhist Monks is the Buddhist ceremony for special day. People do this as the sign of good fortune for the new coming year. They will get up early morning, cook the fine food, and bring it to give to the monks in the near temple. Sometime, the temple is far or narrow to contain the huge crowd in the same time, they might invite the monk to some public place to do the ceremony. And to avoid the food they provide is damage or bad, the food can be some dry food such as instant noodle or fish can so that the monk can use it after the festival.
Sand Pagoda: During Songkran festival, people will carry sand from riverbank to pile in the ground area in nearly temple. Once the pile of sand is big enough, they will shape it in pagoda style and decorate with colorful papers. In the north of Thailand Lanna people (Thai Northerner) will insert the stem of the traditional flag (Tung) into the pagoda as well. This is the belief that everyday people go to temple and comeback home after finish their activity, some sand or soil in the temple will stuck on their shoes and this is supposed to be sin as this is not allowed by the monk. So, the sand they bring to pile at the temple in Songkran festival can e replaced those sand. Beside, the sand can also be used to build any building in the temple as well after the festival.





Release birds and fish is one of the merit making activities that people always do in Songkran days. It is belief that release birds in order to gain freedom of life. And release fish in order to have a fresh and cool life.
Taking a bath to Buddha image, monks, and novice to again good fortune. People will offer flowers, candles and incense sticks to the Buddha image first and then they will sprinkle the lustral water to the Buddha image and Wai (respect gesture). After that will be the chief of the monk in the temple who will be bathed by pouring the water over him. After that the monk will change new rope and pray for good virtue to the attendances.

Taking a bath to elders in order to pay respect. In the past, it is actually taking a bath as it is hot season, but nowadays, the ceremony has change to rinse water to the hands of the elders only. The item that usually prepare in this activity is a piece of cloth to give to the elders, some flower, and water filled with perfume.




Splashing Water: People especially youth are the most appropriated to this activity. They will have a bucket or bowl of water mixed with slight perfume to politely splash to each others. In the present day, there are various styles of water pistol produced to sell especially for this activity. The size of the pistol can be small as a palm or the big one that can contain 20 liters of water. This activity is also called “war of water”.


Bangsukul Atthi: It is a ritual performance by monk for the remain of the death. The ashes of the death are usually kept in a container (casket). Some family keep it in their house, some keep in temple or under the Bodhi tree. When the Songkran festival comes, the family will invite monks to perform a ritual. In order to respect to the death.

Where to sigh seeing Songkran Festival:
- In Bangkok the formal ceremony will take place at Sanam Luang near to the Grand Palace in 15 of April from early morning.
- Splashing Water: The most well-known place that foreigner loves to join this activity in Bangkok is Khow Sarn Road. The road will be closed for people to walk and play water during the Songkran day since 13 to 15 Arpil-from 7am to 7pm.
- Sand Pagoda: Chiang Mai and others province in the north of Thailand.

Bangkok Art Galleries

100 Tonson Gallery:
This gallery attracts ambitious local artist with big name international artists occasionally exhibit also.

44 Arts
Near backpacking Khao Sarn Road, this gathering of small commercial galleries has a heavy leaning toward conventional Thai painting.

About studio/about café
This converted shophouse in China Town has emerged from hibernation to claim its former status as one of the capital’s most experimental arts platforms.

Akko Gallery
Run by Japanese dealer Atsuko, this gallery has a definite Nipponesque flovour to much of its art.

Adel Gallery of Modern Art
Artist Thavorn Ko-Udomvit has set up this gallery on the outskirt of Bangkok, showing exhibitions of mainly local arts as well as print work shop and children classes.

Ardel’s Third place Gallery
Ardel’s downtown sister gallery is a compact venue on the first floor of this lifestyle space.

Artery
Art management service and occasional exhibitions in the basement of Silom Gallery

Art Golliras
Next door to Whitespace, this small gallery space host an eclectic assortment of exhibitions by emerging artists.

Art Republic
In a luxury mall in the heart of downtown, this gallery has a predilection for senior and emerging local artists.

Asian Fine Arts
A market style art space with an assortment of conventional painting and narrow exhibition area.

Bangkok Art & Culture Centre
This new 1-1 storey art center has over 3000m2 of exhibition space with plans to accommodate a broad scope of exhibition and creative events.

Bangkok Code
An annex of King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Bangkok Code has eltered from occasional exhibitions to a monthly experimental arts and music night title Dubsocial.

Bangkok Sculpture Centre
Open twice a month for public viewing, the tastefully designed center house Thailand’s largest display of three-dimension art.

Carpediem Galleries
This small gallery host occasional exhibitions by Asian and expatriate artist.

Catherine Schubert Fine Art
Alternating between Chinese and western artists, this new compact gallery is the ressidental Sathorn area

Conference of Birds
Run by American Andrew Little, expected young and fresh multi-disciplinary event akin to a cabinet of curiosity.

DOB hualamphong Gallery
Located opposite of the city’s main rail terminus, this new contemporary art space is run by Ardel gallery

Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand
Exhibition of edgy photojournalism are the norm at this meet and drink stop for wandering press.

Galerie N
This split level gallery fronts onto busy wireless rd and is dedicated to established and emerging Thai art.

Gallery Sunflower
This compact space is Thailand’ only gallery dedicated to art form Indian sub-continent.

Gossip Gallery
Gossip has recently relocated from Sukhumvit to the compact third floor space in Silom Gallery

H Gallery
Exhibiing Thai and international arts, this two-floor gallery is located in an old converted wooden school building, and is run by American Emest H lee

Hof Art
Run by a group of young local artists, this four floor gallery is dedicated to promoting emerging Thai art.

Jim Thompson House Art Centre
In the ground of the well-preserved house-museum, the centre holds exhibitions of prominent local and international art and crafts.

Kathmandu Photo Gallery
Direct toward rising local photographers, the four floor gallery and specialist bookshop is run by photographer Manit Sriwanichpoom along with artists-filmmaker Ing K.

La Lanta Fine Art
Having moved across town to Sukhumvit, the gallery’s emphasis remains towards emerging Thai and Asian art as well as talent expert artists.

Mumuart House
Located above the downstairs café, this second floor gallery is run by a German curator

National Gallery
This lackluster exhibition space has a permanent collection providing some example of Thailand’s modern art development, with more interesting shows, mainly by senior artists, held in the annex.

Number 1 Gallery
The focus hear is on established and upcoming domestic artist, who mostly lean toward spiritual and now-traditional subject matter.

Numthong Gallery
This small gallery has exhibitions by some of the country’s most interesting artists, with tow storerooms of artworks for potential buyers.

People Space
This Guaint shophouse gallery sits in the corner of a lovely square beside the historic Rattanakosin district.

Prakorb Art Gallery
Situated in a quaint 70 year-old teakwood house just behind the bustling backpacker strip Khao San Road, the plan for this new gallery is to show young emerging Thai artists.

The Gueen’s Gallery
The five-floor gallery is under Royal Patronage and has a busy exhibition schedule of predominantly locally product art.

Rotunda Galley & Garden Galley
This gallery is a part of historic Neilson Hays Library with mainly arts displayed by expatriate and local artists.

Silom Gallery Art Space
Located next to Tang and Number 1 in the basement of the galleria, the emphasis here is on Thai painting.

Soal
Lacated in the Ekamai-Ramindra district, this new Japanese run space appears to be set up as a more experimental non-commercial arts platform.

Sombat Permpoon Gallery
A huge five-storey commercial gallery with 10000 works of predominantly Thai painting.

Surapon Gallery
The two-floor gallery shows regular exhibitions by contemporary artists.

Tadu Contemporary Art
A large Exhibition space a car showroom, Tadu hangs experimental as well as conventional exhibits.

Tang Contemporary Art
This Chinese-owned gallery is one of the few space in the capital to view contemporary Chinese and international standard Asian art.

Thavibu Gallery
Thailand’s only venue dedicated to exhibiting Thai, Vietnamese, and Burmese art, they also publish art books.

The Gallery
Located in the basement of Silom Galleria, this space is managed by nearby Number 1 and gravitates toward Thai painters.

The Pikture Gallery
A compact glass-fronted space dedicate to fine art photography as well as featuring occasional exhibitions.

Adel Gallery of Modern Art
Artist Thavorn Ko-Udomvit has set up this gallery on the outskirt of Bangkok, showing exhibitions of mainly local arts as well as print work shop and children classes.

Ardel’s Third place Gallery
Ardel’s downtown sister gallery is a compact venue on the first floor of this lifestyle space.

Artery
Art management service and occasional exhibitions in the basement of Silom Gallery

Art Golliras
Next door to Whitespace, this small gallery space host an eclectic assortment of exhibitions by emerging artists.

Art Republic
In a luxury mall in the heart of downtown, this gallery has a predilection for senior and emerging local artists.

Asian Fine Arts
A market style art space with an assortment of conventional painting and narrow exhibition area.

Bangkok Art & Culture Centre
This new 1-1 storey art center has over 3000m2 of exhibition space with plans to accommodate a broad scope of exhibition and creative events.

Bangkok Code
An annex of King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Bangkok Code has eltered from occasional exhibitions to a monthly experimental arts and music night title Dubsocial.

Bangkok Sculpture Centre
Open twice a month for public viewing, the tastefully designed center house Thailand’s largest display of three-dimension art.

Carpediem Galleries
This small gallery host occasional exhibitions by Asian and expatriate artist.

Catherine Schubert Fine Art
Alternating between Chinese and western artists, this new compact gallery is the ressidental Sathorn area

Conference of Birds
Run by American Andrew Little, expected young and fresh multi-disciplinary event akin to a cabinet of curiosity.

DOB hualamphong Gallery
Located opposite of the city’s main rail terminus, this new contemporary art space is run by Ardel gallery

Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand
Exhibition of edgy photojournalism are the norm at this meet and drink stop for wandering press.

Galerie N
This split level gallery fronts onto busy wireless rd and is dedicated to established and emerging Thai art.

Gallery Sunflower
This compact space is Thailand’ only gallery dedicated to art form Indian sub-continent.

Gossip Gallery
Gossip has recently relocated from Sukhumvit to the compact third floor space in Silom Gallery

H Gallery
Exhibiing Thai and international arts, this two-floor gallery is located in an old converted wooden school building, and is run by American Emest H lee

Hof art
Run by a group of young local artists, this four floor gallery is dedicated to promoting emerging Thai art.

Jim Thompson House Art Centre
In the ground of the well-preserved house-museum, the centre holds exhibitions of prominent local and international art and crafts.

Kathmandu Photo Gallery
Direct toward rising local photographers, the four floor gallery and specialist bookshop is run by photographer Manit Sriwanichpoom along with artists-filmmaker Ing K.

La Lanta Fine Art
Having moved across town to Sukhumvit, the gallery’s emphasis remains towards emerging Thai and Asian art as well as talent expert artists.

Mumuart House
Located above the downstairs café, this second floor gallery is run by a German curator

National Gallery
This lackluster exhibition space has a permanent collection providing some example of Thailand’s modern art development, with more interesting shows, mainly by senior artists, held in the annex.

Number 1 Gallery
The focus hear is on established and upcoming domestic artist, who mostly lean toward spiritual and now-traditional subject matter.

Numthong Gallery
This small gallery has exhibitions by some of the country’s most interesting artists, with tow storerooms of artworks for potential buyers.

People Space
This Guaint shophouse gallery sits in the corner of a lovely square beside the historic Rattanakosin district.

Prakorb Art Gallery
Situated in a quaint 70 year-old teakwood house just behind the bustling backpacker strip Khao San Road, the plan for this new gallery is to show young emerging Thai artists.

The Gueen’s Gallery
The five-floor gallery is under Royal Patronage and has a busy exhibition schedule of predominantly locally product art.

Rotunda Galley & Garden Galley
This gallery is a part of historic Neilson Hays Library with mainly arts displayed by expatriate and local artists.

Silom Gallery Art Space
Located next to Tang and Number 1 in the basement of the galleria, the emphasis here is on Thai painting.

Soal
Lacated in the Ekamai-Ramindra district, this new Japanese run space appears to be set up as a more experimental non-commercial arts platform.

Sombat Permpoon Gallery
A huge five-storey commercial gallery with 10000 works of predominantly Thai painting.

Surapon Gallery
The two-floor gallery shows regular exhibitions by contemporary artists.

Tadu Contemporary Art
A large Exhibition space a car showroom, Tadu hangs experimental as well as conventional exhibits.

Tang Contemporary Art
This Chinese-owned gallery is one of the few space in the capital to view contemporary Chinese and international standard Asian art.

Thavibu Gallery
Thailand’s only venue dedicated to exhibiting Thai, Vietnamese, and Burmese art, they also publish art books.

The Gallery
Located in the basement of Silom Galleria, this space is managed by nearby Number 1 and gravitates toward Thai painters.

The Pikture Gallery
A compact glass-fronted space dedicate to fine art photography as well as featuring occasional exhibitions.

Timothy Yarger Fine Art
A tiny gallery space beside the Nai Lert Park Hotel.

Gallery Ver
Owned by artist Rikrit Tiravanija, this riverside gallery exhibits experimental local art as well as overseas artists.

Whitespace Gallery
Whitespace is a three-floor design studio with a narrow gallery space dedicated to giving emerging artists or non-commercial platform.

Elephant Riding at Chiang Mai

...Chiang Mai is one of provinces in Thailand that well-known in elephant camp attractions. Because of its location is full with forest and surrounded by high mountains, Chiang Mai has around 10 of elephant camp for tourist to visit and having a good opportunity to learn this enormous but friendly animal.
One of the best elephant park is Maetang Elephant Park. It is located at Maetaman valley, around 50km north of Chiang Mai. There are around 40 elephants here and 20 ox-carts, and 20 bamboo rafts to provide visitors to check out the most enjoyable activities.
Activity schedule:
The excited activities in this elephant park start from 8am to 3pm.

9 am: Elephant taking a bath at Maetang River. The visitors will enjoy with an unseen activity. The mahouts, mostly Kerans, clean the elephants in the water with various styles such as ordering the elephant to lie down on the water. Sometime, the elephants will tease visitors by splash water to them from their trunks. Without notice, the visitors scream happily around the area.

10 am: Elephant capability performance: After taking a baht, the elephants then holding each other tail and walking to the show ground for the next activity.
The show has various such as; elephant pull the flag, elephant dance, elephant kick a ball, elephant shooting a basket ball, elephant pushing and pulling logs, and elephant respond order from mahouts.

11 am: Time to get closest to your friend! The elephant riding is provided at the base next to the show ground. 2 adult visitors can ride on one elephant.
There will be a big and strong seat tied on the elephant back, so visitor should not worry about the comfortable matter.
The elephant will take visitor cross the Maetang River that they take a bath and go straight to the jungle. While riding elephant in the jungle, visitor can sight seeing the trees, birds, and comfortable atmosphere.
In the middle of the way, there will be a small banana shop for visitor who would like to give a prize to their lovely transporter by buying a hand of banana or a bundle of sugarcane to him or her. Don’t forget to ask the name of the elephant you ride in order to call him or her and to keep in your good memory.
The destination of this journey is a Lizu village.
Note: Children under 15 should be accompanied by parents. Visitor who has weight over 100kg should sit single to avoid overload.
After getting down from the honest friend’s back and give him a prize or tip to the mahout, visitors can take time to shop a wonderful souvenir in this village before going to the next activity.

11.45 am: The visitors can go back to the elephant camp by the ox-cart ridding.
Ox-cart is a wooden cart that pulled by a pair of ox. In the past, the ox-cart is using mainly in carrying the agricultural products.
The ox-cart can contain 8 peoples in one round.

12.00 am: It is time to enjoy lunch after felt tried with the activities. Lunch will be provided in buffet. The restaurant is well-organized, the food is delicious, and the service is perfect here.

1.00 pm: The last activity in the program is enjoying bamboo rafting along Matang River to the destination. It take around 45 minutes to get to the destination that the tour bus or visitor’s driver are waiting at the pier.
The raft is made by big bamboos tightly tie together. It can contain around 8 people included two drivers. The driver will stand in the front and back of the raft one by one pushing and pulling the raft to flow smoothly thru the river. There are small wooden seats to provide to each visitor to sit down and enjoy the adventurous journey. The river is very cold and quite obviously clean, but actually it is not as visitor can see that some time there is elephant dung flowing pass by their raft. But this is the natural thing.

Tips:
1. Visitors will be taken a photo while riding the elephant and sitting on the bamboo raft. And the picture will be printed and put into a photo frame that produced from elephant dung. No worry about the smell and clean as it was produced in a good process. The frame with visitor’s photo will be provided at destination of each journey.

2. It will be very good luck if there is a new member of elephant was born during the time of your visit. The small elephant is lovely and most naughty.

Thai Songkran History

Songkran is considered the Thai New Year. The word Songkran comes from Sansakrit language which means passing or moving. It is the moving of the sun to Aries.

History
Once upon a time before Buddhist Era, there is a millionaire family that suffered due to they have no sun to extend the family. There was a man next door who always drunken said to the millionaire that his life is better than the millionaire event he has no money but he has a children to extend his family. Since then, the millionaire started praying to the sun and the moon to ask for a sun. but three year passed by, it was no result.

One day, it is the Songkran day. The millionaire went to a big banyan tree. He ordered his followers to wash rice with clean water 7 times, and cooked the rice to sacrifice the gods who dwelled there. The gods felt pity of his suffer. So they went to meet the Indra god to ask for help. Indra god ordered a god named “Thammaban” to born in the millionaire family.
Prince Dhammaban was very genius. The fame of his genius reached to a god name “King Kabilaprom”. The king would like to test his intelligent by asking three questions:
1. Where is human’s splendor (good signs) in the morning?
2. Where is human’s splendor in the midday?
3. Where is human’s splendor in the night?
The condition was he willing to sacrifice his head if the answer correct, meanwhile if the prince Thammaban gave the wrong answer, he must die as well.The prince could not answer immediately. So he negotiated to answer the question within seven days. After six days, the prince still could not get the answer. He left out from his palace to jungle.
He was tried and lied down under a big tree. In the tree, there was a bird family in a nest.

A female bird asked the husband where to search for food tomorrow. The male bird said no need to search for food tomorrow as they would eat the prince Thammaban meat after he was killed. The female bird asked for the story, and the male bird told her the entire story and said that he knew the answers were:
1. The human’s splendor (good signs) is in the face in the morning. That’s why people wash their face in the morning.
2. The human’s splendor is in the chest in the midday. That’s why people paint their chest with perfume in the midday.
3. The human’s splendor is in the foot in the night. That’s why people wash their foot before go to bed.
The prince knew the bird language. He went back to palace and correct answers the question in the day after. The king needed to cut his head as promised. He then called his seven daughters; Tungsatevee, Korakatevee, Ragsotevee, Montatevee, Kirineetevee, Kimitatevee, and Mahotorntevee to assign the duty to carry his head after it was cut because his head was very powerful. If his head touch the earth, the world would be on fire. If the head touch the ocean, it would be drought. And there would be no rain and a serious drought would also occurred if his head was thrown to the sky.
The seven daughters needed to carry the head of the king clockwise around the mountain called Phra Sumane. Once Songkran day (13 of April), falls on any day, that year would be honored by that Nang Songkran. This year 2009 (BE 2543) 13 April is match to Monday. So, we have Korakatevee to be Nag Sonkran. She wears yellow dress with pearl ornaments, preferred butter oil, dagger in the right hand, walking cane in the left hand, tiger as the vehicle.
Thank you pictures from

Thai coins and banknotes for travellers

Thailand currency is “Baht”. One baht equal 100 Satang. Nowadays, Satang is rarely use. For those who visit Thailand and would like to check your current ex-change rate, please visit
http://www.bangkokview.com/banks.htm

In the present time, Thai government by the ministry of Finance announced to use the banknotes and coins as follows:
25 Satang, 50 Satang, 1Baht, 2 Baht, 5 Baht, 10 Baht

Banknotes
20 Baht, 50 Baht, 100 Baht, 500 Baht, 1000 Baht

1 Baht is a round, diameter 20mm sized iron coated with nickel coin. In one side of the coin shows picture of His Majesty the King Bhumibhol Adulyadej. The other side shows picture of Wat Pra Kaeo or the temple of the Emerald Buddha that located in the Grand Palace. Wat Phra Kaeo is the most renowned temple. In the temple, there is the Emerald Buddha statue that has the long history. This temple is considered as the temple of the King Rama I. It was built in 1782.

2 Baht: It is a new coin in term of everyday used coin. It is a 21.75mm Dim sized coin. Firstly, the Thai Treasury Department announced the silver coin with . aluminum bronze material. However, there is confusion of the users between 1 baht and 2 baht as it size is quite the same. The Thai Treasury Department then re-announced the revised color of this coin to be gold for the solution.
The picture of the coin still remains the same design. In one side is the picture of His Majesty the King Bhumibhol Adulyadej. The other side is the picture of Wat Sra Ket or Phu Khao Thong. This is the temple that King Rama I washed his head after returning back from the war in Cambodia. So, this is the reason that why the temple was called “Sra Ket” which means “Washing Head”.
The gold mountain is considered as the highest place in Bangkok. It is a small mountain that located the gold pagoda in the top of the mountain. Visitors can see Bangkok from the high view from this Gold Mountain.

5 Baht, a Dim. 24.00mm sized coin has a various styles in the other side of the coin. But in one main side still shows the picture of His Majesty the King Bhumibhol Adulyadej.
1.) Benchamabophit temple, or Wat Ben style. The temple shows in that picture is Benchamabophit Temple. This temple was built in the era of the King Rama V. It is the Thai and Western style mixed architecture. It is also called temple of marble as the material used in building this temple is marble.
2.) The Suphanahongse Barge: This is the older style of this coin. The picture of this coin shows the most impressive and important barge, the Suphanahongse Barge, which is His Majesty the King’s personal barge. This was built in 1911. With 44.7 Meters long and 3.1 meters wide. The prow of the barges is carved in the shape of the head of a mythological swan figure.
Every year, when there is the time of Kra Thin, (set of new robes offered to Buddhist monks) The event held around early of November, His Majesty the King will take this royal barge as a vehicle to go to a temple to make a royal donation. In the event there will be many of Thais and foreigner waiting to see his Majesty the King and the beautiful and greatest royal barge along the side of the Chao Phraya River.
3.) The coin with pictured by symbol of His Majesty the King 50th anniversary on His throne: This style creates to celebrate the 50th anniversary of His Majesty the King on His throne.

10 Baht, the biggest, and the most value Thai coin. It is a different style with the others coin as the coin has two parts; the rim and the center. The rim of the coin looks similar to the other coins, while the middle part is metallic
One side of the coin shows picture of His Majesty the King Bhumibhol Adulyadej.
The other side shows picture of the Temple of the Dawn, or Wat Arun Ratchawararam. Wat Arun Temple is considered as Bangkok landmark. Many of organization in Bangkok use the picture of Arun Aemple as a logo.

20 Baht banknote: The lowest value of Thai banknote is 20 Baht.
It is a green banknote. One side show picture of His Majesty the King Bhumibhol Adulyadej. And the other side shows picture of the King Rama VIII
Sometime, there is possible that you can get the old style of this 20 banknote.
It is showing picture of King Taksin on a horse and surrounded with his soldiers. King Taksin is the King who save sovereignty of Krung Sri Ayuttaya from Burma.

50 Baht banknote: This is one of the banknote that has various styles. The recent style that usually see in everyday is the picture of King Rama IV standing beside the telescope and the atlas. King Rama IV is considered the king who expert in the astronomy. He was the one who predicted that there would be the Eclipse of the sun at Prachaup Kirikhan, Thailand. On 18 August 1868. And it was exactly true.

100 Baht: The red banknote that normally used in everyday. The picture shows the King Rama VI who had freed the slaves and changed Thailand to the land of civilization as westerners.






500 Baht: The banknote in purple color. It shows the picture of King Rama I, who was the first King in Chakri Royal Family.

1000 Baht: The bank note is considered as the highest value of the bank note in everyday life.
The other side shows picture of His Majesty the King Bhumibhol Adulyadej and the Pasak Jolasit Dam, the dam that His Majesty the King Bhumibhol Adulyadej initiated to build in order to provide water to the plantations in the Pasak valley and lower Chao Phraya valley. The dam also decreases problems of water management in Bangkok by allowing more flood control,

Suggestion for those who carry the Thai money: You might need to separate the banknote you’ve got by grouping each value in order to avoid mistake and confusion when using.

For more information, visit www.treasury.go.th/ and http://www.bangkokview.com/