Vegetarian Festival, Phuket

As most of Phuket residents are Chinese, 80% of the people observe the vegetarian festival between the first to the ninth waxing moon on the ninth month of the Chinese calendar, which falls on the eleventh month of the Thai calendar. They wear white-colored clothing and eat only vegetables to cleanse their souls, remembering their respected ancestors and asking for their protection.
Besides, they will also abstain from alcohol, telling lies, stealing, having sexual intercourse and killing animals. A ceremony is also held in front of the "Haam" or angel spirit house. Nine oil lamps will be put on top of a pole and giant incense sticks are lit; gold and silver papers are burned, and offerings are placed on the table. On the 3rd, 6th and 9th nights of the waxing moon, a medium will ask a spiritual being to enter his or her body. Once in a trance, the medium will use weapons to hit and cut himself or herself. Walking through fire is another ceremony held during the vegetarian festival. Either a medium or an ordinary person can choose to walk on a bed of burning charcoals to cleanse their bodies and those with a strong belief in the gods believe they can walk through the fire without feeling the charcoals under their feet.

Chiang Dao Cave

Chiang Dao Cave has long been a popular tourist attraction, famous among Thais and foreigners for its magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations. The cave itself is surrounded by fertile and healthy forests. Inside the big beautiful caves there are smaller caves such as Horse Cave, Sleeping Buddha Cave and Glass Cave.

Beautiful and unusually formed stalactites and stalagmites adorn the interior of each cave . The biggest cave is at the mouth of the location. It consists of Buddha Images, other structures and an opening which lets sunlight in called "Plong Sawang". In front of the cave stands a Lanna-style Pavillion with a pond and a stream nearby where there are many kinds of fish.
Apart from being a tourist attraction known for its beautiful natural surroundings, Chiang Dao Cave has also been a restored and well-kept religious site. It is visited by thousands and thousands of Thai and foreign tourists. It is accessible by road and has ample parking space. The interior of the cave is mostly well-lit. Stalls of flowers, incense sticks and candles, souvenirs, herbs, fish food, food and drinks and local products fill the space outside the cave. Toilets and telephone booths are also provided.

National Museum of Royal Barges

On April 1932 King Rama VII crossed the lower span of the Memorial Bridge and embarked on the barge "Suphanahong" to travel by barge procession to the Grand Palace to mark the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Chakri Dynasty and Bangkok as the capital city. That was the last Royal Barge Procession of an absolute Monarch of Siam, for the following June a coup d'etat changed the government from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy.

The barge sustained severe damage during bombing of Bangkok in World War ll, soon after his return from school in Europe, the present king, H.M.King Bhumibol Adylvadej went to see the barges in their dock. Noting their deterotiatiom, His Majesty ordered their restoration; and decided to revive the ancient tradition of the Royal Barge Procession for auspicious occasions. Artists under the direction of the Fine Arts Department spent more than a year repairing the damage. In 1972 this dock was then renovated and established by the Fine Arts Department as the National Museum of Royal Barges.

The National Museum of Royal Barges is situated in a boathouse on the bank of Bangkok Noi Canal, Arun-amarin Road, Bangkok and is under the responsibility of the Fine Arts Department. As space is limited, only eight out of a total of 52 royal barges are displayed at the museum. Six are docked at Wasukri Pier and the other 38 are kept by the Royal Navy. One of the boats featured at the museum is the Supannahong Royal Barge, which was rebuilt during the reign of King Rama VI. (It was first built during the reign of King Rama I.) The barge was recognized as a Heritage Boat by the World Boat Organization on June 4, 1992.

Introduction of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, the important province on the northern of Thailand, and the center of the Lanna Kingdom in the pass, was founded by King "Meng-rai" in 1296. It was governed by the King "Meng-rai" Dynasty until 1558 when it came under Burmese control around 200 years until 1774. Then, after having been deserted for 20 years, it became a dominion of Bangkok in 1782, ruled by local princes. It was finally upgraded to province of Thailand.

With governmental reform, Chiang Mai has undergone many changes, political, social, and economic. There has also been influence from the west and from those people who have come to settle in the province. However, Chiang Mai can still boast of its own outstanding identity.

Location and Area

About 750 kilometers from Bangkok, in the northern of Thailand, total area about 20,107 square kilometers, and borders with the Shan state of Myanmar in the north, Tak Province in the south, Chiang Rai, Lampoon, and Lampang Provinces in the east, and Mae Hong Son Province in the west.

Topography

High mountains and lush forests account for about 78% of the total area of Chiang Mai. Major mountain ranges include the "Dan Lao", "Thanon Thongchai", and "Pi Pan Nam" Ranges with several well-known peaks such as "Doi Pui", "Doi Suthep", "Doi Khuntan", and "Doi Chang." There are many valleys, and in the lowlands rivers such as the Ping River and the Kok River.

Climate

Average temperature: 26 degrees Celsius, 30 degrees on average in the hot and 14 degrees in the winter.

Social-Economic Conditions

Chiang Mai people are almostly involved in agriculture growing rice and various kinds of farm crops including beans, onions, garlic, tobacco, tea, other vegetables, flowers. Longan and lychee which are major local fruits. There is some cattle-raising for local consumption. In addition to agriculture-related industry, there are also a lot of handicraft factories, e.g. wood carving, pottery, umbrella-making, weaving, and clothes-making. As a tourist town, the service industry has brought a lot of income to the province.