Thailand Hotels

2008 Hua Hin Jazz festival

12:58 AM, 2008-Jun-12 .. 0 comments .. Link

Over the past six years, from 2002 to 2007, Hua Hin (about 200 kilometers south of Bangkok) has played host to an increasingly successful and popular jazz festival. From quiet beginnings, the Hua Hin Jazz festival has grown to become one of the most important Jazz festivals in the region.
Now in its 7th year, Thailand's most popular jazz festival fills the beaches with crowds and the air with music. An idyllic setting on Hua Hin Beach allows fans to revel in the sounds while staring out across the water. This year's edition includes a tribute to Billie Holiday late Saturday afternoon, as the sun melts into the Gulf of Thailand. Good music, good food, good weather and good vibes at the Hua Hin's Jazz Festival.
Currently the schedule for the weekend is as follows:

Friday 13 June 2008
15.30-16.30 Silpakorn Kickin Ass Quintet
17.00-18.00 Zao Za-Dung Band
18.30-19.30 The Hua Hin Music All Stars Band
20.00-21.00 Mansri Band featuring Kop Songsit & Jean AF1
21.30-23.00 (22.30) The Kenny Garrett Quartet/Quintet
23.30 (23.00) - 24.30 T-Bone

Saturday 14 June 2008
15.30-16.30 Air Quartet Band
17.00-18.00 Young Blood Band Tribute to Billie Holiday
18.30-19.30 The Jazz Dojo ft Luk Pad Cholanan/Puifai AF4
20.00-21.00 The Pomelo Town featuring Surachai Jantimatorn "Nga Caravan"
21.30-23.00 (22.30) Denny and Friends featuring Rudklao Amaraditra & Jirasak Panpoom
23.30 (23.00) - 24.30 Mike Stern's Band featuring Dave Weckl and Chris Minh Doky

The Hua Hin Marriott Resort and Spa and the Sofitel Centara Grand Resort and Villas Hua Hin are ideally located right by the beachside stage, providing a perfect staging area for your Jazzy weekend.

More Hua Hin Hotels

Floating Love Boats: Thailand’s Loy Kratong Festival

9:14 PM, 2007-Oct-23 .. 0 comments .. Link

Definitely the most romantic of the Thai festivals, Loy Kratong is a must-experience for those visiting the land of smiles. Held on the night of the 12^th full moon, Loy Kratong falls in November, and on this year it will be on the 24^th of the month. Although the influx of western culture has brought with it Valentines Day on February 14th, Loy Kratong is Thailand's original festival for lovers.

Originating as a Brahmanical festival adopted by Thai Buddhists during the reign of Rama IV in1863, Loy Kratong is a ceremony that venerates the Lord Buddha by offering floating trays laden with flowers, candles and incense. Loy translates to "float" in Thai, while Kratong pertains to a tray made from banana leaves. The light from the candle honors Lord Buddha, while the act of floating symbolizes the release of anger, resentment or any tarnishing of one's character. It is a way for a person to make amends and start afresh.

In addition to this, most Thais also float their kratong to honor the goddess of the rivers and waterways, Mae Nam, who they believe will bring good luck. This ties in with the romantic element of Loy Kratong which stems from a legend about Nang Nopamas, who was a royal consort to King Ramkhamhaeng (founder of Sukhothai).

According to legend, Nopamas made the original Loy Kratong to appeasen Mae Nam, and set it afloat in the palace canals so that it would pass by her lover, the King. The King was enchanted by this creation and by Nang Nopamas forever after, hence the belief that if two lovers set a kratong into a waterway and it stays afloat until it has left sight, their love will last forever.

Celebrations abound across Thailand during Loy Kratong, especially in Sukhothai, Chiang Mai and along Bangkok's Chao Phyra river. Beauty queen contests also run concurrently with the festival called "Nopamas Queens Contests" adding more color to the mix of activities. Check out these special hotel promotions during this festive time to celebrate Thailand's floating love boat fest.

Below are some riverside hotels that are ideal bases from which to enjoy Thailand's most romantic festival.

Menam Riverside Hotel
Oriental Hotel Bangkok
Royal River Hotel
The Peninsula Hotel Bangkok

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