Thailand Travel TalkNOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2014 www.tourismthailand.my, www.tourismthailand.org

(Media promoting Thai tourism to Malaysia & Brunei )

THIS is one of the best times to visit Thailand. On Dec 5this year, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej turns 87and the whole nation celebrates National Day or Father'sDay.

Buildings and homes throughout the country are adornedwith portraits of the King and flags and the streets aredecorated with fairy lights, predominantly around Bang-kok's Ratchadamnoen Road and the Grand Palace.

An alms-giving ceremony in the morning is followed by afestival of music and cultural performances at SanamLuang. In the evening, the whole nation joins in the candle

lighting ceremony and witnesses a spectacular fireworksdisplay.

The Ratchadamnoen Road would be closed to traffic toenable people to walk and admire the beauty of the dis-plays of portraits of HM the King and colourful illuminations.

Most of all, this event provides the opportunity towitness the love and respect that the Thai people havetowards their beloved King.

On this occasion, we take great pride and pleasurein wishing His Majesty a happy birthday.

Long live the King.

Long Live The KingLong Live The KingLong Live The KingLong Live The KingLong Live The King

SAWATDI KHRAP.

WE have come to the last issue of the AmazingThailand Travel Talk for this year and I hope wehave been able to help you decide your year-endholiday destination.

Early in November is the Loy Krathongfestival, held on the full moon night of Novem-ber. It is a festival rich in tradition and datesback to more than 700 years to the time of theSukhothai period. It is our way of payinghomage and respect to the rivers which providesustenance and livelihood to millions of people.Beautifully-decorated krathongs or floats arefloated down the rivers and waterways.

Come December 5, the country celebrates HisMajesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 87thbirthday. His Majesty's birthday is also theNational Day of Thailand. We take thisopportunity to invite you to join Thais in the

country and from all over the world to celebratethis occasion.

And as always, we also would like to take thisopportunity to invite you to come and join us inplaces like Bangkok, Hat Yai, Phuket, ChiangMai, Pattaya and Koh Samui for the New Yearcountdown. It will surely be an experience thatyou would not readily forget. If you happen tobe in Bangkok earlier then you may also want tojoin in the Christmas celebrations. Or if you areso inclined, head to Sakhon Nakhon whereChristmas is grandly celebrated with a Christ-mas Star Parade.

In October we also came to the conclusion ofthe CSSB Golf Open 2014 with the grand finalsbeing held in Ayutthaya and Chachoengsao.

Champions from the 10-leg tournament qualifyto play in the grand finals.

TAT Kuala Lumpur had also been involved inseveral road shows, media educational trips forjournalists and travel agents as well as travel fairsto make sure the public will always be up to dateon events, festivals and happenings in Thailand.Our aim is to keep you informed and up-to-date. And one such way is through our Face-book page. Visit us for the latest happenings athttps://www.facebook.com/TourismThailand-Malaysia.

As usual we take this opportunity to wish youa Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Andplease come and enjoy our hospitality inAmazing Thailand.

SUWAT KUMWONGDirectorMalaysia & Brunei

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New Year Eve celebrationsNew Year Eve celebrationsNew Year Eve celebrationsNew Year Eve celebrationsNew Year Eve celebrations

Bangkok: Grand Palace (Sanam Luang), Central World(Ratchaprasong Intersection), The Dome Tower Club atLebua Hotel (1055/42 Silom Rd. Bangrak, Silom/Sathorn),Siam Niramit (19 Tiamruammit Road, Huaykwang), AsiatiqueThe Riverfront (Charoen Krung Road), RCA (Rama 9 toPetchaburi Road).

Chiang Mai: Ping River music venues (ThanonRatwithi, Thanon Moon Muana, and Thanon Nim-manhemin), Riverside Restaurant, North Gate.

Pattaya: Bali Hai Pier, Walking Street

Phuket: Patong Beach, Twinpalms Phuket Resort, CatchBeach Club, Regent Hotel, Cape Panwa,

Koh Samui: Gecko Samui, Bophut Beach

Koh Phangan: Haad Rin Beach

Mad Market in Hua Hin and BangkokMad Market in Hua Hin and BangkokMad Market in Hua Hin and BangkokMad Market in Hua Hin and BangkokMad Market in Hua Hin and Bangkok

TV9'S Mad Market team was in Hua Hin and Bangkok to shootthe programme's TV station's premier shopping show.

This is the third time two segments of the show were shot inThailand following the first in Samut Songkhram and Bangkok in2012 and Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok and Sukhothai last year.

Muslim travelMuslim travelMuslim travelMuslim travelMuslim travelagents visitagents visitagents visitagents visitagents visitthe norththe norththe norththe norththe north

A group of Muslim travel agents weretaken on a familiarisation trip to ChiangMai and Chiang Rai recently.

The trip enabled them to learn forthemselves the various places of interestfor their Muslim clients.

CIMB FiestaCIMB FiestaCIMB FiestaCIMB FiestaCIMB Fiestaat theat theat theat theat the

Mid-ValleyMid-ValleyMid-ValleyMid-ValleyMid-Valley

TAT took part in the CIMB Fiesta byjoining hands with local travel agents topromote destinations in Thailand.

The fiesta was held for three days fromOctober 24-26 at the Mid-Valley ExhibitionCentre in Kuala Lumpur.

M-Girls in Hua HinM-Girls in Hua HinM-Girls in Hua HinM-Girls in Hua HinM-Girls in Hua HinPOPULAR all-girl group M-Girls recently visited Hua Hinand Bangkok to do a documentary shooting for theupcoming Chinese New Year. The video was shot inconjunction with their soon to be released ChineseNew Year 2015 music videos set to appear onMalaysian TV's Chinese channels as well as onDVDs.

Christmas Star Parade 2014Christmas Star Parade 2014Christmas Star Parade 2014Christmas Star Parade 2014Christmas Star Parade 2014

Address : Sakon Nakhon province CatholicArchdiocese of Tha Rae - Nong sangTel. 042-711272Tha Rae Municipal officeTel. 042-751213

Contact Details : +66 4251 3490-1

LET’S celebrate christmas festival with the dazzling star parade ofmore than 200 cars together with Santa Claus parade, angelsand join the Mass ceremony and carry the star while walkingaround the church. Let’s watch the stageplay of Jesus’s birth,choirs, star crafting demonstration and taking tram to visit ThaRae village and see the old building in colonial style which is thearchitecture influenced by French.

Period : 23 December 2014 – 25 December 2014City/Province : Sakon Nakhon

CSSB OpenCSSB OpenCSSB OpenCSSB OpenCSSB OpenGrand FinalsGrand FinalsGrand FinalsGrand FinalsGrand Finals

THE 10-leg CSSB Golf Open came to aconclusion with the grand finals being held inAyutthaya and Chachoengsao recently.

Champions from the 10 legs held in variousgolf courses throughout Malaysia qualified toplay in the grand finals. They were joined bysponsors at the championship.

SOME 30 sellers from Trang and Satun metbuyers from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor at anAmazing Thailand Road Show at the Istana Hotelin Kuala Lumpur recently.

The buyers were introducing new products andpromotions in conjunction with the start of thetourist season in the area.

TTTTTrang, Satunrang, Satunrang, Satunrang, Satunrang, SatunRoad ShowRoad ShowRoad ShowRoad ShowRoad Show

Winners ofWinners ofWinners ofWinners ofWinners ofMiss SawasdeeMiss SawasdeeMiss SawasdeeMiss SawasdeeMiss SawasdeePhotographyPhotographyPhotographyPhotographyPhotography

ContestContestContestContestContestCHIN Soon Teck walked away with the Grand Prizeof the Miss Sawasdee Photography Contest. TheGrand Prize is a return air tickets to Koh Samuicourtesy of Bangkok Airways. Winning the three meritprizes were Fan Chin Boon, Lim Peng Teong and OoiLip Yap who earned themselves a two night stay atthe Lotus Hotel Pang Suan Kaew in Chiang Mai.

Kuala LumpurKuala LumpurKuala LumpurKuala LumpurKuala LumpurPhotography FairPhotography FairPhotography FairPhotography FairPhotography FairA three-day Kuala Lumpur PhotographyFair was held at the Mid-Valley ExhibitionCentre in Kuala Lumpur, where TATopened a booth to introduce the manyplaces in Thailand that would be interestingfor photographers to visit. Traditionaldancers and an umbrella painter were alsobrought in to provide demonstrations tovisitors to the fair.

Chef KentHello On 2

RENOWNED Thai chef KentAnon Masanglong was a gueston Hello On 2, RTM2's talkshow programme.

He was there to demonstratethe art of cooking Thai food.

Chef Kent is the Chef incharge of the official receptionsof the Royal Family of Thailand.

For more information, contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Suite 22.01 Level 22, Menara Citibank, 165 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.Tel: 03-21623480 • Fax: 03-21623486 • Email: info@tourismthailand.my • Homepage: http//www.tourismthailand.org, http//www.tourismthailand.my

Media tripMedia tripMedia tripMedia tripMedia tripto Koh Samuito Koh Samuito Koh Samuito Koh Samuito Koh Samui

A group of journalists went on a trip to KohSamui and the surroundings. The trip wasjointly-sponsored by Bangkok Airways.

The group visited Koh Samui and itssurroundings like Koh Tao, Koh Nangyuanand Koh Phangan.

Journalists enjoy Loy Krathong in Chiang MaiJournalists enjoy Loy Krathong in Chiang MaiJournalists enjoy Loy Krathong in Chiang MaiJournalists enjoy Loy Krathong in Chiang MaiJournalists enjoy Loy Krathong in Chiang MaiA group of Malaysian journalists were inChiang Mai for the Loy Krathong and YiPeng Festival. The Loy KrathongFestival is held on the full moon night ofNovember every year.

It is celebrated as a mark ofrespect to the Mother of Waterwhich provides livelihood andsustenance to the people.