INFORMATION KIT - Api-fellowships.org

3 -1-1. Date & TimeThe official Thai calendar is calculated from the beginning of the Buddhist Era in 543BC. The year 2008 AD is therefore 2551 BE. The year is subdivided into 12 months, The sameas the Roman calendar.Thailand standard time is 7 hours ahead of Universal Time or Greenwich Mean Time(London). At noon in Bangkok or Jakarta is 13:00 in Kuala Lumpur or Manila and 14:00 inTokyo.Be careful when asking a Thai the time. Sometimes they use a six-hour clock systemwhen measuring the time. Seven in the evening becomes one o’clock, 11:00 becomes fiveo’clock, etc. The system is mainly used in conversation.In Thailand, Saturdays and Sundays are holidays but most shops throughout the countryincluding the major department stores and shopping complexes stay open.3 -1-2. Business HoursBusiness hours are from 8:00 or 8:30 to 17:30, Monday through Friday. Some businessesare open Saturdays 8:30-12:00. Government offices are open 8:30-16:30, Monday throughFriday. Banks open from 8:30 to 15:30, Mondays through Fridays. Money-changing kiosks open8:30 - 16:00 daily. Post offices hours are 8:30-16:30. Department stores are open 10:30-21:00 or22:00, seven days a week. Shops, restaurants, and pharmacies open at 8:30 or 9:00; most close at22:00. There are small differences in each place.3-1-3. Thai Public Holidays 2009January 1New Year’s DayJanuary 2Additional holiday granted by governmentFebruary 9 Makhabuja Day *April 6 Chakri Day (King Rama I’s Coronation Day)April 13-15May 1Songkran Festival (Traditional Thai New Year)National Labour DayMay 5Coronation DayMay 8 Visakhabuja Day * *July 1Mid Year Bank Holiday (NOT a public holiday)July 7 Asarnhabuja Day * * *August 12October 23H.M. The Queen’s Birthday (Mother’s Day)Chulalongkorn Memorial DayDecember 5 H.M. The King’s Birthday (Father’s Day)December 7 Substitution for H.M. The King’s BirthdayDecember 10 Constitution DayDecember 31 New Year's EveNote: The religious holidays are determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar and are thereforevariable.* Makhabuja Day: Lord Buddha preached to 1,250 disciples without prior arrangement.* * Visakhabuja Day: the day when Lord Buddha was born, reached enlightenment and enterednirvana.* * * AsarnhabujaDay: the day when Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon to his first fivedisciples.14