Fah Thai Magazine Sep/Oct 2017

OVERTURES
NEWS AND EVENTS
25
JUN 2017
SAMUI
SAMUI MARATHON THANKS
A special thank you goes to all of those who recently
took part in the Bangkok Airways and Teelakow Company
Limited’s sporting event, “Bangkok Airways Boutique
Series 2017: Samui Marathon,” which was an
overwhelming success.
Amidst the landscape of the beautiful Andaman
Ocean, runners of different nationalities joined the event
which took place at the in-demand tourist destination of
Koh Samui. The unique marathon route was designed in a
special way so that participants can see Samui in different
perspectives – while running through the Fisherman
Village and the city centre – and later, a chance to mingle
with the locals and learn about the culture.
26 NOW-
NOV 2017
This is still the moment the
whole country of Thailand
mourns for the loss of a
beloved Father. The late King
Bhumibol Adulyadej reigned
over the kingdom for over
70 years and passed away on
October 13 of last year. In this
period of grieving before His
Majesty’s Royal Cremation and
a final farewell this coming
October, the Bangkok Art and
Culture Centre Foundation
holds a “In Remembrance of
the Great King” exhibition. This
is part of the “In Remembrance
of H.M. King Bhumibol: The
Supreme Artist” project which
recognises the late King’s
remarkable artistic talents
and His royal support and
patronage of Thai arts.
“In Remembrance of the
Great King” features more than
160 rare artworks of different
mediums by leading Thai artists
of various generations as well
BANGKOK
SPOTLIGHT
King of Hearts
as precious collectibles relating
to King Rama IX. Among
these is a portrait painting
titled “Phrabat Somdet Phra
Poramintharamaha Bhumibol
Adulyadej Mahitalathibet
Ramathibodi Chakkrinaruebodin
Sayamminthrathirat
Borommanatbophit (Silver
Jubilee, 1971)” by Thongchai
Srisukprasert and another print,
“Navamintraja No. 8, 2013” by
Pinit Phantaprawat, an artist
responsible for engraving
King Rama IX’s portraits for
banknote production.
Curated by Prof. Dr. Apinan
Poshyananda, Tawatchai
Somkong and Sakchai Guy,
“In Remembrance of the Great
King” exhibition will be on
display from now until 26
November, on the 8th Floor of
the Bangkok Art and Culture
Centre.
bacc.or.th, closed on Mondays,
Tel: +66 (0) 2214 6630-8
If joining the Samui Marathon is still not enough, you
can be part of the “Bangkok Airways Boutique Series
2017 on the upcoming dates: September 24 – Chiang
Rai Marathon, November 19 – Lanna Marathon (Chiang
Mai) and lastly, December 8-10 – Ultra-Trail Panoramic
(Mae Hong Son).
teelakow.com, Tel: +66 (0) 92 979 8287
5
OCT 2017
BUDDHISTS
OBSERVE THE END OF LENT
Three months of the Buddhist
Lent or Khao Phansa comes to a
finish on this full moon day. Called
Awk Phansa, meaning the end of
Buddhist Lent, monks can now go
out of the temples and receive alms
as usual. During the 3 months of
Khao Phansa in the rainy season,
they have to remain in the same
place. The ‘rain retreat’ is the time
where monks take the opportunity
to practise more; more Buddhist
teachings, more meditation and
more studying.
If you plan to visit some places
in Southeast Asia around this time,
20-28
try heading over to Luang Prabang
to experience the festival of lights
on Awk Phansa, an occasion that’s
beautiful and interesting in its
uniqueness. Many handmade paper
lanterns spread around homes and
temple grounds. On the following
day, it is worth watching fire boat
processions when communities
prepare their own little boats or
krathongs, made of banana leaves
decorated with flowers, candles
and incense and floated along the
Mekong River in the evening. Here’s
to a lovely tradition!
tourismlaos.org
THAILAND
MEAT-FREE FOOD & FEST 4-10
OCT 2017
OCT 2017
The observance of strongly held traditions from the Chinese communities
has spread throughout the world with a legacy that still passes on to
the next generation. The Vegetarian Festival or Thetsagan Gin Je is one
of those. It began 400 years ago in China in remembrance of a group
of warriors who defeated the Manchurians. Later, people marked their
calendar each year to go meatless in the 9th month of the lunar calendar to
commemorate the heroes.
You can see yellow and red flag signals at a shop or street stall, meaning
that their shop offers vegetarian and mock meat cuisine. Hundreds of
thousands of people flock into Yaowarat or Bangkok’s Chinatown to
experience a variety of vegetarian dishes from noodles to sweets, believing
these 9 days and 9 nights being meat-free will cleanse their mind, spirit and
body. Its popularity has swept to local restaurants and even food courts in
department stores during the Vegetarian Festival.
Even though the festival is held throughout Thailand, it is especially
celebrated in Yaowarat, Pattaya, Trang, Krabi, Hat Yai and Phuket. The latter
is considered the centre of Thailand’s Vegetarian Festival. But beware of
extreme scenes if you’re faint of heart as some involve tongue piercing and
puncturing of other body parts and other ghastly rituals.
tourismthailand.org
MOON SWEET MOON
This is one of the most popular Chinese festivals
and the time to commemorate the birthday of a
revolutionary hero who was born on a full moon
some 3,000 years ago in history. The Mid-Autumn
Festival is celebrated among Chinese communities
everywhere in the world. It is the time for families
to spend the good times together and enjoy the
special sweet treat of a ‘Moon Cake’. It’s always a
delight to find different colours and filling flavours
of these cakes; ranging from durian, roasted
chestnuts, coffee, green tea, or even peculiar ones
like peanut butter and ginseng.
In Hong Kong, it is a perfect time to try the
hairy crab which is a favoured Chinese delicacy
during this season and accompanied by Chinese
wine or ginger tea. You can also go out at night to
witness the biggest and roundest moon and join
the parade of luminous lights and lanterns in major
Chinese cities like Hong Kong and Singapore.
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