Asia’s Best Beaches: No 9 Maenam

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Lesley Durston

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. (Sir Francis Bacon, 1561-1626)

What I may think is an absolutely glorious beach, may not of course appeal to everyone. And when you’re talking about beaches, what is and isn’t acceptable will differ widely. Some may like the fact that there’s no Costa Coffee for miles, that there are no ‘facilities’ other than the ocean, and they are the only people on that particular beach.

Others may find the lack of crowds worrying, the getting there too rough, the climb down to that idyllic cove not worth the attempt, especially as everything needed for a simple ‘day on the beach’ had to be toted down by everyone – and will all have to be carried back up again.  And the car! Parked some hundreds of metres back and up is now left to stew in the heat … What if someone hurts their toe in the sea? What if we run out of water? What if it rains? What if the car won’t start once we find it again?

What if … what if … But we’re talking KOH SAMUI here, and I’d be happy to bet that most people long to be sitting, snorkelling, sleeping or sunbathing on that tropical paradise beach of white sand, safe aqua sea, beautiful sun and a modicum of solitude. Throw in some shady palm trees, little islands in the distance to break up the shimmering horizon, and a not too distant café or resort – and you’ve probably got most people’s idea of heaven.

The islands and beaches that make up Thailand (all 1,430 of them) have an awful lot going for them.  Many have glorious white or golden sands fringed by palm trees, beautiful clear and safe waters in which colourful fish play and nibble, are secluded and private, coffee and lunch are just a little walk away – and most are undisturbed by serried rows of sun beds and hundreds of sunseekers.  Other beaches, particularly those attached to the larger resorts, will offer water sports too should you decide to become more active and relinquish that un-put-down-able book.

Last year Kho Phi Phi, Koh Phangan, Patong beach on Phuket, and the Pranburi beaches on the mainland have all been quoted by Forbes.com and the Travel Channel as some of the best beaches in the world.

But here’s a secret: one of the best beaches in Thailand is on Koh Samui – and you could be staying there! It’s Maenam Beach.

Maenam – still thought of by some as a ‘backpacker beach’ – enjoys privacy, safe waters and golden sands. It is pretty and tranquil, still uncrowded, with restaurants dotted inland that will suit every pocket.

Voted a few years back by Australian journalist John Borthwick as 9th in his list of Asia’s Best Beaches, Maenam is a rarity in these crowded times: a quiet haven of beauty. Check out our villas on Maenam beach – you won’t be disappointed.

Posted in places of interest | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

There’s so much to see and do in Koh Samui

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Lesley Durston

Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuite of happiness: it is generally the by-product of other activities. Aldous Huxley (1894-1963).

Have you tried football-golf yet?
Surprisingly, this is a combination of football and golf, and its great fun for all the family. Kick your way round a shady 18-hole course, with huge holes, down which you have to pot your football! The course is just 7 minutes from Chaweng Beach near the Imperial Boathouse Hotel in Choeng Mon. No equipment or experience required: just come along with your feet!  (089 771 7498)

Island hopping
With +/- 1,430 islands making up Thailand, you are never going to run out of places to visit for beaches and water activities.  Many of the islands are uninhabited and great places to see the local flora and faua. To get to any of them you’ll need a boat of course but that’s not difficult, and for a great day out why not a day trip to one of them? Two kilometers from the southern end of Koh Samui are the Taen and Matsum islands, where you can explore the caves (mind the bats and the guano!) take a nature trek, do some fishing, diving and snorkelling. Or just lie there on a secluded beach and sunbathe …

Don’t like to be so isolated? How about Koh Phangan, just north of Koh Samui? Just 2/3rds the size of KS, and not so developed, and despite being home to the increasingly popular Full Moon parties once a month and some building in the last couple of years, Phangan island still has beautiful coral beaches.

Thai cooking courses
Always popular, with both men and women, these classes help you understand and create some culinary masterpieces – which can then be eaten! Some you just sit and watch, others insist you take part. One school on the island is SITCAA (Samui Institute of Culinary Arts) and is located in south Chaweng (077 413 172). It runs two courses a day of 3 hours each, using fresh produce and their own Thai curry pastes. It has a shop and a restaurant (The Dining Room). Toy Suwan at the Blue Banana (Big Buddha Beach, 077 245 080) has lunchtine and evening classes and also a small shop.

Love fishing -
- but don’t like bobbing about on the sea? There is some good fresh-water fishing available at Top Cats’ two man-made lakes where they claim to have over 4,000 fish and 20 different species. All equipment and bait will be provided and there is also a sports bar, restaurant and a large swimming pool. They are situated on Route 4170, Ban Taling Ngam.  (077 415 387)

Kiteboarding
is on offer at the Samui Orchid Resort in Laem Set. Offering the latest equipment and a wide range of courses for everyone to get involved. It’s a lovely shallow bay where the activity takes place, so safe for beginners. Reportedly the best time to go is when the north-easterlies blow at 8-20 knots – and that’s from November to March.
(077 424 017-501)

Visit a gym
And feel really pleased with yourself! You will need to become a member for a day at one of the two gyms attached to resorts in Chaweng, but it will definitely be worth it. Both are fully air conditioned and have a good range of equipment. One is the Centara Samui Beach Resort (077 230 500) and at the other end of the beach, the Chaweng Regent (077 422 389-90). You also get to use their pools, steam room and the sauna.

Tennis
You can hire the court at the Imperial Hotel in Chaweng Noi, on the Lamai road.
(077 422 020.)

Mountain Biking
Red Bicycle offers guided tours around the island on their bikes, plus independent rentals and sales.  All equipment such as kneepads and helmets are provided on their tours and experienced guides, all of whom are trained in first aid, lead the tours.  You will also be insured while out with Red Bicycle.  They are situated on Route 4169, Lamai Beach: follow the 5 Islands Restaurant signs. (843 052 170)

Elephant Trekking
Fancy a mini trek with a difference … on the back of an elephant?  You can ride for an hour or 30 minutes to a local waterfall for a swim or a rest, then back to the resort. Not ideal for very young visitors, but for those of 10 and above, a meeting with elephants is something you really must do while in Thailand. Take your trek from the Namuang Waterfall, where the elephant camp can be found at the Namuang Safari Park. (077 424 098 or 077 424 663)

Posted in things to do | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Short Guide to Medical Tourism in Thailand

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Lesley Durston

Every man is the builder of a temple called his body. (Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862).

That quote is obviously from pre-PC days! But whether man or woman, are you thinking of improving on the original version of your body? Or perhaps you ‘want to go private’ for some medical treatment or surgery, but just cannot afford it at home.   Do you want laser eye surgery? Dental implants? Some form of body sculpting? Stomach banding? Do you need some form of specialised surgery, such as gender reassignment, that would not be considered on your health service or insurance?

Have you considered coming to Thailand?

Thailand is a leading destination for medical tourism with approximately 400 hospitals throughout the country offering procedures. Not only does Thailand have the largest private hospital in Asia, but one of its centres was the first to receive the ISO 9001 certification in Asia, and currently 14 hospitals are listed as accredited (for various programmes) with the JCI. (Joint Commission International: which sets standards to improve patient care.)

You can learn about the JCI at www.jointcommissioninternational.org/about-jci/ and if you go to ‘Find Accredited Organization’ at the top of the page, you can search Thailand for a list of hospitals. It will show in which programme they are accredited, and you may wish to contact the hospital to check that their accreditation covers things that you want it to cover.

Procedures vary in cost from a tenth of the US rate, to at tops about 80%, and of course final rates may well depend on your own personal health history, once your chosen physician has taken all the details he/she needs.

Of course, by having to travel to your hospital destination you have to take into account your fares and some recuperation stay after you come out of hospital, but even so, you may be pleasantly surprised by how much you will actually save by travelling to Thailand for your treatment – and having a short holiday afterwards!

www.health-tourism.com/thailand-hospitals/ gives you information on all the hospitals in Thailand which cater for medical tourists, what procedures they offer, and whether they are JCI or ISO accredited.

The Bangkok Hospital Samui on the island has ISO certification, and if this hospital is your treatment choice finalist, and you want some pampering and relaxation after your procedure, check out our Koh Samui Villas.  We will help you recover by making your stay totally stress-free and relaxed.

BUT – be sure to -
• CHECK each hospital’s accreditations carefully before making a decision
• CHECK that the hospital and its consultants are fully cognisant of what you want to happen while you are there
• INFORM your own GP or consultant what you are considering doing well before you actually book anything: he/she may be able to help you.

Posted in health | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Samui Island in Spring!

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Lesley Durston

A little madness in the Spring is wholesome even for the King. (Emily Dickinson).

It’s still rather chilly out there, and the pretty snow has all gone, so now’s the time to get those holiday brochures out and start planning. Let’s find some sun and fun!

March is one of the best months to visit Koh Samui – just a little rain and the temperatures up to the low 30s. In April – the official start of the ‘hot season’ – the temperatures climb a little, and there are perhaps one or two days more rain than in March, but all in all still the same glorious sun and welcome heat.

So what’s on in March and April?

Saturday March 19th is the next Full Moon Party – an all night event on Haad Rin Beach on Koh Phangan. It happens on the night of every full moon, and if you’re going to be on Koh Samui for long enough, you should think about going to one of these. Drinking and dancing the night away to music by local and international DJs from around the world: for the party people, this is where the action is. Be aware that thousands attend, so if you’re missing the noise and the crowds from home, you’ll love it.

To get to Koh Phangan you have to catch a boat, and it’s about a 45 minute ride. Special services are set up on full moon nights to cater for all who want to attend, but be prepared for a bit of a wait – it gets hectic!

The Songkran Water Festival runs from 13th-15th April, when lots of water is thrown around at anybody and anything that moves. This will certainly help to cool you down should you feel the need. And don’t forget those beauty contests that take place around this time – not to be missed!

The next Full Moon Party is on Monday April 18th.

Other activities to consider are:

Shopping – the list of items on sale is endless, but you can pick up some gorgeous beachwear, plus locally made home items in silk, jewellery in silver, gold and set with precious stones, and countless other handicrafts such as lacquerware, antiques and objets d’art, especially in Chaweng, Nathon and Lamai. And if you can wait for a few days, why not get something handmade by a tailor?

The Na Tian Butterfly Garden can be found in the south of the island. As well as butterflies, there is a beautiful garden to wander around, a bee house where you can watch these busy creatures at work, and an insect museum.

There is an Aquarium at Laem Set Bay, housing many tropical fish and marine plants.

The Ban Lamai Cultural Hall is really a small museum, with local ancient objects on display, including hunting weapons, earthenware and household utensils.

The Namtok Na Mueang Waterfall is a two level fall made by the water coming off the highlands.  The lower one has a drop of approximately 20 metres. To reach the higher fall, please note that the road is pretty steep.  You can also take elephant treks here.

And if you have some energy left, how about some nightlife!  This never seems to stop, especially in the busier tourist centres such as Chaweng and Lamai. There are beach bars and discos, western-style pubs with satellite TV, rock ‘n‘ roll bars, dinners and cabaret, and more classic, quieter restaurants to choose from all over the island. Many of the bars and discos stay open well beyond midnight, and some until sun-up, and these don’t get underway until very late in the evening.

This is also the time of year to think about LOVE …If you’re planning your future wedding or honeymoon, take a look at www.samuiislandvillas.com you might get a few ideas.

Posted in festivals, guides, holidays | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How to say a few words and avoid some cultural faux pas.

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Lesley Durston

How to say a few words and avoid some cultural faux pas.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Your holiday on Koh Samui island will be so much more rewarding and fun (sanuk) if you can say a few words to the Thai people you meet, so how about learning a few words of their language?   Many Thais speak English, but don’t let that stop you!

There are differences in how to speak Thai if you are a man or a woman, but these words and phrases given below will be understood whether said by either, and you will not cause offence if you use the wrong gender version.

Sawadee  – Hello and Goodbye
At the same time (instead of a hand shake) place your palms together in front of your chest, fingers pointed upward, and bow your head a little.  This is called a Wai.  Usually, the younger or lower status person initiates the Wai.  It is quite usual to address Thai people by their first name, preceded by Khun (Mr / Mrs).

Phoot Thai mai dai
I can’t speak Thai

Hong lnam yoo tee nai?
Where is the rest room?

Khorb koon mark
Thank you very much

Mai pen rai
You’re welcome / never mind

Chai
Yes

Mai-chai
No, / no it’s not / no I don’t

Khor toat
Sorry / excuse me

Tai ruup dai mai?
May I take a photo?

Sabai dee mai?
How are you?
Sabai dee
I am fine

Pom chue …
My name is …

Yoo tee nai?
Where is …?  While pointing to your map …

Gee baht?
How much?

A-roi
Delicious

Mai a-roi
Not delicious

Dai nit noi
A little

Gep taang
The bill, please

Bai nai?  -  where are you going?  Often shouted as a greeting by tuk tuk drivers!  So if you’d rather walk, you can reply – Mai ow khrab!

The Thais are a very conservative yet relaxed and light-hearted people: they love to please, to keep things calm, to enjoy the moment – and to have fun.   Their strong sense of how they are seen by others means that any confrontation or embarrassment, either of or by themselves or others, should be avoided.  To save face, your own or someone else’s, is paramount.   This is probably the source of that famous and beautiful Thai smile: it is surely the best way to see you through difficult situations.

The Thais may well see many visitors as over-worrying and over-pernickety: it is not in their nature to be this way.  They do not worry about having to wait or queue, and as a whole are not concerned about what life will be like in the future: they live for the day.  Things will only get better!  We could learn a little here …

Meeting Thais for the first time socially may be a bit like undergoing an inquisition!  Social rank and your status in society are very important, and you may be asked any number of questions so that your new friend can judge where you stand …  Phu Yai (the big people) and Phu Noi (the little people) are the two main ‘classifications’; e.g. teacher and student; adult and child; older sibling and younger sibling; Thai and non-Thai.  As a visitor to Thailand, you may be given the honorary Phu Yai role, based on the Thai’s assuming you have wealth because you are there, and education and status in your own country because of what he understands about your country.   What a compliment!

A few don’ts:

Beach:
Do not remove any part of your swimwear for sunbathing.  Nudity is not allowed in public.

Eyes, Mouth, Hands, Feet and Shoes:
Don’t stare, and avoid long eye contact.  This is not considered polite.  Very brief eye-to-eye contact is the norm for Thais when having a conversation.
Avoid raising your voice and losing your temper – this will be considered a great loss of face on your part, and you may be ignored completely.  Show patience and acceptance of what is being done for you.

Do not point or gesticulate madly; do not drop or throw things.  All these are considered very inelegant (unless you are on the beach)!  Best to be subtle, quiet and indirect …

In many parts of Asia the feet are considered the most unclean or impure part of the body. To sit in a way that points the sole of your foot at someone is considered disrespectful and an insult.   If you accidently step on someone ‘khor toat’ is recommended.  Try to avoid stepping over anyone: wait for him or her to move out of your way.  And do not step over food!

Do not wear your shoes in someone’s house: leave them outside.  This is true also for temples and other religious buildings, and sometimes small hotels, guesthouses and even shops.   Look for the clues: a pile of removed shoes left outside.

Royalty:
The Thais love and respect their King and his family.  Do not insult or make jokes about them.

Sacred places and things:
Do not touch things you see in temples or other religious places, or in an individual’s personal spirit house or altar.  Lengthy rituals may need to be undertaken if you inadvertently contaminate these things.
Women must not touch Buddhist monks, or hand things to him themselves, or be alone in their presence.

All monks, whatever their age, are highly respected.

It is sacrilegious to use an image of Buddha as purely decorative, so icons used around the home other than in personal altars are frowned upon.  But a small Buddha hanging round the neck is OK: it may protect you and bring you good luck.

Time:
Seems to have a different meaning in Thailand!  Do not fret if the service in your restaurant is slow … enjoy the leisure time.  If someone is late for a meeting, ignore it.  Welcome them when they arrive … and carry on.

But mainly, do not worry!  You are here on Koh Samui to enjoy yourself and if you make a mistake, by mistake, just apologise and smile.  The Thais will forgive you.

Posted in guides, holidays | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Koh Samui – Popular as ever

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Lesley Durston

According to travel writer Naomi Lindt,  Koh Samui ranked number 3 in the New York Times 2011 list of must places to visit

A toned-down version of Phuket, heavy on wellness and food.

As Thailand’s third-largest island, Koh Samui isn’t exactly off the radar. But the 95-square-mile tropical gem in the southern Gulf of Thailand, whose white sand beaches, abundant coral reefs and seas of palm trees were once a backpackers’ secret, has emerged as the stylish luxury alternative to crowded Phuket. Last month’s much-anticipated opening of the W Retreat Koh Samui on a private beach along the island’s northern shore was the chic hotel brand’s premiere in Southeast Asia. July saw the arrival of the 78 pool-villas at the Banyan Tree Samui and its bay-facing spa, which includes the island’s first hydrotherapy facility. It is burnishing Koh Samui’s reputation as one of Thailand’s top wellness destinations, along with the yoga and detox center at the Moroccan-inspired boutique resort Absolute Sanctuary, which turns three in April.

Local restaurants have kept pace, luring international chefs who are transforming Koh Samui into an eating destination as well. Newcomers include H-Bistro at the Hansar Samui resort, where the French-Mediterranean and Thai menu was conceived by a former private chef to the Jordanian royal family, and Orgasmic by Chef Wally, which serves innovative cocktails and dishes like cocoa butter Hokkaido scallops and freshly caught white snapper with pecan-celery mash. The local scene goes into full swing at the weekly Sunday Sessions under the soaring thatched roofs at loungey Beach Republic, whose brunch, seafood barbecue and sunset D.J.’s are quickly becoming famous.

Posted in places of interest | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Why not a stopover en route?

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Lesley Durston

The only thing that make life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next. (Ursula K LeGuin)

Not sure I totally agree with that ‘intolerable uncertainty’, but some level of surprise is good!  So now you’ve decided to book a luxury villa through Samui Island Villas for your Koh Samui holiday, why not consider a stopover somewhere?   Many airlines let you plan for that, even online these days, so if you have the time available, why not see one or two other places in this part of the world.  Let’s see what’s (relatively) nearby …

If you’re coming from Europe or the east coast of America and fancy some culture before you hit the Koh Samui beaches and nightlife you might consider –

Istanbul (Turkey) – Under its previous names of Byzantium and Constantinople, it was the capital of the Roman, Byzantium, Latin and Ottoman Empires before becoming the capital of the new Republic of Turkey in 1922.
Cairo (Egypt) -    Originally Al Qahira – and popularly known as the City of a Thousand Minarets, this is the largest city in Africa, spread over 450 square miles.  It is home to the largest film and music industries in the Arab world, and handily close to many of the top tourist sights and for picking up a Nile cruise.
Amman (Jordan) -   Built on seven hills, this is one of the oldest continuously settled cities of the world.  It has known its fair share of residents, from its earliest 10,000BC residents, followed by the Ammonites, Assyrians, Persians and the Greeks, when it was renamed Philadelphia.  Then the Romans moved in.  Many of the places and stories of the Bible were in what is now modern Jordan.
And in The Middle East:
Doha (Qatar) – see how to develop a modern city out of the desert yet still retain the culture and improve on the greenery, and – of course – where the 2022 World Cup will be held!
Dubai (UAE) to see the impressively tall Burj Khalifa, the vast shopping malls – and possibly have a run down the indoor ski slope in the Emirates Mall.

Singapore and Hong Kong are further east than Thailand, but are two of the most important and buzzing cities in the Far East, and should certainly be on everyone’s list of ‘Places I must Visit’.  And from these cities you can get direct flights into Koh Samui.

If you are flying in from the west coast ofAmerica –
Tokyo or Osaka (Japan)
Seoul (South Korea)
Shanghai or Beijing (China)
Hanoi (Vietnam)
Vientiane (Laos)
Phnom Penh (Cambodia)

From Australia –
Jakarta (Indonesia)
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) – direct flights to Koh Samui are also available from KL.

Be sure to check out your country’s governmental websites for any places considered unwise to visit at your time of travelling.

Posted in holidays, travel | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Thai Green Curry Recipe

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Lesley Durston

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. (J R R Tolkein)

You’ve done Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and a few other places in between.  You’ve eaten at Anna’s, CatCanDoo, Starfish and Coffee, Khun Nai Dern Sai, the Karma Sutra, and – heaven help you – the delightful Cabbages and Condoms.  You’ve lapped up the curries, the fragrant rice, the spicy calamari, but now you are home, and you want to eat like that again!

So here’s a basic Thai Green Curry recipe that might just get you searching for more Thai culinary delights with which to regale your friends and family.

As always, it’s important to use fresh ingredients.  Don’t use huge pieces of chicken, as this will increase the cooking time: you want this one to cook fairly quickly.  This particular Thai curry should combine all four flavours of sweet and sour, salt and spice.  As they say in many places these days: Enjoy!

THAI GREEN CURRY

This recipe will take about 30 minutes to prepare, and 20 minutes to cook on the top of your oven.  You’ll need a food processor to make the paste and a deepish skillet or wok for stir-frying it all.

Ingredients for 2 or 3 people:

For the paste you will need:
4 small green Thai chillies
¼ cup of shallots or diced red onion
1 stalk of lemongrass (discard any tough outer leaves), sliced very thinly OR
3 tbs pre-bought frozen lemongrass
4 cloves of garlic, skinned and minced or chopped very finely
1 walnut-sized chunk of ginger, grated
½ tsp ground coriander
½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp ground white pepper
1 cup fresh coriander, chopped
3 tbs Thai fish sauce, OR light soy sauce
1 tsp brown sugar
2 tbs lime juice

The other bits:
2 tbs good stir-fry cooking oil
Enough boneless chicken (thigh or breast) cut into pieces, for 2-3 people
4 kaffir lime leaves (or grated zest of a small lime)
1 can of coconut milk, or similar quantity made from dried coconut milk powder
following the instructions

You can also add some vegetables to this curry to round out the nutrition it provides: any 2 of the following -
1 red, yellow or orange bell pepper, de-seeded and cut into pieces
1 zucchini, sliced lengthways then cut into pieces
A big handful of thin green beans, topped, tailed and cut into 1” strips.

Method:
1.    First of all make the paste by putting all the ingredients into a food processor and whizzing for a few seconds.  If it seems a little thick, to help blend it all add a few drops of the coconut milk.
2.    If you are using the lime leaves, remove them from their stem and cut them into thin strips and set aside.
3.    Heat the stir-fry oil in the wok or skillet over a medium heat.
4.    Add the green curry paste and stir fry for about a minute.
5.    Add ¾ of the coconut milk.  The rest will be used when serving.
6.    Now add the chicken pieces and stir well.
7.    Allow the sauce to come to the boil, then reduce the heat to allow it to simmer gently.
8.    Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.  Check that the chicken is thoroughly cooked.
9.    Add any vegetables that you want to incorporate, and the lime leaf strips.  Stir in.
10.    Simmer for further 2 minutes. Check that the vegetables are slightly softened – but not too much: they should still retain their shape and colour and be firm to the bite.
11.    Taste it!  Add a touch more brown sugar to sweeten: add a little more lime juice if it is too salty.  And if it is too spicy, add more coconut milk.

Serve with: Jasmine rice.

Topping: handful of fresh basil on top of the rice, drizzled with a little of the leftover coconut milk.

Go to www.samuiislandvillas.com for more…….

Posted in food | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Welcome to Samui Island Villas blog

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Lesley Durston

Travel is only glamorous in retrospect. (Paul Theroux)

Now!  Let’s all prove him wrong! Welcome to Samui Island Villas blog.

Travel is enlightening, mind-expanding, astonishing – and one of the very few pleasures of life most of us can now enjoy, whatever our means, in any month of the year.   Because travel can be from your hometown, your home county, your home country; it can be a few miles down the road, or halfway across the globe …  but let’s not sit still for the rest of our lives, in front of that flickering electronic box or the computer, let’s get out there and see it all for ourselves.

Welcome to Samui Island Villas blog!   And we wish you all a very happy, healthy and safe 2011 on your travels.

For Thais, the western New Year’s Day is celebrated and is a public holiday.   The New Year that Thailand has just welcomed is in fact year 2554: there is a 543-year difference between the Gregorian and the Buddhist calendar.

But one of the biggest New Year celebrations in Thailand is the Chinese New Year: approximately six million Thais have a Chinese heritage.  In 2011 it begins on 3rd February and brings in the Year of the Rabbit, the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac.  The festivities are loud and colourful – a must-see if you are here then.  “Wan Trut Chin” is Thai for the Chinese New Year.  The festivities will last for several days and include food offerings to gods and ancestors, and lots of noisy firecrackers and drumming parades and processions in the streets.

Bangkok’s Chinatown on Yaowarat Road will be the venue for one of the largest of the Thai celebrations, but ask about them wherever you stay in Thailand.   For example, in Nakhon Sawan Province, where the festival has taken place since ancient times, the festivities are renowned, with many hugely colourful and noisy events, such as the dragon, goddess and angel processions, and large colourful bamboo, paper and silk lions and dragons parading through the streets.

The tradition is thought to have begun when a beast called the Nian – sometimes depicted as a rather muscular lion / ox hybrid – used to visit a certain village on New Year’s Day to eat up anything edible and unguarded – especially children!  The villagers put food offerings outside their houses in the hope that it would be satisfied and go away.   Once, it was seen that the beast was afraid of a little child wearing red, so to add to their defences, red lanterns and scrolls were hung at their windows and doors, and as it was also sensitive to loud noises, firecrackers were let off and drums were banged loudly to frighten the Nian away.   It was so scared that it was not seen in the village again … but it is still said to be living somewhere …

There are many other old traditions concerning the Chinese New Year –

The entire house should be cleaned before New Year’s Day, but on New Year’s Eve, put all the brooms and brushes away, as you might be sweeping away your good fortune.   And at midnight, leave all the doors and windows of your house open to allow the old year to leave.   And of course, never, never borrow or lend anything on New Year’s Day!

Posted in guides | Tagged , , | Leave a comment