Thailand is Celebrating SONGKRAN Festival - Thai New Year

Songkran is the longest holiday in Thailand. It is a 3-day new year celebration. This year, it is celebrated on April 13-15.

During Songkran celebration, people goes to the streets bringing water with them and splashing it to the passersby. They may have water guns, pails of water, or water hose. Any passerby - whether walking or riding on any form of transpo will be splashed with water.

Songkran is done this way because Thai people believed that by throwing water, a person will be cleansed from all sins he has done previously. New year, new life. Elders usually go to the temple and pray. But youngsters celebrate this festival for fun by throwing water to each other.

Foreigners in Thailand also join Thai people in celebrating Songkran Festival.

Bangpu Nature Education Centre

This place is located at Samutprakhan Province, 37 kilometers away from Bangkok.

Bang Pu Rehabilitation and Nature Education Centre is a mangrove area with mudflats in it. It is an ecosystem which serves as a habitat of almost 400 different species of flora and fauna. And with 8,000 visitors per annum.

Contact:

Terrayuth La-orphanphol - Manager

Email: thaiyuth@hotmail.com

Bangpu Nature and Education Centre

162 Moo 2 Sukhumvit Road,

Bangpu Mai, Muang,

Samutprakhan 10280

Tel: 02 709 5005

Fax: 02 323 3073

Anglo Singapore International School (Bangkok)

ASIS has celebrated Sports Day and Songkran Festival on April 5th 2011. Songran is Thailand's greatest water festival which happens every April. People are splashing water to everyone. You'll really get wet when you go out during Songkran.

Summer is Back Again

After two consecutive cold weeks, summer has been back. The sun has back on April 1st. According to Thai meteorology, warm weather is expected to come on early April. And now it has really come.

The temperature is expected to rise up to 40 degrees during the whole summer duration.

Most people were happy because of the drop of temperature last two weeks ago. It seemed like we were having winter during the summer. Many had wished it would last forever. But many are disappointed when the temperature rises back again to its normal range during summer.

An Earthquake of Magnitude 6.8 Hits Bangkok

Two days after an intensified rain, an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 hits Bangkok Thursday night, 09:30 PM, 25th March 2011, bringing tremor to people living in high-rising buildings. The movement lasted for at least 10 seconds. News flooded in Facebook and Twitter resulting to a quick spread to all over Bangkok.

The epicenter of the earthquake was reported to be in the Golden Triangle in a town of Northeastern Burma near the border of Laos and Thailand. The quake has damaged several homes and buildings in Burma.

Reports said that one woman died after the wall of her house collapsed in Chiangrai, Northern Thailand.

Bangkok Drops to 18 Degree Celsius

Yesterday, Bangkok temperature dropped to 18°C which was considered to be the coldest temperature in Bangkok at these days when summer is fast approaching. It has already been very warm during the last few days but suddenly after what happened to Japan the weather suddenly changed.

Japan's earthquake and tsunami last 11th of March 2011 had resulted a huge climate change in areas nearby including Bangkok, Thailand.

Many students from my said yesterday that "Bangkok is like England today", or "Bangkok is like Japan", it is very cold today. And many people wish it will stay like this for the whole summer duration which will be until July.

Bangkok has saved energy from air-conditions because even though you turn on AC, it is still colder outside. So, better turn off AC and open the doors and windows.

Until today, it is still very cold, although it did not rain last night. People are wearing winter clothing.

Thailand Visa Run Updates

As of March 5 2011, Savannaket, Laos is not giving free tourist visa at all.

Cambodia is giving unlimited 15days visa. While Phomphen is giving double-entry visa with fee.

If you are a first time visitor in Thailand, you will be given 30 days to stay within the Kingdom. After that, you need to go out to either Cambodia or Laos to get 15-days transit visa or 60-days tourist visa respectively.

Please refer to the following Agencies for your visa problems:

1. Ms. Madelyn - 0897921543

2. Mr. Claudio - 0818154803

Summer is Coming to Bangkok

These days the weather in Bangkok is getting warmer each day. Although the breeze is strong outside, but once you are inside the building especially with no air conditioning, you would really be full of sweat.

As summer is approaching, the climate is becoming warm and warm each day and night. The atmosphere is humid giving warm temperature to the surface.

In the morning, it is unusual to sweat right after showering. And the cold wind outside is gone while walking to the main highway to catch a ride for work.

Smog is all over the sky in Bangkok, giving a bit gloomy atmosphere every morning, adding warmth to it. Other provinces in the north or in the south do not have this kind of sky. Northern part is colder than in southern part.

People will suffer from this warm weather for more or less four months starting now.

Yellow Shirts Protest Renewed

The Yellow Shirts protesters in Thailand had again protested on March 2, 2011 at Sukhumvit Soi 31, where Thai Prime Minister's house is located.

The cops had blocked the entrance of the street allowing nobody to enter. This rally had caused so much effect to the traffic. The traffic jam was very worst that time around Sukhumvit road.

The cops had used armored cars to barricade the street. With them having their shields lining in front of the barricades.

The aim of the rally was unknown, but it was said to be about the reign of the Prime Minister.

The people, especially the foreigners, were advised to stay away from rally sites to be safe. And to avoid wearing any yellow or red colored clothing.

Bangkok Updates at 4th March 2011

Last night, it was very warm. The atmosphere was very humid. I was trying to stay outside to grab some fresh air. I went back inside to see what could i have for dinner when suddenly a very strong wind blew my curtain. It started to rain. Slight at first, and slowly becoming heavier and heavier. Then the strong wind blew again together with heavy rain.

The branches of the trees outside were more than dancing. The twigs were removed from its stem. There were lightnings and thunders giving light to the dark night.

It was cold during the whole night.