Hua Hin Jazz Festival Jun 12-14, 2009

Hua Hin Jazz Festival
12 June 2009 - 14 June 2009

Jazz lovers know exactly where they should be come mid-June. They are catching an invigorating sea b...

Hua Hin Jazz FestivalDate : 12 June 2009 - 14 June 2009

Venue : Hua Hin Beach, Prachuap Khiri Khan
Jazz lovers know exactly where they should be come mid-June. They are catching an invigorating sea breeze and dining on fresh sea food at Hua Hin’s famous beachside restaurants.But only when they are not soaking up the serious stuff – musical concerts delivering the very best in jazz, compliments of a variety of local and international bands.Hua Hin shakes off its low season blues, 12 to 14 June, every year for its international jazz festival at sites on the beach and in the centre of this laid back resort town that graces Thailand’s western coast of the Gulf of Thailand.
Hua Hin is approximately 220 km from Bangkok and is noted for being the country’s first beach resort discovered by royalty and nobility in the post war years when the only feasible way to reach its golden beaches was by steam train.
Today, it is popular beach town with more than its far share of five-star hotels. One of the main jazz festival stages is set up close to the Sofitel Central Resort, a heritage property dating back to early 1900s and Marriott.In all, there are three stages for the jazz festival on the beach and in the town near the historical railway station and another near Phone Kingpet complex.Of course, the beach venue serves up a winning ambience as thousands of jazz lovers sit on deck chairs or mats laid out on the sand and enjoy the very best selections of traditional and modern jazz.
All performances during the three-day festival are free and continue from 1530 until midnight. No wonder this “Royal Town” is sometimes renamed “Jazz Town” when its streets are packed with music lovers of all ages, who gather to enjoy the best of jazz from both international and Asian musicians. Definitely, this is a festival that adds value for any holiday maker visiting Hua Hin during the 12 to 14 June weekend.

Laguna Phuket International Marathon Jun 14, 2009

Laguna Phuket International Marathon
Jun 14, 2009

A scenic route along some of Phuket’s most spectacular west coast bays makes this an event that attr... 4th Laguna Phuket International Marathon, Date : 14 June 2009

Venue : Laguna Beach Resort, Phuket
A scenic route along some of Phuket’s most spectacular west coast bays makes this an event that attracts runners ready to achieve a personal best.Some marathons shine brighter than others in this highly competitive field of events. The Laguna Phuket International Marathon is one of them, due its incredibly scenic route along some of the island’s best beaches and on roads that wind through shady rubber plantations.
The date for the next Laguna Phuket International Marathon has now been confirmed for 14th June 2009. The event will again feature a Marathon, Half Marathon, 10 Km Run, 5 Km Walk and a 2 Km Kids Run. Registration will open on 1st October 2008 with an early bird discount fee until 31 March 2008. Accommodation packages at Laguna Phuket will also be available for booking from 1st October.Of course, the fun starts on the evening of the 13 June when runners meet for the traditional pasta party, a carbo loading exercise to prepare them for the demanding races on the following morning. Laguna Phuket’s chef conjures up a mammoth buffet at the hotel, the official headquarters for the event, while Thai musicians and dancers entertain participants
From the participants’ point of view, June is an ideal month to compete in a marathon as monsoon clouds gather over the Andaman Sea providing cover from what would otherwise be a scorching hot day.This is Phuket’s traditional low season, so the event is billed as a tourism booster that attracts not only the runners, but also family members who travel to Phuket to cheer their kin to victory, or perhaps a personal best.Another factor that benefits runners is the scenic route that takes them initially inland on a country lane to Thalang district and then northwest to Nai Yang beach through rubber plantations. The final section of the marathon takes runners along Layan Beach and south to Laguna Phuket and across the finishing line. Celebrations begin as sponsors and organisers hand out the well deserved accolades and trophies to the winners in a variety of categories.
Runners who finish the marathon in less than four hours receive a certificate.Go Adventure Asia, a Bangkok based professional event organizer with a focus on running and multi-sport events, is organising the event. In addition to managing the Laguna Phuket International Marathon for three years, it is also manages the Laguna Phuket Triathlon.
The Laguna Phuket International Marathon has nominated HOPE worldwide (Thailand) as its official charity. HOPE worldwide (Thailand) is dedicated to helping needy children and underprivileged girls in Thailand.
For more information, click http://www.phuketmarathon.com/

Phuket Film Festival 2009 June 4-7,2009

PHUKET FILM FESTIVAL 2009
June 4 - 7, 2009
The Phuket Film Festival is proud to announce a Spotlight on Taiwanese Film will take place during t..

PHUKET FILM FESTIVAL 2009 Phuket Film Festival to Turn the Spotlight on Taiwanese Film

The Phuket Film Festival is proud to announce a Spotlight on Taiwanese Film will take place during the second edition of the festival which will run June 4 - 11 2009 at the Coliseum Theaters in Phuket Town, on the beautiful international resort destination of Phuket, Thailand.

The 2009 edition of the Festival will screen over 40 award winning movies from 17 countries.

Supporting the Academy Award nominated and other award winning Taiwanese films will be directors, producers, actors and actresses traveling to the Festival from Taiwan. They will join other Festival VIPs on a special tour of the island to raise awareness of Phuket as a world-class film location providing a comprehensive range of international class production services.

Attending will be: Keeping Watch – Fen Fen Cheng The Most Distant Course – Liin Jing-Jie Island Etude – En Chen Sumimasen Love - Lin Yu-Hsien Step by Step – Kuo Chen – ti

Producers Patrick Mao Huang and James Liu will also attend the Festival.

A number of "stars" from Taiwan will also attend the Festival in support of the "Spotlight". Talent are still being confirmed however the Festival has learned Joseph Chang and Jani Tsai will probably attend as well as Asian superstar Chie Tanaka who will be awarded the Festival's Asian Talent of the Year Award. Huai-Jhong Wu has also been confirmed to attend.

The Spotlight on Taiwanese Film is being held in line with the Festival's goal to "diversify cultural activities" on Phuket and to mark the growth of the Taiwanese film industry for film lovers around the world.

The "Spotlight" also supports the recent Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) "Two Islands, One Culture" promotional campaign held to stimulate travel between the two islands of Taiwan and Phuket.

A gala reception will be hosted by the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Thailand on Friday June 5, 2009

Sawadee.com Regatta 2009 (Samui Thailand) Jun 1-6,2009

Sawadee.com Regatta 2009
1 June 2009 - 6 June 2009

Now in its seventh year, the Koh Samui Regatta is set to maintain its strong reputation as one of th...

Sawadee.com Regatta 2009, Samui, Thailand

Announcing the Sawadee.com Regatta 2009, Samui – the 8th Samui International Yacht Regatta Bangkok, Thailand. February 2, 2009 - The 8th Samui International Yacht Regatta, now with a new title sponsor and known as the Sawadee.com Regatta 2009, Samui, will take place in Koh Samui from the 1st - 6th June .A favourite amongst competitive and social sailors, the five day regatta is one of Asia’s leading sailing events and is also part of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix Championships. Registrations are already being received, with a full fleet expected from Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and further a field.In addition to the competitive sailing, the Sawadee.com Regatta is also about fun parties and is firmly established as a ‘must attend’ regatta on the international sailing circuit. Its headquarters will again be the Centara Grand Beach Resort, Samui, which has been the home of the regatta since its conception and that has now become synonymous with the event. Callum Laing is the Chairman of the Regatta for the second year “Every year the regatta has gone from strength to strength and we’re really looking forward to a memorable 2009 event. In 2008 we welcomed over 300 participants from 10 countries and registrations received so far point toward the biggest Samui Regatta to date. The 2009 regatta will also provide great opportunities for individuals, families and groups to join one of the regatta spectator boats and see these races up close whilst enjoying the famous Thai hospitality”.The Regatta will feature six classes, Racing, Premier Racing, IRC-1, Cruising, Sports Boats and Multihulls – ensuring that the on-water action is both competitive and fun to watch. In 2008, Ray Roberts and ‘Quantum Racing’ won the IRC-1 Class with Matt Allen and ‘Ichi Ban’ taking the IRC-2 honours. Kipsan Beck and ‘Pornstar’ lifted the trophy in the Sports Boats Class with Andrew Short and ‘Constanza’ securing the top Cruising Class placing. Radab Kanjanayanit and ‘Cedar Swan’ came in first in the Multihull Class.The skipper receiving the most top placings on the eight regatta Asian circuit will also be crowned Asian Yachting Champion Skipper at the end of the sawadee.com Regatta. In 2008, it was Quantum Racing’s Ray Roberts that lifted the trophy and wore the coveted ‘Armani Blue Blazer’ that was presented at the fabulous prize giving dinner on the lawns of the Centara Grand Beach Resort at Chaweng Beach.The 2009 regatta will also play host to the second running of the ‘Samui Junior Sailing Squadron Challenge’ – giving local children from the island the opportunity to be out on the water experiencing the excitement of competitive yacht racing. The challenge is led by John Stall – one of the original founders of the Samui Regatta in 2001. The regatta also provides on-going support to this initiative, contributing Thai Baht 5,000 every month to pay for sailing equipment.Web Sawasdee Plc, one of Thailand’s leading inbound travel companies, is the new naming sponsor of the regatta for the next three years. Through www.sawadee.com and www.r24.org, the company provides online travel/tourism-related information along with a user-friendly booking system and a secure payment gateway.Public tickets will be available for the legendary sailing parties that occur most evenings during the regatta and that will feature bands and DJ’s from around the world. Koh Samui, rich with natural resources, white sandy beaches and coral reefs, is the perfect location for an international regatta that not only provides great sailing, but that also supports tourism on the island and helps raise the profile of Thailand as an idyllic and exciting vacation destination. The regatta provides the perfect blend of Thai charm and world-class sailing. Images from the 2008 Samui International Yacht Regatta are available at: www.flickr.com/photos/sawadee-com-regatta-2009-samui

Thailand Tourism Festival 2009 Jun 3-7,2009

Thailand TourismFestival 2009
3 June 2009 - 7 June 2009

At 40,000 square metres, the Thailand Tourism Festival (TTF) is billed as the country’s largest trav...

Thailand TourismFestival 2009

Date : 3 June 2009 - 7 June 2009

At Challenger Hall 1-2, Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition CentrePakkred District, NonthaburiAdmission is free.
At 40,000 square metres, the Thailand Tourism Festival (TTF) is billed as the country’s largest travel and tourism showcase event that includes a vast range of activities to promote the preservation of Thai culture, traditions and local way of life.

Spectacular stage performances and live demonstrations of local arts and crafts add a colourful festive feel to the event as hundreds of professional travel and tourism operators and service providers from all regions of Thailand offer quality tourism products and services and travel specialists help individual travellers and families to plan their trips.

For first-time visitors to Thailand, TTF provides an excellent introduction to the Thai kingdom. A visit to TTF is also a quick and convenient way to get the latest updates on new tourism products and services, as well as to compare prices and shop for the best bargains and attractive deals — all in one stop.

Given the popularity of the event with Thai travellers, especially families, travel and tourism operators and service providers, particularly small and medium enterprise (SMEs) which are noted for their unique one-of-a-kind niche product offerings, turn up in strength.

The domestic travel fair is divided into 3 key zones: - Exhibition zone - Tourism Activities zone - Regional Cuisines zone

TRAVEL AND TOURISM OPERATORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS The 2009 Thailand Tourism Festival will feature the following exhibition categories: Tour operators, airlines, hotels and resorts, car rental and Thai crafts. Travel or tourism-related state agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will also be located in this zone.

THE TOURISM ACTIVITIES ZONEHighlights - Cultural and Community-based TourismExhibits, cultural presentations and live demonstrations in this zone offer insight into local customs and traditions. Activities undertaken reflect the local way of life. In addition to live demonstrations of traditional village crafts, enjoy the lively scenes presented by the traditional markets and floating markets.

- Ecotourism and Adventure TravelFor nature lovers, Thailand offers a tremendous diversity of natural habitats that includes land-based eco-systems, forests and mountainous landscape, waterfalls and streams, mangrove forests as well as marine eco-systems. Learn about environmentally-friendly travel and ecotourism options that will help to minimize our carbon footprint and help reverse the effects of global warming. Also make the most of this rare opportunity to learn about environmentally-friendly initiatives spearheaded by a selection of award-winning organizations. For adventure seekers, Thailand’s military camps are offering innovative Green Adventure activity programmes. - Health TourismThis special activity zone promotes a better understanding of health tourism. Visitors will be able to witness (or experience) a live demonstration of traditional Thai massage and the regional variations of this ancient healing technique. Leading hospitals participating in the fair will be offering visitors a basic health check-up on site. Wellness promotional packages will also be available on offer. In addition to live demonstrations of food for health and yoga for health, health and wellness professionals will also be on-hand to provide health tips and advice. - Traditional Crafts and Souvenirs Thai artisans are noted for their tradition of artistic excellence and superb craftsmanship. Enjoy live demonstrations of a range of village crafts from various award-winning communities throughout Thailand and shop for some of the finest hand-crafted items brought together under one roof at the Thailand Tourism Festival

Pepsi Thailand World Foot Volley Tournament : 30 - 31 May, 2009

Pepsi Thailand World Foot Volley Tournament
30 May 2009 - 31 May 2009

Here’s a chance to see first hand in Bangkok how footie skills can apply to volley ball.
Footvolley comes to town
Here’s a chance to see first hand in Bangkok how footie skills can apply to volley ball.
While it doesn’t grab headlines in the sporting press, footvolley should stimulate our imagination as to its pedigree and origin. Now, courtesy of Pepsi Cola we can see for ourselves how this sporting spectacle compares with the traditional volley ball.
Proponents of the game point out that footvolley can be played by people of all ages, and was selected as a demonstration event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The first ever Pepsi Thailand World Foot Volley Tournament will be played out in downtown Bangkok, 30 to 31 May, at the Central World’s outdoor activity arena. The competition will include teams from South America, Europe and Thailand. According to the organisers, international football stars have been invited to attend the tournament to entertain the audience with a VIP demonstration match at the Outdoor Arena at Central World – a mega shopping complex in the heart of Bangkok.Organised by the Footvolley Association of Thailand (FVAT) the tournament will feature eight professional teams, with sides from Brazil, Spain, France and Portugal lining-up against four Thai squads. The event is sanctioned by the Federation Internationale de Footvolley (FIFV) and forms part of the Footvolley World Tour 2009.
These so called world championships have been held since 2004 starting in Brazil. Thai foot volley players participated in that tournament and the following year in Spain.
Footvolley was established on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and has quickly grown on to become a highly popular beach sport around the world. It was first introduced to Thailand 2003 and strangely gained its roots in Loei, a northern town surrounded by mountains and far from the Gulf of Thailand beach resorts.

Miss Tiffany Universe 2009 : 15 May 2009

Miss Tiffany Universe 2009
15 May 2009

Spotlights and TV cameras will focus on Pattaya, mid-May, as the resort’s most famous transvestite s...
Tiffany in the TV spotlight
Contestants vie for the Miss Tiffany Universe crown and raise cash for charity.
Spotlights and TV cameras will focus on Pattaya, mid-May, as the resort’s most famous transvestite show hosts the annual Miss Tiffany Universe contest.It started off as a local contest, a natural extension of the fantasia that acts out, nightly, on the stage of the Tiffany theatre. But largely due to the attention it gained from the likes of CNN and BBC it quickly grew into a well organised beauty contest. TV channels love it for its obvious shock and entertainment value. It’s a reality show that takes our minds off an otherwise slate of bad news. Miss Tiffany Universe is on the map and it helps to provide Pattaya with miles of media promotion.The five-day contest plays out with elements of grandeur that could justify comparisons with global mainstream contests such as Miss Universe or Miss World. Contestants spend nearly a week in the warm up stages struggling to be noticed and eventually it all narrows down to a single evening of entertainment and extravaganza on stage, 15 May, that continues well past midnight.While its organisers claim the event champions the rights of people who have crossed the line to a transgender or transvestite lifestyle, visitors to Pattaya view it as superb entertainment and choreography, spiced with comedy that would be at home on the stages of Las Vegas.
Tiffany Show has been entertaining tourists in Pattaya for over 35 years with more than 1000 visitors a night enjoying the three nightly performances. Over 100 performers dance and lip-snyc their way through popular songs from musicals and international pop charts. From this make-believe world a brainwave emerged to go a step further and organise a Miss Tiffany’s Universe contest. Now it is one of the highlights of Pattaya’s annual calendar with an estimated live audience of 15 million viewers glued to their televisions as the pageantry unfolds. Miss Tiffany’s Universe winners have even visited the US to participate in the “Miss Queen of the Universe” contest and came home with the first prize. With such worldwide media coverage, Tiffany’s viewers and the live audience, attending the final rounds of the contest, marvel at the achievements of medical science and the cosmetic industry. Some will even be tempted to question their ability to discern between genders as the contestants strut their stuff on the runway.This year’s event will again support the Royal Sponsored AIDS Foundation; a charity programme, which Tiffany’s Show has been part of for many years.
Held at the Tiffany Show Theatre, Pattaya II Road, Pattaya City, the final round of the contest will run from 2030 to 0030.Judges will first select Miss Congeniality, Miss Best Costume, Miss Photogenic and finally Miss Tiffany Universe 2009. In between the rounds, the Tiffany Shows will perform. Tickets are priced at Bt2,000 for VIP seats and Bt1,000 for Mezzanine seats.