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Read the new New York Times piece on Bali: 36 Hours in Bali

The writer’s story, writen almost hourly, on how she spent her time in Bali, one of the island in Indonesia and an internationally famous tourist destination.

SAY Bali and most people think paradise. There are stunning sunsets, sculpted rice terraces and a temple on almost every corner. And for less-spiritual seekers, this steamy Indonesian island also has great surfing and a rollicking nightlife. Sure, it’s gotten pretty touristy, especially on the pub crawl along Kuta Beach, where beer-swilling Australians rule. And while recent terrorist bombings have rattled Bali’s blissful pace (it is a Hindu-majority island in a Muslim-majority nation), they have done little to temper its popularity or discourage super-chic resorts from being built. Paradise, after all, is as close as the nearest temple, finding yourself on your knees with a blue flower pressed between your fingertips, asking for blessings from Brahma or one of the other gods.

Her travelogue in Bali:

Friday
3 p.m. MONKEYING AROUND
4:30 p.m. FOUR HANDS BEATS TWO
7:30 p.m. DANCE, DANCE, DANCE
9 p.m. GO FOR THE GRILL

Saturday
9 a.m. GET DOWN IN THE RIVER
2:30 p.m. MUSEUM MILE
5:30 p.m. BEST SHOW IN TOWN
7 p.m. BUST THAT BIKINI
9:30 p.m BLING IS THE THING

Sunday
10 a.m. ESPRESSO IT
11 a.m. PARADISE WITHIN PARADISE
2 p.m. SARONG AS ART

Complete info: 36 Hours in Bali (NYTimes.com)

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4th Bangkok Jazz Festival 2006 will be held on December 15th, 16th, 17th

Musicians of the Select Group participating at Bangkok Jazz 2006, along with other notable World Class musicians will gather and share their talents together on Stage at Bangkok Jazz ‘ s final night.

This will be a true World Class Star Jam Sessions, with many musicians from different culture, and different nations all jamming together for the first time on stage with a message of ‘ Peace and Sharing ‘

Artist Line Up

Friday, December 15, 2006

• Hiromi
• Salena Jones
• Lee Ritenour
• Tower of Power

Saturday, December 16, 2006
Asia Beat Project with special guest :
1. Narongrit Tosa-nga (Ranad - Thai / Xylophone)

2. Vuthichai Jarungklin (Saw Duang / Thai Fiddle)

3. Wanmongkol Mangkornkrit (Khlui / Thai Fulte)
Jazz Kamikaze (European)
Lisa Ono
Yellowjackets

Sunday, December 17, 2006

• Jiraphan Angsawanon (Thai Band)
• A.S.G.P.: Aisan Super Guitar Project
• Dave Grusin
• World Star Jazz Jam featuring: Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, Bob Mintzer (yellowjackets), Alex Foster, Cresendo

Where: Sanam Sua pa, Dusit District Bangkok.

Tickets: 3,000 baht (3 days pass tickets), 1,000 baht (1 day ticket)

Ticket information: ThaiThicketMaster.com

Official Website: Bangkok Jazz Festival 2006

Technorati Tags: bangkok, jazz, festivals, thailand

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ROYAL FLORA RATCHAPHRUEK 2006, the International Horticultural Exposition for His Majesty the King will be held on 1 November 2006 - 31 January 2007 in Chiang Mai, Thailand to celebrate celebrate the most auspicious occasions of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 60th Anniversary or the Diamond Jubilee of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne together with His Majesty’s 80th Birthday Anniversary.

The 3 months flower festival (92 days), a one-of-a-kind event, is being organized to present to the world the marvels of plants and breeds of over 2,200 species of tropical plants and flowers, in total of 2,500,000 plants.

Situated on 80 hectares of land at the Royal Agricultural Research Center in Mae Hia sub-district, Muang district, Chiang Mai Province in Northern Thailand, the royal festival will be joined by over 30 countries to participate in ‘Gardens for the King’ and expected to draw an audience of over 2 million visitors from around the world or approximately 20,000 to 50,000 visitors a day.

Highlights

“Gardens for the King” comprises of “International Gardens” and “Corporate Gardens” are the main attraction of the event, with other exhibitions competing for the visitors attentions mainly: Thai Tropical Garden, The Royal Pavilion and Orchid Pavilion

The area for International Gardens is allocated for exhibitions of national blossoms, blooms, and horticulture as well as the cultural arts and architecture of 30 countries, each garden will reflect a historic diplomatic, cultural and trade ties between nations, people or, where possible, royal families of the two countries.

Among the participating countries are:
Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, China, Brunei, Turkey, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Mauritania, Kenya, Nigeria, Gabon, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Burundi, Qatar, Iran, Yemen, Trinidad & Tobago, Canada

Ratchaphruek Flower
‘Ratchaphruek’ — the Golden Shower Tree (Cassia Fistula L.), is considered to be an auspicious tree.

The dazzling yellow flowers signify two out of the three most important institutions of the Thai nation – the national religion, Buddhism, and His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej who was born on Monday. Yellow is the color associated with Monday.

The shape of the pollen resembles the Thai numeral for nine; another fascinating characteristic that is symbolic of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, the ninth ruler of the illustrious Chakri dynasty.

More information over at the official Website

• Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006

• Programs and Activities

• Visitor information

• International Conferences, Symposiums and Workshops

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In the night of 19 September 2006, the Royal Thai Army staged a coup against the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra started what now known as 2006 Thailand coup d’état.

More information about the coup and its progress can be read here [wikipedia]: 2006 Thailand coup d’état

What this coup means to the travel industry here in Thailand?

New York Times summed it up on this piece: Thailand Tourists: ‘Coup? What Coup?’

Basically saying that all are normal and work regulary as if there’s no coup in Thailand:

Coup? What coup? That seems to be the attitude among travelers and travel professionals as the recent political turmoil in Thailand appears to have had little or no effect on tourism there. After all, the embattled prime minister, who had led a grudgingly accepted social order campaign in 2001 that mandated a 1 a.m. closing time for most of Bangkok’s bars and nightclubs, was not very popular among the city’s residents.

In fact, when tanks rolled into Bangkok, Thais presented soldiers with flowers and candy, and many troops gladly posed for photographs with foreigners. In Phuket, unperturbed beachgoers sipped “coup cocktails” at beachside bars. And if the opening of a new international airport (Suvarnabhumi) outside Bangkok on is any indication, the provisional rulers seem intent on making sure that the tourism industry — which Thai officials say draws more than 11 million tourists a year — continues apace.

Complete article here: Thailand Tourists: ‘Coup? What Coup?’

Several pictures from flickr:

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Chris’s over at ichris.ws writes about Three Sixty the newest addition to several others venues on the roof top in Bangkok that becomes trendy since the last couple of years.

Find more pictures from Three Sixty on this thread over at Skyscrapercity.com Forum

Located on top of Millennium Hilton Hotel over looking the Chao Praya river, Three Sixty might be your place of choice if night lights, skyscrapers and night river view is your thing.

Info on Three Sixty:
Three Sixty, Millennium Hilton Hotel
Hours: 17:00 until 01:00
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Contact: +66 (0)2 442 2000

Other roof top venues in Bangkok are: Sky Bar & Distil (Sirocco), Moon Bar (Vertigo), D’Sens Bar & Restaurant (Dusit Thani Hotel), The Rooftop Bar (Baiyoke Sky Hotel).

More info on: Bangkok’s Rooftop Venues

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