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Thailand’s New Year Countdown celebrations

Thais know how to party. Some might say at the drop of a hat. A party brings out the best in national identity – a broad genuine Thai smile. So should we be surprised that Thailand is a favoured venue to celebrate New Yearω This is the land of smiles and “sanook”.

Whether the countdown is in Bangkok, Phuket or a far northern destination, the celebrations will carry the hallmarks of fun and genuine hospitality that make the country such a rewarding destination to visit.

Of course, Bangkok has a mission to fulfill. It aspires to make its 2010 New Year Countdown a mega-celebration, on par with the biggest and brightest in Asia Pacific.
The spotlight is on the “Hands Bangkok Countdown”, where more than 200,000 New Year party goers will mingle in the downtown CentralWorld Square. Festivities begin 21 December and culminate in the countdown on New Year’s Eve extending through New Year’s Day.
Concerts and live on-stage performances, the informal atmosphere of beer gardens and light and sound shows support a theme of peace and joining hands across a multitude of cultures and races.
According to the organisers, joining hands will bring people together -- lovers, friends and families -- to celebrate the hopes and destiny of a New Year.
A gigantic screen will allow party goers to view the countdown celebrations in countries in the same time zone, while a giant 21 metre-high Greeting Ball Tower, with a three-metre diameter LCD orb-screen will create bursts of stunning display of light, colour, sound and movement at minute intervals over the party scene, until the countdown begins and the fireworks light up the sky.

There are two other official locations for New Year celebrations.
The National Stadium, just 2 km from CentralWorld Square on the city’s Skytrain route, will be packed to capacity as residents and tourists enjoy an evening of musical concerts, variety show performances organised by GMM Grammy Records and Channel 9. TV stars will turn out to entertain the crowd, while a huge screen will show nation-wide countdown celebrations as the minutes tick by.

A more traditional Thai celebration will underscore activities at the city’s Sanam Luang, with the famed temple roofs and spires in the Grand Palace courtyards providing the backdrop. Crowds will gather on the historic spacious parade ground, facing Thammasat University, to enjoy classical dance performances, folk songs from the various provinces and musical concerts for an older generation of city residents.
As the countdown celebrations get underway, firework displays along the banks of the nearby Chao Phraya River will illuminate the sky.

For More Information : Please call 1672
or Events Planning Division, TAT Tel. 66 (0) 2250 5500 ext 3465-3468

Information by Tourism Thailand Organization

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The 6th Chantaburi World Gem Show 2009

Gems on display in Chantaburi
Home of the country’s gem mining, Chantaburi provinces highlights its gems and jewellery industry in a World Gem Show, 9 to 13 December.Gem lovers recognise Chantaburi province as a key source of quality stones and also a province rich in the skills required to craft customised jewellery.

The 6th Chantaburi World Gem Show 2009 will take place in the province from 9 to 13 December at a site right next to the provincial town’s KP Grand Hotel.
Backers are: Chantaburi province; Chantaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation; Chantaburi Gem and Jewellery Trader; the Office of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Promotion and Chantaburi Tourism Association.

The objective is to promote tourism, improve knowledge of the province’s lucrative gems and jewellery business and help financial recovery in a business sector that relies heavily on tourists visiting the province.
Well over 50 local gems and jewellery wholesalers and factories will join the World Gem Show. It will be held at Chantaburi Gem and Jewellery Traders Association, next to KP Grand Hotel.
Visitors can shop for handicrafts at the One Tambon One Product (OTOP) pavilion, taste Chantaburi’s “Clean Food Good Taste” dishes, enjoy a mini concert, and join sightseeing tours to an old style community that occupies the town’s river banks. There is also a gemstone walking street and a free gem tour available at 0930 and 1300.

The province is one of the country’s main centres of gemstone mining especially for rubies and sapphires. Most of the mines are open cast where high powered water jets are used to expose and separate the precious stones from rock and clay.
In addition to its gem industry that has thrived for more than 100 years, the province is famous for its rubber plantations, fruit orchards and an array of coastal tourist resorts. It lies east of Rayong province and is easily visited from Pattaya on day trips that feature a gem mine and the opportunity to watch artisans craft gems into costume jewellery. The tours usually visit a rubber plantation and fruit orchards returning to Pattaya in the late evening.

Thai visitors recognise the province for its quality tropical fruits and certainly the king of all fruit, the durian, is considered in a class of its own with the province notching up an annual production exceeding 400,000 tons, or approximately 25% of the world’s duri
Located about 245 km from Bangkok, the southern part of the province touches the Gulf of Thailand’s with its attractive beaches and a variety of dive spots near off-shore islands. But it is also a province of natural beauty with heavily forested mountain ranges rising to almost 1,600 at the highest peak of Soi Dao Nua further inland from the coastal towns.

Contact :
Chanthaburi Gem and Jewelry Traders Association Chanthaburi
Tel : 66 (0) 3930 3118-9 Fax : 66 (0) 3930 3100
Website : www.cga.or.th
Email : info@cga.or.th

Information by Tourism Thailand Organization

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The Low Budget Hotels in Agra, India

Agra the well known historic city in the state of Uttar Pradesh is frequently visited by the tourists. The city is the home to many historical monuments and is termed as an everlasting city of romance. Agra is one of the most sought after destination; the travelers come here from all the nooks and corners of the world. Agra was under the Mughals for decades together, these rulers got many

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The Low Budget Hotels in Delhi

Delhi the capital city of India is known for its historical monuments and other places of fun and frolic. The people come to Delhi from all the nooks and corners of the world. The hotels in Delhi therefore promise a comfortable stay to the travelers. The large number of hotels in Delhi gives you varied range of accommodation at affordable rates. The hotels in Delhi are well equipped with modern

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Next in Seoul on 17th February 2010

Guys, this blog will be inactive for a while until next 17th February. I have some stuffs to do in Malaysia before coming back to Korea

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Bye Seoul

Woke up at 5.30 because Bun Sok called me to bid goodbye. Her voice was so soothing to my ears like lullaby. I was still sleepy..hehe. Omoni also came very early to say goodbye. Tut, our favourite omoni..hehe.

The temperature outside was -10C and I took a few pictures in front of the houses. There was a little bit of snow or if I am in Chunyang now, I would call it frost rather than snow. This makes me want to go to Jinbu!!

I took the limousine bus and had to wait about 20 minutes in front of Yaksu Station. It was damn too cold. Luckily I had Jinny's coat. Thanks my dear sensei.

The limousine to Incheon airport was 14,000 won. More expensive cause it went around the hotels route. and it took longer to reach the airport. I was still sleepy.

CK called me to say our last goodbye before next February. I had some glitches on my boarding pass cause I changed my ticket return to Seoul on next February and the ticket number I had with me was an old one. Luckily I checked in early. Always...always..check in early cause you don't know what will happen.

Later Jinny called me. Her throat was still croaky like a bull frog. Hahahaha...can't wait to meet her again. Snowboard?? Yeap..you bet!

I talked to one of the MAS stewards and even had invited him to Jinbu next year. What was I doing?!! Yeah...I will be in Jinbu basically one whole year in 2010.

Happy New Year everyone!!

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Meeting Afrianny, Yuli and Mbak Ria

Today - 25th December was a very busy day for me.
Leaving Jinny's house at 10 am. Checked into Omoni's house at 11.00 am.
Met Afrianny and her mother at Namsan Guest House at 12.00 noon.
Met Mbak Ria and Yuli at 2.30 pm around Sangwolgok Station.
Went around Myeongdong from 4.00 till 7.00pm. It snowed in Seoul and it was rare!! Just perfect for Christmas and Afrianny was absolutely thrilled!!

I didn't have the energy to go anywhere else cause everywhere was so crowded and traffic was so bad on Christmas Day. I went straight home from Myeongdong. I need to rest before taking limousine bus to airport tomorrow at 7.00 morning. Arghhh...so tired now.


Afrianny and her mother from Singapore.

At Mbak Ria's home.

Mbak Ria, Yuli and me.

With my new scarf..ngehehe.

Later we went to Myeongdong for Christmas shopping but the crowd was so pact!!

There's free hugs everywhere..ngehehe. But kids..nahh....

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Little Christmas Party with Jinny and Martin

The scarf from Jinny to Martin.

The cake I bought at Tous Les Jours

Cute!

Martin's gift for Jinny.


Showing off!

Another gift from Martin.



Yummy!!

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Meeting friends before leaving Seoul

Before leaving Korea, had to bid goodbyes to all these good peoples that have helped me a lot. Since I'm in Seoul now, it's time to say happy new year and wish for better days ahead!

Hassan, a bangladeshi travel writer who has helped me a lot!! He is full with experience of immigration and consulate stuff.

Then moving to meet Patrick at Solleung Station. There was a musical performance. They played Beatles songs with that instrument which I don't remember the name.

Ahh..Citibank!! Bring me memories of my days working there.

Patrick Park Yong Jun - Korean American. Still hungover from last night's bash.

We had lunch near Patrick's house. Since he loves soup so much, we ate sujebi.

The broth is from perilla seed with nutty taste. Yummy!!

In his messy house, waiting to move out the next day.

Later, meeting Kim Chi Won - my first CS host in Yongin. We met again near Hyehwa Station where she works at Seoul National University Hospital. I love this Daehangno area cause it's surrounded by three famous universities - Seoul National (law and chemistry) , Hansung and Sungkyunkwan.


Is this chicken/penguin?

Chi Won said that university students normally paste advertisements on the road cause it's free. They have to pay if they hang it anywhere else.

In front of Sungkyunkwan University's gate - where both her parents studied.

In winter, the tree trunk is tied with straws so that all the insects will hide there. Later after winter ends the straws will be burnt. Clever idea?

Sungkyunkwan university's site map.

The infamous blogger of why-be-normal.com - Sun Hyun Woo. He's so busy on that day. I could meet him only during lunch.


Later Hyun Woo and me separated here at YP Bookstore near Jonggak Station.

While waiting for CK finished with his Hyundai medical test , I walked along Chonggyecheon again.


The big christmas trees sponsored by Citibank - hmmm....^^ always a tradition.


I walked to KTO headquarters here for free internet surfing at the basement. You could make an international call too for FREE!

A big boy giggling while crossing the stream..We vowed to walk until the end of 5.8km. Not we..but me forcing him to do it..hahaha.

These are wishes from Seoulites for a man who committed suicide in this stream.

Here is his statue, commemorating him.

How the stream looked like before.

Are there bad wishes in here? ^^

Hahah..ajime!! (reminds me of ahjumma statue at Jagalchi Market in Busan)

The highways pillar that are preserved to remember the past.

It will be open if there is flood in this stream to let the excess water through.

I can't remember what is this for though..but CK said they are names.

Yeahooo!! We made it to the end!! CK is now real 'Hanguk Saram' and me 'Chuun Saram' ngehehe..


Cute! A market selling pork + beef + chicken

Later we drank vanilla + caramel Macchiato at Holly's while CK contemplating his plan on online education.

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Jinny - CS Bangi, Seoul

This time I stayed with Jinny for 5 nights!! - a couchsurfer host. She's fabulous!!

Here's Jinny my CS host. We met her meet-up buddies in a bar near Itaewon.

James from NZ on the left suppose to CS with her but I made it first! hahaha..



Bangi station near her house, exit 4.

And she thought me how to knit and I am now finishing it to wear on 25th December!!

She cooked a 5-minute tuna kimchi chigae and it was delicious!!

Yummy chigae...

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