Thai Trends Art Exhibition in Bangkok

Cruising the Land Down Under: Top 7 Destinations

Cruise holidays are one of the best ways to experience all that Australia offers, along with the picturesque islands and countries which surround it.

While flying offers a quick and convenient way to travel, you often miss out on the journey of travelling to your destination and the amazing attractions

that come with cruising adventure. If you’re planning a cruise holiday around the Australian coastline or one that disembarks on a journey to our closest

neighbours, be sure to spend some time at these unforgettable destinations.

Sydney, New South Wales

The premier capital of Australia, Sydney is one of the most popular holiday destinations with both national and international travellers. Sydney Harbour

offers spectacular views of the city skyline and is home to the breathtaking Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. If you’ve chosen Sydney as your

port for disembarking, book an extended holiday in the city and experience unbeatable shopping districts and the historical Rocks precinct.

Vanuatu, South Pacific

Described as ‘the friendliest place in the world’, Vanuatu is a common port of call for many cruise liners departing from the shores of Australia. Upon

disembarking in Vanuatu, travellers will have the opportunity to snorkel or dive amongst colourful tropical reefs or spend the day discovering the wonders of

small island villages.

Auckland, New Zealand

The main New Zealand port for cruises from Australia, Auckland is located on the shores of the North Island. Downtown Auckland is a vibrant city, relaxed

by day and a party town by night. On the outskirts of Auckland, visitors can enjoy the sights of traditional Maori townships, an important part of New

Zealand culture and heritage.

Fremantle, Western Australia

Located just south of Perth in Western Australia, Fremantle is the main port of call for cruise ships on the western coastline of Australia. Visitors are

treated to fine wine and luxurious beachside views when disembarking in Fremantle, along with the picturesque surrounds of lush rainforest, just beyond the

reaches of the city.

New Caledonia, South Pacific

Located in the glistening waters of the South Pacific, New Caledonia is a tropical island with many French influences. Spend a perfect afternoon at one of

the many boutique cafés or bars along the shore line, as you dine on tropical seafood feasts, infused with the flavour of France. P&O Cruises Australia

offers journeys of the South Pacific, aboard luxury ocean liners, many of which include a stopover at New Caledonia.

Brisbane, Queensland

Situated in the beautiful sunshine state of Queensland, Brisbane is home to one of the largest cruise ports in Australia. A prolonged holiday in Brisbane

should be on the agenda for any Australian cruisers, as there is so much to discover in this relaxed capital city. Endeavour on a climb of the infamous

Storey Bridge or spend a day at the lifestyle markets at South Bank, located on the banks of the Brisbane River.

Melbourne, Victoria

If you like high end fashion boutiques and swanky restaurants, there’s no beating a holiday in Melbourne. Australia’s city of diverse cultures, Melbourne

offers visitors a taste of some of the finest cuisines in the world.

Cruising holidays are the ultimate way to experience everything that Australia has to offer. Discover the Great Barrier Reef or take a journey to the Land

of the Long White Cloud, with a P&O Cruises today.

Berlin’s Wild Nights and Days

Berlin has become a major destination for backpackers from all around the world, thanks to it’s relatively low prices and permissive party atmosphere that

sees clubs and bars open til the sun comes up. Here are a few suggestions to help you get the most out of your stay in Germany’s party city.

1. Do a walking tour

Berlin is huge in terms of size, and walking around on your own will likely get you lost. This can be great fun if you have time, but it also means that

you might miss some of the monuments and features that are essential and need to be explained to you by a guide. There are several tour companies offering

tours of different parts of the city, so find one you like and try it out.

2. Eat street food

There are two main snack foods on the streets of Berlin, which both have cult status. First is the Doner kebab, invented here in the 1970s by a Turkish

immigrant who had the genius idea of putting traditional Turkish kebab meat into a piece of bread. Kebabs are available all over the city, and are a cheap

way to fill up on the go.To hire vehicles to get into Berlin, check out erento.co.uk.

Currywurst is quite different to the curry you might be familiar with, since it is actually a sausage sliced up and smothered in a spicy tomato sauce. It

might not sound like much, but it’s a Berlin favourite and currywurst stands are all over the city.

3. Go out at night

Berlin’s night-life stopped being a secret a long time ago, and now the clubs and bars are full of tourists and locals alike, all enjoying an atmosphere

of raucous fun that other cities lost long ago. The clubs are a particular draw for electronic music fans, who line up for hours in the hope of being allowed

into some of the world famous venues.

Top Tips for Pedalling Around Paris

Unfortunately, Paris’ reputation for having bad traffic is well deserved, but with 440km of cycle paths around the city increasing numbers of residents are choosing bikes to help them get around.

That goes for lots of tourists too, and if you’re visiting Paris this summer you might find that a bike is a great way to tick off all the sights, without battling the traffic. There are more advantages to bikes than just manoeuvrability though, as you’ll help to keep the city’s emissions under control and get some exercise to boot!

It goes without saying that to cycle around Paris you’ll first need a bike. You can hire bikes by the hour, day or week in Paris from companies like the Fat Tire Bike Tour, or alternatively take advantage of Paris’ bicycle-sharing system, Vélib’, in which you only pay for the time that you actually use the bicycle.

Bike in the Boulogne

Once you’re equipped with some wheels, the leafy park Bois de Boulogne in the 16th arrondissement is a great place to start cycling. At two and a half times larger than New York’s Central Park you’ll need a few hours to explore properly, especially as there’s an amusement park and small zoo within the park too.

When you’d like to move on to some sightseeing, ride alongside the River Seine and then over the pedestrian bridge to Saint-Cloud Park, where you can enjoy some breath-taking panoramic views of Paris. If you’re visiting Paris with your partner, hire a tandem bike here for a fun and romantic experience.
You can also cycle in the Louvre Museum square, close to the famous glass pyramid, then head to the Place de la Concorde to zip around another large square that’s this time filled with historic monuments.

Conquer the Cars

It’s also worth noting that as part of the ‘Paris Respire’ (Paris Breathes) campaign, a number of roads and streets in Paris, including those along the River Seine, are closed to cars every Sunday. This leaves pedestrians, cyclists and rollerbladers free to enjoy the space without the usual bustling traffic.
To find cheap city breaks to Paris check out companies like Jet2.com, whose package deals start at low as £199 per person, and can be booked for just £60 deposit. Oh, and one more thing – make sure to always wear your helmet!

Isaan Motor Show 2012 from 5-11 September in Udon Thani

“Art in Paradise” – 3D Art Gallery in Pattaya

You would think that art galleries would be the last place to go to have some fun. But a new gallery in Pattaya called “Art in Paradise” is proving to be a big hit with Thai and international tourists. This is because they have over 100 three-dimensional paintings that are very interactive. As we all know, Thai people love taking pictures of themselves at various locations and posting them on social media. With these paintings, you don’t just stand idly by, you interact with them and become a part of the bigger picture. Judging by the larger number of photos posted on Instagram, Art in Paradise is a big hit with Thais.

The art gallery is divided into ten zones with themes such as underwater, wonders of the world and natural environment. If you want to visit to take pictures, probably best not to go during a Thai public holiday as there might be queues at some paintings for picture taking. Art in Paradise is on Pattaya Second Road (see map). It is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with last admission at 8 p.m. The entrance fee for Thais is 150 Baht for adults and 100 Baht for children. For foreigners it is a steep 500 Baht for adults and 300 Baht for children. You can see more pictures on this web page. If you have been already, let us know if its good value for money.

Santorini Park Cha-Am

For people driving down to Cha-am or Hua Hin seaside resorts for the weekend there is a new stop-over which you can use to break up your journey. It is called Santorini Park Cha-Am and is a cross between an amusement park and a boutique shopping center. What they are labeling it is an  “Amused Shopping Experience”. Apparently they drew their architectural inspiration from Santorini Island in Greece. The new tourist attraction is on Petchakasem Road in Cha-Am district. It’s about a two hour drive from Bangkok and 30 minutes from Hua Hin (see map).

Santorini Park Cha-Am is divided into five different zones. Park Zone has amusement park rides such as the 40 meter high Ferris Wheel, Double Deck Carousel, G-Max Reverse Bungee, G-Max Giant Swing, XD Dark Ride 7 D interactive game and a Wallholla climbing structure.  The Village Zone has an impressive selection of brand name fashion and accessories, lifestyle products, art and decor, and handmade items. The Rest Area has fast food outlets, convenience stores and other shops ideal for people wanting to take a short break from driving. The Activity Zone has space for concerts and other performances. The Weekend Art Market is a haven for art lovers and handicraft enthusiasts.

Batman Toy Museum in Bangkok

A new museum has opened in Bangkok that I am sure will delight children of all ages. Batcat Museum & Toys Thailand, which can be found in the Bang Kapi district of Bangkok, is a museum that specialises in collections of Batman and other superheroes. With 50,000 items in the museum, it is reputed to be one of the largest of its kind in Asia. The toys are all based on characters in comics, cartoons, TV shows and movies. Batman is obviously their focus, but they also have Superman, Spiderman as well as heroes and villians from Star Wars, The Avengers and Alien.

Batcat Museum & Toys Thailand is open Mondays-Fridays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and at the weekend from 9 a.m. to  8 p.m. Admission is 100 Baht for Thai adults and 60 Baht for Thai children. Foreigners have to pay 250/150 Baht. On Wednesdays admission is reduced to 50 Baht for everyone. The GPS co-ordinates are 13.763863509017186, 100.64535065877064. Click here for a map. Call 02 375 9006, 081 122 5039 for more information.

Samui International Jazz Music Festival on 14-20 October 2012

 

The third week long Samui International Jazz Music Festival opens on Sunday 14th October at the Amari Palm Reef/ Chaweng. Expect yet another spectacular display of Jazz and a fun week where guests will be treated to fine wine, food and excellent Jazz. The festival is dedicated to the theme of Tropical Jazz and the locations for the various concerts have been especially identified to enhance the tropical feel with guests and performers, which will manage to be both upbeat and laid-back at the same time. Highlights include: Koh Saxman, Paulette McWilliams, Susan Harmer and her band Tropic Green, Peter Beets Trio and Changton Kunjara & Friends.

61 Thai Tourism Products Score High Marks in Best in Travel 2012 Poll

Thai tourism destinations, airlines, airports, hotels and spa resorts scored high marks in the Best in Travel 2012 Poll announced by the popular website Smart Travel Asia 2012. Altogether, a total of 61 Thai tourism industry products were listed in the poll rankings, some in the top ten and others in the top 25. The list was led by Phuket, which was ranked the second-best holiday destination in Asia. Bangkok ranked 4th best city for business and fifth in the top ten holiday destinations in Asia. Ko Samui ranked the 10th best holiday destination in Asia. Thai Airways International, Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Samui Airport also fared well.

An analysis of the poll results also indicated that the award-winning products were located nationwide, including Hua Hin and Chiang Rai. TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni commented, “We are proud to see so many of our destinations and products scoring highly in these rankings. It clearly shows that the determined effort made by our entire industry to upgrade quality is paying off and getting global recognition.”

Here is a listing of all the Thai destinations and products that won awards:

Thailand Wins Golfers’ Choice Award 2012

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Hong Kong Office recently received the Golfers’ Choice Award 2012 on behalf of Thailand from Hong Kong-based Golf Vacations Magazine. The award reflects the preference of golfers in Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, who have scored Thailand as their favorite destination for golf.

Countdown to Phuket Seafood Fiesta 2012

National Science and Technology Fair at BITEC until end of August

“National Science and Technology Fair 2012”, organized by the National Science Museum, is being held from now until 31 August 2012 at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC). This is Thailand’s largest science and technology festival which consists of three major activities; science and technology exhibition, edutaining science experience, and science seminar. The fair is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The event aims to support and encourage the youth and people who are interested in learning about sciences and technologies and to show how technologies have played an important role in everyday life. Furthermore, the highlight of the events are an exhibition in honor of “His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej”, Royal Pavilion, The Father of Thai Science and Technologies, Disaster Prevention, The Bus 4D Simulator, and Earth & Universe.

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Tips For Travelling In The Developing World

In a famous speech given by Robert F. Kennedy, he pointed out that a nation’s GNP does measure the joy of their people, the beauty of their poetry, nor their character among many, many other things.

Some of the most interesting and indeed, richest cultures in the world are found in countries that otherwise poorly developed in economic terms, or have significant economic inequality.

If you’re reading this and come from a country where international travel is fairly achievable for most, then you’re in a minority. International travel is an unattainable luxury for most of the world, and not all of them will be familiar with how foreigners may behave.

Most people from economically well-off countries do have some idea about how things are in poorer nations – but the “First World Problems” meme exists for a reason- there’s still a significant disconnect between rich and poor nations as far as cultural understandings are concerned.

Here are a few tips for traveling in less developed countries:

1.) Expect Less Than Ideal Sanitation – This really goes without saying. Most First Worlders do expect facilities for hygiene to be somewhat different, but few really realize what they’re getting into until they’re there. Things like squat toilets and semi-open and even totally exposed toilets will be a shock for most novice travellers.

Tip: If you plan on sampling local street food, check if the hawker looks healthy and make judgment calls from there. There’s no way of knowing for sure, but hey- you’ve got to minimize your risks somehow.

2.) Try To Dress As The Locals Do – Natives will notice you in most cases, for good or bad. Dressing up as they do will help you look like you’ve been around and will help you draw a little less attention. It will also make you less of a target for anyone who preys on tourists.

3.) Don’t Give In To Panhandlers – Same principle as applies back home. You don’t know these people’s stories, and if you did- you wouldn’t have much of a chance to see if they’re true. There are criminal syndicates all over the world that take advantage of the well-intentioned.

4.) Keep Your Opinions to Yourself While You’re There – This really depends on the culture of the place you’re visiting, but this is a good general rule to live by. You’ll probably do research and ask people who’ve been there for advice before you go. That’s great, there’s just no way you’ll be able to understand the whole societal context of that country without staying there extensively – even some of the natives miss out on this, depending on their social statuses, so try not to believe everything a native says either.

Try not to turn up your nose or show disgust for the Slumdog Millionaire scenarios you will undoubtedly encounter. Believe me, it can get much worse than the scenes depicted in the movie. While a lot of these can be shocking or even heart-rending, try not to make your opinions public, at least unless you’ve already spent years there.

5.) Learn Enough Of The Local Language – For starters, it would be great if you could learn how to purchase items and ask for prices in the local language. Some countries may have several local languages, so be very aware of which ones you’ll need to learn. Other important things to learn are phrases for asking directions, and asking people not to touch you.

6.) If You Want The Real Experience, Don’t Go With a Commercial Tour – This is a bit challenging to arrange but it should ultimately give you a better feel for the place you’re visiting. Of course, if you’re visiting a particularly economically-challenged nation, there probably won’t be any tours to speak of. To truly understand and enjoy a culture at a deeper level, you have to take the good with the bad. There simply aren’t any exceptions. If you just want to go somewhere to have fun, then perhaps you should re-evaluate your options.

7.)Be Prepared For Hours Of Difficult Travel – You probably have no idea how much a good road or rail system matters until you’ve experienced travelling in the developing world. Distances that might take an hour or less back home might take half a day in other countries. Make sure to always have the supplies you need at hand, and never miss an opportunity to relieve yourself.

8.) ALWAYS Keep Important Documents and Belongings Secure – Leave them at a safety deposit box in your hotel. If you take anything with you, be prepared to deal with losing it.

9.) Expect To Be Ripped-off – Dishonesty and corruption will always exist even in monetarily rich societies- what more in places where economic conditions leave people little alternative for a comfortable life?

Expect to be cheated and expect people to pester you for something. It will happen. Just have a good sense of humor about it, and understand where they’re coming from.

10.) Be Patient – Bureaucracies are prevalent in the 3rd World because they lead to more opportunities for ripping people off. But in the end, I’ve never met a serial traveller who ever regretted even the bad experiences they’ve had. It’s all worth it if you wait.

About the Author:

Art manages The Art of Small Business, UPrinting.com’s Small Business Blog. When not passive-aggressively chucking UPrinting’s own high-quality business cards, custom yard signs and UPrinting postcard printing at his coworkers, he enjoys…y’know. Other stuff.

Cha-am annual tourism festival starts in September

The popular tourist town of Cha-am are inviting everyone to visit Cha-am’s annual tourism festival, that is guaranteed to bring travelers a unique experience, from 8-16 September, 2012 in Phetchaburi province.

Travelers visiting the festival will be encouraged to embark on squid fishing and bird watching trips and please their taste buds with a variety of fresh seafood menu choices. The festival titled “Kin-Hoi-Doo-Nok-Tok-Muek” is a collaboration between the Council of Cha-am, the TAT Petchaburi Office and Singha Corporation Co., Ltd. According to Director of TAT Phetchaburi Office Mrs. Nongnit Tengmaneewan, the festival will coincide with the growing number of squids in the sea and the arrival of the migratory birds which, she said, is the perfect opportunity to invite holidaymakers to visit Cha-am.

There will be an array of seafood vendors from reputable hotels and restaurants, as well as live musical shows throughout the night for 9 days. For those who would like to try their luck on squid fishing, the boat will leave the shore from 7 p.m. to midnight daily for 100 baht per person. As for amateur bird watchers, bird watching trips to Ta-kad-plee swamp and Nang Panthurat National Park will be provided throughout the day from 7:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. A bird expert will also accompany visitors free of charge during the trip to answer any questions regarding the animals.

For more information please call the TAT Phetchaburi Office at 0 3247 1005-6 or the Cha-am Council at 0 3247 2550 or 0 3247 1665.

King’s Cup Elephant Polo in Hua Hin in September

The highly popular King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament is celebrating its eleventh anniversary in the royal seaside town of Hua Hin from 12th-16th September 2012. With free admission for everyone, spectators can rub shoulders with European and Asian royalty, international sporting stars and local celebrities. The event has something for everyone including a spectacular opening parade through the main streets of Hua Hin, Thailand’s last ‘elephant spirit men’, traditional dancers, a baby elephant camp and fun fair and a wide range of food and beverages.

The tournament was introduced to Thailand in 2001 by Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas and has grown to be one of the biggest charitable events in Thailand that has raised almost US$500,000 for projects that better the lives of Thailand’s elephant population. The tournament is held at Hua Hin’s Suriyothai Army Base approximately 20 minutes from Anantara Hua Hin Resort and Spa. For more information on King’s Cup Elephant Polo, please visit www.anantaraelephantpolo.com.

Go Surfing in Central Bangkok this Weekend!

If you don’t have time to hit the beach this weekend, then you are in luck as Flow House Bangkok are having a soft launch. Now you can enjoy the California surf lifestyle in the heart of Bangkok with their purpose built wave machine. With this you will be able to do both stand-up surfing and body boarding. The facilities are not fully open yet, but they are inviting people for test rides this weekend. The cost is only 250 Baht per hour. It is strictly first come, first served due to limited space. Opening times this weekend are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Flow House Bangkok is in the A-Square complex on Sukhumwit Soi 26 (see map). It is not too far from Emporium and K-Village community mall. From BTS Phrom Phong it is only five minutes and from MRT Sukhumwit it is 10 minutes. If you go, dress as if you are going to the beach. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have your own board as they have a full selection of Flow Boards and Flow Body Boards for free use or to buy.

The Museum of the Human Body opens in Bangkok

If your interests are leaning more to the macabre then you will probably be keen to visit Bangkok’s latest museum. It is called The Museum of the Human Body and has just opened at the Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Dentistry in Bangkok (see map). The museum displays more than 130 pieces of anatomy specimens preserved by using the new plastination technology. The specimens worth over 100 million baht were donated by the Japan Medical and Dental University. The Museum of Human Body is one of only 11 such museums in the world and the first in South East Asia. It is open every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free. More pictures can be seen on the Thai Rath website.

The Very Best of British

We British people are known for our quirks, our love of tea and our stiff British upper lip. When you have been away from the UK for a while and return back, the differences stand out even more. But you can’t help but love the country that you come from, can you?

Talking About the Weather

The British weather is always a subject of so much conversation, simply because you literally have no idea how the weather will be from one day to the next. One day it will be sunny, the next cold and raining, then windy and then a mixture of them all! When I’m travelling abroad it’s so nice to just get up in the morning, throw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and get out in the beautiful weather. In the UK checking the weather forecast, carrying an umbrella and having a jumper to hand are a must, even on what looks to be the best day in the morning, can turn out to be the opposite by the end of the day.

The thing is, it’s the unpredictable weather that makes the UK landscape so lush green and beautiful and one of the reasons that so many people choose to take a holiday in the UK. Cornwall, Devon and Dorset in the South West of England are extremely popular holiday destinations and usually get the best of the summer weather with more than 1540 hours of sunshine a year in Cornwall! Accommodation in the South West includes some of the best hostels (if you’re on a budget) and hotel’s in the country and there are some great cottages in Cornwall. If the weather is great you can visit Newquay Zoo and if not, get wet anyway by getting out on the waves at Newquay, the surf capital of the UK!

Watching Soaps

We just love soaps in the UK. Sitting down to watch someone else’s misery really cheers us up and that’s just the thing – the more miserable the better! It totally plays into our nosiness too, we just love to see what is happening in other people’s lives, watch them in their family homes, in the workplace and drinking down at the local pub.

A Cup of Tea Solves Everything

We just love tea! Sitting down for a cup of tea is such a British institution and so much a part of our ‘Keep calm and carry on’ spirit. Growing up, whenever I was sad or upset, my Nan would say ‘I’ll just put the kettle on’ and somehow everything would be better.

Anywhere that you travel around the world, you can never get a decent cup of tea, the water, milk and tea all vary so much that when you come home, a lovely cup of tea is one of the best things. Sometimes the simplest pleasures are the best. For a treat, a slice of cake or a scone is the perfect accompaniment for a lovely cup of tea.

Our Royal Family

The Royal Family splits the country down the middle, some people love them, and some people see them as a waste of money. I personally love the fact that we have a Royal Family and can see why tourists flock to the UK to visit Buckingham Palace and stock up on Jubilee and Royal Wedding souvenirs.

Floating Market Cycle Trip on Bangkok Car Free Sunday

Cycling in Thailand is continuing to be a very popular pastime for both Thais and expats. In recent years, the number of cyclists on the roads has increased greatly. I often see people cycling along the roads at the weekend. I joined their ranks just over a year ago and I’m out cycling most weekends. You can either do this by yourself or join bicycle groups. Some are more serious than others. One I like to join is the Bangkok Car Free Sunday group who organize a tour in Bangkok about once a month. It is free to join though the tour guide usually only speaks Thai. Here is the information for this weekend:

Sunday 12th August 2012

7:00 a.m. Meet up at the riverside park under Pinklao Bridge on the Thonburi Side
7:30  a.m. Ride along Boromrajjachonnee to St Peter School, pick up hand-out and refreshments
8:30 a.m.  Ride along Putthamonthon 1 Road to Bangramard Canal Community
9:00 a.m.  Arrive at Bangramard Community and participate in community service activities, learn about the people’s traditional way of life, visit shops and cafe.
10:30 a.m.  Stop by Klong Lad Mayom Floating Market
12:00 p.m.  Head over to Wat Sapan Floating Market for shopping and lunch
1:00 p.m.  Arrive back at St Peter School

I will be joining them this Sunday so come along and say hello!

13th World Gourmet Festival to be held in Bangkok 3-9 September 2012

Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok will be hosting the 12th Annual World Gourmet Festival at the hotel from September 3 to 9, 2012. Since its inception, the festival has grown in prominence to feature an extraordinary lineup of some of the best chefs from across the globe. Gourmet festivals exist throughout the world, but only Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok brings award-winning master chefs under one roof for a week-long celebration of outstanding food and superb wines.

Chefs currently confirmed to participate are:

• Shiqin Chen, La Rei, Il Boscareto, Piedmont, Italy
• Igor Macchia, La Credenza, Piedmont, Italy
• Michael Mina, Michael Mina Restaurants, USA
• Masa Shimakawa, ONYX, California, USA
• Frédéric Vardon, LE 39V, Paris, France
• Victor Quintilla, Lluerna, Barcelona, Spain
• Galvin Lim, Les Amis, Singapore
• Diego Irrera, 1884 Restaurante, Argentina

Also confirmed to participate in World Gourmet Festival events are Master of Wine Jeannie Cho Lee, who will be conducting a wine masterclass, Eleveur de Fromage Jean-Francois Antony, who will be hosting cheese-tasting events, and a cigar and rum-pairing event with Patoro Cigars and Eastory Rums.

Once again this year, the World Gourmet Festival is proud to support HRH Princess Soamsawali’s Save A Child’s Life from AIDS Project under the auspices of the Thai Red Cross Society. A portion of every ticket price, as well as proceeds from an auction, will be donated to this charity.

THAI Launches Use of Mobile 2D Barcode Boarding Passes

Thai Airways International has launched use of its Mobile 2D Boarding Passes issued on smartphones, for passengers who check-in online through smartphones traveling domestic flights departing from Suvarnabhumi Airport, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Passengers will find it easier when they use Mobile 2D Barcode Boarding Passes, which also reduces use of paper boarding passes and protects the environment.

The mobile 2D barcode on electronic boarding pass is used in lieu of a paper boarding pass and is shown to THAI staff at the check-in counter for baggage loading, must be shown to staff at the boarding gate, and is also shown to cabin crew prior to boarding the flight. Passengers traveling Royal Silk Class must show their Mobile 2D Barcode Boarding Pass to enter the Royal Orchid Lounge.

Initially, the Mobile 2D Barcode Boarding Pass is available through the mobile service provider AIS and will soon be available through DTAC and True Move H for a fee of 6 Baht per MMS.