Long Boat Races in Phra Pradaeng this weekend

Towards the end of the rainy season and the end of the Buddhist Lent, usually in October, local people come together to race boats on canals and rivers. The timing of these events are set by the phases of the moon. For Phra Pradaeng in Samut Prakan it is on the 4th day of the waning moon of the 11th lunar month. Which translates as being on 3-5 November this year. This will take place along the waterfront in Phra Pradaeng in front of the district hall. I’m told that the racing will take place from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. However, if it’s anything like the last two years, they won’t start until after 2:30 p.m. I will be there on Saturday for the first day and you can follow me on Twitter @RichardBarrow for updates to the schedule.

Car Free Day in Bangkok on 23 September 2012

Cyclists in Bangkok will be joining with countless thousands of other people around the world to celebrate International Car Free Day over the weekend 22-23 September 2012. In Thailand in the past, only major cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai were organizing special car free days. But the last few years many more cities are joining in with activities. If you have a bicycle you too can join the events over the weekend.

The main event in Bangkok starts at the Royal Plaza (statue of King Rama V on a horse) at 8 a.m. on Sunday 23rd September. Over 10,000 cyclists have already registered an interest. If you are feeling ambitious, you can start at one of the meeting points listed below and then cycle to the Royal Plaza in a large group. Registration at these place is about 6-6:30 a.m.

Group 1 Main gathering point: Royal Plaza (King Rama V Statue/Suan Amphorn)
Group 2 Sukhumvit area: Benjasiri Park next to Emporium Mall
Group 3 Phetkasem area: The Mall Bangkhae
Group 4 The Mall Bangkapi
Group 5 Rama 2 area: Thonburirom Park
Group 6 Phaholyothin area: Pratu Krungthep Market
Group 7 Phuttamonthon area: Uttayarn Road
Group 8 TOT Chaeng Watthana Road Laksi
Group 9 Ramintra-At Narong Rd. World Bike
Group 10 Big C Ramintra Road KM.3
Group 11 The Mall TaPra Thonburi
Group 12 The Mall Ngamwongwan
Group 13 TOT Service poit at Klongtoey
Group 14 Suan Luang Rama IX Public Park

The big parade of cyclists will leave the Royal Plaza at 8:30 a.m. and head towards Lumpini Park where the official opening ceremony will start at 10 a.m. Silom and Sathorn Roads are expected to be closed to cars on this day. In addition, all cyclists are allowed to take their bicycles on the BTS Skytrain for free on both Saturday and Sunday.

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.

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.