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BMA launches 9-temple tour
Bangkok City Hall has launched a temple tour during
weekends to bring people good luck at the start of the New Year.
Nathanon Thavisin, permanent-secretary for the Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said that the Bangkok Tourism Bureau had
organized the Bangkok Temple Tour Program to nine holy temples in Bangkok.
“The program got a very good response as the tour
scheduled for the first weekend of the year (January 4-5) was fully booked,
and just a few seats are still available for the next few weekends,” she
stated. “BMA may have to extend the program until February. We originally
planned to organize the program only in January,” she said.
Nathanon said February would also be a good month for the
tour, as there would be the Chinese New Year and St. Valentine’s Day
holidays.
She added that if the February tours were successful,
organizing the program all year round will be considered.
Some people believe that visiting and making merit at
nine temples in a single day will bring them luck and good karma. The number
nine is considered lucky by many people.
The five-hour temple tour begins at the Bangkok Tourist
Promotion Center near the Phra Pinklao Bridge.
The nine temples are Wat Suthat Thepwararam, Shrine of
Chao Pho Suea (Tiger God), Wat Chanasongkram, the City Pillar Shrine, Wat
Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), Wat Phra Chetuphon, Wat
Kanlayanamit, The temple of Dawn, and Wat Rakang Kositaram.
The tour costs 399 baht each for adults and 299 baht for
children under 12. Included in the package are snacks, drinks,
air-conditioned van, and guides. The trips start at 7.30 a.m., 8.00 a.m.,
1:00 p.m., and 1:30 p.m. (TNA)
Bangkok’s Silom Road ‘Walking Street’ project gets the heave-ho!
As of the Sunday before Christmas, December 25, 2002, the
Silom Walking Street project was brought to a close. Leisurely meandering
down this road in the heart of Bangkok’s business district is now a thing
of the past, as the outdoor fun activities for the public will no longer be
held on a regular basis.
The authorities concerned decided to cancel the project
after a study by the National Energy Policy Office (Nepo) suggested the
disadvantages of the project outweighed the advantages. The results of the
study said the project had failed in all aspects, except that it allowed
people additional public space.
Former deputy prime minister Pitak Intrawitayanunt, who
chaired the Nepo board, launched the project with the intent of reducing
pollution, conserving energy by encouraging people to use public
transportation, boosting tourism and offering the public a new
family-oriented recreation spot every Sunday.
Supported by an annual budget of 30 million baht, Silom
Road ‘Walking Street’ became a source of fun-filled outdoor activities
from midday till midnight every Sunday. In a move to boost tourism, two
large stages were set up to highlight shows following a different weekly
theme, and to add to the fun plenty of smaller platforms were also available
for the general public to show off their talents.
The activities attracted at least 30,000 visitors every
week, and with special events on certain Sundays the number of visitors
sometimes totaled 100,000.
During its first six months the scheme received
overwhelming approval, thanks to the variety of performances, vendors
offering local products and its image as an energy conservation scheme. But
towards the end, creative activities aimed at boosting tourism fizzled out
and were replaced mainly by vendors who charged outrageous prices and
attracted gangs of extortionists.
Opposition to the project gained momentum and the
government finally cancelled the project. Silom Road’s Walking Street
project lasted just 56 weeks.
Silom-based business operators and residents from Bang
Rak District led the opposition, citing excessive noise, uncollected garbage
and traffic congestion in the area. Pollution increased in adjoining areas.
Local residents complained about lack of mobility.
Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Juthamas said the
project did not achieve its tourism promotion goals because activities
lacked unique charm. “Most visitors were students and shoppers,” she
said.
Juthamas also acknowledged that the project had failed in
terms of energy conservation, noise pollution and garbage. “We may
consider offering similar activities elsewhere, but we will have to select
the site more carefully,” she added. (TNA)
Qantas opens new First and Business Class lounges at Bangkok airport
Qantas just opened new, more conveniently located First
Class and Business Class Qantas Club lounges at Bangkok Airport on January
3, 2003. Qantas executive general manager of sales and marketing, John
Borghetti said the two lounges would accommodate 45 First Class and 140
Business Class customers.
“The new First and Business Class lounges are located
at Bangkok Terminal 2, Pier 5, near the Qantas and British Airways departure
gates. The lounges blend the best of contemporary Australian design offering
new levels of comfort and luxury, with Eastern influences such as
traditional Thai artwork and Thai silk-paneled feature walls,” said
Borghetti.
Features of the new lounges include:
* Four First Class and eight Business Class showers.
* Self-service bars and buffets offering complimentary
light refreshments and snacks.
* Dining areas where customers can sit at tables and
enjoy light refreshments.
* Television lounges with plasma screen television and
satellite television.
* Reading areas with a selection of magazines and
newspapers.
* A fully equipped Business Center with private
workstations, computers with internet access and photocopying equipment.
A highlight of the lounges is the integration of
technology, in particular for the business traveler, with telephone and
power connections throughout. The lounges were designed by interior design
firm Woods Bagot.
Chinese Thais to organize
Chinese New Year countdown
Thai nationals with Chinese origins plan to organize a
grand Chinese New Year countdown this year. Amorn Abhithanakun, president of
the Association of Thai People with Chinese Origins and president of the
Confederation of the Association of 63 Chinese Families, said they want to
organize the activity as the highlight of the upcoming Chinese New Year
celebration, to be held in Bangkok’s Yaowaraj area, well-known as the
“Chinatown of Thailand”.
“We are discussing the idea with senior personalities
who are respected by Chinese Thais and Chinese people living in Thailand. If
the plan is approved, the grand countdown event will be held one minute
before the beginning of the Chinese New Year on February 1,” Amorn said.
Apart from the countdown, cultural shows and
entertainment programs will be included in the Chinese New Year celebration
in the Chinatown area. Chinese shrines will all be opened just after the
Chinese New Year countdown so that people can pay respect to Chinese Buddhas
on the auspicious occasion. (TNA)
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