The flowers, on view since Songkran on a plot that belongs to Wat Huay Mongkol, are expected to remain in bloom until early May. The temple is home to the largest statue of revered monk Luang Pu Thuat in Thailand, 11.5 metres tall and 9.9 metres wide.
To begin with, the temple planted sunflower on 50 rai at the start of this year. It drew huge crowds, said Pinnart Charoenpol, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Prachuap Khiri Khan office, prompting the abbot to expand cultivation to 100 rai.
As is the norm, Thais visiting sunflower fields like to get themselves pictured in their midst, but additionally, here they can take a tour riding elephants.
Wat Huay Mongkol is located in Tub Tai, a tambon of Hua Hin District. From the town take Highway 3218 and drive for 14 kilometres to Nhong Tapeo intersection. There turn left. The temple is four kilometres from the intersection.
For details, call the temple at 032-576-187 to 8 and 032-576-296 or TAT at 032-513-885 and 032-513-871.
Record attempt
The first mass aqua aerobics in Pattaya scheduled April 25 will take a go at the world record.
According to organisers, the Royal College of Physician of Thailand, the event hopes to set a new LAAD (largest aqua aerobics display) record if it can enlist 2,009 participants to the exercise taking place 1pm-6pm opposite Pattaya Soi 4 where the sea is not deep. Participants are requested to wear pink T-shirt.
The exercise is part of a festival labelled Aqua Aerobics to Reduce Weight and Global Warming. Presided over by Princess Chulabhorn, the event, starting 10am the same day, will feature a talk on aqua aerobics, health issues, physical check-up, LAAD activities, photo and biking contests.
For details, visit http://www.rcpt.org or http://aquaaerobic.webs.com or call 02-716-6744 ext 25.
Walk with the gods
The area around Ratchaprasong intersection is an intriguing congregation of deities from Indian mythology, with shrines and statues devoted to six of them: Brahma, Indra, Narayana, Ganesh, Trimurati and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.
Their presence within a short distance of each other is confusing even to the most loyal followers of the Hindu faith, let alone somebody in Buddhist Thailand or a foreign tourist.
To clear this air of confusion, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association are organising walking tours every Saturday of May, available to the public free of charge.
To join, call the BMA hotline at 02-225-7612 to 5.
Checkpoint opening hailed
The opening of border checkpoint linking the provinces of Stung Treng in northern Cambodia and Champasak in southern Laos should facilitate travel between the two neighbours.
"This new checkpoint will provide more chance for trade and growth of tourism," said Tram Iev Tek, Cambodia's minister of public works and transportation, during its opening on April 14, the eve of Khmer New Year holidays.
Meanwhile, the two countries have agreed to further ease travel restrictions across their common border: Laotian motorists can drive to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, and Cambodians to Pakse and Vientiane.
New hotel in Phuket
When it opens this September, Sawazdi Patong Hotel, a 146-room property that is part of the Best Western International (BWI) chain, will become the latest addition to Phuket's growing list of hotel properties.
Located on Patong Beach, about 60 minutes drive from the airport, it will have a swim pool with poolside bar, meeting rooms, conference and banquet facilities, a snooker parlour, a fitness centre with sauna and steam bath and Internet connection in guest rooms as well as public areas. For meals, guests have a choice of Western and oriental cuisine.
Astudo adds to its portfolio
Astudo Hotel & Resort, a Thailand-based group, has opened a new property in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Named Away Resort Pranburi, it is about 30 kilometres south of Hua Hin town, and comprises four Thai-style villas ranging from one to two bedrooms, and a teakwood house complete with a swimming pool, a restaurant, massage service, and offers activities such as mountain biking.
The group already operates properties under the Away brand on Ko Kood off mainland Chumphon and in Chiang Mai, and plans to open one on Ko Phangan off Surat Thani next year.
Phornsiri's vision
The first Thai chairperson of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (Pata), Phornsiri Manoharn, has a vision: to promote tourism among countries in the Asia-Pacific and make the region the most popular destination for long haul travellers.
She said Pata would promote intra-regional travel and expects cultural destinations such as Nepal and Cambodia to be among the big winners.
Ms Phornsiri completed her tenure as governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand in March this year and shortly after that joined Pata on a one-year contract.
If you have any comments or news to share, mail them to karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th.
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