november your guide to what’s on

1-5 Loi Krathong is a special time in Thailand – and nowhere is the festival more memorable than in the ruins of Sukhothai where, according to legend, this event originated. Among the sights to behold are worshipping ceremonies of local deities, traditional Thai musical performances, hundreds of beautiful lanterns and – the pièce de résistance – a light and sound show at Wat Mahathat. www.loikrathong.net 2006 is a year-long celebration of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s accession to the Thai throne. Find out about the extra big annual events taking place and make a date to visit Chiang Mai’s spectacular Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 being held in His honour from now until the end of January. www.royalfloraexpo.com 11-12 Watch Prasat Hin Phimai, home to the Siamese cat, come to life as it celebrates its annual Phimai Festival. The streets of the Thai town bustle with local art and cultural performances, cooking and folk-song competitions, sales as well as exhibitions before climaxing with traditional long-boat races. www.whatsonwhen.com 11 On 11 November 1968, the Maldives became a republic for the second time in its history, and so, on this date each year, local islanders celebrate their independence with colourful parades. However, you’ll have to wait a few weeks – until the 30 November relaunch of Bangkok Airways’ direct service to the capital Malé – to join in the fun at this picture postcard paradise! 17-19 Head down to Krabi from Phuket and discover a few of the region’s most idyllic islands and best beaches. No time is better than during The Andaman Sea Festival, which celebrates the opening of the tourist season. Expect water sport competitions, cultural shows, lots of fun and a warm welcome from the locals! www.gokrabi.com 18-20 The jolly, plump Ebisu is one of Japan’s Seven Gods of Good Fortune and the God of Business. And as such, for three days of the year, the little Ebisu Shrine in Hiroshima takes centre stage. Traders flock downtown to buy gaudily decorated komazarae bamboo rakes, some up to three metres long, in the hope that they will “rake it in” over the coming year. Gone are the days when the shrine’s huge barrel brimmed with 10,000 yen notes. However, you’ll still see plenty of cash being thrown about. Join the 300,000 or so who attend the Ebisu Festival each year, simply to enjoy the lively atmosphere, streets shows, games and food. Bangkok is buzzing this month with arty events and exhibitions by a wealth of talented artists – both local and international. La Lanta Fine Art hosts the Ho Chi Minh artist Lim Khim Katy’s “Symphony of Thoughts” – her first solo exhibition outside Vietnam (www.lalanta.com). And Neilson Hays Library’s small-but-perfectly-formed Rotunda Gallery creates the ideal backdrop to the oil paintings and flame-worked glasswork of Bangkok-based English artist Clare Gaylard at “The Moon Belongs to Everyone”. www.neilsonhayslibrary.com december your guide to what’s on 1-5 Not to be missed is Chiang Mai’s Nimmanhaemin Art & Design Promenade 2006 (NAP 2006) – a fabulous fair that will fill up the sidewalks of Nimmanhaemin Soi 1 with exquisite decorative items from about 50 local boutiques, as well as shops from Sankhampaeng and Baan Tawai handicraft villages. Organised in conjunction with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Amari Rincome (www.amari.com), this year’s festival will have the theme “The King and Jazz: a celebration of Royal music”, so expect to enjoy more than just shopping – there’ll also be a range of dance, music, puppet shows and demonstrations to keep everyone happy. 5 Join in the party as His Majesty the King of Thailand celebrates His 80th birthday this year. Candles will be lit all over the nation to convey the best wishes of the people, accompanied by the singing of Sansuen Phra Baramee (God Save the King). In Bangkok, Ratchadamnoen Avenue will dazzle with spectacular illuminated decorations, stages at Sanam Lauang reverberate with music performances, and a fabulous fireworks display will light up the night’s sky. 7-10 PIMEX 2006 at The Boat Lagoon on Phuket is the place to go if you’re looking to pick up a new sailing toy. Now in its fourth year, this waterside boat show will host – both on land and on the water – around 100 national and international exhibitors and their superb luxury yachts, charter boats and top-of-the range marine equipment. www.phuketboatshow.com 9 Don your dancing shoes and head over to ZoukOut 2006 on Silosa Beach at Sentosa, Singapore. Taking place from dusk until dawn (8pm to 8am), four music arenas will pump out the best tunes by an array of international DJs and Singapore’s best bands. From house to trance and electro to indie, every clubber will find something to get them moving to the music! www.zoukout.com 9-16 Calling all speed freaks! Rubson Raid Turqoise is coming to Asia – setting off from Phuket to pass through Phang Nga, Krabi and the islands of Koh Phi Phi, Koh Rok and Koh Lanta. Combining a nautical race with a host of sporting events, this six-day speedboat racing challenge is like no other, in which teams from all over the world compete for the Turqoise Trophy. www.raidturqoise.com 14 Want to find out who is at the top of the property ladder? Watch out for the results of The Thailand Property Awards 2006 – a first for the country – to be held in Bangkok. Organised by Ensign Media, publishers of the market-leading real estate publication Thailand Property Report and web portal Asia Property Report (www.property-report.com), the results showcase the Kingdom’s best real estate. 16 Visitors to Siem Reap are in for a visual treat this December with two special shows in town. Each year, for a few nights, Angkor’s temples come alive with the CCF’s “Les Nuits D’Angkor” classical spectacular, while Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor’s riverside stage plays host to a performance by EPIC (Every Person is Challenged). This mammoth production brings people together under the auspices of Belgium’s Handicap International and aims to promote positive images of people with disabilities by concentrating on their abilities – not their handicaps. 25 HAPPY CHRISTMAS! ENJOY THE FESTIVE DECORATIONS ACROSS ASIA’S CITIES AND THE COUNTDOWN TO 2007. JUST BE SURE TO MAKE A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION TO VISIT MORE OF BANGKOK AIRWAYS’ EXOTIC GEMS!