Thailand Stories

Worshippers take part in a procession featuring Chinese deities in Yala province, southern Thailand, February 16, 2011. The event is celebrated annually by the Thai-Chinese community in the region. (Reuters) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Colourful hot air balloons prepare to take to the skies at the Pattaya International Balloon Fiesta 2011. (Bangkok Post) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Thais hand dried food to line of Buddhist monks during the morning alms offering while making New Year merit Sunday, Jan. 1, 2011 in Samut Prakan, Thailand. (Richard Barrow/ThaiPhotoBlogs.com) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Bright flowers dazzle in the sunlight on a 69-rai former cornfield transformed into a floral exhibition. ‘Wang Nam Khieo Flora Fantasia” , organized by the Horticultural Science Society of Thailand and local state and private agencies, is running in Nakhon Ratchasima’s …

Hot air balloons take off during the International Balloon Festival in Nakhon Nayok December 4, 2010. Pilots and their balloons from all over the world arrived for the five-day balloon festival as part of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 83rd birthday celebration, which is on December 5. ( Richard Barrow / Thai Festival Blogs ) More …

One of the most beautiful festivals in Thailand takes place on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month. It is known in Thai as Loy Krathong, but is sometimes referred to as the Festival of Lights. The next one will take place …

A monkey enjoys eating fruit in front of an ancient temple during the annual ‘monkey buffet’ in Lopburi province, some 150 kms north of Bangkok on November 28, 2010. More than 4,000 kilos of fruits and vegetables were offered to monkeys during the annual festival to help promote tourism in…

A number of historical ruins around Thailand put on Light and Sound shows at different times of year. For example at Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. I took this picture a couple of years ago during a similiar show that was put on at Prasat Hin Phimai in …

November in Thailand sees some of my favourite festivals. These include Loy Krathong (21st November 2010), Surin Elephant Round-Up (20-21 November 2010), River Kwai Bridge Week (24 Nov-5 Dec 2010) and the Monkey Buffet Festival (28th November 2010). The sunflower season also kicks off in November. For a full list…

Local people from Phra Samut Chedi District in Samut Prakan take part in a candlelight procession (wien tien) around the chedi. People from Samut Prakan are now celebrating their annual Phra Samut Chedi Temple Fair that has been going on for nearly two hundred years. The fair ends on Sunday 8th November 2010. (Richard Barrow/Paknam.com) More Thailand pictures …

Tak Bat Thewo Festival at Wat Sangkat Rattanakhiri in Uthai Thani is the most important event held around October. Hundreds of monks residing within the Muang district walk down the steps from the top of Khao Sakaekrang to accept food offerings from Buddhist devotees who gather in the ground of the temple. The fair…

Thai farmers ride on buffalos during a buffalo racing festival in Thailand’s Chonburi province on October 22, 2010. The annual race takes place at the end of the three month Buddhist Lent, before the full moon of the 11th lunar month. (Richard Barrow) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Thai Buddhists attend a prayer procession at Marble Temple in Bangkok on May 28, 2010 during Visakha Bucha or Buddha Day celebration. Visakha Bucha is a commemoration of the Birth, Enlightenment and Passing Away of the Buddha Gautama. (Getty Images) More Thailand pictures can be found at www.ThaiPhotoBlogs.com .

Two elephants enjoyed splashing water at tourists on 14th April at Ancient Siam in Samut Prakan, about 35 kms south of Bangkok. The Thai people are celebrating Songkran, which is the traditional new year, by playing water fights. All thoughts and worries about the red shirt protests …

Ask ten different people what they think about about the Songkran Festival and you will probably get ten different answers. Some love it and some loathe it. If you are an expat living in Thailand for some time then you will probably be in the latter camp. It is that time of the year when…

Thai Muslim villagers look at birds in cages during in a bird-singing contest in Yala province, about 1,100 km (683 miles) south of Bangkok March 7, 2010. About 6,000 birds took part in the competition. (Reuters) Thai Muslim villagers look at birds in cages…

A devotee to the Thai Buddhist temple Wat Bang Phra works himself into a trancelike state during a religious festival Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, in Nakhon Chaisi, Thailand. Thais come from all over Thailand to be tattooed by the temple’s monks on their bodies being inked by hand using a long metal stylus. The religious tattoos …

One of my favourite festivals in Thailand is the Lotus Throwing Festival in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan. A revered Buddha image is placed on a boat and as it is taken up and down Samrong Canal local people throw lotus flowers onto the boat. Original post blogged on www.mythaiphotos.com .

Bride Rattanaporn Supha, left, and groom Nitiphong Jittahorg of Thailand hold a bouquet of flowers as they are suspended on sling wires during a ceremony, known as a ‘flying wedding,’ as part of Valentine’s Day celebrations in Prachinburi province, eastern Thailand, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn) More Thailand pictures can

A Thai Chinese Lion Dancer looks out from the head of his costume as he waits to perform along with more than 80 others Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. Bangkok has a large Chinese community as do many other southeast Asian nations. (AP Photo/David Longstreath) Chinese Lion Dancers perform Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. Bangkok has a large Chinese…