Phu Wiang National Park is like many other dinosaur-related travel sites around Thailand. It is weird, wonderful and wacky, located well and truly off-the-beaten track, or the so-called ‘tourist trail’, hundreds of miles away from Bangkok in Thailand’s Northeast region of Isan.

All around Isan, visitors are likely to find huge dinosaur models in parks, zoos or alongside temples. Dinosaurs even decorate the tops of some public lamp posts as a shout out to the region’s ‘big lizard’ claim to fame.

Khon Kaen province is well known for dinosaurs, and particularly the Phu Wiang mountains where several important paleontological discoveries have been made, including two previously unknown species: ‘Phuwiangosaurus Sirindhornae’, a 15-metre (49 feet) long sauropod named after Thailand’s beloved Princess, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and ‘Siamotyrannus Isanensis’, an ancestor of Tyrannosaurus Rex named after Thailand and Isan.

Exploring the Phu Wiang National Park attractions, kids can discover completely new dinosaur species they might never have even heard of before. The Park covers an area of over 380 sq km, so there is a lot of ground to explore. Several unique species indigenous to Thailand have been discovered at the National Park and around other sites in and around Khon Kaen province, which is why many consider it the dinosaur capital of Thailand. Visitors will find fossil digs, bones and models in its museums and current active dig sites around the park.

‘Siamotyrannus’ is the Thai version of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and looks kind of like a cross between a T-Rex and a crocodile. It stands upright, but it’s got a crocodile head, and it waded in shallow water looking for prey.

The huge plant-eating long-necked Phuwiangosaurus, also discovered in Phu Wiang, is considered a sauropod, as scientists now more commonly refer to it. In many sites, geologists have found fossils of infant dinosaurs, small crocodiles and mussels dating back more than 150 million years.

Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum goes international

The Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum became Thailand’s first dinosaur fossil museum when it opened in 1995, while the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum opened in 2000 and is generally considered one of the world’s three great dinosaur museums, along with the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Canada and the Zigong Dinosaur Museum in China.

Also located in Isan in Kalasin, Northeast Thailand, the Sirindhorn Museum is now part of a partnership between Thailand and Japan and the two countries’ best-known dinosaur museums. The Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum and the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, located in the Chubu region of Japan, are now ‘sister museums’ in a move expected to facilitate joint studies, research projects, fossil preservation and the development of geological tourism between the countries. The agreement was initiated when the Fukui PDM borrowed fossil samples from the Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum for a special display in Japan.

Si Wiang Dinosaur Park

The Si Wiang Dinosaur Park is another well-known tourist attraction of Khon Kaen province that first welcomed visitors in 2007. The Park features various spots for relaxation including a health garden, waterfall, pond, playground and over one hundred statues of dinosaurs; some of which are animatronic that move and make sounds like real dinosaurs once a coin is inserted into the machine. These statues are representative of the fossilised dinosaurs discovered around Isan.

It is even further off-the-beaten track on the road leading to the Phu Wiang National Park from Khon Kaen town.

When dinosaurs roamed Isan

When dinosaurs walked the earth, they left big footprints wherever they trod. Physical evidence of this is prevalent around Isan, with massive dinosaur footprints at the Phu Faek Forest Park in Kalasin. As the story goes, a family noticed strange footprints in the middle of a rock terrace back in November 1996. They later informed Thai geologists who came to survey the site. They discovered 21 footprints in total, belonging to carnivorous dinosaurs, believed to have lived in the area 140 million years ago. At present, only four footprints can be clearly accessed by the public.

The Dinosaur Footprint Park in Nakhon Phanom province features footprints imprinted into the region’s reddish-brown sandstone approximately 100 million years ago, and later confirmed by Thai palaeontologists as footprints of theropods and ornithopods.

Dinosaur excursions make for outstanding day trips in Thailand, which around Khon Kaen province also offers awesome views of the circular Phu Wiang Mountains as a dramatic backdrop. It makes for a great day out with family or friends, or offers an adventure for travellers who seek Thai local experiences that date to when dinosaurs roamed Isan, and pretty much every other place on Earth.

The opening ceremony is scheduled on March 31.

The event is usually held every first weekend of April to celebrate the unusual phenomenon when the rays of the rising sun shine through all of the Khmer temple’s 15 doorways at the same time.

This awe-inspiring spectacle takes place four times a year at the Phanomrung Sanctuary and is believed to bring great blessings upon everyone who is there to witness it. For those who wish to see the magic happening in 2018, make sure to be present at the sanctuary on April 3-5.

Several other activities will also take place as part of the event. Not to be missed include the ‘dimensional mapping light and sound show’ and the ‘special light show’ highlighting the legend of Phanomrung Sanctuary, a ritual to worship the gods and celestial beings, as well as a grand procession and Apsara dance performances.

Visitors can also enjoy shopping for local arts and crafts, as well as souvenirs, or try a wide range of local cuisine at the traditional-style flea market.

Having visited the Phanom Rung Sanctuary, tourists can also explore other attractions in vicinity including Muang Tam Sanctuary in Prakhonchai district, Wat Khao Angkarn – the Buddhist temple on an extinct volcano, the silk and cotton weaving village of Tambon Charoensuk, and Lamnangrong dam of Non Dindaeng district.

Another awe-inspiring place of interest in Buri Ram is the i-Mobile Stadium (Thunder Castle), which is currently the largest football stadium in Thailand and becoming a new magnet attracting visitors to Buri Ram. This 32,600-seat football stadium is owned by the Thai Premier League club Buriram United – a rising-star football club in Thailand. Also not to be missed is the Chang International Circuit, which will host the MotoGP 2018 in October.

This year’s event joins the action-packed Thailand Tourism Year 2018, which promotes the time-honoured cultural events and festivals, as well as helping to spread tourism income to local communities across the country. 

For more information, contact:

TAT Surin Office

Tel: +66 (0) 44 51 4447-8, or 1672

Email: tatsurin@tat.or.th

Website: www.tourismthailand.org/surin

Facebook: TAT Surin Office

The first MotoGP in Thailand, to be held on October 5-7 this year at the Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram, is officially named the PTT Thailand Grand Prix 2018.

Thailand, through the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), has secured a three-year deal with Dorna Sport, which is the rights holder of the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (MotoGP), to host the Grand Prix from 2018 to 2020, with Buriram United International Circuit as the rights manager of Thailand’s first edition of MotoGP, which is the 15th out of 19 races throughout the season.

In addition to hosting the event in October, the winter test already took place in Buri Ram on February 16-18, this year.

MotoGP is the world’s number one motorcycle road-racing championship watched by more than 800 million people and broadcast live to more than 200 countries around the world. There are more than one million MotoGP fans in Thailand.

World-famous riders, Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, will lead more than 90 talented drivers, including the one and only Thai to participate in the Moto3 World Championship throughout the season, Honda Team Asia’s Nakarin Atiratphuvapat, alongside wild card Thai riders to excite motorsport fans in Thailand.

PTT Plc, Thailand’s SET-listed multinational energy corporation, is the official sponsor of the first edition of MotoGP in Thailand. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, PTT is offering customers who are passionate about MotoGP plenty of privileges: special activities at PTT service stations and participating shops in the PTT network, 25 percent discount on ticket prices for holders of the PTT Blue Card, and a special series of PTT Lubricants products.

The five new Gold certifications were earned by Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok, Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resorts Pattaya, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, Centara Kata Resort Phuket, and Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives. Together, these properties reduced their Carbon footprint by 37 kg. CO2 equivalent per guest night. Their performance on greenhouse gas emissions has been on average 30 per cent better than the global best practice benchmark.

Centara said in a press statement that it now has a total of 10 Gold certified properties, plus another five with Silver certifications – the phase proceeding Gold. Centara earned its first Gold certification since 2015.

Centara began its concerted environmental initiative in 2008. It involves energy, water, and waste management programmes; education and engagement of management, staff, suppliers, guests and the community, with objective monitoring of all activities to measure its improvements, the statement added.

“To celebrate 10 Gold certified properties, we committed to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5 per cent in 2018,” said David Good, VP Operations at Centara. “These accomplishments motivate the rest of our teams as we continue our efforts to bring about positive environmental change.”

“We believe it is important to take a leadership role and encourage others to join the effort,” added Thirayuth Chirathivat, Centara’s CEO. “Whether you’re staying with us in the centre of Bangkok or on a pristine tropical beach, we want you to be aware of our strong commitment towards the environment and sustainability.”

When: March 17, 2018

Where: BITEC Bangna, Bangkok

The Transmission Festival Asia, Europe’s largest indoor electronic trance music festival, has announced its return to Bangkok on 17 March, 2018.

This follows its highly successful Bangkok debut back in March 2017, when music lovers from over 60 countries travelled to the Thai capital and danced at Transmission Festival Asia for the first time.

The road show will include a technical support crew of 25 to set up and run its latest musical extravaganza at the new BITEC Hall 100. It is recognised as Thailand’s only venue capable of handling the production demands and technical requirements of the massive Transmission stage show.

The iconic trance festival Transmission is a much-anticipated event in Thailand, with a huge line up of some of the biggest names in trance music expected to perform. The colourful and energetic dance party is always enhanced by the fun-loving attitude of Thai trance fanatics.

And it’s not just the DJs and crowds that make for such a fun atmosphere. It is also famous for its amazing light and laser show, combined with a world-class sound system that ensures Transmission Festival Asia will be one of the biggest musical happenings on the Thailand event calendar.

Picturesque Ko Tao island in Surat Thani province in the Gulf of Thailand will hold its annual ‘Ko Tao Festival’ this coming weekend, March 10-11, 2018.

The festival aims to showcase the beauty of Ko Tao island and raise awareness of how important it is to protect this wonderful environment.

Taking place at Sairee Beach, the Ko Tao Festival 2018 is being organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Municipality of Ko Tao District, Save Koh Tao Club, Surat Thani Provincial Administration Organisation and various other public and private organisations.

Over the weekend, there will be various environment-friendly activities and contests to participate in and have fun. These will include traditional Thai games, a volleyball tournament, children’s art contest promoting coral reef conservation, a design contest for new recycling rubbish bins to be installed across the island and the chance to try some delectable local desserts.

The festival program also features different shows, such as the Opening Parade & Eco Display and ‘Mr. & Ms. Save Koh Tao’, as well as live performances and music.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.facebook.com/KohTaoFestival/

The Night Harvest Festival of 2018 takes place on Saturday, March 10 at the Village Farm & Winery in Wang Nam Khiao District of Nakhon Ratchasima. This enchanting event is aimed at creating awareness of the wonderful vineyard lifestyle of the area and to promote healthy outdoor experiences.

The Night Harvest Festival starts with a welcome wine tasting at 5.30 pm in the Village Farm & Winery vineyard. Come 7 pm and guests will be treated to enchanting classical music as they continue to enjoy dinner with a variety of vintage wines. At 9 pm the property’s winemaker will lead a stroll through the rows of harvest grapes so guests can see how the grapes are transported for crushing and fermenting. Following this will be cheese tasting, desserts and matching wines to round out the evening, which wraps up around 10-11 pm.

Tickets for the Night Harvest Festival are 2,499 Baht for those 14 years and older, and 1,199 Baht for children aged 3 to 13. Children under the age of 3 are free.

For those interested in exploring more of the countryside, nature-based activities and unique Thai local experiences on offer in Nakhon Ratchasima there is an enticing choice that includes Pha Keb Tawan or Thap Lan National Park and its chemical-free Vegetable Plate, Suan Lung Krai Farm where the focus is on organic produce, Thailand Outdoor Park & Camp by Suan Lung Choke and Suan Luang Inn, where visitors can learn about harvesting, processing and the use of shiitake mushrooms.

Before heading home, guests can make merit at Wat Bu Phai (Wat Ban Rai 2) and bless the deceased abbot Lung Phor Koon.

Located 250 km from Bangkok, Village Farm & Winery is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 – 18:00 and on Saturday and Sunday from 08:00 – 20:00.

For more information, please visit www.villagefarm.co.th