Thai AirAsia adds two new daily flights to its service from U-tapao International Airport, a short distance from Pattaya Beach.
February 22, 2017 06:43 By Phoowadon Duangmee
The Nation
Thai AirAsia adds two new daily flights to its service from U-tapao International Airport, a short distance from Pattaya Beach.
Up, up and away
Thai AirAsia adds two new daily flights to its service from U-tapao International Airport, a short distance from Pattaya Beach. The flights link the Eastern Seaboard with Ubon Ratchathani in the northeast and Phuket in the South. Special fares are available through Sunday. The new service aims to spice up the tourism industry by bridging tourist destinations across the country. Visitwww.AirAsia.com.
Beautiful bivalves
Most oysters look pretty much the same, but they taste different depending on the place of origin. For those who simply cannot resist the so-called aphrodisiac washed down with a glass or two of bubbly, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel is holding an “Oysters of the World” promotion from March 3 to 16 at Madison restaurant. Check it out for a selection of Eagle Rock Oysters from America, Fine De Claire from France, Matoya from Japan and Tasmanian Oysters from Australia. Prices start at Bt140. Book a table at (02) 126 8866 or email madison.asia@anantara.com.
All about vanilla
Movenpick Hotels & Resorts have rolled out their new vanilla-inspired savoury menu at their properties, in Asia following the concept’s overwhelming success in Europe. Discerning diners can sample the innovative “Vanille Salee” promotion until March 21 through six one-of-a-kind vanilla-enhanced dishes. Traditionally used for desserts, vanilla produces exciting results when added to hearty savoury dishes: its mild flavour harmonises to surprising perfection with white meats and fish. Check it out at Movenpick properties in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. Visitwww.Movenpick.com.
Music in their midst
The Fine Arts Department hosts the Sukhothai World Heritage Live Orchestra at the northern world heritage site next Tuesday and Wednesday. Led by conductor Wanich Potawanich, classical symphonies will blend with Thai culture in a two-hour musical extravaganza that celebrates the ruins. Tickets cost Bt900 and the gates opens at 7pm. Sukhothai province is slightly more than an hour by plane from Bangkok and there are three flights a day.
The pachyderm ride is a popular attraction for visitors but animal lovers frown upon the ride. The Nation/Chusri Ngamprasert
Rajasthani women carry bowls on their heads. The Nation/Chusri Ngamprasert
February 22, 2017 06:33 By Chusri Ngamprasert
The Nation
Rajasthan’s Amer Fort is well worth a visit but you’ll need to battle it out with the hawkers to get there
High on the hill above Maota Lake, Amer Fort, sometimes called the Amer Palace and also known as the Amber Fort, is one of six medieval forts in India’s Rajasthan state listed as a Unesco World Heritage site. The structures were listed as examples of Rajput military hills in June 2013 and have enjoyed an upsurge in visitors ever since.
The town of Amer was originally built by Meenas, a tribe that claimed a mythological descent from the Matsya avatar, or fish incarnation, of Vishnu. The town was later ruled by the Kachwaha Rajput clan.
Amer Fort was built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh I as the residence of the Rajput Maharajas and their families. The palace and Jaigarh Fort, which is located on the same range of hills, are considered as one complex and the two are connected by a subterranean passage. In times of war, the passage served as an escape route for members of the royal family and others in the Amer Fort to move to the more invincible Jaigarh Fort. Amer Fort was a royal palace until Sawai Jai Singh II moved the city to Jaipur because of the growing population and a scarcity of water.
“No visit to Rajasthan is complete without going to Amer Fort. When you get out of the bus. please do not talk to anybody. Don’t let me get out of your sight. Remember, do not talk to anybody,” says Hami Singh, our local guide, as the fort comes into view.
The gigantic fort perched on a hill surrounded by barren land looks like a painting of an ancient city of the type more usually seen in a history book. The wind blows the yellowish dust giving the picturesque fort a mystic appearance.
The instruction given by the guide is explained the moment we descend from the bus into a teeming mass of hawkers determined to offload their wares. The noise is deafening; the ambience scarily unreal.
“Maharaja! Buy this turban. It is 2,500 rupees! Ni hao! The shawl is beautiful. Touch it! Buy one?”
Some sellers shove their products in my face, some walk after me, others try to block my way. Luckily, Hami is a bit taller than the average Indian so keeping him in sight is not too difficult.
Hami leads us through the hawkers and other tourists to the elephant station where visitors queue for an elephant ride to the fort. It’s not easy to get in the line though and we have to push our way through the more persistent hawkers and tour guides who are swarming all over the narrow staircase.
Once we reach the platform at the top of the stairs, we don’t even have time to think. Hami tells us to clamber on to the seat on the back of the elephant, two of us per elephant, and we do just that.
Slowly, the elephant walks away from the noisy crowd and ambles towards the fort entrance. As the surrounding area empties and the noise decreases, I realise that sitting sideways on a howdah is not easy. With every step, I find myself clutching whatever I can find to make sure I don’t end up under the giant’s feet. The steep walkway and the elephant traffic make the 30-minute ride feel like an eternity.
“Built from pale yellow and pink sandstone, and white marble, the fort is divided into four main sections, each with its own courtyard. We’ll enter Amber Fort through the Suraj Pol or Sun Gate, which leads to the Jaleb Chowk, the main courtyard. This was where returning armies held victory parades and displayed their war bounty to the masses,” Hami explains.
From Jaleb Chowk, a stairway leads up to the main palace grounds. The Sila Devi temple where the Rajput Maharajas worshipped is on the right of the stairway.
The second courtyard houses the Diwan-i-Am – the Public Audience Hall where the king heard and received petitions from the public.
Ganesh Pol or Ganesh Gate, named after the Hindu god Lord Ganesh who removes all obstacles in life, is the entry into the private palaces of the Maharajas. Through this gate queens or ladies of the court used to welcome the battle-worn kings with scented water and flowers.
The Maharaja’s apartments are located around the third courtyard behind the Ganesh Pol. The courtyard has two buildings: the Jai Mandir or Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace) and the Sukh Niwas or Sukh Mahal (Hall of Pleasure). Separated by a garden laid in the fashion of the Mughal Gardens, the two buildings stand opposite each other. On the left, the Jai Mandir is embellished with glass inlaid panels and multi-mirrored ceilings, which turned into a glittering jewel box when the candles are lit. The Sukh Niwas, on the right, is known for its ancient air-conditioning technology as it has a channel that once carried cooling water right through the room to keep the building cool.
The fourth courtyard is where the Zenana or royal family women and concubines lived. The rooms are independent but open onto a common corridor so the king could visit his wives’ respective chambers without the others knowing.
The black stains on the buildings and the fading colour make me wonder how lively this quarter would have been in the days when the Maharajas and their queens lived here. Would the air have been redolent with the fragrance of flowers or would the aroma of fine Indian cuisine have prevailed? Would they dance and sing on a warm day or read by the fireplace in winter?
Hami’s voice calling for our group to gather brings me back to reality.
“We will leave the fort in a 4-wheel drive but then we have to walk for almost 10 minutes. Don’t let me out of your sight. Remember, do not talk to anybody. Okay?” says Hami.
We nod and brace ourselves for the second battle with humanity. Silk shawl anyone?
IF YOU GO
< Thai Smile Airways offers direct flights between Bangkok and Jaipur. Visitwww.ThaiSmileAir.com.
Eastern and Oriental Express, the luxury tourist train, played host to a lavish evening cocktail party in Bangkok.
February 15, 2017 13:22 By Phoowadon Duangmee
The Nation
Exploring the delights of the Eastern and Oriental Express
Eastern and Oriental Express, the luxury tourist train, played host to a lavish evening cocktail party in Bangkok on Monday, February 13, giving the Thai media a short but very luxurious ride that started at Bangkok’s Hualampong Station.
The three-hour ride allowed guests to discover the services and hospitality of Eastern and Oriental Express.
Cocktails, finger foods and music from DJs and the piano bar fuelled the cocktail reception, which was already in swing as the locomotive pulled out of Bangkok’s main station.
The Eastern and Oriental Express is run by the British hotel and leisure firm Belmond, formerly known as Orient-Express Hotels.
The luxurious tourist train offers a travel opportunity of a lifetime through its classic routes – Bangkok to Singapore and vice versa. It journeys through the countryside of Malaysia and Thailand stopping off at some fascinating destinations.
In Thailand the tourist train travels further to Kanchanaburi Province, where tourists can see the famous Bridge of the River Kwai spanning the river dividing Thailand and Myanmar.
Tuesday’s cocktail event allowed guests to have a sneak preview of the luxurious cabins (sleepers), which range from the Pullman Cabin made for the solo traveller to the State and President cabins for two sharing.
All rooms have ensuite facilities. The cabins feature wood and lacquered panels with floral motifs and wooden floors that reflect the exotic East.
The party reached its highest point as guests gathered in the main bar where the resident pianist, saxophonist and vocalist entertained with cool jazz. – Phoowadon Duangmee, The Nation
February 15, 2017 00:00 By Phoowadon Duangmee
The Nation 6,554 Viewed
Back in Bangkok for its 2017 edition from March 9 to 12, the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament takes place by the Chao Phraya River and features 10 teams of more than 40 players …
Chukkas for elephants
Back in Bangkok for its 2017 edition from March 9 to 12, the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament takes place by the Chao Phraya River and features 10 teams of more than 40 players, including Thai celebrities, supermodels, professional horse polo players and members of the New Zealand All-Blacks rugby team. As ever, the four-day festival will have something for everyone including an impressive Opening Parade, Children’s Educational Day, Ladies Day and fun-elephant related activities. Now in its 15th year, the tournament has become one of the biggest charitable events in Southeast Asia with more than US$1.3 million (Bt46 million) raised. Find out more at http://www.AnantaraElephantPolo.com.
A touch of “Charme”
The District Grill Room & Bar welcomes French chef Nicolas Isnard from the Michelin-starred Auberge de la Charme restaurant in Prenois from March 15 to 18 for a gustatory delight of classic French dishes with Mediterranean and Italian influences. Part of Marriott Sukhumvit, the District Grill Room & Bar is inspired by the Meatpacking District in New York City and is open every evening from 5 to 11 and for Sunday brunch. Book a table at (02) 797 0400 or visitFacebook.com/MarriottSukhumvit.
Up, up and away
The International Balloon Fiesta 2017 returns to Chiang Rai’s skies this week in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Running through Saturday, the popular hot-air balloon festival features more than 30 visually striking balloons from 14 countries around the globe including England, France, China, Japan, the United States and Thailand. Gorgeously designed and decked out in all colours of the rainbow, these striking balloons helmed by top-tier pilots will transform the skies over the northern Thai city. Check it out for free at Singha Park or take a visual tour at www.SinghaPark.com.
An island celebrates
Laguna Phuket organises the inaugural “Laguna Phuket Food & Music Festival” from March 3 to 5. The aim is to heighten Phuket province’s status as a “City of Gastronomy”, launch and raise funds for the “Children First Fund”, which supports Phuket orphanages, as well as to create yet another lifestyle destination event within Laguna Phuket resort complex. The highlight, a star-studded Charity Gala Dinner with auctions, will be held on March 4 at the resort’s grand Latitude Marquee with entertainment from Black ‘n’ Blue band, Gam, Fivera and Jazziam. Enjoy it for Bt3,000 and Bt28,000 (table of 10).