Kritsiam Kongsri, chief of Doi Inthanon National Park in Jomthong district, said on Saturday (November 30) that the temperature at Kew Mae Pan Viewpoint and at the peak of Inthanon Mountain on Saturday morning had plummeted to 4 degrees Celsius, while at the national park headquarters it was 11°C.

“Frost on the grass was seen for the third time this year,” he said. “Tourists who hiked up the mountain were excited about this phenomenon. Many people took photos of the frost on their smartphones and showed it to their friends via social media.

He further explained that the place bustled with both Thai and foreign tourists coming to enjoy the cold weather on Thailand’s highest peak.

“One sight that no one should miss is watching the first sunlight along with the beautiful sea of mist at Kew Mae Pan Viewpoint,” he said.

He added that from January 1 next year, bringing of plastic bags to the national park is prohibited. Staff will inspect vehicles entering the national park through both checkpoints.

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First frost of the year appears on Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai

This phenomenon surprised many people as Mekong River is usually brown.

The river has now turned into green and the water is much clearer making it looks like the sea.

It is thought to be the result of the tide being at its lowest in many years, which could be the result of the construction of a dam in China blocking water flow.

That’s what Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi is offering for an official name for its newest arrival, a newly born pygmy hippopotamus.

There are only two names in the running, as suggested by the little guy’s caretakers – Kaki and Moo Toon.

Pick one of those, enter the draw on the zoo’s Facebook page between December 20 and 28, and the winners will be drawn at random. One winner gets Bt3,000 and another 10 get free admission to the zoo for a year.

Pygmy hippopotamuses are only one-tenth the size of the typical wide-bodied variety and they tend to be shy, avoiding humans who aren’t bringing them an armload of vegetables and fruit.

Kaki/Moo Toon was born on October 27, the healthy sixth offspring of pigmy-hippo couple Tony and Jonah.

Despite boasting modern technology, Wat Mangkon, Samyot, Sanam Chai and Itsaraphap stations have been designed to bring back nostalgic feelings from 100 years ago and to retain the identities of specific areas around each station.

From Wat Mangkorn Station, it’s an easy walk to Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, the largest and most important Chinese Buddhist temple, and various old fashioned shopping stores and street food vendors on Yaowarat Road.

The area around Sam Yot Station features architecture from the reign of King Rama V in the trademark colours of Sino-Portuguese design. It is also near the historic neighbourhood or Wang Burapha and a leisurely stroll away from the Chao Phraya River.

Some of the most beautiful architecture from the Rattanakosin era can be reached from Sanam Chai Station, which is surrounded by many tourist attractions such as Pak Khlong Talat Market, Museum Siam, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace.

And close to Itsaraphap Station, visitors can explore Wang Lang Market, sample delicious food nearby, and enjoy the sunset from the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

The five Bangkok districts are Taling Chan, Thawi Watthana, Phasi Charoen, Bang Khae and Nong Kham, while the five provinces are Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Kanchanaburi and Chumphon. People residing in these areas need to produce only an ID card for unlimited free admission throughout the month of December.

Director Kampol Tansajja said the free admission campaign has been launched to “create happiness for Thais” and in response to the government’s policy to boost domestic tourism in order to stimulate local economies.

Layers of sea fog can be seen over the rice fields in ​​Pho Prathap Chang district, especially in areas close to Wang Jik-Nok Nok road along the east side of Yom River and Muang Kao- Phai Tha Pho road. Early morning, 05.45-06.30 am, is the best time to witness the phenomenon when the sea fog is at its widest and thickest.

When winter arrives, breeze normally pushes garbage away from the shore, making the water clear until the beginning of the next year.

A tourist said she had never seen such a clean beach and clear sea at Bang Saen before, while a Somtam salad vendor said she hoped the sea stayed clear like this, as all her spicy salad was sold out thanks to the tourists who appeared in droves.

Meanwhile in Songkla on the same day in the afternoon, Governor Jaruwat Kliangklao led military officers, administrative agents and locals in 20 boats to collect garbage from communities around Songkhla Lake.

“The amount of garbage in the area is impossible to collect in a day,” Jaruwat said. “However, if government officers cannot completely get rid of garbage on the island and do not rush to raise awareness among the people living near the lake, it will soon overflow with waste, which will later become a crisis as the waste tends to increase day by day.”

Opening the event, provincial governor Yongyuth Kitwatananusont jokingly issued an official invitation to the monkeys to join the celebration – not that they needed much encouragement!

Hundreds of Thai and foreign tourists flocked to see the simian free for all, laughing and snapping photos as the monkeys chowed down.

Phra Prang Sam Yot is one of the most famous tourist attractions of Lopburi province thanks to its monkey residents, who draw visitors and generate revenue for the locals.

1. Tourism routes following the royal initiative project: Siricharoenwat Forest and the ancient Chinese Chakngeaw market. The Siricharoenwat Forest Project is a natural learning source and tourist attraction. Communities in area use the royal speech of His Majesty the King as a guideline and have developed activities including making EM Balls that help in water treatment and fertilizing lotus, trekking along nature study paths, building check dams and making artificial licks. Visitors can also take in Chinese Chakngeaw market, an old site that was once a flourishing business district.

2. Coconut route with Takhiantia community: The people here have chosen to preserve the traditional lives of their ancestors and the coconut plantations they so proudly raised. With help from Dasta, the community is now using tourism as a tool for reviving the traditional lifestyle. Things to do include biking to the coconut plantations, singing the traditional song of Lum Tad, releasing hornets to eliminate pests (black-headed worms), peeling coconuts with a spear and tasting coconut coffee.

3. Local tourism routes: the Thai way of life in Nong Prue and Nong Pla Lai. Here too, the communities are proud to maintain their traditions and to prove that even though modern tourism in Pattaya is on the increase, it has no effect on the way of life of the people here.

Nong Prue is an ancient community that has been in the area for more than 200 years and is home to the art school Ban Khon Nong Prue, which trains the children and young in khon (traditional masked dance). Visitors can learn basic khon movements and dress up in the traditional costumes.

All 3 routes will be open for interested PATA members in groups of 50. Participants will also get to learn about tourism management at the community level.

He cited an published article suggesting that Thailand should promote tourism along some of the 1,825 canals in the country as international tourists are keen on taking boat trips to see the traditional Thai ways of living.

“We are conducting a survey of Khlong Prawet Burirom canal and in 2020, we will turn to the Khlong Bang Luang canal, where many floating markets are located. Tourism routes will be developed in joint efforts between related authorities and the local communities.”

Meanwhile, the Traffic and Transportation Department and Krungthep Thanakom Co (KT), have organised free boat trips from Bang Wa Pier to Wat Kamphaeng Bang Chak Pier near Khlong Bang Luang Market on weekends and public holidays, from 8am to 6pm.

In addition, free boat trips will alos be offered from Bang Wa Pier to piers along the Chao Phraya River: Wat Intharam, Saphan Phut, Rachinee, and Tha Chang; starting from 6am to 9am (every 30 minutes) and from 9am to 7pm (every hour).