#Bangkok 'World's Best City' again

Bangkok 'World's Best City' again

Bangkok will be honoured for the fourth year in a row as the "World Best City" by Travel & Leisure magazine with the award formally presented to the governor on July 18 in New York City.

                       A foreign tourist zooms in on a statue at the Grand Palace. Photo by Patipat Janthong.

The magazine sent out questionnairs to its readers between Dec 1, 2012 and April 1,2013. When the responses were complied, Bangkok topped the list with a score of 90.42%. The Thai capital was followed by Islanbul at 89.96%, Florence at 89.84%, Cape Town at 89.57% and Tokyo at 89.31% Chiang Mai ranked 10th with a score of 88.15%. Other cities in the top 10 were Rome, Charleston, South Carolina in the US, Barcelona in Spain and Paris in France. Besides the World's Best City award, Bangkok also was judged Asia's Best City for the fourth year running.The magazine said each city was rated with scores of 1 to 5 for each of six criteria: sights, culture/arts, restaurants/food, people, shopping and value. Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the award indicated that tourists truly liked Bangkok. He urged all people in the capital to help take care of the city to make it an attractive place worth a visit in all aspects, even though Bangkok may not win the award every year.

 (www.bangkokpost.com)

#H.M. the King's Birthday Celebration

#H.M. the King's Birthday Celebration

Date: 5 December 2012

Considered on of the most important day of Thai people, December 5 is H.M. the King's Birthday and the day is also regarded as the Nation's Father's Day. Buildings and homes throughout the country are adorned with portraits of H.M. the King and flags, and the streets are decorated with fairy lights, predominantly around Ratchadamnoen Road and the Grand Palace. An alms-giving ceremony in the morning is followed by a festival of music and cultural performances at Sanam Luang. In the evening, the whole nation joins in the Candle Lighting Ceremony and withnesses a spectacular fireworks display.

Highlight: Ratchadamnoen Road is closed  to traffic on 5 December to enable people to walk and admire the beauty of the display of portraits of H.M. the King and colourful illuminations. Most of all, this event provides the opportunity to witness the love and respect that the Thai people have towards their beloved King.  (www.tatnes.org, Mthai.com, thaipbs.or.th) 

#Grand Celebrations to Mark His Majesty the King's 83rd Birthday

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej will turn 83 on 5 Decmber 2010. In celebration of this occasion, the public and private sectors are joining hands in organizing various in Bangkok and the provinces from December 1 to 9, under the theme "Our Land" According to acting Permanent Secretary for Interior Kwanchai Wongnitikorm, the Ministry of Interior will put up pavilions at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok for an exhibition in honor of His Majesty and a bazaar of OTOP products from 18 groups of provinces. People are invited to pay tribute to His Majesty by placing floral trays in front of the portrait of His Majesty at the Royal Plaza during the nine-day period. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will preside over the opening of this event, displaying Thai people's love, loyalty, and respect for His Majesty on December 1 at 18.00 hr at the Royal Plaza. He will also preside over a mass candle-lighting ceremony as a tribute to His Majesty on December 5 at 19.29 hr in front of the Supreme Court on Ratchadamnoen Nai Road. The ceremony will be held simultaneously in other provinces nationwide, as well. (http://thailand.prd.go.th/)

There will be seven processions of brightlylit boats along the Choa Phraya River in Bangkok on December 5, between 18.00 and 20.30 hr. The processions, consisting of 600 boats sailing from various provinces, will pass Siriraj Hospital, where His Majesty has been staying for medical treatment. A large number of people will join the candle-lighting ceremony on the boats, which will be decorated with spectacular lights and flowers.