HozNews

Hua Hin, Thailand, April 2009 … THE BARAI recently received another achievement at the Asia Spa & Wellness Festival 2009, winning two Gold Awards in the categories of “Best Resort Spa”, which emphasises guests’ experiences, and “Best Spa Ambience”, which recognises THE BARAI’s unique interior design, where the art of architecture affects guests’ feelings while they embark on a THE BARAI Journey. THE BARAI is the latest residential spa in the Hyatt Pure Spa family and a pioneer in the spa industry in terms of design concept, being the first of its kind.

The Asia Spa & Wellness Festival 2009’s Awards are dubbed the most prestigious recognition of spas and wellness centres in Asia.
The Festival is organised by AIC Exhibitions Sdn Bhd, the Thai Spa Association and the Asia Pacific Spa & Wellness Promotion Council, with the support of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

THE BARAI was selected from a pool of 212 nominees that were judged by a panel of independent judges comprising spa personalities, travel writers and tour planners. In deciding the winners, the judges took into consideration both the “hardware” component of the spa, namely its ambience, design and equipment, and the “software” component - therapist skills and qualifications, treatment menus and service quality.

These latest awards will increase recognition of THE BARAI as a very special destination spa, not only helping it to gain a strong foothold in Thailand’s competitive spa industry, but also promoting Hua Hin in the international market as a true luxury pampering destination and emphasising Thailand’s status as the spa capital of Asia.
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts was a big winner at the Festival overall, taking a total of five awards, including “Best Spa Group” for Hyatt Pure Spa.

“These awards are considered particularly valuable for THE BARAI as they enhance our reputation, bring even greater recognition and help increase awareness of the unique properties of this destination spa. They also strengthen THE BARAI’s positioning throughout Asia and emphasise how uniquely different and special THE BARAI is when compared with other spas in Asia. In addition, the achievement of Hyatt Pure Spa being name ‘Best Spa Group’ guarantees that our clients, especially spa goers, enjoy a high level of standards that always exceeds guests’ satisfaction and delivers great spa experiences,” said Mr. Mikael Svensson, the hotel’s general manager, about the recent achievements.

THE BARAI provides eight exclusive residential spa suites and 18 exotic treatment rooms located on more than 4.5 acres (18,500 sq m) of serene beachfront land adjacent to Hyatt Regency Hua Hin.

For Suites reservations and more about our spa offerings, please contact THE BARAI at +66 3251 1234 or call your local Hyatt hotel, Hyatt Worldwide Reservations Centre, or log on to www.thebarai.com.

Tourist arrivals from the Middle East to Thailand are expected to dramatically increase following the launch of a daily A380 Emirates service to Suvarnabhumi Airport on June 1.

This launch reflects how much the airline expects visitors to increase to Thailand,กฑ said Chumpol Silpa-archa, Thailandกฏs Tourism and Sports Minister, during a meeting with the chairman of the Emirates Group, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Maktoum, at the Arabian Travel Mart in Dubai.

The Emirates chairman confirmed that Emirates would begin operating its Dubai-Bangkok service on schedule.
Typically, superjumbos are reserved for long-haul flights only, and the Dubai-Bangkok flight, with a duration of six hours, is considered short-haul.

Thailand’s tourism minister said that other international airports in the country, including Chiang Mai and Phuket, were prepared to extend services to Emirates as well.

Emirates’ A380 aircraft is configured to carry 489 passengers and features luxurious facilities including lounges, flat beds, shower spas and massage-equipped suites in the first class cabin.

Business class passengers are provided with a new generation in seating known as intelligent seats and with flat beds.

Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Juthaporn Rerngronasa, said that the daily service from Dubai was a hopeful sign for the country’s tourism sector.

Source = e-Travel Blackboard: C.F

To read this article online, please visit http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com/article.asp

Footvolley comes to town

Here’s a chance to see first hand in Bangkok how footie skills can apply to volley ball.

While it doesn’t grab headlines in the sporting press, footvolley should stimulate our imagination as to its pedigree and origin. Now, courtesy of Pepsi Cola we can see for ourselves how this sporting spectacle compares with the traditional volley ball.

Proponents of the game point out that footvolley can be played by people of all ages, and was selected as a demonstration event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The first ever Pepsi Thailand World Foot Volley Tournament will be played out in downtown Bangkok, 30 to 31 May, at the Central World’s outdoor activity arena.
The competition will include teams from South America, Europe and Thailand.
According to the organisers, international football stars have been invited to attend the tournament to entertain the audience with a VIP demonstration match at the Outdoor Arena at Central World – a mega shopping complex in the heart of Bangkok.
Organised by the Footvolley Association of Thailand (FVAT) the tournament will feature eight professional teams, with sides from Brazil, Spain, France and Portugal lining-up against four Thai squads. The event is sanctioned by the Federation Internationale de Footvolley (FIFV) and forms part of the Footvolley World Tour 2009.

These so called world championships have been held since 2004 starting in Brazil. Thai foot volley players participated in that tournament and the following year in Spain.

Footvolley was established on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and has quickly grown on to become a highly popular beach sport around the world. It was first introduced to Thailand 2003 and strangely gained its roots in Loei, a northern town surrounded by mountains and far from the Gulf of Thailand beach resorts.

Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day
Date : 11 May 2009
Venue : Sanam Luang, Bangkok

Signs of the times.

A Brahmin ceremony seeks a sign to guide the nation to a healthy harvest.

Economists have their own ideas on how 2009 will pan out. They take stock of the rice crop, the inbound flow of tourism and fluctuations on the foreign exchange market to provide a peep at where we might be heading.

There is a much more colourful way to reach the same conclusions and it is at the heart of a century old custom, the annual Ploughing Ceremony.

Held at on the spacious grounds of Sanam Luang against the backdrop of imposing government buildings and the Grand Palace, this ancient Brahmin ceremony takes place 9 May at an auspicious time set even to the seconds hand of the clock by custodians of this custom.

Having their origins in India, the rites of the Ploughing Ceremony can be witnessed in Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia.

Once the Brahmin priests have set the auspicious time after consulting the stars and interpreting omens, the stage is set for Bangkok to turn the pages back from modern commercial endeavour to a ceremony that touches the soil and essence of life itself.
To the sound of tambourines and flutes the royal ceremony draws various players to a pegged area of “Sanam Luang” where omens will be interpreted to chart the course of the nation’s economy and wellbeing.

One of the players is a high ranking official of the Ministry of Agriculture dressed in ancient regalia — a white tunic sparkling with precious stones and wearing on his head a long pointed crown.
Two oxen covered in scarlet and gold cloaks wait to be attached to a plough.
Brahmin guards dressed in green officiate over the first of three important ceremonies.

At the Royal pavilion, three golden Pa Nungs (sarongs) of different length are presented to the Minister. He dons one of them and his choice is considered an omen that gives the Brahmin priest a hint of the year’s prevailing weather and its impact on the harvest.
If the minister chooses the shortest of the Pa Nungs it suggests abundant rain, while the longest hints of drought and hard times. The medium length Pa Nung is considered the most appropriate for the economy. It suggests harmony in nature, perfect conditions for a bumper harvest.

Emerging from the pavilion the Minister is led to the two oxen tethered to the plough. In front of a vast crowd he carefully ploughs three circular furrows to the sound of conch shells and trumpets.
Four maidens carrying baskets with blessed rice, follow the Minister as he begins the ploughing of three more furrows. They sprinkle the rice seeds in the furrows, while Brahmin priest sprinkle lustral water.

As the Minister completes the third furrow the crowds burst through the flimsy barrier to snatch the seeds from the earth. Farmers believe that mixing them with seeds bought from the market will guarantee a handsome harvest.

Finally, the oxen are led to the pavilion where they are offered seven bowls full of rice, corn, millet, beans, grass, rice wine, and water. Their choice is considered a vital omen that will assist the Brahmin priests to divine the year’s outcome for the nation.
If the oxen choose rice, it signals a plentiful harvest. If they ignore the rice it hints of scarcity. If they lower their heads towards the bowls of water, this suggests abundant rain.

Tiffany in the TV spotlight

Contestants vie for the Miss Tiffany Universe crown and raise cash for charity.

Spotlights and TV cameras will focus on Pattaya, mid-May, as the resort’s most famous transvestite show hosts the annual Miss Tiffany Universe contest.

It started off as a local contest, a natural extension of the fantasia that acts out, nightly, on the stage of the Tiffany theatre. But largely due to the attention it gained from the likes of CNN and BBC it quickly grew into a well organised beauty contest.

TV channels love it for its obvious shock and entertainment value. It’s a reality show that takes our minds off an otherwise slate of bad news. Miss Tiffany Universe is on the map and it helps to provide Pattaya with miles of media promotion.

The five-day contest plays out with elements of grandeur that could justify comparisons with global mainstream contests such as Miss Universe or Miss World. Contestants spend nearly a week in the warm up stages struggling to be noticed and eventually it all narrows down to a single evening of entertainment and extravaganza on stage, 15 May, that continues well past midnight.

While its organisers claim the event champions the rights of people who have crossed the line to a transgender or transvestite lifestyle, visitors to Pattaya view it as superb entertainment and choreography, spiced with comedy that would be at home on the stages of Las Vegas.

Tiffany Show has been entertaining tourists in Pattaya for over 35 years with more than 1000 visitors a night enjoying the three nightly performances. Over 100 performers dance and lip-snyc their way through popular songs from musicals and international pop charts.

From this make-believe world a brainwave emerged to go a step further and organise a Miss Tiffany’s Universe contest. Now it is one of the highlights of Pattaya’s annual calendar with an estimated live audience of 15 million viewers glued to their televisions as the pageantry unfolds.

Miss Tiffany’s Universe winners have even visited the US to participate in the “Miss Queen of the Universe” contest and came home with the first prize. With such worldwide media coverage, Tiffany’s viewers and the live audience, attending the final rounds of the contest, marvel at the achievements of medical science and the cosmetic industry. Some will even be tempted to question their ability to discern between genders as the contestants strut their stuff on the runway.

This year’s event will again support the Royal Sponsored AIDS Foundation; a charity programme, which Tiffany’s Show has been part of for many years.

Held at the Tiffany Show Theatre, Pattaya II Road, Pattaya City, the final round of the contest will run from 2030 to 0030.
Judges will first select Miss Congeniality, Miss Best Costume, Miss Photogenic and finally Miss Tiffany Universe 2009. In between the rounds, the Tiffany Shows will perform. Tickets are priced at Bt2,000 for VIP seats and Bt1,000 for Mezzanine seats.

For more details visit www.misstiffanyuniverse.com or www.tiffany-show.co.th

Welcome to Thailand, The land of smile and the true shopping paradise where shopaholics can find anything they wish in several places, from flea markets to luxurious shopping malls in the heart of Bangkok.

Super Special! Participate in our website to win various prizes sush as free accommodations, shopping vouchers, air tickets, and many more.
And don’t miss our monthly campaign featuring hot promotions, e-coupon, tour packages, News updates, and travel activities, you can find them all here!

For more information click www.amazingshoppingparadise.com

Date : 14th April 09
Venue : Lake View Dance Arena, Koh Samui, Surat Thani

14th April 09. Lake View Dance Arena, Koh Samui. The very 1st Songkran International Dance Music Festival ever. Be there!!!

This Songkran, come and Join 5,000 ravers at the largest outdoor venue in South East Asia.

Featuring DJ Judge Jules, other DJs’ on the night will include Graham Gold, Gary Gecko, Asambai, Simon Solo, Adam Matson, David Sambor and DJ A.

Alongside inflatable water pools, foam machines and a waterproof VIP area, Revellers can also enjoy traditional Thai and European food, plus a fun cabaret and casino.

Kicking off at 6pm and ending at 6am the following day, guests are guaranteed 12 hours of the finest non-stop music and entertainment. And with tickets at just 400 Baht in advance, the best money you could spend this Songkran.
See you there!!!

Ticket, Travel and Hotel Package is also available.
See www.totalreservation.com for more information.
Or call (66)2- 833- 5555 / (66)86 - 046- 0240

The performance will be held Friday March 27, 2009 to Thursday April 2, 2009. At Impact Arena Muang Thongtani .Don’t Miss!!

Venue
Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani
Location Pakkred, Nonthaburi
Total 11 performances :
From Friday March 27, 2009 to Thursday April 2, 2009.