Elephants have played a significant role in Thai history, and every year they have their day. This year a huge (pun intended) celebration took place at the Maesa Elephant Camp in Mae Rim district. Games were played, artistic talents displayed, and a jumbo-sized feast laid on. Full story and more pics on center pages this week. (Photo by Michael Vogt)

The 100 Years of Rotary project for the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai ThinThaiNgam, District 3360 is the “Grandma Cares” Project - a community related project which seems to grow every day. It is all about elderly people who must take care of their grandchildren who have been left orphaned when their parents have died as victims of HIV/AIDS.

Healthy outlook for Thailand’s construction industry

Minister of Industry Pinit Charusombat said the construction industry this year is expected to expand further on the back of the recovery in the Thai economy. ‘As such, there will be strong investment in the construction sector especially on large-scale projects, not only in the new Suvarnabhumi international airport but also the planned expansion to Bangkok’s existing sky-train networks and the Au Arthorn low-cost housing project,” Pinit said, adding that the overall value could rise as high as 700 billion baht this year.

Approaching Luang Prabang by air, there is only the mighty Mekong River winding itself like a snake through the green mountains of Laos. In the middle of the dry season, in February and March, sandbanks appear and make life difficult for the many boatmen who moor their boats on both side of the river.