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Annual Bor Sang Umbrella Festival draws the crowds
Traditional Umbrella pageant delights visitors
Staff reporters
January 18-20 saw the staging of the 25th annual Bor Sang Umbrella
Festival, organised by the Chiang Mai Provincial Authority. The much-enjoyed
event included the traditional Umbrella Pageant. The festival’s official
opening ceremony on January 19 heralded three days of parades and events,
with the area’s streets crowded with more sellers of fine quality and
colourful handicrafts, umbrella and paper items than in previous years. The
area of the event itself was beautifully decorated for the occasion.
Many visitors and tourists came to enjoy the cultural shows, to see the
parades and to experience the Lanna lifestyle of the area. For many, the
event proved to be a very successful “shopping trip” as well as a great day
out. Presented for their enjoyment were a window dressing contest, an
umbrella painting display, a bicycle parade and many other interesting an
enjoyable activities.
The winner of the Miss Bor Sang Umbrella pageant was announced as Nitaya
Bamrungrat, 19, a 2nd year BA student of agriculture at Chiang Mai
University, who charmed the judges and won many prizes. The Governor of
Chiang Mai presented her with the crown, sash, and trophy, together with
prize money of 10,000 baht.
A new building for the display and sale of handicrafts is planned for the
near future, to be constructed on 7 rai of land owned by San Kampaeng
district office. The development is supported by the government, which has
already allocated funds.
No more “low season” in Chiang Mai!
Local businesses hold “Passport to Chiang Mai” to coincide with Flower Festival
Supaphon Svetasreni, Deputy Governor of
Tourism of Thailand,
opening the Passport to Chiang Mai Fair 2008.
Amid gathering concern about tourist revenues in Chiang Mai, a group of
innovative businesses and entrepreneurs decided to take action
themselves. The inspired result of their deliberations, “Passport to
Chiang Mai”, was presented on February 1 through 3, and proved a great
success for all concerned. Held at JJ Markets, the fair attracted over
100 booths manned by Chiang Mai businesses, and was organised by Jiram
Siri, the managing director of Passport to Suvennaphoum, in less than
two months!
The opening ceremony was conducted by Suraphon Svetasreni, Deputy
Governor of Marketing Communications with the Tourism Authority of
Thailand, and attended by over 70 representatives of tourist-based
businesses in Bangkok and Phuket. Many of Chiang Mai’s top
tourist-focused businesses took part, including hotels large and small -
the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi, the Chedi, the Imperial Mae Ping and
Tamarind Village were all present. Top restaurants included Le Crystal
and The House. Air Asia and SGA Airlines joined the event in order to
give Chiang Mai a much-needed boost.
During the three day festival there were various events, including an
exhibition of photographs which was entitled “Chiang Mai never walks
alone”, and dance performances, both in Lanna and in Modern Contemporary
styles, given by Chiang Mai University students and the Chiang Mai
Rhythm and Motion Technique Institute. Also delighting visitors to the
festival was an exhibition of contemporary flower arranging, and
providing much-needed refreshment was the Wine Gallery, who organised a
wine tasting event. All this was complimented by cookery demonstrations
entitled “Thai Lanna Fusion” and “Modern Foods - Modern Life”.
The aim of “Passport to Chiang Mai” was simply to stress to potential
visitors the fact that a visit to Chiang Mai in what is usually referred
to as the “low season” - May to September - is as enjoyable and as much
fun as a visit during the better known “high season”. The organisers
would like to rename the summer period the “Rainy Season” as they feel
that the former name has poor connotations for tourists, who might well
actually prefer the climate of the summer months here in Chiang Mai.
Previously, “Amazing Thailand” was seen to refer mainly to and therefore
to promote the southern part of the Kingdom - Jiram hopes that “Passport
to Chiang Mai” will be a major force in redressing this situation and
result in many more tourists visiting the Rose of the North throughout
the summer months. He is determined, after the positive responses of the
exhibitors, to make the fair an annual event.
ExPat Women’s Lunch
Group meets at the Shangri-La
The ‘ExPat Women’s Lunch Group’ at the
Shangri La consisted of; Janet, Judy, Judith, Vanita, Philip (G.M.), and
Fran (standing), with Celeste, Jay, Margaret,
Ruth and Rose (seated).
Photographed at the ‘ExPat Women’s Lunch
Group’ were Saitong, Beryl,
Vajra, Sally, Joyce, Aileen and Philip, (G.M), (standing), with Joyce,
Rachel, Barbara and Ann (seated).
On January 23, the ExPat Women’s Lunch Group enjoyed the fabulous buffet
at the new Shangri-La Hotel. There were 27 women in attendance, with two
long tables overlooking the gardens. The sushi, pasta, Asian, and salad
stations were filled with enticing offerings. However, the lunch reached
its crescendo at the “dessert island”, where the chocolate fountains and
vast choices dazzled the eyes! Compliments go to Julian Wipper and his
superb staff for a wonderful afternoon.
Rachapruek GMS Expo 2008
to open February 9
600 exhibitors from Thailand and Mekong River countries expected to attend
Staff reporters
Chiang Mai Provincial Authorities in cooperation with the
Ministry of Commerce and with the aid of the Provincial Commerce Office
and the CM Chamber of Commerce, will stage a new exhibition at
Rachapruek 2006 between February 9 and 17. Known as “Rachapruek GMS Expo
2008”, the exhibition is intended as a trade show, and will feature
businesses and representatives form China, Burma, Laos, Vietnam,
Cambodia as well as from Thailand itself. All goods shown will be for
sale, and will include handicrafts, weavings and textiles, furnishings,
ceramics, agricultural products and herbs, together with food stalls
from all regions. It will feature 600 booths, more than half of which
have already been booked by businesses from the countries bordering the
Mekong River.
The Expo is designed to attract at least 300,000 visitors to Chiang Mai,
and to stimulate the local economy as a result. It is also hoped that it
will stimulate trade between Thailand, (particularly the 17 Northern
provinces), and the Mekong River countries as well as promoting good
relationships between the Kingdom and its immediate neighbours. The
Chiang Mai tourist and commercial sectors are expected to benefit
enormously from the increased number of visitors.
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