Thursday, March 7, 2013

Events in Thailand - March 2013


Thai Airways International - TG 402
BANGKOK, Thailand - Onboard Thai Airways flight TG 402 from Singapore to Bangkok, I was browsing their magazine Sawasdee to look for events to expect in March while I am there.

The following events will be take place in March:

1. March 8-10: FIM Motocross World Championship Grand Prix of Thailand (www.thaimxgp.com). This will be held at Pinthong 3 Industrial Estate in Sriracha. This is the only Asian leg of the international off-road competition

2. March 13: National Elephant Day. This is held annually throughout the kingdom since 1998. It pays homage to the gentle giant, of which only about 5,000 are left in Thailand.

3. March 15-17: Pattaya International Music Festival. This music event is held every year and attracts fans from around the world. It is held along the Pattaya Beach Road in Chon Buri. Visit www.tourismthailand.org for more details.

4. March 25-30: World Teak Conference. This event, supported by Thai Airways International, is the result of works started by Thailand on the vast planting of teak throughout the country. For details, visit www.worldteak2013.org.

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Monday, March 4, 2013

Business trip to Amazing Thailand - March 2013

 
Siam Mini Park
Pattaya, Thailand
BANGKOK, Thailand - Today is the start of my 3-week business trip to Amazing, Thailand. Onboard Thai Airways International TG 402 that left Singapore at 8:15 am (GMT +8), we arrived in Bangkok at 9:30 am (GMT +7).

While reading on Thai's Sawasdee magazine, I learn some interesting information about the country.

Population 
The total population of Thailand is 64,076,033, of which 31,529,148 are male and 32,546,885 are female. The Total population of Bangkok is 6,574,843 of which 2,692,954 are male and 2,981,889 are female. 

Manufacturing and Exporting Industries
Food and beverages, tobacco and textiles are the top manufacturing industries while automobiles, computers and spare parts, gems and jewellery are the top exporting industries. 

Suvarnabhumi International Airport
Bangkok, Thailand
Photo was taken through Iphone
 Religion
The majority of Thais (93.3% of th entire population) are Buddhists. A fair percentage consider Islam (5.1%), Christianity (0.1%), Hinduism (0.08%), Sikhism (0.02%) and Confucianism (0.01%) their main religion.

Currency  
Thai banknotes are issued in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 baht, as well as 25 and 50 centavos.

Climate
There are three seasons in Thailand. The summer months are usually from mid-February to mid-May. The rainy season normally occurs from mid-May to mid-October and the cool season typically lasts from mid-October to mid-February.

Bangkok City with
Baiyoke Sky Tower - one of the tallest building in Thailand
 Top 5 Labour Force Industries
1. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries
2. Mining and quarrying
3. Manufacturing
4. Electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supplies
5. Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation services

Area
The land area is approximately 514,000 square kilometers. The maritime economic zone covers 72,200 square kilometers in the Andaman Sea and 140,000 square kilometers in the Gulf of Thailand, totalling 212,200 square kilometers

GDP, Inflation and Export Value
The GDP as of Q3 2012 was 3.0%, the inflation rate is 2.9% and the export value is US$59.280 billion.

(source: Sawasdee Magazine, March 2013 - Thai Airways International's official inflight magazine)

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Grand President Hotel, Bangkok - Value for Money Hotel


Grand President Hotel chains
BANGKOK, Thailand - My colleague and I are staying at Grand President Hotel this time as the other hotel that our company has corporate rate is fully booked.

The hotel is located at Sukhumvit Soi 11 (Street 11) and the nearest BTS station is Nana station.

I would recommend this hotel because:

1. The rooms are spacious. There is a living room, kitchen, and bedroom. There are 2 television sets, one in the living room and the other in the bedroom. Because of the space, I would say, it can accommodate up to 4 persons, 2 can stay in the living room and 2 can stay in the bedroom.

2. Prices are very reasonable. Rates start at THB 2,200 (USD 75) per night.

Living Room - Grand President Hotel Tower 1, Bangkok
3. Interrnational calling rates are cheap. Calling abroad is usually expensive for most of the hotels that I stayed. But international calling rates are also very reasonable. Overseas calls to Southeast Asia starts at THB 14.00 (USD 0.50)

4. Convenience of a service apartment.  Amenities in the kitchen includes microwave cooker, bread toaster, refrigerator, thermos, and a complete set of plates and cookeries.

5. Complete hotel amenities. The hotel has gym, sauna, steam room, swimming pools, that you can after office hours and weekends.

Bedroom - Grand President Hotel - Tower 1, Bangkok
6. Best location. Everything is accessible as soon as you go out of the hotel. There are a lot of restaurants around, bars, street vendors, 24-hour stores like 7 eleven, money changers, tailor shops, spas, night market and more. Nana BTS station is just few hundred meters away and can connect you to the whole of Bangkok.

7. Hotel restaurant and room service prices are reasonable and good. I would say "tom yum goong" (spicy prawn soup) in this hotel is one of the best I tried so far. It is also very reasonable compared to the other hotels I stayed before.

8. Complimentary laundry services. I am not sure if it is offered to all customers, but because we are long staying guests, we are given complimentary laundry services for 3 clothes. This saves a lot of our laundry expenses.

9. And a lot more. You have to try it to believe it.

Keep on following my travel blogs. Also, for all your travel needs (airfare, hotel, cruise package, holiday packages, car rental and more), please visit wow amazing holiday website.