Weird! New mass rally in Bangkok on November 24th and 25th

The Pitak Siam Group starting a mass rally in Bangkok.



I just got an e-mail of the German Embassy in Bangkok. But it is not about my application for a second passport. No, it is a warning for all registered German residents and tourists to avoid the area around the parliament, the Dusit zoo and the Government House because of the scheduled mass rally on November 24th and 25th.

One week after Obamah's visit in Bangkok there is another big event, but it  will show a sorry sight of "Amazing Thailand".

Two and half years after the big riots between the Red Shirts and the Government with more than 90 deaths, the Pitak Siam Group behind Ex-Army General Boonlert Kaewprasit will hold a mass rally in Bangkok. 

This group are ultra-royalists and they will demonstrate against the current "red-colored" government.

I was 2010 in Bangkok too and remember exactly my feelings and what happend during this weird situation. (Read more)


To save the inner security in this area, the government remitted legal regulations (ISA) for Phra Nakorn, Pomprab und Dusit districts. Entering this districts can be limited and electronical devices can be out of order and a curfew is possible.


Closed roads on Saturday:

1. Rajvithi Rd (from Karn Ruean to Rajvithi intersections)

2. Rajdamnoen Nok Rd (Makkawan Rangsan Bridge to Misakawan intersections)

3. Uthong Nai Rd (from Uthong Nai intersection to the Royal Plaza)

4. Pichai Rd (from Khattiyanee to Rajvithi intersections)

5. Phitsanulok Rd (Wang Daeng to Panitchayakarn intersections)

6.Lukluang Rd (Wissanukam Bridge to Thevakam Bridge)

7. Nakhon Pathom Rd (Orathai Bridge to Wat Benjamabophit intersections)

8. Rama V Rd (from Panitchayakarn intersection to Lukluang Rd)

9. Likhit Rd

The police advised commuters to use Sawankalok Road, the part of Rajvithi Road and Sukhothai Road instead.


The foreign ministry of Germany advise tourists to avoid this districts. Every other tourists spots are not in affected, neither in Bangkok, nor in other parts of Thailand. 

The Red Shirts plan to held another rally at Udon Thani (North-East of Thailand).


What an upbeat for the traditional Loi Krathong festival which is starting tommorrow in bangkok.

Is this the "Amazing Thailand" we want to visit or to live?

How to withdraw money at cashpoints in Thailand without paying a fee?

Are you bugged of paying 150THB each time you withdraw money at an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) in Thailand too? Then read further how to avoid this ripp off:

There was once upon a time when all banks lived together in harmony with foreign tourists in Thailand. The foreigners were able to withdraw money at their cashpoints without paying a fee and we loved to spent our heard-earned money in amazing Thailand.

But times are changing and the financial world in Thailand recognized how to make money with tourists too.

And so it came, that every bank in Thailand started asking a fee of 150THB in 2010. From this point on we have to pay each time when withdrawing money at their cash terminals.

150THB are around 3,25€ and they take this fee independent from the amount you withdraw.

Every bank? No, not every bank! There is still a glimpse at at the end of the tunnel.

One bank is still left. One of the financial institutes is grasping this unilateral trend and is not asking this fee when withdrawing money at their cash dispensing machines.

It is the AEON-bank.

Granted, they have not that much ATM's in Thailand than other companies, but there are at least 340 cashpoints (November 2012, take a look at the spreadsheet below) in Thailand.

You can find them at popular locations, but sometimes it is not that easy to recognize them. Firstly their machines are grey and not colorfull than other ATM's. 

ATM of Aeon bank in grey color.

And secondly they haven't the best spots in a some buildings.

For example: If you look for an cashpoint in Bangkok's newly refurbished and reopened "Silom Complex" you will find the more popular ATM's in yellow and green/red color from other institutes in the first and second floor. The AEON-cash-dispensers instead are located at the fourth level, directly to the left of their branch.

And if you found them finally,you are not sure if this is an ATM, because they are much bigger than other one's.

If you take a look at the list of locations where to find their cashpoints you will see they are in most popular places, like Big C, Tesco/Lotus, Carrefour, IT Square, Future Park, Central, The Mall, Robinson and many more.

Come on, let's join and show the power of tourists to the other greedy banks and  withdraw your money at AEON-cashpoints!

And may be we are able to change the financial world to a better way...... ;)

Where are the white elephants? - part I

Another smashing event is crashing the event calendar in Thailand's amazing Miracle year 2012.

Don't miss the Elephant Round Up Festival in Surin!

Around 200 elephants from the whole country joining this anual get together since 1960. They are comemorating the importance of the elephants in Thailand and showing the bond between the people and their elephants.

Surin is a little town in the North-East of Thailand, this area is better known as Isaan. Don't be afraid, even if the location is around 450km in distance to Bangkok, it is quite easy to get to Surin.

You can travel by one of many trains or you take a bus. Both is convenient. The bus takes 7 hours and 20 minutes (depending on the traffic jam heading out of Bangkok) and even with the 1st class bus is stoping for a free meal, snack and drinks in Nahkon Ratchasima for 20 minutes. 

The train will take around eight hours, but the journey can be more scenic than going by bus.

There are a night bus as well as a night train available and you will be in the same daily rhythm when you arrive in Surin in the early morning hours.
The railway station and the bus station are located in the center of the city. So it is quite convenient to head for the accommodations.

Hotel rooms are still available, although I had to change my room today, so I asked many hotels for available rooms. The prices starting at 350THB.
My choice for the next two days in the Majestic Mansion. Very spacious rooms, Kingsize bed, ac, tv, fridge, desk, free Wifi, hot shower and central located. The prices during the festival on Friday and Saturday are higher than the ordinary days. I have to pay 1000THB/night, regular price is 500THB, but hey, this is everywhere in the world the same, correct?


I couldn't see His Majesty's white elephants in Hua Hin, but here I found one:

Is anybody interested how to make it?

Let's join a three day event with a stunning performance in traditional clothes   which shows historical scenes of the last stroke against the Burmese, fenced with war elephants and other entaining presantations during this event.



More in part II: The Grande Bouffe

How to apply for a Visa for Myanmar (November 2012)

Sunrise at Bagan

A friend of mine applied today for a Visa at the Embassy of Myanmar, so I am happy to share the newest informations about this process:

Unfortunately applying online for a Visa of Myanmar is still not possible.

I just got an answer for my inquiry why it is still not working: "....Our system is now ready to launch and we are now waiting for the green light from government. We will announce our official launch date together with visa fee once we got confirmation from the government...."

A Visa-on-Arrival should be available for Business- and Transit-Visa in Yangoon (not confirmed). Please note that Tourist-Visa is NOT available on arrival!

Even the Myanmar Embassies in Australia and Japan advicing Tourist to apply for a Visa in Bangkok, because you can get it faster than somewhere else. In the above named countries could it take up to 27 days.

The best and fastest way to get a Visa for Myanmar is to apply at the Embassy of the Union of Myanmar in Bangkok.

132, SATHORN NUA ROAD, BANGKOK 10500, Tel : (662) 233-2237, 234-4698, 233-7250, 234 4789,237 7744, Fax : (233) 236-6898



Größere Kartenansicht

Show the the location of the Embassy of the Union of Myanmar in a separate window.

The main entrance is faced to the Sathorn Road (close to BTS-Station Suarasak). Take exit number 3 at the BTS-Station and make u-turn after coming down the stairs.

The Visa section is on the left side of the Embassy in Thanon Pan street. You will see the "Visa section" sign or the a long queue. I talked to people who queued up since 6.30am. The Embassy opening hours are for application from 9am-12am. You can collect your Visa between 3.30pm and 4.30pm. It seems they changed the original opening hours at the afternoon.

All you need for Visa application is your passport (it has to be valid for at least 6 month), a copy of your passport, two regular sized passport pictures and a Tourist-Visa form.

There is no need to queue up for the form at the Embassy. Just follow a yellow sign to a copy shop in a small alley (200 meters). If you need assistance for filling out, they will help you.

If you haven't pictures, they can take it too. I can't remember the exact prices, but the form was about 5 THB. No worry, their service is cheap, not overpriced like in other similar locations.

Although the government in Myanmar changed and they open their country more and more for tourism, it is still a socialistic state with different rules and thinking. In case you are a writer, journalist or photographer, don't write this in the form!

Queue up in the line can take until three hours. My friend arrived there around 8am and she was 9th in the line. When I applied, I arrived the same time and had to wait 2,5 hours at a sunny day. There is no shadow in the morning. Don't forget to use sun protection, umbrella and bring water with you.

The normal Visa process takes two days and the fee is 810 THB. If you use the Express-Visa you will get it the next day and they charge you 1035 THB. In case you need the Visa ion the same day you have to present a flight ticket for the next day, otherwise they deny this service and you can only get it the day after. But if you present such a flight ticket you can pick up the Visa between 3.30pm and 4.30pm and the fee is 1260 THB. It is a different counter for pick up, no need to queue up in the regular row! 

You will get a Single-Entry-Visa which is valid for 3 month and you can stay maximum 28 days.

As you can read it is very easy to get the Visa for Myanmar. So don't miss the chance to discover a nearly untouched touristic spot in South-East-Asia!


Nearly every day I am reading new informations about Myanmar in every belongings, so in Visa affairs. That means, just ask at the closest Embassy of the Union of Myanmar for current details for the application.

By the way, if you want to spend the lunch time in this area, there opened a good coffee shop in opposite on the other side of Sathorn road last february. I can't remember the name, just use the BTS-Station to cross the street and take the exit close to the Eastin hotel. Then just walk a few meters in north direction and you will see that shop with a parking spot in front. Enjoy your break there and espacially your trip to Myanmar, my favorite country in this part of the world. It is the untouched jewel in South-East-Asia.

......In case you take an early flight to Yangoon in the morning,then choose a window seat on the right side and you will see amazing scenes when the fog is raising up the mountains!

The Royal Barge Procession 2012

The amazing and absolutely unique in the world "Royal Barge Procession" will be held on November, 9th on the Chao Phrao River (River of Kings) in Bangkok.

Don't miss your chance to feel relegated for 700 years in time. A time, back in history till the first independent Kingdom of Thailand.

Feel yourself in the middle of a stunning and breathtaking spectaculum of the 14th century and sense the vibes when joining this rare event.

This is an once in a lifetime experience!

Gaze the majestic procession of 52 Royal Barges and realize the power, the grandness and the dramatic composition of such a concentration of more than 2300 oarsmen.

The Royal Barge Procession

It is an amazing spectacle in amazing Thailand, which "always amazes you". 

This is the slogan of Thailand's Tourism Authority 

and it matches in this case exactly.

This "Royal Barge Procession" will put you under banishment. Look, feel and listen to the boat chants. They are an essential and important part of the procession.

Long before you see the first barge, you will already recognize the roaring chants, not to mention when the Procession is passing you. 

The first three Barges. Do you see them?

The additional sound from poking long wooden poles on the back of the Barges made me a flash crawl. 

The wooden poles.

It was an armada in majestic slow motion. 

Inexpressibly, fascinating and incredible.......

On one hand side sounds the poking with the poles was threatening and on the other hand side it completes the monontone sound of the chant with a rhythm. 

It was a nobly spectacle with the loudly refrain chanted by 2300 oarsmen and the majestical gliding barges down the River of Kings (Chao Phraya River).

The Grand Palace in the background.

I had the rare oppurtunity to join the last full dressed rehearsal of the Royal Barge Procession, together with a few other bloggers and media people last Tuesday. We watched the procession in opposite of the Grand Palace at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall. 

Here are also seats available. You will find a telephone number and the link to for buying tickets at the end of this article.

Shortly in front of the start the weather looked more like rain and we felt already a few rain drops but as soon as the procession begans, the clouds went away and sun offered us a good frame for taking pictures.

Wat Po in the background.

You can find more informations about the Royal Barges and the formation of the "Royal Barge Procession" in another posting.

This ravishing spectacle takes over an hour. The "Royal Barge Procession"  will start at 3pm on Vasukri Royal Landing Pier. From this location the Royal Barges will glide down the Chao Phraya River in majestic style until Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn).

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

At Wat Arun will be the "Royal Kathin Ceremony" held. For this reason is the complete official name of this event like the following:

"The Royal Barge Procession to Present the Royal Kathin Ceremony 

in a part of The Celebration on the Auspicious Occasion of 

His Majesty the King's 85th Birthday Anniversary 5th December 2012"

The monks at Wat Arun getting during "The Royal Kathin Ceremony" new robes from the Royal family. More about "Royal Kathin Ceremony" in this  posting.

This year, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will preside over the "Royal Barge Procession" on behalf of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn

© Sidakan

The timetable of "The Royal Barge Procession" and the "Royal Kathin Ceremony".


As I wrote in an earlier posting, you will find various places along the river to join this event for free, but be aware to head early for this spots!


Date of the "Royal Kathin Ceremony" and "Royal Barge Procession": November 9, 2012

Place: Tassana Pirom Yard, Naval Assembly, Royal Thai Navy, Bangkok

In case you are interested in a ticket:

Price of Ticket: 1500 baht / seat

How to get the ticket:

1. Tel: +66 2970 2544 to 5

2. www.welovebooking.com



Another good location with best view on the "Royal Barge Procession" is at the Cafe Arts Restaurant. 

Club Arts Gallery

It is located at the river, close to the location where the Royal Barges were placed at the moment. 

www.clubartsgallery.com

This is a good spot if you like to see how they prepare and pull the Royal Barges to the Vasukri Royal Landing Pier. This will happen between 12pm and 2pm.

The restaurant offers delicious food and you can enjoy the Art Gallery for free. 

Pad Thai in a different style and other delicious food.

Reservations are highly recommended!

The Flotilla and Barges - The Royal Barge Procession 2012

The "Royal Barge Procession" is a religious and royal significance ceremony which began in 1357.

I described the history of the "Royal Barge Procession" in this earlier posting already. If you like to know more about the history, click here.

The official name for the Procession and the "Royal Kathin Ceremony" in 2012 is:

"The Royal Barge Procession to Present the Royal Kathin Ceremony in a part of The Celebration on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty 

the King’s 85th Birthday Anniversary 5th December 2012."

The Royal Barge is a Thai cultural heritage nowadays. They are unique in the world and the Barges are an exquisite and detailed artistic work of artists from several areas and profession, like architects, pattern designer, carver and painter.

King Bhumibol (Rama IX.) is the ninth monarch of the Chakri dynasty, which is founded in 1782. He is the longest reigning monarch in Thai history, and he is since 1989 the world’s longest reigning monarch too.

The Procession involves barges carrying the deeply revered Buddha image (Phra Buddha Sihing) and members of the royal family to present offerings of saffron kathin robes, food and other necessities to the monks at Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn).

The flotilla consist of 52 barges. 51 are historical barges and one is a new barge, made in era of His Majesty King Bhumbibol in 1994. It is the "Narai Song Suban H. M. King Rama IX".

The Flotilla Formation for the "Royal Barge Procession" is arranged in 5 columns. This is the battle formation of ancient times.

In the middle of the flotilla will be four royal barges: Suphanahong (this one will be used by His Royal Highness Crown prince Maha Vajiralongkorn on November, 9th to present the Kathin robes to the monks at Wat arun Ratchaworaram ), Narai Song Suban H.M. King Rama IX., Anantanakkarat and Anekkachaphuchong.

Royal Barge Suphannahong

Rama VI

The bow is made like a head of a Royal Swan or Hamsa.

(44,90 meters long, 3,14 meter bride, 0,90 meter depth, 50 oarsmen, 

2 steersmen, 2 officer fore and aft, 1 standard bearer, 1 signalman,

1 chanter and 7 Royal Regalia bearers)

Royal Barge Suphannahong

Eight of the barges having an animal figurehead and 40 are smaller vessels.

Sukrip Khrong Mueang Barge

Figureheads of Monkey Warlords in red color.

(27,45 meters long, 1,95 meter bride, 34 oarsmen, 2 steersmen, 1 officer, 

1 standard bearer, 1 signalman and 2 station markers)

Asura Paksi Barge

Figurehead of an Ogre-faced bird in green color.

Rama I

(30 meters long, 2 meter bride, 40 oarsmen, 2 steersmen, 1 officer, 

1 standard bearer, 1 signalman, 2 station markers and 10 drummers)

Krabi Prap Mueang Man Barge

Monkey Warriors with white body of Hanuman

Rama I

(26,80 meters long, 2,10 meter bride, 36 oarsmen, 2 steersmen, 1 officer, 1 standard bearer, 

1 signalman, 2 station markers and 10 drummer)

Dang Barge

(musicians on board)

Ekachai Hern How Barge

Ekachai Lao Thong Barge

(for leading and towing the Royal Barge Suphannahong)

Figureheads of a cross between a crocodile and Naga known as Hera

(27,50 meters long, 1,99 meter bride, 38 oarsmen, 2 steersmen, 2 officer, 

1 standard bearer and 1 signalman)

The whole flotilla stretches 1200 meters in length an d 90 meters in width. More than 2300 oarsmen from the Royal Thai Navy serving on this barges.

The royal barges of Thailand are the last of their kind in the world. 

The last time that a "Royal Barge Procession" was held was on june, 12th, 2006. Occasion was the diamond jubilee celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of HM King Bhumibol’s accession to the throne.

The procession takes around an hour to make the distance between start point and Wat Arun.

This year, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will preside over the Royal Barge Procession and Royal Kathin ceremony at Wat Arun on behalf of His Majesty the King.

This posting is not complete yet. I will add more pictures, barges and descriptions continously in this posting.

Long before you see the first barge, you will already recognize the roaring chants, not to mention when the Procession is passing you.

Take your time and listen to a boat chant. They are an essential and important part of the procession. But live is different and more fascinating, though don't miss it (November, 9th, 2012).

The chanting has 3 verses. The first verse praises His Majestiy the King. The second verse praise the "Royal Barge Procession" and the third verse praise  the magnificence of the Chao Phraya River that is like a river from Heaven and the attractiveness of Bangkok.


Detailed informations about the "Royal Barge Procession", the barges, the oarsmen, the clothes and the chants.

The Royal Kathin Ceremony - Past and Present

Wat Arun

Theravada Buddhists holding a three-month rainy season retreat called Vassa. Usually the monks should remain at their temple and concentrate on their practise following the rules of the Vinaya. 

At the end of Vassa they have a one month Buddhist fetsival, called Kathina. It beginns after the full moon of the eleventh month in the lunar calendar. This is the time of giving and the most significant merit making festival in Thailand. Everybody is spending at least once in a lifetime clothes for monks. Buddhist monks shouldn't travel during this three month-retreat. 

Originally is the Kathin Ceremony (some transcribts showing "Gathin") from the time of Buddha. The legend says, a group of monks were traveling to meet Lord Buddha, but they weren't able to finish their journey before the rain begans and so they had to make a break until the end of the rainy season.
Afterwards they finished and met Lord Buddha. When he saw the soaked and dirty robes of the monks, he offered his previously donated clothes and told them to make new robes of it.

The full name of this Buddhist festival in Thai is "Thot Kathin". "Thot" means offering something to a monk.

"Kathin" or "Kathina" has four different meanings:

- Kathina is a festival of Buddhists at the end of the three month period of retreat during the rainy season. 

- It is a wooden frame is called Kathina. It helps to stretch the robe while it is being made.

- Krathina is any kind of clothes offered to the monks and made on the wooden frame tool

- The name of the ceremony when Robes are presented to the monks. It is the name of a Buddhist ritual.

There exists two Kathina ceremonies:

Krathina Luang - Royal Kathina: Ceremonies held at the royal temples.

Krathina Rart - Krathina Ratsdorn: Ceremonies at public temples

When the Royals are celebrating this tradition at a royal temple it is called "Royal Kathin Ceremony",  "Royal Kathina Ceremony",  or "Royal Krathina Ceremony" nowadays.

The presentation of Kathin by the King of Thailand or HM representatives is called "The Royal Kathin Ceremony" and has been held often as part of The "Royal Barge Procession". More background informations about the "Royal Barge Procession".

The Procession involves barges carrying the deeply revered Buddha image (Phra Buddha Sihing) and members of the royal family present offerings of saffron kathin robes, food and other necessities to the monks at Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn).

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej revived the "Royal Kathin Ceremony" as part of the "Royal Barge Procession" first time in 1959. Together they will be held in unregular intervals.

After the last event in 2006 it is furthermore a very rare an unique opportunity like a once in a lifetime experience! Take your Chance to be part of this ancient spectacle!

The official name of this years event, held on November, 9th is called:

 "The Royal Barge Procession to Present the Royal Kathin Ceremony in a part of The Celebration on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King's 85th Birthday Anniversary 5th December 2012"

Look at the informations about this fantastic thrilling and incredible event in this posting. 

The timetable for the "Royal Barge Procession" and the "Royal Kathin Ceremony".

This year, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will preside over the "Royal Barge Procession" on behalf of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej. His Highness will board the Royal Barge "Suphannahong" at the Vasukri Royal Landing Pier.

Maha Varjiralongkorn

© Sidakan

The "Royal Barge Procession" will lead until Wat Arun, where His Royal Highness will present the new robes to monks within the framework of the "Royal Kathin Ceremony" at Wat Arun.

Timetable Royal Barge Procession and Royal Kathin Ceremony

The timetable "Royal Barge Procession" and "Royal Kathin Ceremony":

Date of the Royal Kathin Ceremony and Royal Barge Procession: 

November 9, 2012

The Royal Barge Procession Program:

15:00 Hrs: The Royal Barge will be moored at the Royal Vasukri Landing Pier.

15:10 Hrs: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will preside over the Royal Barge Procession and Royal Kathin Ceremony at Wat Arun on behalf of His Majesty the King. The Crown Prince will board the Royal Barge Suphannahong Vasukri at the Royal Landing Pier.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn

© Sidakan

15:40 Hrs: The Royal Barge Procession will pass Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall.

16:00 Hrs: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will present Kathin robes to monks at Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn).

Wat Arun in the background.

Place: Tassana Pirom Yard, Naval Assembly, Royal Thai Navy, Bangkok

Price of ticket: 1500 baht / seat

How to get the ticket:

1. Tel: +66 2970 2544 to 5

2. www.welovebooking.com