Dance Anthem Sumer Splash
With its sprawling pristine white beaches and unparalleled natural beauty, Pattaya provides for Dance Anthem Sumer Splash. The picturesque natural setting, number of hotels and the proximity of this resort city to Bangkok are some of the reasons for which many important cultural events like Pattaya Music Festival are held in Thailand. The city also hosts a number of small festivals. Dance Anthem Sumer Splash is one such small Pattaya festival that has got a huge success in this beach destination of Thailand.
The dance shows in Dance Anthem Sumer Splash takes place in some of the opulent venues on the beaches in Pattaya. For example some of the water parks on the beach are selected as the venue of this event. The event generally begins at 5pm in the afternoon so that the dancers as well as the spectators do not have to suffer from the scorching heat of the summer sun. Apart from the dance shows, swimwear fashion show, live dancers and fire dancers are also part of this vibrant and lively dance festival.
Nightlife Culture in Pattaya
The nightlife of Pattaya includes a plethora of options which include discos, pubs, beer bars, lady boy cabarets and gay nightlife. In the disco you can see a mixed crowd which includes the local people as well as the international tourists. Thus a cultural exchange takes place between them in these discos. In the pubs of the city you can meet with a number of friendly people as well. In the sports bars in Pattaya a number of sports enthusiasts meet everyday and exchange their views about sports. These people also have a warm and friendly nature. From this one can very well understand that the people of Pattaya have a warm and friendly nature. They also have an open mind and are willing to receive inputs from different cultures of the world. The city has also developed a cosmopolitan culture.
The gay nightlife and the lady boy shows are also integral part of the nightlife of Pattaya. The gay community enjoys a very active nightlife in this region. This also signifies that the people of Pattaya have an open mind towards people who are gay, lesbian and transsexual. Thus you can have a better understanding of the culture in Pattaya from its nightlife.
Pattaya Music Festival
This amazing festival is held in the month of March every year. The music festival in Pattaya is generally held on the beautiful beaches in Pattaya, which is a famed beach destination in Thailand. The programs are generally held in the evening. So, even in the month of March the music lovers can beat the heat and dance to the tunes of rock, pop and jazz music. Dancing to the enchanting music on the sprawling beaches of Pattaya is a truly amazing experience. To gain this experience every year thousands of national and international tourists visit this beach city in Thailand.
Rock music is the integral part of Pattaya Music Festival. This kind of music is generally loved by music lovers of all ages. Pop music too is a perennial favorite of those who have an ear to music. Many national and international tourists are also fond of jazz music played in this festival. Whether you love soft music or loud music you are sure to find your choice in this music festival in Pattaya.
Apart from music, processions are also an important part of this music festival. On this occasion several stalls are also established to sell music CDs and DVDs. You can buy your favorite CDs from these stalls too.
Museums in Pattaya
Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum is one of the most well known museums in Pattaya. In this museum you can see a wide and varied collection of wonderful and unique items. The things you can see here are sure to make you feel eerie and at the same time interested. Visiting this museum is an overwhelming experience. You are sure to find a trip to this museum exciting and interesting. This museum gives you an idea about the different unique wonders of the world.
The bottle art museum of Pattaya is also a unique one of a kind museum situated in Pattaya. It forms an essential part of sightseeing in Pattaya. The bottle art museum is Pattaya is probably the only bottle art museum in the world. In this bottle art museum of Pattaya you can see a wide collection of bottle arts that are collected from different part of the world. Mr. Pieter De Lej from Holland and Mrs. Prapaisi Thaipanich from Thailand have established this amazing museum. During your trip to Pattaya do not forget to include a trip to these museums in Pattaya.
Pub Culture in Pattaya
If you are a person who do not want to be a part of the so called sleazy nightlife of Pattaya, then the Pattaya pubs are the right place for you to go for a night out. Though Pattaya is famous for its vibrant and colorful nightlife consisting of lady boy shows, discos, go-go bars and walking streets, there are some cozy and home like pubs where you can have a wonderful time with pub food, choicest of wine and beautiful music.
In Pattaya you will find a number of pubs scattered in the city. The pubs include Kilkenny, Rosie O’Grandy’s, Jamesons and Shenanigans. All these pubs are Irish themes and have cozy, comfy home-like atmosphere. Kilkenny is situated on Walking Street while Rosie O’Grandy’ is situated on Soi 7. Soi Sukurdee is the address of Jamesons and Shenanigan is located on Pattaya Second Road just beside Marriott Resort and Spa – the famous hotel in Pattaya. Gulliver and Pig and Whistle are two other well known pubs in Pattaya.
All these Pattaya pubs offer you a wonderful ambience which is full of friendly people, live music and sports on television. You are sure to have a wonderful time in these pubs drinking beer, listening to music, making new friends and watching your favorite sport.
Pattaya Culture
Like any other tourist destination in Thailand, Pattaya too has its culture and traditions. No matter where you go, you will receive a warm welcome by the Thai people. The Thai people will fold their hands in a prayer position and bow in front of you. This gesture is known as Wai. Wai refers to a Thai way of greeing. By performing Thai the people of Thailand greet each other good morning, good day, good night, say hello or sorry. This gesture is also used to welcome guests and to show respect to the elders. This is an integral part of Pattaya culture and at the same time the culture of Thailand.
The people of Pattaya also celebrate different traditional Thai festivals with joy and gusto. On Sangkran, which is a festival held in mid-April, on the occasion of Thai New Year the people of Pattaya carry water guns and buckets of water on street and drench each other. Wan Lai day is also a well known festival in Pattaya. This is a beautiful and fun way to welcome the next year. Loi Krathong is another well known festival celebrated in Pattaya. Many other small traditional festivals are held in Pattaya through which the city preserves its traditions in spite of a prominent cosmopolitan culture.
Pattaya Marathon
Do you love running and have a long cherished dream of taking part in a marathon? If the answer is yes, then the Pattaya marathon is the right event for you. To take part in this event all you have to do is to be in Pattaya, Thailand in the month of July. Reaching Pattaya is very easy as it is situated only at a distance of 140 km from Bangkok, the capital and the main international tourist gateway of Thailand. After reaching Bangkok, you can take a cab and reach Pattaya within 1.5 hours.
In the Pattaya Marathon you can participate in any of the four categories. The categories are full marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon and wheel chair marathon. Depending on your strengths and abilities you can choose any four of these categories. Runners from different parts of the world come to take part in this beautiful event. The local people also take part in this event. This amazing race starts at 4:30 in the morning to beat the beat. But in spite of beginning at such early hours you will find the streets of Pattaya are full of spectators who cheer and encourage those who are taking part in this event.
Lakhon Dance
Khon Dance
Among the six well known dance drama forms of Thailand, Khon dance is given the highest rank. It is a form of traditional Thai dance. This dance drama is based on Ramkien, a Thai epic that is the Thai adaptation of Hindu Ramayana. This epic had a huge impact on the cultural development of Thailand as well as all many other Thai countries.
Khon dance generally consists of four sets of characters. They are male, female, monkey and demons. All the characters are taken from Ramkien. All of the dancers in this beautiful dance drama wear colorful Khon masks as well as colorful costumes. The Khon dance depicts the never ending struggle between good and evil.
Originally this beautiful Thai dance drama used to take place at the royal court. As this dance required huge expenditure on masks, costumes and a number of dancers, this dance was never performed for general public. However, in recent times during special occasions like festivals this dance drama is held I public places. If you want a deep insight of Thai dance drama you should never miss the Khon dance during your trip to Thailand.
Pattaya International Lady Boy Beauty Contest
Chonburi Buffalo Race
Wan Lai in Pattaya
Songkran in Pattaya
Songkran - A Thai Festival
During the Thai festival songkran a number of rituals are practiced. The most prominent among these rituals is throwing of water. During Songkran Thai people roam on the street with containers of water and drench each other. They also use water guns and water hoses to drench each other. In Songkran the Thai people visit their elders and pay respect to them, it is also a time for family gathering and parties. During Songkran the Thai people also go to a wat or Buddhist Monastery to pray for a happy and prosperous year ahead. In some cities in Thailand Buddha images from all the monasteries are paraded on the streets so that every person can throw water to them and celebrate their new year with joy and gusto.
Like any other New Year celebration, Thailand also has some common practices. A number of people in Thailand also make New Year resolutions. They also celebrate the New Year with alcohol and foods. There are some western style celebrations on Songkran in Thailand. Nowadays, Thai people eat, drink and make merry on this day. The religious aspect of this festival often remains subdued these days.
Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong is one of the main religious festivals in Thailand. This festival is held around the month of November. According to Thai lunar calendar this festival is held on the full moon night of the 12th month. In Thai language Loy or Loy means to float and Krathong refers to a kind of raft made from banana tree truck. In this festival a banana tree trunk is decorated with heavily decorated with banana leaves, flowers, candles and incense stick. During the full moon night the people of Thailand make a small raft to release them on a river. The organizations make big and elaborate rafts to sail them on a river. In addition to this event, other events like fireworks and beauty contests take place during the festival.
According to some Loy Krathong is originated in India as a Hindu festival Deepavali. According to King Rama IV in the year 1863, it is a Brahmanical festival which has been adopted by the Buddhists. This festival is celebrated differently in different parts of Thailand. No matter where you are in Thailand at the time of the festival you will sure be amazed to see the celebration of the festival.
Buddhism in Thai Culture
In Thailand Buddhism is a largely practiced religion. The school of Buddhism practiced in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school. Most of the Buddhist population of Thailand follows the Theravada school. Buddhism in this country has been influenced by folk believes and ancestral worship. The Thai- Chinese population has also influenced the religion to a large extent. In Thailand you can find a wide number of Buddhist temples that has been the symbols of Thai culture and architectural heritage since ages.
There are three things that have influenced Buddhism in Thailand. The Theravada school of Buddhism is the most influential factor which is derived from Sri Lanka. The significant themes of the religion practiced in Thailand are obtained from the Theravada school. Pali is the language of religion of Thailand.
Hinduism is also a major influencing factor on Buddhism. During the Sukothai period, Vedic Hinduism influenced Buddhism heavily. So you can see the temples of Hindu deities, especially Lord Brahma inside or around Buddhist temples and institutions. Folk religion also has influenced Buddhism in Thailand. There are many folk believes that have made their impact on Buddhism in Thailand. The Chinese immigrants have also influenced the religion to a large extent. This influence on religion has also influenced the culture of Thailand.
Wai - A Thai Greeting
Thai Culture
Thailand is well known for its vibrant culture. The culture is an integral part of Thailand. the rich culture of the country is reflected through the traditions, the way of living of Thai people, the folk arts as well as the classical dances and music of Thailand. Thailand is well known for its traditional dance forms. These dances are performed during the special events of Thailand. The unique style of dancing and the beautiful costumes reflect the rich traditions of the country. Thai music is another cultural heritage of Thailand that is still popular among the youths. Thai dance dramas, which are generally based on Thai epic Ramakien, are also an integral part of Thai culture. The art and architecture of Thailand also reflects its exotic culture.
The vivid cultural scene of Thailand offers a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. With millions of tourists visiting this country year after year, the country has also adapted the global culture. Modern Bangkok reflects this cosmopolitan culture. however, Thailand, still strikes a perfect balance between traditions and modernity in its culture and this cultural exchange has enriched the country culturally.
Siam Niramit
Ratchadda Grand Theatre is one of the most well known stages in Bangkok where numerous cultural performances take place. The theatre takes pride for being one of the biggest stages in the city. Siam Niramit is one of the most prominent cultural programs held on this stage. A team of expert performers take part in this amazing program. Elaborate sets and gorgeous costumes are used in this Bangkok cultural show. .Modern effects are also used to heighten the effect of the program.
Siam Niramit can be divided into three parts. The first part expands over seven centuries and delves deep into the diverse cultural heritage of Siam. The part depicts various episodes of Siam History including Chinese and Muslim traders in the South, Khmer in Northeast, the Lana Kingdom as well as the Ayutthaya kingdom. In the second act of Siam Niramit the spiritual law of Karma which is shared among the Thai people is presented through merit making aspects. In the third and the final act of the program the benefit of making merit in this life is stressed upon.
Siam Niramit is a cultural program that presents the true beauty and vividness of Bangkok culture. Watching this program you are sure to get a deep insight about Thailand and it rich culture.
Cultural diversity of Bangkok
Bangkok’s international festival of Dance and music
The idea of organizing international dance and music festival of Bangkok was the result of a noble thought. The Bangkok intelligentsia felt a need to fill the cultural void of the capital city of Thailand. From that urge this international festival was born. The idea of this festival was to make the presence of the city felt in the cultural scenario of the world. At one point of time, only a few cultural programs were held in the city. At that time the International Cultural Promotions Ltd launched the Bangkok’s First International Festival of Dance and Music. The first festival of this kind was organized in the year 1999. Since the first festival, the festival has been a huge success. Performers from both national and international level took part in the dance and music festival. You can enjoy different kind of dance and music performance in the festival. The cultural programs in this Bangkok festival include operas, ballets, orchestras, symphonies, contemporary ballets and jazz performances.
If you love performing art and want to watch performances by the artists across the world, then Bangkok’s International Festival of Dance and Music is the ideal place for you. Do not miss the chance to be there during your Bangkok trip. It is sure to be an experience of a lifetime for you.
Bangkok Art and Culture Center in Bangkok
Bangkok Art and Culture Center is a contemporary art museum situated in Bangkok. The plan to built this contemporary art museum was initiated by Bhichit Rattacul – the then Governor of Bangkok. The actual construction of this beautiful museum was started in the year 2000. However, the construction was soon withheld due to some funding problems as well as corruptions. The project was again restarted in the year 2005. The museum was originally named Bangkok Metropolitan Museum for Contemporary Arts. But later the name was changed into Bangkok Art and Culture Center.
The contemporary art museum in Bangkok opened in the month of July in the year 2008. The Bangkok museum displays the artworks of more than 300 artists of national and international fame. Many exhibitions are also organized from time to time in this art museum. The artifacts and photographs displayed in this museum give the viewers an in-depth idea about Thai art and culture. Any art lover will sure have a great time at this museum during his trip to Bangkok.
Bangkok International Film Festival
Started in the year 2003, the Bangkok International Film Festival is held in the month of January or February every year in the city. numerous national as well as international films are screened in this festival. Apart from this a wide array of events, competitions and seminars are organized too. Film personalities from different parts of the world come to Bangkok for this festival. This international film festival is an important part of Bangkok culture.
During the Bangkok film festival a number of films from different countries of the world are screened. Twelve films among them are selected from them in a competition known as International competition. there are special awards for best director, actor and actress. Reel World is another competition among the recent feature length documentaries. ASEAN competition and Asian Short Film are two other competitions that are part of this prestigious international event.
Bangkok International Film festival has a number of awards in different categories. In the international competition there are special awards for best directors, actors and actresses. Apart from this, there is a special award for newcomers where a budding director who has done one or two films is awarded.
If you are film lovers then the Bangkok International Film Festival is sure to draw your attention. Here you can watch a variety of movies ranging from international movies, contemporary Thai movies and old classics. If you are lucky, you will get a glimpse of some of the most well known celebrities in this event.
Traditional dances in Bangkok
Thai traditional dances are an elegant form of performing art in the country. There are many forms of classical dances as well as folk dances that were supported through regal patronage over the centuries. These dances form an integral part of culture of Bangkok. People from all over the world admire this beautiful form of performing arts during their trip to Bangkok.
Thai dances can be divided into several categories depending on regions like central, north east, south and north. Sri nuan sri nuan, Teut Teung, farmer or rice growers dance and dances with swords, long and short sticks are some of the popular forms of folk dances in central Thailand. Thai folk dances of north east region of the country include Serng Krapit Khoa, Serng I San, Serng Krapo, I San Bantheong and Fon Phu Thai. The northern region of the country has a rich heritage of folk dances. Some of them include sword dance, Ka Lai dance, King Ka La dance, Khan Dok dance, candle dance and Choeng Tua Auk Son. Southern folk dances include Nora which is a traditional dance form of Thailand. Nora TUa Oon, Ram Taeng Kae, Ram Kien Pral, Ram Nora Klong Hong, Ram Ooak Pran.
Apart from the folk dance forms there are several classical dance dramas that used to be performed as court dances in ancient times. These dance dramas include Khon, Lakhon and Fawn Thai. Ram Muyai is also a well known dance form of Thailand and it is performed as a pre-match ritual at Muay Thai, the popular Thai Boxing. You can enjoy all these dance forms during the special events, festivals and ceremonies in Bangkok.
Culture In Bangkok
Bangkok the capital city of Thailand is popular for its rich history and traditions. Thailand is well known for its exotic culture and rich history. The vibrant Thai culture includes classical dances, music, attire, art and architecture. Buddhism is also an integral part of Bangkok culture. Bangkok, which has been the capital of Thailand since 18th century, has gained prominence as a cultural center not only in the country but also in Asia. The city has a rich cultural heritage that gives it a distinct identity.
The people of Bangkok are very friendly by nature. Wherever you go, you will be greeted with the traditional Thai gesture named ‘wai’. In this gesture, bringing both hands together to chest and bending head to the tip of fingers Thai people show respect to elders. It is also the traditional way to say hello, good morning, good bye, thank you or sorry.
Bangkok is a city that has perfectly blended the traditional values with the modern metropolitan atmosphere of the city. In spite of city still preserves its historic heritage and cultural traditions well. The city houses some of the most visited historic venues of Thailand including numerous temples and other specimens of architectural splendors. Some of the most well known historical venues include Wat Arun, Wat pho, the temple of Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace itself. Most of the architectures and temples are inspired by Buddhism. These architectural specimens bear the mark of a rich cultural heritage and creativity.
The rich culture of Bangkok is also reflected in the traditional Thai dance which is performed in the city during special occasions like Thai New Year, festivals and royal birthdays. Traditional Thai music is also very melodious and is very popular among the younger generation of Bangkok. Thai arts and crafts also form an integral part of culture in the city.
Apart from the traditional Thai culture Bangkok has also developed a metropolitan culture. Being a tourist hotspot that welcomes tourists from different parts of the world the city has developed a distinct cultural identity. Thus the cultural heritage of Bangkok represents a distinct blend of traditions and modernity.