Khon Dance

Thai dance is an integral part of Thai culture. The Thai dance is the most well known form of Thai performing arts. Thailand has a wide variety of classical as well as folk dance some of which are popular till date. During your trip to Thailand you should make it a point to watch at least one form of Thai dances. You can also see Thai dance dramas in any of the festivals and special occasions of Thailand. Khon dance is one of the well known dance drama of Thailand. It is a kind of masked dance drama and it is regarded as the highest form of Thai dance drama.

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.

Chonburi Buffalo Race

If you love animal races do not forget to visit Pattaya, the famous Beach destination of Thailand in the most of October. Then you will be in time for the famous Chonburi Buffalo Race. It is a unique race of water buffaloes. People from all over the country and tourists from nearby beach resorts come to see this exciting event. It is an event that you can enjoy with your entire family and friends. Exciting, unique and entertaining – the Chonburi Buffalo Race is truly an experience to remember. Do not miss this vibrant event during your trip to Pattaya.

Pattaya, the famous beach destination of Thailand is a part of Chonburi province. The people living in this province pay their respect to the water buffaloes once during the month of October every year. The famous Chonburi Buffalo Race is one of such ways to pay respect to the buffaloes.It is a part of the Thai culture of that region. This amazing race takes place at small distance from the city of Pattaya, in the beautiful town of Chonburi. The buffalo parade is one of the main events of this race. The buffalos are decorated in colorful attires before this race. The best and the healthiest buffalo among them are rewarded.

The amazing event near Pattaya is very wonderful. You are sure to keep wondering how fast a water buffalo can run with such a heavy body. People from all over Thailand come to see this amazing race. Apart from the race a beauty contest to find the most beautiful farm maiden takes place during the event. In this contest beautiful Pattaya girls dresses to look their best with the aim to win the most beautiful farm maiden crown. This beauty contest is enjoyable too.

When you will go to see this event do not forget to bring your camera or camcorders with you. You will have a fabulous memory of Thailand to show to your friends back home. 

Wai - A Thai Greeting

Thailand has a rich heritage of traditions and customs that date back to several centuries. Many of the ancient Thai traditions are present till date. During your trip to Thailand you are sure to see many of those amazing traditions and customs. There are some rituals, customs and traditions that are still used by the common people of Thailand. You will be amazed to see some of these traditions of Thailand. These traditions are an integral part of the culture of Thailand and they reflect the richness of Thai cultures as well as traditions.

No matter where you go during your trip to Thailand, you will be greeted by the Thai people. The greeting is known as Wai. Wai is an age old tradition of Thailand and it has its roots in to the culture of the land. The Thai people perform wai with both their hands folded near their chests. The palms of the hands are pressed together in a prayer like gesture. While performing a wai the Thai people bend their body a little with their head bent near their chest. This ritual for greetings is known as wai. It is an age old tradition and an important part of Thai culture. Through wai the Thai people greet each other and convey simple messages like thank you, sorry, good morning , good day and good night. Wai is also used for showing one’s respect towards the elders. However, there are several forms of wai depending on the cast, gender and age. 

There are two different speculations about the origin of wai. According to one speculation this ritual was performed in ancient times to show that a person does not have any weapons in their hands. Other speculation is that wai has a direct connection with Buddhism. In Buddhism after certain prayer you need to bow your head down with a prayer like gesture of hands – this, according to some is the true origin of wai. 

Thai Culture

Thailand is a Southeast Asian country well known for its historical and cultural heritage. The country has an age old history and has preserved its history and culture very well. Millions of tourists every year come to Thailand to experience its rich cultural heritage that the country has preserved till date. From art, to architecture, from cuisine to epics, from traditional dance and music to popular customs everything in Thailand reflects its rich cultural legacy. The culture of Thailand is heavily influenced by Buddhism, which is the official religion of the country. Apart from that the neighboring countries of Thailand have also influenced its culture to some extent.

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.