Issue 15 / October 2012

http://www.facebook.com/lomprayah

General Manager ofHotesmarketing Ltd.

Mr. Peter CsajaghyExclusive Interview

TIMETABLE

Editor’s Talk

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Photjanard Kantiwong

Photjanard Kantiwong

Lomprayah TeamEditor in Chief

Wanitcha SukchetExecutive Editor

Thanabat OuiwongpaisalSenior Writer

Vorapong Vongvarothai

Juntiya Laoniyomthai

Nuttavoot Hinjit

Jiraporn Boonta

Jiwako

Editorial Staff

Methakritsada WanngoenArt Director

Welcome to the month of October! This is the month of merit festival, or Vegetarian Festival, to be more

specific. It is the tradition for Thai Chinese continuously practiced for a long

time ago. It is believed that observing religious precepts and taking vegetarian

food can create tranquility in one’s mind, and cause of merits for oneself and

one’s ancestors. Hi-Light column in this issue will mainly focus on stories of

travel industry’s trend, in particular, the trend of Chinese tourists to Thailand,

the direction of Chinese tourists, the favorite tourist attractions for Chinese,

Thai culture and Thai Chinese community locations where the two cultures are

perfectly combined both in term of culture and religion. Lomprayah Magazine

has a chance to talk casually to Mr. Peter Csajaghy (Director of VIP Section),

who works for Nagypihenes.hu, a man with different perspective from others.

Please follow inside this issue.

Apart from the afore-mentioned interesting contents, Lomprayah Mag-

azine also features other interesting stories. For example, in Destination Guide,

you are guided to Thai Chinese community where it is also called China Town

of Thailand, and where Thai and Chinese cultures merge flawlessly. In Place

Guide, you are introduced to San Chao Pho Suea (meaning the Shrine of the

Tiger Guardian Spirit), a sacred place respected by Thai Chinese who visits

here to worship and ask for blessing, and pays their spiritual trust in the Tiger

Guardian Spirit. Then, in Restaurant Guide, we bring you to taste the Chinese

cuisine on Koh Samui, where the food is delicious and the atmosphere is quite

like being in China which increases your enjoyment of the food.

The year-end is coming close, don’t forget to set up your time for rec-

reation!

Lomprayah has set up an activity called “Lomprayah Weekly Give-

Out” via its Facebook Fan Page. Its members are eligible for a weekly draw

for various prizes of at least 15,000 baht worth. You merely have to apply for

membership and share the page to others. Then, you are eligible for a lucky

draw every week; you may even win a free traveling trip. Follow the activity and

information at http://www.facebook.com/lomprayah.

Seattakit MeunnakGraphic Designer

Hilight

Chinese Tourist

Chinese tourists are the group of people with prominently

high impact on Thai tourist industry. It is obviously attributed

to China’s economic and population sizes. In recent poll,

Thailand is overwhelmingly targeted by Chinese tourists for

future trips, based on their information sources which is

capable of changing tourist behavior, i.e. words of mouth

giving their comment about their feeling upon traveling

to Thailand to their friends, acquaintances, or posted on

travel websites, including the scoop relating to television

programs.

The important factor that determines the choice of tourist destination is the need to build safety confidence,

particularly those concerned with the crime and other domestic problems. Therefore, we need to distribute

public information to assure safety for tourists, including the explicit costs of tours, products, and promotions.

Products and services that Chinese tourists are interested in are natural tourist destinations. Thailand’s

main competitor is Australia. So, our country should focus on communication and more integrated services,

improving on the time used in traveling and reducing the paper work process.

The main objective of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand is 73% for recreation purpose,according to the

poll on 908 Chinese people who plan to visit Thailand in 2012.

Culture China to Thai

Chinese’s New Year

The sounds of firecrackers can be heard ex-

ploding all over the place. Young happy children with

‘Ang Pao’ (red envelopes containing money) in hand

and processions of dragon dancers make their way

down the roads of Chinatowns around the world. They

represent the coming of the Chinese New Year--the

most important day on the Chinese calendar.

The Chinese New Year is also known as the Lu-

nar New Year, is on the first day of the first month based

on the Chinese style lunar calendar. Some people call

New Year’s day ‘The Spring Festival’ because it is the

beginning of spring.

Two days before New Year

Chinese people go to the market to buy food

and other offerings on this day. It is also the last day for

shops and stalls to open. All the shops will be closed

until after the New Year.

The last day of the year

Chinese pray and prepare offerings to the gods

and to their ancestors on this day. There are three dif-

ferent kinds of prayers that must be performed, includ-

ing prayers for the Gods of the Land in the morning,

prayers for the ancestors at noon and prayers for the

wandering souls with no relatives in the afternoon.

These prayers show respect to the gods and

ancestors. They believe that these prayers will bring

merit and blessings. After each prayer, the Chinese

burn golden paper, believing that the paper will be-

come money in the after life

New Year’s day

More prayers are done on New Year’s day, this

time for the gods of luck and good fortune. This prayer

is usually held in the early morning and you need to

look at the ‘Lear Yik Tao’ (the collective book of Chi-

nese culture and tradition) to know the best time to

pray. After this prayer, some families perform another

prayer for their ancestors.

New Year’s day is the most festive day of all the

three days. People go to their relatives’ houses to give

and receive blessings. They exchange oranges and

give away ‘Ang Pao’ to the younger children. Chinese

believe that doing this will bring them good luck in the

New Year.

During the celebrations, there are also lion

dance performances--believed to ward off demons.

People also refrain from fighting or being mean to each

other during this time because it would bring them bad

luck throughout the year.

Festival China in Thailand

Vegetarian Festival on the Thai Calendar

Every year, the people of Thailand celebrate a

vegetarian festival. This Thailand festival is an annual

celebration that occurs during the ninth lunar month of

the Chinese calendar. The ninth lunar month can oc-

cur during the months of September or October in any

given year. Many Thai people observe this vegetarian

festival, even if they do not eat Thai vegetarian food

throughout the rest of the year. The festival is popular

throughout Thailand, and especially in areas with large

populations of Chinese immigrants, such as Bangkok,

Chiang Mai, and Phuket.

The festival is for 10 days (as is the keeping

to the precepts), and begins the day before the new

moon of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar.

For 2012 it should be The Thailand Vegetarian Festival

should be October 14-23. It officially starts on the new

moon of October 15, but some events may begin the

day before. Many Thai people observe this vegetarian

festival, even if they do not eat Thai vegetarian food

throughout the rest of the year.

Top Things To Do In Thailand for Chinese tourists.

Chaweng Beach

The Chaweng Beach is the eastern coast of

Samui Island. It is the longest and the most popular

bustling beach on the island. Hotels and resorts occu-

py the beach, and there are bars, restaurants, shops,

diving schools and some other places of entertainment

on the beach road. It is indeed a popular tourist desti-

nation and the center of nightlife there.

The soft and white sand on the beach matches

perfectly with the blue sea. Various water recreation fa-

cilities are available, such as sailing boats, water scoot-

ers and snorkeling, all of which can help you enjoy a

pleasant vacation there. At the variety of restaurants on

the beach, you can taste traditional Thai cuisine as well

as the fresh and delicious local seafood.

Koh Tao Island (The Turtle Island)

Koh Tao Island boasts the best water area in

Thailand. It has become the nation’s famous snorkeling

destination due to the ideal snorkeling environment be-

cause of the clear water, beautiful corals and abundant

marine life. On Samui Island and Koh Tao Island there

are more than 40 snorkeling companies that you can

choose from with the price of about 800 THB for one

time and about 5500 THB for ten times. Being in the

crystal water and among the bright-colored tropical

fishes, you will feel like stepping into the magical un-

derwater world of “Finding Nemo”.These prayers show

respect to the gods and ancestors. They believe that

these prayers will bring merit and blessings. After each

prayer, the Chinese burn golden paper, believing that

the paper will become money in the after life

New Year’s day

More prayers are done on New Year’s day, this

time for the gods of luck and good fortune. This prayer

is usually held in the early morning and you need to

look at the ‘Lear Yik Tao’ (the collective book of Chi-

nese culture and tradition) to know the best time to

pray. After this prayer, some families perform another

prayer for their ancestors.

New Year’s day is the most festive day of all the three

days. People go to their relatives’ houses to give and

receive blessings. They exchange oranges and give

away ‘Ang Pao’ to the younger children. Chinese be-

lieve that doing this will bring them good luck in the

New Year.

During the celebrations, there are also lion dance

performances--believed to ward off demons. People

also refrain from fighting or being mean to each other

during this time because it would bring them bad luck

throughout the year.

Temple in Thailand for Chinese tourists

Wat Phra Kaew

Wat Phra Kaew is located in the northeastern

corner of the Grand Palance in the capital city of Bang-

kok. It is the venue where Thai royalties consecrate

Buddha statues and hold religious ceremonies. It got

its name for the emerald Buddha inside the temple.

Wat Phra Kaew is part of the Grand Palace, account-

ing for one fourth of the area of Grand Palace. It is re-

garded as the most famous and the most sacred Bud-

dhist temple in Thailand with the full name of “Wat Phra

Si Rattana Satsadaram”. It is the only Buddhist temple

without resident monks. Among the more than 400 tem-

ples in Thailand, Wat Phra Kaew is the most well-known

one. Inside the temple there are central ubosoth, Phra

Sri Ratana Chedi, Phra Mondop, the Royal Pantheon,

bell tower and golden pagoda. Central ubosoth is the

main structure of the temple, housing and enshrining

the Emerald Statue, which is considered as the most

important icon in Thailand. The emerald Buddha is 66

cm tall and 48 cm wide, carved out from a single jade

stone. It is very valuable and listed as one of Thailand’s

three national treasures.

Wat Lengnoeiyi II

Wat Boromracha Kanchanapisek Anusorn

(Wat Lengnoeiyi II). This Chinese temple (Wat) was

built by the collaboration of Buddhist priest and Thai

Chinese community in honour of His Majesty the King

and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the King’s

reign. No doubt, this is the most spectacular Chinese

temple I have seen in Thailand… The temple is located

in Sanoh Noi, Bang Bua Thong District in Nonthaburi

Province covering around 12 rai in the present day.

Thailand Food

In Thailand, Thailand boasts a variety of famous seafood dishes, such

as Tom Yam Kung (a kind of lemon shrimp soup), Mikrop (a deli-

cious and crispy noodle made from shrimp, pork, egg and sweet and

sour sauce), Chicken Curry, Tom Kha Kai ,Yam Nua, Haw Moek and

steamed lobster. The recipe of China’s roasted duck was spead to

Thailand, combined with Thai flavors, and made into the popular Thai

roasted red duck curry. Shark fin soup and Teochew-style braised

goose are common dishes in Chinatown.

Trend of Chinese Tourists Visiting Thailand in Year 2013

In 2013, the target is set for 2 million Chinese tourists to visit

Thailand, which would be the record number of Chinese tourists ever.

This is attributed to the fact that for the past twenty years the number

of Chinese tourists to Thailand has not yet reached 1% of total popula-

tion which is now 1.350 million people. So, there is still 99% of Chinese

population that has not yet traveled to Thailand.

Due to economic growth forecast for the next five years, the

middle-class Chinese people will be ready to travel to Thailand in the

future.

At present, Chinese tourists have a lot of purchasing power. In

the past, they used to stay in 3-4 star hotel, but now they change to rest

in 5-star ones. In the past, they traveled by using tour companies. Now

they can travel to Thailand by themselves, with increasing frequencies.

During the past three years, Chinese tourists have more purchasing

power, because of China’s strong economic growth.

Destination Guide

Bangkok’s

ChinaTown

Best time to go there

During 4 important festivals: Chinese New Year Festival

approximately on January or February; Nguan Chioew

Festival held 14 days after the Chinese New Year Festival;

Chinese Sart Festival on August; and Chinese Lunar

Moon Festival usually held a month after the Chinese

Sart Festival.

About Yaowarat

China town is situated in one of the oldest areas of

Bangkok. Originally, it was gradually settled up by Chinese

traders who came by junks to trade with Siam during

the Sukhothai era. By the end of 1891, King Rama V

had several more roads cut through the area, which

are Songwat Road, Phatsai Road, Anuwong Road and

Yaowarat Road. Therefore, China town does not consist

only Yaowarat Road, but also cover some other roads:

Charoen Krung Road, Songwat Road, Songsawat

Road, Chakkrawat Road and the Wanit 1 area. However,

Yaowarat Road is the center of the area. According to

the Feng-Shui principle, the shape of Yaowarat Road is

curvy like the dragon’s curvy body, making it an ideal

location for business. Many prospering businesses in

Thailand originated and are still thriving in this age-old

downtown. What visitors can find here vary from leading

gold shops, textiles, garments, souvenirs, second-hand

parts and equipment, electric goods, computer parts,

antiques, imported musical instrument and definitely

local delicacies.

Food around China Town

China town is the paradise of food lovers who quest

for Chinese cuisine. Both sides of its main street are

flanked with restaurants and food vendors throughout

the day. Local delicacies include Dim Sum, Teachew-style

steamed Chinese mullet, shark fin in red sauce and

various single noodle and rice dishes such as stir-fried

noodles, casserole pork in noodles soup, rice with

boiled chicken, rice with crispy pork or duck toppings,

rice with curry and etc. Other appetizers and sweets

are stuffed sheet noodles, pork sate, dumplings, bird’s

nest soup, soybean milk, lotus root juice and toasted

chestnuts (locally called Kaolat).

Chinese Shrines

There are numerous shrines in China town. Among

them, there are four oldest shrines of the area:

1. Leng Buai Eie Shrine. It is the Teachew

Chinese shrine that houses the big bell constructed

in the 23rd year of the Seng Phi Dynasty and the bell

donated by King Rama V.

2. Bunyasamakhom Shrine (Rong Je Trokkrai)

was named by King Rama V.

3. Ah Mha Geng Shrine is dated back more

than 150 years. Inside, it houses Goddess Thapthim

who is highly revered by local people.

4. Wat Leng Nei Yi is the first Mahayana Buddhist

sect temple in Thailand. It was constructed during

King Rama V by donation from the Chinese living in

Sampheng area.

Place Guide

In Bangkok’s harmonious blend of culture, shrines dedicated to ancient Chinese divinities are esteemed by both

Thais and the Chinese. The Tiger God Shrine or San Chao Pho Suea is an important Chinese temple in Bangkok, dedicated to

the tiger guardian spirit. Paying homage to the Tiger God by offering strip of raw streaky pork, fresh chicken, eggs and sweet

sticky rice is supposed to bring you power’ prestige and if you wish ,fertility. This southern Chinese-style temple is located on

Tanao Road.

What makes this old Taoist shrine attractive is the fame of the Tiger God who is believed to have an extreme power

of blessing worshippers with good fortune as well as protecting them from the evil forces. According to the legend of the holy

tiger, the statue housed here is where his bones and spirit are kept.

The Tiger God Shrine

Restaurant Guide

Great tea and great place; these are just some of the things offered by Namcha Samui Tea Room. Namcha Samui offers relaxing

tea time and relaxing ambiance with its four tea rooms, namely: the African Room, the Chinese Room, the English Room, and the Japa-

nese Room. Each room offers different atmosphere for your desired tea party. If you are a tourist who travels to Thailand, remember to

visit the Namcha Samui Tea Room and see the richness of their tea. Namcha samui is indeed one of Thailand’s finest Tea Rooms.

The Chinese Room offers the Chinese Tradition of tea drinking, with the belief that tea drinking after meals washes away the oil

from food. Chinese tea has sweet-bitter taste, bringing with it the benefits of mental alertness and freshness of the mind. Chinese tea also

helps in relieving dizziness, head ache, heat stroke, and even relives pain as it is a diuretic and anti-oxidant.

Namcha Samui is located at the Fisherman’s Village, opposite Kalara in Samui.

Namcha Samuithe Tea Haven

Tea is indeed one of the greatest ways to relax and let go of our worries. Tea help the body to cope with the

stress and the burdens that the body has undergone as it is a good anti-oxidant and it helps the body flush away toxins,

leaving the body cleaner and purer. Tea also helps in preventing health conditions such as cancer

Real Story

Guide toKoh Nangyuan

Taking a day trip to the teeny island of Koh Nang Yuan is one of my top recommendations to those

heading to Koh Tao- other than go diving, of course! Koh Nang Yuan is actually made up of three little teardrops

of land connected by a massive sandbar. It’s a place where post-card dreams are made: unique topography,

blindingly white sand beaches, and shores teeming with fish and coral.

Due to it’s tiny footprint, Koh Nang Yuan is the perfect

size for a day trip. Technically you can stay at the Nang Yuan

Resort (the only one on the island!) but it’s fairly pricey and

seems to cater mainly to Asian tourists. However, you would

get to wake up to totally abandoned beaches before the

day-trippers arrived. Somehow, despite having lived in Koh

Tao for so many months and the short journey to get to Nang

Yuan, I’ve only been three times! I first visited in 2009 (before

I knew how to resize photos-sorry internet), then again with

my parents on Christmas Eve 2011 (when the weather did not

cooperate). My most recent trip with Olivia and Zoe was so

blissful it convinced me it was time for another post dedicated

to this special place. Thus, the Complete Guide to Koh Nang

Yuan was born.

Getting There

Koh Nang Yuan is but a 10-15 minute journey from

the west side of Koh Tao. There are advertised speed boat

times and mega-catamaran Lomprayah offers a package

day trip, but the cheapest and easiest option is to charter a

longtail. At anytime of day you can head to the beach and

find a boat driver looking for customers. If it’s a particularly busy

day head to Lotus Bar which functions as a bit of a boat-taxi

stand during the day. The cost is 200 Baht roundtrip. You

must settle on a return time with your driver. At first I was

suspicious of paying up front and felt I would be left on the

island but they always come back! Alternatively, if you have

a Thai phone you can ask them to swap numbers so you can

call when you would like to go back to Koh Tao.

Entrance

Koh Nang Yuan is privately owned and visitors are

charged a 100 Baht entrance fee in order to step foot on the

island. I managed to escape the fee once when I inadvert-

ently shared a longtail with a dive instructor working on the

island, but that aside, there’s no sneaking around this fee!

Nang Yuan also requests that you bring no plastic onto the

island. Everything on Nang Yuan is served in reusable glass

bottles.

Eating and Drinking

With it’s one resort, Nang Yuan also has just one

restaurant and one beach bar. It is a resort restaurant, so

food is more expensive than you would get on Koh Tao at an

independent establishment. Menu offerings are somewhat

limited- this is no major culinary destination. Still, it works for

a quick ice cream binge lunch break. The beach bar is, un-

surprisingly, located on the beach and is on the expensive

end of Koh Tao prices.

What to Do

So, you’re there, you’ve paid the entrance fee,

you’ve refueled. What’s next? Koh Nang Yuan has the per-

fect amount of activities to keep any day tripper happy.

The Beach

Without a doubt- this is the main attraction. Moments

after arrival on my most recent trip my sis Olivia declared that

it was already her favorite day of the trip- and we hadn’t even

started on the banana daiquiris yet. Depending on the day,

the season, the tides and your luck, the beach can be a tiny

ribbon on sand slammed with sunbathing bodies, or a wide,

deserted stretch of paradise. Amazingly, it remains beautiful

either way.

Snorkeling

There’s really no need for exaggeration- Koh Nang Yuan

simply is one of the best snorkeling spots in Thailand. The

shallow reefs surrounding the island are lined with intricate

soft and hard corals as well as schools of colorful parrotfish

and shy angelfish. Shelter from the islands means the water

is calm and clear. You will often see dive boats surrounding

Nang Yuan to visit the popular dive sites of Twin Peak and

Japanese Gardens, which lie just off the island and are shal-

low enough for snorkelers. Gear can be rented in the Koh

Nang Yuan Resort’s Dive Shop, or of course you are free to

bring your own.

Viewpoint

Another very popular activity at Koh Nang Yuan is taking the

10-15 minute hike up to the viewpoint of the three islands’

highest peak.Despite its short distance, the path can get

steep and in the heat of day might seem pretty tricky! But

the view from the top, a vista that graces postcards across

the country, is one of the most beautiful I have ever laid eyes

on. By hiking the viewpoint at the end of the day right before

heading back to the boat you are more likely to have a lovely

abandoned beach in your photos. Not to mention, it will be

cooler, and photos of yourself will be less embarrassingly

sweaty.

Ziplining

Last but clearly not least is Koh Nang Yuan’s new-

est attraction: ziplining! Earlier this year I wrote a detailed,

photo and video packed post about ziplining in Koh Tao.

The course consists of two lines that go between the the

islands…. the world’s first inter-island zipline! The whole

course takes about an hour and costs 1,000 baht, making

it totally do-able during a Koh Nang Yuan day trip. There’s

really nothing like it!

If you’re coming to Koh Tao, I know it’s hard to resist

the urge to spend every day diving. But schedule in an extra

day and explore the topside wonder of Koh Nang Yuan. You

won’t regret it!

TheVegetarianFestival

Special

The Vegetarian Festival is observed nationwide on a grand scale. The most

famous place holding this festival is absolutely Phuket province where the most

spectacular event takes place yearly. In other provinces such as Trang, Songkhla

(Hat Yai) and Chon Buri (Pattaya), people of the Chinese descendants keep this

festivals commonly.

However, the most known part of the festival as is shown through the media

is the blood-curdling presentations, such as, piercing the cheeks with a pointed

steel rod, walking barefoot on burning charcoal, sprinkling oneself with boiling oil,

cutting one’s tongue and climbing a ladder with rungs made of sharp blades.

The festival occurs yearly during the period from the 1st to the 9th of the

9th Chinese lunar month, which corresponds to 15-24 October. During this time

almost all food shops and restaurants will fly yellow flags signifying that vegetarian

food is available there. It is so convenient to have vegetarian meals during this

time.

In recent years, the Vegetarian Festival has become more popular and has

been increasingly observed by young people. This is so because of the belief that

the observers will have better health and the purer mind and gain merits from taking

vegetarian foods. This aspect, though being the main purpose of this festival, is

less mentioned than the spectacular processions.

There are several interesting perspectives of the festival in Thailand

Agency PR

General Manager ofHotesmarketing Ltd.

Mr. Peter Csajaghy

ExclusiveInterview

Today, we are glad to meet Mr. Peter Csajaghy, he currently holds the position of General manager for the

Hotesmarketing Ltd. his lifestyle of living

Let’s start from the beginning tell us about your

childhood and growing up year.

I was born in Budapest in 1980. I studied

communication technology. During my childhood, I

travel around in Europe with my parents. I loved to

travel to get experience of the other cultures. For a

short time I studied in the US.

What are your responsibilities at Nagypihenes.hu

Travel Agency

Our company is a family business. I respon-

sible for public relations and marketing tasks, and

serving our VIP passangers.

What are the difference products that last fron-

tiers tourism offer? What new product do you have

planned?

Mostly we serving individual travellers. The

main market is the leasure market. But we can sell

more and more on some of the cultural trips com-

binated with leasure. For next year I’d like to tar-

get high end passangers, with luxury resorts, golf

courses, and services of their special needs. New

product for the hungarian market will be the island

hopping. Including Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan, Koh

Phangan and Koh Samui. Lomprayah will be our

main partner for this program.

You have also branched out into the marketing

business with Hotes Marketing. Tell us a little about

them.

Hotesmarketing Ltd. is established in this

year. We are specialised for tourism marketing. We

are strongly cooperate with Royal Thai Embassy

to promote Thailand in Hungary and some of the

neighbour countries. Central Europe is a booming

market, so the promotion is very important. We’d

like to show more for the public about this beautiful

country.

You are work hard. Do you have time to relax and

how to.

Ofcourse I need to relax a bit sometimes.

Every year I try to get time to have vacation. Of-

course it’s Thailand. The program is changing every

time, during my holiday I try to explore new places,

new destionations, meet with my friends and enjoy

the beautifull beaches.

Do you prefer travelling? What are your styles of

journey.

Ofcourse! I prefer to explore new places,

get more experience of the culture.

What do you like about Thailand, memories place of

you and your family.

I like the nature, the beautifull beaches and

smiling people. Family I like Koh Samui, because

I met with my girlfriend there and spend beautiful

time.

Where would you like recommend an attraction

place in Thailand

The Grand Palace in Bangkok with the mag-

nificant buildings.

Last question, what is stopping Thailand from ar-

chiving its full potential as a great travel destination.

Excelent destination for families, couples for

relaxing.

Thank you so much for your time. Anything else you

would like to add.

Thank you so much for giving this opportu-

nity to interview me in your magazine.

Horoscope

By Mr. Rup Krishen BaqayaOctober 2012Predictions for the month of

Aries:

The focus this month will be on the work arena

and spiritual life.A strange combination but it

makes for an exciting and fulfilling period.

Work and family will not only demand hard

work and effort but also investments and outlays in finance

and time.You will have to cope with several demands on

you.With Venus favouring you,romance,love and passion

too are highlighted;as are partnerships and trade.You have

a busy time ahead both professionally and emotionally.

Taurus:

You may want to have it all your way,but

please remember that it pays to be flexible.

The focus this month shifts from creativ-

ity and interpersonal equations to money

matters like income,taxes,rentals,signing important docu-

ments etc.Health precautions are necessary.With the full Moon

in Taurus at the month end,you want to go after everything and

indulge yourself.You want to get as many possessions as you

can.You are advised to work with others in a spirit of sharing

and mutual growth.

Gemini:

Those in the creative fields will do well.Many

new relationships will be forged.There could

be many sensitive and emotional moments

in the bargain.Family,finances and fortune

remain at the center of your attention during the month.A wide

spectrum of business and professional transactions,deals

and negotiations wil have to be handled.

Cancer:

The focus is on domestic affairs and the

attention is riveted on kin.community and

family.As the month progresses,the good

moves and wise choices of previous weeks

start paying off.There is new hope,greater joy in the future

and long term stability.You could acquire a new home or

property in the month.The health of an elderly relative may

cause concern.

Leo:

Expenses soar as there will be material

acquisitions.The month also has some

very real possibilities for inner growth.You

could face some opposition,challenges

and roadblocks,but you manage to surmount it all and

grow in many ways.The period will also be important for

contacts,contracts and communication.You could be look-

ing at new tends in technology for both personal and pro-

fessional benefit.

Virgo:

There is a lot going on this month and you

make rapid progress on all fronts.The

continued favourable impact of Mercury

makes life pleasing.There is also great

love and passion in store for you.Make the right choices as

your plate could be overflowing with plenty.This is a very

profitable month for you.There will be many family gather-

ings and celebrations.

Libra:

You are introspective and contemplative.

The new Moon is in your sign and this would

be a significant period indicating growth in

all areas.You are going full steam ahead

and may even look for a change of scene in your work/

career.There may be some fresh new deals,hectic

romance,slightly cloak and dagger stuff,journeys and

collaborations.New money making opportunities may

open up after the13th of the month.

Scorpio:

You are advised to curb unnecessary ex-

penditure and not to neglect loved ones.

Mercury is very favourable for you this

month.It helps you to position, perks and

privileges.There could be a foreign travel,a marriage or a birth

in the family.There is also love,achievement,contentment

and peace.Your health will be fine,the mood will be upbeat

as you feel positive,energetic and enthusiastic.

Sagittarius:

Valuable time will be spent on domestic is-

sues that hog your time and attention.The

health of elders may need attention.While

you work hard,you also pay close attention

While you work hard,you also pay close attention to your

inner voice for guidance.Mercury which is all favourable for

you now will make you zoom ahead like a spacecraft.

Capricorn:

The domestic scene will take a lot of your

time. The truly interactive,sociable side

of you will be at the forefront.There will

be gatherings,reunions,ceremonies and

get-togethers. There will be all kinds of functions, celebra-

tions, outings with near and dear ones and also meetings

with close relatives and kin. Towards the month end you feel

happy and fulfilled.

Aquarius:

This will be a very busy month with love and

romance occupying you most of the time

along with legal and financial matters.You

have plenty of both,money and honey.You

make new plans for the future.The full Moon in Taurus at

the end of the month gives you stability and progress.Your

quest for new ideas and concepts,the constant desire for

achievements will be further stimulated.

Pisces:

You may have many emotional moments

with the children and family.You may also

need to visit hospitals,clinics,healing and

health resorts and even places of wor-

ship.It could all be a part of your growing spirituality and spirit

of caring for the whole of humanity.There will also be journe

ys,ceremonies,publicity,meetings,interviews and conferenc-

es.Romance and marriage too for the unattached cannot be

ruled out.

By Mr. Rup Krishen Baqaya

Trend

WHAT TO WEAR TO THE

BEACH? When you are headed to the beach or

pool, wear a cute swimsuit, protect your skin and

accessorize with function and style. Our beach

fashion guide tells you everything you need to

wear at the beach

1Flirty ruffles have made their way into swimwear this season.

From halter bikinis to swimdresses, you’ll find ruffles everywhere.

One look we love is the ruffled tankini (seen above). This

two-piece swimsuit provides just enough coverage while

still being sexy and fun.

Ruffled Swimwear

2 Your beach bag needs to be large enough to carry your

towel, a paperback, sunscreen and all your other beach

essentials. This summer, carry a beach tote with nautical

stripes, tiny flowers or bold colorblocking. This Straw Studios

Willa tote is available in several colors at eBags.

Roomy beach tote

3 When you step out of the water, instead

of tying a towel around your waist or

throwing on a T-shirt, put on a breezy,

colorful cover-up. Pick a cover-up that

provides enough coverage that you can

wear it to a beachside cafe for drinks.

Colorful cover-up

4 Protect yourself from the sun and look glam too with a

wide-brimmed beach hat. Straw hats don’t have to be

boring. They come in fun colors, unique shapes and dramatic

designs. Check out this big floppy sun hat from Lauren

by Ralph Lauren.

Wide-brimmed hat

5 If you don’t love hats, pull back your hair

with a wide fabric headband instead. A

stretchy headband offers an easy way

to get your beachy locks away from

your face while looking adorable

Fabric headband

Roomy beach tote

Colorful cover-up

Wide-brimmed hat

6 Oversized sunglasses are oh-so-glamorous, and they’re

functional too. Sunglasses protect your eyes and the skin

around them from the sun’s harmful rays. This summer,

we love shield style sunglasses as well as large Jackie

O-type shades.

Oversized sunglasses

7 Leave your rubber flip flops at home.

Look chic at the beach with a cute pair

of jeweled thong sandals. Flat sandals

are a must for walking on hot sand.

Shoes in citrus colors (tangerine, lemon

yellow and lemon green) are sizzling for

summertime this year.

sandals

8 It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway. At the

beach, sunscreen is a must. Re-apply every two hours

(and even more often if you are going in and out of the

water). Don’t miss often overlooked places like the top of

your feet, back of your hands and behind your ears. Use

haircare products that contain sunscreen to protect your

head and scalp, too.

Lots of sunscreen

Fabric headband

Lompraya News

Bus service between Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi launched

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) will rearrange a bus route to service

passengers between Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports.

Passengers can take a public bus between Suvarnabhumi and get off inside

Don Mueang from Aug 1. The travel time is at least two hours. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK

“Since more low-cost airlines will use Don Mueang as their base, BMTA will prepare

for the increasing number of passengers between the two airports,” said BMTA Deputy

Director for Bus Operation Department Narade Boonpiam. At present the No.555 bus,

which has a terminus station at Talat Rangsit, passes Don Mueang at Vibhavadi Rangsit

Road before taking the motorway at Rama XI entrance to Suvarnabhumi.

Thailand is set for a boom in tourists from China

Thailand is fast becoming a hot destination for tourists from China, providing a

boost for the country’s economy.

15 years ago fewer than 500,000 Chinese people chose a Thai holiday, but

soon the country’s beaches and historic sites will be seen by more tourists from China

than any other nation.

The BBC’s Jonah Fisher has been sharing holiday fun in Thailand, with some

Chinese visitors, to discover what it means for Thailand’s tourism industry.

Surat Thani gears up for lent extravaganza

Surat Thani is preparing for the big celebration of the end of Buddhist Lent next

month with three festivals combined into one merit-making ceremony in town.

The budget for the nine-day event will be 25 million baht, according to Theerakit Wang-

muthitakul, the newly-elected mayor.

“We want the event to be grand because we want people to remember us and

think of Surat Thani when it is the final day of the Buddhist Lent, the same way people

relate Ubon Ratchathani and its candle festival with the first day of the Buddhist Lent,”

he said.

This year the last day of Buddhist Lent falls on Oct 30.

Global News

Miss Tourism World focuses on Thailand

Thailand will be the first country in Asia to host the Miss Tourism World beauty

pageant in December.

The aim of the upcoming event, which is the 12th of its kind, is to promote

and highlight the tourism sector of the kingdom, according to the Tourism Authority of

Thailand (TAT) Governor Suraphon Svetasreni.

“This is also a great opportunity to demonstrate confidence and safety in

travelling in Thailand,” he noted.

About 60 finalists will visit Thailand and will have a chance to explore Thai

Halloween festival

Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death,

Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. It is thought to have originated

with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear

costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated

November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day,

incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All

Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, com-

munity-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating.

In a number of countries around the world, as the days grow shorter and the nights

get colder, people continue to usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes

and sweet treats.

culture and history in places such as the old city of Ayutthaya, the Grand Palace and Chitralada Royal Villa in Bangkok, white sandy

beaches in Krabi, the old town in Hat Yai and several places in Pattaya during Dec 2-14.

“The finalists will also look beautiful and graciously dressed in Thai traditional outfits,” he said, adding that TAT will ensure

that the finalists enjoy their time in the country.

Organised by Media Empire in conjunction with the Tourism World Organisation and supported by TAT, the final round of the

Miss Tourism World 2012 will be held on Dec 16 at Siam Niramit theatre in Bangkok and will be broadcast on Channel 7.

The winner of the contest will receive 1 million baht cash, a trophy, and other prizes. The first and second runners-up will

receive 500,000 baht and 300,000 cash respectively.

News

Oktoberfest festival

Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival celebrating beer held annually in Munich, Bavaria,

Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the

most famous events in Germany and is the world’s largest fair, with more than 6 million

people from around the world attending the event every year. To the locals, it is not called

Oktoberfest, but “die Wiesn” - after the colloquial name of the fairgrounds themselves.

The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since 1810.

Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled after the

original Munich event.

The Munich Oktoberfest originally took place during the sixteen days up to, and including, the first Sunday in October. In

1994, the schedule was modified in response to German reunification so that if the first Sunday in October falls on the 1st or 2nd,

then the festival would go on until October 3 (German Unity Day). Thus, the festival is now 17 days when the first Sunday is October

2 and 18 days when it is October 1. In 2010, the festival lasted until the first Monday in October, to mark the 200th anniversary of

the event. The festival is held in an area named the Theresienwiese (field, or meadow, of Therese), often called Wiesn for short,

located near Munich’s center. Large quantities of Oktoberfest Beer are consumed, with almost 7 million liters served during the 16

day festival in 2007

Tip to Trip

Tour Group Once you’ve chosen your travel destination, you’ll need to decide whether you want to journey

independently or with a tour group of some kind. Some senior travelers always choose tour groups.

Others prefer to plan their own trips. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether a tour

group is right for you.

When you take a tour, someone else handles all the details. You choose a pre-set itinerary,

pay the tour group operator and sit back while the professionals deal with airlines, bus drivers, local

guides and hotel managers. All you need to do is arrive at your departure point on time, suitcase in

hand.

Pros andCons

Large tour operators capitalize on economies

of scale. They have buying power with airlines, hotels

and ground transportation companies. Some of those

savings are passed on to you. When you combine

these savings with senior discounts or travel member-

ships (such as AAA, Costco, or Sam’s Club), you may

discover that you’ll pay the same for independently-

purchased airfare alone as you will for a tour, which

might include not only airfare but also hotels, meals

and guides.

Cost

If you want to visit Antarctica, you probably

have to go with a tour group. Fortunately, you can

find senior tour groups going to Antarctica, Nepal and

many other exotic places. Tour operators can set up

trips to just about anywhere, even to places most indi-

viduals can’t reach on their own.

Popular sights, such as the Vatican Museum

in Rome, are so crowded during peak months that

many would-be visitors are turned away after spend-

ing hours in line. Guided tour groups have their own

Vatican Museum access times and even enter through

a different door. If standing in line is difficult for you, or

if you have limited time available to visit your “must-

see” attractions, you can maximize your sightseeing

time’s value by traveling with a tour group.

Access to Unusual or Overcrowded Destinations

Some travelers like the challenge of solving

problems themselves. Language barriers and transit

strikes, to them, are part of the experience. If you’d

rather worry about what to wear to dinner than where

to eat, a group tour can provide a stress-free travel ex-

perience. Your tour operator and guide have to worry

about dealing with difficulties. Problems are rare on

group tours because your tour operator developed the

itinerary in advance and, most likely, has conducted

this tour many times before.

Worry-Free Travel

Tour groups offer many ways to discover other

cultures, learn new skills and study the subjects you’ve

always wanted to know about. You can practice your

French in Québec, weave baskets in the Appalachian

Mountains and watch migrating birds on Virginia’s

Eastern Shore – all with tour groups. Tour operators

understand senior travelers’ preferences and continue

to add to their senior-friendly itineraries and programs.

Learning Experiences

If you’re visiting a place for the first time, you’ll

especially enjoy taking a group tour with a knowledge-

able guide. Well-informed, organized guides add val-

ue to your tour experience. Your guide is likely to know

the best photo opportunities and can tell you how

to walk around Venice when the streets are flooded.

You’ll always know where you’re going, and you won’t

have to worry about outdated maps and broken ticket

machines.

Tour Guides

In a tour group, meeting new people is part

of the fun. Some senior tours are created with social

interaction in mind. Whether you would like to travel

with other single seniors or take tea with fellow Red

Hat Society members, you can find a tour that meets

your needs.

Social Opportunities