Lumpini Festival 2017

Another school year is coming to an end, and another calendar year is beginning. I'm once again reminded of how many amazing places in this amazing country that I haven't visited, and inspired to see more of our beautiful world.

This weekend was the annual Lumpini Park Thailand Tourism Festival!

Lumpini Park Thailand Tourism Festival

 Lumpini Park is a big beautiful park in downtown Bangkok, and each year in January the Ministry of Tourism and the five different regions of Thailand hold a travel festival to encourage tourism and travel throughout the kingdom.

The five regions were each represented by crafts, products, and food. The first one we visited was The North, which I've hardly seen in real life (except for my visits each year to Mae Sot). I have plans to head north in the next few months though!

Each of Thailand's regions are quite different from the rest, in food, art, and culture! Pinky has trained in classical Thai dance, and explained to me how the dance in the Central region is the slowest and most reserved, while the Northeast and Southern regions have a faster and more energetic dance style.

Next up was "Spicy Isan"! Issan is the Northeast region of Thailand, and maybe the most culturally unique. I know the least about Issan, and have barely been that way. Most recently I spent a short weekend in Pak Chong, and a few years ago I visited Jim Thompson's farm in Korat, but that's all.

The Northeast

 Every region has its own unique art style. I was very impressed by the Northeastern weaving. One workshop was displaying impressive weavings of the old king, the new king, and the princess.

royal family woven into the mats

Then there were the scary ghost masks that I had encountered before in Korat! I really ought to go to the northeast and learn more of the culture! It's very different from Bangkok.

ghost masks

Next we visited the East! I know this region fairly well. It's the coastal region east of Bangkok that includes places like Pattaya, Koh Samet, and Chanthaburi.

The East

The South might be Thailand's most famous region, at least with foreign tourists! It includes beautiful places like Krabi and Phuket. I've been south a few times, but it's not so easy to get down that way in a weekend without flying, and since it's so popular it can be expensive. Maybe at a long holiday I'll try to spend more time in the south.

The South

There was so much delicious food at Lumpini Park from all over the country! We couldn't resist the delicious fried softshell crab that was for sale in the southern section. It was so cheap too! Pinky and I each had two big crabs for only 100 baht each! So good! I love good seafood!

delicious crab

Then of course there's Central Region. "Happiness Within Reach". Central includes Bangkok and nearby places like Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya. Even if it's nearby, there are tons of amazing things to see around here too!

Central

And since yesterday was the actual first day of the Lunar New Year, an entire section was dedicated to celebrating Chinese New Year at the festival as well! So many people were wearing traditional Chinese silk shirts and enjoying all the amazing Thai-Chinese Chinatown food for sale.

Chinese New Year

Happy Year of the Rooster! My Chinese New Year resolution is to see more places in Thailand, specifically in the north! I can't believe I've been in Thailand for four years and have hardly been to the famous northern cities like Chinag Mai or Chiang Rai. I say that every year, but I really hope that this year is the one that I make it up that way.