King's Birthday in Chiang Mai
 

I searched and did not find anything on this - forgive me if I missed something.

I will be in Chiang Mai December 5-12 on business, and I have just discovered that that period includes 2 national holidays: the King's Birthday (also celebrated as Father's Day) on December 5 - which, since it is a Saturday, has its "official" observance (banks closed) on December 7 - and Constitution Day on December 10.

I came across an article (http://etravel.org/news/5538) indicating there will be a large festival in Chiang Mai (November 30 - December 10) surrounding the King's Birthday, but the article does not have a lot of detail. Does anyone know where I can find a schedule of activities?

Also, I have seen mention at various places on the Web of "Days of Roses" and "Food Festival" and "Mardi Gras" in Chiang Mai in early December, but I cannot find any details on them, either. Does anyone have any info on them?

Thanks!

I did just find this schedule:

http://www.tourismthailand.org/news/...tent-2453.html

Anyone else have any info?

We're traveling next month and plan to visit Thailand at the end of Nov, will find more details and post back soon. Hope that won't be too late?

Cranachin,

The festivals will be held at the Ratchaphruek, according to the TAT link, which is about a half hour drive from Chiang Mai. Probably worth a visit to see it on the evening of December 5th. If I was to travel to CM during that period I would probably go see it too.

I suggest that once you have arrived in CM, get your hotel to contact the Ratchaphruek center and ask for more information. They might offer shuttle buses from CM and you can ask about the food option at the festival as well. Temperature should be pleasant in the evening for early December.

Thanks, S & H.

scheps - I would appreciate any info you come across, as I don't leave until early December.

Hanuman - I had read that the festivities were at Ratchaphruek, but that meant nothing to me - had not gotten as far as looking up where it is. My biggest challenge might be that I am scheduled to arrive in CM at about 5 PM on the 5th, and things start at 6. I will be meeting other foreigners who will have been in town a while already, so could postpone checking in at the hotel until later (I will have spent a night on the ground in transit, so at least will not be coming directly from a long series of trans-oceanic flights). I would love to see as much of that night's activities as possible.

Do you think it would still be worth it if we could not get to Ratchaphruek until 7 or later?

Cranachin,

I have not been to such an event in CM but I have been to Ratchaphruek, this is where they held a big flower expo in 2007. If you have transportation ready, or have arranged for a car already then I think it will be fun to attend. December 5th is a big holiday in Thailand and the non hotel restaurants will most likely be closed so you might plan on eating at the festival as well. Please check before hand what type of food they have there! To blend in with the crowd wear a yellow or pink polo shirt.

Thanks, Hanuman.

At least some of the other people I will be meeting are interested, so I think we can arrange transportation and check on food in advance.

I love your comment on (tall, pale farang) blending in with the crowd! Seriously, though, I never would have thought about special things to wear. As yellow and pink are not part of my normal palette, are there any colors NOT to wear (in case I don't pick up something yellow or pink)?

Don't wear red or black. You can pick up a polo shirt with a royal emblam on the pocket once you arrived. About 2 - 300 Baht.

Cranachin, Thais love it when visitors wear a yellow Long Live the King polo shirt! You'll get comments from Thais.

Thanks, H & K!

I really do hope I get to go.

Hanuman & Kathie-

I just found out that a friend of mine shares the king's birthday. Like the king, he was born in Massachusetts, too (although not at Mount Auburn Hospital).

A "Long Live the King" polo might be a great (belated) birthday present to take back. Do you know of any other "King's Birthday" items that will be available? I'm sure there are a lot of things with the king's picture on them that can be bought year-round as well.

Also, is there a general guide to translating Thai sizes to American? I have heard that you "add two" - so an American Medium is a Thai XXLarge, for example.

Thanks for your help!

For an established label it should be the same or + 1 size at the most. Since many companies are making the shirts some of them don't follow the size spec or cut corners(save fabric) so I highly suggest you try them on or at least visually gauge if the size is OK before any purchase.

Other popular items include neck ties, pictures, plates, mugs but the easiest to find will be the polo shirts, light jackets and t-shirts.

Here's a link to the Chitralada shop and you can get some ideas from there: http://www.chitraladashop.com/Goods.htm