And Now a Few Highlights from Thailand and Malaysia?
As a follow-up to November’s Border Run, here are a
few activities to watch for on any visa runs to Malaysia and
Thailand in 2007:
January-February, 2007, Bangkok International Film Festival
– Who doesn’t have a film festival these days?
Bangkok now has two. This one opens January 26, and the World
Film Festival runs every October. They should be a great way
to beat the Bangkok heat.
March-April, 2007, Bangkok International Motor Show –
“The greatest automotive show in Southeast Asia”
includes a beauty contest, seminars to improve your driving
skills, lectures on energy consumption and road safety, and
something called an ‘autosalon.’ And then there
are all the latest road toys, the classic cars, the motorbikes,
and all the gadgets and accessories. We curse cars for the
pollution they spew, but, my, don’t we love them?
April, 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Formula One: Malaysian Grand Prix
– The second race of the Formula One season is held
every year at Malaysia’s state-of-the-art Sepang International
Circuit. If you are a motor sport nut, there is also a MotoGP
event in October, and several other events throughout the
year feature things that go VROOM!
May 5, 2007, Bangkok, Thai Coronation Day – King Bhumibol
was crowned May 5, 1950, having gained the throne June 9,
1946, after the death of his brother. He is the longest-serving
current head of state and longest-serving monarch in Thai
history. The anniversary of his coronation is a three-day
party every year starting May 3. Look out, though, for the
jewelry scammers offering the once-in-a-lifetime specials
in honor of the King. Long live the King!
May, 2007, Thailand, Yasothon Rocket Festival – Things
that go ZOOM! and BOOM! I’ll let you worry about how
to get to this village on the eastern border with Laos. Supposedly
the rockets encourage the rain gods to provide plenty of water
for newly planted crops. Sounds like guys blowing things up
to me. Who knew Thais were just like Americans?
May-June, 2007, Penang, French Festival of the Arts –
This one puzzles me. What’s a French arts festival doing
in former British colonial trading port Penang? Nevertheless,
it looks interesting and promises the usual mix of dance,
drama, and music.
June, 2007, Malacca, Festa de Sao Pedro – See? This
makes sense – a Portuguese festival at Ujong Pasir five
kilometers outside of historic Malacca. First there is a Mass
for the feast day of St. Peter, then food, dancing, and a
big street party.
June, 2007, Thailand, Hua Hin Jazz Festival – All that
jazz in a fishing village on the Gulf of Thailand. Hua Hin
became a Royal resort in the 1920s and remains a getaway for
members of the royal family. And better, you can get there
by train from Bangkok. King Bhumibol is an accomplished jazz
musician himself, so it’s just possible you’d
find him sitting in on a set.
June-July, 2007, Kuala Lumpur, Nokia Starlight Cinema Series
– ‘Big screen movie magic under the stars’
at the Bukit Kiara Country Resort offers blockbuster screenings
– not art house fare – at Asia’s only outdoor
surround-sound cinema. A food village provides eats and drinks.
July 2007, Kucing, Sarawak, Rain Forest World Music Festival
– Organizers promise “a smashing time in the heart
of the Borneo jungle,” with world musicians mixing with
indigenous musicians from the jungle interiors. Sounds like
a hit to me if you’ve got more on your mind than the
ordinary out-and-back visa run. Just getting there has to
be half the fun.
For information on these events and others, go to www.whatsonwhen.com/pages/asia.jm/
and follow the link to the Malaysia and Thailand pages. Further
links are available to event Web sites (if available) and
other information pages. Caution: the dates currently listed
for most events are based on 2006 scheduling; 2007 dates are
yet to be confirmed.
