Thailand Defers Bangkok Curfew
Thailand’s implementation of the controversial 12am curfew has been postponed indefinitely, due in part to street protests, which included a rally in front of the Parliament building. With terrorism and bird flu scare already putting a dent in Asia tourism, many feared that the new curfew will only exacerbate the only ailing industry. But what does Bangkok have to offer besides the lures of “happy hour?”
An unseen Thailand
Bangkok is positioning itself to become the “City of Angels.”Â
Eventually, this new image of Bangkok could yield a boost to quality family tourism, which may even mean long haul stay in Bangkok. Bangkok would thus be seen as the base to nearby beach excursions (like Hua Hin and Pattaya), village based Eco-tourism, river cruises from Bangkok (extended to the recent River Kwai cruise) and health and wellness based holidays. The City is already in the process of building up efficient communication systems with a goal to forging ahead in becoming the Asian hub of Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Event (MICE) destination, with its upcoming International Travel Show, Thailand (22-22 August, ’04) at Impact Convention Center.
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Bangkok will get its second mass transit rail system when the subway opens on 12 August 2004. The subway carrying at least 250,000 commuters daily, will run under two major thoroughfares linking the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) with dozens of hotels, embassies, shopping centers and business districts. It will also provide access to the Bangkok Convention Centre adjoining Sofitel Central Plaza Hotel and the exhibition hall of the Department of Export Promotion. The Thai government is planning to extend the existing 40 kilometers of track for both the Skytrain and the subway to 200 kilometers within six years.
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While in Bangkok beginning month of the year, during my stay at the Novotel Bangna, located near the Bitec Exhibition Center, I landed into the country’s main fashion fair: Bangkok International Fashion Fair (BIFF, 15-18 January) on this year’s theme “New Age of Design”. The only hotel near the Bitech, at Novotel I chance upon meeting experts in fashion designing from around the world, enthusiast on Thai textile and fashion.
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Huge shopping
Apart from impressive local products, the Young Designers Room stocked wondrously creative fashion apparel collection, designed by the talented under 25′s, making Mix and Match Magic to meet the challenge of new taste of the people of ” The New Age”. Furthermore, Thai Batik in astonishing scenic patterns of coral and fish, beach palms and sunsets at Aim House; Beach wear in bold shades at Dote Audacious Underwear; Jackets by Pusita; cute children wear in cool shades at Elegance World and distinctively, rich Thai silk clothes and a wide variety of silk products at the Anita Silk (Silom) – some of the best that attracted buyer’s fascination.
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While local exhibitors total 389, among the international exhibitors, Lao PDR and Cambodia were the participating countries.
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Talking to visitors, I am astonished at a large number of students, some whom I had interviewed, the driving force behind learning designing – the high fashion lifestyle, that is today’s Bangkok.
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Soon after the BIFF, Bangkok Film Festival (22 January – 02 February) was yet another show browsing at top end fashion and style. Some of the movie gurus like Jackie Chan, Oliver Stone, Christopher Doyle, Val Kilmer (Batman Forever), Bai Ling (Star Wars) in a cluster of top Thai stars including Aratee Tanmahapran (Overture) all in their best attire were present at the Gala Dinner and Award presentation, the ponderousness of the evening graced by Princess Ubon Rattana.
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In a sequence to the BIFF, but a lapse of a whole month, Bangkok Fashion City parade extravaganza (15-18 February, ’04) was fun and festivity, which could have been perhaps more better and appropriately timed if organized immediately the next day after the closing of BIFF. The parade participated by top international models marched the main shopping avenues of Bangkok. While Pratumwan district of Bangkok locate the whole sell market of clothing, the prodigal centrally air-conditioned city centers and department stores notably Central, Robinson and MBK in the center of Bangkok allow shoppers a treat into the syndrome of “Shop till you drop”!
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Latest trend in Fusion food restaurants is fast booming in Bangkok. At the Bali Restaurant near Bitec Center Thai food is innov-ate(ly) fused with Indonesian. Red hot and sour soup (with tiger prawn) is a fusion of Thailand’s Tom Yam Khung and Indonesian spices. Similar irresistible cuisine like garlic prawn with garlic rice noodles, seafood spring rolls served with lemon grass herbal drink is favorite on the menu.
So, when you are in Bangkok, look out for fusion food – yet another aspect of unseen Thailand.
By Saifuddin Ismailji
eTn Asia
Travelvideo.TV – your news source for the travel and tourism industry.
March 4, 2004
Posted in: Thailand