It's in the early morning that the three floating markets of Damnoen Saduak are seen at their best, so whether you hire a boat with friends or join an organised trip, try to get out on the water early. Even by 8am, the markets are already buzzing with life, but you will still be able to navigate the canals and channels in your own time and marvel at the abundance of fruit, vegetables and other foodstuffs and goods on offer.

Boat-to-boat trading like this is becoming a rarity in Thailand, but it hardly feels like a dying way of life when you're in the thick of the action. The trading among the 100s of straw-hatted vendors is fast-paced and competitive, as they paddle their boats up and down the narrow waterways in search of customers. It makes for a memorable morning out on the water - and all the delicious food on offer is sure to get your tastebuds going in time for an early lunch!

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is located Located 80km (50 miles) southwest of Bangkok, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a daily riot of colour and noise. Farmers and smallholders from the surrounding hills turn up each morning to sell and exchange fruit and vegetables from their heavily-laden barges, as they sail up and down the canals amongst the orchards and vineyards. The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a very attractive place for tourists to see the old style and traditional way of selling and buying fruits, vegetables, etc., from small boats. Tourists will also see traditional Thai houses, the way they live and travel by boats, and please try riding on a small boat to experience the floating market and to see more. This is a worthwhile trip.

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It's in the early morning that the three floating markets of Damnoen Saduak are seen at their best, so whether you hire a boat with friends or join an organised trip, try to get out on the water early. Even by 8am, the markets are already buzzing with life, but you will still be able to navigate the canals and channels in your own time and marvel at the abundance of fruit, vegetables and other foodstuffs and goods on offer.

Boat-to-boat trading like this is becoming a rarity in Thailand, but it hardly feels like a dying way of life when you're in the thick of the action. The trading among the 100s of straw-hatted vendors is fast-paced and competitive, as they paddle their boats up and down the narrow waterways in search of customers. It makes for a memorable morning out on the water - and all the delicious food on offer is sure to get your tastebuds going in time for an early lunch!

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is located Located 80km (50 miles) southwest of Bangkok, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a daily riot of colour and noise. Farmers and smallholders from the surrounding hills turn up each morning to sell and exchange fruit and vegetables from their heavily-laden barges, as they sail up and down the canals amongst the orchards and vineyards. The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a very attractive place for tourists to see the old style and traditional way of selling and buying fruits, vegetables, etc., from small boats. Tourists will also see traditional Thai houses, the way they live and travel by boats, and please try riding on a small boat to experience the floating market and to see more. This is a worthwhile trip.

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The collections of the National Museum, Bangkok are national cultural heritage with the emphasis on art, archeological and cultural objects which are dated from as early as prehistory up to presentday. Three main galleries are :

The Gallery of Thai History located at Sivamokkha - phiman hall with the prehistoric gallery at the rear part of the building.

History of Art and Archeological Collections are presented in two buildings : Dvaravati, Srivijaya and Lopburi in south wing ; and Lanna, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin are in the north wing.

For the galleries in the old palace buildings, variety of minor arts and ethnological collections are exhibited such as gold treasure, enamel wares, mother-of-pearl inlay, musical instruments, wood carving, entertainment articles, textiles, ceramics, royal regalia, palanquins, old weapons, and stone inscriptions, etc. Royal Cremation ceremonial exhibits and chariots are housed in the cremation chariot hall.

The National Museum, Bangkok also has a monumental value in itself as a Palace to the Front. Many buildings are displayed in original purpose such as Buddhaisawan Chapel where the Buddha Sihing was enshrined. European and Chinese furnitures are shown in Issaretra-chanusorn, or King Pin Klao resident. Tamnak Daeng or the Red House, Sala Samarn - Mukhamat, and other pavillions are examples of Thai architecture.

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The collections of the National Museum, Bangkok are national cultural heritage with the emphasis on art, archeological and cultural objects which are dated from as early as prehistory up to presentday. Three main galleries are :

The Gallery of Thai History located at Sivamokkha - phiman hall with the prehistoric gallery at the rear part of the building.

History of Art and Archeological Collections are presented in two buildings : Dvaravati, Srivijaya and Lopburi in south wing ; and Lanna, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin are in the north wing.

For the galleries in the old palace buildings, variety of minor arts and ethnological collections are exhibited such as gold treasure, enamel wares, mother-of-pearl inlay, musical instruments, wood carving, entertainment articles, textiles, ceramics, royal regalia, palanquins, old weapons, and stone inscriptions, etc. Royal Cremation ceremonial exhibits and chariots are housed in the cremation chariot hall.

The National Museum, Bangkok also has a monumental value in itself as a Palace to the Front. Many buildings are displayed in original purpose such as Buddhaisawan Chapel where the Buddha Sihing was enshrined. European and Chinese furnitures are shown in Issaretra-chanusorn, or King Pin Klao resident. Tamnak Daeng or the Red House, Sala Samarn - Mukhamat, and other pavillions are examples of Thai architecture.

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- The Baiyoke Tower was opened in 1998.
- This building is 309 metres tall or about the height of 182 people standing one on top of the other.
- There are 1,740 windowpanes in the building. About the same number of windowpanes can be used for over 200 townhouses.
- The area inside this building is about 30 football fields.
- There are altogether 2,060 steps from the bottom to the top. It takes more than one hour to reach the top.

The Bangkok Observation is located at the top of Baiyoke Sky, the tallest tower in the Kingdom of Thailand.

- 76th Floor: Sky Buffet
- 77th Floor: Observation Deck
- 84th Floor: Rovolving Roof Deck

Sky Buffet: (76th floor)

Bufffet lunch 11:00am - 2pm
- adult 310 Bht and children 155 Bht
Dinner 5:30pm - 10:00pm
- adult 410 baht and children 205 baht

Getting Up There:

- If you are at the ground floor of the building, go up the glass elevator behind the ticket booth to the 77th floor, an observation deck, then take another elevator to the 83rd floor before walking up the stairs to the Sky Walk Revolving deck on the 84th.
- If you are at the parking lot, take the elevator down to the ground floor and then follow the instruction above. The view is far better than taking an elevator up from the parking lot.

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- The Baiyoke Tower was opened in 1998.
- This building is 309 metres tall or about the height of 182 people standing one on top of the other.
- There are 1,740 windowpanes in the building. About the same number of windowpanes can be used for over 200 townhouses.
- The area inside this building is about 30 football fields.
- There are altogether 2,060 steps from the bottom to the top. It takes more than one hour to reach the top.

The Bangkok Observation is located at the top of Baiyoke Sky, the tallest tower in the Kingdom of Thailand.

- 76th Floor: Sky Buffet
- 77th Floor: Observation Deck
- 84th Floor: Rovolving Roof Deck

Sky Buffet: (76th floor)

Bufffet lunch 11:00am - 2pm
- adult 310 Bht and children 155 Bht
Dinner 5:30pm - 10:00pm
- adult 410 baht and children 205 baht

Getting Up There:

- If you are at the ground floor of the building, go up the glass elevator behind the ticket booth to the 77th floor, an observation deck, then take another elevator to the 83rd floor before walking up the stairs to the Sky Walk Revolving deck on the 84th.
- If you are at the parking lot, take the elevator down to the ground floor and then follow the instruction above. The view is far better than taking an elevator up from the parking lot.

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Traditionally, the rocket festival is the sixth Lunar month ceremony that Lao people have conducted for many generation(s). It is a very important event that we could not abandon since the early period of time. It is also the important symbol of unity and friendship used to fight against dry weather and to request rain.

Eventhough, belief in the rain god is less now than in former times, the Lao still respect this tradition and continue to prepare the rocket festival as one of the most significant activities that takes place before of the season of rice cultivation. In addition to the preparation of rockets, there are some Buddhist ceremonies such as waterblessing rituals that the senior monks perform at the same event.

The Rocket festival is the only annual chance the farmers have to request rain from the god called Phaya Thaen. Because of the strong belief held since ancient times, when the land was dry and farmers did not have enough water for rice production. So the rocket festival were instituted. It is the one means for human beings to communicate symbolically with the god to request rain.

The rocket launching itself is competitive, with prizes for the best explosion, greatest distance, etc. The secrets of rocket making have been passed down over the generations and refined into sophisticated, multi-chambered wonders of pre-scientific technology. Some of these things are four or five meters long, and fly a kilometer or more, or explode at their apogee into a spectacular and colorful fireball.

As if this wasn’t enough, there are countless other activities (as with any country fair) including live music, dancing and other contests.

Though countless villages observe the celebration, on various dates and the best organized is held in Yasothorn Province. This year the three-day blowout runs from May 10-12.

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