Bangkok - Chinese New Year

[dirtydog]

Vendors at a Chinatown market prepare poultry for sale yesterday as shoppers stock up for Chinese New Year, which begins on Sunday. Authorities have acted to allay fears of bird flu ahead of the festival.

Photo by Tatchadon Panyaphanitkul.
The Nation

[RandomChances]

Chinese New Year is pretty big up here, they've been out this morning already to buy some chickens only 5 this year, obviously being here they are'nt dead or anything yet, but their life expectancy is'nt looking to good

[dirtydog]

Day of the dragon :A seven-headed dragon and a nine-coloured Beijing lion provided by CAT Telecom lead a procession through Chinatown from the Odeon Circle to Ratchawong Pier in early Chinese New Year celebrations.

The Nation

[dirtydog]

Shoppers flock to Yaowarat


Yaowarat market, as it has at this season for many years, was bustling with Chinese Thais yesterday picking up food and gifts ahead of the Chinese New Year.



The 1.5-kilometre main street of Chinatown was jam-packed from morning on, particularly in the old area full of shop houses selling traditional fresh and dried goods such as soy-bean cheese, dried fish maw and boiled poultry. Visut Sirisukchaiwut, whose Heng Heng shop sells boiled chickens, said that this year's birds were flying off the shelves compared to last year because people weren't as scared about avian flu.

On the other hand, Prasit sae Heng, owner of a dried-food outlet near Visut's, said his business had dropped a lot from last year because people were worried about the country's shaky economy and politics, which made them shop only for essentials.

After inspecting Yaowarat, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin gave his assurances that this year's Lunar New Year festival would be safe from bird flu due to very strict regulations on poultry imported from other provinces as well as on slaughterhouses, which had to use standard procedures.

The capital has 57 slaughterhouses, and the Livestock Development Department has certified 44 of them.
The rest have been ordered to cease all operations until they have a hygienic environment and proper practices, Apirak said.

The Nation

[dirtydog]

Pattaya welcomes in the Year of the Pig Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya’s Chinese New Year celebrations begin today, February 16, and will run throughout the entire weekend, ending on February 18.
One of the main attractions will be cultural performances from eight provinces in China, along with a host of other events that will center on Bali Hai Pier.
The final lineup was announced on February 2 by Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, Itthipol Khunplome, advisor to the mayor, Chaiwat Charoensuk, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central Region 3 Office, and Sunthorn Kangsirikul, vice president of the Pattaya Walking Street Committee.
Friday will see a performance given by 100 artists from eight provinces in China, with the show beginning at 7 p.m.
Saturday February 17 will see a talent contest between boys and girls aged from six to 12 years, with the winners receiving prizes of 8,000 baht, 6,000 baht and 4,000 baht, two consolation prizes valued at 3,000 baht each, and five special prizes of 1,000 baht each.
February 17 and 18 sees two eating competitions, open to residents and tourists, with prizes of 4,000 baht, 3,000 baht, 2,000 baht and 1,000 baht.
On this final day there will also be a ceremony for the God of Good Luck, Chai Sing Eia, at the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation offices. The evening will feature a concert by the Pan Cake and Phynix bands.
Chaiwat said that Pattaya is one of five cities to which the Chinese government is sending cultural performers from eight of the Chinese provinces.
Zantong province will stage an acrobat show, there will be a Hanjo dance from Jerjiang, a hand puppet show from Chihong in Jiangsu, a magic mask show from Chengdu in Szechwan, acrobatic shows from Sao Lin Temple in Shanghai, a show along with music from Huey Long Jiang, a show from the independent state of Neimenggu, and a Beijing Chinese opera from Beijing.
Sunthorn said that special security precautions are being taken, with police officers and volunteer police officers on patrol in the festivity areas.

Pattaya Mail

[dirtydog]

Paying homage

To mark Chinese New Year, Thais of Chinese descent pay homage to the Tai Hong Kong shrine inside the compound of the Por Tek Tung Foundation in Bangkok's Phlapphla Chai area.

TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD
Bangkok Post

[dirtydog]

Together once more :A family in Songkhla’s Sakom community reunites after a year working apart to celebrate Chinese New Year’s Eve yesterday by bringing food to sacrifice to its ancestors.


The Nation

[dirtydog]

A royal touch
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn pounds Chinese peanut candy, or ``tub tab'', at the Chow Sue Kong Shrine, a holy spot for Hokkien Chinese, during her tour of Yaowarat, the centre of Chinese New Year celebrations yesterday.

SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL
Bangkok Post

[dirtydog]

Princess just the ticket :

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn selects the winning ticket in a draw for a bicycle during Chinese New Year celebrations at the Guardian Shrine in Nakhon Sawan.

The Nation

[dirtydog]

Princess launches parade
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn beats a giant drum 18 times to start a Chinese New Year parade on Sawan Vithi Road in Nakhon Sawan yesterday morning.


The Nation