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Hua Hin turns 100

Drive to Hua Hin and enjoy a large dose of sweet nostalgia, as the country's first beach holiday destination celebrates its centenary with a series of cultural events and activities. Beginning with the Jazz Festival in June and continuing to the end of the year, the resort promises weekenders everything from live concerts and fashion shows to a film festival, photo exhibitions and a thriving gourmet scene.

Since the arrival of the first train in 1909, the coastal district of Prachuap Khiri Khan has been transformed from fishing village to a beach destination popular with Kings, aristocrats and intellectuals. Since the turn of century, Hua Hin has housed the world's finest resorts and spas, restaurants and even a small boutique vineyard.

Up, up and away

You don't need NASA to launch a rocket into the sky. From May 8 to 10, some 100 handmade rockets, or bung fai, will be fired skywards over the rice paddies of Yasothon in northeastern Thailand. The annual festival is held to celebrate and encourage the coming rains.

The festival usually draws upwards of 50,000 spectators for the rocket competition, the crazy mud dances and the many fun activities.

Bangkok office for AirAsia

Lowcost airline AirAsia offers travellers a convenient and easybooking channel with a brand new sales office on Khao San Road, Bangkok's famous backpacker ghetto

The sales office aims to meet the diverse demands of tourists who prefer a facetoface, onestop service and flexibility in payment methods.

This is AirAsia's second sales outlet following the success of its first sales office on Chiang Mai's Thaphae Road that opened in June last year.

"This expansion portrays our confidence in Thailand's tourism and strong commitment to the Thai market," says Tassapon Bijleveld, Chief Executive Officer of Thai AirAsia. "We expect to increase the level of our guests' satisfaction coherently by constantly providing the best products and services."

Dinner with a difference

Cy'an restaunrant at the Metropolitan Bangkok is hosting a gourmet dinner prepared by an Australian celebrity chef next Saturday.

Peter Evans will whip a fivecourse dinner featuring his Kingfish belly tartare with black bean dressing, blue fin tuna salad, steamed mulloway and goats' curd cheesecake for dessert. The meal starts at 7 and cost Bt2,200.

Metropolitan Bangkok, a stylish urbanchic hotel, is on Sathorn Road - a short walk from Lumpini subway station. For reservation, call (02) 625 3396 or email khattiya.phatthalung@metropolitan.como.bz.

Creative with Centara

Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand's homegrowth hotelier, recently signed a management contact for two luxury properties in Samui and Phangan islands.

The first deal is for Bhundhari Spa Resort & Villas Samui on bustling Chaweng beach, while the second is for Centara Pariya Resort & Villas in Koh Phangan.

The fivestar Bhundhari Spa Resort & Villas Samui houses 59 guestrooms and 62 suites and private pool villas.

The Pariya Resort & Villas, on southeastern coast of Koh PhaNgan, is peaceful but not too far from the party zone and features five rooms and 39 villas.