Sunthorn Phu Day in Rayong

Rayong province is commemorating the birthday of Sunthorn Phu, Thailand’s greatest poet (1786-1855).

The highlight of the celebration, which runs through Monday, is a performance depicting Sunthorn Phu’s childhood during the early days of the Chakri Dynasty. The performance is tonight at Rayong National Stadium.

A tribute to the poet will be staged on Sunday and Monday at the Sunthorn Phu Memorial Park at Ban Kram in Klang District.

The village of Ban Kram, located on the coast road between Ban Phe and Klang, is the poet’s birthplace. There is a beautiful memorial park at the location of his former house.

Prayers for Sunthorn’s spirit will be held on Sunday morning. Highlights include a costume contest depicting famous characters from Sunthorn’s poems, cultural performances and poetry recitals.

The park features a statue of the poet on a small hill overlooking an ornamental pond. Phra Apaimani – one of the most famous characters created by Sunthorn – can be seen playing a flute at the foot of the hill. Other characters from Sunthorn’s works are also featured in the memorial park.

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Central opens new resort in Krabi

Following its expansion to Chiang Rai earlier this month, Central Hotels and Resorts has announced another in Krabi. Central Krabi Bay Resort will open in October – the eve of high tourist season on the Andaman coast.

Tucked away on Pai Plong Bay, midway between Ao Nang and Railey, the resort is a cluster of low-rise guestrooms and private villas stretching out along a 500-metre beach. All 191 guestrooms, including 13 private villas with a choice of private swimming pools, are designed to face the ocean. They feature a minimum size of 77 square metres, with an extensive “living-room-style” terrace.

The resort is fully equipped for conferences and banqueting. The Lotus Court World Cuisine, the Sala Sai Lom seafood and Thai restaurant and the Moonshadow Pub provide dining and entertainment. There are facilities for sailing, snorkelling, diving, windsurfing and other watersport activities.

Central Krabi Bay Resort is a 40-minute drive from the airport.

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Hot spots at Westin Grande Sukhumvit

The Westin Grande Sukhumvit is breaking new ground with its top-to-bottom wireless Internet service. With the latest WiFi wireless broadband access, hotel guests can get connected through the Web from anywhere in the hotel. They can keep up with their e-mail and browse websites while waiting for their date at the lobby, chilling between routines in the fitness centre, lazing by the pool or sipping mocha in the cool and convivial Zest Piano Bar. Business travellers, whose every minute is spent seeking information, can read the morning newspaper from their mobile computer over breakfast, not to mention while lying in bed.

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Last Boat to the Hua Hin Regatta

Skippers, mark your calendars for the sixth Hua Hin Regatta 2005. The organiser, the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, wants to make sure that nobody misses the boat this year. The five-day race, between August 3 and 7, will take place at the Hua Hin Naval Yacht Club in the vicinity of the Klai Kang Won Royal Summer Palace – 200 kilometres south of Bangkok. The competition is opens for two classes: the Thailand Open Championship Race and the Vega Rudder Race. Sailboats range from Optimists to Platus.

Entries are open to all members of clubs affiliated with the association. The deadline to submit registration forms is June 30. For more information on the race, call that YRAT at (02) 472 0852, (02) 466 6687 or (02) 475 5455. Or e-mail sail@yrat.or.th.