AWAY

The 1st Phu Rua Poinsettia Festival is being held until the end of January at the entrance of Phu Rua National Park in Loei province.

A light and sound show at River Kwai.

Yupa Parnrawd, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Loei Office, said the area around Phu Rua mountain top has cool weather all year round and is the country's largest place to culture cold climate plants, generating 150-200 million baht per year. Up to 2.5 million saplings of poinsettia are grown there, generating a revenue of 60-100 million baht each year. Interesting activities include the inking of marriage certificates in a field of poinsettias, street shows, photo taking with the mascot called Nong Christmas, exhibitions, the display of flowers and decorative plants, cultural performances and a food fair.

Call the TAT's Loei Office on 042-812-812, email tatloei@tat.or.th or visit www.facebook.com/tatloei.

River Kwai Bridge Week

The River Kwai Bridge Week will be held in Kanchanaburi province from tomorrow until Dec 16. The format of the event and the light, sound and multimedia shows will be revamped for better quality. This annual event was started in 1980.

The viewers will get to walk across the bridge and enjoy the impressive atmosphere atmosphere. A grandstand which can accommodate up to 3,000 people will ensure the audience will enjoy the one-hour show.

Kanchanaburi Governor Chaiwat Limwantha said: ''In particular, the Light and Sound Show will be modernised and transformed into a spectacular action show. For example, in the battle scene, there will be a lot of simulated effects, such as flying bomber planes, and trains running through fire during the stunning scene. Other magnificent scenes include the stuntmen abseiling down to the top of the bridge and a gunfight during a boat chase in the river. Another highlight is a scene in which the bridge is bombed while a train is crossing it.''

The scenes are specially designed to make the audience learn about and commemorate the historical events during World War II since more than 60,000 foreign prisoners of war perished in Kanchanaburi and a large number of Thai citizens suffered the impacts of the war. The show is hoped to create public awareness of the negative effects of war and the importance of peace.

On weekdays, there will be one light and sound show at 6.45pm. On weekends and holidays, there are two performances at 6.45pm and 9pm.

Other activities include exhibitions, the demonstration and sale of local products, the sale of local food, motorshow booths, concerts, a fun fair and a Red Cross store and lucky draws. The exhibitions will showcase Kanchanaburi's potential to become a manufacturing and industrial base, a logistics hub for import and export and a new trade route in the wake of the AEC among Asean countries and the Dawei deep-sea port and industrial zone project between Thailand and Myanmar. The province is also ready to accommodate more tourism.

The construction of the River Kwai Bridge began in November 1942 and lasted three months. A 100m-long wooden bridge was first built to the south of the current bridge to transport labourers and construction supplies and later demolished after the 300m-long iron bridge was completed. The opening ceremony was held on Dec 25, 1943.

The bridge was first attacked by the Allies in 1944 and the air raids continued during the war. The bridge became unusable after the fourth to sixth spans were destroyed. Later, the State Railway of Thailand repaired the bridge in 1946. Admission to the River Kwai Bridge Week fair is free. Tickets to each light and sound show are priced at 300 baht and 500 baht.

Call Thai Ticket Major on 02-262-3456 or www.thaiticketmajor.com and at the Kanchanaburi Provincial Office on 034-515-208.

Any comments or news to share? Email pichayas@bangkokpost.co.th.