From July 7-13, the northeastern town of Nakhon Phanom will host an annual worship ritual to pay homage to Phaya Si Sattanakharat Monument, which sits at the Mekong riverbank.
Visitors can participate in a procession of offerings and local performers to ask a revered seven-headed naga statue for success, prosperity and protection. In addition, there will be a khon performance and other cultural performances to highlight the life of nine ethnic groups, an Otop fair and a walking street around the clock tower.
Call 042-513-490 or visit facebook.com/tatnakhonphanomfanpage.
Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races 2024.
Hong Kong set for dragon boat race this weekend
This weekend, the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Race will return to Victoria Harbour to mark the rice dumpling feast which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
This year, more than 170 teams from 12 different countries will compete in a 500m sprint to the finish line off Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade. Meanwhile, a Line Friends pop-up store is offering limited-edition Hong Kong products and people can visit the Line Friends Hong Kong Summer Chill Photo Spots to capture the festive mood and meet their favourite Line characters including Brown, Cony, Sally and Choco who are all dressed in dragon boat-inspired outfits.
Visit discoveryhongkong.com.
Jangsaengpo Hydrangea Festival.
Osaek Hydrangea Park ushers in Korean summer
To usher in summer in South Korea, the annual Jangsaengpo Hydrangea Festival brings colours to Osaek Hydrangea Park until June 20.
Located in the Jangsaengpo Whale Cultural Village, the sea of hydrangea encompasses 27,000m² and boasts 35 different varieties, some of which are in full bloom, including Endless Summer, Judy and Verna.
This year, visitors can also enjoy a variety of entertaining activities such as a hydrangea fireworks show, garden concerts, busking performances, hydrangea-themed tattoos and kite flying.
Witty placards and themed photo zones are ideal spots for treasured memories, and the monorail provides a delightful ride with panoramic views of the hydrangeas spread across the Jangsaengpo hills and the Whale Cultural Village.
Visit english.visitkorea.or.kr.
China Eastern Airlines.
China Eastern Airlines adds Disney-themed aircraft
To provide customers new travel experiences, China Eastern Airlines recently added a Disney Zootopia Express-themed aircraft to its fleet. It is the sixth aircraft with a Disney theme and a special livery sticker on its outside that displays three-dimensional images.
There are Zootopia-themed elements across the entire cabin. For instance, fold-out trays have a map of Zootopia on them, and baggage containers have different Zootopia characters. Using the airline's smartphone app, travellers can see the schedule of all six Disney-themed aircraft three days in advance.
Visit us.ceair.com.
Chiva-Som Hua Hin.
Chiva-Som Hua Hin receives gold certification
Chiva-Som Hua Hin recently received a Gold Certification from Travelife for its exemplary commitment to sustainable practices and unwavering dedication to environmental conservation, community engagement and responsible tourism.
The resort also won the 10th Global Sustainability Leadership Awards 2023 in Mauritius for Sustainable & Operational Management, which was conducted by the World Sustainability Congress.
The resort embodies sustainability principles at every level of operation, having implemented numerous initiatives including water conservation, mangrove plantation and energy efficiency. In 2022, Chiva-Som Hua Hin achieved remarkable strides in sustainability, boasting a 2% reduction in electricity consumption and an impressive 38% decrease in water usage.
These accomplishments were further complemented by significant waste management success, with 73% of generated waste diverted from landfills made possible through staff training in waste separation, the introduction of a woodchipper to manage landscape waste and food waste composting initiatives.
