Visitors will be impressed by seeing the cute Giant Pandas,paying your respect to the holy relics of Lord Buddha at Wat Pra Thad Doi Suthep,learning about the different life styles the Hmong and Karen hilltribe people...
Visit Phi Phi Island which is considered to be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. In the morning departure from the hotel to AO Nang Pier. Then you will arrive to PHI PHI DON ISLAND by tour boat...
About half way along the coast between Than Bok Khorani and Krabi town is a bay of mangroves that may be the most beautiful in all of Thailand. Here, bays and canyons are like passageways...
Watching the fisherman doing their job in the sea on their’s fishing boat, you will be impressed the wide angle view of greenery mountainous on Koh Samui from off shore and have a time to swim on snorkel at some remote and tranquilly islands...
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Hot Deals : Package tour to Pattaya, Bangkok, Damnern Saduak & River Kwai
This is a popular attraction with both tourists and locals alike because of its famous places among local people and visitors. It is a great opportunity to take some fantastic photograph to show your friends and family
A wonderful trip to see the nature,culture and way of life of Thai people. From Bangkok, it takes your family around 1 hour and 30 minutes driving down to south west of Bangkok to visit Ratchaburi province the city of fruits...
This trip will bring you to the nice island which is located around one hour cruising across Pattaya bay to the another side of Pattaya. There, tourist can find nice sunshine which is suite for sun bathing, nice and clean sea side. You will be never forget Pattaya the pearl of the East...
This is the fantastic excursion trip out side Bangkok to the south west of Bangkok and some major points of tourist interate are described briefly as follows: Kanchanaburi is rich in tourist attractions natural, cultural and historical...
Escape from the rush and noise of out side world immerse yourself by elephant safari & rafting and a pleasant winding drive up to Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, the symbol of Chiang Mai,where the holy relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined...
Enjoy your trip in Chiang Rai province to visit the well known Golden Triangle where is used to be opium trading center and view the beauty of the hill. Check it out by your own eyes...
In conjunction with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Pattaya City hall the Zoom Pattaya Festival will be taking place Bali Hai Beach Pattaya on the 30th and 31st of March 2012.
There will be 3 stages, with each stage hosting a distinct music style such as Hip Hop, R&B, House, and Dub Step. More than 50 Djs will participate in the event, featuring Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, DJ Domination – the world’s best Video DJ winner 2012 – Teddy O, Slick, Eddie Pay and Thailand’s own top DJs Dome Pakorn Lum, Monton Jira, and many other notable personalities.
Tickets will be 200 Baht per person. Fore more information on this festival please visit the Zoom Pattaya Festival 2012 website and for more information on all upcoming Thailand events please visit the Thailand Event Calender.
Sak Yant is the Thai name for sacred geometrical designs inked into the skin. Sak is the Thai word for tattoo and Yant, or Yantra as it is known elsewhere in the world, is the Thai name for a geometrical design believed to posses magical powers of protection.
The Sak Yant tattoos are normally inked by Buddhist Monks or Brahmin priests/holy men. Each of the different Sak Yant tattoo designs is said to carry a certain protection, some Thai’s believe that when a design is inked onto your skin by a Buddhist monk you then become imbued with that protection. Some designs are meant to give the owner the power to charm a lover or become wealthy while others offer protection against enemies.
Yant tattooing is an ancient Buddhist tradition practiced in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The prayers tattooed around the Yant are written in Pali Sanskrit, the original language of Buddha, using ancient Khom or Khmer lettering. The use of magic Yantras and the sacred alphabet to wrtite them has been a common practice with the Khmer race for thousands of years.
Local beliefs in Nature Spirits, Animism, and other sub-belief systems have been incorporated into the vast array of Yant designs used in traditional Thai Sak Yant Tattooing. The Sak Yant tradition in ancient Thailand times had warriors being given Sak Yant tattoos as it was believed that the Sak Yant would protect them by making their bodies more slippery and harder to grab in battle.
This particular ancient tradition of Sak Yant tattoos for warriors saw the development over time of new Sak Yant Tattoos that would be inked to protect against penetrative weapons such as guns and knives. Some Thai’s believed that if you were covered with Sak Yant tattoos it would make your skin slippery and hard to penetrate by these types of weapons.
Thai Sak Yant tattoos represent the myths of Himmaphan. The unique designs depict the images of the gods Shiva, Brahma, Rahoon, Rama, Lak, Ramayana and Hanuman who Thai’s believe are celestial beings. Having the images of these gods inscribed on ones body is thought to bring good luck.
Each Sak Yant tatto has it’s own particular design, method and meaning Each Sak Yant tattoo also has a prayer ( Kataa ) that accompanies it and is the final step of the tattooing process as the monk speaks the Kataa and blows it’s words into the newly inscribed tattoo, awakening it’s power. The Sak Yant is said to become alive and to continue growing with it’s owner for the rest of their lives.
Sak Yant tattoos have a very strict application method that must be adhered to and takes many years to master at the training of Yant masters. The tattooist must concentrate very hard while inscribing the tattoo as he must silently chant a mantra that changes with each new element of the design while inscribing the ancient Khmer lines.The recitation helps to pass on the magic onto the Sak Yant Tattoo.
Sak Yant Tattoo Tools & Inks
The tools and preparation of inks used in traditional Sak Yant tattooing today vary from temple to temple and with every Yant Master. In ancient times monks used a very hard , sharpened to a point Rattan tree thorn which would be up to three feet in length. As time went on monks found other suitable objects used to inscribe the Sak Yant tattoos such as sharpened umbrella spikes and often coffin nails that were picked up after a traditional cremation would be sharpened and attached to the end of a stick to use.
Whatever instrument was ultimately used by the monks they would have to be prepared as well by singing and chanting matras that would be blown into the new tool by the monks to give it magical powers.
The preparation of the inks used also vary from Yant Master to Yant Master with some preferring to prepare their inks the ancient ways from the sap of a rare tree found in the North East area of Thailand ( issan ). The sap is cooked into a black pigment to which a small amount of snake venom is added. While other Yant masters prefer to use Chinese ink mixed with aromatic oils and whiskey.
The Meanings of Thai Sak Yant Tattoos
Each Thai Sak Yant Tattoo has it’s own particular meaning and purpose. The beliefs stem from ancient Thai peoples and culture. While not all Thai people today subscribe to the belief in the power of the Yant tattoos, there are still many Thai’s from every walk of life who not only believe but practice the ancient art often.
The following are just a few of the more popular Sak Yant designs and their meanings.
Hanuman Soong Rith ( White Magic Monkey ): In the Ramayana Indian tale, Hanuman is immortal, lucky in game and lucky in love. If you want success in life, protection from weapons and want to be lucky in love, then this is the Sak Yant tattoo for you.
Gao Yord ( Nava Horakoon ): This is probably the most popular of the Sak Yants for newcomers. Also known as the nine spires the Gao Yord is is explained by the 9 magic abilities of Lord Buddha that appear in 9 lines of the tattoo’s inscription. This is a good Sak Yant for protection.
Matchanu ( Semi God’s Monkey & Fish ): Matchanu is the son of Hanuman and Suwanmadcha ( mermaid ) This Tatoo looks very similar to Hanuman except if you look closer it has a tail like a mermaids. This is a popular Yant with the fishermen.
Ganesh ( Pra Pikanesha ): Ganesh is the god of wealth and success and very recognizable by the elephants head on a human body. This Yant is considered good for artists, actors, singers and technicians, and, of course, people who want to be wealthy.
Erawan Elephant: The Erawan Elephant is a god elephant with three faces. He is the largest and most powerful of all elephants in heavan and is the mount of Indian God Indre. This Yant is particularly sought out by travelers and politicians as it protects the owner from harm.
Rules of the Sak Yant
After you receive your sak Yant tattoo and it is blessed by the monk you are usually given instructions or rules to follow in order for your you to make sure the Yant’s magical powers remain. Some monks may tell you that you must recite a certain Buddhist mantra every morning or that you must closely follow the 5 precepts of Buddhism closely as not to devalue your Yant and lose it’s power.
Buddhism is the most profound and wholesome education directed by the Buddha towards all people. Five precepts are the curriculum of Buddhist teaching, which are embraced in the moral code of Buddhism. By observing precepts, not only do you cultivate your moral strength, but you also perform the highest service to your fellow beings. The Five Precepts are:
Do not kill
Do not steal
Do not indulge in sexual misconduct
Do not make false speech
Do not take intoxicants
It is believed that if you do not follow the 5 Buddhist precepts that your Yant will not only lose it’s power but the wearer will also lose their moral strength.
There is also the question of women. Some monks believe that woman should never touch the Sak Yant while other monks believe it is okay as long as the woman in question asks and is given permission first. When the touching occurs the Yant wearer should be in a lower position than that of the person touching the Yant.
Where to get a Thai Sak Yant Tattoo
Most Wats ( temples ) have at least one monk who can inscribe the Sak Yant but there are several popular Temples such as Wat Bang Phra in Bangkok where the faithful go daily to have Yant’s done. There are also Yant Masters around Thailand that are not monks and also do Sak Yant Tattoos. Some of these Yant Masters such as Ajarn Noo Kanphai are very popular for their work and that of their students. Ajarn Noo is the Yant Master that gave Angelina Jolie her Sak Yant tattoos.
Sak Yant Tattoo Cost
If you are having the Yant done at Wat then the cost is very inexpensive. You will be required to make a spiritual offering which usually consists of a pack of cigarettes, candles and incense which usually rins about 80-100 baht ( around $3.00 ). You will also be required to give a monetary donation that is usually between 50-200 baht ( $1.50-$$6.00 ). Done at a Wat the Sak Yant not only is inexpensive but you get the whole experience.
Sak Yants done by Yant Master outside of the Wats are usually more expensive and if done by someone like Ajarn Noo then we are talking serious money. It’s said he now charges over 100,000 baht to anyone wanting g the Tiger Yant like the one he gave Angelina Jolie, that’s over $3000. The one reason many seek out individual Yant Masters as their work is usually of a finer detail and much more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
No matter what you choose, make sure you have thought through your decision to get a Sak Yant Thai Tattoo, because like any tattoo it will be for life. If it’s definitely on your agenda then I would suggest going to Wat Bang Phra in Bangkok to get your first Sak Yant.
“Asiatique The Riverfront” : The Unique Riverfront Destination
TCC Land is launching a new lifestyle shopping development in Bangkok known as "Asiatique the River Front" along the Chao Phraya River which will be the largest of its kind in Asia. With a total land area of over 72 rai (22 acres) and based on the theme "Festival Market and Living Museum," the developers are hoping to attract both Thai and foreign shoppers. The center will be highlighting over 1,500 stores, theaters and panoramic restaurants and will be opening by December 2011.
For the Asiatique the River project, the company will open the first phase at the end of this year and plans for its grand opening next March. The project has now already succeeded in booking 90 per cent of the total retail space for rent. The company offers prices of between Bt1,000 and Bt2,000 per square metre a month. The project is close to the Chao Phraya River and about five minutes by car from the Krung Thon Skytrain station.
The two target customer demographics are young working people aged 25 years or more with a middle-income and an independent lifestyle. They like new places, socialize with friends after work and love to shop. The other group is tourists and expatriates living in Thailand who prefer purchasing a variety of products as souvenirs and desire the ability to explore the art and culture of Thailand, including activities and entertainment in the same location.
The project is divided into four main areas.
1. Charoenkrung district – Includes a souvenir shop for tourists. More than 700 home decoration stores, including a theater that supports over 400 seats audience. For those who love Thai arts and culture a small puppet play by Joe Louis company or Calypso, cabaret
2. The center district. Over 2,000 square meters of outdoor area and International Food Circus Zone that includes foods from many different countries.
3. Industrial Zone – include pubs, restaurants, fashion shops and more than 1,000 Decorative stores.
4. Waterfront district and a range of restaurants include Italian, Thai, Chinese Japanese-style and seafood with a panorama view and so on.
The additions mean the group's retail businesses would reach a combined 700,000 square metres next year when Asiatique the Riverfront opens in March and Digital Gateway at the end of 2012. Half of the total 700,000sqm will be retail space and the other half for car parks, event areas and other project facilities.
TCC Land Group has six property businesses: retail, hospitality, office buildings, golf courses, exhibitions, and residential. This group has total revenue of nearly Bt10 billion a year.
Currently, the company has combined retail space of about 650,000 sqm. This total includes the Pantip shopping centers, The Market, Digital Gateway at Siam Square and Tawanna. Along with the new project, "Asiatique The River Front," the company is also developing another Digital Gateway Center on Ekamai Road off Sukhumvit Road.
The group's annual rental fees from retail businesses has been hovering between 1.2 billion and 1.5 billion baht ($40-50 million). When both Asiatique and Digital Gateway at Ekamai are completed next year, the company expects that rental fees from retail businesses will reach Bt2 billion in the next two years.
The Sak Yant tattoos are normally inked by Buddhist Monks or Brahmin priests/holy men. Each of the different Sak Yant tattoo designs is said to carry a certain protection, some Thai’s believe that when a design is inked onto your skin by a Buddhist monk you then become imbued with that protection. Some designs are meant to give the owner the power to charm a lover or become wealthy while others offer protection against enemies.
