Sensational seafood and more

Sensational seafood and more

Cha-Am Beach in Phetchaburi adds spice to your life this month as it hosts the "Shell Eating, Bird Seeing and Squid Angling Festival" from September 23 to October 2. A trip to ChaAm during the seafood festival usually means chilling out at the beachside restaurants of your choices and breaking your diet with barbecued squid, spicy seafood soup, steamed red snapper and more. Check out the hotel booths for fancy menus and fusion food.

Traditions on the island

The Centennial Memorial Day at Koh Si Chang next Monday and Tuesday (September 1920) is an occasion to pay tribute to King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) who constructed a royal palace Phra Chuthathut Ratchatha Palace, after his son Prince Chuthathut who was born there. Restored by Chulalongkorn University, the palace now forms the ideal backdrop to a traditional costume contest, arts and cultural perform?ances, and a light and sound show. Call (038) 216 532, (038) 427 667, (038) 428 750.

New luxury villas for Talingngam

The Conrad Samui opens its doors at Talingngam, on the southwestern part of the island. The resort features 80 freestanding villas with private plunge pools and sun?decks, including 65 onebedroom villas, 14 twobedroom villas and a Royal Villa. Each contemporary Thaistyled villa is furnished with artwork, tropical hardwood floors and Thai silk. All villas overlook the waters of the Gulf of Thailand and the resort's beach. The resort offers choices of fine dining with breathtaking cliffside views.

Running at midnight

Bangkok, Southeast Asia's unofficial nightlife capital, will host the Charity Midnight Run 2011 on October 8, and the good news is that you don't have to be the fastest to have fun. The annual "Amari Watergate & BMW Thailand Charity Midnight Run" will kick off at midnight at Amari Watergate Hotel on Phetchaburi Road and continue through the city's streets. Contestants can choose between six and 12 kilometres at a fee of Bt300 and Bt1,000. Proceeds go to underprivileged students and HIVpositive children. The winners receive airline tickets, hotel packages and other great prizes. Call (02) 653 9000 or eail [email protected].