Pattaya gets the "Grab"
After conquering Bangkok with its efficient and friendly service, GrabTaxi recently tested out the waters in the Eastern seaboard resort of Pattaya.
GrabTaxi, which originated in Malaysia and has since spread to 16 cities in the region, lets customers book a taxi via a Smartphone application, promising passengers a safe, fast and convenient way of getting around the city. Drivers using GrabTaxi always charge the metered rate plus a modest booking fee. The app is already the preferred option of taxi riders sick of dodgy cabbies.
On your marks …
Thai water buffaloes might not be as aggressive as Spanish bulls but they can certainly give the bulls a good run for their money and they’re a lot more fun. Chon Buri province, about an hour's drive east of Bangkok, is hosting Buffalo Racing from October 4 to 10 though the races are actually held on October 7. . Beefy buffaloes, skinny buffaloes and white buffaloes will race against each other over a 100-metre-long grassy strip, leaving a huge cloud of dust in their wake. You’ll be surprised – and terrified – at the beasts’ terrific speed but poor sense of direction.
Smoke on the water
Bang Phli in Samut Prakan, will host the annual Lotus Giving Festival on October 7. This little known but fun event marks the end of the Buddhist Lent and is feted around Wat Bang Phli Yai (also known as Wat Luang Phorto) and the floating market. The merit-making takes place at daybreak, when thousands of devotees, lotus flowers in their hands, line both sides of the canal as they wait for the huge Buddha image to arrive by boat. The festival carries on throughout the day with entertainment, contests and lots of gastronomic treats until long after night has fallen.
Creative connections
AirAsia connects Thailand’s North and South through a new direct flight between Chiang Mai and Surat Thani. The daily flight departs Chiang Mai at 12.30pm and arrives at Surat Thani at 2.20pm, while the northward flight from Surat Thani to Chiang Mai takes off at 2.50pm before landing at former Lanna capital at 4.45pm. Part of AirAsia’s aggressive expansion on point-to-point operation over domestic destinations, the direct flight will save air travellers time and money. The airline is now offering early-bird promotion. Visit www.AirAsia.com.
