Chanthaburi

[RhinoTusk]

I lived in this town for 8 years when I worked in the gemstone industry. Chanthaburi has one of the largest gemstone markets in the world, so the town has an international business presence, yet very few tourists visit here. The language barrier is a burden, but people are more 'down to earth'. One welcome new addition since my last visit is Central Mall. 

 

 

There's a beer garden with live music, I'm going there tomorrow to see Pixxie, will post an update, other nights I hang out at the Koff House.

Despite few farang living here, you'll see Santa and Christmas trees everywhere at this time of year. 

Merry Christmas! 

[RhinoTusk]

Christmas Day I went over to Central Mall for the free entertainment.  They were singing Christmas songs and dancing to Christmas music, and most of the presentation was in English.

 

 

I glanced into the crowd, curious to count how many farang I could see, and I counted three.

 

 

After awhile, I was in need of some liquid refreshment and headed over to the beer garden, but when I was ready to return for the featured performer there were so many people I couldn't get close to the stage.

The headliner was Pixxie.  A pixie is a mythical creature of British folklore known to cause mischief in flower gardens.  The injection of the double XX represents the chromosome which identifies the female sex.  The lead singer was born in Chanthaburi but the other girls come from Bangkok and Chaing Mai, respectively.  This isn't a local band, I found some videos on YouTube, this has over 2 million views.

 

 

[Bazle]

1 hour ago, RhinoTusk said:

They were singing Christmas songs and dancing to Christmas music, and most of the presentation was in English.

That sounds horrific! 🙂

[RhinoTusk]

17 hours ago, Bazle said:

That sounds horrific! 🙂

It was very good but I don't think much of the audience understood the lyrics.

[sailingbill]

Wonderful RT, the lady and I have a rule of never going to the beach when there is a festival , next year we will try Central here for Christmas. You look at that crowd, the expectant faces. This is what many farang miss.  We will be going back to our house in Issan for Songkran, the kids will be having at but you will still see the meaning of Songkran,  respect for elders ,a renewal. I may eve be a monk for a day.  As a Catholic never had that option. 

[yselmike]

34 minutes ago, sailingbill said:

Wonderful RT, the lady and I have a rule of never going to the beach when there is a festival , next year we will try Central here for Christmas. You look at that crowd, the expectant faces. This is what many farang miss.  We will be going back to our house in Issan for Songkran, the kids will be having at but you will still see the meaning of Songkran,  respect for elders ,a renewal. I may eve be a monk for a day.  As a Catholic never had that option. 

I've just walked the beach in Pattaya.The police were arresting a man,tall skinny falang,nude sunbathing! He looked well out of it drink and or drugs.he went quietly.They are busy building from klang northwards.Very corporate! Looks like it's all going to be behind a pay wall.the whole beach is blocked off! The rest is stall after stall selling food mostly I guess.I would stick to the never going to the beach during a festival.Wild horses would not get me there.

[RhinoTusk]

3 hours ago, sailingbill said:

You look at that crowd, the expectant faces. 

Yeah and the kid in the Santa hat at the bottom of the photo was waving at me.😊  Like Issan, no beach in Chanthaburi, just a river.

[jacko]

13 hours ago, sailingbill said:

Wonderful RT, the lady and I have a rule of never going to the beach when there is a festival , next year we will try Central here for Christmas. You look at that crowd, the expectant faces. This is what many farang miss.  We will be going back to our house in Issan for Songkran, the kids will be having at but you will still see the meaning of Songkran,  respect for elders ,a renewal. I may eve be a monk for a day.  As a Catholic never had that option. 

In Pattaya it is too crowded, and one needs to keep one's eyes open, Mrs just reported her friend had her phone snatched out of her hand. These rural events can be great, no sense of feeling insecure, if anything welcome. 

[RhinoTusk]

From the Pixxie Facebook account

 

 

[sailingbill]

4 minutes ago, RhinoTusk said:

From the Pixxie Facebook account

 

 

The girls in the front are delicious, but look closer at the crowd , its why we love Thailand.  As to Jacko's above post it never gets old to be reminded of this. One of my first trips here and on a baht Bus a lady with a big bag sat close to me, her friend across and engaging me in conversation. I remember thinking I read about this on the FLB forum. Before I could react the driver stopped and ordered them off.