THE BARAI WINS " SPA DESIGN OF THE YEAR "

Hua Hin, Thailand, January 2009 … THE BARAI has recently received another great accolade from AsiaSpa Magazine, winning an AsiaSpa Award 2008 in the category of “Spa Design of the Year”, a true recognition of its unique interior design, which uses the art of architecture as a visual guide while guests are on THE BARAI Journey. THE BARAI is considered the pioneer in the spa industry in terms of design concept, being the first of its kind.

THE BARAI, inspired and designed by renowned Thai architect Mr. Lek Bunnag is a journey where the art of architecture is the guest’s guide. When guests arrive at THE BARAI, they leave one world behind and enter another, where the goal of the design is to shelter them from the outside world, offering a true sanctuary of peace and pure serenity. Guests are invited to enter the delightful mystery of THE BARAI, where sunlight flirts and dances with shadows, enticing them deep into the inner sanctum, not only of the spa, but also of their soul.

As a result of the experience that guests discover while on THE BARAI journey, we know that THE BARAI uses architecture and interior design as a visual guide, affecting guests’ feelings and experiences as they realise the goal of the journey, which is a delightful feeling of peace and tranquillity deep within the inner self. Art is the defining aspect of THE BARAI architecture, which has been designed to create moods and elicit an emotional impact.

THE BARAI provides eight exclusive residential spa suites and 18 exotic treatment rooms located on more than 4.5 acres (18,500 sq m) of serene beachfront land adjacent to Hyatt Regency Hua Hin. Opened on March 1st, 2007, THE BARAI is considered not only the newest destination spa in Thailand, but also the latest addition to Hyatt Pure Spa’s family of residential spas.

Since THE BARAI opened in March 2007, we have received recognition from many leading international publications. THE BARAI was first included in the Hot List Spas 2007 by Conde Nast Traveler magazine and, a month later, on the IT LIST 2007 compiled by Travel+Leisure magazine, winning the SpaAsia Crystal Award in the category of “Best Resort Spa 2007”, and the “Best New Spa” Award at the 18th TTG Travel Awards 2007.

The awards are evidence that THE BARAI offers unique spa experiences that include luxurious accommodation, premium-quality products, treatments, services and ambience, making it the ideal option for clients who enjoy a higher level of residential spa experience.

The latest award, Spa Design of the Year at the AsiaSpa Awards 2008, will increase recognition of this very special destination spa, not only helping THE BARAI to gain a strong foothold in Thailand’s competitive spa industry, but also promoting Hua Hin in the international market as a true wellness destination and emphasising Thailand’s status as the spa capital of Asia.

“This award is considered particularly valuable for THE BARAI since it enhances our reputation, brings even greater recognition and helps increase awareness of the unique properties of THE BARAI, strengthening its positioning throughout Asia.
Of course, the award also encourages us all to work even harder to maintain and increase THE BARAI’s reputation,” said Mr. Mikael Svensson, the hotel’s General Manager, about this AsiaSpa Award 2008.

For reservations and more information, please contact THE BARAI at +66 3251 1234 or call your local Hyatt hotel, Hyatt Worldwide Reservations Centre or log onto www.thebarai.com

Global Hyatt Corporation, one of the world’s premier hotel companies with properties in 45 countries, provides authentic hospitality to guests through a passionate commitment to personalized service, cultural relevance, and genuine stewardship of the environment. Headquartered in Chicago, the company’s affiliates own, operate, manage and franchise Hyatt-branded hotels and resorts under Park

http://www.tourismthailand.org/news/content-1638.html

Travel Thailand in Songkran Festival

What is Songkran Festival ?... We present top place for travel Songkran Festival.

1. Khao San Road : about click.




Khao San Road Map

Khao San Road Hotel
1. http://www.khaosanroad.com/
2. http://www.bangkok.com/hotels/khao-san/
3. Khao San Road Hotels - Hotels in Khao San Road, Bangkok Thailand : http://khaosanhotels.com/

More Informations Khao San Road
1.WWW Khao San Road : http://www.khaosanroad.com/

2. Khao San Road travel guide - Wikitravel : Open source travel guide to Khao San Road, featuring up-to-date information on attractions, hotels, restaurants, nightlife, travel tips and more. Free and reliable advice written by Wikitravellers from around the globe. http://wikitravel.org/en/Bangkok/Khao_San_Road

3. Khaosan Road – Wikipedia : http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khaosan_Road

4. Khao San Road Information Guide : Khao San Road information (Kao San Road), all you need to know, where to stay, hotels, guesthouses, attractions, things to see & do, where to eat, shopping, restaurants, clubs, bars and pubs. Ko Sarn Road http://www.bangkok.com/area-khao-san-road/index.html

2. Chiangmai province songkran about Chiangmai click

Chiangmai province Map


Chiangmai province Hotel
1. http://www.cnxplaza.com/
2. http://www.chiangmaihillhotel.com/

3. http://www.chiangmaibooking.com/

4. http://www.thaihotels.org/chiangmai.htm

5. http://www.pornpinghotelchiangmai.com/index.html

6. http://www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Chiang_Mai.htm

3. Southern Thailand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Thailand

1. Phuket hotels, Thailand: travel information guide http://www.phuket.com/

2. Koh Phi Phi http://www.phiphiholiday.com/

4. Eastern Thailand
1. Pattaya : http://www.pattaya.com/index_eng.asp
2. Koh Samet : http://www.kohsamet.org/

Thai New Year or Songkran Festival

The Thai New Year (Thai: สงกรานต์ Songkran) is celebrated every year on 13 April to 15 April. It is also celebrated in Laos (called pi mai lao or 'Lao New Year' in Lao), Cambodia, Myanmar (where it is called Thingyan), and by the Dai people in Yunnan, China. Sri Lanka also celebrates a similar festival called Sinhalese and Tamil New Year on the same dates. The same date is celebrated widely throughout the Indian subcontinent, albeit based on the astrological event of the sun beginning its northward journey.

The date of the festival was originally set by astrological calculation, but it is now fixed. If these days fall on a weekend, the missed days off are taken on the weekdays immediately following. Songkran falls in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season. Until 1888 the Thai New Year was the beginning of the year in Thailand; thereafter 1 April was used until 1940. 1 January is now the beginning of the year. The traditional Thai New Year has been a national holiday since then.




New year traditions
The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. People roam the streets with containers of water or water guns, or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and drench each other and passersby. This, however, was not always the main activity of this festival. Songkran was traditionally a time to visit and pay respects to elders, including family members, friends and neighbors.

Besides the throwing of water, people celebrating Songkran may also go to a wat (Buddhist monastery) to pray and give food to monks. They may also cleanse Buddha images from household shrines as well as Buddha images at monasteries by gently pouring water mixed with a Thai fragrance (น้ำอบไทย) over them. It is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. In many cities, such as Chiang Mai, the Buddha images from all of the city's important monasteries are paraded through the streets so that people can toss water at them, ritually 'bathing' the images, as they pass by on ornately decorated floats. In northern Thailand, people may carry handfuls of sand to their neighborhood monastery in order to recompense the dirt that they have carried away on their feet during the rest of the year. The sand is then sculpted into stupa-shaped piles and decorated with colorful flags.

Some people make New Year resolutions - to refrain from bad behavior, or to do good things. Songkran is a time for cleaning and renewal. Besides washing household Buddha images, many Thais also take this opportunity to give their home a thorough cleaning.

The throwing of water originated as a way to pay respect to people, by gently pouring a small amount of lustral water on other people’s hands or over a shoulder as a sign of respect. Among young people the holiday evolved to include dousing strangers with water to relieve the heat, since April is the hottest month in Thailand (temperatures can rise to over 100°F or 40°C on some days). This has further evolved into water fights and splashing water over people riding in vehicles.

Nowadays, the emphasis is on fun and water-throwing rather than on the festival's spiritual and religious aspects, which sometimes prompts complaints from traditionalists. In recent years there have been calls to moderate the festival to lessen the many alcohol-related road accidents as well as injuries attributed to extreme behavior such as water being thrown in the faces of traveling motorcyclists.
The water is meant as a symbol of washing all of the bad away and is sometimes filled with fragrant herbs.

Astrological calculation
Although the traditional calendar of Thailand like most of Southeast Asia utilizes a lunisolar calendar, the date of the new year was calculated on a purely solar basis. The term Songkran comes from Sanskrit "Sankranta" and means "a move or change" - in this case the move of the sun into the Aries zodiac. Originally this happened at the vernal equinox, but, as the Thai astrology did not observe precession, the date moved from March to April.