Cha-Am blog by onlychaam

Because of local elections taking place on Sunday 22nd, a ban on sales of alcohol will be imposed the day before. So all bars will probably be closed (at least officially) on Saturday night, April 21st.

Here is the line-up for the concerts that will rock Cha-am beach during Songkran, from April 10 to 18. No big star, the most famous, according to my Thai daughter, are Biew the Star (on the 12th) and Wiew (18th). My wife was really excited to see that Carabao was coming on the 15th, but I had a closer look and it’s “Aed 2″, who probably does Carabao covers.

The concerts will take place on the empty lot which is between the Methavalai hotel and the Tara Mantra hotel.

Here is a glimpse of what is going to happen in Cha-am on April 13, the first day of Songkran, the traditional Thai new year’s celebrations. Most events that day will take place at the “tesaban”, or Cha-Am municipality, near the train station, where there is the Wednesday night market.

Friday, April 13, in the morning

07:00 – 09:00. Merit ceremony (tam boon – tak bat), opened by the Deputy Mayor of Cha-am, Tawatchai Lakkanaam. It’s a traditional religious ceremony, Buddhist people making offerings to monks. It’s probably soon enough in the day to take your camera with you, after that you’d better have a waterproof model!

09:00 – 10:00. Ceremony to honour the eldest (lod nam kho pohn poo yai). Young people will pour water (mixed with flour and perfume) on the hands and feet of older people in their family, to show respect and ask for blessing and forgiveness. It takes place in front of the municipality.

11:00 – 12:00. Gathering of a parade in front of the Long Beach hotel (soi Long Beach, between soi north 9 and 10).

12:15. Official opening of Songkran Festival with a speech by Winai Buapradit, the head of Phetchaburi province (still in front of the Long Beach).

12:30. The parade will start from the Long Beach hotel and go along the beach road until the viewpoint, then turn right along Narathip road until it reaches the municipality.

Friday evening

17:00. Opening of the municipality area to the public (shops, food stalls, games for kids…).

19:30. Opening ceremony of Songkran festival.

20:00. Concert featuring Cattaleeya Malasree and Monsit Camsoy, followed by The Super Joke, a comedy company, then followed by some more music.

This is, of course, the traditional ceremonies and festivities. For the rest, prepare to get wet!

Cattaleeya Malasree:

Monsit Camsoy:

Makha Bucha is an important festival for Buddhist people. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month, which is March 7 for this year. Makha Bucha marks the day when 1,250 monks, all of them Arhat (enlightened) gathered spontaneously to listen to the sermon of the Buddha that laid the principles of Buddhism.

On Makha Bucha day, you can go to a temple and attend or join a candlelight procession led by the monks.

On a more practical point of view, please also note that there will be a ban on the sale of alcohol on March 7, with all bars staying closed.

The 12th international Kite Festival will be held in Cha-am from March 9 to 11.

It will take place at Camp Rama VI, which is on the road to Hua Hin, next to Maruekhathayawan Palace.

The second edition of this festival is coming from February 11 to 19. Plenty of food at the viewpoint and concerts every night, including Luang Kai (who was here last year), Cham Chamruam and Noey Senorita. More details in our forum.

There is a festival taking place at Wat Nong Phao Than, about 10 km north of Cha-am in the direction of Bangkok (you can’t miss the neons on the side of the road). The name of this annual ceremony is “Phit thong fang louk mit”.

We have just updated our Restaurants page, to mention Rang Yen restaurant (not a new place, but new to us!) and Sea Zapp (pronounce “sea saep”) restaurant. Sea Zapp has been opened for just a few months. It’s on the hospital road, 300 meters after Sport Village. We like the food, service, price and setting.

Another new place is Krua Mai Lung Cowboy, which has been recommended in our forum. To find it, take the bypass road in the direction of Pranburi and take the first U-turn. Take the junction on your left to Cha-am, and the restaurant is just on your left.

Bon appétit !

Many people are wondering about this “park” that is being built on the outskirts of Cha-am, on the road leading to Bangkok. Will it be an amusement park? A theme park with Greek statues and a roller coaster going around an artificial volcano? Well, don’t hold your breathe, and expect it to be just another shopping outlet. Maybe with some fun (if not overpriced) attractions, maybe with a Ferris wheel thrown in the middle, maybe with some supposed Greek touch in the decoration, but still a shopping outlet.

Yet, it will probably be successful, as the Thais are always looking for places to go “teeaw”. The outlet is conveniently located for people to stop by on their way back to Bangkok, with plenty of parking space planned. Now they just need two things to make it a winner: affordable food, and, last but not least, plenty of opportunities in the setting for the Thais to take pictures of themselves. Looking at the scale model, I think they worked that one out already!

There were some rumors, but now it’s confirmed: Tesco Lotus is going to open a store in Thayang, the first large town north of Cha-am (at km 182, that is roughly 20 km from Cha-am main intersection). That’s some very good news for us Chaamers, along with the soon to open Makro store north of Hua Hin, as the only choice we had so far was either a long drive to Big C in Phetchaburi or a drive through Hua Hin traffic to Market Village (nice place but lacking parking space).

You can find some pictures and driving directions in our forum.