February Message from Friends for Asia Director
___Message from the Director of Friends for Asia, Todd Cikraji___<br />
Thailand Holidays and Festivals 2013
There are at least fifteen public holidays in Thailand and most Thai workers will receive additional vacation time on top of this. The Thai calendar also includes many holidays and festivals which are not official holidays.<br />
Loy Krathong / Yee Peng in Chiang Mai
__Loy Krathong (ลอยกระทง)__, sometimes spelled _Loy Kratong_, is a colorful festival held every year on the full moon of the twelfth month in the Thai Lunar Calendar. In 2012, the full moon falls on November 28th, but in some places the celebration will be from the 27 to 29th. <br />
Dan Sai Ghost Festival, June 22-24, 2012
## Phi Ta Khon Ghost Festival in Loei ##<br />
Wisaka Bucha (Vesak) - Thai Holiday 2012
[Wisaka Bucha](http://chiangmaibest.com/thai-holidays-festivals/wisaka-bucha/) is on Monday, June 4th, 2012. This is a national holiday and banks and government offices are closed. Temple schools may hold half-day celebrations and have the children march in a parade to various Buddhist temples and shrines in the nearby neighborhood. Most other schools will be closed for the day. This holiday celebrates the anniversary of Buddha attaining enlightenment 2,600 years ago. Note that holiday this is sometimes spelled Vesakha, Vesaka, or Vesak. In Thai, there is no "V" consonant or sound, and the name is spelled with ว which is a "w" sound.<br />
Rajjabrabha Dam and the Khao Sok National Park
For those volunteering in Thailand, the Khao Sok National Park should not be missed...<br />
Chiang Mai’s City Pillar Spiritual Ceremony - Inthakin 2012
## May 17th to 24th, 2012 At Chedi - Luang temple, Chiang Mai ##<br />
Holidays in May for Thailand
After the crazy times of [Songkran in Chiang Mai](http://chiangmaibest.com/thai-holidays-festivals/songkran/), one might think that Thailand lulls itself into a few months of relative calm. That is not the case for the month of May, as several events take place, and Visaka Bucha which begins in early June should be on the radar screen of anyone in Thailand.<br />
Chakri Day 2012 Weekend Events
There are several events this Friday April 6th, and over the weekend, April 7-8th, 2012. Friday is Chakri Day; there will be elections in Phuket and Chiang Mai and other towns and provinces; and Monday April 9th will be the royal cremation ceremony of HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasud.<br />
Make a Lasting Impact as a
Volunteer or Intern in Thailand
These projects provide authentic access to Thai communities, beyond typical tourist experiences. The connections formed while volunteering create lasting impacts, both for volunteers and the local people whose lives they touch.