A kite that is controlled by radio signals, delicious food and a range of handicraft booths. This festival in Thailand sounds promising, says Avril-Ann Braganza
Do colourful kites soaring like birds in the blue sky make you happy? If you answered 'yes' and you're in Thailand, head to Cha-Am Beach for the Thailand International Kite Festival on 28th and 29th March. If you don't have a kite, fret not; you can buy one at one of the stalls at the festival.
This year promises kites of different shapes and sizes—dinosaurs, dragons, centipedes, tigers, puppies, birds, bears, camels, and ostrich. In keeping with the beach-side venue, there will also be an exhibition of kites in the form of various underwater creatures, including starfish, turtles, stingrays, pufferfish and jellyfish, which are often found in the sea off Cha-Am Beach. However, most of these grander kites (some up to four storeys high) are flown by international professional teams (by invitation only). For those coming to have fun, it's really about demonstration and watching these spectacularly designed kites being manoeuvred. The festival will also showcase a radio-controlled kite from Singapore, which will be controlled from a distance by radio signals and a candy drop kite—a large kite that drops candy as it soars along.
In it's 11th year, this annual festival is aimed at providing a platform to the ever-growing number of kite fans from Thailand as well as to those from other countries as well. The festival, which will take place at The Rama VI Army Camp, located about 5 km south of Cha Am town centre, will begin at 3 pm and end at 7 pm.
You can also walk down the streets of Cha-Am, adorned with colourful decorations and gorge on some delicious snacks or check out some of the handicraft booths. There will also be a parachute show, a radio-controlled airplane show and competition.
