BRIEFS

Royal Flora 2011

By The Nation on Sunday

Chiang Mai

Rightman Co has joined forces with media partners including Workpoint and House and Garden magazine to promote the International Horticultural Exposition for His Majesty the King (Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011), which will be held from November 9, 2011 to February 14, 2012.

Rightman executive Kampol Nisitsukcharoen, whose company was appointed to promote the event on Tuesday, said that public relations campaign for the event would cover all media including newspapers, magazines, televisions and social networks. He added that Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut would preside over the press conference for Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011 on May 19.

Kampol said the event would feature at least 23 gardens from 22 countries, 11 international seminars and six academic conferences as well as plant contests. The event mascot - namely Nong Khoon - will be joined by new ones, namely Lom Bin, Din Cham, Nam Sai and Ai Oon. The event will also add a 40 metre tall "Giant Flora Wheel" to be a high-ground lookout and a special light-and-sound show, "Imagination Light Garden", to attract visitors.

-- The Nation 2011-05-02

Great news for Chiang Mai and a must see for all that can get there.

ROYAL FLORA

Giant floral expo in Chiang Mai

By The Nation

Chiang Mai will be hosting a grand international floral exhibition from November to February 2012.

The International Horticultural Exposition: Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011 is being held to mark three auspicious occasions: His Majesty's 84th birthday this December, Her Majesty's 80th birthday next August, and HRH Crown Prince Majavajiralongkorn's 60th birthday next July, the Agriculture Ministry's permanent secretary Chalermphorn Phirunsarn said yesterday.

The 99-day event, which will involve botanists, exhibits and agricultural expertss from 30 countries, will be held at the Ratchaphruek Royal Park in Chiang Mai from November 9 to February 15.

Chalermphorn said the event was expected to boost tourism and generate billions of baht.

The Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011 focuses on the "Greenitude: Reducing Global Warming to Save Planet Earth and Improve the Quality of Life", which is based on the 3 Gs and 3 Rs; namely Generation, Garden and Greentitude and Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, the Department of Agriculture director-general Jirakorn Kosaisawee said.

The event will feature activities and seminars, including a summit on rubber trees, the production of silk, orchids, tropical fruits and decorative flowers, in addition to contests involving 51 types of vegetables and plants.

Event manager Uppatham Nisitsukjaroen said there will be a 40-metre-tall Ferris wheel called Giant Flora Wheel as well as a theme park called Imagination Light Gardens and a children's knowledge park called Kids' Eco Park.

-- The Nation 2011-05-20

I'm getting flashbacks of 2006..

its about time they did something with it again though.. Can we call the big wheel, the Chiang Mai Eye ?