On August 23rd and 24th at the Vancouver Art Gallery – North Plaza, the inaugural Discovering Thailand Festival will kick off with a series of fun, colourful traditional dances with fashion shows and entertaining Muay Thai (Thai martial arts) matches by renowned champions, Somchai Nakbalee and Komgrit Na Nakorn. It is all part of the country’s effort to showcase and celebrate the nation’s rich, vibrant cultural heritage as well as to promote its many amazing travel attractions.
Iconic to Thailand, Muay Thai, a combat sport developed in the 16th century, commonly referred to as “The Arts of the Eight Limbs”, has gained worldwide popularity as a self-defense technique and fitness workout. Watch Nakbalee and Nakorn as they skilful spar in the boxing tent.
The fun continues with festival visitors enjoying everything Thai including sampling authentic mouth-watering food prepared by award winning Thai chef, Phonganan Siriseangphaiwan, and savouring bite-size offerings by local “Thai Select Cuisine” restaurants. The Select Cuisine certification program ensures the cuisine’s genuineness based on use of bona fide Thai ingredients, recipes, and the chef’s experience. A component of the Thai government’s “Kitchen of the World” initiative, the goal is to promote real Thai food globally.
With great food comes amazing entertainment direct from Bangkok, the world’s top travel city according to Mastercard’s 2013 Global Destination Cities Index. Live on stage is the Sirinsin Thai dance troupe who will be showcasing Thailand’s popular folk and classical dances – from the intriguing mask dance, Khon to the graceful Sukhothai movements and playful sways of the Rabam Taree Keepat.
Lustre and striking, Thai silk existed long before it became vogue on Paris runways. When Her Majesty, Queen Sirikit, the “Mother of Thailand” visited the U.S. in the 60s, she dazzled Americans with her exquisite Thai silk haute couture – setting a global fashion trend for the textile, while reviving interest in the cottage industry at home. Some of the royal-style and national costumes in plain, patterned or brocade will be modelled at the festival. Other features include an exhibition on Amazing Thailand. Adding to the amusement are also children’s activities like playing traditional Thai games, and prize draws.
Besides the two-day festival in Vancouver, the dance, fashion and Muay Thai performances will also be staged at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre on August 22nd, Victoria Belfry Theatre on Aug 25th, and Royal Alberta Museum on August 28th. Tickets for the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre is available for purchase at $20 per person from vtixonline.com. Discovering Thailand Festival is organized by the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Vancouver.
More event details are available at www.thaiconsulatevancouver.ca/events or www.worldculinary.net/thailand.
