Winter is coming. In fact, the Thai winter has already breezed its way into Bangkok, with cool mornings and breezy nights. When Mother Nature gives us these signals, we, living in the concrete jungle, shouldn't ignore them. In fact, gear up for the next mini vacay to cooler lands within the Kingdom, as parks, farms and beyond are all blowing in the wind!
Cororokung Harvest Festival @ Coro Field
Dec 1-Jan 1, 2019
In Ratchaburi province, Coro Field brings the Japanese-style farm-park to Thailand, which has been the first of its kind in terms of agro-tourism. Spread over 104 rai, Coro Field focuses on cultivating rare strains of crops from around the world and water them with mineral water to ensure top quality produce. To get a feel for this hi-so farming, starting Dec 8 delve into the Cororokung Harvest Festival, where their cute mascot Cororokung takes centre stage. In its fourth year, the Harvest Festival offers various activities -- don the yukata and take pictures with Cororokung in a Japanese farm-style setting, partake in agricultural workshop activities, shop for organic products and write down New Year blessings on small wooden ema plaques. Dine at izakaya-style restaurants, drink their special melon beer and listen to live music as you marvel at the stars in the night sky. On the second weekend of every month, head to their Modern Farmer's Market where organic fruits and vegetables are sold. The best thing about all this, no entrance fees!
9am-10pm / 117 Ratchaburi-Pa Pok Road, Suan Pheung, Ratchaburi / www.fb.com/corofieldTH.
Flora Festival @ Royal Park Rajapruek
Nov 1-Feb 28, 2019
Thailand's North is the go-to destination the moment December comes along; Chiang Mai being a hot favourite. The Royal Park Rajapruek with its expansive gardens covering more than 800,000m², which contain plants from around the world divided into sections, is always the main attraction. The annual Flora Festival is being co-hosted by the Highland Research and Development Institute, who are promoting the highland communities. A winter flower show from the Royal Project Foundation will be displayed on 470 rai for 120 days. There will be numerous exhibitions dedicated to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as well as other royal figures that will capture Thai pride and the late king's accomplishments throughout his reign over seven decades. Other attractions and exhibitions include "The New Theory of Agriculture", which aims to educated on living a self-sufficient life through a new theory of farming, sculptures depicting royal figures from the Chakri Dynasty, a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Thai Elephant Tricolor flag, an "Amazing Mar Garden", an orchid house filled with various types of orchids complete with music and cultural performances and a marketplace with products from the highland communities.
8am-6pm / Chiang Mai / www.royalparkrajapruek.org / B100 for Thais (B70 for children). B200 for foreigners (B150 for children).
The Jim Thompson Farm 2018 @ The Jim Thompson Farm
Dec 8-Jan 6, 2019
Open only a month per year, the Jim Thompson Farm lets the city folk experience Isan agriculture, with lots of vegetables, crops and flowers everywhere. These include various Thai culture artefacts and paintings, as well as food and souvenirs. Take the tour, which holds four points of interest, including a pink cosmos butterfly field with 126 rai of fruit and vegetables, the mountainous regions of Phraya and its reservoir, an Isan village filled with activities, including farming, boat rides, music, folk performances and of course, silk-making. In Jim Village, watch the brand's famous silk-making production and relax in Jim Market where you can enjoy the sounds of a flowing river and shop for gifts, as well as produce and products from Jim Thompson Farm.
9am-5pm / Tambol Takob, Amphur Pak Thong Chai, Nakhon Ratchasima / Weekday presale tickets: B100 for children, B150 for adults, B90 for seniors; Weekend presale tickets: B140 for children, B180 for adults, B90 for seniors.
Flora Park & Rose Park @ Wang Nam Khiao
Nov 1-Apr 30, 2019
If you enjoy beautiful and wide landscapes, and want to see a field of flowers bloom vibrantly, head to the Wang Nam Khiao and visit Flora Park, as well as the Faprathan Farm's Rose Park for a day filled with things to do (including walking through colourful fields of flowers, obviously). Entrance to the parks cost B150 for adults or B50 for children no taller than 145cm and for those above the age of 60. You can also buy a ticket for both parks for B250 for adults and B100 for children and senior citizens, and doing so would grant you a tour around the parks. Take photos at specific landmark points around the parks, drink coffee made from home-grown coffee beans, head to the Flora Dome arena to marvel at rare, hard-to-find flowers, let the children frolic in the Kids Zone and Playground, test the romantic swings at the Flora Swing area, eat fresh food from the Flora Kitchen, and this is just the beginning!
www.fb.com/FloraParkWNK, www.fb.com/FaprathanRoseParkWNK / One park: B150, B250 for adults (B50, B100 for children and the elderly). Both parks: B250 for adults (B100 for children and the elderly).
The Little Garden @ Wang Nam Khiao
Dec 1-Jan 1, 2019
Also in Wang Nam Khiao, lies a garden that's lifted straight out of a fantasy setting. Little Garden has innovative architectural marvels such as castles and huts made out of bamboo decorated with more than 30,000 corn pods, surrounded by a flower garden filled with veggies. There is also a pond where you can feed fish, a chicken and bunny farm and a greenhouse with freshly-grown tomatoes. g
8.30am-5pm / www.fb.com/TheLittleGardenAtWangNamKhiao / B50 for adults, B25 for children.
