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Due to the large number of restaurants and shops run by Thais,
the Kowloon City district of Hong Kong is known as Little Thailand.
Thai SongkranThe "SONGKRAN"
festival happens during the hot season in middle of April.
Songkran is the ancient New Year's Day. Now the
official New Year's Day happens on the 1st January.
Thai SongkranThe most popular
feast is still "SONGKRAN".
It is celebrated in Hong Kong by the Thai community.
Thai SongkranA stage is set up
in the middle of Kowloon City sport playground.
Various performers dance or sing in front of a cheering crowd.
Thai SongkranMany local people
stop by in order to watch for the Songkran's beauty contest
including adults and children. Participants all wear beautiful and colorful
Thai dresses.
Thai SongkranKowloon City is
Hong Kong's Thai quarter as it was close to the old Kai Tak airport,
so easy to get fresh goods from Thai Airways aircrafts.
Many Thai groceries and small eateries can be found
in Kowloon City. Their number overcome by far the number of groceries in Wan Chai area!
Thai SongkranFans can offer
garlands ("DOOK MALAI" - ดอกมาลัย).
Garlands have to purchased through the Songkran committee.
Thai cuisine, snacks, desserts, accessories,
buddhas, DVD/VCD movies and groceries can be found in most streets at
Kowloon City near the former Kai Tak Airport.
Thai SongkranThai people like
Hong Kong because the weather is cooler compared to Thailand! They
feel the Thai community is very united while the consulate is organizing regular
festive gatherings.
Thai restaurants and grocery stores there sell everything
from traditional snacks to translations of Thai fortune-telling books.
Little girlThai Regional Alliance in Hong Kong
(สมาคมรวมไทยในฮ่องกง)
enhance the community spirit and promoted friendship to strengthen the Thai migrant groups
in Hong Kong into an alliance, to protect and promote the rights and welfare of migrants,
to provide the social and cultural educational aspects.
Many Thai migrant workers are living in Hong Kong. Already in
year 1994 there were over 12000.
Thai SongkranThe rite of pouring water
on Buddha statues, which has been cleaned by the monks, is performed. The ceremony
is known as "ROD NAM DAM HUA" (รดน้ำดำหัว).
Little girlSongkran festival is a
rejoicing time for the Thai community in Hong Kong. Beer and Thai food are
available!
Thai people are very concentrated here because the old Kai Tak
airport used to be right nearby. Thai immigrants didn't want to go too far so many of them
chose to live in the old Kowloon Walled City, whose surrounding area became the closest choice
for them to start a business.
Thai SongkranRevellers can enjoy rythmic
dance. Performers play Thai style music such as "MOLAM"
(หมอลำ) and "LOOK TOUNG" (ลูกทุ่ง).
In year 2006, according to the
latest statistics, Hong Kong was home to 28550 Thais.
Thai SongkranThai Water Festival
or "Songkran" in Hong Kong is always a great success every April.
The programs includes Buddha bathing, traditional Thai dance, festive parade, cooking and
traditional Thai massage demonstrations.
Thai SongkranMore than three hundreds Thai
people parade happily through Little Thailand in Kowloon City.
The Songkran" event takes place in Kowloon City
where there is a Thai community with Thai product shops, restaurants and massage boutiques.
Thai SongkranWater pistols are
used and some Thai people even resort to use a hose to splash each other.
Officers from the anti-gambling squad raided
an underground casino in Kowloon City which catered for Thai nationals in Hong Kong.
Thai SongkranWith a large Thai population
in Kowloon City District, liaison officers are appointed to foster a better
understanding of their policing concerns.
Thai SongkranKowloon City includes
many delicious Thai eateries such as "Ruamjai" restaurant.
There is a thriving Thai immigrant community. Many Thai maids gather
in Kowloon City on their day off on Sunday.
Thai SongkranDon't forget to join
Thai Songkran festival next year!
It is one of the great yearly event in Kowloon City.
On Sunday visitors to Kowloon City can witness monks
going through shops for morning alms.
Thai SongkranHoliest statues are
displayed in open-air pavilions during Thai Songkran festival
to allow worshippers to sprinkle them with water.
Thai cuisine is cheap in cheerful eateries in Kowloon City
where Hong Kong's Thai community gathers.
