Mango House Festival is pleased to announce that two of house music funkiest veterans – DJ Nick Power and DJ Colin Edwards – will help spread the love of house music at Mango House on Thursday, March 11th and Friday, March 12th. The events will also be recorded for future broadcast to the world on SSRadio www.ssradio.com

Other DJ’s are currently being scouted to fill the first three nights… if you know a DJs that may be interested in grooving at the festival please contact duane@mangonation.com

Nick Power is a member of the elite Soul Kandy team and has played at some of the biggest and the best clubs on the globe. You can find him live on the radio across London’s airwaves on 89.4 FM, and worldwide via the internet with his Soul Kandi. www.nickpower.dj

Colin Edwards is known for his voice and immensely popular Funk It Up radio syndication show and his signature ‘sexy, soulful, dance floor driven’ style blending elements of funk, soul and disco, combined with uplifting vocals. His show can be heard in most parts of the world including most of Europe, US, Africa, Venezuela, Canada, Australia and Mexico to name but a few. www.funkitupinternational.com

Stay tuned for more details coming soon.

On November 21st, starting around 4pm, there will be a parade through Old Town with displays of magnificent Krathongs and beautiful Thai ladies! this will be followed by a beauty pageant, a competition for the best Krathong, a competition for the best ideas for promotion and preserving this kind of Thai tradition, stage shows and, of course the launching of the krathongs.

In true ‘Old Town’ fashion, we expect this to be a really great event and we invite all of you to come along, with your ‘krathongs’ (no Styrofoam please!) and enjoy it with us.

Come join us in Lanta Old Town SUNDAY Nov 21^st for all the fun!

sunrise .... setting the boat adrift

Our favorite party in Lanta Old Town!

This Saturday evening, October 23rd is the traditional Chao Ley ceremony “Loy-Rua (Floating Boat Festival)”. The village Chao Ley men will build a symbolic boat and place wooden statues of themselves in it along with nail pairings, hair, popped rice and food. By performing this ritual, they ask for forgiveness from the sea gods and for any offenses they have made to the sea. It is believed that all evil is carried away in the symbolic boat when it is set a drift at dawn.

Traditional Rong-Ngeng Dance & Music and popular Thai music will be played all night. Food, plenty of drink and fun for the kids.

Hua Laem 2 (next to the Ko Lanta Hospital, Lanta Old Town)

A unique opportunity to take part in an islander’s way of life, the Ko Por Cultural Homestay lets you get to know a traditional Thai fisher-family’s way of life in a way that not many other people in the world will ever experience.

Ko Por Cultural Homestay visits can be arranged on request by contacting Mr. Sanae:
Mobile: +66 (0)874 743 247
Email: sanae.yamae [at] yahoo.com

How much does it cost?

• 700 THB per person, per night

this is payable in cash, each evening, to your host family

What’s included in the price?

• Return Longtail boat transfers from Old Town Pier to Ko Por
• 3 meals per day
• Simple accommodation in the host family’s home. (A bed with a mosquito net is usually provided in a private room)
• Daily activities with your host family – usually the normal daily activities they do every day

What’s activities can I expect to take part in

• Cutting and collecting Sap from the Rubber Trees in the Plantation
• Fishing Trips by Longtail boat to catch crabs or prawns
• Digging for Mussels at the beach
• Preparing freshly caught seafood to eat
• Making hand-made curry pastes
• Sight seeing around the Island or Bird Watching

If you decide to stay longer, we can arrange for more activities such as visiting nearby islands or snorkeling trips.

Please note: All activities depend on the Tides and the time of the day. Sea conditions are considered very carefully and trips will only be made if the weather permits.

What do I need to bring with me?

• Sun cream
• Mosquito repellent
• Personal toiletries
• Sarong
• Long sleeved tops and long trousers (for the early evening when mosquitos may be around)
• If you’d like to swim off the beach, you’ll need modest clothing too – bikinis are not allowed (board-shorts and a rash guard is fine – or even shorts and a T-Shirt) and you should try to cover up as much as possible in accordance with the Muslim faith. A short-sleeved T-Shirt and long shorts is acceptable – spaghetti-string tops and hot pants are not!

Please don’t bring alcohol, no gambling, please dress discreetly and kindly respect the Muslim way of life.

Other customs that need to be respected include:

• Alcohols and Drugs are strictly prohibited
• You must sleep in separate bedrooms if you’re not married, due to Muslim Regulations
• All activities depend on the Tides and the time of the day
• Sea conditions are considered very carefully and trips will only be made if the weather permits

Ko Por Cultural Homestay visits can be arranged on request by contacting Mr. Sanae:
Mobile: +66 (0)874 743 247
Email: sanae.yamae [at] yahoo.com

LANTA LANTA FESTIVAL
March  7th, 8th & 9th 2010

Don’t miss out on our annual party in Lanta Old Town, it is a showcase for the diversity of the Islands inhabitants.  Many food and beverage stalls, traditional arts & crafts, local music and dance.

Lanta Lanta Festival is an event that attracts people from all over the island and beyond, creating a fun atmosphere throughout the whole town, it is an absolute must do.

See you there!

Performances include Shadow Puppet Theater (Nang Talung), Traditional Thai Dance and Sea Gypsy Folk Music (Rong Ngeng) Enjoy great and affordable Thai & Western food, beer, coffee and many local Arts & Crafts exhibits. Get away from the crowds and become a part of a real Thai Fishing and Cultural Community!

December 26 & 27th, 2009

4pm until midnight

The LANTA OLD TOWN ARTIST WALKING STREET will be held on December 26th and 27th, 2009 on the main waterfront street in charming Lanta Old Town. Local and Foreign Artists and their crafts with a fine selection of Jewelry, Batik, Leather, Watercolors, Clothing and much more. Authentic food with an abundant choice of delicious snacks and meals available through out both evenings. Local Bars + Restaurants  will offer dinner and drink specials. Starts nightly at 4pm until 12 midnight.

Thai number for booking booths: 081 970 5972 or 085 884 9459.

Don’t Miss Out!

Floating Flower Arrangement for Loy Krathong

The local authorities here in Old Town have just announced a ‘Loy Krathong’ festival. Loy Krathong is an annual event celebrated in the whole of Thailand which allows you to appease the spirits and to get rid of your bad luck all at the same time!

To do this you must set adrift a ‘Krathong’ which is an ornately decorated float made from a piece of banana tree (actually it’s not a tree, it’s a plant, hence banana plantation) this is then decorated with flowers, incense, money, bits of hair, fingernails, candles and stuff like that. The idea is that the ‘Krathong’ drifts with the wind or current and disappears along with all your bad luck! It is a very beautiful festival and this year, as a promotion of Thai culture and traditions, the powers that be are making a special event in Old Town, for Thais and tourists alike.

Loy Krathong Festival Goers

On November 2nd, starting around 4pm, there will be a parade through old town with displays of magnificent Krathongs and beautiful Thai ladies! this will be followed by a beauty pageant, a competition for the best Krathong, a competition for the best ideas for promotion and preserving this kind of Thai tradition, stage shows and, of course the launching of the krathongs.

Best Krathong Competition

In true ‘Old Town’ fashion, we expect this to be a really great event and we invite all of you to come along, with your ‘krathongs’ (no Styrofoam please!) and enjoy it with us.