Amazing Surin Elephant Round-Up 2007

Home

Article Index
Amazing Surin Elephant Round-Up 2007
หน้า #
หน้า #
All Pages

Elephants have always played an integral part in Thai culture and Thai history. All Thai kings had a stable of white elephants and the animals once decorated the national flag and currency. Only ten years ago Thailand still had 4000 elephants. Nowadays only 2500 remain.

Elephants have always played an integral part in Thai culture and Thai history. All Thai kings had a stable of white elephants and the animals once decorated the national flag and currency. Only ten years ago

Thailand still had 4000 elephants. Nowadays only 2500 remain.

Therefore, we will bring you to Surin to learn more and realize how elephants relate to the thai folkways .

Surin, the northeastern province is very well known to both Thai people and international tourists as “the Land of Elephants.” It has been presenting the Elephant Round-Up for more than 30 years, and it is always scheduled on the third Saturday and Sunday of every November. Native people of Surin, called “Guai”, are skillful in catching wild elephants as well as training them. This year the Round up will take place November 17-18 in the compound of the Elephant Show Stadium in Surin. Each day the show begins at 8:30 AM and ends at about 11:30 AM. The Elephant Round-up in this year is newly improved, and consists of eight famous performances, with no less than 200 elephants to help demonstrate the relationship between the elephants and people, as well as the customs and culture of Surin. These performances include:

Elephant Round-up Schedule
17 - 18 November 2007 at Surin Elephant Show Stadium

07.45 a.m. - Parade of New Little Jumbos with their mums has to move out from city wall to the ceremony grounds.
08.00 a.m. - Opening speech by Chairman of the ceremony.
- Presentation of the prizes to The New Little Jumbos.
08.30 a.m. - Start The elephant talent shows.

Act 1 Paying obeisance to Surin deva

- Being the act with Surin deva on the back of charming elephant evacuating from the clouds

Act 2 Nativity to the planet earth

- One baby elephant and Gouy child playing together

Act 3 Worshiping to Gods seeking for a mighty elephant

- Gouy women dancing worshiping to the holy Gods

Act 4 The rumble of land and jungle

- A herd of elephants walking through the mist and then many herds appear

Act 5 Chanting the mighty elephant

- Gouy men and women dancing with gracefulness in elegant dresses

Act 6 Elephant mythology

- Elephant training

Act 7 Elephant Battle with Victory

- Royal elephant battle between Ayotaya troop and Hong Sawadee troop

Act 8 The Mighty Elephant

- Final act, a herd of elephant and actresses walking around the elephant battalion

11.00 a.m. - The visitors have an opportunity to go sight-seeing around the town by riding the elephant.

Ticket price : 800 Baht and 500 Baht Please reserve the tickets in advance at Surin Provincial Governor’s Office, Surin Province Tel&Fax 0-4451-2039 , 0-4471-3937 , 0-4452-1358
In addition, all visitors will be pleased with theatrical performances ,circus shows, fireworks, food and souvenir stalls (especially silks and silvers ) in the Surin Red Cross Fair too.

How to get there ::

By car
From Bangkok, drive along Highway 1 (Phahonyothin Road) and turn right on Highway 2 (Mitraphap Road) at Saraburi Province, then turn to the Chokchai-Dej Udom route (Highway 24) via Nang Rong District and Prasat District before turning left on Highway 214 to Surin Province. The total distance is 450 kilometers.

By bus
from Bangkok, there are daily ordinary and air-conditioned buses leaving the Northeastern Bus Terminal, and the trip takes about 6 hours.

By train
from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lam Phong), there are daily trains. The distance is 420 kilometers.

By air
THAI’s flights between Bangkok and Buri Ram are available daily except for Tuesdays and Thursdays.

There is also the local bus service from the provincial city of Surin to all districts (Amphoes) and to nearby provinces. Travelling within Amphoe Muang is possible by tricycle.

***For more information Please contact Surin Governor’s Office at (044) 512-039

Sources :
www.learningthai.com
www.tat.or.th
www.flickr.com
http://scitour.most.go.th
www.gov.surinpoc.com