HOT Magazine August 15, 2015 | Page 59

it looks like a magnificently coalesced relationship that Mother Nature established with this sacred location. Intertwined around the walls, creeping up the edges, the vines and roots climb and cover most of the structure. As spring comes, the leaves flourish wonderfully, making it look like the bricks and cement always belonged there. Ang Thong boast from a number of festivals that that occur annually. One of the more popular ones is Ngan Mueang U – Khao, U Nam and the Annual Red Cross Fair, which is held late December and at the beginning of January. Cultural shows, exhibitions, local handicraft sales and beauty contests are common, in what is a very pleasant show. Another festival is the Long Boat Race Festival, which occurs in Wat Pa Mok and is scheduled in two distinct periods: A prints celebration which is held in March and the traditional race which dates onwards to October. Lots of fun, thrills and excitement accompany this wonderful event. The final and most interesting festival is the Dragon Parade Procession, which is held in December of every year. This invites god Kuan-U to the Ang Thong Market and attracts many curious onlookers because of the extravagant parade. four hundred to eight hundred baht a night. Do not expect too much luxury, as this is more of a place for outdoors cultural heritage instead of indoors extravagance. As a whole, Ang Thong is a small province of incredibly rich and diverse history ranging all the way back to the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. Be it to visit its many beautiful temples or to indulge in its traditional drum making ceremonies, Ang Thong is a province you cannot afford to ignore in your travel itinerary. In terms of accommodation, Ang Thong is a very affordable place to go to, with small hotel prices ranging between August 15 - September 15 , 2015 59