Chiang Mai Zoo celebrates Lhin Ping’s 9th month

Supoj Thiamyoj
Lhin Ping celebrated her 9th month with a party organized by Prasertsak Boontrakulpoonthawee, chief of panda research and display project in Thailand, Dr. Kannikar Nimtrakul, panda veterinarian on February 27.

Lhin Ping enjoys her new play area on her 9th month birthday celebration.

Prasertsak said Lhin Ping is now 9 months old and reaching the curious stage, where she likes to learn about the things around her and develop her skills. The Zoo has installed a play area for her so that she can develop.

Fan clubs from around the country presented gifts to Lhin Ping for her birthday.

About 30 people from the Ban King Kaew Vibulsanti orphanage visited Lhin Ping and brought her a birthday cake as well as a panda ice sculpture.

Lhin Ping enjoyed birthday cake, ice sculture and other gifts very much in her new play area, Prasertsak said, adding that now Lhin Ping is about 25.3 kilograms, and is very healthy.

“It is expected that Lhin Ping’s new house will be completed next month by the time she reaches 10 months old on March 27,” he concluded.

source:             http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd2

How to spend my time in Chiang Mai

MOST VISITORS TO CHIANG MAI don’t have a problem when it comes to filling those holiday hours – they always seem to go too fast! However, for those first time visitors and those who would like a memory refresher, here are some suggestions for a variety of outdoor activities which cover many interests.

Chiang Mai has a choice of five challenging golf courses. There is the Royal Chiang Mai Club, Green Valley Club, Lanna Golf, the Gassan Golf & Spa and the Gymkhana Club for golfing enthusiasts. Equipment, trolleys, caddies and refreshments are available at these courses and visitors are warmly welcome.

If you would like to cool off, maybe a Swimming Pool would be the answer. Both the Top North Hotel and The Amari Rincome Hotel welcome “outside” guests to use pool and after enjoy the lovely garden settings to have a poolside drink. If you enjoy a peaceful, country setting for an Outdoor Massage with herbal teas and good health advice, then Tao Garden Health Resort & Spa, at Doi Saket, is the place to be. The muslin walled massage areas sit over a lake for cool breezes.

Chiang Mai Zoo is a delight in which to wander around. A visit to the Panda Bears is a must while the Penguin Aquarium gives a welcome feeling of coolness. Chiang Mai Zoo is on the lower slopes of Doi Suthep at the top of Huay Kaew Road.

A thrilling way to view Chiang Mai and surrounds is to take a Microlight Flight over the city. For breathtaking pleasure, and a photographer’s golden opportunity, this is certainly something. Flights take off from the Doi Saket area (just follow the signs.) Taking to the air from a different aspect is what Bungy Jumping is all about. A Bungy Jump venue, managed to A.J. Hackett’s New Zealand standards, is located in the Mae Rim area.

Rock Climbing enthusiasts, or “wannabees”, are catered to at The Peak Climbing Wall near the Night Bazaar. Each and every climber is harnessed to a ground “handler” for absolute safety. The Peak also operates, under floodlights, during nighttime hours.

Two Shooting Ranges to maintain your marksman skills. One is situated close to Rajamangala Park (near Chang Puak Police Station) and, in the same area, Horse Racing (seasonal) is held on Saturdays. The other shooting range is at the 700 Year Stadium.

Horse Riding can be enjoyed at the Thai Army Cavalry base on Mae Rim Road. The stables are open Saturday and Sunday evenings from 4.00 pm .Opposite the Green Valley Golf Course is a newly opened Archery Range managed by a British/Thai team. A more unusual experience is Elephant Riding which can be undertaken at a variety of Elephant Camps. Under the guidance of an experience Mahout (who guides the elephant), this soft-adventure takes visitors along jungle tracks and mountain streams. Perched high in a howdah on the elephant’s back, this is a non-strenuous way to see something of nature. A little bit more strenuous, but just as much fun, is to join the Mountain Biking program. Depending upon how active you want to be, (you can choose to ride only downhill) and many various routes are offered around the slopes of Doi Suthep. Equipment (mountain bike, helmet, etc) are provided by the tour operator and the guide ensures each participant’s pleasure and safety along the remote paths with Chiang Mai Mountain Biking.

A bit faster in pace is Go-Karting and you can rev-up your adrenaline at the specially designed, 600 meter go-karting track on the Hang Dong Road. Speaking of thrills, if X Sports are your idea of fun, Chiang Mai now has a X-Sport area to enjoy skateboarding and trick biking at the RC X-Sport Games and Amusement park on Huay Kaew Road

Very new to the exercise scene in Chiang Mai is canoeing and kayaking on the Mae Ping River. The boating enthusiasts are seen on the river every evening from about 5 pm onward. The canoes and kayaks can be rented at the garden park in front of the Gawila Barracks on Lamphun Road.

A great escape from the heat is to enjoy a few games of bowling. Chiang Mai has three places for bowling. Recently opened for plenty of fun are: UFO Bowling, Lamphun Road behind Mae Ping Police Station’ Chiang Mai Bowling at 205 Sriphoom Road and Bully Bowl, spread over two floors at the Kad Suan Kaew Complex on Huay Kaew Road

Those who would like to keep up their computer game skills can enjoy hundreds of games at the completely air conditioned Pantip Plaza, The Computer City located on Changklan Road. The monitors are large taking you inside the game. Plenty of computers to choose from and comfortable seats. Order Mexican and Japanese snacks when the hungries attack.

For “do nothing” relaxation and a bit of People Watching, try an hour enjoying the fountains and flowers at Buag Haag City Park. Park benches and shady trees provide a nice venue to simply watch the world go by. Another outdoor relaxation, for the evening, is to visit the Kalare Food Centre in the Night Bazaar area, or Changklan Plaza near the Empress Hotel where visitors can watch Thai Classical Dance & Musicians while sampling Thai fast foods or having a drink.

source:   http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/where_to_fill_your_freetime.html

CHIANG MAI ZOO SNOW DOME

The newly-opened 580-square-metre Snow Dome is the latest attraction in the northern city of Chiang Mai. Soon to be the new home and play pen for Chiang Mai’s famous panda family — Chuang Chuang (the male panda), Lin Hui (the mother), and Lin Ping, their cub born on 27 May, the Snow Dome also features a separate area where visitors to the zoo will be able to see, touch and feel, and even frolic in the ‘snow’.

The Chiang Mai Zoo Snow Dome is set to be very popular with children and families. For visitors from Thailand, the countries of Southeast Asia and the Middle East, the mention of snow generates great excitement as it conjures up images of a picture-perfect wintery landscape they have yet to experience.

Frolic in the Snow
When chilled water sprayed from a nozzle comes into contact with the very low temperature inside the Snow Dome (which can be set as low as –5 degrees centigrade), small particles of ice and snowflakes form and fall to the ground as snow.

The Snow Dome includes a snow terrace, a huge slide, and a viewing platform. Visitors can make their own Snowman or snow sculpture, or simply frolic in the snow. Families and friends can engage in snowball fights or experience the thrill of riding down a huge slide on a donut ski.

The Snow Dome is connected to the existing panda display area and features a specially-designated zone and an observation deck from which visitors can enjoy viewing the pandas.

Chiang Mai Zoo authorities are scheduled to move the panda family into their new quarters and display area at the Snow Dome when the cool season in Thailand comes around again in the fourth quarter this year. The panda nursery is also located in this complex. Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui, the proud parents, are both on loan from China.

In the meantime, wrap up warmly and enjoy the snow at the Chiang Mai Zoo Snow Dome. Visitors will be provided with a coat and shoes to keep warm while inside the dome.

The admission fee is 150 baht each for adults and 100 baht for children less than 135 cm in height. Visits are limited to 20-minutes. The zoo runs a total of 12 Snow Dome sessions per day with the first session beginning at 9.00 a.m.

Panda Fever in Thailand

Panda fever is so intense in Thailand, since the birth of its cub, Li Ping, last May, that zookeepers are painting crocs and elephants in panda colors just to get some of the attention. Li Pang, whose parents are on loan from China, has millions of fans and a 24-hour television channel, reports the Wall Street Journal, and the cub has been a bonanza for the zoo: “It’s like winning the lottery,” says the director, who often wears a panda-suit for interviews.

Aquariums and animal parks are eager to cash in, as well as educate visitors about Thailand’s own endangered animals. “They’re an endangered species, too, like the panda, so we hope some of our knowledge will trickle down,” says a crocodile wrangler who’s painting baby crocs to appeal to school children. And it seems to be working: said one young visitor, “crocodiles are scary but this one is cute.

source: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/4752389-intense-panda-fever-in-thailand-spreads-to-elephants-and-crocs