The Phimai circuit 2019

The dates for this year’s Phimai Circuit 5km road race series are:

Saturday 16th March 2019

Saturday 15th June 2019

Saturday 14th September 2019

There are various age groups for male and female runners. There is a junior age group for boys or girls 15 years old and under, then a 16-29 years old age group, 30-34 years, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 for men, 60 and over for women, 65 and over for men.

This year the races start from near Phimai Hospital. The route is shown below.

You can get more information from Phimai Hospital at the phone numbers below.

044-471511 ext. 140

083-1272705

044-471511 ext. 193

Phimai in bloom – March 2019

One colourful plant that has been showing well in Phimai this month has been the bougainvillea (เฟื่องฟ้า)

It looks particularly nice around the perimeter of the historical park, where it is used as hedging.

It is not the flowers that look colourful, it is the coloured bracts that surround the flowers.

The flowers are actually white and quite small.

The overall effect is wonderful.

Bougainvillea plants in Phimai, Thailand.

Hot

It has been very hot in Phimai for the last few days. It is 38C again today.

I read a newspaper report from the UK yesterday saying that a heatwave is coming there soon: 20 to 21 C. Oh, how I laughed.

Bats

Yesterday we had a couple of unexpected visitors – a pair of bats.

They looked quite big. I don’t know what kind of bat they are.

Last year we had a single, smaller visitor.

Bats in Phimai.

Phimai “mini-marathon” 2017

Early this morning, Phimai town hosted some road races; 10.5km, 5km and a 4km fun run.

There was a big turnout.

Runners waiting at the start line.

And they’re off!

Sprinting for the line in the men’s 10.5km race.

Below, winning the 4km fun run.

Below, winners receiving their prizes.

Free T-shirt for the runners included in the price of entry.

Trophies

Phimai running club members gather for a post-race group photo.

 

Phimai festival 2017

This year’s Phimai festival takes place from the 8th to the 12th of November 2017.

Events and activities include a Korat cat contest, a cultural show at Phimai historical park and longboat racing. Longboat racing will take place during the last 2 days of the festival – the 11th and 12th of November 2017 – in the usual location, Lam Jakarat. You can view the racing along the sides of the river and from the bridge on Anantachinda Road.

Teams have been out practising for the long boat racing.

Come along next month and cheer them on and enjoy the Phimai festival.

Pictures from Phimai – October 2017

A few photographs taken in Phimai this month.

1. A rural scene only a few kilometres from the town centre.

2. Phimai barrage dam gates fully open.

3. People having fun playing in flood water.

4. Inside the Phimai rice research centre.

5. Inundated trees.

6. Sunset at the bypass junction – 22 October 2017.

7. Rural sunset – 24 October 2017.

The “city pillar” in Phimai

A photograph of the city pillar (lak-meuang / หลักเมือง) in Phimai town.

The city pillar is covered and is used as a shrine (ศาล) to house the local guardian spirit – “jao-por lak-meuang pimai – เจ้าพ่อหลักเมืองพิมาย”.

Some people believe that city pillars are related to the original centre of a town or city.

The city pillar in Phimai town is located next to the temple “wat derm“.

 

Phimai candle procession 2017

In Thailand, candle processions take place around the start of Buddhist Lent (kao pansa – เข้าพรรษา). The start of Buddhist Lent in 2017 is Sunday 9th July. The candle procession in Phimai takes place the day before Buddhist Lent, which is today, Saturday 8th July 2017.

Local temples and people in the local community decorate floats with wax figures and designs that mostly show Buddhist related themes.

In the morning,  starting at about 9am, the procession goes around the old part of the town, starting and finishing at the Town Clock, marked in dark red on the map below.

Children from local schools also participate in the parade, dancing, playing music or dressed up to show different themes.

Tomorrow there will be a candle procession in Korat. See if you can get to it, or see you in Phimai next year.

The Phimai circuit 2017

The dates for this year’s Phimai Circuit 5km road race series are:

Saturday 20 May 2017

Saturday 22 July 2017

Saturday 23 September 2017

This year the races start from Tao Suranaree school at 6am.

Map showing the location of the race start at Tao Suranaree school, Phimai.