E-lyn ThamWhat makes you smile in Thailand?
Is it the gorgeous beaches in Krabi, the incredible street food in Bangkok or the sight of wondrous landscapes in Chiang Mai? Or perhaps the location doesn’t matter, and it is the friendly locals that win your heart and put that genuine smile on your face?
The Tourism Authority of Singapore posed this very question to travellers in their “Thousand Ways to Smile” contest, and the results – well, let’s just say that they put a smile on our faces.
Let’s have a look at the winning entries.
“Love at first hug at Mae Rim, Chiang Mai”
Photo submitted by Nongyao Wongchaiya
“Friendly tuk tuk driver making all of us smile”
Photo submitted by Lau Song Yang
“Muay Thai lesson with the best teacher in town!”
Photo submitted by Xu Wanwei
Hugging elephants, riding a tuk tuk and taking on Muay Thai – three quintessential Thailand experiences that every traveller should have! Congratulations to these travellers for winning the consolation prizes!
The winning entry for the month of December goes to Ahmad Iskandar, who submitted a beautiful photo of the Yipeng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai.
“A Cultural Experience in Chiang Mai, Thailand during the Yipeng festival has brought joy not only to me but to families and friends and people all over the world”
Photo submitted by Ahmad Iskandar
At the Yipeng Lantern festival, thousands of brightly lit sky lanterns are released into the skies. Tell me, who can resist a smile when they see these children brimming with excitement? What a magical sight to behold!
Experience the highly raved about Thai hospitality, and immerse yourself in local culture at one of Thailand’s festivals – what better way is there to truly explore a foreign country? Heartiest congratulations to Ahmad Iskandar, who managed to capture the beauty of a local festival, and the heartwarming genuineness of Thai locals in one shot!
Image credit: Tourism Authority of Thailand
The “Thousand Ways to Smile” contest is an initiative rolled out by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Simply upload your photo(s) or video(s) to Instagram or TAT’s Facebook, and stand a chance to win attractive prizes! Don’t forget to include captions and use the hashtag #1000smilesthailand.
And when we say attractive prizes, we do mean attractive! Here is a breakdown of the prizes going up for grabs:
Grand Prize: 4D3N Bangkok Package, inclusive of business class return airfare, applicable taxes, accommodation, daily breakfast and return airport transfers.
Monthly Prizes: 1 x 3D2N Package to either Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket inclusive of airfare, accommodation, daily breakfast and return airport transfers for 2; 4 x 2 nights accommodation package with breakfast for 2 to either of the above locations.
Special Bangkok Airways Prize*: 1 pair of return economy class air tickets to Koh Samui inclusive of taxes
*Only for photos and videos taken with Bangkok Airways related elements
Special Thai Airways International Prize**: 1 pair of return economy class tickets to Bangkok, inclusive of taxes
**Only for photos and videos taken with Thai Airways related elements
Check out this album to see what people have submitted so far! There are 1000 prizes to be given away, and you might just be the next lucky winner! The contest ends on 29 February 2016, so what are you waiting for – share with the world what makes you smile in Thailand.
Also read: Travellers Can Look Forward to More Ways to Discover Thailand
