Eindelijk, IKEA in Thailand

About IKEA

The IKEA story began in 1943 in the small village of Agunnaryd in Sweden, when founder Ingvar Kamprad was just 17.
Since then, the IKEA Group has grown into a major retail experience with 123,000 co-workers in 25 countries/territories generating annual sales of more than 21.5 billion euros.

IKEA Bangna
IKEA is coming to Bangkok and by end of 2011 IKEA will open its doors to receive the first customers. We are building a 40 000 sq. m store, filled with a wide range of well-designed, functional affordable home furnishing products for all functions of the home at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them.

We are very excited and cannot wait until the opening day. But first we will recruit the team of co-workers that will run and operate the store and of course build also the store.

The new IKEA store will be located in Bangna and will be a stand alone store but also part of the MEGA BANGNA Shopping (225 000 sq m) center that will be constructed at the same time. (See location map.)

IKEA BANGNA is located on southwestern corner of Bangna-Trad Road and Eastern Ring Road: Bangplee-Suksawat Expressway intersection in Bangkaew District, Samutprakarn Province.


Distances from various places
Places Distances (km)
Suvarnabhumi Airport 6.0
Bangna KM.1 (BITEC) 8.5
On-Nuch BTN Station 12.8
Sukhumbvit21 (ASOKE) 18.5
Wongwian Yai 25.5
Victory Monument 28.9
Jatujak / Morchit BTS Station 35.5
Don Muang Airport 47.5
Rangsit 52.0
Chonburi 56.2

This web site http://www.ikea.co.th/ and the start of construction and recruitment are the first steps in a series of many culminating in the opening of the first IKEA store in Bangkok, Thailand.
Until we are able to welcome you to the IKEA store in Bangna, please book mark www.IKEA.co.th and why not sign up for our email updates if you want to keep yourself informed about IKEA Bangkok. Here you will also be able to find out more about IKEA, the construction progress and available jobs. The closer we get to the opening, the more information you will be able to find on this website to prepare yourself for the first visit to the store. Or why wait for the opening? Why don’t you consider helping us opening the first store by joining us?

Size of store: 40 000 sq meter
No. of car parks: Approx. 1 300
No. of items: 8500 articles
Restaurant seats: More than 700

TAT asked to aid travellers stranded at Suvarnabhumi

Published: 20/04/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business

Tour operators are urging the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to help hundreds of tourists from Scandinavia, who have been stuck at Suvarnabhumi Airport for four days after most flights to Europe were cancelled due to a volcanic ash cloud over European skies.
Stranded tourists wait for news about their flights at the departures area of Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday. AFP
Apichart Sankary, an honorary adviser to the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), said the TAT should lend a hand to help stranded tourists and show the country's spirit.
"Most of them are independent tourists. Many of them have no money and have to stay many nights at the airport. We should help them such as providing food and drinking water until they can go home," he said.
His inbound travel company, A.E.D. Asia Travel, has about 1,000 Scandinavian clients who are currently unable to fly home.
Mr Apichart estimated that more than 10,000 tourists have been stuck in Thailand since a volcano in Iceland erupted and its ash caused the cancellation of scores of flights on safety fears.
"For tourists who bought package tours from big travel agents like Thomas Cook UK & Ireland, their agents have looked after them such as arranging accommodation," he said.
"We must find ways to bring back our guests to their home because they are more concerned about local political conflicts, which is likely to get more serious."

A.E.D. Asia Travel has already arranged some direct flights from Phuket International Airport to Athens International Airport, which remains open, and has then transferred passengers to other destinations via buses. This service has been available since Sunday.
The company hopes to gradually send all its guests back home. However, only 350 seats per flight can't meet all demand and it is now negotiating with Thai Airways International (THAI) to add flights to available airports in Europe.
At the present, all bookings from Scandinavia have been cancelled and operators must closely monitor the situation, Mr Apichart noted.

Charoen Wangananont, president of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TAA), said more than 10,000 Thai tourists were stuck in Europe.
Many have to take care of themselves and some tour agents have helped them to find accommodation and support some meals, he said.
"Many Thai tourists told me that Thai Airways hasn't lent a hand to help passengers over there. They asked the airline to be flexible and help them re-route the flights but THAI didn't help. If clients want to go home by re-routing to fly via Milan or Rome, they must pay for the new tickets themselves," Mr Charoen said.
He added that Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa had taken care of their clients as much as possible, by arranging free accommodation and some meals.
"I would like to ask THAI executives to take charge of this urgent problem and take any action to help Thai people over there," he said.

SAMUT SONGKHRAM PROVINCE REVIVES BANG NOK KHWAK TRADITIONAL FLOATING MARKET

SAMUT SONGKHRAM PROVINCE REVIVES BANG NOK KHWAK TRADITIONAL FLOATING MARKET
Now open on weekends and public holidays
08.00 – 17.00 hrs (08.00 am to 05.00 pm)

In times past, the Bang Nok Khwak floating market was a bustling local trading hub with vendors converging at the marketplace long before sunrise.

The Bang Nok Khwak sub-district local market is situated near the King Rama II Memorial Park, built in honour King Rama II who was Thailand's “Poet King”.

Samut Songkram provincial authorities recently revived this long lost market. Bang Nok Khwak floating market is now open on weekends and public holidays from 08.00 – 17.00 hrs (08.00 am to 05.00 pm).

Once noted for its fresh agricultural products, Bang Nok Khwak floating market is also famous for a selection of local delicacies that can only be found here.

During a visit to this new weekend market, ask for the following local favourites.

Pae’s crab noodles (koey teow puu raan pae)
Stir-fried rice noodles with river prawn (phad Thai koong mae nam)
Dry chicken rice (khao haeng kai)
Noodles in a coconut shell (koey teow kala)
Scallops baked in a richly-flavoured herb butter (hoi shell ob noei song krueng)
Sun-dried honey-coated banana crisp bread (khanom pang kluay hom ob nam peung)
Pan khlip, puffs with fish filling

Contact information:
Tourism Authority of Thailand, Samut Songkhram
Tel: 0 3475 2847-8
Fax: 0 3475 2846
E-mail: tatsmsk@tat.or.th

GURU summer beach party Cha-Am Beach

Songkran festival Thai Newyear

The Thai New Year is upon us and it’s hotter than hell, so hit the streets and cool down the traditional way with buckets of icy water

Starting on Monday 12/4 and running all the way through to next Sunday, Thailand is celebrating the Songkran festival. From Bangkok to Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai to Hat Yai, millions of us Thai, Mon and Chinese are taking to the streets, as well as to the temple, to celebrate Songkran and mark the lunar New Year.

Whether you fancy a gentle, traditional sprinkling or a bucketful of icy water over your head, the following venues have all you need for a good time.
As we wish the water will wash away our troubles this weekend, we offer our guide to everything from traditional treats to the wildest water parties,
So put politics and the recession on hold, and splash out!

BANGKOK
The City of Angels flows with every kind of fun as it rings in the Thai New Year, offering polite waterpouring ceremonies to wild street parties where no one stays dry in the wars of the wet.
Sanam Luang, the public space next to the Grand Palace, traditionally hosts the sober ceremonies and this year shouldn’t be any different, providing the park isn’t taken over by any antigovernment rallies over the holiday. The city’s biggest public space plays host to the Singha Buddha, giving visitors the chance to pour water over one of Bangkok’s most sacred Buddha images, which usually resides in the National Museum.
For a really wetandwild Songkran scene, walk east from Sanam Luang for 10 minutes to Khao San Road. Armed with pumpaction water canons and buckets of coloured powder, thousands of funlovers will be soaking everything that moves.
From Monday 12/4 (until there is nothing left to soak), Khao San Road and Santi Chaiprakan Park, in Bang Lamphu, are host to the International Songkran Festival with constant waterthrowing, lots of noise and people of all nationalities having fun.
Nine temples around Sanam Luang, among them Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of Emerald Buddha) and Wat Bowonniwet, are holding Songkran fairs from Tuesday to Thursday. There, the campaign to reclaim the traditional Songkran means visitors can expect to be asked politely before being lightly sprinkled with water.

CHIANG MAI
Chiang Mai is often considered the most exciting place to celebrate Songkran. The New Year begins in the temples with a gentle sprinkling of water and a light dusting on the cheeks with fragrant paste. Cultural shows and food festivals add a special colour and flavour to Lanna celebrations.
Things get wilder in the afternoon when throngs of revellers head out to the city moats. The festival culminates at night with lively dancing at Thapae Gate.

AYUTTHAYA
Ayutthaya, Siam’s old capital and a World Heritage Site, celebrates with a parade and great fanfare from Monday through Wednesday. The best places to hang out are Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bophit, the ruins of the historical park, and in and around the island. A grand procession of Buddhas, Songkran beauty queens and elephants takes place on Tuesday on the city’s main road.

SAMUT PRAKAN
The old Mon neighbourhood of Phra Pradaeng keeps the best for last, celebrating Songkran in a threeday event that kicks off on Friday. The centrepiece is at Wat Ketchedtharam, a Mon temple in Phra Pradaeng district, with meritmaking and entertainment that runs from dawn till late at night. Expect traditional Mon games like sabaa, great food and folk arts.

CHON BURI
The celebrations take place at various venues this weekend and next, with Bang Saen (April 1617) and Pattaya (April 18) serving up the most fun from Sunday.
The Pattaya beach road will be closed to pave the way for the Buddha procession. Young people go gunning for fun armed with doublebarrel water cannons and buckets, ensuring the beach town gets totally soaked. Among the more courageous “roadside warriors” are the transvestites who turn up in supertight Tshirts clamouring for more water.
Bang Saen, on other hand, tends to be more familyoriented, with rituals, games and a sandcastle competition on the beach.

KHON KAEN
Isaan folk mark the Thai New Year with the Dok Khun Siang Khaen Festival, which kicked off on Thursday and ends this Thursday. Catch the procession of floral floats decorated with yellow dok khun (Golden Shower tree flowers) as it winds through the streets on Tuesday, and enjoy Isaan food, contests, cultural performances and folk music. For the best water fights, head to Si Chan Road.

Tourist Assistance Center set up following political clashes

Tourist Assistance Center set up following political clashes

BANGKOK (NNT) -- A Tourist Assistance Center has been launched by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) due to last night's clashes between state authorities and UDD supporters.

According to the MOTS Permanent Secretary Attachai Burakamkowit, the Office of Tourism Development (OTD) has coordinated with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in compiling the number of international tourists, which was believed to have declined even before the clashes on Saturday.

The Tourist Assistance Center has been set up to provide service for international tourists in Thailand. The center is located on New Petchaburi Road, with officials from MOTS, TAT, insurance companies and tourist police ready to provide information to visitors.

Various media offices and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been requested to help publicize the opening of the center as well as information on tourist protection. The center can be reached via hotline 0-2205-7711, with over 100 lines available around the clock.

Useful tourist information and phone numbers

Monday April 12, 2010, 1:47 AM GMT +07:00

The government stresses that measures resulting from the declaration of the state of emergency in Bangkok and nearby provinces will not affect ordinary people or foreign visitors. But, just to play safe, you can read more information that will help your trip go easier and safer, below.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva informed the public of the Thai Cabinet’s decision to declare a severe emergency situation.

Thank you TAT for this useful information.

The Declaration of a Severe Emergency Situation covers areas of Bangkok and certain districts of five nearby provinces. As follow:

- Nonthaburi province
- The districts of Muang, Bang Phli, Phra Pradang, Phra Samut Chedi, Bang Boh and Bang Sao Thong in Samut Prakan province
- The districts of Thanyaburi, Lad Lumkaew, Sam Kok, Lam Luk Ka and Khlong Luang in Pathum Thani province
- Phutthamonthon district in Nakhon Pathom province
- The districts of Wang Noi, Bang Pa-in, Bang Sai and Lat Bua Luang in Ayutthaya province

Travel to all other parts of the kingdom has not been affected. Tourism activities in all other areas continue as normal. Tourism activities in all other areas of Bangkok and travel to all other parts of the kingdom have not been affected.

Both city airports (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang) are operating as normal.
All other international and domestic airports in Thailand remain fully operational.

To avoid traffic congestion, it is best to travel by BTS sky train or MRT underground train.


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[ Useful phone numbers ]
Ministry of Tourism Aid Center: +66 (0) 2356-0720 / +66 (0) 2356-0729 / 1414

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: +66 (0) 2575-1023 / +66 (0) 2981-7225 / +66-88-022-1540 / +66-88-022-1541

ATTA (Association of Thai Travel Agents): +66 (0) 2134-4263

Tourism Authority of Thailand: +66 (0) 2652-8313-4

Bug1133 (ask anything): 1133

Ministry of Tourism and Sports: 1414

TAT Call Centre: 1672

Tourist Police: 1155

General Insurance Association: 1356

Suvarnabhumi International Airport: +66 (0) 2132-1888
Suvarnabhumi International Airport flight inquiries: +66 (0) 2132-0000 / +66 (0) 2132-9328-9

Don Mueang Airport: +66 (0) 2535-1669
Don Mueang Flight inquiries: +66 (0) 2535-1616

Chiang Mai International Airport: +66 (0) 5392-2100 / +66 (0) 5392-2444


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[ Airline phone numbers ]

Bangkok Airways Hot Line: +66 (0) 2265-8777 / 1771

Nok Air: +66 (0) 2627-2000

Air Asia: +66 (0) 2515-9999 / www.airasia.com

PB Air: +66 (0) 2261-0220-5 / www.pbair.com

Jetstar International: +66 (0) 2267-5125

Tiger Airways: +66 (0) 2649-9688 (Bangkok)

Thai Airways International (THAI): +66 (0) 2356-1111

Khao San Songkran cancelled

Khao San Songkran cancelled

Published: 11/04/2010 at 10:40 AM

The business sector has cancelled the annual Songkran celebration on Khao San road next week due to the violent clashes between anti-government protesters and authorities on Saturday.

The cancellation is expected to cost more than 500 million baht in revenue, reports said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, sky-train and public bus services have resumed operation. But the BTS Silom station is closed.

Shopping malls on Ratchaprasong such as Central World, Big C, Central Chidlom, Siam Paragon and Siam Discovery are also closed.


Khao San backpackers flee

Published: 11/04/2010 at 12:45 PM

Most Khao San Road backpackers are leaving. Some said they were scared after seeing the bloody clashes last night and they would go somewhere else to celebrate Songkran.

Khao San Road merchants said they had to cancel Songkran festival. Since the beginning of the unrest, businesses around Khao San Road have suffered lost revenue of around 500 million baht.

Meanwhile, it was reported that tourists are flocking to Hat Yai and Betong, a town on the border with Malaysia, including many Malaysian and Singaporean tourists who wanted to celebrate Songkran around Khao San Road and Chiang Mai,

Noodtoestand in roerig Bangkok

BANGKOK - Na wekenlange antiregeringsprotesten in Bangkok heeft premier Abhisit Vejjajiva van Thailand woensdag de noodtoestand uitgeroepen in de hoofdstad. Directe aanleiding voor de maatregel was de bestorming van het parlementsgebouw door betogers.

„De noodtoestand is bedoeld om de situatie op te lossen en de zaak weer normaal te laten worden”, aldus de premier op de Thaise televisie. Abhisit verklaarde dat de regering geen geweld zal gebruiken, maar een minister liet weten dat de leiders van de demonstranten zullen worden opgepakt.

Door het decreet worden openbare bijeenkomsten van meer dan vijf personen verboden. Politie en leger hebben extra volmachten gekregen.

Het is al de vierde keer sinds 2008 dat de noodtoestand in Bangkok is uitgeroepen. De maatregel geldt ook voor de directe omgeving van de hoofdstad.

Een van de leiders van de demonstranten riep zijn aanhang op het platteland op naar gemeentehuizen op te trekken. „We verklaren de oorlog”, zei Arisman Pongruangrong. „Er zal niet meer worden onderhandeld.”

De betogers zijn aanhangers van oud-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, die in 2006 door het leger werd afgezet en in ballingschap leeft. Ze demonstreren al meer dan drie weken in groten getale in Bangkok en eisen het aftreden van Abhisit en nieuwe verkiezingen. De demonstraties begonnen vreedzaam, maar kregen recent een steeds grimmiger karakter.

Dat gebeurde nadat onderhandelingen tussen beide partijen niets hadden opgeleverd. Abhisit had aangeboden eind dit jaar verkiezingen te houden, maar de protestleiders hielden vast aan hun eis dat de stembusgang er veel sneller moet komen. Officieel moet Thailand pas volgend jaar naar de stembus.

De betogers braken woensdag door een kordon veiligheidsagenten heen en drongen het parlementsgebouw binnen. Sommige parlementariërs probeerden het gebouw te ontvluchten door over een muur van het complex te klimmen. Enkele anderen werden met een legerhelikopter in veiligheid gebracht. Ook Abhisit verliet het complex, toen hij van de toestromende menigte hoorde.

Militairen die het gebouw bewaakten, gebruikten geen geweld tegen de roodhemden, zoals de in rode shirts gehulde betogers ook wel worden genoemd. De betogers vertrokken na ongeveer een uur, na een oproep van parlementariërs van de oppositie. Ze keerden terug naar hun uitvalsbases in Bangkok, zoals het belangrijkste winkelcentrum en de historische wijk van de hoofdstad.

De leiders van de oppositiebeweging hadden eerder aangekondigd dat zij hun protest naar „een volgend niveau” zouden tillen. Eerder deze week wisten ze het zakencentrum van Bangkok te ontwrichten. Enkele grote winkelcentra zijn dagenlang dicht geweest, met een miljoenenstrop als gevolg.

Abhisit staat onder toenemende druk van zijn eigen achterban om de tienduizenden demonstranten aan te pakken. Vooralsnog heeft hij afgezien van ingrijpen. Dat zou volgens sommige waarnemers tot grotere schade kunnen leiden