April is a special time of year in Southeast Asia: Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos will all celebrate the coming New Year. Called Songkran in Thai, the New Years holiday features colorful and fun festivities, including temple ceremonies and good-natured water fighting. Learn more about Songkran on Planet Asia Travel Channel. Once the New Year begins, the rains will soon follow and savvy travelers will be headed into the cooler mountain regions or down to the beaches. Where will you be this coming ‘spring-break’ holiday?

What’s Going On?

Scholarships for Students – Following the fund-raising success of the Angkor Hospital for Children Tuk-Tuk Program, we’re happy to also congratulate the recipients of our Scholarships for Students Program: Working with the Samsara Foundation, Smiling Albino has sponsored 10 hill-tribe students from the Mae Sariang region of NW Thailand, and will pay for their education through Grade 12. It’s the generosity of Smiling Albino friends and family that makes these programs possible, but it’s the dedication of these eager, young students that earns our admiration!

Google Street View: Thailand – 360-degree, street-level images of Thailand are available via Google Street View. Want to virtually visit your favorite neighborhood or sneak a peek down an infamous red-light alley? Google Maps allows you to zoom into the area you want to see by using the yellow man icon (on top-left zoom bar) on select locations in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket.

Scott Coates Report – Congratulations to Smiling Albino co-founder Scott Coates, who was elected to the board of the Thai Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Scott is also spending his Songkran holiday in stunning Bagan, Myanmar: Stories and photos in the next Albino Smiles!

Adventure Highlights

South East Asian Explorer – This signature adventure is a mosaic of the very best of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. Themes include the multiple layers of Bangkok, Chiang Mai’s celebrated Lanna culture, a nostalgic two-day journey down the Mekong River on a converted luxury barge to Luang Prabang, Laos, and finally a visit to Cambodia’s stunning Angkor Wat, one of the world’s great wonders. This unique 15-day multi-nation adventure is available on demand. Contact us for more information.

Posts, Pictures, Flicks & Podcasts

Planet Asia Podcast:

Joe Cummings – Sacred Tattoos of Thailand – “Magic Tattoos” are another interesting facet of Thai culture and Smiling Albino co-founder Scott Coates recently sat down with author Joe Cummings to talk about the subject of his latest book: Sacred Tattoos of Thailand.

Motor-biking in Thailand – Smiling Albino co-founder and motorcycle enthusiast Daniel Fraser talks with Trevor Ranges about why Thailand may be the best motorcycling touring destination in the world.

Planet Asia Blog:

Life on the Tonle Sap Lake: Stilted and Floating Villages of Cambodia – The Tonle Sap provides numerous opportunities for visitors to experience the vibrant communities and diverse animals that inhabit the great Cambodian lake. Either via day trips to flooded forests and floating villages or while traveling aboard a ferry or luxury riverboat, even a glimpse of a Cambodian floating village is an experience to remember.

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