Thais enjoy last day of New Year holiday

BANGKOK, January 3 (TNA) - New Year revelers in Thailand spent the last day of their New Year holidays watching the beauty of tulips and prayed to revered Buddha images at temples in northern Thailand before returning to Bangkok in time to start work on Wednesday. Tourists who had spent their New Year holiday in the North and experienced the chilly weather paid respects to Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai Pagoda Temple in Lamphun province, which is more than 13 centuries old. The temple was jammed with tourists who prayed for their safe return journey and prosperity for their lives in 2012. The temperature in the northern capital of Chiang Mai was below 20 degrees Celsius on Tuesday morning which was just perfect for tourists to watch the blooming tulips at the Horticultural Exposition or Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, located just behind the provincial government office centre. Although several southern provinces had been flooded, tourism on the Andaman coast remained bullish as many locals and foreigners toured and appreciated the beauty of the sea, especially around Khao Lak beach in Phangnga province. (TNA)