Awakening Singburi with “Sang See Sing”

Amidst the constant hustle and bustle of daily life, there are often hidden treasures that escape our notice. Singburi, a small province with a population of around 200,000, has long been a place most of us pass by without a backward glance rather than a destination in its own right.

And that’s a shame as Singburi harbours a multitude of stories from the past to the present just waiting for visitors to explore. Now, the province is inviting the public to uncover the charm that has gone unnoticed for too long.

That charm will be enhanced with contemporary art and design in the upcoming “Sang See Sing” (Let’s Glow Singburi) festival running from August 18-27.

Organised by the Tourism Council of Singburi and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) with the participation of Singburi natives, the event aims to attract more tourists, especially the new generation of Thais, to come and explore the city’s creative movements and its traditional culture.

Visitors will surely be captivated by what is unveiled and presented before them, and some might even consider making Singburi a regular weekend escape from Bangkok. In the process, the event will help stimulate the local economy as well as the morale of small entrepreneurs in the province.

Even though it’s only about a two-hour drive from Bangkok, Singburi often goes overlooked. For most Thais, knowledge about this quiet yet charming province is still limited to the Bang Rachan warriors of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, who have been immortalized in films and series, as well as mentioned in school textbooks. More recently, Singburi has gained recognition for its ‘Mae La Plaa Pow’ (slowly grilled snakehead fish from the Mae La River). Apart from that, information regarding its significance and history remains relatively limited.

The organizer of “Sang See Sing” hopes the event will put Singburi on the map of travellers, especially the young generation. This event might mark the first time when the Bang Rachan warriors and the village from which they took their name—now a local market—make their mark as one of the highlights of the province.

The core concept of this event is to expand and reinterpret the province’s strengths including its historical sites through new forms of art and contemporary design. Technology will be employed to amplify the impact and allure of traditional culture, creating a fresh travel experience in Singburi. For instance, the Nang Yai (shadow play performance) at Wat Sawang Arom will be accompanied by an illumination of the two-century-old temple itself, enhancing its beauty.

A pivotal factor contributing to the event’s significant impact is the collaboration between the new and old generations within the province who are coming together to bring it to fruition. Visitors will sense this blend as they stroll through museums, coffee shops, and old shophouses. It’s an experience visitors must witness firsthand.

The festival’s highlights include

• Crosswalk Art, the semi-permanent art on the street in the form of a crossing that will become a new landmark of Singburi

• Neon Light Art, a semi-permanent form of neon art that reinterprets the story and symbols of Singburi that will be installed at noted architectural and landmark buildings of Singburi.
• Hidden Sculptures Art called ‘Jai Jai Sing’, a semi-permanent installation art at various points, presents three 2-metre sculptures of a lion with a huge heart, reflecting the identity of Singburi.

• For the first time ever, the “WABU” mobile platform, which is a digital-self-walking-guide, will be launched during the festival to encourage visitors to experience guide-free tours.

• The Night Museum at Museum Singburi, where visitors can see the historical Ror Sor 129 Court premises.

• Light up the temples! Travellers can visit temples at night and watch the illuminations of the almost 200-year-old architecture of Wat Phrom Sakhon and Wat Sawang Arom.
• Eat and shop for remarkable food and products of Singburi on the walking street as well as at the Singburi food festival at its own Singburi Pavilion.
• Have fun and enjoy the theme park of the 90s, folk art performances, and concerts by famous artists throughout the festival.
• Participate in DIY activities, such as making your own colourful “Phuang Mahot” wreath, and an Art Workshop for children by Baan Kwai Art.

• Training to increase skills in using digital media to develop tourism businesses and generate income for small entrepreneurs through the “Net Tham Kin” project in collaboration with True Corporation PCL.
  

  Veteran musicians are ready to welcome visitors.//Photo by Samatcha Apaisuwan

Follow what’s happening at the Facebook page and Instagram. “SangSeeSing”  or call The Tourism Council of Singburi at Tel. 088-214-1111.

 By Thai PBS World Feature Desk