Getting to grips with Kraken

Inspired by Kraken, are legendary sea monsters of giant proportions said to resemble an octopus, Siam Ocean World reveals the untold life of these mysterious creatures in "The Giant Octopus and the Adventure of the Pirates". Kraken and the Lost Treasure show will keep the little ones entertained four times every Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are Bt400 and Bt280 for children. Give the password "octopus" when purchasing tickets in the morning and you enjoy a discount. A toast to fish and fungi Fans of fish and fungi should head to Dan Chang in Suphan Buri province, for the annual "Eating Fish and Mushroom Festival", which takes place from December 2-4. Go hungry too, as the locals will be cooking up more than 100 dishes made from different varieties of wild mushroom, all edible of course, along with fish from the Krasiaw Reservoir. Dan Chang is about 200 kilometres from Bangkok. Of spurs and shins Famous for its dairy farm and cowboy camp, Chokchai Farm in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima is hosting a Tour de Farm cycling competition on December 2. The race, which allows competitors a choice of 60 and 107 kilometre distances, will go through the hilly landscape around Khao Yai National Park, vineyards and small villages of Pak Chong district. The competition is divided into Under 18, Open (Men and Women) and Senior categories. For information, call (083) 705 0902. Loei get its own Sundance Chiang Khan is aiming to become the new Utah, with the sleepy town by the bank of Mekong getting set to host the Chiang Khan International Film Festival (CKIFF) from December 25 to 31. Following in the footsteps of Sundance Film Festival in the US, CKIFF is devoted to Thai and Asean independent filmmakers with shorts and documentaries also being screened during the festival. Known for its laid-back ambience and rustic charm, Chiang Khan in Loei province has drawn an increasing number of young and independent travellers to the banks of Mekong over the last five years.