by Zhang Chunxiao and Chang Tiantong


BANGKOK Cheap Nike Air Max 270 Womens , April 13 (Xinhua) -- People across Thailand on Sunday kicked off their three-day merrymaking for the water-splashing Songkran festival, or the Thai New Year, under little, if any, shadow of the prolonged political tension.


Thousands of people in all age groups and from numerous countries crammed into Silom road in downtown Bangkok, one of the major venues designated for celebrating the festival.


Marching along the road, the people Cheap Nike Air Max 270 , many of them in festive costumes, keep firing water cannons of various sizes and shapes at anyone they see, strangers or friends alike. Some even use long hoses.


Music is being played out loud, mixed with laughing and cheering.


Vendors have lined both sides of the road, selling all sorts of Songkran-themed objects, including water cannons, buckets Cheap Air Max 270 Dusty Cactus Shoes , waterproof bags, costumes, ornaments and food.


Smearing a kind of white-color powder on the face is also part of the fun. Nobody is able to walk past the road without getting soaked from head to toe or powder on their faces.


In Thai traditions, water is considered a symbol of purity, joy and prosperity. During the Songkran festival, a most significant Thai occasion that lasts from April 13 to 15, people are accustomed to splashing water on one another to rinse away misfortune and vice.


Festive activities are taking part in every corner of the capital and the rest of the country Cheap Air Max 270 Mens Shoes , especially renowned tourist destinations such as Bangkok's Khaosan road, known as the backpackers' paradise, as well as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai and Pattaya.


The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) earlier announced to spend around 20 million baht (620,000 U.S. dollars) to arrange Songkran activities in 13 provinces.


The TAT estimated that 4.5 million Thai and foreign tourists would join celebrations nationwide, which would bring in about 47 billion baht in tourist revenue.


Twelve roads in Bangkok will be temporarily closed from Sunday evening until Tuesday to provide safe venues for Songkran revelers Cheap Air Max 270 Womens Shoes , Traffic Division Commander Jirasan Keawsaeng-Ake said.


At the city's Lumpini Park, the main rally site of anti- government protesters, tourists are allowed to enter during the festival, but for security concerns, they cannot bring in their own water or water cannons.


Few protesters inside the park are splashing water. Many are resting and chatting. Some security guards dance a little to the music now and then, though.


Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has promised that protesters would take a break from April 12 to 15 to celebrate the Songkran -- no rallies of any kind will be staged.


Suthep and his supporters conducted a merit-making ceremony at the park and offered food to monks in the morning.


Thai caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also took part in a merit-making ceremony in northern Chiang Mai province and reportedly offered food to 109 monks.


Yingluck said she wished the Thai people and the country would overcome all setbacks in the end and embrace the good.


Giving food offerings to monks, getting together with families and releasing fish and birds are also important Songkran rituals. Besides Thailand Cheap Air Max 270 Shoes , Songkran is also celebrated in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and southern China.


WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers made 11 3-pointers in the first half on the way to a 116-88 rout of the Detroit Pistons in the NBA actions on Monday.


"We haven't had a win like that in a very long time," said LeBron James, who scored 16 of his 18 points in the first quarter. "That's what happens when we don't let up."


Kevin Love had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland. Tobias Harris led Detroit with 11 points.





Games > Video GameThe PS3 Rumor Mill: Upcoming Games and Rumors

Posted by nick_niesen in Games on October 26th, 2010


The system looks amazing. Though the need to fix a few minor bugs resulted in the PlayStation 3聮s release date being pushed back Cheap Air Max 270 Dusty Cactus , this has not diminished the excitement over the console聮s impending release. Even though the Sony PS3 is designed to be more than a video game system, but to be an entirely new leap in multi-media in general, that does not change the fact that everything starts with the gaming system, and the gamers need to be satisfied if Sony is going to keep its strong showing in the video game market place. So it is no surprise that the rumor mills are full of speculations, thought, fact, and hope on what series of games the new PS3 system is going to bring with it.


It is all but certain that the release of the PS3 will coincide with the release of the latest Grand Theft Auto game. This extremely controversial video game series may get protests and angry letters Cheap Air Max 270 Mens , but nevertheless it will also sell over a million copies because it has grown to include a huge following. Anytime a video game can create its own franchise, you can bet that a company is going to ride that as far as it will go. It聮s simply supply and demand: as long as the demand exists a company will always rather invest in a game with a following than go out on a limb with a new title.


Along the same lines, rumor has it that the PS3 will also be releasing several other games that belong to their own series. Metal Gear Solid 4: Sons of the Patriots will be the newest, and final, game in the Metal Gear Solid series. Plans are also set up for the release of Resident Evil 5, Unreal Tournament 2007, and Devil May Cry 4. By releasing a series of games like this Cheap Air Max 270 Womens , Sony is guaranteeing that fans of some very different types of video game sagas will all still have a reason to purchase this system. One of the most popular rumors, though this one has yet to show any proof, is that Sony is looking to re-make Final Fantasy 7, one of the most popular installments of maybe the most popular video g. Christian McCaffrey Jersey Authentic Carson Wentz Jersey Authentic Calvin Ridley Jersey Authentic Baker Mayfield Jersey Authentic Antonio Brown Jersey Alvin Kamara Womens Jersey A.J. Bouye Youth Jersey Adrian Peterson Youth Jersey Cheap Soccer Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping