On Monday, April 13, 2025, Phra Phrom Wachramet (Somkiart Kowitho), a Maha Thera Council committee member and abbot of Wat Arun Rajwararama, presided over the enshrinement of a replica statue of Luang Pho Chaeng on the lawn before the Phra Ubosot at Wat Arun Rajwararama in Bangkok Noi district.

Incense offerings were made to Luang Pho Chaeng, followed by traditional water blessing ceremonies. A Dharma master then performed veneration rituals accompanied by Lao music and ensembles in the Lao Lan Chang style, reflecting the beautiful cultural and historical relationship between the two nations.

The replica statue was then carried on an ornate palanquin decorated in exquisite Lao Lan Chang style and processed to its placement location before the Phra Ubosot, allowing monks and Buddhist devotees to participate in the water blessing ceremony and seek blessings for auspiciousness during the Thai New Year celebration.

This ceremony represents the continuation of Thailand's beautiful traditions during Songkran, marking the ancient Thai New Year. The festival symbolizes the purification of body, speech, and mind, while expressing gratitude to Thailand's revered past kings and benefactors.

Wat Arun opened the event to the general public and tourists to bless the Phra Ubosot, an important relic enshrined in the capital, seeking blessings for life. The event also promotes cultural tourism and learning about Buddhist heritage.

On Wednesday, April 15, 2025, Phra Phrom Wachramet, along with several high-ranking monks, presided over the ceremony to return the replica Luang Pho Chaeng to its place within the vihara at Wat Arun. Many Buddhist devotees participated in the ceremony.

The atmosphere was filled with auspiciousness as the Songkran festival drew to a close and Thailand's new fiscal year began. The presiding monks made incense offerings to the statue and presented beautiful traditional "Lao Lan Chang" style ceremonial objects. Musical ensembles performed while dancers made elegant offerings in the Buddhist tradition.

Water blessing rituals were then performed on the replica statue, and sacred cloths were presented. The statue was then carried in a grand procession back to the vihara on an ornate palanquin, accompanied by the resounding music of traditional ensembles throughout the route, symbolizing peace and happiness. Upon arrival at the vihara, monks chanted auspicious blessings.

This enshrinement ceremony marked the grand closing of the Songkran celebration at Wat Arun, continuing Thailand's beautiful traditions and Buddhist practices for future generations. The event also blessed the nation and all Buddhist devotees, allowing everyone to begin the Thai New Year with joy, prosperity, and deep faith in the Triple Gem.

This article explores several notable Buddhist amulets and coins created by venerated monks. Luang Por Soot Siridharo, former abbot of Wat Kalong in Samut Sakhon, gained widespread fame as the spiritual mentor of a notorious historical criminal. His 1963 commemorative coin, created for a Buddhist ordination ceremony, features his image on the obverse and sacred yantra designs on the reverse, and is now considered rare. The article also covers coins from other respected monks including Luang Pu Eiam Suvannsaro from Bangkok, Luang Por Boonmee Chittathamo from Ang Thong Province, and Luang Pu Chom Nakasen from Amnat Charoen Province. Each section details the physical characteristics, inscriptions, materials, and historical significance of these amulets, which remain popular among Buddhist devotees and collectors.

James Jirayou reveals his darkest days when he partied every night, barely sleeping for a year until his health crashed and his allergies flared up. His wife's strict discipline helped him recover through daily running and regular gym sessions, though he now battles high cholesterol that may require lifelong medication. He emphasizes that achieving results requires starting with simple, actionable steps, building momentum, and trusting that determination will take you further than expected.

When asked about his Hyrox experience, James admitted he wasn't satisfied because he underestimated the event during simulation and didn't train seriously enough. He relied on his running background, believing it would give him an advantage, but discovered that functional movements like lifting and carrying required different strength than gym training. He was surprised by his own anxiety at the actual event, noting the intense atmosphere and pressure as people took off their shirts and stretched before the race. He found himself in an unexpectedly competitive wave and realized he wasn't the slowest, describing the experience as exhilarating despite the exhaustion—feeling like his life had become either too comfortable or his fitness training was too easy.

Regarding his physique goals, James said he wants to maintain his current look rather than push further, as genetics and body structure make it increasingly difficult. He believes adding more muscle mass would require excessive training and eating that he's not willing to commit to. His current philosophy is to start with simple, manageable steps rather than immediately pursuing complicated routines. As difficulty increases, the complexity compounds, requiring more careful calculations of food intake and training balance. His first goal is to learn how to maintain his current physique rather than continuously chase bigger gains.

The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ stands out as the most talked-about and hottest vehicle right now, combining its appealing boxy design with impressive off-road performance that preserves the Land Cruiser's 75-year legacy. The FJ is developed from the Toyota Hi-Lux Champ short-wheelbase pickup platform and features a retro-cool cubic design that embodies fun and strength, true to its FJ (Freedom & Joy) designation.

Design highlights include angular LED headlights with daytime running lights, a split front bumper, large wheel wells, extended side panels, black door handles, and 18-inch black alloy wheels. The rear features a spare tire with an organized cover and a side-swing tailgate that locks securely, complemented by distinctive LED taillights.

The interior, while appearing compact from outside, offers decent width and height. The second-row seats slide back 75mm for additional legroom, though the seats are somewhat short and lack rear air conditioning vents. The suspension delivers surprising comfort, absorbing bumps and lane-change forces smoothly despite its pickup-truck foundation, offering the refinement of a premium SUV.

The driving position provides excellent forward visibility from the vehicle's height and the recessed center of the hood. The 12.3-inch central touchscreen and 7-inch driver display feature durable, sunproof coating materials, though the rear-view mirror is slightly obstructed by the spare tire and headrest.

Powered by a 2.7-liter engine producing 166 horsepower and 245 Newton-meters of torque, the FJ accelerates smoothly despite its 2-ton weight. The responsive 6-speed automatic transmission offers a manual mode for spirited driving, complemented by tight suspension and responsive steering.

Off-road testing revealed impressive capabilities: on gravel roads with 4H mode engaged, traction remained excellent. The short wheelbase proved advantageous on tight, twisting trails with sharp turns. On steeper terrain, 4L mode was necessary, and the 2nd Start Mode button helped with initial hill-climbing by engaging second gear, demonstrating the vehicle's thoughtful off-road engineering.

Transitioning from goalkeeper at Uthai Thani FC, 'Tee' Bunjakiat Wongsa-Aeng makes his acting debut alongside 'Nam Taan' Pichakkhana Wongsaratanasil in the film 'Curse of the City,' directed by 'Kop' Anuvart Promjang.

On his first film experience: 'Tee' – "I'm very excited. As a footballer, I don't usually get opportunities like this. I decided to take the role because it's a Northern Thai film, and I'm from Lampang already. When the opportunity came up, I talked with my manager about trying something new. This is my first entertainment project and my first film role. I play Sai, a Northern Thai boy who sells fireworks back home. The preparation was intense and every scene was challenging, but I got through it well thanks to the film crew and Nam Taan's support."

On working with Nam Taan: 'Tee' – "I was nervous at first, but she told me to relax and said she believed in us. She gave me confidence during shoots, making me feel comfortable and enjoy the experience."

On working with director Kop: 'Tee' – "The director is also from the North, from Lampang like me. He told me he's been following me as an athlete from our province. Turns out we're from the same sub-district, living close by. We understand each other easily, especially speaking Northern Thai dialect. Since the other actors are also from the North, we bonded quickly and got along well."

On using the Northern dialect: 'Tee' – "100 percent, and it's the local dialect. We specifically focused on the Lampang accent. When I slipped into a Chiang Mai accent, the director would correct me to use the Lampang pronunciation."

On the most memorable scene: 'Tee' – "All scenes impressed me, but the most memorable is when my character reunites with his father after he's gone, and Nam Taan's character makes that happen. It required me to build up emotions, and in real life I've also lost my father, so it really touched me. This film is a romantic comedy with some scary elements, but it's cute scary. I want everyone to watch it. It's a Northern Thai film in 4-5 years since 'Som Por.' I'd like people to come see this love story from the murals of 'Poo Man Ya Man' from Nan province."

On his football career: 'Tee' – "I'm still with Uthai Thani FC and still training. This year I might step back a bit from my role since I'm doing my first BL series 'Don't Be Too Emotional.' I might focus more on acting this year, but I won't abandon football."

On his coach and teammates' reactions: 'Tee' – "They were shocked because I've been with the team for 6 years as a regular player. Before the season started, I talked to the club president about this project. He was surprised but gave permission. Between acting and football, acting might take up more time this year. Once I tried it, I found it fun and quite different from football. The BL series is a new experience. Before filming, the production company Dee Hup sent me to workshops for almost a year. I want people to remember me as both a footballer and an actor, remembering both sides. I've been playing football for 10 years and just started acting—I don't want anyone to forget either role. The discipline, physical training, and focus from football can be applied to acting. With 2-3 thousand spectators in the stadium, I bring that calmness into acting."

On love and his ideal type: 'Tee' – "I like someone fun and easy to talk to, someone who makes me laugh. Our jobs are stressful enough. But right now, I'm not focusing on relationships. I want to dedicate myself fully to football and acting first because I feel like time might be tight for both."

Message to fans: 'Tee' – "I'd like to promote the film...

Mega Bangna shopping mall, in collaboration with the Chor Chor Sar Project, has delivered animal shelters to SOS Animal Thailand Foundation in Ratchaburi province to improve the living conditions of animals under the foundation's care. The shelters provide protection from sun and rain, along with appropriate living spaces for these vulnerable animals.

These shelters are part of the social initiatives stemming from Mega Pet Day 2026: See the World Through My Paws, now in its fifth consecutive year of strengthening the pet-loving community. As part of the event, pet owners and participants created collaborative canvas artwork under the concept "From Paws to Paws Charity," which was then assembled into functional shelters for delivery to the foundation's care center in Ratchaburi.

The Chor Chor Sar Project applied small-scale architecture principles to design the shelters using recycled materials, creating practical refuges for stray and rescued animals. These shelters not only enhance safety and improve living conditions for stray animals but also reflect harmonious coexistence between people, animals, and the community. This donation demonstrates the collective power of the pet-loving community generated through Mega Pet Day 2026, transforming small individual efforts into tangible benefits for animals in need.