If Germany has its Oktoberfest, Bangkok has Novemberfest… November is the start of Thailand’s annual beer garden season,

  Although a nationwide affair, beer gardens are more prevalent in the Bangkok capital where they are setup virtually everywhere. You can get some pretty inexpensive deals on draught beers, with a large jug costing only in the region of 80-100 Baht (around $2 to $2.50). A lot of places make a tremendous effort to make this time of year a great experience, with many venues setting up a stage and offering live music (including pop and jazz) and spectacular sound and light shows.

The best thing about the Beer Garden Festival is that, unlike in Germany, the beer garden season stretches right across the festive period, going on to mid-January (this time round finishing 14 January 2006). Key venues are shopping malls such as Central World Plaza on Ratchaprasong Junction where you can enjoy big beer brands that include Singh, Asahi, Heineken and, of course, Beer Chang. Other great venues include Central World Plaza, Central City Bangna, Central Rama 3, The Mall Bangkapi, Tesco Lotus Bangna and Tesco Lotus Rama 4. This is a great time of year that both visitors and expatriates look forward to. If you are in town right now, take a look around and join in. It won’t take you long to find somewhere to have a nice glass of beer!