Uncle Lim paid a visit to WOFS Thailand during the recent annual Song Kran water festival. Song Kran marks the end of a 12-month cycle and the beginning of a new solar year. Thus Song Kran is the Thai equivalent of new years celebrations. It is believed to be a time for cleansing and purification, where fresh water plays an important part. As part of the tradition, water is sprinkled, splashed, or sprayed on everyone as a gesture of ritual cleansing of all negative energies and is believed to symbolize new beginnings and fresh luck. It is also considered a time for forgiveness and generosity, therefore one must not get angry or upset when water is sprayed on them. Many locals and foreigners make their way to the Thai temples to pay their respects and offerings to the Buddhist monks. Buddha images are also ritually bathed in water as a part of the ritual cleaning.

Just before the start of the Festival on April 13th, a visit was made to WOFS Thailand to take a look at the boutique as well as to meet the members of the Thai editorial team of Feng Shui World Magazine. The Thai version of the FSW magazine along with Lillian Too’s Fortune and Feng Shui 2005 zodiac horoscope books were released on 30th March with big fanfare at the annual 3rd Bangkok International Book Fair and the 33rd National Book Fair during 25 March - 6 April 05. Both books and the magazine were very well received, with many enquiries and orders placed for the items.

A team of translators, two editorial members and one graphic designer along with 3 other editors headed by managing editor Ireen Ong were all it took to make this translation job a big success.