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Published on November 17, 2007

He questions the accepted Brahmanical attribution of the Angkorean temples of Banteay Samre, Chau Say Tevoda, Thomannon and Beng Mealea where a careful examination of defaced images provides evidence of strong Buddhist iconography and sheds new light on the iconoclastic reaction affecting temples not built by Jayavarman VII.

Roveda is interested in iconography and the mythology of Cambodian art. He has published five books including "Khmer Mythology" and "Sacred Angkor".

The lecture begins at 7.30pm. Admission is Bt200 for non-members (free for students with ID). Call (02) 661 6470-7.

Down by the riverside

Drive to Suphan Buri today or tomorrow and enjoy the atmosphere of yesterday as the riverside communities of Bang Pla Ma district celebrate their annual merit-making ceremony.

In the morning, the local people sit along the banks of the Tha Chin River with bowls full rice and rations while the monks travel on boats to pick up the proffered alms. In the afternoon, there are exciting boat races to enjoy and come night fall, it's party time with singing contest and plenty of traditional ramwong dancing, plus Suphan Buri's signature ram tad- where folk singers and poets trade witty insults in verse.

The ceremony take places this weekend at Baan Laem riverside community in Bang Pa Ma district. Suphan Buri is about 150 kilometres west of Bangkok. For more information, visit Tat.or.th.

Up, up and away

Don't worry if you didn't make it to the balloon festival in Nakhon Ratchasima. You have another chance to watch these flying machines take to the sky again, this time in Pattaya from December 8 to 12.

Famous for its beach and bars, Pattaya will soon be adding colour to the sky, as a plethora of hot-air balloons cast off in the Pattaya Balloon International Fiesta 2007.

The festival takes place at the College of Innovative Education, Thammasat University, about 15 kilometres from Pattaya City, with the gates opening at 6am to allow the crowds to view all the balloons as they make their graceful ascents.

Families are welcome at any time during the day to take in a variety of extreme sports, including paragliding and handgliding, moto-cross, jet ski, stunt kiting, canoeing and a limbo rock competition.

Stadium scrums

Had enough of beach and beer? Visitors to Phuket who fancy doing something different can stop over for a game of rugby at Sanamchai Stadium. From tomorrow through November 24, Phuket is hosting the 2007 International Rugby-80 tournament in celebration of His Majesty the King's 80th birthday. From 5.30pm until 10pm, you see the players from Australia, Laos, Sri Lanka and Thailand speeding, chasing and crushing each other as they try to win the game.