苏梅岛的港口和长尾船, 泰国 Harbor and longtail boats at Ko Samui, Thailand (© Foto2rich/Shutterstock)

漂浮的传承 Floating legacies

苏梅岛的港口和长尾船, 泰国

别被远看时苏梅岛长尾船朴素的外表所迷惑，这些修长的船身凝聚了当地数十年的巧思。它们在泰语中被称为“RueaHangYao”，诞生于20世纪初，当时渔民将汽车发动机改装成动力，用以穿行于大型船只难以进入的浅水海域。每一艘长尾船都由工匠一块木板一块木板手工打造，承载着代代相传的技艺。船体上色彩大胆而醒目，船头常装点着彩布与鲜花——这些象征佛教祝福的装饰，寓意守护船只与船员一路平安。

在度假村、海滩俱乐部和夜生活改变海岸线之前，苏梅岛的繁荣源于椰林种植、渔业以及连接周边岛屿的贸易航线。千余年来，木船在清晨载着渔民出海，也在岛屿之间往返运送一个个家庭。如今，它们同样载着游客前往珊瑚礁、水上集市和隐秘海滩，让人近距离感受苏梅岛的水上脉络。

黄昏降临，港湾渐渐慢了下来。缆绳吱呀作响，渔网被一张张收拢，船只依次归航。苏梅岛的历史并未被封存在博物馆里——它轻轻漂浮在水面上，等待天色再亮，重新启航，继续承载这座岛屿的日常与生命。

Harbor and longtail boats at Ko Samui, Thailand

Do not be fooled by how simple Ko Samui's longtail boats look from a distance; decades of local ingenuity have shaped their slender frames. These vessels, known in Thailand as 'ruea hang yao,' emerged in the early 20th century, when fishermen repurposed vehicle engines to navigate shallow waters that larger boats couldn't reach. Handcrafted plank by plank, each boat reflects generations of skill. Their hulls burst with bold, striking colors, while decorative cloth and flowers often crown the bows—Buddhist blessings meant to safeguard both the boat and its crew.

Long before resorts, beach clubs, and nightlife transformed its shores, Ko Samui thrived on coconut farming, fishing, and trade routes linking neighboring islands. For over a thousand years, wooden boats have carried families between islands and fishermen at dawn. Today, they also ferry visitors to coral reefs, floating markets, and secret beaches, offering an intimate glimpse into Samui's waterways.

At dusk, the harbor slows. Ropes creak and nets are folded as boats return, one by one. Ko Samui's history isn't locked in museums—it floats gently on the water, ready to rise at first light to carry the island's life forward once more.

连接老挝和泰国的第三座泰老友谊大桥 (© chaiyut samsuk/Getty Images)

为拉近距离而建 Built to bring closer

连接老挝和泰国的第三座泰老友谊大桥

在没有桥梁的年代，河流决定人们能走多远；而随着桥梁的建立，节奏掌握开始在人的手中。这种转变正是跨境基础设施的重要意义所在，比如连接老挝与泰国的第三座大桥泰老友谊大桥。桥梁结构多样，各有针对性：拱桥应对压力，悬索桥跨越长距离，混凝土箱梁桥则追求稳定与高效承载。这座桥选择箱梁设计，正是为应对湄公河宽阔水面与快速水流的现实需求。

2011年启用的第三座泰老友谊大桥旨在加强泰国那空帕农府与老挝甘蒙省他曲之间的交通联系。该项目由泰国出资建设，延续了此前连接廊开与万象、穆达汉与沙湾拿吉的跨境桥梁体系。全长4669英尺，双向两车道，既服务本地通勤，也承担长途货运任务，有效缓解交通拥堵，提升跨境通行的稳定性和可靠性，并进一步推动区域物流、旅游和跨境合作，重塑区域联系。

Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connecting Laos and Thailand

Before bridges, rivers set the pace of travel. Now, with bridges, people do. That shift explains why cross-border links like the Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connecting Laos and Thailand matter. Bridges come in many forms, each built to meet a specific challenge. Arch bridges manage compression, suspension bridges span long distances, and concrete box-girder bridges prioritize stability and load efficiency. This bridge uses the box-girder design, making it a practical choice for crossing the wide, fast-moving Mekong River.

Opened in 2011, the Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge was developed to strengthen transport links between Nakhon Phanom Province in Thailand and Thakhek, in Khammouane Province, Laos. Thailand funded much of the project, continuing a pattern set by earlier crossings such as the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge between Nong Khai and Vientiane and the Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge linking Mukdahan and Savannakhet.

Measuring about 4,669 feet, the bridge comprises two traffic lanes, serving local commuters and long-haul freight alike. This has helped ease congestion at other crossings and made cross-border movement more reliable. Beyond transport efficiency, the bridge supports logistics, tourism, and cross-border cooperation, showing how infrastructure can quietly reshape regional connections without demanding attention.

哈里朋柴佛塔寺的彩色灯笼, 南奔府, 泰国 Colorful lanterns at the temple of Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, Lamphun, Thailand (© MR. ANUJAK JAIMOOK/Getty Images)

满天心愿 Sky full of wishes

庆祝义蓬节

如果一盏天灯能承载你的心愿，你会许下什么？今晚，在泰国北部，义蓬节为你带来这样的机会。这个延续数百年的兰纳传统，在农历十二月举行，人们点亮孔明灯以纪念佛陀。相传每一盏灯都能带走厄运，照亮通往美好未来的道路。孩子们扶稳灯架，长者低声祈福，成百上千的灯火缓缓升起，越过树梢，点亮夜空。同一轮满月下，南方的水灯节也在进行，烛光点点的花船在水面缓缓漂流。

在泰国北部的南奔府，有一座历史悠久的寺庙——哈里朋柴佛塔寺，它是欣赏义蓬节灯会的热门地点。寺庙的历史可以追溯到公元897年，当时哈里朋柴国王建造这座佛塔，用来供奉佛陀的一缕头发。佛塔至今仍矗立在寺院中央，周围的建筑则在后来的几个世纪逐渐完善，形成了如今的格局。寺庙的殿堂里，精美的木雕工艺展示了代代匠人的技艺。每年义蓬节期间，成千上万盏孔明灯缓缓升空，古老的祈愿与现代的祝福在夜空交织，让人仿佛穿越千年，感受文化与信仰的延续。

班克鲁特的唐赛寺，泰国 Wat Tang Sai Temple in Ban Krut, Thailand (© Ratnakorn Piyasirisorost/Getty Images)

让我们一起庆祝宋干节！ Let's celebrate Songkran!

宋干节——泰国新年

新年庆祝不一定是烟花的绽放，有时也可以是一场全国范围的泼水狂欢！泰国的宋干节结合了宗教传统与全民水战，是一年中最热闹的节日。今年宋干节将在4月13日至15日举行，作为泰国传统新年，这一节日深深植根于佛教习俗，强调净化和重新开始。在节日期间，人们会前往寺庙，向僧侣供奉食物，并向佛像和长辈的手上泼洒香薰水以示敬意。与此同时，街道上的节日氛围却截然不同，大街小巷都变成了水战竞技场，无论是本地人还是游客，都会加入这场欢乐的水战，享受节日的欢乐。传统的游行队伍穿梭在小巷中，而在一些地方，“宋干小姐”选美比赛更是成为节日的一大亮点，参赛者身着华丽的泰国传统服饰，吸引众多目光。

如果想远离喧嚣以更平静方式庆祝节日，不妨前往今日图片中的唐赛寺。这座寺庙坐落在班固的通猜山上，庙内矗立着高达43英尺的佛像，并环绕着多座泰式宝塔。唐赛寺建于1996年，是为纪念泰王拉玛九世普密蓬·阿杜德国王登基50周年而修建的，如今已成为重要的佛教圣地。在这里，除了欣赏壮丽的海岸风光，还能静心冥想，聆听佛教诵经的庄严回响，感受内心的平和与宁静。

Songkran—Thai New Year

New Year celebrations don't always come with fireworks—sometimes, they come with buckets and a nationwide water splash fest! Thailand's Songkran festival is a unique mix of spiritual traditions and all-out water fights. Held from April 13 to 15 this year, the holiday is deeply rooted in Buddhist customs and focuses on cleansing and starting afresh. During this time, people visit temples, offer food to monks, and pour scented water over Buddha statues and elders' hands as a sign of respect. Meanwhile, the streets turn into water battlegrounds, with locals and tourists alike getting soaked in the spirit of renewal. Traditional parades roll through the lanes, and in some places, the 'Lady Songkran' or 'Miss Songkran' contest steals the show, with contestants dressed in stunning Thai outfits.

Those seeking a calmer way to celebrate might consider visiting Wat Tang Sai Temple in the village of Ban Krut, seen in today's image. Perched on Thong Chai Mountain, this temple complex is home to a 43-foot-tall Buddha statue and Thai-style pagodas. Built in 1996 to honor King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) on his 50th year of reign, it remains an important spiritual site. With stunning coastline views, Wat Tang Sai offers a peaceful setting to meditate and feel the vibrations of Buddhist chants.

俯瞰拷索山林国家公园，素叻府，泰国 Aerial view of Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani, Thailand (© Peetatham Kongkapech/Getty Images)

丛林探险 A jungle adventure

考索国家公园，泰国

今天，我们来到了一片充满野生动物的奇境，泰国素叻他尼府的考索国家公园。这片雨林比亚马逊更古老，生态系统极为丰富。公园成立于1980 年栖息着马来貘、白掌长臂猿、印度野牛和犀鸟等多种野生动物，是任何想要逃离城市喧嚣、沉浸丛林之声的旅行者的理想目的地。这里有蜿蜒的远足小径供人探索，也可以乘皮划艇悠然穿行。如果够幸运，还能目睹巨型莱佛士花盛开的壮观景象。

此外，这里还有卓兰湖。这座湖泊是1982年因修建拉差帕帕大坝而形成的水库，随着时间推移，湖泊塑造了宛如电影场景般的景观，正如今日图片所展示的那样。这座大坝最初被称为“乔兰工程”，后更名为“拉差帕帕”，意为“王国之光”，以此向1946年至2016年在位的泰王普密蓬·阿杜德致敬。这里，石灰岩悬崖从清澈湖水中陡然升起，湖面上还建有漂浮的水上屋。这些水上屋不仅是住宿地，更是欣赏大自然奇观的绝佳位置。

Khao Sok National Park in Thailand

Today we're in a wildlife-packed wonderland with rainforests older than the Amazon—Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand. Established in 1980, the park is home to diverse wildlife, including the Malayan tapir, white-handed gibbon, gaur, and hornbill, making it an ideal destination for anyone ready to swap city noise for jungle sounds. There are trails to tackle, kayaks to paddle, and, if you're fortunate, you might even catch a glimpse of the massive (and stinky) Rafflesia flower when it's in bloom.

And then there's Cheow Lan Lake—a reservoir created for hydropower in 1982 when the Rajjaprabha Dam was built. Over time, the lake transformed the landscape into something you'd think was straight out of a movie, as featured in today's image. Here, limestone cliffs rise dramatically from glassy waters, and there are floating bungalows too. These bungalows offer more than just a place to sleep—they provide a front-row seat to nature's theater.

义蓬灯节 ，清迈，泰国 Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand (© tampatra/Getty Images)

愿望随灯起飞 Hope takes flight

义蓬灯节 ，清迈，泰国

在今天的夜幕降临时，泰国第二大城市清迈将在数以千计的流光溢彩的灯笼中迎来义蓬灯节。这个庆祝活动在兰纳农历（该历法可追溯到中世纪泰国北部的兰纳王国）第二个月的满月时举行，象征着消除负面情绪和迎接新的开始。节日的高潮是在夜空中放飞名为“ khom loi”或“khom loy”的天灯，也就是能在空中漂浮的纸灯笼。届时，天际弥漫着温暖的金色光海，形成一道美丽的风景线。当地人和游客聚集在寺庙和宫殿周围，向天空许愿，希望来年好运连连。

除了放飞灯笼，城市里还有热闹的游行、传统舞蹈表演和精美的装饰。此外，水灯节与义蓬灯节通常在同一时间举行。在水灯节上，人们会把被香蕉叶、香和蜡烛精心装饰过的小篮子放入河中漂流。这两个节日共同创造了一个奇观，吸引了来自世界各地的游客前来见证清迈的灯火辉煌。

Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand

As twilight descends today, Chiang Mai, Thailand's second-largest city, will come alive with thousands of glowing lanterns for Yi Peng. Held on the full moon of the second month of the Lanna lunar calendar, this celebration is about letting go of negativity and embracing new beginnings. The highlight of the festival is the release of 'khom loi' or 'khom loy'—floating paper lanterns—into the night sky, which becomes a sea of warm, golden lights. People often write their hopes and dreams on the lanterns. They gather around temples and palaces to send their wishes skyward, hoping for good fortune in the year to come.

In addition to the lantern release, the city hosts vibrant parades, traditional dance performances, and stunning decorations. Yi Peng coincides with Loy Krathong, another festival where small, intricately crafted baskets, decorated with banana leaves, incense, and candles, are floated down rivers. Together, these festivals create a spectacle that draws visitors from across the world to witness the illumination of Chiang Mai.

帕侬蓝寺，武里南府，泰国 Prasat Phanom Rung temple ruins, Buriram province, Thailand (© Banjongseal324/Getty Images)

通往过去的大门 Doorway to the past

帕侬蓝寺，泰国

今天，让我们走进泰国武里南府的帕侬蓝历史公园。在这里，高棉建筑和高棉人的历史栩栩如生地展现在人们面前。该遗址建于10至13世纪，是一座供奉湿婆神的印度教寺庙。寺庙位于一座死火山的边缘，从这里可以俯瞰周围的稻田和远处高耸入云的柬埔寨扁担山脉。

这条500英尺高的长廊是这个公园里最引人注目的特色之一，长廊上面不仅有泥土露台，还布满了错综复杂的石雕。长廊的前方是一个叫“Phlab Phla”的地方，据说是皇室成员在进入寺庙前的沐浴区。旁边还有一条绵延500多英尺的通道，通道两侧是砂岩石柱，通向三座那伽（神话中的蛇）桥中的第一座，象征着从凡间到神界的过渡。而寺庙顶部保存完好的神殿则展示了丰富的宗教图案，以及与印度教故事有关的雕塑。每年四月举行的帕侬蓝节吸引许多人在此齐聚一堂，观看阳光穿过寺庙上层圣殿的十五个门洞，照亮圣殿内部。

Prasat Phanom Rung temple ruins, Thailand

Today, let us step into the Phanom Rung Historical Park in Buriram province, Thailand. Here, Khmer architecture and history come to life. Built between the 10th and 13th centuries, this remarkable site served as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva. It is on the rim of an extinct volcano, offering views of the surrounding paddy fields and the towering Dongrek Mountains of Cambodia in the distance.

With its earthen terraces, the 500-foot promenade leading up to the main gate is one of the most striking features in the park. A long passage lined with sandstone pillars, it leads to the first of three bridges symbolizing the transition from the mortal realm to the divine. At the top, the shrine showcases a wealth of religious motifs, including Hindu sculptures. The annual festival of Phanom Rung, held in April, attracts many who gather to witness the sun's rays aligning with the 15 doorways of the temple and lighting up the inner sanctum.

Wat Phra Ngam，大城府历史公园，泰国 Wat Phra Ngam, Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand (© boonchai wedmakawand/Alamy Stock Photo)

一个π A piece of pi

圆周率日快乐!

有人这样说过，世界上唯一不变的是变化。然而，在数学里却有许多固定不变的常数，今天，我们要庆祝的也许是其中最著名的一个：π。圆周率是圆的周长与直径之比，约为3.14159。每年的3月14日，全世界的数学爱好者都会用烘焙来庆祝圆周率π日——这既是对数学常数π的庆祝，也是对其同音字，美味的“派”的庆祝。它始于1988年，当时物理学家拉里·肖将日期（3/14）与这个常数的前三位数联系起来。今天，数学家和爱好者们用吃派和背诵π来庆祝圆周率日。你知道吗，当你的时钟敲响1:59时，表示你离圆周率的实际值又近了三位小数。圆周率无处不在，甚至在大自然中也是如此。图中是泰国大城府寺庙的一棵菩提树，其形状就像圆周率的符号。无论你是数学怪才，还是只是为了享受美食，每个人都可以享受“派”节！

Happy Pi Day!

They say the only constant in life is change. In mathematics, however, there are many constants and today, we're celebrating perhaps the most famous of them all: pi. Represented by the symbol π, this tasty-sounding number is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, approximately 3.14159. Every March 14, mathematics fans across the world get baking to mark Pi Day with a pie. It began in 1988, when physicist Larry Shaw connected the date (3/14) with the first three digits of π. Today, mathematicians and enthusiasts celebrate Pi Day with pie eating and pi reciting. Did you know that when your clock strikes 1:59 today, you will be three decimal places closer to the real value of pi? Pi is everywhere, even in nature. Pictured here is a bodhi tree which has grown over an arch into the shape of the pi symbol at Wat Phra Ngam, a temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Whether you're a math geek or just in it for the treats, Pi Day is for everyone to enjoy!

曼谷的交通圈和高速公路，泰国 Traffic circle and highway in Bangkok, Thailand (© Avigator Fortuner/Shutterstock)

陷入循环之中？ Stuck in a loop?

曼谷，泰国

在生机勃勃的泰国，曼谷这座城市充满了活力！这是一座占地面积超600平方英里的城市，其常住人口预估超过1000万人，占泰国总人口的15%以上。作为泰国的首都，曼谷拥有繁华的城市基础设施，而复杂的交通圈和高速公路网正是其特色。1864年竣工的石龙军路，是曼谷第一条利用现代方法铺设的马路。石龙军路的建成亦是曼谷历史上的重要节点，曼谷的主要交通方式自此从水上交通向陆路交通转变。而1972年引入的复杂的高架快速路网和廊曼收费公路的建成则使得开车进出城更加方便。多年来，曼谷的交通网络在不断地发展，以满足城市扩张的需求。

Bangkok, Thailand

In vibrant Thailand, the city of Bangkok pulses with life! Covering an area of more than 600 square miles, it is estimated that over 10 million people live there, roughly 15% of the country's population. The capital city is home to a bustling urban infrastructure, featuring a complex network of traffic circles and highways. In 1864, the completion of Charoen Krung Road marked a turn in the city's transit by serving as a pioneering construction project utilizing Western techniques. The introduction of a complex elevated expressway network in 1972 and the Don Mueang Tollway has made it easier to drive in and out of the city. Over the years, the road network has evolved to meet the demands of this sprawling urban expanse.

帕那空奇里上空的烟花，碧武里府，泰国 Fireworks over Phra Nakhon Khiri, Phetchaburi, Thailand (© noomcpk/Shutterstock)

明年见! See you next year!

跨年夜快乐!

现在是最后的倒计时！许多国家都在今晚庆祝跨年夜，以送走旧的一年，并期待新的一年的到来。在辞旧迎新的时候，各个国家的传统习俗都很有创意。如果你不在美国观看时代广场的落球仪式，你可能会在丹麦摔盘子，在西班牙往嘴里塞葡萄，或者在希腊把洋葱挂在门外。在泰国，庆祝者可能会去寺庙祈求好运，或者观看照亮帕那空奇里的烟花。“帕那空奇里”在泰语中意为“山中之城”，该地坐落在同名的历史公园内，又名“圣城山”或“拷汪行宫”。无论你在哪里庆祝跨年夜，都要过得愉快。明年见！

Happy New Year's Eve!

It's the final countdown! Tonight is New Year's Eve, time to see out the old year and welcome the new. But how you celebrate depends which country you're in. If you're not in the US watching the Times Square Ball Drop, you might smash crockery in Denmark, eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight in Spain, or hang onions outside your door in Greece. In Thailand, you might watch the fireworks illuminating Phra Nakhon Khiri, or 'holy city hill,' a historical park spread over three peaks overlooking the city of Phetchaburi. Wherever you celebrate, have a great one. See you next year!