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NMV turns 44
Being 44 years old may seem young to many of us, but it
is a ripe old age for a group of expats interested in Thai culture and
history. The National Museum Volunteers (NMV) is 44 years old this year.
MC Richard Silverberg starts
the 24th March meeting by reminding all of the free newsletters available on
the information table.
Two
NMV volunteers, Victoria Kudriavtseva and Margot Weinmann, talked about the
NMV at the Sunday, March 24 meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club.
Margot explained that the NMV started in 1969 when Chira Chongkol, Head of
Education and Public Relations at the National Museum Bangkok, invited a
group of international women from the American Women’s Club to prepare a
tour in English of the Thai Art Collection. Chira had witnessed expats
wandering around the museum, not appreciating the exhibits because there
were no explanations in English. The first English tour of the museum was
undertaken in June 1969. Margot said that, normally, expats are not allowed
to serve as guides in Thai museums, but that an exception was made in this
case.
Speaker Margot Weinmann of
the National Museum Volunteers (NMV) of Thailand began her presentation by
giving a brief history of the organisation, since founding in 1969. Margot
said its’ proudest moment was when a carved lintel from the Phanom Rung
temple near Buriram was returned, after being discovered in a Chicago
Museum.
Currently, the NMV provides tours of the museum in
English, German, French and Japanese. The tours are every Wednesday and
Thursday morning at 09:30. Today, people interested in being NMV guides must
first take a two-and-a-half month course. Over the years, the NMV took on
other activities, such as offering a course in Buddhism, and organizing
study periods, lectures and trips. The first such trip was to India in 1987.
The NMV has also produced several books.
Margot recounted that one of the proudest moments of the NMV occurred in
1986 when it arranged to bring an important Thai artifact back to Thailand
from a museum in Chicago. The artifact was the Vishnu lintel from Prasat Hin
Phanom Rung, a historical park in Surin province. The lintel had been
spotted in a storeroom in the museum. It was restored to the park.
Victoria Kudriavtseva advises
that a Pattaya chapter of the National Museum Volunteers was established in
November 2011, with two study groups: Peoples in Thailand, and one on
Religions and Beliefs in Thailand. Meetings are held weekly, and trips to
cultural sites are arranged.
In 1989, 2001 and in 2004, the NMV received the Thai
National Heritage Award. In 2001 and 2002, the NMV organized charity galas
to spotlight the treasures of the National Museum and to promote the
conservation of the Museum’s textile collection.
Due to inflation and the growth in the organization’s activities over the
years, annual membership fees in the NMV have gone from zero at the outset
to 1,200 baht today. Currently, the NMV has around 300 members, both women
and men, with a wide range of expertise and backgrounds. The membership is
Thai and international and represents over 30 nations.
Chair Pat Koester thanks
Victoria and Margot for their interesting presentation, with a Certificate
of Appreciation from Pattaya City Expats.
Victoria revealed that in November 2011, the NMV set up a
chapter in Pattaya, founded by Margot and herself. The chapter has organized
two study groups: one on Peoples in Thailand, and one on Religions and
Beliefs in Thailand. Each person in the study group chooses one topic and
makes a presentation to other members of the group. Meetings are held weekly
in member’s homes; there are two or three presentations at each meeting. The
Pattaya chapter has organized a trip to a hill tribe village to celebrate
new year; and trips to Panom Rung and Phimai. It has a small “but excellent”
library which is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 3pm, except Thai
holidays.
Membership in the NMV entitles one to attend the Guiding Workshop to train
to become a museum guide; participate in study groups; enjoy discounted fees
and preference on local and out-of-country excursions, at homes and
lectures; receive the NMV monthly newsletter; and use the NMV library. The
National Museum Volunteers (NMV) is a non-profit organisation that has a
variety of educational and cultural activities. More information is
available on the NMV website at
www.museumvolunteersbkk.net.
Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg provided an update on upcoming
events and called on Roy Albiston to conduct the Open Forum where questions
are asked and answered about Expat living in Thailand; Pattaya in
particular.
For more information about the many activities of the Pattaya City Expats
Club, visit their website at
www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
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Your wish is my command
Barry and his “angel” wife Kwan.
Today’s computer technology has come a long way since Babbage
and his contemporaries. Although capable of frustrating all of us with its
quirks and foibles, IT today provides some very useful tools for everyday
living. One such tool is being put to great use in our own community. Many of
you will recall that 2 years ago a Pattaya resident, Barry Hooper, was involved
in a very bad road accident. That accident left Barry bed-ridden and badly
handicapped. He has had a long struggle to get back even a small degree of
normality and endured high medical costs along the way. Happily, Barry has been
given unwavering support by his wife Kwan. Barry himself wrote a letter (with
one finger) to this paper last year giving public thanks and gratitude to her
devotion to him, as he described her - his angel.
Now, through the endeavours of the Pattaya community, Barry is to get into the
world of computer communications using VR (voice recognition) technology. Most
of you will have seen Stephen Hawking on TV and how he uses computer aids to
talk to the world. In Barry’s case he is limited to using only one finger on his
PC, so using VR tools he will be able to dictate his emails, letters or even
write a novel. He will also be able to use his voice to give the PC commands to
open and close software, direct his cursor and generally make day-to-day
computer usage much easier for him.
The new computer is hooked up and
soon Barry will become an expert.
A local appeal for funds was made to upgrade Barry’s PC
set-up. The Pattaya Expats Club held a ‘bucket’ donation at their Sunday meeting
and, via the club trustees, looked at contributing to the estimated cost out of
club funds. However, in the end the majority of the total amount was given by an
anonymous donor who does not wish his generous act to be made public. To this
person must be given wholehearted thanks. Many thanks must also go to Mike Mayne
who has taken much time and trouble in helping bring this plan to its successful
conclusion.
Working directly with Steve Dickens of Liberty Computers on 3rd Road, Barry’s
current set-up was reviewed and a solution worked out. With the funds made
available it was decided to buy Barry a brand new machine with the power &
robustness to sustain him for many years to come.
Liberty Computers generously agreed to help with the installation for Barry even
though Ban Chang is outside their normal area of operation. The plan was to have
the new PC installed on Friday 29th March. Unfortunately, Liberty could not find
Barry’s house; Barry’s phone was run down and his wife was out. It just goes to
show how vulnerable things can be.
So, Bob Anderson came to the rescue and took the new PC down on Saturday, March
30, and switched over the old box. He said, “We got most things running but
Barry’s mike/headset was broken so we did not progress the VR bit too far.
However, I am confident that with the help text and tutorial he will pick it up
very quickly.”
Well done Bob!
Barry has also been helped all along by his former golf friends at the
Travellers Rest, in particular Fergus Brennan and Seamus Farrell. The TRGG have
continued to support Barry since his accident and Fergus was delighted to hear
that more was being done to help Barry in this way.
Another avenue being explored for Barry is the Independent Living Foundation,
part of the Father Ray charity. Their representative, Udomchok, was contacted
through Angela Poustie of the International Ladies Club (PILC). Barry is in
great need of physiotherapy to stimulate and energize his lifeless limbs. It is
hoped that this organisation can provide support to the physical and mental
aspects of Barry’s incapacity in the coming months.
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Hilton lounge brings touch of class to ‘low tea’
Business Development Director Peta Ruiter (seated,
2nd left), along with friends and guests prepare to taste the afternoon tea.
Warunya Thongrod
The Hilton Pattaya is making the city a little more civilized with the
start of an afternoon tea service at its Drift lounge.
Business Development Director Peta Ruiter and Drift Manager Albert Jethanamest
kicked off the 3:30 p.m. tea service March 21, offering guests several varieties
to choose from: jasmine, Earl Grey, and English Afternoon. Coffee was also
available.
The Afternoon Tea for two costs 600 baht and includes a pot of tea and a
three-tiered tray of sandwiches and desserts, including truffle quail’s egg
salad, salmon and cucumber; breaded chicken, roasted pepper and cheese tortilla
rollups, fruit scones with clotted cream, home-made strawberry preserves,
cheesecake, lemon tea cake, profiteroles, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and
French macaroons.
Drift Manager Albert Jethanamest introduces the
Afternoon tea served in the Drift lounge.
Afternoon tea dates to the Victorian era in England when Duchess of Bedford Anna
Maria Russell served up a light meal and refreshment before supper for Queen
Victoria I. By the end of the 19th century, afternoon tea, or “low tea”, had
developed into its current form and was observed by both the upper and middle
classes.
Tea is served at the 16th floor Drift lobby lounge from 2-6 p.m. For more
information, call 038-253-000.
Sandwiches, tea and strawberries dipped in chocolate
look delicious.
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String quintet from Bangkok Symphony Orchestra soothes Mantra guests
Richard Margo Resident Manager of Amari Orchid
Resort joins the quintet from the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra is a toast to the
evening.
Paul Strachan
Mantra restaurant upheld its reputation for class with the first in a series
of musical evenings featuring a string quintet from the Bangkok Symphony
Orchestra performing Mozart, Beethoven, Lehar and others for a performance
entitled “Mantra Classic.”
The musicians played five sets March 16, with a short interval while diners
enjoyed a special five-course menu created by Mantra’s Executive Chef Leonard
Faust.
Residence Manager Richard Margo explained the restaurant had previously staged
many musical evenings that had been well received by customers.
Margo said the next event, to be held in May, will feature Latin music and cover
tango, salsa and bossa nova styles. A few tables may be moved so people can
dance.
The string Quintet create a wonderful atmosphere in
Mantra with a variety of well known classical pieces.
Future musical evenings will include a big band night, harkening back to the
music of the 40s & 50s, and a tribute night paying homage a great name in the
world of music.
Not forgetting it is first a restaurant, Mantra plays the music at a level where
everyone can still enjoy a conversation.
Amy and her team welcome the guests to a night of
Mantra classical music.
Not forgetting it is first a restaurant, Mantra
plays the music at a level where everyone can still enjoy a conversation.
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Green Bottle Pub celebrates 25 years
Pattaya Mail MD Peter Malhotra helps good friend Sopin
Thappajug, MD of the Diana Group, cut the 25th anniversary birthday cake.
Thanachot Anuwan
The Green Bottle Pub celebrated its 25th anniversary with a musical celebration
and gifts.
Diana Group Managing Director Sopin Thappajug emceed the festive evening,
cutting the anniversary cake and popping a bottle of champagne. She thanked all
the guests for their support over the quarter century in business.
“The pub was opened to serve tourists and encourage them to preserve the green
environment. Now it’s become well known,” Sopin said.
Along with a hearty dinner, musical acts Phusaming Nosawang and Sharas Fuangarom
played oldies while Pom Authoban did contemporary songs to entertain the
audience.
GM “Gang” meets in the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya
Chatchawal Supachayanont (right) the effervescent
leader of the GM Gang greets his friends.
Dr. Iain Corness
The general managers of some of the better hotel properties in
Pattaya/Naklua met for a social networking evening at the Hard Rock Hotel
Pattaya last weekend.
The originator of the “GM Gang” Chatchawal Supachayanont, the GM of the Dusit
Thani Pattaya, was welcomed by Jorge Smith, the ebullient GM of the Hard Rock,
who ended up greeting 12 other GM’s for an animated dinner overlooking the
free-form pool.
In an exclusive interview with Pattaya Mail TV, Chatchawal expressed the opinion
that the function of the GM Gang was to elevate the standards of the hotel
properties in Pattaya/Naklua. The different GM’s were able to compare their
properties and they would help each other if required. This was particularly so
for some of the newer GM’s when coming across some Thai cultural barriers.
Jorge Smith, a man with a multi-national background, agreed, but said with a
smile that he personally had been working so long in Thailand, there was not
much that he had not experienced before.
Jorge entertains his guests at the pre-dinner
cocktails.
Jorge Carlos Smith, GM Hard Rock Hotel.
(l-r) Sompat Jantawan (GM of Tsix5 Hotel), Sittidej
Rochanavibhata (GM Cape Dara Resort), Neoh Kean Boon (RM Dusit Thani Pattaya),
Tomo Kuriyama (GM Sheraton Pattaya), Philippe Delaloye, Jitmanee
Siravithayavanich (Way Hotel), Dr Iain Corness (Pattaya Mail), Jorge Carlos
Smith (GM Hard Rock Hotel), Nopporn Kanchanamanee (District Sales Manager of
Thai Airways, Pattaya), Chatchawal Supachayanont (GM Dusit Thani Pattaya),
Sanpech Supabowornsthian (right), Assistant Managing Director of The Zign,
Prayuth Thamdhum (GM Montien Pattaya) and Somkhit Tonsaiphet (The Zign).
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