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“With great tragedy comes great opportunity…”
“With great tragedy comes great opportunity - a chance
for people to be who they always dreamed they could be - magnificent!” This
was a comment Bill Frances made when interviewed by Dan Rather from CBS in
Phuket where Bill was a volunteer helping out in the aftermath of the 2004
Tsunami. During his presentation to the December 29 meeting of the Pattaya
City Expats Club, he emphasized that it was worth repeating today because he
believes that about people.
MC Richard Silverberg opens the
last PCEC meeting of 2013 by inviting new members and visitors to introduce
themselves.
Bill began by pausing and taking a deep breath. He then
explained that to this day he includes in his prayers, “Thank you for this
breath, and the next one.” This is because too many people after the tsunami
didn’t get to take that next breath. Bill said he was visiting Malaysia in
December 2004 as a tourist. Further, because of his beard he was invited to
play Father Christmas for the first time at a resort in Kota Kinabalu. Bill,
who now resides in Thailand, has played Father Christmas many times since,
including at the Club’s annual Christmas Program.
Speaker for the December 29th
meeting was familiar figure Bill Francis, who related his experiences as a
volunteer following the Andaman Tsunami.
The next day after his playing Father Christmas, he heard
about the tsunami that struck Phuket and many other locations. Bill said he
promptly booked a flight back to Bangkok; immediately going to the Red Cross
to give blood and make a donation. He felt he could help further, so he took
a flight to Phuket. There he discovered Phuket was already buzzing with a
small army of professionals and countless volunteers.
Bill said the scope of the need was staggering, never before had anyone
witnessed such massive devastation and loss of life. People everywhere were
working so hard, selflessly, and determined; like so many others, he bounced
around trying to find a way to help, to no avail. Bill said it was like a
big beehive, every bee doing its job. But just outside these busy bees were
hundreds of foreigners, like him, that had talents and skills and a desire
to help, but no place to use them.
Bill listens to one of the many
questions from the audience, many of whom were in Thailand at the time of
the tsunami.
Then enter Mark Pendlebury, an Australian with a
brilliant idea; create a “Foreign Volunteers Center”. With just a canopy, a
table, a couple of chairs and a computer, Bill described how the word spread
and they would receive requests resulting in their sending teams to
hospitals as translators, providing data entry clerks, others to help stock
and deliver food, and so much more. Also, every day they sent teams up north
to assist forensic workers.
After a few days Bill said he got itchy and wanted to get out of a chair and
into hands on helping. He described his hours long journey north with the
intent to help photograph the victims. Further, on the way there he was
staggered by the destruction - it had come so far inland, hurling cars into
trees, leveling entire resorts to bare ground. Bodies lay side by side
covered by white sheets waiting for transport. It was rough. Upon arrival,
he couldn’t find anyone who needed help with photography, but he did see
another need and started helping with the carrying of plastic sheets
containing the deceased. He mentioned the memory, even today, is almost
unbearable and six hours was all he could take. Further, he fortunately
found some angels who looked like foreign volunteers; they held him while he
cried his eyes out.
MC Richard presents Bill with a
Certificate of Appreciation as thanks for his informative presentation of
the drama following the tsunami.
He returned to Phuket where he continued to work at the
volunteer center. It was here that a member of the CBS team located him and
said that Dan Rather had heard about “Father Christmas” who had volunteered
to help out and would like to meet him. Bill said they had a long talk and
that he consented to do an interview, which aired on CBS News (view the
video at http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/tourist-turns-volunteer/).
Bill said they continued to send out volunteers until politics got involved
and they were suddenly shut down; there one day and the next everything
gone. So he moved on, to Koh Lanta. Although not as heavily hit as Phuket
and other areas, Bill described how he learned that what this island of sea
gypsies needed most was to fix or replace their boats as fishing was their
livelihood. Bill explained how they first had to gain their trust as they
initially didn’t think people would actually work for their benefit. He then
went on to describe how they started receiving donations, the effort they
expended in buying material for the folks to fix their boats, the distance
they had to go and the dealing for buying new boats to replace those that
couldn’t be fixed. Afterward, in the evenings, they still had to do the
paperwork to show what they were doing with the donations they received;
thus it was 17 to 18 hour days to get this done.
After this 3 month effort, everyone they were working with got a boat, nets,
and even long tail boat motors. Bill also pointed out that they were not the
only volunteers working on Koh Lanta; there were others repairing houses as
well as others helping other communities. He said it was truly an
international effort with people not only from Thailand, but from all over
the world contributing time, effort, and money.
In conclusion, Bill repeated, “With great tragedy comes great opportunity -
a chance for people to be who they always dreamed they could be -
magnificent!”
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Christmas in Pattaya
Some of the St. George’s
Congregation enjoying a delicious Xmas lunch at Dicey Reilly’s after attending
the morning church service.
Staff reporter
For the first year in decades, I could hear the local residents complaining
about the weather, as this year seems to be cooler and the cool season longer
than ever. Many say that the temperature will drop to a cooler level every year
for several days, but this chilliness has been around for weeks now. People in
Pattaya have never faced “winter” like we are witnessing this year.
Pattaya’s tourist season seems to be quiet and not as active as last year. Some
people say the slow season is due to the many protests happening in the
country’s capital. Many have canceled their holidays here, which is a major loss
for Thailand’s tourism market.
Nevertheless, the local activities and various events are
still going on at full speed. Christmas and New Year’s Countdown events are
still popular, so there are still many attractions going on.
Years ago, Christmas used to be solely a religious holiday to celebrate the
birth of Christ. People gave presents to each other to commemorate the giving of
presents to the baby Jesus by the wise men. Over the years, Christmas has become
for many a purely secular event. Many people see it as an excuse to have big
parties to which they invite all of their friends to celebrate.
Here in Pattaya, for the majority of the foreign residents, this is the case.
They hold parties, attend others, and indulge in rich food. There are both ups
and downs in this period of the year as people cannot predict what may happen.
The population expands, more people are around at night. Some sleep, some don’t,
leading to increased traffic accidents and crime.
However, in a foreign country, many foreigners feel desperately alone at this
time and if they have been let down by a local person whom they thought loved
them they can be prone to committing suicide. Actually worldwide this season can
be one of the most dangerous periods for suicides.
For Christians, Christmas still is mainly a religious festival and even here in
a non-Christian culture they still find ways in which to celebrate in much the
same way as they did in their home countries. They attend church and, here in
Pattaya, many of the major denominations are represented. They sing carols,
listen to sermons about the birth of the Christ child and are reminded of why
this child came into the world. Often after the service they have fellowship in
the church and then some of them go out for lunch together.
Most locals in Thailand are willing to celebrate any holiday regardless of the
fact that they may not fully understand its meaning. Therefore, everyone is able
to celebrate and have a good time together, no matter what the reason.
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Skål celebrates Xmas
(L to R) Nittaya Patimasongkroh
and Tony Malhotra, President of Skål International Pattaya and East Thailand,
share a moment with Peter Malhotra, MD of Pattaya Mail Media Group.
Dr. Iain Corness &
Tony Malhotra
The Skål Club of Pattaya and East Thailand celebrated the end of a very
successful 2013 with a Beach BBQ at the Pinnacle Grand Jomtien Resort & Spa.
The local Skål treasurer is Ingo Raeuber, who is also the GM of the Pinnacle
Group. Ingo put together an evening of food and fun for the 60 members and
guests who could relax and get the sand between their toes on the Pinnacle
beach.
After welcoming everyone, the President Tony Malhotra recited the Skål toast in
Thai, followed by the presentation in English given by the most senior member,
Ferenc Fricsay.
A lavish BBQ was offered, with both Thai and International items, as befitting
for such an international tourism organization as Skål.
Musical dance and entertainment was given by members of the Pinnacle staff who
could be seen running from the stage to the dressing area to return in another
spectacular dance show!
Charity auctions were held, producing around 60,000 baht which will go to the
needy children of Pattaya.
Ferenc Fricsay (left) and Ingo G.
Raeuber (right) are surprised by the paparazzi.
Ingo and Skål Pattaya would like to thank the F&B sponsors
who are: Thai Beverage, World Classic Wine Co., Ltd., V&K Wine, Smoothie: Fruit
and Cocktail Blended, Grand Italia Ice Cream and Fonterra Food product Brand
Anchor.
An extended appreciation also goes to the contributors who donated prizes for
auctions and raffles who are: Podologie Center, Chiva Som Hua Hin, Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya, Pattaya Mail, Pattaya Blatt, Chiang Mai Mail, Mercure Pattaya,
Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, Thai Garden Resort, Holiday Inn
Pattaya, Eastern Star Golf Course, Pinnacle Grand Jomtien Resort & Spa, Pinnacle
Koh Tao, Pinnacle Samui Resort & Spa, Conrad Hotel Bangkok and Sukosol Hotel
Bangkok.
The next event will be held on Thursday, January 30, at the Centara Grand Mirage
Beach Resort Pattaya’s 19th floor North Tower from 6.30 p.m. onwards. Entrance
fee is 850 baht net including buffet, free flow drinks and live music by the
CMBR House Band. After 9 p.m. all can continue at the resort’s Zulu Bar with buy
one get one drink for free. To reserve:
[email protected]
Rene Pisters, GM of Thai Garden
Resort, is flanked by two beautiful women, Ploy Pisters (left) and Nattakarn
Sinprasom (right).
(L to R) Cedric Lafargue, F&B
Director of Mercure Pattaya; Tony Malhotra, President of Skål International
Pattaya and East Thailand; and Alex Chakrabarti, GM of Mercure Pattaya get some
sand between their toes during the party.
(L to R) Karnmanee Saengchan, Sales
Manager for Amari Orchid Pattaya; Kamolphop Suksamarn, Sales Manager for Nova
Platinum Hotel; and Dueanpen Thongsombut, Asst Sales Director at the Amari
Orchid Pattaya.
(L to R) Ingo G. Raeuber, GM of
Pinnacle Grand Jomtien Resort & Spa; Hans Banzinger, Director of Swiss Paradise
Resort Pattaya; Peter Malhotra, MD of Pattaya Mail Media Group; and Dr. Iain
Corness from Pattaya Mail and Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
(L to R) Russell Jay Darrell (MIX
88.5 FM) and Neil Maniquiz, Head of the International Marketing at Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya, get into the Christmas spirit.
(L to R) Kamolphop Suksamarn (left),
Sales Manager for Nova Platinum Hotel gives thumbs up to Tony Malhotra,
President of Skål International Pattaya and East Thailand.
(L to R) Vassachol Khrueasan, Senior
Sales Manager at Holiday Inn Pattaya; Jitmanee Siravithayavanich from The Way
Hotel; Alissara Khamprachom, Sales Manager of D Varee Jomtien Beach Hotel; Jeena
Papakan Saguansap, Tea Tree Spa Manager at Holiday Inn Pattaya; Benchamat
Phudthiradvittaya, Senior Sales Manager for Holiday Inn Pattaya; and Chananchida
Wongsa-ard, Sales & PR Manager for Centara Grand Pratamnak Resort Pattaya.
(L to R) Tony Malhotra, President of
Skål International Pattaya and East Thailand; Robert John Lohrmann, GM of
Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya; George Kenton, EAM-Rooms of Centara
Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya; Ingo G. Raeuber, GM of Pinnacle Grand Jomtien
Resort & Spa; and Hans Banzinger, Director of Swiss Paradise Resort Pattaya.
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