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Hardy Krüger
Movie star, Author and Globetrotter
Anita and Hardy Krüger at the Siam Bayshore Resort
Pattaya
by Elfi
Though he has been to Thailand many times, this is the first
time Hardy Krüger and his beautiful wife of 21 years, Anita, have visited
Pattaya. Hardy came by invitation of Meier’s Welt-reisen, with whom he has a
promotional contract, to present a reading of one of his books.
Hardy Krüger, born in 1928, originally a German actor, had his breakthrough
during the fifties with his film “The one that got away”. Even though he was the
darling of the nation, called the ‘cheeky sunny boy’, shortly after this movie
he incurred the German producers displeasure by being too cheeky. He then moved
to France where he made one French movie, “Sundays and Cybel”. This film won an
Oscar award, ran for more than two years in New York and was a great hit all
over the world, except in Germany. Hollywood became aware of Hardy and he has
worked there with all the big film companies ever since. Many of you might
recall movies like “The Rest is Silence” or “The Flight of the Phoenix”, or
starring with John Wayne and Elsa Martinelli in “Hatari”. He has made 85 movies
altogether.
E: “Mr. Krüger, as far as I know, you are not only a great movie star but also a
writer, pilot, and globetrotter. Tell us about flying first.”
H.K: “I love flying. When I was 13 years old, I started with a glider and as
soon as it was possible I earned my pilot license. Flying Cessnas and Pipers, it
has always been one of the biggest fascinations for me to see the world from the
view of a bird. It’s very romantic and peaceful. And adventurous. I remember
very well that many times when I flew from Hamburg to Africa to my farm at the
bottom of the Kilimandscharo, I was never too sure if I would reach the place or
not.”
E: “Wow! That sounds kind of dangerous and exciting. So, you had a farm in
Africa?”
H.K.: “For about 17 years. It was one of the most beautiful places in the world
for me and my wife. Whenever it was possible we went there to relax and enjoy
the still un-touched nature.”
E: “Why do you say: ‘it was’?”
H.K.: “We don’t have it anymore. Economical reasons. You know, during the period
when all private property was nationalized, for some reason they didn’t do it
with our farm. We had to deliver a big percentage of our harvest to nationalized
hotels and they usually ‘forgot’ to pay. After a while we just couldn’t afford
it anymore and decided to give it up. When I finally became aware the land I had
bought 17 years ago never belonged to the government but to the black tribes, I
refused to sell it. I just gave it to my African farm workers who had worked
with me for so many years and became good friends. I saw it as a kind of
reparation to the tribes.”
E: “What made you decide to buy yourself a farm in Africa in the first place?”
H.K.: “It was during one of my travels. You mentioned before that I am also a
globetrotter. That’s perfectly right. See, I was a young kid during the Second
World War. Everything was restricted and tight in Germany and I tried to get
away from that up-bringing. I wanted to be free. Anyhow, after many years of
individual traveling besides my work in the film industry, I started to write my
3 Globetrotter books. After I was famous worldwide, German Television gave me a
contract to make 35 Globetrotter movies, which gave me the advantage to see all
the places I went before, again. And it brought me together with my wife Anita.
She was a photographer in my team and we got married on the spur of the moment.
She loved traveling, she had done a lot before she’d met me, the more reason for
us to travel all around the world, together.
“It’s so fascinating to learn about different ethnic groups and about their
culture. I am very much impressed by Hinduism and Buddhism. I’ve visited so many
places already, but I would need at least three re-incarnations to see all what
I haven’t seen yet. For example: South America. I just went there briefly. I can
neither speak Spanish nor Portuguese. To learn about people, to understand their
soul and spirit, one has to understand their lingua, otherwise forget it. One
has to be able to exchange thoughts. It’s not only pictures some should take
home, but also more knowledge about the different culture. If questions can be
answered, everybody gains from it.”
E: “Are you still writing?”
H.K.: “I stopped writing Globetrotter books, although I will never give up
writing. After 10 years of non-stop traveling with a film team, one gets
slightly tired, even though it was the most beautiful experience.”
E: “What are your next plans?”
H.K.: “I’d like to go back to my original profession: acting. Not too long ago,
I went to the States, my wife is an American, and we do have our home there, and
I met this old friend of mine. He gasped when he saw me and said he’s happy that
I am still alive. Those people in Hollywood hadn’t heard of me in 10 years. The
Globetrotter movies were mainly displayed in German speaking countries. Anyhow,
after the word got around, I immediately got offers for films. Now I have three
projects in works and I am still considering which one I should start first. I
believe being absent from the movie scene for so long I’ll have to build up my
‘new’ career slowly and carefully.”
E: “Considering your age in which other people think of retiring, isn’t it a
risk to start a new career again?”
H.K.: “Everything is a risk in life. I am not too worried about my age. Look at
Sean Connery. He got much better and, for me, better looking by age.”
E.: “I agree completely with you. Though, looking at you, you have an advantage
over him . Your hair is still full.”
H.K.: (Smiling) “But he’s got many other things I don’t have.”
E.: “I am very sure you will be successful, as usual, with everything you are
doing. Mr. Krüger, one last question. What do you think about Pattaya?”
H.K.: (He laughs in his famous boyish style) “A few journalists from Europe
travel magazines asked me how I ever could agree to come to sin-city Pattaya.
Well, I haven’t seen much of it yet, but I believe there are definitely cities
that are more ‘sinful’ than Pattaya. It’s a nice town, though I couldn’t imagine
living here for it is rather too modern and not natural enough, for my taste,
anymore. Thailand is one of the most fascinating countries for me, with it’s
people and it’s nature. Whenever I go to Bangkok, I not only stay in a hotel,
most of the time I’m together with a very close Thai friend who lives on the
River. That’s the atmosphere I prefer. That’s the time to find out how Thais can
manage to live out of their history but still go strongly forward into the
future. Not many nations can manage it the same way. Foreigners who come to
visit Thailand for a few days or weeks are never be able to understand the (for
them) big contra-distinction in the character of Thais. It’s mysterious to them
and therefore being many times compared with nonsense. But back to Pattaya, I
believe it makes the mistake by trying to make it right for everybody. That’s
nonsense. Nobody can do that. Those people who only think of Pattaya as a
‘sin-city’ just should stop coming.”
E: “Mr. Krüger, Miss Anita, it was a great pleasure meeting you and even a
greater pleasure to talk to you. Pattaya Mail - and myself - wish you all the
best for your future and we will be looking forward to seeing a new movie of
yours very soon. Thank you very much.”
Final observation: The day after the interview, Hardy was reading in front of
app. 200 people and received a standing ovation for more than 10 minutes.
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Meier’s Weltreisen wraps up Asian tour
with Pattaya seminar
Hans P. Tuggener (left) and
Raimond Honning receive the golden key of Pattaya city from Mayor Pairat
Suthithamrongsawat.
Travel agency giant Meier’s Weltreisen of Germany
headlined a group of 150 representatives of travel agencies from Germany,
Austria and Switzerland, together with some 90 representatives from LTU,
hotels and mini-mart agents, for their ninth annual Life Seminar Far East,
this year held in Pattaya.
Split into nine groups, Meier’s Weltreisen and the others toured within
Asia, holding pre-seminars in different places throughout the region before
finally coming to Pattaya.
The first day of the seminar in Pattaya started with an introduction of all
participants by Dirk Führer, the main organizer of the group.
Dirk Führer
Jürgen Gilfert, Director and Vice-President for LTU
Touristik for the Far East, mentioned in his opening speech that app. 60,000
German tourists are sent to Thailand every year by Meier’s Weltreisen. It
makes them, together with partner LTU, the leaders in the Asian & German
market for this region.
Hans P. Tuggener, Managing Director and Acting General Manager of LTU Asia
Tours, a long time resident with over 30 years in Thailand, praised Thailand
for it’s beauty. He especially mentioned Pattaya, explaining how much it has
changed. He explained how hard it had been for Pattaya to grow from a small
fishing village with no real streets into a big city within a few years. “Of
course, a lot went wrong during this period because of poor planning, not
enough maintenance and definitely not enough awareness for the environment.
Only the Thais stayed the same way as they were; friendly and efficient. Now
Pattaya is on her way to changing her image for the better and I can assure
you we have had almost no complaints from customers within the last year.”
He then wished all the delegates a pleasant stay in Pattaya and expressed
his hope that after they return to their home country they will remember
Pattaya and Thailand as a very special experience.
Kamala Sukosol woos the crowd
with her powerful voice.
Khun Tatong of TAT expressed his thanks to the group for
visiting Pattaya and emphasized the importance of tour operators as
visitors. “Thailand offers some of the world’s best resorts with all
facilities possible and is amongst the most reasonably priced destinations
in the world.”
The audience was shown the film “Amazing Thailand” before all went to their
different workshops. These included ‘Meier’s Weltreisen Asian workshop’,
‘Airline workshop I and II’ and the ‘Mini-Mart workshop’. After a hard day’s
work, the delegates went to a fabulous pirate party at the Dusit Resort.
The second day was highlighted by a visit to City Hall. Mayor Pairat
welcomed the delegates in English and pointed out many of Pattaya’s
attractions to them. He told them that a holiday resort with more than 4,000
hotel rooms with high occupancy rates during the year shows that Pattaya
must be far better than its reputation in European countries.
Thai Hotel Association Eastern
Chapter (THA) President Sutham Phanthusak and members of the THA entertained
Meier’s Weltreisen and guests to a Thai dinner and dance at the Ruan Thai
Restaurant.
City Manager Jonsak Yomchinda agreed with Pairat and
offered to help the delegates in any way that City Hall could be of
assistance. In his closing remarks, he talked a little bit about King Taksin
and prayed for His special blessing for the visitors.
Khun Anusak Rodboonmee welcomed the group in the German language, and
expressed his pleasure at seeing quite a few old friends whom he has known
for more than 20 years. Amongst them was Hans P. Tuggener. Anusak thanked
Meier’s Weltreisen and LTU for their support for so many years. He then
assured the delegates that any comment or any suggestion to help Pattaya
improve will be more than welcome.
Dirk Führer thanked the leaders of City Hall in a short speech before
passing the podium over to Hans P. Tuggener.
Tuggener addressed all in very warm words, saying he was very happy to show
them around Thailand and Pattaya. He expressed his belief that Pattaya is
well on the way to becoming a very clean, beautiful and secure holiday
resort with beautiful beaches and all facilities. Pattaya not only has a lot
of culture but also a lot of friendly people, lots of restaurants of all
sorts, lots of sports and a lot of fun to offer. He expressed his hope that
all the delegates will go back to their own country with a smile and tell
their customers: Pattaya is a place to be recommended.
Dirk Führer presented the
Pattaya Orphanage with a large cheque for a large amount on behalf on
Meier’s Weltreisen.
Reimond Honning of LTU and Hans P. Tuggener received the
golden key of Pattaya City presented by Mayor Pairat.
In the afternoon, Dirk Führer presented the Pattaya Orphanage with a cheque
for 4,800 DM (over 75,000 Baht) on behalf on Meier’s Weltreisen.
In the evening the group went to a reading from one of the books of the
famous movie star and writer Hardy Krüger and later to a gala dinner at the
Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
Pattaya Mail asked different participants about their impressions of
Pattaya. Many of them said it was not as bad as they have been led to
believe. They said it’s a place where everyone can come for their holiday
and can expect to fulfill all their wishes, whatever they are. A lot were
impressed with the variety of hotels, sports possibilities and the wide
range of entertainment.
But all in all, Pattaya has reached the target and we can be sure to welcome
many more Meier’s Weltreisen tourists from German speaking countries in the
near future.
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LTU meets the press
Hans P. Tuggener, Managing Director of LTU
Asia Tours, “Pattaya is well on the way to becoming a very clean,
beautiful and secure holiday resort with beautiful beaches and all
facilities.”
Hans P. Tuggener, Managing Director of LTU Asia Tours; Jürgen Gilfert,
Director & Vice President of LTU Far-East; Günther Beckermann of LTU
Asia Tours; and Klaus Hermanns, Director of LTU Touristik for Asia and
South Pacific gave a press conference for a few foreign journalists and
Pattaya Mail, the only native newspaper.
Jürgen Gilfert expressed his hope that the airline will reach last
year’s numbers in ticket sales. He said they’ll try to keep the prices
stable, although a small rise probably can’t be avoided. He also
mentioned Thailand has a lot to offer with a healthy mixture of beach
and culture and therefore a lot of customers like to visit.
One of the journalists asked why they chose Pattaya, which has the
reputation of a ‘sin city’, for the seminar. Günther Beckermann answered
that the image of Pattaya is much better than a few years ago and in
reality it is quite a harmless place compared to many other towns in
other countries.
Jürgen Gilfert said Pattaya is much better than its reputation and many
customers who have been here once will always come back again. It has a
lot to offer, not only bars, but beautiful golf courses, other fantastic
sports facilities and the prices are amongst the most reasonable ones in
tourist destinations.
Klaus Hermanns mentioned that a few years ago, there were no fish to be
found in the klongs. He invited the journalists to come and see the many
fish in the public klong that runs through the Siam Bayshore. Hermanns
said this is a healthy sign that the environment is getting back to
normal in Pattaya. He also pointed out that LTU has so much trust in
Pattaya’s future, it has already been approved for them to begin using
U-tapao Airport permanently within a few months time.
Jürgen Gilfert, Director & Vice President of
LTU Far-East, “App. 60,000 German tourists are sent to Thailand every
year by Meier’s Weltreisen... Many customers who have been here once
will always come back again.”
Günther Beckermann of LTU Asia Tours, “The
image of Pattaya is much better than a few years ago and in reality it
is quite a harmless place compared to many other towns in other
countries.”
Klaus Hermanns, Director of LTU Touristik
for Asia and South Pacific, “It has already been approved for LTU to
begin using U-tapao Airport permanently within a few months time.”
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