Celebrate the Amazing River of Kings - Part 3

The Royal Barge Procession - November 4, 1999

Introducing the Principal Royal Barges

The Subanahongsa

The name ‘Subanahongsa’ or ‘Golden Hamsa’, a swan-like mythical steed of Brahma, first appeared in chronicles of the Ayutthaya period. King Rama I commanded the Royal Barge Sri Subanahongsa to be built soon after his accession to the throne in 1782. The predecessor of the Subanahongsa was 36 meters in length, 2.88 meters at the beam and drew a draught of 67 centimeters. She was in constant use as the Principal Royal Barge until she became too old to be repaired. King Rama VI then commanded the building of her successor, the present Subanahongsa which was launched on November 13, 1911.

Ekachai Barge.

The Subanahongsa is 46.15 meters in length, 3.17 meters at the beam with the depth of her hull at 94 cms. Her full complement consists of 50 oarsmen, 2 steersmen, 2 officers fore and aft, 1 standard bearer, 1 signalman, 1 chanter and 7 Royal Insignia bearers. In state processions, she carries either a spired throne or a roofed pavilion surrounded by court officials.

The Subanahongsa is made out of a single trunk of teakwood. It is said that the master craftsman threw away all his tools after her completion and vowed never to work again. Whether this is true or not is immaterial for she is the most majestic of all Royal Barges. Her hamsa figurehead is raised in flight with protruding eyes, flared nostrils, fangs showing through her grimacing mouth. She holds a crystalline ball and tassel in her mouth, wears a garland and pendant around her neck. Her feathers, represented by gilded and mirrored Thai ornaments, seemingly flow in the wind all along the length of her body to her flame-like tail. She is presented in full flight aided by the stylized motion of the oarsmen. Their gilded paddles flash in sunlight suggesting the sedate movement of her wings.

The Anantanagaraj

Second in rank to the Subanahongsa is the Royal Barge Anantanagaraj or ‘Multiple Headed Naga’, the mythical snake-like creature, symbol of water. The Anantanagaraj also has a predecessor which was built during the reign of King Rama IV. She was launched on April 15, 1914 in the reign of King Rama VI. She is 44.85 meters long, 2.58 meters at the beam and 87 centimeters deep. Her crew consists of 54 oarsmen, 2 steersmen, 2 officers, 1 standard bearer, 1 signalman, 1 chanter and 7 Royal Insignia bearers.

The Anantanagaraj is a wonderful example of human imagination. The figurehead is in the form of a seven headed serpent: an intricate sculpture enhanced with gold and colored reflectors. Wonderment continues all along her body which is covered with multitude of small serpents densely woven into floral vines. She wears a garland and pendant around her neck, but a cannon port in her bow indicates her origin as a war barge.

The Anekajatibhujonga

Oldest of the Principal Royal Barges is the Anekajatibhujonga. She was built upon the command of King Rama V. Her dimensions are 45.67 meters in length, 2.91 meters at the beam and 91 centimeters deep. Her crew consists of 61 oarsmen, 2 steersmen, 2 officers, 1 standard bearer, 1 signalman, 1 chanter and 7 Royal Insignia bearers.

Subanahongsa Barge.

In state procession along the waterways, the Anekajatibhujonga stands out as being majestically plain. She bears no pictorial figurehead, but has a simple yet graceful beam-like prow. Upon close inspection, it becomes apparent that this is an illusion. She is actually covered all over with a most intricate pattern of innumerable naga figures. Thus in contrast to the Subanahongsa which is best seen from a distance, the closer one approaches the Anekajatibhujonga, the more apparent her intricate detail becomes. This is the work of dedication by craftsmen who took great care not only for the general appearance, but also for absolute detail.

The Ekachai Barges

The Ekachai Hernhow is 29 meters long and 1.8 meters at the beam. Her twin the Ekachai Laothong is 27 meters long and 2 meters at the beam. Each has a complement of 38 oarsmen, 2 steersmen, 2 officers, 1 standard bearer and 1 signalman.

The Ekachai barges display tapering column figureheads. They represent the horns of yet another mythical animal, the hera, the horned dragon. The heads and bodies of the hera are actually painted on the prow using the gilded lacquer technique in which gold leaf is applied onto a black lacquer background. The heras are depicted as fierce animals with open mouths breathing fire. Their fangs protrude and their long tongues support crystalline orbs.

The Royal Barge Procession, the most auspicious and most spectacular of all events in Thailand, takes place on November 4 this year. The majestic procession marks a religious ceremony and sacred rituals performed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and members of the Royal Family.

Rehearsals by the Royal Thai Navy will be held on several occasions in September and October this year. To offer spectators a unique opportunity to witness the splendor of the Royal Barges featured in the procession, tourists, travel agents, tour operators, and the general public will be able to purchase tickets to all rehearsals, which commenced in late June 1999. It is currently estimated that approximately 8,000 tickets will be made available. The designated vantage points along the Chao Phraya River are: 1. The river bank along Bangkok Noi Railway Station, 2. Around the Royal Thai Navy Base against the backdrop of Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn.

The Royal Thai Navy has scheduled regular rehearsals once a week, every Thursday through September and 2 Dress Rehearsals in October - on October 7 and 21.

Russian youths training with Thailand’s top instructor

Learning the ancient art of Thai boxing

Thailand’s most noted boxing instructor, the famous Yodthong Senanan, recently welcomed 20 young boxers from Russia between the ages of 8 & 14. The young pugilists will be training in the art of Thai boxing at his boxing camp for a period of three months.

The students, accompanied by an adult, are here during their school break not only to learn new boxing techniques but to keep away from other distractions that are poisoning present day society in many countries.

Coach Yodthong’s boxing camp is well known throughout Thailand, and has gained recognition in foreign countries as well. 21 boxers from his camp have received championship belts, and both Yodthong and his training camp were the first to receive honors from His Majesty the King of Thailand.

Coach Yodthong, better known as Coach Tui, said he started training young kids and older boxers almost 40 years ago to carry on and preserve the art of Thai boxing.

Coach Tui is 63 years old and has been involved in boxing his entire life. He trains nearly 200 young foreign boxers each year, including those from England, America, Holland, Germany, Russia, and Japan.

Thai boxing has much to do with Coach Tui’s dedication to training boys from an early age. However, he laments the government authorities’ proposals to stop Thai youths under 18 from training in this centuries old art, a heritage he thinks will fade away if the young are not taught to appreciate this physical, athletic art.

The Coach added that Thai boxing is an excellent method to detract young people from the current drug problem rampaging throughout the country. Just as this Russian gentleman is doing with these youngsters he brought all the way from Russia during their school break, The Coach can teach boxing as a much better alternative to drugs. The Coach said if anyone in the government is unsure they are welcome to come and consult him.

Envoy Envy

by Ken Langbell

An international conspiracy exists against ex-patriots such as me and most of you. I fully realize the danger to which I’m exposing this plot, but the spirit of Martin Luther King Junior, Rodney King and Pee Wee Herman lives on and I will expose whatever needs exposing.

During the 20th Century, the term “nationalism” has become a dirty word, often referred to as “the N word”. Blatant nationalism has led ruthless dictators to promote their personal interests at the expense of weaker neighbors. Mighty organizations such as the United Nations, NATO and the United Arab Republic have been created to crush this overt, brutal nationalism.

In fact, a more subtle form of nationalism is at work insidiously undermining human rights around the world like termites eating the floor from under you. In every nation’s capital city, capital city by capital city, citadels of this insidiousness have been established. Their primary mission? To punish you for leaving the Fatherland, Motherland, Brotherland or Sisterland.

Once I accidentally heard two employees of one of these places talking over their Jack Daniel’s. “These ex-patriots - ex-pats as they call themselves - think they’re too good for us.” “Yeah, they can’t cut it back home and run away to places like Thailand with their retirement and Social Security moneys.” People who work in these places use words like “moneys” and “parameters”.

“What really bugs me is the fact that I travel half way around the world only to keep running into people from back home.” “I know what you mean. It’s like climbing Mt. Everest and finding the Pizza Hut delivery man at the summit.” “Every time I see one I want to knock him down and step on his face.” “You can’t do that!” “No, but you can give him the old runaround until he dies or vows never to come back again.”

By now you all know what I’m talking about. That’s right. Embassies.

Here’s how it works. You come to country like Thailand to retire and get married since there’s nobody back home who’s worth marrying who will marry you at your age. You find Miss Right, and after amassing more documents than it took to build the Great Wall of China you are married. You gather more documents, enough to fill a freight car, and she gets her passport.

You want to return to America to visit your 87-year-old mother, a lovely but lonely old lady who is dying to meet her daughter-in-law.

You bus to Bangkok. Instead of a visa for your wife, you get a list of even more documents than you need. I sound like Lenny Bruce. I feel like Lenny Bruce.

You fill out the paper work, including such Catch 22 nonsense as photos no more than a month old of you, her and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. You bus back to Bangkok, check into the Crown Hotel, get up incredibly early, stand outside the embassy for an hour, swatting mosquitoes and waiting for it to open, pay another 50 dollars to get in, sit down and wait for your number to flash on.

My father once caught a brown trout that made “Field and Stream”. He had it stuffed and mounted. When he died, I inherited it. It hung on my wall and stared at me with its glass wall-eyes for years. The woman behind the window had the same expression.

“How long have you been married?” “Two months.” “That’s not long enough. Next.” “But-?” “Next!”

I told the horror story to the Aussie who runs our neighborhood beer bar. He’d heard similar tales of ex-patriarchal ethnic cleansing from his fellow Diggers, Brits, Swedes and what have you.

You have to be 87 years old to be as bitter as my mom was. “A Mexican can run across the border and get work, food stamp and free education. You were a soldier, journalist and teacher and can’t bring your wife for a visit. I don’t understand.”

In my next letter, I explained how the embassy, without even giving me a hearing, assumed I was a criminal trying to smuggle into America a woman rich enough to give me lots of money and yet desperate enough to disappear in New York, Los Angeles or Yakima, Washington, and struggle to exist subject at any moment to arrest and deportation.

“I still don’t understand,” she wrote back. So in my next letter I explained the American Embassy was anti-American. That she understood.

-The End-

Wild shoot-out at the Green Bottle!

By Elfi

The Green Bottle Pub, usually a very safe place where people can eat, drink and listen to live music in peace, was recently the arena of a shoot-out between Khun Chanyut Hengtrakul, owner of Sophon Cable and Khun Pratheep Malhotra, owner of Pattaya Mail.

Armed with dueling pistols from the old west, both called each other out of the pub to carry out their gunfight. Many on-lookers gathered to witness the showdown.

Yeeha! Opening Green Bottle’s “Cowboy Nights” like real cowboys.

As it turned out, Chanyut was declared the winner when Peter’s gun jammed and he had to borrow Chanyut’s gun just to fire a shot.

Well, actually it wasn’t all that bad! Nobody died and both wild ‘cowboys’ went back inside safely and united in a good mood. The reason for these gunshots was the opening ceremony of Green Bottle’s “Cowboy Nights”, which started last Saturday, August 1st ending on September 30th.

For the next two months the Green Bottle is offering special promotions every day, like 1 bottle Chivas Regal for 999 baht plus get 1 set of mixer and another bottle for free. Or 1 bottle of Jim Beam for 790 baht will get you a free T-shirt plus 1 set of mixer. And, anyone dressed as a cowboy, cowgirl or a Red Indian, will receive a souvenir. Special games with many prizes are featured on Fridays and Saturdays.

Chanyut and Vilawan also celebrated their 8th Wedding Anniversary on this very special night.

The first “Cowboy Night” party was a great success with many guests attending, almost all dressed at least somewhat like cowboys - or at least like what they thought a real cowboy must look like.

Khun Sopin Thappajug, owner of the Green bottle, took great care of all the guests. One of the very special guests was Police Gen. Prasan Wongyai, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police and Deputy Leader of Thai Rak Thai Party. He didn’t hesitate when asked to sing a few songs, performing with gusto and skill.

Another very special occasion was also celebrated during the night. Khun Chanyut and his lovely wife Vilawan celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary. Reason enough for Khun Sopin to serve champagne for everyone.

Kids, Kids and more Kids!

You do not expect to see lots of happy children in a hospital. It is usually the reverse. But last Saturday and Sunday the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital was host to hundreds of laughing children.

The occasion was the annual Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital Junior’s Day and while the guests of honour included the Governor of Chonburi, Sujarit Pachimnan and Commander Pat Brady of the U.S. Navy, the real stars of the show were the children themselves.

The Junior’s Day began as a reunion for all the children that were born at the hospital over the years, but has now grown to the stage where it is a celebration for all the children of Pattaya.

This year, Assistant Director Neera Sirisampan was thrilled by the response to the Juniors Club, a club for the kids that gives lots of benefits for the children. This includes check-ups and other preventive medical programmes to keep our children as healthy as possible.

Dr. Pichit Kangwolkit, the Director of the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital, worked hard as the MC introducing such varied acts as the African Zulu acrobats through to pre-schoolers doing classical Thai dances.

In conjunction with the Junior’s Day, the hospital ran an art competition, asking the school children to portray environmental themes. The results were staggering, well beyond the expectations of the hospital. Hundreds of entries were received and final judging had to be left till the Junior’s Day itself. Many of the entries were of exceptionally high artistic standard and it was obvious that the children themselves had an excellent grasp of the concept of preserving the world environment.

But fun was the name of the day, with bright smiling children’s faces everywhere. Kids with balloons, kids with T-shirts, kids with stickers of American submarines - in fact just kids having fun.

It is a wonderful idea to make the children of Pattaya grow up not to be fearful of hospitals and doctors and the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital should be proud of its record in helping establish and integrating preventive medicine into the minds of our youthful population.

US Navy & Marines giving Pattaya a cleaner look

by Elfi

Who ever said Pattaya cannot be changed was proven wrong. The US Navy and the US Marines once again did a great job whitewashing parts of Pattaya. Within four days they managed to do five perfect paint-jobs on schools and clinics during their shore leave. The organizer of these Comrel and Handclasp projects was once again the Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya, under Welfare Committee Chairman Peter Thorand.

On day one, 120 crewmembers of the USS Kincaid and the USS Benfold painted the complete outside of the Hua Yai Clinic, while Crewmembers of the USS George Philip took care of the fa็ade of the school next to it. A big BBQ party followed all this hard work for all people present. And talking about present, of course lots of presents were given to the school children and to the staff of the clinic.

On day two, about 25 young guys from the USS Frederick, under the command of Lt. Pam Foster, gave the Nong Ta Un Clinic a better look with some color, both inside and out. Again, the navy supplied the clinic with some much needed sanitary supplies.

Day three saw the fa็ade and interior renovation of Mabprachan School by crewmembers of the USS Comstock under the leadership of Lt. JG Sandoval, followed by presenting sports equipment, computer paper and first aid material to headmaster Prasert Kimhonhuang.

On day four, the last day of the Comrels, three units - the USS Guardian, Landing Force Carat and Assault Craft Unit 5 - worked together under Chaplain Lonnie Scott to bring color into the life of the kids - and on the walls of Suthawat School. As usual, the Navy also donated sports equipment and many other necessities. They also prepared a big BBQ, serving famous American hamburgers.

The Rotary Club of Pattaya gave all the commanders of those Comrel and Handclasp projects a certificate of appreciation, receiving the promise in return that all will come back again to do more much-needed work. Well done again, US sailors!

The Facts of Global Life

From the UN Human Development Report 1999 (HDR)

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor, Travel Impact Newswire

— The fifth of the world’s people living in the highest income countries has 86% of world Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 82% of world export markets, 68% of foreign direct investments and 74% of world telephone lines: the bottom fifth, in the poorest countries, has about one percent in each sector.

— The percentage share of the market by the top 10 corporations in each sector in 1998 was: telecommunications, 86%; pesticides, 85%; computers, almost 70%; veterinary medicine, 60%; pharmaceuticals, 35%; commercial seed, 32%.

— Industrialized countries hold 97% of all patents world-wide.

— Production losses from the East Asian crisis and its global repercussions are estimated at nearly $2 trillion over the three years from 1998 to 200.

— The 200 richest people in the world more than doubled their net worth in the four years to 1998, to $1 trillion.

— Organized crime syndicates are estimated to gross $1.5 trillion a year.

— The value of the illegal drug trade was estimated at $400 billion in 1995, about eight percent of world trade, more than the shares of iron and steel or of motor vehicles, and roughly the same as textiles and gas and oil.

— The income gap between the richest fifth of the world’s people and the poorest fifth, measured by average national income per head, increased from 30 to one in 1960 to 74 to one in 1997.

— More than US$1.5 trillion a day is exchanged in the world’s currency markets.

— Foreign direct investment (FDI) reached $400 billion in 1997, but 58% of it went to industrialized countries, and just five percent to the transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe. Of: the FDI that went to developing and transition countries in the 1990s, more than 80 percent went to just 20 countries, mainly to China.

— English is used in almost 80% of websites although fewer than one in 10 people worldwide speak the language.

— The number of Internet hosts — computers with a direct connection to the Internet — rose from under 100,000 in 1988 to over 36 million in 1998.

— Tanzania’s debt service payments are nine times what it spends on primary health care and four times what it spends on primary education.

— The cost of a three-minute phone call from New York to London fell from $245 in 1930 (in 1990 dollars) to 35 cents in 1998.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.