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Sea Horse release
The Marine Biology Institute from Burapha University,
in conjunction with Saen Sukh Municipality and the Sriracha Pacific Park
Business Center, have organized a project to return 9,999 Sea Horses to
area waters in honor of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 72 nd
birthday and 6th Cycle.
 Director
of the Public Relations Department from the Secretary Office in the Royal
Palace, Thanid Wacharothai presided over the public announcement of the
release of Sea Horses. Saensukh Municipal Mayor Somchai Khunpleum and Dr.
Phasuk Kulanid from the Burapha University Marine Biology Institute also
participated.
The Director of the Public Relations Department from
the Secretary’s Office in the Royal Palace, Thanid Wacharothai presided
over the public announcement, with the Saensukh Municipal Mayor Somchai
Khunpleum and Dr. Phasuk Kulanid from the Burapha University Marine
Biology Institute also participating on 19 October.
In all there are 35 different species of Sea Horses in
the world. Species identified in Thai waters are the Hippocampus Kuda,
Trimaculatus, Spinosissimus, and Mohnikei. The strange looking
creatures can change their color, ranging from reddish brown to cr่me
or yellow. The breeding process consists of the female laying eggs in
front of the male for a brief period of 2-3 seconds. The eggs are then
maintained in the male’s stomach pouch, similar to kangaroos. After 2-3
weeks they start to emerge.
 Hippocampus
trimaculatus is found in coastal waters during the cold season. During
other seasons, their location is unknown. The water temperature during the
cold season attracts the Sea Horses for breeding. However, many are caught
by fishing boats going after shrimp and crab. The Sea Horse’s colors
range from brown to yellowish tints that change texture.
Decades ago, Sea Horses were very prominent in the
waters along the Easter Seaboard. But studies conducted 10 years ago
identified a dramatic decrease in their numbers, due to environmental
changes in their usual habitat. Now the local Sea Horse is near
extinction.
The Marine Biology Institute has released 6,099 Sea
Horses in the past and will release another 9,999 on 5 December honoring
the King’s birthday. A procession starting at the Sriracha Pacific Park
Business Center will assemble to take the Sea Horses to the release points
in Bang Saen and Bang Phra.
The Pacific Park Business Center is also presenting a Sea Horse
Agriculture Exhibition from 29 October to 7 November in honor of King
Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday. The exhibition will have displays
portraying chemical free farming methods, and more. Donations will be
accepted at 19 baht for a Sea Horse to be released on imitation coral
displays. Proceeds will go towards the project of returning the Sea Horse
to area waters.
Pursuit of life -
Aranya Sinamkham
 Not
everyone pursues life in the same manner. Some people are born rich,
others have to struggle every step of the way. For those who have
considered their own lives a continuous struggle, take a look at the life
of Miss Aranya Sinamkham, age 22, from Roi-Et. She only received a basic
education during her childhood due to a large family and brothers and
sisters who went to school in her place. Her father passed away over a
year ago and her mother had to look after the family on her own. Miss
Aranya and others in the family were hired out to land owners to bring in
their rice crops. After the rice season is over, Aranya leaves her home
for the city to sell key chains, not certain what dangers await her in the
strange settings.
Aranya is not calling for equality or personal favors from anyone, but
would like to see the Thai government make positive changes in the outer
provinces to improve the quality of life by implementing work
opportunities for the people, especially at the end of the rice harvest.
At least to the point where the people will be able to subsist in a
respectable manner from day to day.
The “Chao Phraya -
The River Of Kings Festival”
December 24, 1999 to 1 January 2000
The “Chao Phraya - The River Of Kings” Festival
from December 24, 1999 to 1 January 2000 marks the culmination of the
“Celebrate The Amazing River Of Kings” promotional theme, highlighted
in the second year of the on-going Amazing Thailand 1998-99 campaign.
Organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand jointly
with state agencies and private sector organizations, The Chao Phraya -
The River Of Kings Festival is an expression of the deepest respect,
reverence, adoration and affection that the Thai nation holds for “The
Royal Father”, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great. On this
most auspicious occasion of the 6th Cycle or 72nd Birthday Anniversary,
this magnificent festival is the ultimate tribute being presented to His
Majesty King Bhumibol by his subjects reflecting a sense of profound
gratitude and loyalty that His Majesty has tirelessly devoted His Life to
the well-being of the Thai nation. In its grandeur, The Chao Phraya - The
River Of Kings Festival is also the Kingdom’s Grandest of Festivals of
the Millennium. Old and new. As one draws to a memorable end, a new
beginning unfolds.
The Chao Phraya - The River Of Kings Festival is a
magnificent showcase which tells the story of the Thai cultural heritage
in 9 episodes. Each vividly depicting the glorious legend of ‘The Golden
Kingdom’; its culture and way of life, and the bond between the Thai
people and their King.
Based on a ‘Theme Park Ride’ concept, each episode
is being staged at a fixed location along the banks of the Chao Phraya
River, with the audience being transported from stop-to-stop along the
river by shuttle boats. Both banks of the Chao Phraya, from Thonburi
Bridge to Phra Buddha Yotfa Bridge, will be transformed into ‘The
Ancient Kingdom’, a reflection of a time during which the prosperity of
Thai culture and lifestyle was at its highest point.
The 9 episodes featured in “Chao Phraya - The River
Of Kings” are:
1. River Of Kings
2. River Of Festivals
3. Kingdoms Of Old Siam
4. River Of Legend
5. Splendor Of The River
6. River Of The Great Kingdom
7. Celebration Of The River Of Kings
8. River Of Life : Venice Of The East
9. The Great Of River Of Kings
Adding a Grand Finale to the most spectacular of
cultural evenings - “King Rama IX”, at Ratchaworadit Pier, features a
Majestic Presentation of 99 captivating images commemorating the Life and
the Illustrious Reign of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great.
These will be projected onto a 60 meter panoramic screen and a 30-metre
high water-screen.
During the festival, performances begin at 19:00 and
will run continuously until 22:30. On average, each episode lasts
approximately 10 minutes. To enable viewers to move along from one set to
the next in sequence, shows will not be performed simultaneously. The show
time for each set is staggered with one following on from the previous
show, allowing ample time for viewers to travel to the next location. For
convenience, the show time of individual episodes can be found on the
ticket purchased. The total time for viewing all 9 episodes is 1 1/2
hours. At each location, there will be a total of 5 performances per set,
each evening.
The Significance of the Chao Phraya River in
Thai life
The Legend of the Kingdom: Kingdom after kingdom, from
Sukhothai to Ayutthaya, Thonburi and Rattanakosin, the territory of each
has been demarcated by the banks of rivers of great significance, notably
the fertile Chao Phraya, the river that gave life to these ancient and
rich civilizations.
The Legend of Life: The fertile plains of the Chao
Phraya River and its many waterways is the source of its abundance for the
‘Golden Kingdom”. It has thus earned its name - “Venice of the
East”. Bathing the rolling alluvial plains of Central Thailand, the
river has sustained the livelihood of the peoples of the Thai nation for
centuries. A strong bond has been forged between the Chao Phraya and the
people it supports. From generation to generation, the importance of the
river has been reflected in the culture and traditions, festivals and
rituals and the beliefs of the Thai people.
The Legend of the bond between the Thai people and
their King: The kindness and benevolence of His Majesty the King reaches
far and wide, much like the river which serves as the lifeline of the
Kingdom, providing life to the land and the people. And like the river,
His Majesty King Bhumibol has devoted His life tirelessly, for the
well-being of his subjects.
Throughout the ages, the link between the monarchy and
the river has also been equally strong. This is evident from the royal
ceremonies and rituals that are associated with the river, such as the
Royal Barge Procession and the Royal Boat Songs.
Seeing the importance of the river on the lives of the
people, kings over the ages have introduced the dredging of canals linked
to the Chao Phraya River. This was carried out during the reigns of King
Chakraphad and King Thai Sra of the Ayutthaya period. King Chulalongkorn
also instructed Prince Damrong Rajanuparb to oversee the digging of
several canals for agricultural purposes.
The Chao Phraya lends itself to many uses. Besides being a source of
nourishment, the river offers a means of transportation, it sustains the
livelihood of a nation and a national economy. It would thus be difficult,
if not impossible, to sever the ties between the legendary Chao Phraya and
the way of life of the Thai people. The river is the single force that
links the land, the Thai kings and their subjects. It is the embodiment of
a river-based culture and lifestyle.
Pattaya International
Ladies Club goes to Melbourne
Tuesday November 2nd is the Melbourne Cup in Australia,
and the entire nation stops. This Tuesday, the entire Pattaya
International Ladies Club is stopping too! But the PILC is not going to
Melbourne. They are going to the Moon River Pub from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00
p.m. for “The Cup”. This is the event of the year where you get out
your best and fanciest hat, drink champagne, have a flutter, watch the
horse race and have some fun. This is one PILC event not to be missed. For
reservations phone Jenny Turner, 249 486, or Marion Vogt, 370 614.
For those who have not watched “The Cup”, here is a
little history, courtesy of Aussie jockey David Smith.
The most famous winner of the Cup is Phar Lap. This
horse dominated Australian racing between 1929 and 1931. This coincided
with the worst years of the Great Depression, and he was, and perhaps
still is, the most famous racehorse in Australian racing history.
From being an unwanted New Zealand foal from average
breeding, he struggled through his early races without success. But after
a rest in the paddocks, he returned to the racetrack to become invincible.
He won everything, and won it in style. He so dominated Australian racing
that the regulating body altered the conditions of some races, and
penalties were added to such races as the Melbourne Cup. The rules were
changed to curb Phar Lap’s winning streak.
However, in all avenues of endeavour where betting
plays a part, there will always be scams. The following is the tale of one
of them!
The owner of Phar Lap was Dave Davis, but he had given
the trainer Harry Telford the lease on the horse. Consequently, Davis only
received a small percentage of the prize money, so he would often bet
large sums on Phar Lap. But the bookies would only offer slim odds.
So, in 1930 Davis devised a plan to win the Caulfield
Cup and the Melbourne Cup double. If Phar Lap started in both races he
would certainly win both and so the bookies only offered short odds.
Putting money on Phar Lap would not return enough.
What Davis planned to do was to bet on the “Feature
double” with the 2nd Favorite to win the Caulfield Cup, and Phar Lap to
win the Melbourne Cup. The odds he received were generous because every
bookmaker knew that Phar Lap would win both races. But that depended on
him starting in both. So the plot was hatched to keep Phar Lap out of the
Caulfield Cup.
Trainer Telford objected strongly, but Davis got his
greedy way and Phar Lap was a last minute withdrawal from the Caulfield
Cup. The 2nd Favorite won, but the bookmakers had already given huge odds
to Dave Davis and his crew.
Retaliation was next, as Tom Woodcock (the attendant)
led Phar Lap back to his stables, a car pulled alongside them. Woodcock
pushed Phar Lap against a fence, using himself and his pony as a shield as
shots were fired. Phar Lap was unhurt and three days later easily won the
Melbourne Cup. Davis and his team collected the cash.
Phar Lap, however, went on to immortality and became
for many Australians a symbol of strength and endurance that overcame even
the most incredible adversities. An incredible horse and an incredible
chapter in Australia’s horse racing history.
David Smith will be present at the PILC lunch and will address the
ladies. Get your hats out, girls!
Open invitation to
“An International Networking Evening On The Eastern Seaboard”
Friday 29th October 1999 from 5.30 p.m.
Sponsored by Hemaraj Land and Development PCL and
L’Opera at L’Opera Restaurant, Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate (ESIE),
112 Moo 4, Highway 331, KM 92, Pluak Daeng, Rayong Province (north-east of
Pattaya) - map available on request from BCCT office.
All are very welcome to attend regardless of
nationality of company or individual. The main objective of the Networking
Evening is to provide an opportunity for companies on the ESIE to network
with each other and with representatives from other companies in the area
and from Bangkok.
Hemaraj Land and Development is sponsoring 2-3 cases of
beer and 4-6 bottles of wine depending on numbers and L’Opera is
sponsoring some snacks. After the sponsored items are finished the
standard restaurant prices will apply.
There is no entry fee for this event but please fax the
British Chamber as a courtesy to give our host an idea of numbers. Also
remember to bring some business cards with you. Fax to: (02) 651 5354 or
E-mail: <[email protected]>
Maybe miracles still
happen
by Elfi
When I arrived at St. Nicholas Church last Friday, I
saw many people from many different denominations already waiting in the
yard. They were waiting for Father Corse Legaspi, a Catholic priest from
the Philippines, who has the God-given power of Divine Healing. Taking a
closer look, I saw people in wheelchairs, crippled children on the hands
of their parents, old people who were hoping to get relief from their
age-related pains, any many who looked perfectly healthy, but had cancer.
I also saw men practicing how to catch people when they fall unconscious.
 Father
Corse treats the ailing people by touching the forehead
Having heard about Divine Healing, I still felt I
needed more information. Seeking someone to talk to, I found the very busy
Pastor Michael. My first question concerned how the Catholic Church is
always very careful with so-called miracles and faith healers. Father
Michael assured me that Father Corse Legaspi has the full permission of
the church to travel around and help people in their misery. He introduced
me to Johnny Larsen, a man who had faced a wonder before. Five years ago,
Johnny was almost blind, but he got his eyesight back through Father Corse
and his power of Divine Healing. Since then, Johnny has been helping
organize visits of Father Corse, to allow other people to receive the same
healing.
Divine Healing power comes directly from God through
the Holy Spirit, Johnny explained to me. People who have this God-given
power are able to heal the sick by simply praying and laying their hand on
them. Of course, it takes a lot of faith from those who want to be healed.
When Father Corse arrived at 2:00 p.m., a mass was held
and he gave a clear introduction of himself and what he was doing. After
praying and meditating for a short time, he then called the people to
stand in line before him. Seeing him putting his hands on their heads in
prayer - it was then when I realized why the ‘catchers’ stood behind,
necessitating the “practice” I saw before. Almost everyone fainted -
or at least that’s what it looked like.
Asking a few of them, I got the same answer. They all
felt a kind of electric sensation coming from Father Corse’s hands,
giving them a very light-headed feeling during this period and at the same
time peace of heart.
Father Corse called people with Arthritis or Rheumatism
to come forward and asked them to lift their arms. When they couldn’t do
it, he touched them and helped them to raise their arms. After finishing
this, a long line of people stood in front of the altar, showing the
dumb-founded others that they were able to do it all by themselves,
without any pain.
 The
power of healing overwhelms the mental and physical resistance of man or
woman.
Father Corse then went to all those laying on
stretchers or sitting in wheelchairs. Amongst them was one girl I saw
before when she arrived at church. For the past two years, she could
hardly walk, and then only with somebody’s help, leaning heavily against
them. After Father Corse touched her, he helped her to get up and walk
with him. When he asked her to walk by herself, she did it without
hesitation. I watched her for a while and she did it again and again, in
tears, not quite understanding yet what had happened to her. She told me
that for the past two years she has gone to see many doctors and nobody
could help her; nobody actually knew why she couldn’t walk.
Another woman I talked to had a permanent itching
problem due to a skin disease. She told me that when Father Corse touched
her, she felt a strange sensation flowing through her entire body, like
fire - and the itching disappeared. There were many more amongst the
believers who were healed. Too many to explain it away with hysteria or,
as many people still want to believe, with set-ups.
Father Corse, God’s tool to help people, continued to carry on his
work, even though he was exhausted, needing the help of young men to lift
his arms up. And, still - the line of the sick who wanted to get healed by
God through Father Corse was very long when I left the church past 6:00
p.m.
Jardin Fleming Thankom
Securities Limited opens branch in Pattaya
by Elfi
Jardin Fleming Thanakom Securities Ltd. was founded in
August 1988 and is jointly owned by Jardin Fleming Holding B.V. and
private investors. JTV is a full member of the Stock Exchange of Thailand
and has constantly been one of the top 5 most active firms in terms of
brokerage market share, with the support of a highly acclaimed Research
Department. JFT provides both a local and international brokerage service
and is also constantly profitable, providing one of the highest rates in
return on equity compared with its competitors. JFT, renowned in Thailand
and overseas, caters to both local institutional and non-institutional
clients with high quality marketing.
 Addressing
the audience at the opening of the new Jardin Fleming Thanakom Securities
Ltd. Pattaya office.
At the grand opening of their branch in Pattaya, a
presentation on “Investment in Thai Stocks - Year 2000” was made at
the Dusit Resort, President Korn Chatikavanij said in his opening speech
that it was “high time” to serve Pattaya, since it has become an
important destination in Thailand, also concerning investment.
After the introduction speeches and the buffet dinner,
the many guests were split into two groups, one for English and one for
Thai language, for the presentation.
Rick Loo, Head of Research, introduced the English
language group to the aims of his company, and presented a clear and
understandable reality check for them. At the same time he answered many
questions from the interested audience. He also predicted that “the
worse is over now in the Thai economy”, meaning that if ever another
money market crash happens, the government would now know how to react
after the financial crisis they had to experience not too long ago.
JFT’s Pattaya branch now has its office at South Pattaya Condotel
Center Tower, tel. 723703-10.
The Broken Legged
Elephant
One of the elephants that lives in the Friends of the
Asian Elephant’s (FAE’s) hospital at Lampang is Pung Ikhe. In contrast
to the awful tale of Kammee (Pattaya Mail last week Vol 7, No. 43) this
elephant has been rescued and rehabilitated and is looking forward to
having a happy life under the protection of the FAE.
 Pung
Ikhe
But life was not always enjoyable for Pung Ikhe, this
40 year old cow elephant. Ten years ago, she was taken from her native Mae
Hong Son, after being purchased by a Burmese monk. Pung Ikhe was a working
elephant but was obtained very cheaply as she had a broken right hind leg.
This did not stop the new owner, who rode her down to
Kanchanaburi. Having made the trip, she was then forced to haul materials
for the building of a new temple. Imagine the pain of working with a
broken leg? They could have used her tears to mix the cement. Poor Pung
Ikhe.
But her suffering was not to end there. This new temple
was being built on a hill and on one trek with building materials, the
broken legged Pung Ikhe lost her balance and fell down the slope. Did they
rush to her rescue? No! She was just an elephant who could not work well
because she had a broken leg. They left her there, lying in pain and
degradation. What a cruel way for a noble beast to die.
Fortunately, some soldiers who were visiting the temple
found her lying there and contacted the FAE. After negotiations, the owner
allowed the FAE to take Pung Ikhe to their hospital.
It took five hours to winch this injured elephant down
the hill. Five hours of agony from her injuries. Not only from her broken
leg, but also from the large open wounds on her right front foot and the
left side of her abdomen.
She survived the truck ride to hospital and following
loving care and rehabilitation, she has turned into a very nice elephant.
Pung Ikhe’s past has made her a stoic who can endure pain. Her ability
to accept her suffering makes her life one of merit. Perhaps it is for
this reason she is so popular with the other elephants in the hospital and
she is one who will make contact with and befriend new arrivals at the
FAE’s centre.
Pung Ikhe can look forward to good days from now on. Good days made
possible by the Friends of the Asian Elephant. Good days made possible by
the people who keep the FAE running - you and me. You can contact the FAE
in Bangkok on 02-945 7124, or email [email protected]
or you can wait till the 27th of November and purchase carved elephants
from the display in the Royal Garden Plaza. The choice is yours. Just
remember the plight of some elephants who have been given no choices.
USS Mobile Bay makes
donation to the Redemptorist School for the Blind
12 young men from the USS Mobile Bay, under the
leadership of Chaplain Michael Wallace, spent one day of their shore
leave, at the Redemptorist School for the Blind, after coming back from
East Timor.
 Peter
Thorand thanks Chaplain Michael Wallace and the men of the USS Mobile Bay
for their efforts at helping the Redemptorist School for the Blind.
The USS Mobile Bay comes to Pattaya every year, and is
always participating in charity projects with the Rotary Club of Jomtien
Pattaya, under the advice of Community Service Director Peter Thorand.
This year they organized a fund-raising at the ship to provide the
Redemptorist School for the Blind with food and laundry supplies.
Peter Thorand presented the Chaplain with a certificate
of appreciation, witnessed by teachers of the school and members of the
Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya, including Peter Malhotra, Erika Keller and
Dennis Stark.
Banya Pumarin, a student at the School for the Blind, thanked both
organizations with moving words and then all sang the song “You are my
Sunshine”.
Practical steps for
setting up a learning organization
Adapted from - Mitch McCrimmon’s - ‘Unleash the
Entrepreneur Within’
by Richard Townsend, Corporate Learning
Consultant
Remembering that the only way to improve is to learn
and the only proof of learning is a change in behaviour, how can we create
organizations that learn and more importantly change?
1. Budget, for time, money and manpower to achieve both
individual and organizational learning ญ ensure management and all
employees see learning as a ‘hard target’ and set up mechanisms to
ensure accountability and to measure results.
2. Identify strategic learning areas for your business
and where new products or product innovations are likely to yield the
quickest and greatest payoff ญ invest most of you’re resources in
these areas.
3. Empower your work force to take risks in the market
by decentralising decision making ญ particularly encourage those in
areas of key knowledge.
Note: Many empowerment programmes in Asian operations
of international organizations run in to problems because of cultural
attitudes (and beliefs) related to power and responsibility, be careful in
implementing this option!
4. Set up a system of on job training, job rotation,
provide incentives and support for personal development ญ initiate a
PD (personal development) discussion process.
5. Form learning partnerships with suppliers,
distributors, and customers - set up feedback mechanisms such as focus
groups, R&D joint ventures and customer survey mechanisms.
6. Have all positions applied for and include outsiders
in your recruitment drive ญ only appoint the best in their field and
avoid the all too familiar ‘best of a bad bunch’ in times of
competence shortages.
7. Benchmark your culture against other entrepreneurial
firms ญ seek ways to understand key success factors for the market
leaders in your field of endeavour and study the oppositions’ successes.
8. Set up a readily accessible knowledge bank and
expertise network ญ mentors, gurus and experts in their field.
9. Celebrate and recognize attempts to learn by employees who take a
market risk and publicise within your organization by initiating fast real
world feedback mechanisms.
Copyright 1999 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Boonsiri Suansuk. |
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