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Chonburi Water Buffalo
Races
Only one place in Thailand holds the quirky tradition
of bringing their awkward, lumbering beasts of burden, water buffalo, out
of the rice fields and onto the racetrack - Chonburi. The custom has
become a tradition, and each year, thousands gather to watch the water
buffalo do their impersonations of thoroughbreds.
 This
man outdid himself in decorating his prized buffalo.
The annual buffalo races have been a big part of the
end of Buddhist Lent in Chonburi for over 100 years. During the reign of
King Rama VI, His Majesty King Mongkut visited Chonburi and proudly
witnessed the event on 7 December 1912. His presence gave much
significance to the spectacle and helped it become what it is today.
This year the races took place on October 25th, drawing
such dignitaries as Deputy Minister of Communications Sonthaya Khunpluem,
who presided over the ceremony of ringing the gong to open the event.
The proceedings got under way with the traditional
three strikes on the gong, after which the entire Chonburi administration
and the townspeople joined together for a large parade winding throughout
the streets.
The parade included a long procession of marching
bands, drums, Chonburi banners and decorated water buffalo, along with
other delightful activities and traditional displays. One of the
highlights, as is the case in many of Thailand’s local customs, was the
crowing of “Miss Water Buffalo”. No, it wasn’t the prettiest water
buffalo. A fair lass of local origin was given the (dubious?) title.
 Amidst
all the pomp and circumstance, the actual races nearly get lost...
During the procession, the water buffalo are decorated
and adorned with flowers and rice offerings. They eventually end up at the
temple area for a rest where more merriment begins.
Interested onlookers review the water buffalo like
horses prior to the race, and more than likely for the same reason.
Additionally, the animals are involved in a sacred ceremony displaying
gratitude for the rains that came and to insure a healthy and successful
coming year.
Finally, the water buffaloes are brought to the arena
and the races commence. The frenzied crowd cheers each race, and no doubt
more than a few baht change hands throughout the event.
The huge beasts are remarkably quick, although somewhat
less than graceful. This lack of grace adds an exciting element to the
races, as “jockeys” must ride their mounts sitting precariously on the
beast’s rump. It’s no simple task to stay aboard, but they must, for
any buffalo that crosses the line without its mount is disqualified from
that race.
A series of 110 meter races are held, after which a “champion” is
crowned, the working animals are returned to the fields, and the crowd
disburses to continue the merriment throughout the night, looking forward
to continuing the custom for many years to come.
Thai Yai dance to the
end of Buddhist Lent
 The Traditional
“Thai Yai” King Kara Song and Dance, shown here performed by “Thai
Yai” from Mae Hong Son, brings to a close this year’s Buddhist Lent
Festival. The King Kara Song and Dance symbolizes the mythical birds that
accompanied the Buddha during his descent back to earth after obtaining
enlightenment. An unknown mortal was said to have observed the event when
it happened, and re-enacted the mythical birds in a dance performance that
became part of the “Thai Yai” culture, which is still carried on today
each year at the end of Buddhist Lent.
Y2K bug hits Pattaya
early
by Barrie Kenyon
Come next January, it’s a foregone conclusion that
every human catastrophe will be blamed on computer failures. No matter
whether the kettle fuses, the video explodes or balloonheads from another
galaxy are definitely sighted in Kentucky Fried Chicken, the reason will
be Y2K and its consequences. Sure as eggs are eggs.
Mind you, talk among the intellectual elite on Jomtien
Beach is that the bug has already started its havoc. One guy claims that a
dark force has corrupted the databank of numbers on his mobile phone. Now
when he tries to dial the local pizza palace, he gets through to a
correctional facility in Phnom Penh. Another man complains that neither
he, nor anyone else in South Pattaya, can access the Internet these days
as the password is not recognized by the remote computer or the
configuration is wrong. Words like “remote” and “configuration” do
conjure up a mass conspiracy by bugs who are well known for adopting odd
expressions to fool you. Pregnant people have even claimed that their PC
closes down after performing an illegal operation.
The whole of Jomtien Nivate was in total uproar this
week after one resident received a nasty electric shock whilst putting out
her rubbish bag in the middle of the night for collection. Her husband
advised her not to tell the truth to the hospital as medical insurance
does not usually cover acts of God of which Y2K could well be an example.
However, this particular mishap was resolved when the family dog gestured
with great excitement that his mistress had accidentally touched an
exposed electric wire whilst handling the black bag. Alas Pattaya Mail’s
crisis reporters, bless ‘em, had a wasted journey on this occasion.
E mails are another thing in technological trouble.
There is actually a virus called Pat 5, or something like that, which
attaches itself to every message you send out about the iniquities of the
Pattaya baht bus system and distributes them round the globe to anyone it
chooses. This does seem a somewhat over the top way of generating
international interest in what is admittedly a fascinating subject. A
bemused reader near the Mongolian border, on reading his copy, actually
replied that Pattaya is extremely fortunate as there is no public
transport in his area for several hundred kilometers in any direction.
Spamming is yet another feature to be blamed on the
premature millennial disease. This regrettable practice by unseen bugs
results in your receiving dozens of unwanted messages hourly inviting you,
for example, to a Readers’ Digest conference in Atlanta, yet another
expedition to find the harassed Yeti or the opening of a militaria store
in Frankfurt specializing in swords and helmets. One Pattaya resident,
with a bad case of sunstroke, actually received an e mail from a Blackpool
firm telling him about the temporary reduction in price on central heating
units. When he replied angrily, pointing out that the temperature here is
regularly ninety degrees plus, he received an explanation to the effect
that the special offer had now unfortunately closed. However, they would
keep him on the mailing list.
The reassuring aspect of all this is that, come January 1st, nothing
much will happen. It already has. Somewhere. The truth is that technology
has always produced cock ups. The very first man to invent the cart in BC
times was despatched when he fell under all four wheels on a steep incline
he had failed to take into account. The Romans invented the first machine
gun which would hopefully spit out arrows from a revolving drum, but the
feathers became caught in the mechanism. The Russians, having conquered
Berlin in 1945, carried back to Moscow hundreds of toilet bowls mistaking
them for potato peeling machines. When they failed to work, the nazi
perversion of science was blamed. And even if your New Year party is
actually broken up by the lights going out or you discover that your zero
interest bank account has disappeared forever into cyberspace, it is
comforting to know that people have always had reason to complain. As any
biblical scholar will tell you, the Y2K bug was present in the Garden of
Eden from the moment the apple was bitten. From then on, we had the expect
the worst.
Ploenchit Fair coming
20th November
The United Kingdom Committee for Thai Charities (UKCTC)
has organised the annual fund-raising event, the Ploenchit Fair, since
1968 in the gardens of the British Embassy. UKCTC was formed to organise
and distribute contributions to Thai charities by members of the British
Community which reach back to the war years.
Earlier this year, Foundation status was approved by
the Ministry of Interior and the British Community in Thailand Foundation
for the Needy (the successor to the UKCTC) was formed under the patronage
of the British Ambassador, Sir James Hodge. This change ensures the
Foundation is fully in line with Thai legislation and will strengthen
their ability to continue United Kingdom support for the needy in
Thailand.
This year, the Ploenchit Fair will again be held, on
Saturday 20th November, and cannot take place without the help and
assistance received from nearly all the British companies and friends, the
over 2,000 volunteers who help and run the stalls and attractions on the
day and the firms and organisations who help with publicity, equipment and
goods and promotional materials for use in over 70 stalls. A full list of
all contributors and donations are listed in the Official Programme given
on entrance and published in Metro Magazine, together with a list of all
charities who have benefited from assistance this year.
Last year over 22,000 people came along to the Fair and
5.6 million baht was raised and distributed to more than 30 wide-ranging
Thai charities throughout Thailand. Ploenchit is a family fun day for all
and has become, over the years, one of the highlights of the social
calendar whilst helping the needy.
The B.C.T.F.N. do appreciate that given the difficult
economic conditions all are experiencing, budgets have been trimmed, but
do sincerely hope that you will be able to assist - their purchasing power
to help the many needy causes has been severely diminished with rising
costs these last years.
Contributions to this year’s Fair will be gratefully
received. Storage facilities for goods have again been offered at the old
Bangkok Nursing Home and donations can be delivered there (clearly marked
Ploenchit Fair), Soi Chongrak Norasee (Soi 4 North Sathorn Road).
It would be appreciated if all goods sent could be
confirmed first by fax or telephone to one of the Committee listed below
or if collection is needed please also advise. Cash contributions should
be forwarded to Mrs. Carolyn Tarrant President - BCTFN in Soi Tonglor 8.
All contributions will be receipted, with very sincere appreciation.
Donations Committee: Mrs. Bea Grunwell, Organising Secretary, 259 9844
[email protected], Mrs. Fiona Ramsay, 258 1446 [email protected],
Mrs. Sharon Carruthers, 712 8460 [email protected], Miss Edith
Stewart, 671 3461, Mrs. Carolyn Tarrant, 390 0798 [email protected],
Mrs. Penny Whalley, 258 9415, 662 4642 [email protected].
Motala’s Foot
There will not be many people who have not heard of the
plight of Motala and her brave fight for survival. With courage and
tenacity, this 38 year old cow elephant has survived dreadful injuries.
Injuries that would have undoubtedly resulted in a slow and agonizing
death for this very lovely elephant if the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE)
had not become involved.
 Brave
Motala is recovering in hospital, but she needs your help.
Motala was 10 km inside Burmese territory when she
stepped squarely on a landmine. That was August 15th this year. The pain
and suffering she has endured for almost three months has been horrendous.
After the explosion, her owner knew he had to get
Motala back to Thailand. It took them three days to walk through the
jungle. Motala walking on three legs and using her trunk as a prop to keep
the blown up foot off the ground.
Once inside friendly boundaries, a truck was hired in
Mae Sod to take her to the FAE’s Elephant Hospital in Lampang. Can you
imagine this once majestic beast trying to climb on board a truck on three
legs and her trunk?
The veterinarians at the hospital were aghast at the
injuries. Two thirds of the flesh on her left fore-leg was shredded and
ten bones in her foot destroyed. This was way beyond the normal injury
repair experienced by the Lampang hospital.
The FAE appealed for help and veterinarians rallied
around the FAE’s most needy and brave patient. A working committee led
by Associate Professor Dr. Terd Tesprateep, the Dean of the Chiang Mai
University Veterinary Faculty, worked out their plan of action and the
decision to amputate Motala’s foot was made.
By the 28th of August, her condition was stable enough
to commence the surgery. The surgical team worked for three and a half
hours removing dead tissue, splintered bone and gangrenous material.
Despite having enough anaesthetic to render 70 humans unconscious, Motala
could not be kept fully anaesthetised and pain free during the operation.
Post operatively, Motala has done well, though she has
had to endure much pain. She stands on her three good legs and rests her
head on an iron bar frame to take the pressure off her feet. A padded
steel crutch has been fitted and a plaster cast has been made to help her.
When the wounds have settled and the swelling has gone down sufficiently,
Motala will be fitted with a false foot. This procedure is being
engineered by Associate Professor Therdchai Chivaket, the Secretary
General of the Artificial Leg Foundation. Everyone has played their part
in rescuing this elephant.
You too can help rescue distressed elephants. You can contact the FAE
in Bangkok on 02-945 7124, or email [email protected]
or you can wait till the Royal Garden Plaza’s display of carved
elephants is being held between the 27th of November and the 5th of
December. Proceeds from the purchase of any of the superb carvings goes
directly to the FAE and you will be able to look at your elephant carving
and imagine the elephants at the Lampang hospital all trumpeting their
thanks.
First Burapha Travel
Fair 99
Burapha University, usually an important center of
education with courses like marine science, geophysics, biology,
linguistics and fine arts amongst many others, for four days was also the
center of attraction for many visitors of the first Burapha Travel Fair
99, held from October 28-31.
BTF 99 reached its much hoped for target, having app.
20,000 visitors each day from Thailand and foreign countries.
 Believe
it or Not? The Pattaya Mail Newspaper prints the news as it really happens
and will soon be immortalized at Ripley’s in Pattaya.
The successful event was supported by hotels such as
the Ambassador Hotel, Asia Hotel, Royal Cliff Beach Resort,
representatives from tourist attractions like Alcazar, Nong Nooch Village,
Ripley’s Museum, Tiffany’s and the Sriracha Tiger Zoo, and the Thai
Travel Agencies Association. About 150 exhibitors from all 9 provinces of
the Eastern Seaboard came to show their goods - the university looked like
a huge marketplace.
Dr. Phasook Kullavanij, president of Burapha
University, the key organizer of BTF 99, in his opening speech welcomed
all guests and participants, expressing his hope that this event will be
an annual one from now on. He also mentioned that this event is an
unrivalled cooperation Trade Fair for the Eastern Seaboard region, being a
first in the industry to have a university as the center of activities.
Dr. Phassok pointed out that since the rapid decline of domestic buying
power and intensified local and international competition, the cooperation
of local organizations promises new aspects of business and government
relations.
 The
opening ceremony and welcoming visitors to the Burapha Travel Fair.
Khun Jirirat, Deputy Director of TAT Pattaya, said in
an interview with Pattaya Mail that she was very pleased with the
attraction this BTF 99 got. She also said that setting up this fair was a
big step forward to promote the Eastern Seaboard, and she expressed her
hope that this will continue for the years to come.
Complementing the many shows from the above-mentioned
places were performances by the Navy Band from Sattahip and the Seaboard
Sound. Stalls were set up to provide food, snacks and drinks, and Thai
silk, silver and other handicrafts were featured, as well as discussions
and lectures concerning businesses and the direction of tourism in
Thailand.
Later, a ceremony was conducted in honor of His Majesty
King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s upcoming 72nd birthday by releasing 72
floating lanterns.
An impressive fireworks display ended the opening ceremony in grand
style.
1999 Chi Kung Week
The Worldwide (T’ai) Chi Kung Association are holding
an International Chi Kung week.
Dusit Resort Sports Club and the soon to be opened NRG
Center of Soi Town in Town are proud to bring this event to Pattaya City
and Community. Chi Kung Week 1999 is from 15-20th November. This was
designed to raise the awareness of Eastern healing and meditation
techniques. You can participate and register for one day or five. 12.30 to
2.30. Tuesday to Saturday, 400 baht a day or 1500 Baht for five days.
Patrick Stahl, former monk here in Thailand will be
presenting the programme. The afternoons will start with an introductory
discussion of Chi Kung by Patrick followed by a break for fruit drinks,
then an hour and a half of guided Chi Kung practice by Patrick. The last
day to register is Monday November 15th at the Dusit Fitness Center. The
20th will be Chi Kung Day, gifts of vouchers for Free Classes at the Dusit
Fitness Center will be offered.
 Patrick Stahl will be teaching Chi
Kung at the Dusit Resort Sports Club and the soon to be opened NRG Center
of Soi Town in Town from 15-20th November.
As an insight into Chi Kung, Xie Zhu-Fan, MD (Professor
of both Traditional and Modern Medicine, appointed WHO Consultant on
Traditional Medicine in 1985, 1986 and 1990) said, “Chi Kung is an
exercise to regulate the mind and breathing in order to control or promote
the flow of energy. Since energy plays such an important role in the vital
processes of the human body, it is natural that regulation of the energy
flow can be used to preserve health and treat disease.
Chi Kung that is practiced to prevent and to treat
disease is called Medical Chi Kung, which is different from physical
exercise. The latter is aimed at building up health or restoring physical
functioning by enhancing strength, while the former is focused on
mobilization of functional potential by regulating the mind. In other
words, physical exercise is purely somatic, while Chi Kung is generally
psychosomatic.
Another important difference between physical exercises and Chi Kung is
that physical exercises expend energy by tensing the muscles and
accelerating the heart beat and respiration, while Chi Kung works to ease,
still and regulate breathing to store up or to accumulate energy in the
body.”
Thai Scouts lauded by
World Scout Foundation
His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden paid a
three-day visit to Thailand prior to the World Scout Foundation’s 41st
Reception and Presentation Ceremony which took place in Sydney, Australia
from the 15th to 17th of October.
In 1996 this event took place in Thailand, and the main
event was held at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in the presence of His
Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden as Honorary President of the World
Scout Foundation.
During His recent visit, the Thailand Chapter hosted a
dinner for His Majesty. His Majesty gave a speech at the dinner,
describing how he was very impressed with the Thai Chapter, as it is the
most active. His Majesty also spent one day in Chiang Mai during His
recent visit.
Before departing Thailand to Australia the King
expressed that he would like to come back to Thailand soon, and was
looking forward to the 20th World Scout Jamboree, which will take place
28th of December 2002 through 8th January 2003 in Sattahip.
In Sydney, two of the Baden-Powell World Fellows from
Thailand participated. Sutham Phanthusak of the Woodland Resort and Jan
Olav Aamlid of the House of the Golden Coin, both from Pattaya. One of the
events in Australia was a visit to the Cataract Scout Park approximately
60 km south of Sydney. This was the site for the 1988 World Scout
Jamboree.
In the Cataract Scout Park 8 members received
presentations from the Benefactors of Honors Programmed. His Majesty King
Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden made the presentation, and among the receptions
were Sutham Phanthusak and Jan Olav Aamlid of Pattaya. Sutham Phanthusak
is a member of the National Executive Board for Scouts in Thailand and in
1997 he received the highest award in scouting, the Bronze Wolf for
voluntary work for Thai Scouting and the World Scout Movement. Last year
Jan Olav Aamlid attended the Advanced Training Course at the Vajiravudh
Scout Camp in Si Racha as the first and only foreigner, and is today a
scout leader.
At the meeting in Sydney, Sutham Phanthusak was
approached by other Baden-Powell Fellows from different countries to give
him ideas how to establish more Chapters and to strengthen the membership
of the World Scout Foundation.
The last event in Sydney was a Royal Gala Concert in the renowned
Sydney Opera House. Many of the people attending that evening were present
not only for their love of music but also for their dedication to the
Scout Movement.
Halloween! The
Ultimate Trick? (or Treat?)
While all of Pattaya seemed to be out last weekend
celebrating Halloween, just where did Halloween come from? Was it, as the
fundamentalists say, a Pagan Festival or is it something we dreamed up
recently?
The simple answer is that it is all of those things.
The original Halloween was a Pagan festival called Samhain, otherwise
known as All Hallowtide held on October 31st. It was the Feast of the Dead
where the spirits of the ancestors were called upon and could be freely
visited at that time.
 As Christianity took over, the powers that be knew that
it was going to be difficult to stop these pagan holidays, so they
converted them to Christian festivals - and All Saints Day on November 1st
was scheduled, where the spirits of the most powerful dead, the Saints,
were revered. The mass the night before was then held on All Hallows Eve -
and that eventually became Halloween.
The pumpkin lanterns are a fairly recent addition,
coming from America, as is the “Trick or Treat” which began in the USA
in the ’30s.
Whatever, it is certainly a time to dress up and have fun and these
Pattaya people certainly did that. The revellers were found in the Royal
Garden Plaza, Planet Rock, KR Bar, Henry J. Bean’s and Moon River Pub,
plus an odd couple found in the streets!
Sales Quick Tips
by Richard Townsend
Corporate Learning Consultant
Turn one call into three
Go next door, both sides, or at least visit two more
potential or current customers in the same area. When I used to train bank
managers to sell they would want to travel thirty miles for one call then
return to the branch. Have fun, tell your sales staff to (as I did with
the bank managers) go to the building next door and visit every office,
you might get a pleasant surprise!
Cross-sell
Train sales staff to sell aligned products or a range
rather than having only “one product expertise”. ‘But boss I sell
left handed widgets I don’t know about right handed widgets...’ take a
deep breath and say... well find out...! Hotels are good at this. They
have travel experts, meetings experts, corporate experts, incentive
experts... come to think of it when I was a financier (before I grew up),
we had dealer experts, mortgage experts, leasing experts, personal loan
experts and of course bullshit experts. Sure, specialist knowledge is
great, but no sales person should walk out without at least trying to sell
a visit by their other product ‘experts’ and they should at least have
a broad enough product knowledge to recognise a prospect for anything your
organization sells.
Thank you notes
Everyone likes to be thanked, a quick note saying
thanks for seeing me, or thanks for the order, or thanks for the payment,
or thanks for whatever, can be a powerful relationship builder.
Testimonial trick
Third party testimonials are very powerful but hard to
get. The best way to do it is to ring up the customer (when you know
things have gone well) and ask questions that you know will get positive
responses. Then ask permission to write the customers experience down, ask
permission to send it to him/her and then ask that he/she put it on the
company letterhead and send it to you. If you ask customers to write
testimonials they will always be too busy, this way you take the thinking
out of the process and most will accede to your request.
Closing
Do it. ‘Ben Franklins’, ‘Alternatives’ or
‘press hard third copies yours’, but make sure they do it and that
they report to you which method they used and what happened. BBBBut boss I
need to work on it some more I think (read ญ I’m scared) he, she,
or it, will say NO thanks. Tell them... JUST DOOO IT!
Worth a thought!
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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