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   FEATURES

HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:
Pattaya’s Annual Songkran Festival complete with representation from all 4 regions

Songkran Water Festival - Naklua style

Creative “Palm Trees” result in generous donation to Pattaya Orphanage

Miss Songkran? Don’t miss this Miss Songkran!

Miss Songkran 2000 at the Royal Cliff

International School of Pattaya holds Sports Day

Bambi-ES offers help for expectant mothers

Pattaya’s Annual Songkran Festival complete with representation from all 4 regions

The Annual Pattaya Festival celebrating “Songkran” is a fun-filled celebration that attracts both local and overseas visitors.

This year, the traditional celebration included displays and shows featuring customs from all 4 regions. Traditional entertainment and handicrafts that were exhibited and sold helped to preserve the Kingdom’s culture.

The true meaning behind Songkran - paying respect to elders

Pattaya’s southern community presented their native Manora song and dance with shadow plays. Among the handicrafts from the south were many household decorations made from water buffalo horns and coconut shells.

The northern community presented their traditional dancing. They also prepared food that is presented on a large tray, whereby guests sit around the tray partaking of the delicacies whilst enjoying the entertainment. Musical instruments native to the north provided more entertainment and added to the festival atmosphere around the booths filled with woven cloths and silks for sale.

The Northeast community presented their native dance to their music with its distinctive sound, favored by many people from all over Thailand. Songs performed told comical and sometimes sad stories of everyday life’s ups and downs. Patterned cloths and silks, native to the northeast were on display. Attracting many tourists were a number of handcrafted items used in the kitchen made from bamboo.

April 19th started out with a religious parade early in the morning

Central Thailand was represented with their native music and merchandise including hand-made knives and other instruments used in their day to day living. The festival provided visiting tourists the opportunity to see the different variations of Thai culture and experience the customs from the four regions.

On the day that Pattaya celebrated Songkran, April 19th, the activities started early in the morning at Chaimongkol Temple on South Pattaya Road. Prepared foods were brought to the temple to pay homage to the monks. Performing the water pouring ceremony followed, which in turn was followed by the water ceremony performed with elders from the area, who blessed the people in return.

For those who stayed around after the ceremony there were plenty of activities planned including traditional dances and long drums, greased pole climbing contests, tug of war, and a version of kick the can. Afterwards the Water Festival Parade was held, organized by the Chaimongkol Temple.

By mid-morning and for the rest of the day, it was full-scale water war!

The Buddha image of Phra Chaimongkol was raised on to a decorated truck which lead the parade. Nine senior monks from nine different temples made the journey to Pattaya to participate in the festivities, bringing with them sacred water used during the passing of the parade.

Throughout the procession the monks sprinkled the sacred water from nine temples blessing the people from the community lining the streets.

Then it was time for the annual water barrage to begin in earnest. Pick-up trucks filled with people and barrels of water entered the city, and the water exchange continued throughout the day.

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Songkran Water Festival - Naklua style

The official “Water Festival” started on 18 April in Naklua at 7.00 a.m. Bang Lamung District Chief Wichien Chavalit and members from the Pattaya city council joined in a “Tak Bat” ceremony presenting food items to Buddhist monks at the Phothisarn Court area. Afterwards, the group of officials performed the ritual water pouring ceremony with elders from the community.

The Tham Bum Tak Bat ceremony presenting food items to monks at the Phothisarn Court in Naklua

The 40,000 hotel rooms in the area were nearly all booked full by the time the festival got into full swing. Tourists from around Thailand and other countries began celebrating the “Songkran Water Festival”. On 18 April the whole community got involved with streams of vehicles and people alike exchanging water in almost every street. Traffic was at a stand still and police hand their hands full keeping it under control.

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Creative “Palm Trees” result in generous donation to Pattaya Orphanage

Mr. Rainer Gundlach, owner of Rainer’s Bistro and publisher of the German language paper “Eiermann Kurier”, organized a party for 24 children of the Pattaya Orphanage on April 13th at his Bistro, spoiling them with Hamburgers, chicken-legs and soft drinks. Homemade popcorn, prepared by Brigitte and Guenter Paetzold, also made the day for the youngsters. Many of Rainer’s customers and friends came to the party, bringing presents along for the kids.

Rainer presents the cheque to Father Michael while Udo Beilstein (left) looks on.

One year ago, when Rainer, together with some of his customers, created the “Eiermann readers donate for the Orphanage” action, nobody believed that this would have been such a success. Imaginative palm tree medals with the name of the doner were sold for only 100 baht each and hung on a real palm tree. Within one year, 1,512 ‘palm trees’ were sold, the amount of 151,200 baht was raised, and Mr. Rainer proudly presented a cheque - and the palm tree, to Father Michael Picharn during the party.

Mr. Rainer especially thanked one man, Mr. Udo “Chico” Beilstein, for his great solo help of selling 300 palm tree medals. When Rainer announced that this action will be going on in the future, all the guests automatically reached into their pockets to buy some more palm trees for the year to come.

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Miss Songkran? Don’t miss this Miss Songkran!

Top Class Entertainment put on a beauty contest as part of the Songkran festivities. However, it was not the contestants that were getting wet, but rather a large and sweaty contingent of US forces who had packed the Planet Rock nightclub venue. The judges, in fact, were a trifle apprehensive with the mass of muscled marines jostling and shouting their appreciation behind them, while they carried out their onerous task of impartially judging some of the best looking girls this side of Pattayaland 2.

The judges were the Australian “Good Dr. Iain” from the Pattaya Mail Channel, another Ian but American, from the Pattaya Info paper and a young Christian lad from Sweden called Kristiaan. It was going to be interesting to see just how the judges from different parts of the world would handle all the lovelies before them. Well, “handle” is probably the wrong term, though Pattaya Info Ian had soon developed that nervous twitch and began rubbing his palms together.

The finalists came from Planet Rock, Venus (the perfect woman ‘coz she’s got no arms to push you away!), All Girls (let’s hope so!), Lipstick (smudge free of course), Rodeo Girls (Ride ‘em cowboy), Caf้ New Orleans (I’ll have mine tender, thank you) and Bubbles (pop!).

(L to R) Mod from Caf้ New Orleans, Anne from Rodeo Girls and Ting from Planet Rock.

While waiting for the Beauty Contest to begin, the assembled marines were treated to a dancing display by some young ladies who were all kitted out in full Songkran combat gear - bikini’s and boots. Dr. Iain being particularly taken by Number 99 (his old racing number, or maybe his age), but at last, the chrome poles were removed from central stage and the Beauty Contest was in full swing.

The three judges wrote copious notes, while drinking copious amounts of amber liquid to refresh and cool their fevered brows. The marines got in full voice and the MC, sporting a large jacket that must have fitted the original owner, brought the contest back into line so that we could all hear the answers of the contestants to difficult questions such as their age and where they came from.

But it was all good light-hearted fun, and the winners were eventually named with the top spot of Miss Songkran (Pattayaland 2 version) being taken by the lovely Anne from Rodeo Girls, closely followed by Ting from Planet Rock and a scant half a point behind her, Mod from Caf้ New Orleans. Prizes and trophies were presented, and the judges repaired to the pool room upstairs where a spread of cold cuts and drinks were provided to cool them down again.

Top class stuff, Top Class! It is reported Dr. Iain is still smiling!

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Miss Songkran 2000 at the Royal Cliff

The Royal Cliff Beach Resort, in keeping with its annual celebration of the Songkran Festival, staged a full house gala dinner attended by in-house guests and residents of Bangkok and Pattaya.

One of the highlights during the colorful event was the Miss Songkran competition participated in by departmental representatives of the resort. Members of the panel of judges were randomly chosen from among the audience and with their unanimous decision, announced Miss Songkran as 20 year old Pattahama Prachonktchai of the Kitchen Department, who exuded much charm and confidence during the entire proceedings.

Shown in photo with Ms. Pattahama (center) are the resort’s managing director, Mrs. Panga Vathanakul (4th from right), and the other winners, Ms. Yajai Sawanghatrab (4th from left, 1st runner-up) and Ms. Wiruwarn Tinnoros (3rd from right, 2nd runner-up) of the Personnel and F&B Departments respectively. All three winners received cash prizes and other gifts from the management of the resort.

The winner and candidates of this year’s Miss Songkran competition were presented to the public as part of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort entourage during the recent parade of floats held in Pattaya City.

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International School of Pattaya holds Sports Day

The end of term at the International School of Pattaya means Sports Day. This is when the three houses, Windsor, Stuart and Tudor take part in a sporting contest that can be described as being somewhere between the Battle of the Somme and Star Wars.

Windsor House (Blue) has dominated recent contests, but could Tudor (Red) and Stuart (Yellow) spring a surprise? Mr. Rob, the teacher in charge of Windsor, walked confidently into school grounds; to him defeat for his house was as likely as Birmingham City winning the Premiership.

The Tudor (Red) Team

However, his smug self-confidence took a battering when Tudor won the Rounders. Could Mr. Simon, ISP’S newest teacher (from Yorkshire) lead Tudor House to a surprise victory?

The races were well contested with excellent performances from Rachai Kusalopragara, Tantaporn, Lambert, Jane Herczog, Jullada Lambert and Choi Man Foi.

Everything nearly turned sour because of a hotly disputed “Egg and Spoon” race. Order, however, was quickly restored and after the athletics, Blue House had edged ahead. Windsor then further asserted supremacy with a victory in the basketball.

There followed two “Staff Challenges”, Mr. Rod challenged the best player from each house to a table tennis match. His composure was closely ruffled as first Vichai Chu and the Fame defeated him. Then he unleashed his full fury on Eric Chu defeating him 21-10; honor was restored.

Stuart (Yellow)

The stage was set for the headmaster, Mr. Graham to try and save six penalties from each house in a penalty shoot-out. In the end he saved all six from Stuart, four from Tudor and three from Windsor. The highlight was a penalty from Nee, she hit the ball with such power that only the strength of the net prevented it from flying to Bangkok. Windsor’s lead was further underlined.

The final event was football, which was won by the Red House, thanks again to the excellent goalkeeping of Mr. Graham, skilful midfield play by Mr. Simon and steely defense by Jack Cox, a new pupil with a lot of football talent.

Despite being relegated to third place in the football, Windsor won again. The point’s totals were: Windsor 81, Stuart 79 and Tudor 77.

An excellent day and close contest, giving Tudor and Stuart hope for next term. Mr. Rob went through the front gates, liming heavily, as he knew it had not been easy

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Bambi-ES offers help for expectant mothers

The Bambi-ES Club (Bangkok Mothers and Babies International) Eastern Seaboard Chapter, a non-profit group of mothers of babies and young children, are offering support and friendship to each other through the early years of parenting.

Dr. Anne Maloney (seated 2nd left) and Diane Connelly (seated right) sit amongst expectant mothers after giving their speech.

Along with their monthly play meetings, they offer pre and natal support, hospital visiting, playgroups, fundraising for charities, new members coffee mornings and special activities throughout the year.

The April meeting, recently held at the Amari Orchid Resort, was very interesting indeed for pregnant women. Dr. Anne Maloney (British G.P.) and Ms. Diane Connelly, Registered Midwife, gave a speech about “Birth Planning in Pattaya”. They not only passed on ideas how a birth plan should be made, but gave tips to a group of expectant mothers on what and how it would be best to give birth in Pattaya.

Having given birth in Pattaya themselves, they talked out of experience where to go, what to do, what to expect and, more importantly, assured the women that they will be as safe in Pattaya as everywhere else. Some of the expectant mothers who have already gone through the same experiences, passed on their opinions as well.

Membership of Bambi-ES is open to any person interested in pursuing the objectives of the group. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at the Amari Orchid Resort. For more information please contact: Dr. Anne Maloney, tel. 237105, or Laura Southgate, tel. 225694.

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Copyright 2000  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 Chinnaporn Sangwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.