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“Symposium - GTS 02”
A showcase for German technology
by Elfi Seitz
Photos by Tony Malhotra
The Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok
was the venue for the 7th German Technology Symposium and Exhibition (GTS)
from the 12th through the 16th of November.
HM the
princess was especially interested in this futuristic BMW motorcycle.
In this huge hall more than 150 German companies and
organizations participated in the show. They came to display their advanced
products and up-to-date technology options, demonstrated by German experts.
German technicians, financers, trainers and developers
came to Bangkok to offer German technology and products as well as solutions
for sustainable industrial development in Thailand.
At the same time more than 70 symposium presentations
from more than 50 companies took place. This was once again an ideal forum
for business-oriented engineers, scientists and technologists, lecturers and
instructors, economists and business executives to obtain technical
information for their decision-making process.
The symposium was honored by the visit of Her Royal
Highness, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who was, amongst many other high
personalities, accompanied by the German Ambassador Andreas von Stechow and
the executive director of the Thai-German Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Paul
Strunk. Her Royal Highness showed great interest in the exhibition and the
products.
This year the exhibition set new records concerning the number of the
exhibitors and the attendance of visitors.
Amazing Loy Krathong Festival Pattaya 2002
Songklod Kaewvisit
This year’s Pattaya Loy Krathong festival started on
November 17th and local product booths, food stalls and various talent
performances by school children lined Pattaya Beach Road from opposite Soi 4
to down to Central Pattaya Road.
Governor
Sawang Srisakul, Savitri Srisakul, Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat and Satil
Khunpluem take turns to strike the gong to officially get the festivities
underway.
Mayor
Pairat Suthithamrongsawat loys his krathong into the sea.
A
dapper young lad and his Miss Noppamas friend ready to loy their krathongs.
Four main events of this year’s Loy Krathong festival
included a Nang Noppamas contest, painting competition, Thai traditional
musical contest, and Krathong creation. Various artists, including Da Jim,
an underground Hip Hop singer, performed on stage to entertain the festival
attendants in the evening.
On November 19th Chonburi Governor Sawang Srisakul
arrived at the main stage opposite Soi 4 at around 8 p.m. to officially open
the festival and present prizes and trophies to the winners of the four main
competitions.
Wannapa Wannasri, from the education department at
Pattaya city hall, and Peter Malhotra, managing director of Pattaya Mail guided
the audience throughout the night and announced names of contests winners.
Pattaya city hall stressed that this year’s krathongs
should be made only from natural materials and be biodegradable in order to
protect the environment.
The winner of the krathong creation contest at the
secondary school level was Pattaya School No. 8, who then received 5,000
baht and a trophy from Governor Sawang. Pattaya School No. 3 students won
the trophy and 5,000 baht at the primary level.
Governor
Sawang (left) shows he can dance the Loy Krathong dance with a beautiful
young maiden.
Maybe
someday she will be crowned “Most Beautiful Miss Noppamas”.
In the
“spirit of Northern Thailand”, Loy krathong enthusiasts at the Marriott
let off a large “khom loy”, or paper balloon. Throughout the night,
these and those similar could be seen floating through the sky, creating a
surrealistic universe.
Suphalak from Aksorn Thepprasit won the painting contest
under the theme of ‘Nature Preservation’. Suphalak received a cash prize
of 5,000 baht and the Sonthaya Khunpluem, minister of tourism and sports
trophy.
Phasitthi Thaipongsak, the lovely girl from Sathit
Phiboolbampen won the Thai Traditional musical instrument competition and
took home a trophy and a cash prize.
Of course the highlight of the event was the Nang
Noppamas beauty pageant. This year the position of Loy Krathong’s most
beautiful woman went to Sawittree Sridee, sponsored by Sophon Cable TV,
Pattaya. Miss Sawittree did not reveal how she would spend her 10,000 baht
cash prize.
A
beautiful, big krathong floats on the Marriott pool.
The
Marriott’s beautiful Miss Noppamas readies to present her krathong to the
Goddess of the Water.
(L to
R) “Ju” and “Peter”, now familiar to everyone who attends major
Pattaya City functions, once again announced the proceedings in Thai (Ju)
and English (Peter).
Amari
GM Dominik Stamm (right) presides over the Miss Noppamas contest at the
Amari Orchid Resort.
Beautiful
Thai dancing featured at the Amari Orchid Resort celebration of the Loy
Krathong holiday.
At the end of the awards presentation, Governor Sawang
expressed how pleased he was to see all the young people perform such fine
talents on stage. He said he was proud of Pattaya City, which is well known
for being a hub of international culture and tradition.
The governor said he hoped to see Pattaya organize
similar events more often to promote Thai culture and tradition for
foreigners visiting the country. He said that he felt comfortable working
with Pattaya City’s administration members and wished Pattaya great
success in all the upcoming events which have been planned.
Bars, pubs, restaurants, krathong selling booths and
other businesses made a huge fortune out of the day. Firecrackers were
banned to ensure the safety of visitors, which had made the night a peaceful
and quiet one this year.
The
lovely staff at Cafe New Orleans, led by restaurant manager Clarisse Brundo
(center) treated customers to a the beautiful sight of their wearing
traditional costumes on Loy Krathong.
Underground
Hip Hop singer, Da Jim performed on stage to entertain the festival crowds.
This
year the position of Loy Krathong’s most beautiful woman went to Sawittree
Sridee, sponsored by Sophon Cable TV, Pattaya. Miss Sawittree did not reveal
how she would spend her 10,000 baht cash prize.
Lovely
maidens dance during the music contest on the beach.
Local
contestants play their best, trying to win this year’s music contest on
the beach.
Dusit
Resort’s employees perform Traditional Thai dance.
This
year’s Dusit Resort Pattaya Loy Krathong festivities on November 19 took
place at The Point. 250 guests were able to admire and listen to traditional
Thai dance performance by Dusit Resort’s very own employees and live Thai
music. Seen together with the Traditional Thai dance performers are Dusit
Resort general manager, Chatchawal Supachayanont and resident manager and
emcee of the evening, Ingo G. Raeuber.
The
magnificent background of Pattaya Beach, with thousands and thousands of
floated Krathongs, hundreds of airlifted Kom Loys and fireworks above the
Bay made this evening an unforgettable event for all attending the Dusit
Resort celebration. Shown here at the festivities the evening are Mr Rolf
and Mrs. Anni Prinz, Ms. Renate Kreckel, long staying guests and Khun Suree
Pachana, director of rooms.
At the
Dusit Resort, a Krathong was given to guests and all took the opportunity to
let these float on the hotel’s Lagoon Pool, wishing for forgiveness of
their sins, blessing the water god and hoping for good luck and fortune in
the coming year.
The Real miracle of Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong is over, held during the November full moon
period, which this year was on the 19th. It is probably one of the most
romantic events on the Thai calendar, and one celebration about which that
even many Thais do not realize the full meaning.
It is an event steeped in history, going back some 700
years. It was considered to be of such importance that the revered King
Mongkut even wrote down the history in 1863, to ensure that its significance
was not lost with the passage of time.
The small boats (krathongs) were first fashioned by the
beautiful and talented Nang Noppamas, the Brahmin wife of King Phra Ruang.
It was this king who then dedicated the krathong to the memory of the
Buddha, and decreed that the event would be called Loy Krathong and that it
should become an annual celebration to commemorate the skill and beauty of
his consort.
While the young ladies of Pattaya dressed up in
traditional Thai dresses, complete with the headgear and jewelry, and the
hotels held Nang Noppamas contests, the real spirit of Loy Krathong was to
be found on Jomtien Beach, where lovers sat side by side in deck chairs and
then floated their krathongs out to sea, sealing together their hopes and
ambitions. It was there that so many of the hot air lantern balloons were
floating overhead that for those in the deck chairs there was a new galaxy
of stars passing overhead. It was for them, a celebration of love and all
things beautiful.
When the beach goers finally drifted home, the coastline
was a flotilla of krathongs, but it was after this that the real miracle of
Loy Krathong happened. Anyone who drove down Jomtien Beach Road on the next
morning could not help but be impressed that the seething mass from the
night before had apparently disappeared without a trace. The beaches were
clean, there were no shipwrecked krathongs or downed airships to be seen.
From the magic of the night, there came the magic of the morning. Yes, Loy
Krathong is alive and well, and can be seen next year in Jomtien. Nang
Noppamas has not been forgotten.
Sawang Boriboon Foundation officially opens their School of Knowledge
Focus on language and computer skills
Suchada Tupchai
Chadej Insawang, permanent secretary of the tourism and
sports ministry along with Yian Ting Aiy, Chinese ambassador to Thailand;
Sawang Srisakul, Chonburi governor, Somchai Khunpluem, Saensuk mayor, and
many other distinguished guests from Pattaya city hall, attended the recent
opening of new Sawang Boriboon School of Knowledge.
(L to
R) Saensuk Mayor Somchai Khunpluem, Sawang Boriboon Foundation Director
Visit Chawalitnittitham, Ministry of Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary
Chadej Insawang, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Yian Ting Aiy, and Chonburi
Governor Sawang Srisakul push the ceremonial button to officially open the
new school.
Visit Chawalitnittitham, director of the Sawang Boriboon
Foundation said the school project financing was well supported by
kind-hearted donators and members of the Foundation Charity Board through
the years.
The school is situated on 30 rai of land and almost 100
million baht was spent on the construction and facilities.
The board believes that the school will be a place to
educate and develop both mental and physical health for the children. The
new facility includes a sports complex, music room and art gallery.
The school’s academic courses include Chinese language
lessons taught by professors from China, night classes for adults, and
computer lessons. The daytime school is open to children from the nursery,
secondary and primary levels.
Chadej Insawang said he was glad to be part of this
social development knowing that Thailand and China have a strong
relationship in terms of education, business, culture, tourism, and
international trade.
The Chinese ambassador presented 2 computer sets and Chinese learning
books to the school director. All guests were invited to tour the school and
view its fully equipped facilities.
The Best of Kamala
Story and photos by
Elfi Seitz
Kamala Sukosol, a member of Bangkok’s high society,
owner of a few hotels, art-collector and a fantastic singer gave a stunning
performance at her recent charity concert, held at the Siam City Hotel in
Bangkok.
Kamala
Sukosol in her typical “Dolly” pose.
The
Sukosol children are performing as a unity on stage.
Together with her children, Marisa, Daranee and “Noi”
Krissada, her renowned team including Dolchai Boonyaratavey, Felix B. Nada,
Atchanon Naksrisuk, Tanee Poonsuwan, Worabith Witayobhart, Thepin Rahjaibun,
Klaichan Phunman, Punthip Punjamawat, Pattamanas Intarayai and Temduen
Kesakomol, and her Big Band under the leadership of Prachin Sonpaw and
dancers from the Dramatic Arts College, Kamala put on a stage show worthy of
Broadway.
Kamala
Sukosol (center) takes time for her youngest fan to pose for a picture
together with Xiomara J. Ramos de Arrochaim (2nd right), the ambassador for
Panama in Thailand, Elfi Seitz (right) and Rungratree Thongsaiy (far left).
With her songs starting with “Hava Nagila” (first
recording in 1983) through “Gyspy in my Soul”, “Mambo Italiano”, a
new version of “Besame Mucho”, “Something Stupid”, “With My Eyes
Wide Open” to “New York, New York”, the program spanned 20 years of
Kamala’s recordings.
A special treat was the show part of “Hello Dolly”
with Kamala Sukosol once again the best ‘Dolly’ one could wish for.
With the help of many sponsors, Kamala Sukosol and her team were able to
set up a fantastic cultural event and raised a lot of money for charity at
the same time. All the proceeds will be given to the Red Cross Thailand for
the treatment of victims of breast cancer and research for this terrible
disease.
Skål Club of Pattaya & East Thailand celebrate winning bid for World Congress 2006
Call to action given to club members
Following Pattaya’s winning the right to stage the
world congress of Skål clubs in 2006, the local Skål Club of
Pattaya and the East toasted their victorious team at the monthly Skål
meeting, this time held at the Auguste Renoir Restaurant.
Murray
makes a toast to victory, as Ingo Rauber looks on.
The vote, which was held at this year’s congress in
Cairns, Australia, went to Pattaya as the venue over London by a large
majority. Promotional team members Murray Hertz, Andrew Wood, Peter Malhotra
and Bob Lee described the final vote as most satisfactory following four
days of intensive campaigning for Pattaya.
During the meeting, which included all the top
hospitality people, mention was made of warnings given to holidaymakers by
their governments to be cautious if contemplating travel to Thailand. It was
agreed that this was unfair, but that it was something that had to be dealt
with.
Skål
members discuss strategy for the upcoming Skๅl world congress to be
held in Pattaya in 2006.
The Skål Club meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month and contact
can be made through the secretary, Andrew Wood, email andrew @royalcliff.com
Mahidol University holds 4th HUGO Pacific and 5th Asia-Pacific conference on human genetics
Gathering of brains from around the world to discuss experiments on human genetics
Mahidol University along with the Public Health
Department and the private sector organized the 4th HUGO Pacific Meeting and
5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Human Genetics, recently held at the
Ambassador City Hotel Pattaya.
Deputy
Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng (3rd right), Prof. Dr. Pornchai
Matangkasombut (2nd right), president of Mahidol University, and Professor
Dr. Kanok Pavasuthipaisit (3rd left) presided over the opening ceremony of
the “4th HUGO Pacific Meeting and 5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Human
Genetics” organized by the Institute of Science and Technology for
Research and Development, Mahidol University and the Public Health
Department, Human Genome Organization and Asia-Pacific Society of Human
Genetics. Also shown are Professor Sutat Foocharoen (2nd left), the
Honorable Professor Pravet Wasee (right), and Sir David Weatherall (center),
the Chao Fah Mahidol Prize winner.
The gathering of scientists was presided over by Deputy
Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng and the meeting was well attended by
foreign and Thai scientists. Chaturon pointed out that the study of genetic
mapping is rapidly advancing and agrees that the Thai government should
support its study.
Mahidol University held this meeting to improve
country’s standards of scientific research in this field.
In the near future another meeting on the same topic will
be organized with more people involved, such as NECTEC, Science Ministry,
University Affairs and the Public Health Department along with academics who
are interested in the topic in order to assess results and propose that the
government provide more support for research about the human genome, which
will definitely benefit the life and health of the people.
In the past not much support has been given toward
research of the topic for it did not give an instant result. But with the
present government the motive will be to improve and give a faster result,
for not much time should be wasted and not too much money should be spent
paying for the technology from foreign countries, as Thailand has its own
top scientists.
Professor William Nunn Lipscomb, a Nobel Prize winning
scientist recently advised the prime minister on his recent trip to Thailand
that for best results when conducting this kind of research it should be
slow and steady and give more importance to basic research then to applied
research.
Professor Dr. Kanok Pavasuthipaisit, director of the
Institute of Science and Technology for Research and Development, Mahidol
University and the president of the organizing committee, revealed after the
meeting that this meeting was very successful and had a pleasant atmosphere.
More than about 200 genome specialists and 800 new scientists attended the
meeting which created a very energetic atmosphere and lots of ideas were
exchanged.
Dr. Kanok added that this meeting had ignited the flame
for those scientists who are as a majority new generations and the future
for the country; for they have a chance to meet with world class scientists
and receive knowledge about human genetics which will gradually improve the
method of conducting research and will benefit the people by protecting
against various diseases, especially in areas like malaria, thalasemia and
various genetic disorders.
The results from the meeting brought together Thai scientists living
abroad to exchange ideas and conduct research together at the institution
level, as well as national level, with various interesting and beneficial
research for the country.
Internet Banking in Thailand research
report nets “Excellence”
award for Asian University Student
and Program Leader
The First National Conference on Electronic Business,
“Enlightening: Successful Business Model” has granted its first “Award
for Excellence in Research” to Dr. Metta Ongkasuwan and Ms. Worasri
Tantichattanon of Asian University of Science and Technology, in the Pattaya
area.
The award, granted by the organization, “Electronic
Commerce Resource Center” in a conference held at Thammasat University in
late October, was presented by Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee, the first minister
of the Thailand Information Technology and Communications Ministry, one of
the new ministries created by the government in October. The award was for
excellence in statistics and assessment strategies, and was given for the
paper, “A Comparative Study of Internet Banking in Thailand.”
Dr. Metta is an instructor at Asian University of Science
and Technology, and Ms. Worasri is a recent graduate with a Masters Degree
in Business Administration from that university. The paper on which the two
collaborated had first been presented as Ms. Worasri’s independent study
presentation under the university’s graduate school program, with Dr.
Metta acting as her advisor, and had been revised by the two to meet the
exacting standards of the Electronic Resource Center.
The study conducted by Ms. Worasri and Dr. Metta was to
compare Internet-based banking services available in thirteen banks in
Thailand, with the findings to be used to address four research questions
and suggest recommendations for internet-based banking customers who are
searching for Internet-based banking service providers for their electronic
based activities and services in Thailand.
The paper is organized into five sections: 1. an
introduction presenting research questions and rationale for the study; 2.
an overview of literature relevant to internet-based banking services in the
United States, United Kingdom and Europe, Asia Pacific, and Thailand; 3 and
4. research model and methodology implemented in the study; and 5. data
analysis, major findings, recommendations and limitations for internet based
banking customers.
Two other awards for excellence followed the award to Dr.
Metta and Ms. Worasri, being given in only two of the four categories in
which submissions were made: “Statistics and Assessment”, and “Law and
Regulation”. Excellence in research awards were given following the award
to Dr. Metta and Ms. Worasri to a research team from Singapore, and another
such award to a team from Thammasat University. Only three “Excellence”
awards papers were given out of 55 papers submitted to the conference for
consideration.
Ms. Worasri, following her M.B.A. graduation from Asian
University of Science and Technology in September of this year, is now
studying in Shanghai, China, and hopes eventually to be engaged in
information systems management in a banking business in Shanghai or some
other area in China. Dr. Metta continues as program leader of the Management
Information Systems (M.I.S.) graduate program at Asian UST.
The Electronic Resource Center is comprised of the
e-Business Center of the Faculty of Commerce and Accounting for Thammasat
University, the e-business Center at NECTEC and the National Institute of
Science and Technology Development in Bangkok. This was the first National
Conference on e-Business, which is expected to be held annually in Thailand.
It is expected to provide a central forum for experts and interested
individual to promote strategies in the fields of e-business, e-commerce and
its relevance. NCEB 2002 was the first annual conference organized by
Thammasat University and the National Electronic Commerce Research and
Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), and is intended to benefit people who
are actively involved in research and practices related to e-Business.
The purpose of the annual conference is to promote
research in e-business and e-commerce for academic, business and practioners
to address future directions of e-business to coordinate and create a
network of researchers, business private sector and government sector in the
business area, aimed at discovering research that is beneficial to Thailand.
Interviews of Dr. Metta and Ms. Worasri on their award
will be broadcast on Bangkok television on Sunday, January 19, 2003, from
22:00 to 22:30 hours in a session on the 360 Degree TV program.
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