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Thousands flock to Chinese New Year celebrations on Walking Street
Bring in the Year of the Goat
The Chinese dragon and lion dance performances in Walking
Street on February 1 were a great success for everyone, as nearly 10,000
people crowded into the area to view the spectacle. Many sat lining both
sides of the street for two hours before the shows began, while others
fought for street view tables at the first floor restaurants.
Hok,
Lok and Siew three Chinese deities, symbols of stability and happiness wish
everyone “Kung Hei Fat Choi”, and many good wishes for the year of the
goat. Mike Shopping Mall and Walking Street put on a spectacular Chinese New
Year festival on February 1, featuring fireworks, a seven headed dragon and
lions of nine colors.
Mayor
Pairat Suttithamrongsawat (center) officially presided over the opening
ceremonies of the festival.
The
lion dancers reach new heights.
An
explosion of light and sound, the great dragon brings in the Year of the
Goat.
The 9
lions of 9 colors bring good health, good fortune and happiness to the
people of Pattaya.
The 9
lions of 9 colors dance their way down Walking Street.
The 9
lions of 9 colors take a break.
Everyone was rewarded with a world-class display put on
by the martial arts devotees under the lion’s “skin”. One did not need
much imagination to see the coiling dragon come to life as it wound its way
around the poles erected in the center of the street.
Walking Street was the place this year to celebrate
Chinese New Year, as the city organized grand festivities to mark the
occasion on the 1st of February.
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat welcomed everyone to
Pattaya and wished them a happy Chinese New Year in Pattaya, good luck, long
life, wealth, prosperity and a strong growth in their business lives and
safety from harmful influences
Celebrations for the Chinese New Year parade began at
Pattaya City Hall, where candles were lit to commemorate King Taksin the
Great. The parade proceeded to the Sawang Boriboon Foundation to collect
more attendants, and then continued on to Walking Street, South Pattaya.
That evening, the 7 headed dragon roamed the street,
climbing poles and sprinkling holy water on people to wish them well during
the New Year’s celebration.
The 7 headed dragon, which is 69 meters long, with a
green body similar to the Great Snake or Phaya Nak, is believed to be the
guardian of the sea and water. Its fins are golden, similar to the dragon
that Chinese believe lives in heaven, portrays the god of wind and rain and
protects the people on earth who pay respect to it.
The
magnificent dragon makes its way through the crowd on Walking Street.
Mayor
Pairat puts a little lucky money into the dragon’s mouth for good luck.
The
mighty dragon flashes its way towards the New Year.
The
7-headed dragon takes a break before the show begins.
Khun
Santana (l) and Surat Mekhavarakul, PBTA president give ‘Ang Pao’ gift
pouches to the dragon
The next highlight of the night was the 9 lions in 9
colors show, plus an additional 2 rainbow lion. It is believed that the
lions bestow good fortune on those paying their respects. In Chinese legend,
the lion is said to have chased away an evil creature.
Each colored lion represented a jewel and a specific
meaning. White symbolizes a diamond, meaning pure love and stability, power
and revered and shielding. Blue symbolizes a cat’s eye gem, with the
meaning of strength and happiness, angels watching over and protection. Red
is the symbol of a garnet and means health, longevity and protection from
danger. Grey as is a pearl with the meaning of good luck in love, soft
landings and protection from dangerous animals. Pink symbolizes a ruby for
wealth, success, great fortune and long life. Black, or dark blue,
symbolizes a blue sapphire and means love and compassion, empathy for others
and allows hopes to come to fruition. The green lion symbolizes an emerald
or an oriental sapphire and means stature and robust person, wealth, cool
and courageous, stable and sincere, unconditional love. The yellow lion
symbolizes the stone of topaz for furthering life’s beauty and sanctity,
wealth, unconditional love and strong mental capacity. The mauve or purple
lion symbolizes a zircon for cool, calm and peaceful, life like a sunrise,
fame and wealth, a great sage.
The
7-headed dragon readies to make the trek from City Hall down to Walking
Street.
Walking
Street put on a new face for the festival.
Spewing
fireworks, the dragon makes its way through Walking Street.
Those on Walking Street were enthralled as the lion, the
dragon and the attendant “Little Buddha” with his fan took the Chinese
mythical animals up Walking Street, winding their way through the spectators
and into the bars, with people placing red envelopes within the grasp of the
lion’s mouth.
This year’s Chinese New Year celebration was very well
received and organizers are already planning to make it bigger and better
next year.
UK Parliamentarians, UNICEF examine child abuse: seek remedies
Story and photos by Peter
Cummins
A recent visit to Thailand by Baroness Janet Whitaker
(House of Lords) and MP Paul Holmes, accompanied by UK UNICEF National
Commission Advocacy Team Manager Ms Jenny Williot, joined a number of
Thailand UNICEF staff to gain first-hand knowledge of the problems of
Thailand’s child sexual exploitation, trafficking of women and children
and to seek ways of alleviating these and many other abuses of the Rights of
the Child.
UK
visitors, about to board the ferry for Kredtrakarn Protection and Recovery
Centre, Pakkred District: (L to R): Ms Jenny Williott, Advocacy Team
Manager, UK National Committee for UNICEF, Baroness Janet Whitaker,
Parliamentarian, Paul Holmes, Parliamentarian. (In front): Dr. Kitiya
Phornsadiya, UNICEF Child Protection Project officer.
The UK team actually arrived after visiting Laos for the
same purposes and were able to draw a number of conclusions which will be
presented as relevant data for input into forming UK legislation on child
protection. The UK is one of the major contributors to UNICEF and the Child
Rights Protection Programmes and the visit to Laos and Thailand would be a
major vehicle for raising the national awareness - and the necessity of
committing resources - for the betterment of the child’s lot in these two
ASEAN countries.
A major obstacle in assisting the children of Laos, all
three UK visitors agreed, was “raising the profile of the land-locked
country - one of the world’s poorest”. Although, as Ms Jenny noted,
“UNICEF work being done in Thailand is awesome, enlightening”, both
countries require “better law enforcement - co-operation between police
agencies and the community as a whole - to follow up on cases, better
dialogue with the children themselves and - especially in the case of Laos -
lifting the profile of the abuses from a national to a regional level,” to
place the issues in a clearer focus.
The UK
and UNICEF group at the Association for the Promotion of the Status of
Women.
School
bags adorn the walls of the Association’s lunch room.
Girls
at the Centre, training for hairdressing.
An appalling list of Child Rights abuses was discussed
and both the BBC and the British Council have brought to public attention
such issues as sex exploitation and the trafficking of women and children
and the use of children to fight “adults’ wars”. Both Baroness Janet
and MP Paul pointed out the great co-operation between the British and Thai
governments to isolate abuses, extradite and prosecute paedophiles. MP Paul
noted that a new session of the British Parliament would be opening shortly
after their return and Childs Rights issues were high on the agenda.
Field Visits
At the Kredkratarn Protection and Recovery Centre,
Pakkred District, the group spoke with children, victims of abuse and,
followed up on one case where young Laotian girls had been badly abused in
an un-registered “sweat shop” outside Bangkok. Through UNICEF
intervention, the owners were jailed and the victims were to receive at
least some cash compensation for their suffering.
A second visit in a tightly-packed itinerary was to the
Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women, which comprised a
“Safe House” for abused women and children, and a “Recovery Programme”.
The group visited the children, adolescent girls and the women victims of
abuse and exploitation. This state-run institution helps put the women and
children back on the road to decency, self-fulfilment and dignity. The Safe
House is “always full”, said the executive director, Dr. Methinee
Bhongvej who, in spite of her stressful situation and acute shortage of
funding, kept a cheerful demeanour and was entirely dedicated to helping her
more-than 200 charges.
Observing
training activities at the Recovery Centre.
Visit
with children, victims of exploitation in Thailand and neighbouring
countries.
The
children at the Association enjoy their lunch.
The day’s final call was to a most-animated group of
young Child Rights Volunteers in Bangkok’s Samrong Communities where
UNICEF supports a Child Rights Volunteers Training Programme. Even a deluge,
although forcing everyone indoors, could not ‘dampen’ the spirited
discussions and lively inter-changes with the UK/UNICEF group, the
youngsters and the community management.
Before returning to the UK the following evening, the
Parliamentarians/UNICEF Group went to the Nonthaburi Department of Public
Welfare, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare’s Central Regional
Occupational Training Centre, to visit the women and children housed there
and to observe the workings of the preventive programme.
A final visit was to the Bumrungrad Hospital where one of
UNICEF’s highly popular and high-profile ventures was in evidence.
UNICEF’s Youth Career Development Programme, being operated since 1995 by
some 20 of Bangkok’s leading hotels and, since 2000, by Bumrungrad
Hospital, each year selects some 100 “at risk” northern and
north-eastern girls for training in the hotel and tourism industry, and now
in nursing.
The current programme, greatly enhanced by the addition
of resources of the Standard Chartered Nakornthon Bank, has helped ensure
“the very positive results, this collaboration between the hotel industry,
the Bank, UNICEF and the Royal Thai Government has brought about - a stake
in the future of Thailand’s young people,” as UNICEF’s country
representative in Thailand, Dr Gamini Abeysekera, stated it so succinctly at
the opening ceremonies of the new intake, late last year.
It is a highly-successful partnership between the private
and the public sectors and has not only saved more than 300 adolescent women
from degradation, exploitation, prostitution and even drugs, but it has also
propelled these young people into meaningful, proud careers. In the case of
the Hospital sector, a representative of Bumrungrad informed the visitors
that the intake has produced “exemplary workers”. The intake has been
raised to some 25 per year and the training is now the full nursing
curriculum. “One graduate has even been assigned as supervisor of one of
our intensive-care units,” said the doctor with obvious pride.
So, after an intensive few days, the UK team went back, in the knowledge
that there is progress, there is hope and there is a future for Thai
children. From Thailand’s side, we can be very happy that this
sympathetic, open and positive team will take their message back to the UK
Parliament. The gainers are our new generations.
Best wines of Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia in Pattaya
By Ranjith Chandrasiri
Italy’s northeastern region is barely mentioned in most
guidebooks and rarely visited even by Italians, which makes it a great place
for travelers seeking to leave the beaten path. Whether you like snow-capped
mountains, warm sandy beaches, lagoons teeming with water birds, remote
alpine hamlets, Roman ruins, palatial country villas, rocky coastal cliffs,
bustling international seaports or picturesque fishing villages, your tastes
will be thoroughly satisfied in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, one of Italy’s most
versatile regions.
 Aside from these, the Friuli Venezia Giulia is home to
one of Italy’s most famous wineries: the Vigneti Fantinel. No other wine
label from this region has achieved so much world-wide recognition than the
family-run Vigneti Fantinel.
The family estate was founded in 1969 by Mario Fantinel.
Known and admired for his long experience as both hotelier and restaurateur,
“Paron” Mario was driven by the passion of producing wines dedicated to
the conviviality of the hospitality business. The two vocations fused
together to turn the love for the land, vineyards and the wine-making art
into a single reality: inevitably so, because genuine passion wins out in
the end.
Headed by later generations of the Fantinel family, the
Fantinel S.P.A. estate has a production capacity that ranks among the most
interesting Italian wine-growing farms and extends its vineyards over 250
hectares of land. The Estate’s driving philosophy is the same as it has
always been: total quality, respect of tradition and continuous research, to
maintain and improve the characteristics of taste and genuineness that are
the mark of outstanding wines.
Tucked under its belt is the 1997 International Wine
Challenge “Seal of Approval” for the 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon. In April
of that same year Fantinel was given the “Diploma of Great Merit” for
its 1995 Collio Sauvignon DOC in the 36th National Competition of DOC ad
DOCG wines at National Wine Trade Fair in Venice.
A year after, it won the “Diploma of Great Mention”
for the 1996 Friuli Grave Cabernet Sauvignon DOC in the 32nd “Vinitaly”
International Oenological Competition, followed by another International
Wine Challenge “Seal of Approval” for the 1997 Pinot Grigio.
New York-based Wine Spectator magazine included the
Fantinel Merlot Grave del Friuli Barone Rosso in its May 15, 1998
“Shopping Guide” as “Best Purchase” with a score of 86/100. The same
issue of the prestigious magazine featured descriptions and technical
appraisals of the Pinot Grigio Sant’Helena Collio Vineyards 1997 (88/100),
Cabernet Sauvignon Sant’ Helena Grave del Friuli 1996 (87/100), Cabernet
Franc Sant’Helena Grave del Friuli 1997 (85/100), and the Pinot Bianco
Sant’Helena Grave del Friuli 1997 (82/100).
Wine lovers will have a great opportunity to enjoy
exquisite Fantinel wines along with a six-course gourmet dinner at an
exclusive Italian Winemaker’s Gala Dinner on the 12th of February (1500
baht net, inclusive of wines, pre-dinner antipasti, service charge and VAT).
Hosted by the Royal Cliff Wine Club in Pattaya, the event will have no less
than third-generation winemaker/owner Marco Fantinel as the guest of honour.
Marco will present six of his famous wines; Sole Giallo Sauvignon Blanc
Delle Venezie NV IGT, Borgo Tesis Pinot Grigio Grave Friuli DOC 2001, Santa
Caterina Tocai Friulano Collio, DOC 2001, Santa Caterina, Pinot Nero, Collio
DOC 2001, Borgo Tesis Merlot Grave Friuli DOC 2000, Sant’ Helena. Cabernet
Sauvignon Grave, Friuli DOC 2000.
To complement the Fantinel offerings, Royal Cliff’s
very own culinary expert, Executive Chef Walter Thenisch and his team will
prepare a fine Italian fare including king lobster, clams and green
asparagus salad, a delectably pan- fried duck liver on homemade pappardelle
noodles flavoured with premium white truffle oil D’Alba. Thenisch will
create an oven roasted pigeon supreme on glazed endives with a delicate jus
made from Recioto, Amorone wines and figs to complement Fantinel’s Borgo
Tesis Merlot Grave Friuli, a classic wine whose name is an intrinsic part of
the history of Friuli. Refined in barrels of prized French oak, this wine
reveals a great harmony and a distinct personality.
An assortment of premium grade Italian cheeses including
Taleggio, Gorgonzola, Parmigiano with a selection of home baked Italian
bread will be matched with Sant’ Helena. Cabernet Sauvignon Grave Friuli
DOC 2000, one of the best Friulian reds, refined in Allier and Nevers oak
barrels, is distinctive for its original, decisive and yet gentle flavour.
An imaginative dessert; Romeo & Juliet’s” Mascarpone Classic will be
served to finish off this grand feast.
Ranjith Chandrasiri is the resident manager of Royal
Cliff Grand and founder of the Royal Cliff Wine Club, Royal Cliff Beach
Resort, Pattaya, Thailand.
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Why I don’t trust George W. Bush, Tony Blair and Saddam Hussein
By Dr. Iain Corness
From the outset, let me state my position. I am not a war
buff. As a small boy I was unable to pull the wings off butterflies and
ushered cockroaches outside, rather than stand on them. Although being
called up for National Service, I never went to war, and I don’t think I
could kill another person in cold blood. Perhaps this makes me a wimp, but
at least I sleep with a clear conscience.
For the past couple of months the world has been
subjected to the calls from US President George W (arrior) Bush that Saddam
Hussein has to be eliminated. He has been joined by his ally, UK
“President” Tony (the teeth) Blair. Between them they are attempting to
convince the world that war must be waged on Iraq, so that we all can sleep
easy in our beds as well.
Using the terrorism threat, al-Qaida, and anything else
that might tug at our needs for a free world, George W and Tony B are
attempting to convince the world of the ‘righteousness’ of their
imminent war. A sort of ‘good guys’ jihad, if you like.
Well, gentlemen, I don’t like it. There is another
agenda at work here, and unless I am very much mistaken, it is called oil
supplies. I believe it has nothing to do with stopping a threat to world
peace, but everything to do with the stopping of Middle East oil supplies to
the western world. I am but one person living in Thailand, but I am yet to
be convinced that war is the answer. It appears that Germany, France and
Russia are also not convinced, so perhaps I am not alone here.
Dr. Blix has proved to my satisfaction that Saddam
Hussein has been dealing in subterfuge, but has not proved to my
satisfaction that his stocks of weapons of mass destruction are so vast that
we are about to be blown off the face of the planet. But then, perhaps I
have got this totally wrong as well. I certainly don’t trust Saddam
either.
I think I would be a lot more convinced about this war,
which is for the common good they assure me, if we (the good guys) were
being led by George and Tony astride their war elephants, charging through
the desert to meet Saddam on his camel. Let us see these leaders truly lead
their flocks to salvation or damnation, with a great degree of personal
risk, instead of sending hundreds of thousands of troops to be cannon
fodder, while they sit at home in luxury.
My impression is that this is not a war being driven by
the people, but people being driven into a war. I am not convinced, George,
Tony and Saddam. I am not convinced at all.
May the Force be with you
By Dr. Iain Corness
One of the most delightful aspects of living in a foreign
country is to be able to become involved in the culture. This requires
having somebody who can take you by the hand and lead you through the
intricacies of it all. For me, that is my maid Suchada, the guiding force
behind my spirit houses, and someone who attempts to prevent me making too
many social gaffes. For that reason alone, I will remain in her debt.
 Today was a “special” Buddha Day and I was advised
the day before that I should be ready in the morning, because I was part of
the ceremony. She, however, did not inform me that ‘morning’ was to
commence at 5.30 a.m. I have always been of the opinion that ‘mornings’
do not have a 5.30, unless one is coming home late! But at 5.30 I was woken
to the clatter of cooking in the kitchen, and as much as I tried to
concentrate on getting back to sleep, this was not possible. I think my
conscience was getting the better of me. After all, if Suchada was good
enough to get up early to cook for the spirits, the least I could do was to
be sociable, so I reluctantly stuck my head out from my lair at something
after six to find that much had been happening.
There, at my front gate, was a table laden with
offerings. Ducks, pork, rice wine, cakes and cookies, betel nut and even
cigarettes. Despite my opposition to the dreaded weed, I decided it was not
my place to remonstrate with the resident spirits in my spirit houses. I
might have been summonsed to be an integral part of all this ceremony, but I
was still, in my own view, a guest.
Suchada’s husband Yongyudh was also present and lit the
incense sticks for me while Suchada in her wonderful fractured English told
me I had to ask the spirits for good health and plenty of money. Perhaps she
is going to ask me for a raise, was my idle thought, but I put it away
quickly as being unseemly under the circumstances.
After we had all placed our joss sticks in the
appropriate urns, it was time to sit and watch the candles slowly burn away
on the offering table, after which came the next part of this morning’s
ceremony. Suchada had placed firecrackers in the bushes, which I had to
light with all the due pomp and circumstance, while she ran for cover with
her hands over her ears!
Standing there, in a fog of smoke, noise and shards of
red paper I was informed that we had not finished yet. There was more to
this ritual. Sheets of gold painted paper were produced, which I had to
burn. This represented wealth and money, I was led to believe. This I could
appreciate, money always having burnt holes in my pockets, so this was most
apt.
But it was not over yet. I had to take the drinks from
the table and place them in the front of the spirit houses, and then food
and water was taken and placed at the base of the tree outside the front
gate. None of my resident spirits could complain about being overlooked that
morning.
So Suchada has taken me one more step towards total cultural
misunderstanding, but I have to admit I am enjoying it. I hope your forces
are with you too.
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