FEATURES
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Community celebrates Asalahabucha Day and make merit at local temples

Pattaya 4 Fun weekends bring happiness and joy to Pattaya

Blind school children celebrate beginning of Buddhist Lent

Bikers roll into the city for the first annual Pattaya Bike Weekend

Standard Chartered Nakornthon Bank becomes 11th Platinum Sponsor

Community celebrates Asalahabucha Day and make merit at local temples

The Pattaya community celebrated Asalahabucha Day and beginning of Buddhist Lent by making merit at local temples. 

Last weekend, the Buddhist Holy Day of Asalahabucha fell on the 15th night of the full moon, during the eighth month of the Buddhist Lunar calendar.

Asalahabucha Day is worshipped because of three important events occurring on that day. Called the “Triple Gem” it commemorates the first sermon given by the Buddha called the “Dhammachakapavattama Sutta” denoting the “Four Noble Truths” that were presented to the Buddha’s first five disciples. The sermon set in motion the “Wheel of Dhamma”.

A devout Buddhist pays homage to the image of Lord Buddha

Mayor Pairat, deputy mayor Wattana, teachers and students listen to the monks’ sermon

Residents go through the ritual of giving food and alms to be presented to the monks

The sermon concluded that all things are a source of suffering, from the constant cycle of birth, disease, old age and death. Secondly, desire, or the inability to obtain what one desires, is the cause of suffering resulting from cause and effect. Thirdly, freedom from suffering can be obtained after the complete cessation of desire. And finally, the last of the Four Noble Truths is the “Middle Way”, or the path between extremes of asceticism and indulgence leading to the elimination of desire.

The Middle Way or the Eight-Fold Path consists of possessing the correct: Views, Resolve, Speech, Conduct, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, and Meditation (or Concentration).

The day is also considered to be the birth of Buddhism, as the Buddha left the location where he obtained his enlightenment two months earlier and then came to a forest area in the city of Bharanasi where he showed favor to five ascetics, who became his followers.

Monks lead the procession around the temple in the ‘Wian Thian’ cremonies

Devotees, make merit by pouring wax into the mould for making huge candles “Thian Pansa”

Also recognized on the same day was the first person that listened to the Buddha’s sermon and realizing the truths contained therein became the first Buddhist monk, thereby creating the Buddhist order “Sangha”.

The Wien Tien ritual ceremony was performed in temples throughout Thailand during the evening and continued on during the lunar eclipse as devout followers of Buddhism brought candles, flowers and joss sticks, then completed three cycles of walking around sacred temple grounds.

Pattaya City’s Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, deputy mayor Wattana Chantharawaranond, teachers, and students participated in a procession to nearby temples, bringing traditional offerings of candles, flowers, joss sticks and other items of necessity for monks residing in the temple during this rainy season.

The processions traveled along the city streets in Naklua in an impressive display of devotion, ending up at temples where the groups of students and school faculty members performed the Wien Thian ceremonial walk three times around sacred temple grounds.

The Royal Wien Tien ceremony is traditionally held at the Buddhamonthol Temple in Nakhorn Pathom and many people traveled from great distances to witness the auspicious ceremony and participate in the rituals and traditions of Asalahabucha Day.


Pattaya 4 Fun weekends bring happiness and joy to Pattaya

Businesses pleased with increase in visitors revenue

by Suchada Tupchai

“Pattaya 4 Fun” which ran over 4 consecutive weekends came to a close last Saturday amidst cheers and accolades for the organisers who had managed to create exciting activities for Pattaya which will be the blue print for many more festivals, ensuring an influx of tourists to Pattaya in the future.

Minister Sontaya Khunpluem (center), Chonburi governor Pisit Ketphasook, Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat and the chefs show their approval of the Tom Yam.

There was so much sea food to be enjoyed by everyone

A foriegn visitor enjoying fun and games on stage

The three beauty queens

Kanthamanee Intharamanee ‘Petch’ (left) and Tony Malhotra (right) performed superbly as MCs throughout the 4 weeks of the Pattaya 4 Fun festival.

The first Saturday started off with the making of the world’s biggest ‘tom yam’, Thailand’s famous spicy sour soup. This event was presided over by Sontaya Khunpluem, Minister of Tourism and Sports. The first week’s activities included an ice carving contests, cocktail mixing competitions, cabaret shows from Tiffanys Cabaret Show and music concerts on the beach.

The second weekend included a ‘som tam’ making contest choosing the winner who made the tastiest, hottest papaya salad in Thailand. Traditional dances from Mini Siam and music concerts by various bands.

The 3rd Saturday featured a beauty pageant with a difference, the Miss Pattaya International. Over 40 ‘women of the second category”, representing various countries of the world, lined up in front of judges to display their stunning - and not so stunning - beauty.

Fun aside; the pageant side did have some serious motivation. The ladies were only given three minutes each to display their best talents for the judges, all vying for the first prize of 10,000 baht and other prizes such as Miss Congeniality, Best Presentation and Best Effort in Beauty.

First prize went to Pornfah Porpratarn representing Thailand with Mimikudas representing Tahiti in second place and Monasza Chongmaki representing Columbia in third place. The rains stalled long enough for the spoof pageant to be held drawing yet more interest from a wide variety of visitors throughout the evening.

The fourth and final Saturday of the ‘Pattaya 4 Fun’ festival coincided with the long public holiday, Asalahabucha and Khao Phansa Day. Pattaya Beach Soi 4 was highlighted by the Seafood Rally had lots of drawing of prizes.

The rules were quite easy. When you bought food at any of the numerous food stalls that was set along the beach, you would get a ticket with a number. You simply write your name and telephone number on it and drop into a box for the drawing.

Tiger Zoo Sri Racha, Million Years Stone Park, Crocodile Farm Pattaya, Mini Siam, Alcazar Show, were among the many reputable establishments who generously contributed entrance tickets for the drawing. Various hotels included were A-One Hotel Royal Cruise, Pattaya Hill Resort, ad Siam Sawasdee Hotel contributing prizes for accommodations and tour packages. Amazing musical shows from Pattaya Music Band and Thailand’s famous duo singers Sumet and Pung had everyone on their feet, dancing to their hearts’ content. Extraordinary shows from Million Years Stone Park, Crocodile Farm Pattaya and Alcazar shows also attracted party goers to the fourth and final Saturday of the Pattaya 4 Fun festival.

The mayor has promised, that more of these fun festivals will be held in Pattaya throughout the year.

The Contestants


Blind school children celebrate beginning of Buddhist Lent

by Suchada Tupchai

On the 8th July, Auraura Sribuaphan, director of the Pattaya School for the Blind along with staff and hundreds of school children formed a ceremonial procession to mark the beginning of the Buddhist Lent at Wat Phodhi Samphan.

The beautifully decorated procession arrives at Wat Potisamphan.

Aurora Sribuaphan leads the procession of blind children to make merit at the temple

Blind children singing and dancing all the way

The long colorful procession attracted a large number of onlookers which lined both sides of the Pattaya Naklua Road. The fascinated crowd watched as the children paraded into the temple ground.

Then the youngsters walked around the chapel three times with candles and other offerings which were presented to the monks for their use during Lent since they will be confined to the temple until the monsoon rains ends. After the rainy season is over the monks may leave their temple abodes to again receive alms from the lay people each morning.

The tradition has been passed on down through the earliest years and brings bliss and calm to one and all as they pay homage and exude humility to society.


Bikers roll into the city for the first annual Pattaya Bike Weekend

Songklod Kaewvisit

The sound of rolling thunder filled the street of Pattaya on Saturday afternoon July 5th as 500 large motorcycles stormed onto Pattaya Beach Road to take part in the First Pattaya Bike Weekend.

Lewis ‘Woody’ Underwood out raising funds for this year’s Charity Drive by selling Jesterware at the Pattaya Bike Weekend.

Harley Davidsons, BMW’s and other monster bikes from around the country line up in Pattaya for all to see.

Tip Plaza, between Soi 10 & 11 on Beach Road was awash with leather clad bikers on Harley Davidson’s, BMW Cruisers and other large bikes that filled the grounds in front of the stage.

The Jesters were seen clowning about and enjoying the gathering as they sold Jesterware to raise funds for the club and this year’s Charity Drive. Other clubs from around the nation had traveled from far and wide to join in the activities.

However, the high light of the event was the concert by Carabao, promoting their energy drink, ‘Carabao Daeng’ and many of Pattaya’s top performers including Lam Morrison.

Plenty of merchandise on sale for those wanting a piece of memorabilia.

Pattaya Bike Weekend was attended by bikers, young and old.

The two-day weekend went off with out a hitch and we can expect to see the bikes back in Pattaya next year for another round.


Standard Chartered Nakornthon Bank becomes 11th Platinum Sponsor

Standard Chartered NakornthonBank last week became the 11th Platinum sponsor for Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2003. The main three recipients this year for Care 4 Kids are the Fountain of Life, the Huay Pong Centre in Rayong and the Redemptorist School for Blind Children in Naklua. The latter, in particular, is very close to SCNs heart as the worldwide charity campaign for the bank this year is “Seeing is Believing”.This year SCN has already raised over USD500,000 worldwide for blind children.

Graham Macdonald (left) gratefully receives the cheque from Tim Miller.

When Graham Macdonald contacted the CEO of Standard Chartered Nakornthon Bank, Vishnu Mohan, he was immediately put through to David Shaw who is the SEVP Human Resources for Thailand and Mekong. As one of the charities that Jesters Care for Kids is supporting this year tied in exactly with what SCN wanted he immediately promised that the bank would become a platinum sponsor.

Conveniently, SCN was holding its annual Group Human Resouces Meeting at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya. Jesters Care 4 Kids was invited along to receive the cheque for 100,000 Baht from the Group Head of Human Resources Mr. Tim Miller. Tim Miller, who was temporarily blind earlier in life, gave the audience of 150 delegates an small idea of what it is like to be blind. He praised all those who worked on behalf of the blind.

On behalf of Jesters Care for Kids, Graham Macdonald - President of the Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2003 - gratefully received the cheque and gave a brief outline to the audience of what the Blind School in Naklua actually did for the children and how the money donated by SCN would be put to good use. Closing his speech, Graham promised the SCN employees that, “Every Baht will be put to good use so as to try and improve the lives of these young children”.


Skal International