|
Valentine’s Day ‘Ball of the Roses’ symbolising love for all
Elegant evening organized by Rotarians and YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya
Elfi Seitz
Roses
are red. As usual the ladies from YWCA have handsome guys around them,
like Drew Noyes and Greg George.
The swimming pool of the Royal Cruise A-One Hotel,
which is build like a ship (the hotel, not the pool), was the scene of the
elegant “Ball of the Roses” organized by the Rotary Club of Taksin
Pattaya in cooperation with the YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya.
The ‘mothers of the idea’ Marliese Fritz, the
treasurer of the Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya, Nittaya Patimasongkroh,
president of the YWCA Pattaya Chapter, went all out to make this event as
beautiful and exciting as possible. They even called on managing director
of Chiangmai Mail, Michael Vogt and his daughter Daisy, to fly down
especially to play the MCs of this event.
 Marliese
and Heinz Fritz dancing a Waltz.
The Filipino band “Philippines Modern” took care of
the musical part of the evening and the Filipino dance-group “Modern
Dance” wowed the audience with a fascinating performance. The children
of the Dance Studio, who performed as little bees, stole the show and the
hearts of the guests.
Nittaya Patimasongkroh and Dieter H. Pr้court,
the presidents of YWCA and Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya, opened the ball
with a dance - and what could be more appropriate than a Vienna waltz!
 Liliane
Adams Honorary Thai Consul in Geneva, Switzerland receives her Honorary
membership in the Rotary Club of Taksin Pattaya from President Dieter H.
Pr้court.
Guests of honor included Madame Liliane Adams, the
honorary consul of Thailand in Geneva, who came with her husband Charles.
Madame Liliane received an honorary membership to the club from president
Dieter H. Pr้court.
Everyone loved the beautiful buffet, great drinks, the lively rhythm
and the cozy atmosphere. It was truly an evening to remember.
Nittaya Patimasongkroh and Dieter H. Précourt, the presidents of YWCA and
Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya, opened the ball with a dance - and what
could be more appropriate than a Viennese waltz!
Never
shy of words: Daisy and Michael Vogt.
Sweet
Bees from the Dance Club.
|
Rotary says “thank you” Prem during an eventful evening
Malhotras also celebrated Prince’s birthday
Elfi Seitz
The Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya thought it would be
appropriate to give special thanks to one of their members for all his
devoted work: Premprecha Dibbyawan, called “Pa Prem” by his friends and
colleagues. He is a well-liked advocate, a practicing catholic, a merited
Rotarian and a humanitarian and, besides Peter Malhotra, the only surviving
founder of the Rotary Club Jomtien-Pattaya.
 Premprecha
receives his Certificate of Commendation and a gift from President Peter
Malhotra, Past Presidents Erika and Bruno Keller.
Premprecha has been president of the club twice and in
the year 2000 he was the district governor for Rotary district 3340.
Whatever Prem starts, he finishes, and this, combined with his empathy for
the problems of his fellow humans, has led him to do a lot of good in the
name of Rotary.
 Tony
presents the 28 burning birthday candles to his brother Prince.
Prem’s house near the Mabprachan reservoir was the
ideal location for a thank you party, and the parties there are always so
homey and unconventional.
 Beautiful
vases for the winners of the Bingo game.
So was this evening. There were 100 guests in the garden
near the installed stage that served as the main location of the event.
 Jam-session
a la Rotary. (Alvi, Sue, Prince, Vicky and Dave).
Former presidents, Bruno and Erika Keller had prepared
the evening’s program. As both are Swiss, everything ran like clockwork.
After the president of the club Peter Malhotra had greeted the guests in a
witty welcoming speech, the show began.
 The
Malhotra Trio, Tony, Prince and Dave.
Schoolchildren in beautiful Thai costumes performed Thai
dances. The guests also had a chance to win nice prizes in a Bingo game,
which created much joy for everybody and especially for the winner who
received a prize worth 5000 baht. The winners of the lottery tickets were
happy, too, because they received many nice prizes sponsored by Classic
Tailor from Alvi Sinthuvanik and Judy Hoppe.
 (L
to R) Inseparable friends Sue K., Judy and Bruce Hoppe mingle with Phil
Webb.
Then it was time to say thank you to “Pa Prem”. This
task was done by Bruno Keller (in English) and of course Peter Malhotra (in
Thai). A certificate of gratitude and a nice Chinese ceramic bowl were
presented. Phil Webb Jr., the clubs’ poet, had written a nice poem for
Prem and its recital received a round of applause from the guests.
 Peter
Malhotra congratulates his son Prince on his birthday.
None were more surprised than Prince Malhotra, Peter’s
eldest son, when the Malhotra family unrolled a large banner emblazoned with
the words “Happy Birthday, Prince”. Many members of the family, and
there were indeed many members of the Malhotra family, carried roses with
them, whilst others held up cardboard cutouts of hearts that, when put
together, also spelled out “Happy Birthday”. The tireless Phil Webb had
also written poems for the birthday boy, and they were read out by him and
Peter.
Prince, who turned 28 on this day, thanked everybody and
told everyone that he had also prepared a surprise. His youngest brother
Dave exchanged his cardboard heart for a real guitar, and together Prince
and Dave thrilled the audience with Elvis and Beatles songs, after which
they received frenetic applause.
After the cabaret had performed, the rest of the evening
was spent with karaoke singing. Prince, Tony and Dave returned to the stage
where they were supported by their Aunt Sue, her Cousin Vicky and Alvi
Sinthuvanik to sing till the end of the party.
|
Skal renews their vow to further club development in readiness for 2006 beginning crisis management
Brendan Richards
One month following the election of a new committee, Skๅlleagues
met for their February meeting at the Dusit Resort with renewed enthusiasm.
Reports from the committee revealed a planned membership drive to boost
numbers leading up to the 2006 World Congress held in Pattaya, and hosting a
Skๅl awards night.
 Bert
van Walbeek, managing director of The Winning Edge Company provided an
entertaining, no BS presentation on the serious topic of Crisis Management.
However, it was guest speaker of the evening, Bert van
Walbeek, managing director of The Winning Edge Company who provided an
entertaining, no BS presentation on the serious topic of Crisis Management -
The Twin of Opportunity, that captured the attention of those in attendance.
 (L
to R) David Smith, Bob lee, Johanna Stetten, Monica Rottman and Horst
Hornung discuss the upcoming new Skๅl Chapter on Koh Samui.
Citing numerous incidents over the past years that have
affected the tourism industry worldwide, examples such as 9/11 in 2001, Bali
in 2002, SARS last year and the avian flu to kick this year off, Bert
explained the various need for reduction, readiness, response and recovery
plan to handle such incidents.
 (L
to R) Skๅlleagues Tom Rossetti, Binny Singh, Thomas Christensen, Max
Foster and Deborah Bunditayanond enjoying a chat and refreshment before the
evening’s presentation.
Informative, straight and forward, Bert addressed
pertinent topics such as acts of terrorism, emergency evacuation,
transportation incidents, sabotage, systems failures, product recalls, plus
natural and environmental disasters. Bert, himself being part of the clean
up and crisis management team after the Bali bombing, gave a chilling
account of the logistics involved.
The Dusit Resort laid on a myriad of snacks, as Stefan
Heintze, resident manager kept a watchful eye over the evening, ensuring
that standards remained impeccable and ensuring that there was crisis
management required while Skๅlleagues and visitors were under their
care.
Bert completed his condensed lecture winning the approval
of those in the room whilst everyone mingled and chatted on current issues
affecting the city.
In all, a delightful evening with an intimate group
enjoying each other’s company, along with a serious message to all.
The next Skๅl meeting is scheduled for Thursday March 18, with a
bay cruise & networking with Max Foster of Scuba Adventures. For more
information email president Bob Lee on bobscous@ loxinfo.co.th for details
and membership or visit the Skๅl Pattaya and East Thailand website at:
www.skalpattaya.org
Author of “Hanumans Maske” signs books in Pattaya
“It s sure good to be back,” says Yan Friis
Norwegian writer and radio-celebrity Yan Friis was back
in Pattaya last week to do some promotion work for his novel, “Hanumans
Maske”, which so far is only available in Thailand. “And to get away
from the horrors of the Norwegian winter,” he added with a shudder.
Dr. Iain Corness did a story on Yan in the Pattaya
Mail’s Local Personalities column in November last year (Vol. XI No.
47). Since then Yan has been back in Norway, eagerly preparing for the
domestic release of his novel, the date having now been set for the second
week of March.
 Erik
Sorensen and his lovely wife Virginia have been running the Scandinavia Bar
for more than 15 years. Yan Friis is a regular customer and had the pleasure
of signing books on the weekly Saturday roasted pig party. “I came too
late. They only left the head for me,” said Yan.
“It should have been out by Christmas, but we hit some
delays. Heavy snow in Bangkok, or something like that. But March is a good
month,” Yan quipped. “Just in time for Easter. And the delay prolongs
the book’s exclusive existence in Thailand.”
 Yan
Friis was happy to meet Laila and Svein Vistung, the managers of the
recently opened Kon Tiki Restaurant in Jomtien. At Kon Tiki Yan enjoyed the
typical Norwegian dish flaesk and duppe. He was less happy about seeing
Arsenal score on the restaurant’s large TV-screen.
“I am quite overwhelmed by the way the novel has been
received among my fellow countrymen here in Pattaya. So far nobody has
beaten me up. I thought it would be safe to come back and give the book
another boost, and meet some of the people who so generously have spread the
word around,” Yan said with a smile.
As promised in Dr. Iain Corness’ interview back in
November, Yan is also preparing an English edition of the thriller. But it
now looks like that will not be ready before autumn. “I was a little too
optimistic when I mentioned Easter to Dr. Corness,” said Yan. What he is
sure of is the English title - it will definitely be “The Hanuman Mask”.
As the title suggests the novel uses images from the
wonderful epic the Ramakien. According to Yan, Hanuman’s Maske is a dark
journey, a thriller, peopled by burlesque and unforgettable figures in an
exotic setting. The novel is also, without reservations, a celebration of
Thailand and an ingenious portrayal of mass-tourism as modern colonialism.
Yan stresses that the novel has many levels, and can
partly be read as a colorful travelogue taking the reader on a journey from
the streets and sois of Bangkok to the darker side of Pattaya and then
through the cities and countryside of Isarn and all the way up to the
Thai/Burmese border in Mae Sot.
Yan explained, “I also incorporated important bits of
Thai history and in that respect the book might give the reader something
more than just a cool chill by the pool. Thailand is a wonderful country,
and there is no reason we shouldn’t educate each other a little on its
greatness. We are all visitors here, some permanent, some just passing
through. It doesn’t hurt to know where we are. Me, I wish I was here all
the time, and if my wife reads that she will probably ground me.”
He does regret that he couldn’t give Pattaya a better
and more positive part in his story, but that was dictated by the intrigue.
“The main character does not come to Pattaya to experience the numerous
reasons why this city can proudly call itself one of the best and most
varied tourist attractions in Southeast Asia. His brother is dead, you see,
and he wants to find out why. So his destinations had to be the darker parts
of the city. But I promise I will make it all up to you. Until then I hope
my readers agree with me in that Hanuman’s Maske, first and foremost, is a
book that celebrates Thailand,” said Yan.
Yan will be back in Pattaya at the end of March, and will
be signing copies and reading from his novel.
Hanuman’s Maske can be bought at Seaside Bar and
Restaurant in Jomtien Beach, Kon Tiki Restaurant in Jomtien, Nordic Garden
situated between Jomtien and Pattaya, Scandinavia Bar on Pattaya Beach Road
and in other well established Norwegian restaurants and bars in the area.
Early buyers can secure themselves signed copies of the book.
PILC Coffee morning at Little Hill
Many Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) members are
obviously enjoying themselves at the February Coffee Morning, held at Little
Hill Resort in Soi Khao Noi.
Sharon Tibbits, this year’s PILC presided over the
event, thanking members for their support during the recent Annual General
Meeting at Henry J. Bean’s and saying she hoped to have a good year with
the new committee.
Sharon announced that at the upcoming March Luncheon on
March 2nd at the Ocean Marina, the members would be
treated to an intriguing talk by guest speaker Susan Race. Susan, an
Australian who has been living in Thailand for more than 14 years, works
with a privat organization “Thailand Hilltribe Education Projects”
(THEP). She will share details about her fascinating time spent here in the
Land of Smiles.
The new Activities leader, Rosanne Diamente, urged the ladies to share
information about places they would like to visit and to participate in the
trips are scheduled.
Donations for the Camillian Center
Helping with donations
The Camillian Social Center in Rayong could not survive
without the donations of clubs and enterprises and its occupants would have
no chance to live without help. Father Giovanni Contarin, the center’s
priest of many years, warmly welcomes all visitors, guides them around and
explains the goal of this facility.
 Father
Giovanni Contarin talks to an unidentified German visitor, being surrounded
by HIV infected children at the Camillian Social Center in Rayong.
The center in Rayong is administered by the order St.
Camillian and was founded 1996. It is located in an area in Thailand with a
very high infection rate of HIV/AIDS. It takes care of the people who had
been rejected by society because of their disease.
In Rayong they mainly pay attention to patients where the
treatment had started too late and who are destined to die according to
medical standards of today. But there are also a few people who do not yet
have full-blown AIDS and they receive help with drugs to prolong their life
and make it worthwhile to live.
 Father
Giovanni Bonaldi of Verona, who has written a book in the Italian language
about the history of the 51 year-old order of Camillian.
Another main focus is support of orphans infected with
HIV who have lost their parents because of the disease. Currently there are
35 little ones between the ages of 4 and 16.
Great progress was made in the recent years concerning
the treatment of HIV infected people thanks to pharmaceutical supplements
which have the same composition as the expensive branded medicines, but
which are much cheaper because they are produced in Thailand. These
pharmaceuticals are produced with the approval of the Thai Ministry of
Health and are only for domestic use.
The care for 97 patients and 35 children devours 15
million baht yearly. That is why it is so important to use domestic
pharmaceuticals to cut down the costs, i.e. the price for a pill could be
lowered from 58 to 18 baht.
Father Giovanni explained that education about HIV/AIDS
is a very crucial issue. As part of a HIV/AIDS network in the southeastern
region, the center tries to enlighten the population by handing out all
kinds of information. They also try to recruit individuals who can spread
the news in the population.
Father Giovanni said, “Of course it is important that
we help the ones who already are HIV-infected or have AIDS. But nowadays,
and with the rapid spread of the disease, the prevention is much more
important. We must do everything to inform the people in order to stop the
spread of the disease. That is very expensive and we are thankful for each
and every baht we get. We hope and pray to God, that there will be more
kindhearted people who understand that and will support us.”
Father Giovanni Bonaldi of Verona has written a book in
the Italian language about the history of the 51 year-old order of
Camillian. He tells the following story: The first hospital of the order of
Camillian, which committed itself to care for the sick was opened 1952 in
Bangpong, mainly to care for the many lepers.
In 1955 the priests moved to Bangkok to open the San
Camillo hospital, which was sponsored by a rich Chinese. Here they took care
about the almost 200,000 lepers in the country. Finally in 1965 a village
just for lepers was built to make the care easier, because there had been
too many different medical stations in Thailand which had been difficult to
reach.
This leper village was a role model and many domestic and
foreign officials and visitors arrived to view it. Thanks to modern
medicines, the leprosy was contained in 1980. There were fewer inhabitants
in the village, because they had been helped to build up a new life in the
community.
From 1990 AIDS became acute in Thailand. The village was
converted to help those who were sick with the new disease. It has become a
Garden of Eden where many HIV-infected people live with hope and plans for a
future.
The center in Rayong was built in 1995, which initially
cared for only HIV and AIDS cases. Later orphans were admitted and a school
was built for them. But many attend public schools to be able to live a
normal life.
The order of Camillian is flexible and far reaching.
Besides the already mentioned establishments there is an old folks’ home
in Chantaburi and Sampran, a boys’ school and a priest seminary Sriracha,
an orphanage in Chiang Rai and in Bang Pong the San Camillo Hospital for the
lepers.
Needless to say, the order of Camillian is dependent on
donations as is other charitable organizations. Without that the priests
can’t help. Many donations come from Germany and Austria and there is a
little help from Caritas and Misereor.
Nevertheless it is still not enough. Thousand of AIDS patients need our
help. Many people infected with HIV would love to live a life worth living.
And most important of all, money is needed for prevention. You have now the
chance to do something really good. You can donate directly at the Camillian
Center or pay into the bank account of the St. Camillius Foundation of
Thailand, Bank of Ayudhaya Mabtaput Branch Rayong - account number
229-1-29336-3.
|
