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Dulwich International College lands on Koh Samui
The rumours are indeed true! Dulwich International
College will open on Koh Samui. The land has been purchased and the
architect is already busy creating the designs. The new school will reflect
all the qualities of Dulwich International College, Phuket and will open in
late 2005.
The great and continuing success of the Phuket campus,
where numbers are currently approaching eight hundred children, and the
expanding demand for places from within Thailand and overseas, has confirmed
the college’s belief that another campus would both broaden the appeal of
DIC and answer the needs of the population, current and future, of Koh
Samui.
The new school will be akin to a British Prep School,
offering classes for 3 to 13 year olds, from Kindergarten through to Year 8.
Older children will then graduate to the Secondary School in Phuket as
boarders to take advantage of the excellent academic and extra-curricular
facilities available there.
David Cook, the Headmaster, has commented, “In my
opinion our boarding facilities are second to none within the region. I
would add that they rival, and in many cases exceed, those offered in the
leading boarding schools of England.”
The new school will have a capacity of three hundred and
forty children. Boarding for Years 4 to 8 will feature prominently, as
primary boarding has proved very successful at the Phuket campus, where it
is close to full occupancy. Overseas students and boarders from other parts
of Thailand have been joined by a number of Phuket-based students boarding
on a weekly basis. This option will also be available for those living on
Koh Samui or, indeed, the nearby mainland.
An outdoor education centre is also planned. This centre
will include teaching facilities for outdoor, geographical, scientific and
environmental education, as well as facilities for training students in
pursuits such as kayaking, climbing, sailing, orienteering, and team
building exercises. Students at both Dulwich International College campuses
will have access to the OEC, a resource that will rival the best in the
region.
Dulwich International College continues its philosophy of opening minds,
broadening horizons and learning for life in environments that are perfect
for the growth and development of young people.
Victory goal for Fan Club Pattaya Bayern
‘Hat trick’ for the first official Fan Club of the FC Bayern Mnchen
Ralf
Buschhüter presents a lucky-draw prize to Marliese Fritz.
Elfi Seitz
Preparations for Holy Saturday were made well in advance.
Responsible for this event; Ralf, Leander, Thorsten, Claas, Hinne and some
others had been running around for weeks to look for nice prizes for the
welfare party in the Berliner Bistro in Soi Potisarn.
Since the football guys had made a spontaneous and very
successful collection for HIV-infected kids, it was always in their mind
that they could do some more. Typical of the Fan Club of FC Bayern, few
words were wasted, but their actions spoke volumes.
 Leander
Schalinski, one of the organizers and member of the Fan club Pattaya-Bayern,
... well, he smooches with a ball! There’s no limit to devotion for soccer
fans.
Wolfgang Bordt from the Berliner Bistro offered his staff
and his restaurant for free and even a suckling pig for 12 people as a
prize. His Excellency, the German ambassador had been phoned and he declared
himself ready to take over the patronage of this evening. It was agreed that
half of the money should be donated to Baan Gerda of the Mosbach family in
Bangkok, who also take care of HIV-kids.
More than 150 presents and prizes were collected, among
them an airline ticket to Phuket with hotel accommodations.
The company O.L. Wood Products from Bangkok donated four
new rocking horses on twists. But they were not part of the lottery and were
given directly to the children in Bangkok and Rayong.
Wolfgang
Bordt, owner of the Berliner Bistro, proudly holds up the FC Bayern Munich
soccer tricot.
Many guests, among them Theo Kreuzer from FC Bayern Fan
Club Hauzenberg, came for a cozy evening of food and drink, and to
participate for a good cause, because every penny (sorry-baht) was put into
welfare. The thousands of tickets sold contributed to the coffers of the
welfare fund. And the catchy slogans of Ralf Buschhüter, who was an
excellent distributor of the prices, had been a great help.
So it was no miracle that at the end of the joyful and
fun evening, the outstanding sum of 246,000 baht had been cashed in. This
money was distributed to the Mosbach family in Bangkok and to the children
of Father Giovanni Contarin of the Camillian Center. Thank you boys and
girls! Another job well done!
Jumbo Birdy joins in the fun as Hard Rock splashes out for Songkran
In the
morning, merit-making rituals were performed and offerings were made to nine
Buddhist monks.
Suchada Tupchai
A baby elephant called Birdy dazzled guests with tricks
like spinning rings with his trunk, water splashing and posing when the Hard
Rock Hotel Pattaya celebrated the beginning of the Thai New Year on April
13.
 A
child bathes a Buddha image.
General manager Andrew Khoo and the hotel staff organized
the annual celebration, which this year was held under the title “Splish
Splash Songkran”.
The activities were not only geared towards participation
by the hotel’s guests but also provided an opportunity to showcase
traditional Thai culture.
In the morning, merit-making rituals were performed and
offerings were made to nine Buddhist monks.
Later in the day, the hotel laid on games such as
banana-truck boat racing, hot aerobics, pan boating and cliff climbing at
the swimming pool.
Children and adults guests took part with lots of enthusiasm.
‘Will
I fall?!’
Birdy
dazzled guests with tricks like spinning rings with his trunk.
Children
are amazed by Birdy’s brilliance.
Horse riding for Beginners
Part 1 Mounting
by Willi Netzer
I guess I wouldn’t be wrong if I suggested that riding
a horse for the first time is for most people something very special and
fundamental. There are other first times, like riding a bicycle or motorbike
or even an airplane, all certainly challenging but none involving a sort off
‘unpredictable’ animal.
 70
years old and first time on a horse.
I do have the privilege of witnessing and guiding this
fundamental interchange of man and beast on an almost daily occurrence. It
is my intention to give a deeper understanding to would be riders of the
horse’s perception of man, of its predictability and submissiveness.
Going for a ride in Thailand, you will most likely have
the convenience of an already saddled horse. Saddling and bridling a horse
would be a subject of its own and I will certainly follow up. In any case,
it is a good habit to check if the saddle is tightened enough.
For correct mounting, we will position ourselves on the
left or nearside of the horse. We tighten the reins with our left hand, grab
them short somewhere close to the neck, not forgetting to include a piece of
mane as well. Including the mane has the advantage of not interfering
unintentionally with the horse’s mouth. A tight rein will prevent the
horse from walking on prematurely.
Getting the left foot into the left stirrup can be
difficult for certain people, including those with tight jeans or lacking a
minimum amount of fitness. But no worries, I get people in their 70s on and
off a horse.
After accomplishing this, find some support with your
remaining right hand, preferably somewhere in the middle of the saddle and
giving yourself a nice push with your left leg, getting the same over the
horse and yourself into the saddle. Sounds easy and actually it is with the
exception of a small minority, which appear to be only occupied with getting
on and off the horse.
You will probably have to adjust the length of the stirrups or perhaps
tighten the saddle girth once more. For your first ride, I believe, this
should be done by somebody on the ground. In any case you are probably busy
wondering what’s coming next or perhaps what does that horse think of me.
There is no reason to worry as long as you start at a proper place and make
sure you get a nice beginner’s horse.
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