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Indian community celebrates
India’s first Sikh prime minister
Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports conveys his good wishes
Members of the Thai Sikh congregation last Sunday
rejoiced and chanted special prayers at the Sikh “Gurudwara” (Sikh
temple) on Soi 17 in South Pattaya to congratulate and give blessings to
Manmohan Singh, the first Sikh prime minister of India.
 Pratheep
Malhotra assists Chanyuth Hengtrakul to cover his head in the proper
manner before ascending to the main prayer room of the Gurudwara.
Sikhs in India and all over the world feel extremely
proud of the fact that he has made history by becoming the first-ever
prime minister of India to belong to the Sikh faith.
To add to the happiness of the morning prayers,
Chanyuth Hengtrakul, advisor to the minister of tourism and sports,
accompanied by his wife Wilawan, paid an official visit to the Sikh temple
on behalf of Minister Sontaya Khunplome to convey the very best wishes of
the minister to the Sikh community on this joyous occasion.
 Chanyuth
Hengtrakul presents a bouquet of flowers on behalf of Minister Sontaya
Khunplome to Amrik Singh Kalra, head of the Sikh community in Pattaya.
In his speech to the Sikh congregation, Chanyuth said,
“Sontaya Khunplome, minister of tourism and sports, who is a Member of
Parliament from Chonburi, is aware that there are large Sikh communities
in this province and wants to share the happiness with all of you.
 Chanyuth
humbly bows his head at the golden altar bearing the Sri Guru Granth Sahib
(Holy Scriptures).
“He has asked me to represent him to bring his best
wishes to all the Sikh communities in Chonburi.”
Chanyuth went on to say, “Wilawan and I have been
residents of Pattaya for just as long as most of you and enjoy close
relations with many whom we consider to be our close friends. Both of us
feel especially proud to be received by you with so much love. We
recognize and value the Sikh community as one of the strongest pillars of
our business and social structure.
 A
Sikh devotee gives contributions as Gianiji Onkar Singh preaches to the
congregration.
“We pledge our support to you and will do our best to
help you further the interests of your good cause for the betterment of
all that we hold dear to our hearts, especially in your businesses and
your good work in our society.”
Amrik Singh Kalra, president of the Sikh Temple committee, thanked
Chanyuth and through him Minister Sontaya for their goodwill gesture. He
also gave the distinguished guests an insight into Sikhism saying,
“Sikhism is a progressive religion that was well ahead of its time when
it was founded over 500 years ago. The Sikh religion today has a following
of over 20 million people worldwide and is ranked as the world’s
fifth-largest religion. Sikhism preaches a message of devotion and
remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind and
denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all through
the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living
Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.”
Ragee
Minder Singh Jatha and his colleagues flew in from India to sing holy
songs on this special occasion.
Hundreds of Pattayans celebrate
Norwegian National Day
Suchada Tupchai
Hundreds of happy revelers, young and old, turned up in
Jomtien to celebrate Norway’s National Day, Norway style. National Day
is not only an important day for Norwegians, it is also Children’s Day
or “Barnas Dag” in Norway. School breaks on this day to let children
celebrate. Many entertainment and tourist places waive charges for
children. Fabulous parades from every town add to the day.
Oskar
Jorgensen (center, behind banner), Bann Sabaijai owner, leads the parade.
On May 15, Bann Sabaijai owner Oskar Jorgensen and his
friends kept with tradition and invited teachers and students from Bann
Sabaijai and people from Pattaya’s Norwegian community to celebrate the
upcoming Norwegian National Day (which falls on May 17).
 The
Norwegian flag was waved with pride.
The celebration started with a Norwegian style parade,
led by Oskar Jorgensen and with the beat being kept by the Wat Monkutkasat
School (Bangkok) Marching Band. Children from Bann Jingjai marched in the
procession alongside Norwegian nationals, friends and family, attracting a
lot of people along Jomtien Beach. The parade started at Jomtien Complex
and ended at Bann Sabaijai.
Also in keeping with tradition, activities and games
were provided for the children. The atmosphere was full of happiness and
there were smiles from everyone.
 Thailand
and Norway flags were proudly displayed in the parade.
The kingdom of Thailand and the kingdom of Norway have
had a long-standing relationship, which was established over 100 years
ago, and people of the two countries enjoy exchanging culture and
traditions.
Norwegian tourists appreciate the attractions and
climate of Thailand, whilst Thai tourism to Norway is very popular and has
been steadily increasing.
The mix of the two cultures was quite evident on May 15, as they were
melded into one, making for a memorable Norwegian National Day for all.
Oskar
Jorgensen makes a welcoming speech and reads a message from the ambassador
of Norway.
Virginia
and Eric Sorenson, and Jan Olav Aamlid enjoyed showing their national
pride and taking part in the parade.
Jan
Olav Aamlid (center) and Eric Sorenson (right) receive a bouquet of
flowers from a representative of Bann Sabaijai.
Thailand
and Norway friendship displayed for the world to see.
The
kids had a great time with their balloons and noisemakers.
The
unique Norwegian style of parade was brightened up by the national flags
and Thai flags.
Music
was provided by the Wat Monkutkasat School Marching Band.
Pattaya’s Sauber Club visits the Wanginsah kindergarten
Marliese Fritz
May 5 was the deadline again. Pattaya’s Sauber Club
president, Steve Ryser, his wife Toy, Hans and Porn Sybers, Jean, our
cashier, and Jim Tippawan (Vogt) with girlfriend, my husband Heinz and I,
were on the road in three cars.
The
children enjoy receiving a visit from farangs.
We all drove at different speeds, so we agreed to meet
at the hotel Ban Chian in Udon Thani, where Oi (Toy’s sister) had
reserved rooms for us.
The rooms for the super price of 800 baht, including
breakfast for two, were a pleasant surprise.
A monk
and caretakers of the kindergarten pose for a memorable picture.
The next morning we continued to “our
kindergarten”. Oi had got there beforehand and organized everything
perfectly. We had a warm welcome, good food and received handmade cloths
and cushions as gifts.
Naturally, we also had brought many presents, but the
most important one was the filter device with pump for drinking water,
which was paid from the Sauber Club’s welfare account.
A
little bit exhausted after the long drive Heinz Fritz, Hans Suhm and Steve
Ryser.
Not only the children, but everyone from the nearby
villages will benefit from it. Especially the old villagers, who came to
take home the “hom and wan” (the good smelling and sweet drinking
water). That was another important step for the better health of all the
residents over there and everybody - including us - is very happy and
thankful!
On the way back we made two stops: first at Toy’s
uncle, who had opened a small shop and then at her parents’. There we
discussed how people could participate in the help; it should not be that
we bring everything and they don’t need to contribute anything. It is
important to raise money for the children at the kindergarten. The
contribution of the state is not enough - it is only 3,000 baht monthly
for 70 children.
It is very important for us and the villagers that the
art of handicraft, which is made at home by hand on their looms and the
patterns which are handed down from generation to generation, should not
be lost! We have to think about something!
Happy and content, we returned to our hotel and over
dinner exchanged our impressions.
The next day we made a trip to Nong Kai, where they
were celebrating the 10th anniversary of the peace bridge to Laos.
Some of us already enjoyed some beers near the Mekong
River (gulp) while others went shopping (uff). The trunks of the cars were
totally packed.
All in all, it was a great experience which we wouldn’t have wanted
to miss and we are looking forward to our next trip! Perhaps before
Christmas.
Students have a peek into how your
favourite newspaper is put together
Neli Ivanova and Gert
Kark
Although school holidays are usually considered to be
all about sleeping late and entertainment, there are things one can do
that are both enjoyable and beneficial.
 A
printing press operator shows us how the machine works.
As a result of the “work experience” project of
Regent School teacher, Mr Martin O’Neill and Pattaya Mail
managing director, Mr Peter Malhotra’s cooperation, the two of us - Gert
Kark and Neli Ivanova, grade 12 students at the Regent’s School - got
the chance to spend four days at the Pattaya Mail newspaper office.
Our
teacher Martin O’Neill (far left) accompanied 4 students from our school
to a meeting of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya.
The initial idea was that we get to know the basic
principles of a journalist’s job and a business operating in Thailand in
general. The actual experience, however, provided an insight into various
aspects of producing a newspaper, which are a lot more than a reader would
think of while enjoying the pages of a new issue.
 Aoi,
Dear and Pui accompanied us on a most interesting visit to Pattaya City
Hall.
News is around us all the time, but it requires the
proficiency of reporters, the skills of photographers, the accuracy of
accountants, the creativity of web page designers and a lot more, combined
with cooperation and patience, to create a good “mirror” of the local
news.
We were welcomed by the friendly staff and introduced
to the basic organisational structure of the business. Eventually we got
to observe the work in the computer department where one can feel the
motivation and proficiency of the workers putting together the contents of
the new edition.
 Gert
observes how Boonsiri Suansuk arranges the pages as Neli scrutinises one
of the Pattaya Mail pages.
We also visited the printing section where
sophisticated technology continues the production process. Furthermore, we
got to experience the uniqueness of Thai culture as we went to the
Sriracha Rice Harvest Festival together with two of the reporters. We
learned a lot by talking to the employees who were ready to answer our
numerous questions and tell us about their experience as members of a
newspaper crew.
Police
Captain Yossawat Suwannoi enlightened us on the operations of the Pattaya
Tourist Police.
On the evening March 21, together with Mr O’Neill, we
were invited to attend one of the meetings of the Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary
Club held in the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel. We learned about the objectives
of Rotary. Actually it seems to be very much like the “adult” version
of the Round Square Organisation (of which the Regent’s School is a
member) which encourages students to be involved in service projects,
promotes internationalism, protects the environment and works for the
well-being of societies in general.
This work experience has increased our competence
greatly and it would be very helpful in the future as it links to school
subjects such as English, Media Studies and Business & Management.
We would like to thank everyone who made our stay at Pattaya
Mail so enjoyable, and particularly Mr Malhotra, who gave us the
opportunity to do our work experience in the most respected newspaper in
the region.
Wishing you all the best of luck, and keep up the tremendous success in
the future!
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