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Thousands join in walk to honour Her Majesty
the Queen’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary
Queen’s Cup set in a place of honour as citizens celebrate
Suchada Tupchai
Over 3000 loyal subjects took to streets of Pattaya on
Saturday July 17, and in an atmosphere of pomp and ceremony, walked from
Bali Hai pier through Walking Street up, and Beach Road to the ceremonial
site in front of Soi 4 to mark the auspicious occasion of Her Majesty the
Queen’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary, which falls on August 12 this
year.
Provincial
and local administrators on stage, leading Pattaya in lighting candles to
honor HM the Queen.
Leading the parade was the Royal Thai Navy Marching
Band, followed by a specially designed ‘chariot’ bearing the highly
revered trophy, the ‘Queen’s Cup’, which for the first time was to
be awarded to the winner of the Pattaya marathon.
 Judy
and Bruce Hoppe were among the large number of local expats from charity
organizations who took part in the parade.
Chonburi Governor Pisit Ketphasook received Her Majesty
the Queen’s Cup from the guard of honour and placed it in front of a
huge portrait of Her Majesty. He then read out a report pertaining to the
purpose of the parade and the ensuing ceremonies leading the devoted
citizens in a pledge to her Majesty the Queen.
 Citizens
of all ages marched in honor of their Queen.
In his report the governor said, “The Province of
Chonburi as well as the organizing committee of the Pattaya Queen’s Cup
Marathon 2004, which includes Chonburi Province, Pattaya City, Tourism
Authority of Thailand and the Athletic Association of Thailand under the
Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, together with all the citizens of
Pattaya, are gathered here today in friendship and unity to express our
profound loyalty and gratitude for your mercy, kindness and love, that you
so graciously bestow upon your subjects without any discrimination of race
or religion.
 Thousands
of residents paid homage to HM Queen Sirikit over the weekend in honor of
her 72nd birthday celebrations.
“This year we mark the 10th year of the hosting of
the Pattaya Marathon, which coincides with the most auspicious occasion of
Your Majesty’s 6th cycle Birthday Anniversary. The organizing committee
are blessed by Your Majesty’s most gracious consent to present the
Winner’s Trophy bearing Your revered name thus calling the event the
“Pattaya Queen’s Cup Marathon” from this year onwards.”
Students
from the Redemptorist Vocational College for the disabled led the parade
of 3,000 people from Walking Street to Soi 4.
The governor then read out the pledge to Her Majesty on
behalf all Her loyal subjects. “On this auspicious occasion of joy and
happiness, I, on behalf of the organizing committee and the citizens of
Pattaya, humbly offer to you our sincere wishes of reverence and loyalty
with this pledge:
“We, your faithful subjects, humbly request your
permission to proclaim in harmony and unity that we will celebrate in your
honour and to offer you our sincere wishes and pledges of our loyalty to
you. We call upon the Virtue of the Three Gems including the power of all
that is holy in the universe to bless you with all that is sacred, good
health and spirits and a long life. May you be at the side of His Majesty
the King in His Everlasting Reign of Righteousness, for the Benefit and
Happiness of the Thai people. May you forever remain in our hearts and be
a shelter for the Thai people forever more.”
The crowd then lit candles and sang songs of love and praise for Her
Majesty the Queen. The ceremonies ended with the lights and sounds of
hundreds of fireworks that lit up the night sky.
Colours of the East draw tens of thousands of people to Pattaya
With a combination of sports and culture, Pattaya
experienced one of the grandest and busiest weekends this summer.
The four provinces on the east coast, Chonburi, Rayong,
Chantaburi and Trat, joined forces with the Tourism Authority of Thailand
(TAT) to organize 3 days of fun, sports and culture, not to mention a
chance to promote products from their respective provinces.
 Juthamas
Siriwan, Tourism Authority of Thailand governor and Sontaya Khunplome,
tourism and sports minister declared the Colours of the East festivities
officially open.
Sonthaya Khunplome, minister of tourism and sports said
in his welcoming speech, “This is an important step towards the positive
development of tourism and sport in our region under the guidance of able
provincial governors in their new capacities as CEOs, establishing the
modern government policies.”
 Sontaya
Khunplome, tourism and sports minister tries his aim at basketball.
The carnival-like atmosphere stretched all along Beach
Road, where many stalls were set up offering a cornucopia of cuisine from
seemingly every one of Pattaya’s restaurants and hotels. Other stalls
were set up to sell souvenir items and products from the 4 provinces. This
was also an effective method to promote the One Tambon One Product (OTOP)
projects that have become very popular throughout the country. For the
first time the people living in every tambon (sub district) were given the
opportunity to bring their produce out into the open market and receive
support from the government sector to help them earn a better living from
their sales.
 Runners
up in the Miss Thailand pageant in Pattaya are now serving tourism and
cultural ambassadors.
A gigantic stage was set up in front of Soi 4, where
musical shows and other fun activities were presented for the enjoyment of
the revelers.
Mrs. Jutamas Siriwan, governor of the Tourism Authority
of Thailand said, “The four provinces on the east coast are economically
vibrant, each in their own ways. Chonburi, which includes Pattaya, is a
province that has the infrastructure for world-class tourism and sports,
as well as commerce. Rayong and Chanthaburi are not just tourist resort
areas, but also have industrial potency comparable to major areas in the
world. Trat, on the other hand, is considered to be the ‘gateway’
province,” referring to the border adjoining neighboring Cambodia.
Jutamas also referred to Koh Chang which she believes has a very bright
future for tourism.
 A
mysterious running tap seemingly suspended in mid air at the Ripley’s
Believe it or not! booth on Beach Road.
TAT took extra steps to plan and promote this fun
weekend in Pattaya, including organizing tours from the northern and
northeastern provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakorn Nayok, Lopburi,
Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi and Cha-am. Tourists from these provinces were
brought to the various eastern provinces to take in the beauty of the
landscape and participate in sporting activities in a programme called
“Touring and golfing in the amazing and heavenly region of the east”.
A car rally was also organized to encourage people from all over Thailand
to travel to the ‘Delightful East’.
Other sporting activities during the weekend included the “Pattaya
Queen’s Cup Marathon” and the “Pattaya International Beach
Challenge” which included beach volleyball, beach football, X games and
fun runs.
Pattaya’s
newest tourist destination, Alangkarn took part in the weekend’s
festivities, running a booth on the beachfront.
The 4
Play Band from the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya provided some fun entertainment
over the weekend.
The
Bodywork Spa from Koh Chang, Trat, joined in the eastern region festival,
providing traditional Thai massage.
Rayong
communities performed colloquial dances and cultural displays for the
thousands of visitors last weekend.
These
lovely ladies were on hand to provide assistance and show off there smiles
to welcomes visitors to the activities.
Soothing
sounds of traditional musical instruments.
Skal Club of Pattaya hosts Asian area president’s visit
Bob Lee - President
Skๅl International
Pattaya & East Thailand
Skๅl Asian Area president Denis Bechard and wife
Joan were so enthralled with Pattaya on their first visit here, they
promised to return at the next opportunity.
How did they get here?
Whilst in Guam attending the Asian Area Presidents
Meeting, Bob Lee, president of the Skๅl Club of Pattaya and East
Thailand, along with Horst Hornung (PR – Skๅl Club Samui), took
the opportunity of inviting the Asian Area president Denis Bechard, who
hails from Mauritius, and his wife Joan (South African and secretariat to
the Asian Area) to visit the Skๅl Clubs of Thailand and especially
Pattaya. It took Denis and his charming wife all of 5 seconds to agree.
Thailand has always rated very high on their “unseen places to visit”
list.
Asian
Area Skๅl president Denis Bechard and his lovely wife Joan received
a warm welcome upon their arrival in Pattaya.
Denis and Joan arrived on Koh Samui on the morning of
July 2 in time to attend the foundation dinner and activities of Skๅl
International’s newest member of the fold, Club 679.
After the Samui celebrations Denis and Joan jetted into
Bangkok as guests of the management and staff of the Novotel Siam Square
for 2 days. Joan, like most women, did find time to visit quite a number
of shopping outlets and fill all the empty space that was left in her
suitcase! Then it was off to Pattaya with Bob and his wife Elmarie.
The Pattaya members really came out tops when Bob
requested that we host a few events for them whereby they could get to
meet as many local members and form some new Skๅl friendships as
possible in their short 2-day stay.
The always supportive Andrew Khoo, GM of the Hard Rock
Hotel, was generous in providing their accommodation and their “well
renowned” buffet breakfasts. Cocktails and photographs were the order of
the day at the Hard Rock Caf้.
Thanks also go to Khun Mee for escorting the group to
the dinner at the Dusit - as host Andrew had a previous business
commitment which he could not cancel. The hotel was “buzzing” and Joan
felt she could feel the vibrancy and fun of the resort.
Panga Vathanakul, managing director of the Royal Cliff
Resort, regally hosted a welcoming cocktail in the Piano Bar before
enjoying a feast of a dinner in the Grill Room. The menu was superb and
one that the Bechards will remember for a long time to come. A six course
menu was prepared and presented by head chef, Walter Theunich. President
Denis says he was so impressed that at times he was at a loss for words.
MD Panga drew up an interesting guest list and before
we knew it there were 20 diners all enjoying each other’s company and
swapping tourism information and amusing anecdotes. Malai, a Skๅl
International councilor and president of the National Committee was
another invited V.I.P. A truly wonderful experience for all.
The next evening the Dusit Resort had the honor of
entertaining the Skๅl Committee along with Mr. and Mrs. Bechard.
Also in attendance was Horst Hornung from the Skๅl Club of Samui.
This time the hotel’s resident manager Stefan Heintze
came up tops in providing an excellent meal in the popular Empress Room.
Each course was explained what its ingredients included, and each course
was saluted with ample amounts of great wine. The extraordinary Chinese
menu put together by Stefan was a wonderful surprise. The exotic dishes
did not stop coming – and the wine and chatting flowed freely.
The Dusit, as usual, excelled. Gifts and Skๅl
pennants were exchanged and Denis had the opportunity of once again
thanking everyone for such an amazing show of hospitality in a country
that had been to him ‘unseen’ up till now.
Then it was off to Bangkok for the last day of their
stay. The Landmark Hotel on Sukhumvit was their home for their last night
in Thailand. Yes - Joan did in fact find MORE time for shopping.
The last evening’s dinner was hosted by Bob and
Elmarie Lee at their apartment. A nice change to home-cooking - as hotel
meals had been the order of the day for the last 10 days. It was a weary
Denis who, at 3 a.m., said to Bob that it was time to make ready for their
departure to Malaysia and then home to Mauritius the next day. So with
heavy hearts they packed up their beautiful Benjarong – a gift from the
Pattaya Club, and headed off into the near breaking dawn.
But one thing is for sure ... “they’ll be baaaack”
– they loved every minute of their stay, and have promised to return to
Pattaya next year after the Asian Area Meeting, which is to be hosted in
Phuket during February, and at least one more time when they visit us for
the Skๅl World Congress being held in Pattaya in 2006.
The last word from the visiting president - without the quaint French
accent - “I would like to thank everyone involved for such an amazing
show of hospitality in a country, which to me had been unseen up till now.
You may rest assured that we will always have Thailand and Pattaya in our
thoughts and promise you that we are really looking forward to coming back
to this region to again meet up with our new friends. It goes beyond
saying that Pattaya has my full vote of confidence for the up-coming 2006
World Congress.”
Pattaya’s First English Language Newspaper turns 11
by Dr. Iain Corness
To continue to show its position as not only the ‘Best
in the East’, acknowledged by the media association for the 6th
consecutive year, the lengthy publishing history of the Pattaya Mail
shows that it is also the longest running weekly newspaper covering this
region.
Commencing 11 years ago, the fledgling newspaper had 16
pages. Now it has almost four times that number. As Pattaya has grown, so
has its newspaper!
Members
of the Jesters MC Matt Millen, Lewis “Woody” Underwood and Jeff
Paladeau stopped by to say thanks to MD Peter Malhotra and Dr. Iain
Corness, for the Pattaya Mail’s help with the Jesters’ Care for Kids
Charity Drive, and to wish the Pattaya Mail a happy 11th
Anniversary.
The first paper was produced by a small band of
enthusiastic workers, who shared managing director Peter Malhotra’s
vision. It was not an easy birth, however. The paper was put together in
Pattaya and printed in Bangkok, with one staff member travelling by bus to
the capital, with the pages for the printer under his arm. It was a wonder
that the weekly issue actually made it on time, but somehow it did.
As Pattaya began to see that it had a true weekly
newspaper that informed the people on the Eastern Seaboard just what was
happening in the area, its popularity burgeoned. Fridays became Pattaya
Mail days as businesses would stop to allow their people time to pour
over the latest issue of the Pattaya Mail. The old joke about what
is black and white and ‘red’ all over, could have been coined for your
weekly newspaper. It was ‘read’ from the front page headlines to the
last sports story on the back page.
Of course, the success of the Pattaya Mail
brought the imitators, and we take that as the most sincere form of
flattery. However, even though the Pattaya Mail is the leader in
readership (40,000 in Pattaya alone), sales, distribution and circulation
(over 280 outlets in Pattaya, 50 branches of 7-11, 100 outlets up and down
the Eastern Seaboard, 40 locations in Bangkok and another 50 in Chiang
Mai), plus the thousands of world-wide web network readers, your paper has
not rested on its undoubted laurels.
There are many facets to life in Pattaya, and your Pattaya
Mail will touch on them all. The news sections inform the readership
just what is going on, both from the municipal point of view, with our
editors being invited for information sharing sessions with city hall plus
the police news reports on some of the more nefarious members of the
community; the enlarged sporting section covers the local sports; the Mail
Market has 16 broad based sections with items for sale, jobs, business
opportunities, real estate and more, covering a dozen pages or more each
week. Automobiles, films, TV and book reviews are there too, and not
downloads from the internet, but reports of what is happening right here
in Pattaya.
With an English language newspaper, there are also
international reports covering the English speaking world from films,
entertainment and sports. International news is directed straight to the
editorial news desk from the prestigious Associated Press, with the Pattaya
Mail being an associate of the international news organization.
As the newspaper heads into its 11th
year, the staff has grown too, with some of the accredited experts in
their field writing for the newspaper. Peter Cummins, the only yachting
correspondent from Thailand invited to the America’s Cup in New Zealand,
being one of them. Experts in motivation write for the publication,
experienced doctors and psychologists inform the readers every week of
happenings in their fields, financial consultants help you keep your
money, a restaurateur’s reviews showing the places to dine, and even
Pattaya’s most famous (and most quoted) Agony Aunt Ms. Hillary is there
with her inimitable advice for the lovelorn.
With many service clubs and charities in Pattaya, the Pattaya
Mail covers them all, not just with a photo of an event, but with real
positive assistance and promotion where needed. The charities know that
even after 11 years they still have a true friend and ally in the Pattaya
Mail. Just ask the people who have benefited from the Jesters
Children’s Charity Fair!
However, one important aspect of the Pattaya Mail
has been its unwavering promotion of Pattaya and its tourist opportunities
to the world. In 2006, the world congress of the largest tourism
professionals group in the world, the Skๅl Club, is being held here.
The Pattaya Mail began lobbying for this event more than three
years ago and was present at the world congress in Australia when the vote
was taken, helping make Pattaya the most popular proposed venue for 2006.
The Pattaya Mail really is Pattaya. Now here for 11 years, and
the best is yet to come! The numerologists say that Number Eleven
possesses the qualities of honesty, sensitivity, and is idealistic. Others
turn to people who are ‘Eleven’ for teaching and inspiration. Everyone
at the Pattaya Mail, your Pattaya newspaper, hopes that this weekly
publication will continue to report honestly, with sensitivity, and uphold
its responsibilities of teaching and inspiration. Incidentally, the
colours for Number Eleven are black and white!
Well wishers applaud the “Best in the East” for its community service
Surapol Tiensuwan, Banglamung
district chief: “On the occasion of the Pattaya Mail’s 11th birthday
and on behalf of Pattaya residents, I wish you all the best and much
prosperity for the future.”
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Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Pattaya
mayor: “On this occasion of the Pattaya Mail’s 11th anniversary, I
wish you success and prosperity. The paper is a vital information medium
for the foreign community providing news and is a vital part of Pattaya.
All the best for the future.”
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Thanet Supornsaharungsi, PBTA
president: “On this occasion of your 11th anniversary, I’d like to say
that the Pattaya Mail is a valuable publication on the Eastern Seaboard,
not only by being the first but for its quality. I hope that the Pattaya
Mail will continue to grow and develop and you will continue your efforts
to report the news and maintain your high standards for a long time to
come.”
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Chanyuth Hengtrakul, advisor to
the minister of tourism and sports: “Happy Birthday Pattaya Mail.”
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Niti Kongrut, TAT director
Central Region 3: “On this opportunity of your 11th anniversary,
‘Happy Birthday to You’. The Pattaya Mail works with all local
government departments, whether it’s the city, TAT, traffic police or
immigration by informing both foreign tourists and residents on what’s
happening. May you continue your work as a bridge between Thais and
foreigners.”
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Pol. Lt. Col. Somchai Phongsai,
Pattaya traffic inspector: “As the Pattaya Mail turns 11 on July 23, I
wish you all the success for the future, to both management and staff. May
you be happy and prosper in Pattaya in the future.”
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Mai Chaiyanit, chairman of the
Nongprue District Administration Organization: “On the occasion of the
11th anniversary I’d like to say that the Pattaya Mail is a valuable
part of Pattaya in providing news in English to foreigners in the city and
a great benefit to the community. May you continue your efforts for the
city and in the community.”
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Malinee Sariman, YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya
president: “On the occasion of the Pattaya Mail’s 11th anniversary on
July 23, I wish you all the success for the future and may you continue to
provide valuable press coverage for the various associations in Pattaya.
The YWCA has always had the support of the Pattaya Mail and we hope to
have our continued support in the future.”
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Pol. Capt. Jirawat Sukondsap,
deputy tourist police inspector: “I wish the Pattaya Mail every success
and that you continue to report news in earnest to the residents of
Pattaya and serve the public well.”
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Sophin Thappajug, Diana Group,
managing director: “In the world of business, there is tough
competition, especially in Pattaya. The newspaper business in Pattaya is
not easy and for the Pattaya Mail team to reach 11 is a great achievement.
I wish you all success and encouragement for the future as you have
constantly looked after the city by providing a valuable service to the
community and we know you will continue to do so.”
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Sanit Boonmarchai, Pattaya city
councilor: “The Pattaya Mail newspaper is a part of the city, an
important voice for residents and reports on necessary issues in Pattaya.
I wish that you continue to walk alongside Pattaya and prosper greatly.”
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Amrik Singh Kalra, President of
the Thai Sikh Community in Pattaya: “The Pattaya Mail has become an
important part of our lives here in Pattaya. We have grown together and
shall continue to work together for the betterment of our community. I
wish the Pattaya Mail, many more years of success. Good luck and God
Bless.”
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Closing ceremony touts success of CARAT Thailand
By Lt.j.g. Todd Spitler, CARAT Task
Group public affairs
The Thailand phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat
Readiness and Training (CARAT) came to a close during a July 9 ceremony.
Nearly 1,400 U.S. Sailors and Coastguardsmen, along with 2,600 Royal Thai
Navy and Marine personnel participated in the exercise.
“CARAT Thailand was a safe exercise and tremendous
success thanks to the efforts of the U.S. and Royal Thai navies as well as
the planning teams,” Capt. Buzz Little, commander of Destroyer Squadron
One and the CARAT Task Group, told a group of about 140 U.S. and Royal
Thai Navy Sailors and officers, U.S. Coast Guardsmen, and Royal Thai
Marines, including the commanding officers of seven Royal Thai Navy ships,
who attended the ceremony.
 Capt.
Buzz Little, commander of Destroyer Squadron One and the exercise
Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Task Group, thanks Royal
Thai Navy Rear Adm. Tawewuth Pongsapipatt, commander of Frigate Squadron
2, for a safe and successful exercise following the CARAT Thailand closing
ceremony. CARAT is a regularly scheduled series of bilateral military
exercises with several Southeast Asia nations designed to enhance the
interoperability of the respective sea services. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief
Journalist Melinda Larson)
Sixteen ships, along with a variety of aircraft and
other units took part in the exercise, the largest bilateral event of the
year between the two navies. This year’s edition, the 10th, contained a
number of CARAT Thailand firsts.
“Our true success was earmarked through at-sea
exercises including, but not limited to USN and RTN aircrews safely
deploying and minesweepers hunting down two MK 62 ‘Quick Strike’
Mines, conducting amphibious evolutions culminating in a successful beach
raid, and providing highly interactive diving and salvage operations,”
Commodore Little said.
A
combined U.S. Navy and Royal Thai Navy task group; back row to front and
left to right, USCGC Mellon (WHEC 717), USS McCampbell (DDG 85), His Royal
Thai Majesty’s Ship (HTMS) Taksin, USS Salvor (ARS 52), USS Fort McHenry
(LSD 43), HTMS Phuttha Yontfa Chulalok, USS Russell (DDG 59), and HTMS
Rathana Kosin steam together in formation on the final day of the underway
portion of the Thailand phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and
Training (CARAT). (U.S. Navy photo by Aviation Maintenance
Administrationman 2nd Class Andrew Ayres)
A first for CARAT Thailand was the presence of two of
the most advanced platforms in the world – the Arleigh Burke class
guided missile destroyers USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS McCampbell (DDG
85). A highlight of the 10-day exercise was the underway phase when a
combined RTN/USN staff embarked in USS Russell (DDG 59) to exercise
command and control of the combined task group.
“The guided missile destroyers played a significant
role during CARAT’s tactical evolutions and benefited U.S. and Thai
Sailors and officers alike,” Little said.
The Thailand phase, which began June 30, is the third
in the five part CARAT series. CARAT Singapore was conducted May 31-June
11 while CARAT Brunei took place June 21-26. Other phases this year
include the Philippines and Malaysia. While each country phase differs
based on the desires of CARAT partners, the general focus is on
interoperability of sea services in areas such as operational planning,
command and control, tactics, logistics support and community service
projects. With the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (WHEC 717) a participant this
year, maritime law was also a focal point of the exercise and Thailand
phase.
“Accompanied by RTN Sailors and officers, the Coast
Guard cutter Mellon took part in highly interactive Maritime Law
Enforcement Training. RTN and USCG counterparts put their many hours of
visit, board, search and seizure classroom instruction to the test in
conducting a joint at sea boarding of a 70-foot Thai fishing vessel. This
training and execution demonstrates our navies’ commitment to not only
sharing information and situational awareness, but also the common goal of
securing international seas and channels of commerce,” Little said.
According to the Commodore, the tactical and
operational successes can only happen through the personal relationships
built during CARAT Thailand that will pave the way for the future.
“It was the personal interactions, professionalism,
and mutual respect that laid the groundwork for future generations of our
navies’ to enhance joint training and seamless interoperability,” he
said.
“The success of this year’s exercise is clearly
derived from the cooperation between Royal Thai Navy and U.S. Forces,”
said Rear Adm. Tawewuth Pongsapipatt, commander of the Royal Thai Navy’s
Frigate Squadron 2. “The cooperation is aimed to enhance both
individuals’ abilities and tactics in order to be able to work together
in all levels of military combined operations. Furthermore, it also shows
a good long lasting relationship between our two countries.”
The exercise includes a series of community service
projects, as well as engineering, dental and veterinary civic action
projects.
The U.S. CARAT Task Group, under the leadership of
Commodore Little, is made up of the U.S. Coast Guard high endurance cutter
Mellon (WHEC 717), the dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), the
guided missile destroyers USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS McCampbell (DDG
85), and the rescue and salvage ship USS Salvor (ARS 52). Other elements,
including an SH-60 Seahawk and P3-C Orion aircraft also took part in the
Thailand phase of CARAT. Royal Thai Navy ships that participated include
in part: His Thai Majesty’s Ships Phuttha Loetta Naphalai, Taksin,
Rattana Kosin, Surin, Thalang, Bangrachan, and Nongsarai.
Commodore Little’s staff is based in San Diego, as is USS McCampbell.
The cutter Mellon is home ported in Seattle. USS Russell and USS Salvor
are home ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. USS Fort McHenry is part of the
U.S. Seventh Fleet’s forward deployed naval force (FDNF) operating from
Sasebo, Japan.
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