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Pattaya witnesses largest ever local Khao Pansa candle procession

A farang’s look at Buddhist Lent

The Chaine visits the wine cellar of the Wine Seller

Pattaya witnesses largest ever local Khao Pansa candle procession

Ariyawat Nuamsawat

This year’s annual Khao Pansa candle procession, which delivers candles to Pattaya and Banglamung’s temples as part of the Buddhist Lent activities, saw the greatest number of participants to date.

Students, companies and shopping center representatives walked in the procession, which began at South Pattaya’s Chaimongkol Temple on Friday afternoon. The procession was also part of the upcoming HM the Queen’s Sixth Cycle Birthday celebrations. Over 44 different floats took part in the parade.

The procession, led by Banglamung Culture Council president, Surat Mekavarakul weaved its way along South Pattaya Road to Pattaya Beach, and along to the Dolphin Roundabout, delivering specially decorated candles to the various temples as part of traditional Buddhist Lent ceremonies.

The procession drew great interest from onlookers, both Thai and foreign visitors, as the colorful procession made its way through the city streets.

This year’s annual activities organized by the Banglamung Culture Council and Cultural Center included a candle competition, looking for the most highly decorated lent candles.

Monks use the candles throughout the three months of Buddhist lent to study the teachings of the Lord Buddha. The candles are a reminder of times gone by before electric power made its way to Thailand.

The procession was also part of the upcoming HM the Queen’s Sixth Cycle Birthday celebrations.

Long drums, cymbals, tambourines and just plain hand-clapping made for lots of fun for these participants.

The candle procession was solemn duty for both young and old.

One of the 44 floats that took part in the candle procession.

Beautiful young women representing the North took part in the religious procession.

A local school marching band added rhythm to the proceedings.

Colorfully dressed women perform traditional Thai dance during the parade.

The “E-Sarn Pattaya Association” was well-represented in the event.

A farang’s look at Buddhist Lent

Brendan Richards

Last weekend we had the beginning of Buddhist lent (Khao Pansa) preceded by Asalabucha Day. We have run numerous stories over the years on the event in the Pattaya Mail, but what does it mean, especially to foreign residents?

Thepprasat Temple is significant due to its glass tiled prayer hall. During the day it reflects the sun’s rays, making it a shining icon within the temple grounds.

Unfortunately, for many ‘farangs’ it can mean a disturbance to their regular libation at many of Pattaya’s bars and restaurants, much to the chagrin of regulars and business owners.

However, it is a holy time for reflection and prayer, similar to that of Lent in Christian societies and Ramadan in Islamic societies. Buddhist Lent, also called the rains retreat, is steeped in tradition and history. It is a time when monks reside in the temples and study the teachings of the Lord Buddha in their quest to relieve their bodies and minds of its wants. In essence, it is a time to recognize and be mindful of suffering through the ego, whether physically or mentally, and observe the impermanence of the human condition.

Pra Boonsong Juntima reflects before beginning his blessings.

So it was, prior to the actual day, I and my significant other and friends traveled to Wat Thepprasat in Sattahip to make our merit to the temple’s abbot, Pra Boonsong Juntima, aka Luang Po Eid. Some may remember the Pattaya Mail (Vol. 12, Issue 17) running a story on this temple following the discovery of ancient Sukhothai pottery, which was handed to the temple after it was found to be haunted.

Residents pray as the abbot blesses them for their good deeds.

We trundled to the temple in the morning, taking fruit and vegetables, joss sticks and candles (both regular and super-size). The large candles presented during Khao Pansa are reminiscent of the days gone by when Thailand did not have electricity and the size would enable the monks to read and study by candlelight for the entire three months of Buddhist Lent.

Pra Boonsong Juntima, Thepprasat Temple abbot lights the candles for Khao Pansa (beginning of Buddhist Lent).

One of our companions, a stately woman in her late 60s, relayed a layman’s view of Buddhist Lent. “The candles come from times when Thailand did not have electricity. However, Buddhist Lent has is origins in practicality. The rainy season is when many rice farmers plant their crops and to ease the burden of farmers, monks stay in the temple so as not to damage the crops. Bearing in mind that this was before we had a road system,” she said.

We presented our items to the abbot and in turn received blessings for health and prosperity.

In all the years I have resided in the Land of Smiles, this is the first time I have made merit for Khao Pansa. For me it was a rewarding and learning experience with some real people of Thailand. Providing you are open to all things and understand some Thai, an experience I recommend. Be well and prosper.

The Chaine visits the wine cellar of the Wine Seller

Peter Cummins

Yet another splendid event de La Chaine des Rotisseurs, under the guidance of Louis Noll, Bailli Regional de Pattaya, was a wine tasting of quite rare Northern and Southern Italian wines last week, at the exquisite vinoteque/wine cellar of Reinhard Murer, “Wine Seller Extraordinaire” - and MD of Foodcom - whose expertise was an added bonus to a splendid occasion.

“Wine Seller Extraordinaire” - and MD of Foodcom - Reinhard Mure’s expertise was an added bonus to a splendid occasion.

Reinhard hails from Southern Switzerland, only some 60 kilometers from the Italian border. Although that is a little far from Sicily’s incredible range of vini culture, Reinhard has a remarkable grasp on the wine industry - particularly the Italian. His intimate knowledge of the Casa Vinicola Firriato, established close to Trapani, capital of the province which has the biggest vineyards in all Italy, is astounding.

There were thousands of excellent wines, predominately Italian, but also spanning Old World and New World vintages.

It was an exclusive evening, with a group limited to just 20, in the most attractive and best laid-out wine cellar I have ever seen, containing thousands of excellent wines, predominately Italian, but also spanning Old World and New World vintages: Austrian, French, German, Spanish and Swiss in the former group, while Argentinean, Australian, Chilean, New Zealand and South African wines make up the latter.

It was an exclusive evening, with a group limited to just 20, in the most attractive and best laid-out wine cellar I have ever seen.

As one was seated among the elegant wood storage racks, the artworks and imbued with the good ambience of the cellar, it was hard to believe that one was actually at Soi 12 Naklua and would eventually step outside to the raucous sounds of Pattaya and not to the beauty of an Old World setting. Indeed, Pattaya always amazes me. Drive along a few back sois and one discovers something new: a first-class restaurant, a new boutique hotel, and, in this case, a “five-star” wine cellar that could be served with a most tasty array of Italian cheeses, cured Parma ham, stilton, mortadella and salami, on crisp baguettes, easily rivalling any bread I have had in France, the evening was more like a gourmet feast than just a wine tasting.

Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot blend (60/40), for the Camelot IGT, Sicily … this writer was seeing King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, right out of Camelot.

Maestro Reinhard led us through eight successive wines, starting with a Prosecco di Coneglio DOC Sparkling White, made from 100 percent Prosecco grape.

Then followed the first of the range of the Firriato house, a Santagostino IGT, comprising a Cattarratto and Chardonnay grape blend (70 - 30, respectively). This is described by the makers as hinting of flowers and fruits. The Cataratto grapes add softness to complement the Chardonnay’s stronger influence.

Reinhard then took us across the border into Austria for the only non-Italian vintage of the evening, sampling a “Noble sweet wine of Austria”, an Ice Wine from the Welschriesling grape. As we all know, any Reisling has a somewhat sweet taste.

A Brunello di Montalcino DOC-G Red (Villa Salvi, Biondi Santi) was next in the incredible line-up of wines most of us had never tasted. Grape: Sangiovese, 100 percent.

The Firriato vineyard was back with the next sampling which was a Santagostino IGT. Grape varieties were: Nero D’Avola 50 percent; Syrah 50 percent. A full-bodied red, deep in colour, it had an intense flavour, with a slight hint of spice and strong tannins.

By the sixth vintage, noting that some of these wines were ‘clocking in’ at 12 - 14 degrees, a number of the imbibers were slowing down somewhat - but not too slowly to savour the Harmonium IGT, Sicily. Grapes: Nero D’Avola, 100 percent.

The group, at that point, was truly harmonious, with the mellowness only such an evening can bring. The Harmonium, to this writer’s palate, was the best of the evening, with a nose portraying fruits and spices - a mature wine, with soft tannins, it lingered in the mouth.

Many of us were on some familiar “turf” - so to speak - with a Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot blend (60/40), for the Camelot IGT, Sicily. At this stage, this writer was seeing King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, right out of Camelot.

The Grande Finale was an Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC-G, with a blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes.

Thank you Reinhard and Louis for a truly memorable evening - once, that was, the memory did return!

The Wine Cellar has a comprehensive printed list of available wines, liquors and liqueurs and Reinhard is happy to welcome all wine lovers to visit his premises. Contact him at: The Wine Cellar, Soi 12, 555/32 Moo 5, Pattaya Naklua Road, direction of Garden Seaview Resort. Tel. 038-226054; fax. 038-226055; mobile 09-2059024; e-mail: [email protected]