FEATURES
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Pattaya shops for charity at annual PILC Bazaar

A ‘vendor’s eye view’ of the PILC Holiday Bazaar

Lucky draw winners

Bruno’s 8th anniversary celebration

Shrimp doctor says fast diagnosis is key to keeping fishy friends alive

Marriott Resort & Spa organizes special “Turtle Care Initiative Trip”

Redemptorist Disabled Employment Center celebrates 5th anniversary

Pattaya shops for charity at annual PILC Bazaar

THE shopping event of the year

Brendan Richards

Pattaya is filled with shops offering bargains but the annual Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) Bazaar, held at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort on October 9, was THE place for shop-aholics. This is not purely for the bargains and early Christmas shopping to be had, but more importantly it’s held to benefit the region’s underprivileged children.

(L-R) Panga Vathanakul, Royal Cliff Beach Resort managing director, Sharon Tibbits, PILC president, Atchara Pachimnun, wife of the director general-department of provincial administration and Arlette Cykman jointly cut the ribbon declaring the bazaar open.

Organized by Arlette Cykman and her able team, the PILC Bazaar has made its place as one of the major events in Pattaya. Arlette welcomed vendors and early shoppers to the bazaar and outlined the benefactors of which the proceeds are to be distributed.

Helle Ransten (right), PILC Welfare chairperson explains the many projects that the PILC supports on the Eastern Seaboard to Atchara Pachimnun (back left), wife of the director general-department if provincial administration during the bazaar tour with Sharon Tibbits (front left), PILC president.

Atchara Pachimnun, wife of the director-general of the department of provincial administration, was the guest of honor in the ribbon cutting ceremony, along with Panga Vathanakul, Royal Cliff Beach Resort managing director and Arlette Cykman.

Sharon Tibbits (left), PILC president escorted Atchara Pachimnun,(center) wife of the director-general of the department of provincial administration and Panga Vathanakul, Royal Cliff Beach Resort managing director on a tour of the PILC Holiday bazaar, held in the hotel’s Siam Ballroom.

A tour of the Royal Cliff’s Siam Ballroom was carried out, as throngs of shoppers began to arrive. With everything from antiques to kids’ toys, to crystal and fine Thai silk, the brightly decorated ballroom began to fill with mums and dads, while the kids had their own space with games and movies on hand to entertain them.

The highlight of the day was the fantastic raffle draw with a multitude of prizes on offer, including air tickets to Australia, Chiang Mai, and Krabi (see results listed on this page).

The PILC Bazaar is one of the major events held in the region to raise funds for numerous charities. This year’s event raised funds for, amongst other things, a dental program for the Redemptorist Street Kids home. There were also many other beneficiaries (see sidebar), making this one of the most successful fund raising event on the PILC calendar.

(Above) A veritable shopping paradise for those looking for many unique items as well as taking the opportunity to get in some early Christmas shopping.

And with everything on sale, from antiques to zippers, and all under one roof, this truly was the shopping place to be.

PILC Charity Projects

Redemptorist Street Kids Home: November 2003, all the young people (122) were taken shopping to purchase a new set of clothing, followed by a party where everyone wore their new duds.

Staff training in first aid and essentials in personal hygiene for the young people at the home. Personal hygiene and sex education program for the young people at the home (4 workshops). The beginning of a dental care program for the children living at the home.

Vocational Training School for the Handicapped: From the proceeds of the Pattaya Guidebook written and published by PILC, 250,000 baht went towards the education program of the students.

Pattaya Orphanage: Personal volunteering of members to the Wednesday playgroup.

Eastern Child Welfare Protection Institution (Huay Pong): Staff training in first aid and essentials in personal hygiene for the young people at the home. Personal Hygiene and sex education program for the young people at the home (7 health workshops). Together with RLC, installation of gutters at the boys’ dormitory. Together with Jesters, Pattaya Sports Club and RLC, renovation to upgrade a boys’ dormitory and teaching the boys how to care for the buildings.

Protection and Observation Centre for Young People (Rayong): Continuation of the Bakery Project, selling products made by the girls in the vocational training kitchen. Personal hygiene and sex education program for the young people at the home (10 health workshops).

Fountain of Life Centre 2: Volunteers donate time to work for the gift card program. Together with the Jesters, support for the annual Christmas party for the children, and donation of gifts for the families. Financial support for the spring roll cooking program.

Chiang Rai Centre: Jackets for the girls.

Mercy Ministries Foundation: Scholarships for 15 children. Rice and other essentials for the people living in Pattaya slums.

Our Home: Donation of bedroom furniture for the dormitory.

Garunawyet (Home for disabled ladies): Party with the ladies and special luncheon. Volunteers donate time to work on Fridays with the elderly ladies.

Camillian Centre: Donation of funds towards HIV medicine for the children.

Schools: Support for 32 schools in the outlying areas of Pattaya for their libraries, with the donation of sets of encyclopaedias of their choice. Social Skills Enhancement Camp for 80 children for Pattaya Schools. 30 scholarships for the YWCA junior scholarship program.

North Star Library: Donation of children’s books.


A ‘vendor’s eye view’ of the PILC Holiday Bazaar

A long day on your feet

Dr. Iain

No doubt there will be a more full report of the very successful Pattaya International Ladies Club Holiday Bazaar (whew that’s a mouthful) in the Pattaya Mail, but this is a little different, being a ‘vendor’s eye view’ of the Saturday in the Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s Siam ballroom.

As my wife Som was running a table with her Chiang Mai orchid jewelry, bazaar organizer, the tireless Arlette Cykman, suggested that Som should have someone with her, to allow absenteeism for comfort stops and the like. So at least I knew my place – the Rest Room Substitute!

The evening before was spent in cataloguing the stock to be taken, and an early alarm was needed on the Saturday morning, as vendors had to be at the ballroom by 8 a.m. On the way to the venue, we realized we did not have any change, so two successive 7-Elevens were hit for small purchases and 1000 baht notes offered, with muttered (insincere) apologies!

You could tell the ‘professional’ vendors immediately. Their own trolleys, racks, big striped bags with their goods. Then there were people like us, with cardboard boxes precariously balanced as we unloaded and took everything into the ballroom.

Professional vendors also knew how much to charge for their goods. Novices like us left the price list at home and the Rest Room Substitute had to make another quick trip home!

By the time I returned, the PEACH car park was the only place available for parking, but this was swiftly done with much whistle blowing and I abandoned the car, not looking forward to the sprint to the ballroom. However, I had forgotten just how efficiently everything runs at the Royal Cliff, and there was the fleet of shuttle busses to deposit me right to the door. (Thank you Khun Panga Vathanakul!)

Since my wife was not in immediate or pressing need of a comfort stop right then, I was able to walk around and chat to some of the other vendors, complete with the Pattaya Mail Plus TV cameras. The range was amazing, and the enthusiasm infectious, especially when talking to someone like PILC president Sharon Tibbets (and I hope you did manage to sell all those Xmas crackers, ladies).

I was most impressed with the Rayong group’s bakery stall, the results of teaching some young girls who might have ‘lost their way’ a little, a worthwhile craft that will stand them in good stead later in life. Well done, ladies.

The Belgian chocolate man’s stand looked very tempting, and I went back a couple of times, but just missed Hillary they told me. Fortunately there was no champagne stand, or it could have been embarrassing for the Pattaya Mail!

I was very taken with Vivienne’s stall with the polished and hand beaten stainless steel platters, and the correct cheese knife. Unfortunately, by the time I got back to buy it, someone else had taken a fancy to it and it was gone. “Wait till next year,” said Vivienne!

There seemed to be a steady flow of customers all day, but somehow the “pros” all knew when to pack up, leaving the tyros still trying to find their cardboard boxes, but we all made it. I did check later and there was nobody left looking for that last sale.

A mammoth task in organizing, and I congratulate Arlette and all the PILC team for a great job in keeping all us unruly vendors under control!


Lucky draw winners


Bruno’s 8th anniversary celebration

Fredi and friends remember Alois Fassbind and Bruno Forrer

Miss Terry Diner

Bruno’s Restaurant in the Chateau Dale complex was the meeting place for the majority of Pattaya’s food connoisseurs last weekend. Or more correctly put, for the Pattaya gourmets who had managed to secure a reservation for an event that was booked out almost from the minute the date was decided upon.

That it should be a sell-out should have come as no surprise. Bruno’s Restaurant had been the ‘Gold Standard’ in Pattaya fine dining for many years, under the watchful eye of that fine gentleman Bruno Forrer.

With his passing last year, Pattaya lost one of its favorite sons, but Fredi Schaub, the ‘heir apparent’ did not let Bruno, or his memory, down, maintaining the fine dining restaurant, and then taking it to the next upward step with larger and more select premises in Chateau Dale.

It had become a tradition over the past few years for Bruno to celebrate the opening of the restaurant, which he had done with his dear friend Alois Fassbind eight years ago. As a frivolous concept, the cost of the meal was tied into the year of the anniversary, so the sixth was charged out at 666 baht, the seventh at 777 baht, and the latest, the eighth, being naturally 888 baht. This was something that Bruno did to thank his patrons (who naturally became his friends), by offering a superb set meal at a fraction of its ‘real’ cost. A thank you that Fredi Schaub has made a tradition.

As a feast, it was a splendid repast. Beginning with crabmeat and shrimp salad on a ragout of avocado, served with apple julienne, tomato and Balsamico sauce, how could it fail? By the time the diners were through the wonderful curry-scented chicken cream soup with fried ginger and chilli, everyone was reminiscing about the previous anniversary celebration dinners, with the anecdotes regarding Bruno Forrer’s dry wit being as copious as the food that kept on appearing. For me, whilst the NZ beef tenderloin, topped with cheddar cheese was wonderfully tender and flavorsome, the dish of the evening was a very special blend of flavors in the pasta timabale with a ragout of duck, sun-dried tomatoes and black Taggia olives.

As was befitting the occasion, Pattaya historian and MD of the Pattaya Mail, Peter Malhotra, said a few words, to remind all present of the history behind Bruno’s Restaurant, and the people who were to shape its destiny - the late Alois Fassbind, the late Bruno Forrer and the (very much alive) Fredi Schaub. Glasses were raised to their memory and a further glass to the future of Bruno’s Restaurant, now in the very capable hands of Fredi Schaub, a man that Peter whimsically called the ‘adopted son’ of Fassbind and Forrer!

As the guests began to make their way homewards, the talk moved on from the recollections of the past, to the celebration of the day and then to the anticipations of what Fredi and the entire team at Bruno’s Restaurant, will produce for the 999 baht 9th anniversary celebration! (I have made my reservation already!)


Shrimp doctor says fast diagnosis is key to keeping fishy friends alive

B. Phillip Webb Jr.

Kalasin - Ask any shrimp farmer in Kalasin or the surrounding areas who Nonti Junda is, and they will tell you she is known locally as the “shrimp doctor”.

Junda, 27, was born in a small village on the outskirts of Kalasin where her family raised seafood, so after finishing secondary school she decided to study marine biology.

Nonti Junda prepares shrimp for diagnosis at a nearby shrimp farm.

She thought a nearby province, with its long coastline, had the potential to develop its aqua-culture economy, which is why she returned home rather than staying at the university to pursue a career in teaching.

Her graduation thesis was “How to Prevent and Cure the Diseases of Catfish”. But, when she returned to Kalasin and heard about the outbreak of diseases in shrimp in a nearby province, she decided that was a more urgent problem.

Hauling in a few shrimp to be used in testing.

Junda, was immediately given the job of trying to improve the testing method which identified common shrimp diseases in the area.

This was not a simple topic, and until Junda addressed the problem, no one had tried to tackle it. Diagnosing (these types) of diseases was only being carried out in a few places, such as the Institute for Growing Aquatic Products up in Chiang Mai.

A number of methods were already in use to diagnose the diseases but they were too costly for the average farmer and took a long time, with a 12-36 hour wait for results.

Junda knew shrimp disease diagnosis needed to be fast, otherwise whole areas would be wiped out in a flash, and it needed to be affordable for farmers.

For these reasons, Junda concentrated on trying to improve testing methods by speeding up diagnostic times and simplifying the identification of diseases to prevent further spreading.

Junda spent many sleepless nights trying to perfect this procedure and in the daytime she visited shrimp breeding areas to select satisfactory shrimp samples.

Cutting shrimp membranes usually requires precision and precise machinery, but Junda had to do it all by hand.

At first, her limited experience meant Junda failed to come up with methods to pinpoint the common diseases.

But after trial and error, Junda built up the necessary skills to become known as the shrimp doctor who could give the fastest diagnosis of shrimp disease, clocking in at 15-20 minutes.

Junda said her thesis was not outstanding from a theoretical viewpoint, but it’s of great value to this province and Kalasin breeders.

“When I give an accurate diagnosis to the farmers, and help them raise a bumper crop, my joy is boundless. I want to do better because shrimp breeding has helped this province and my home town of Kalasin escape hunger and poverty,” Junda said.

Her diagnostic methods are currently being applied in several provinces as well as at the Chang Mai Fishing Encouragement Center.

Local farmers are reveling in the new method, as the cost of testing has dropped from several thousand baht to almost nothing.

Many farmers have attended the center to learn more from Junda about shrimp diseases, and most have spread the word throughout the region.

Junda’s efforts were recognized recently by the General Federation of Labor, which awarded her the prize for Women Creative Talents.


Marriott Resort & Spa organizes special “Turtle Care Initiative Trip”

Hotel Environment Action Month

Suchada Tupchai

The Marriott Resort & Spa, led by John Hogg, president of Environment Conscious Hospitality Operations (ECHO), organized a trip to visit the Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation Center in Sattahip. This was the Hotel Environment Action Month (HEAM) plan for September, which was also designated “Clean up the World” month.

Hotel guests, family and friends release young turtles into the sea.

Receiving a warm welcome from navy officers, attendees viewed a multimedia slide show of the center’s activities covering the main subjects of sources and remaining quantities of sea turtles. Then guests visited the incubating ponds.

John Hogg and hotel guests feed the sea turtles.

Officers at the center said they cultivate 2 types of baby sea turtles; the lays turtle and the hawksbill turtle. Right now they have about 4,000 turtles, which they will release in the ocean when they are 3 months old, many of which, when in their natural habitat, should live for about 15 years.

 

The hawksbill turtle population is decreasing.

The Sea Turtle Conservation Center, situated on the beach at Aircraft Headquarters and the Navy Coast Guard Department, was started in 1950. The process involves caring for baby turtles until they are old enough to release into the sea. The project is also visited by youngsters who are interested in studying marine biology and conservation.


Redemptorist Disabled Employment Center celebrates 5th anniversary

Recognizes support it’s received from the public

Suchada Tupchai

The Redemptorist Disabled Employment Center recognized the support of private enterprise during its 5th anniversary celebrations. Father Banchong Chaiyara, Redemptorist Foundation director presented certificates to 14 organizations and 6 former vocational college students for their outstanding work and support of the region’s disabled community, especially companies that opened their doors by giving them employment.

This year’s outstanding employees and their benefactors gather for a group picture.

“Today is our fifth year of operations and we celebrate the achievements and support of those who have helped the disabled community. Over the past 5 years we have helped 1,136 disabled people find work in various careers. A further 1,031 have gone on to further their studies and another 110 now work for themselves; that’s 2,277 people who have benefited from the scheme,” said Father Banchong. He also revealed that a great deal of financial support by means of a UK Community Fund was due to run out this year.

The discussion panel on ‘The private sector’s roll in society’ (l-r) Chanyuth Hengtrakul, Thongchai Wittayanukorn, Khun Suporntum Mongkolsawadi, Principal of the Redemptorist Vocational School for the disabled and Khun Wisa Benjamano, Inspector of the Ministry of Human Stability and Services.

The activities continued with a special show from the wheelchair dancers and numerous other exhibits of work and a video presentation on the work carried out by the center.

Figures from the Social Development and Human Services ministry reveal 8.1 percent of the population is in someway disabled (approx. 5 million). Of these, just 2 percent are employable. The remaining numbers are supported by their family and society in general.

Somchai Khunplome (left), mayor of Saensuk Municipality presents a plaque of appreciation to Rewat Ponlukin, Chonburi provincial administration organization deputy chairman.

Santsak Ngamphiches (left) presents a plaque to Thongchai Wittayanukorn, HR Manager of Union Footwear Plc for his role in supporting the physically handicapped.

Father Banchong Chaiyara (left) thanks Chanyuth Hengtrakul, advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Sports for sitting on the panel of discussion.

Thammanoon Kaewglar (right) is recognised as an outstanding employee of the Union Footwear Plc by Chanyuth Hengtrakul.

Pratheep Malhotra MD of Pattaya Mail joined in the discussions, giving his views on ways to help.

Father Banchong Chaiyara spoke on the center’s work.