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The spirit of Pattaya shines through
Tremendous outpouring of aid for country’s south
Staff reporters
Over the past week Thailand has come together to help
the victims of Mother Nature’s fury. The tidal wave that have left over
150,000 dead throughout Asia and millions homeless has become one of the
world’s worst disasters in modern times.
 Sheri
Ferguson donates blood at the temporary Red Cross donation point set up in
a clinic on Pattaya 2nd Road very near the Grand Sole Hotel.
Pattaya’s community has joined the rest of Thailand
and the world in the outpouring of aid, especially for the victims in the
nation’s south, regardless of status or nationality.
Thai and foreign residents through various companies
and organizations have joined forces to provide help. One of the major
collection points has been the Sawang Boriboon Foundation in Naklua where
goods and cash have been collected and transported to those in need.
 As
details of the disaster were unfolding on the television, Pattaya
responded in many ways, including giving blood.
There also have been blood drives, as there was (and
still is) an urgent need for blood down south. The most sought after blood
type is “Rh Negative”, of any group (‘A’, ‘B’, ‘AB’,
‘O’), so if you have this type, please donate today. A bus from the
Red Cross Hospital in Sriracha, with nurses to do the collections, was
parked on Pattaya 2nd Road very near the Grand Sole Hotel last week,
working from small clinic located directly behind where the bus was
parked. Pattaya’s residents have responded well to the call for blood,
but there is always a need for more. If you were unable to make it there
last week, you may then go to Somdej Red Cross Hospital in Sriracha, tel.
038 322 157. Please, do your best to help, as this is an urgent &
necessary request to help the seriously injured people down south. You
just may help save a life.
The
Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa team donated food and survival kits for
the disaster relief.
Also, if you have any clean, usable used clothing,
towels, blankets, etc. you can deposit at a collection point in front of
Tesco/Lotus (North Rd. branch), opposite city hall, or any of the other
collection points set up around the city.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn commented, “Everyone is making an
effort to help those in the South and the response has been very good.
Various organizations and businesses have donated funds, food, clothing
and basic personal items. I believe that such outpouring of compassion
will encourage those facing difficulties, whether they are Thai or from
another country, to carry on.”
The
response was overwhelming - the Pattaya community can be proud of their
efforts.
Chanyuth
Hengtrakul (left), advisor to the minister of tourism and sports and Tawit
Chaisawangwong (right), city council chairman pitched in to the help Amrik
Singh Kalra (center) and Pattaya’s Sikh community help people in the
south.
Representative
from the Ice Suwan Resort Pattaya did their part.
Chatchawal
Supachayanont, Dusit Resort Pattaya’s general manager and his team do
their bit to help.
Pattaya’s
Sikh community, led by Amrik Singh Kalra, did their part to help.
Everyone
lends a hand to load the truck destined for the south.
Nearly
everyone pitched in to help the effort.
Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn and Dusit Resort GM Chatchawal Supachayanont help
load a truck headed south.
Anusorn
Puengngern, Big C North Pattaya manager and Jarat Thanitjumnun, Central
Festival Center manager hand over funds and items intended for the south.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn receives the donations to pass along to the
relevant authorities.
Representatives
from Redemptorist Vocational for the Disabled made their donations.
Pattaya mayor rallies support to help the south
Staff reporters
On December 28, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn called
an urgent meeting with administrators at city hall on how to provide aid
for those in the south of Thailand affected by the tidal waves. City
managers, department heads and private enterprise representatives attended
the meeting.
Robert
McInnes, ISS Group handed over a cheque to provide help.
“The loss is massive; the disaster is almost
unbelievable. No one would have thought it could happen in Thailand,”
said Niran.
The mayor went on to say that points have already been
set up around the city to collect donations of food, clothing and cash.
Collection points include the Surf Kitchen in Jomtien, on Beach Road at
Soi Chaiyrapruk, Larnpoh, Lotus North Pattaya, Lotus South Pattaya,
Central Festival Center, and Chaimongkol Temple on South Pattaya Road.
 Yodthong
Sriworaluk and representatives of Pattaya’s beer bars donated money to
the cause.
“Each station is equipped to accept all items and
Pattaya City will transport all items, with the help of the Sawang
Boriboon Foundation, to those in the south. There are also many points
operating to receive blood donations to help the injured,” said the
mayor.
Niran said he personally has donated 50,000 baht
towards the relief efforts and a number of organizations in Pattaya have
made contributions
Donation
points accepted money, food and clothing from those with big hearts.
Out of respect for the victims of the disaster and in
line with the central government’s wishes, Pattaya’s New Year Festival
was cancelled and instead transformed into a fundraising activity.
 Cindy
Burbridge and Byron Bishop pitched in with the donations.
“The prime minister called for cooperation to cancel
New Year celebrations. Pattaya City wishes to apologize to residents and
tourists but in light of the tsunami tragedies in Asia and in the
provinces of Ranong, Pang-Nga, Krabi, Phuket, Trang and Satun where many
people lost their lives and thousands more were injured, we felt we had to
cancel the festival out of respect for them,” said the mayor.
Burapa
Motorcycle Club, which donated many items, help load the truck destined to
deliver them to those in need.
On December 29, many local organization donated disaster relief funds,
handing them over to the mayor. Monies raised from the recent ‘Battle at
the Beach’ boxing match, held at Mike Shopping Mall were handed over.
Many of Pattaya’s personalities also gave much needed items.
Drop off clothing and footwear
at Kilkenny Irish Pub on Walking Street
Luckily for me I have the opportunity to try to do what
I can to help gather aid for the victims of ‘The Wave’. I was in
Patong Beach Phuket and saw the devastation first hand. I have a lot of
friends and acquaintances in Phuket who on the whole were very lucky.
There are, however, many people walking around with all they possess on
their back, these people need help urgently. Clothing and footwear is a
must so I am offering the Kilkenny Irish Pub on Walking Street as a drop
off zone to anyone who can spare any old clothes or shoes. We are open
from 11 a.m. until late every day so feel free to bring in whatever you
can. We will then transport these items to the south of Thailand as
quickly as possible.
Tim Rawlinson
General Manager
Jesters Care for Kids pitches in for tsunami
aid relief to Khao Lak and Phuket
Dear All,
The ever mounting despair and overwhelming feeling of helplessness in the
wake of this catastrophic tsunami is unbearable. Initially, we were led to
believe that donating funds from our Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive
2004 might not be appropriate unless we had some kind of control and
assurance that money given would indeed benefit the victims/survivors of
the tsunami, both directly and in entirety. However, now that Kevin and
other Jesters members are going down to Phuket with foodstuffs and donated
clothing, including the leftover Jesters Care for Kids T-shirts, we now
have an opportunity to render some help to these devastated people. We
also now have specific points of contact in both the Khao Lak and Phuket
areas, who can assist in the distribution of 200,000 baht that we have
chosen to give from our side, along with another 100,000 donated by other
individuals. Once Kevin is on site, he and I will liaise re where and for
what our funding will be most effective.
I am sure all of you feel the same that we must join in
the ongoing relief efforts for this escalating tragedy in our own
backyard. It is impossible to just stand by any longer.
Best regards and compassion,
Lewis Woody Underwood
If you wish to offer food, clothing, money, whatever
might be of assistance, you can do it online at www. care4kids.info or
email [email protected], or email Woody direct at lwu5.loxinfo.co.th
South Thailand Appeal Fund
Dear Editor;
We appreciate you allowing us through your columns to pass on our thanks
regarding the South Thailand Appeal Fund.
We, like many others, were very distressed by the
horrendous results of the Asian earthquake and after calling in the depot
on Soi Nernplubwan and seeing the efforts being made by the volunteer
police assistants organization, we wanted to do more. We asked if they had
drivers available and would allow us the use of their pickups and
microphones as we had an idea that both Thai and farangs enjoying
themselves in Pattaya would give a donation.
The first night we went into town for about 40 minutes
as a trial run and collected 11,600 baht. This gave us great encouragement
and with the help of Wanida, our housekeeper and translator, we were able
to organize more collecting boxes, a second vehicle and increase the
number of volunteers for the following evening. Two other expats who, like
ourselves, were eager to help, joined in: Ronny Vanschepdael and Serge
Blom from Belgium.
Many of you will have seen us around the bars and
restaurants in Pattaya and Naklua on the nights of December 30 and January
1 and we wish to thank you so much for your generosity. We were
overwhelmed with the response from you, and that includes all the staff
too. The total collected was over 501,000 baht, yes over half a million.
Many people were concerned if the money would make its way to the
devastated areas, but we can assure you that all the funds raised were
handed over to the chief of Nongprue and this was recorded by cable TV.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank
everyone concerned for their help, trusting us with the idea and most of
all your donations.
Ken & Sylvia Corley
A relatively quiet night as Pattaya sees in 2005
Staff reporters
In the wake of the tragedies in the south of Thailand
and throughout Asia, Pattaya quietly saw in the New Year. The city’s
cancellation of New Year activities came when the central government
called upon the nation to hold off celebrations as a sign of respect.
 The
New Year’s Dance Party 2005' at the Dusit Resort Pattaya with Khun-in,
well known for his roll in the Thai movie, ‘The Overture’.
Relative to past years, it was quiet in the city, with
many areas opting for smaller festivities, specifically along Beach Road
and in South Pattaya. However, life must go on, and since many of the
city’s hotels had scheduled activities and taken bookings months in
advance, they hosted their New Year celebrations, albeit somewhat low key.
Respect for the dead was duly given, but at times like
this, when tragedy is all around, sometimes the best medicine for the sole
is to try and forget for a short while, and many people tried to do just
that. Some felt that the hotels and entertainment places had given them
the best New Year present they could hope for, a chance to smile, and
something to smile at. Guests ate, drank and partied whilst being
entertained by an array of fireworks in the skies above.
 “The
Spirit of Asia” at the Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa.
The Dusit Resort Pattaya held a ‘New Year’s Dance
Party 2005' with a special appearance from famed Thai musician Khun-in,
well known for his roll in the movie, ‘The Overture’ (Homerong in
Thai). He graced the stage, playing popular music, and was accompanied by
numerous dance performances and special shows. The evening was enjoyed by
all as they celebrated the New Year.
At the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya it was a party under the
theme, ‘Music - The Magic of Life’ with a multitude of entertainers
and special magic shows on the stage in the middle of the hotel’s huge
swimming pool. Thai and foreign guests witnessed a magical light and sound
spectacular as they brought in 2005 with festive activities.
 Music
- The Magic of Life at the Hard Rock Hotel.
The Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa brought in 2005
with the ‘Spirit of Asia’ set in the hotel’s luscious landscaped
gardens as musicians took to the stage to entertain guests through the
night. A myriad of activities and lucky draw prizes were won by many
guests.
The Diana Garden Resort, North Pattaya held a gala
party and hosted many activities, as did the Green Bottle Pub at the Diana
Inn with their Countdown Party 2005. Tourists and residents joined in the
festive cheer.
Management
and staff at the Montien Hotel, led by managing director Achana Snitwongse
Na Ayudhaya, celebrate New Year’s Eve at a gala event and in grand
costume style, with a Treasure Island theme party alongside their Paradise
Garden Pool.
Despite not holding its usual New Year activities,
Pattaya City was beautifully decorated to usher in 2005.
In the latest development, the city administration,
which had planned the Pattaya New Year Festival 2005 at Bali Hai pier,
which was cancelled, as a result of the cancellation the city had to fork
out 1.3 million baht to the organizing company as compensation - on top of
the potential revenue lost by canceling the event.
One tourist who told reporters that he had come to
Pattaya to celebrate New Year with his family said, “We understand the
reason for canceling the festival as a sign of respect for those who lost
their lives in the south of the country. We will celebrate New Year in a
quieter fashion as a sign of respect for the tsunami victims.”
Whatever the case may be, Pattaya has willingly followed the
government’s suggestion.
Fun
and games at the Diana Garden Resort, North Pattaya.
Fireworks
over Pattaya Bay, taken from the Bali Hai pier.
Prefab housing headed south
On Tuesday (28 December 2004) while watching the
disastrous effects of the Tsunami were being viewed on the T.V. by Kevin
Fisher an idea formed in his mind to help. Kevin previously had made up
plans and costings for prefabricated, modular buildings to be made from
steel and other lightweight materials, but had never put his plans into
action. These designs would allow the buildings to be adjusted to various
sizes by adding more sections together to fit the requirements for each
requirement.
In the late afternoon Kevin called an associate of his,
Dave Doll of S.O.S. (Sea and Oilfield Services Co Ltd) and asked if they
could meet the following morning to discuss an idea that Kevin was
forming.
The
standard building (as shown in the photos) consists of 7 bays and is 18
meters long. The number of bays can be adjusted to meet the requirement
for each location.
Early on Wednesday Kevin and Dave met and the basic
plan was explained. Dave Doll, having worked in building remote area camps
and buildings for the past 25 years showed Kevin some other prefabricated
steel building frames that he had installed in the remote mountain tops of
Papua New Guinea earlier in the year. Both Kevin and Dave agreed that much
could be done to help the survivors and people aiding them.
The following day the two of them proceeded to the
fabrication yard and conferred with the owners and designers at the yard.
By the end of the day, production costs, time frames, production
capabilities and other relevant details had been worked out.
Due to the onset of the New Year Holidays, and lead
time to organize the necessary materials and funding, the target date of 5
January 2005 was set to commence actual production of the units.
Production of both types of buildings would commence simultaneously.
Kevin and Dave immediately started to contact various
organizations and agencies to help spread the word to fund and find the
most advantageous placement for the rapid deployment units in the disaster
areas. David Garred has volunteered to help organize and manage the
logistical end of the operations while Kevin and Dave work in the field
teaching others how to assemble the buildings on site.
With the input that has already been received from
various sources the plan has become a reality and the first buildings can
be delivered and assembled starting in the middle of January. Some
monetary funds have already been pledged and donated through various
charitable organizations.
The rapid deployment frame buildings that Dave used in
PNG will be the fastest to produce and set up in the disaster areas during
the first phase. These rapid deployment buildings are most commonly used
for medical facilities, kitchen and dining facilities, dormitories,
shower/toilet facilities, schools, office complexes, maintenance and
various types of storage areas.
David Garred is coordinating the logistical aspects for these rapid
deployment buildings through S.O.S. He may be contacted at +664 755 3100
or [email protected] or at [email protected]
BCCT Phuket Update - 3/1/05
A BIG thank you to all those that supplied clothing,
blankets and toiletries. There was a tremendous response. In all 10 loaded
pick-ups were sent to the central co-ordination point at the airport from
28th-30th December and one loaded pick-up was sent to Bangkok Nursing Home
on 31st December.
Thanks also to David Quine, Peter Gary and the staff at
the British Club (BC); the Bangkok Post; Virgin Radio; Business Day;
Mobile Vision; Sunbelt and any other organisation or individual that
circulated appeals. Finally, thanks to IDS Logistics for providing an
invaluable delivery service.
BC Chairman David Quine and I have been building up a
network of BC and BCCT members now in Phuket. The feedback we have is that
supplies are now getting through such that there is no longer an immediate
need for clothing, blankets and toiletries. We have therefore decided to
suspend collections at the British Club until a specific need is
determined.
Accommodation
The British Embassy and BCCT would like to thank all
those that offered home-stay accommodation for evacuees. The embassy now
has an extensive list and asks that anyone offering assistance in this
regard does not telephone the embassy mobile telephone number as given in
previous messages. Instead, if you wish to volunteer please contact: Thai
Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24-hour Co-ordination Centre for Foreign
Nationals on 02 644 7245 or 02 644 7249 or 02 643 5000 x5501.
Financial Donations
Many people have asked how they may make a financial
donation to the emergency relief effort in Phuket. Our current information
is the following:
H.M. The King’s Foundation (Rajaprajanugros
Foundation)
Currently donations can only be accepted via cheque to:
1034 Krungkasem Road, Khlong Mahanak, Pom Prab Sattru Phai Bangkok 10100,
Tel. 02 281 1902 , 02 628 3467 , 02 282 9595-6
Thai Red Cross
Name of Account: Thai Red Cross
Bank: Siam Commercial Bank.
Account No.: 045-2-88000-6
Type of Account: savings
Branch: Thai Red Cross
If you would like a receipt for your donation please
fax a copy of the pay-in slip to the Thai Red Cross at fax: 0 2252 7976
Alternatively, send an SMS to 4520000 with keyword
“rc” for donation to the relief effort. The service enables consumers
that have a DTAC, AIS or Orange subscription to make a 10 baht donation by
submitting an SMS with keyword “rc” to access number 4520000. The
consumer will receive a thank you message from the Thai Red Cross
confirming that the donation has been received. The service is now
publicised on the Thai Red Cross Home Page:
http://www.redcross.or.th/home/ You have to scroll down a bit on the page
to see. In addition, Red Cross publicises this service via TV and radio
broadcasting partners.
Thai Government Disaster Relief
Name of Account: OPM DISASTER RELIEF
Bank: Saving Bank
Account No.: 00-0025-20-014972-3
Type of Account: Savings
Branch: Government House
If you would like a receipt for your donation please
fax a copy of the pay-in slip to Goverment House at fax: 0 2281 4150 or 0
2282 3376
Standard Chartered Nakornthon Bank
Standard Chartered Nakornthon Bank has also made
arrangements to receive financial donations, through their disaster relief
account number 0002778899. These monies are being passed to the Thai
Government (Ministry of Interior).
Yours sincerely
Greg Watkins
Executive Director
The crisis in three dimensions
Dear Pattaya Mail,
The sheer loss of life is becoming biblical: 126,571
and rising, the official death toll here in Thailand just doubled
overnight as the reality of those reported missing, being found, is
turning against the odds. As I write this, 4,541 dead, almost half
tourists and half Thais, many of the Thais my colleagues in the
hospitality industry.
The offer of help and aid is pouring in, estimated at
more than US$1 billion following a ten-fold increase in the USA’s pledge
to US$350M.
The feeling of helplessness still prevails. As the
country quietly welcomed in the New Year last night, there was an
increasing uneasiness that things were becoming worse. The situation in
Bandah Aceh and Sri Lanka is almost nuclear in the scale of the
destruction. I fear more of the same will be found throughout the region.
The sheer size of the area of the disaster makes quick and urgent
assessments difficult. The changing daily death toll total is indicative
of just how difficult the authority’s tasks are.
Taking a step back from the up front, in your face
dimensions of the tragedy, is the more human perspective. One of hope,
unity, and as His Majesty King Bhumibol of Thailand said in his speech to
the nation last night, he asked that the good hearts of the Thai people
help the nation through this difficult time. It seems to be working. The
outpouring of help from the Thai people is staggering, the whole country
offering assistance, money, clothes and food in unprecedented proportions.
And what of the third dimension ... the future? More
difficult times ahead I predict, as the first batch of an already
escalating number of international cancellations arrive. More than 20
percent for my Bangkok hotel alone (representing over 2,000 room nights
for January) from overseas operators fearing disease. Cancellation of
conference and banqueting celebration parties add to the worry.
However, I guess we are lucky. We are not facing an
unfortunate future as many are in the worst hit areas. No - it will not
get any easier, but the work of the TAT, NGO’s, PATA, and the DMC’s in
crisis management and information sharing as been exemplary. For Thailand,
one of the more developed countries in the tsunami affected areas, the
hope of protecting jobs and the economy is to spread the message of
recovery and to counter the threats of disease and pollution with force.
That will take money, aid and manpower.
Above all this, we must maintain clear and concise
information on the extent of the damage. One excellent report I saw, which
was painstakingly compiled by a local DMC (calling each property and not
relying on hearsay), listed all hotels and resorts in the affected areas
and this was sent around the world to offer a comprehensive guide to which
resorts and hotels were closed and which were functioning normally. Of 245
hotels listed, 80 were shown to have closed due to damage. The most
numerous to be found on Phi Phi and at Khao Lak. In other words, almost 70
percent of the southern provinces hotels have remained largely damage
free.
For those wishing to receive more information on
missing persons or to pledge donations can seek information on
www.disaster.go.th or www.phuketcity.com
Andrew J Wood
General Manager
Chaophya Park Hotel and Resorts
A side of the tsunami disaster rarely seen
The Editor,
I spent many holidays in Thailand and work as an emergency nurse in Dubai
in Abu Dhabi at the moment, but still read your paper on a weekly basis on
the Internet.
In wonder and disgust I have been following the news in
Thailand and seen pictures as the tourists once again put on suntan lotion
and lie on the beach tanning. I understand that Thailand lives off
tourism. But I think it is disgusting that people can lie down peacefully
as if nothing has happened.
I was called on Wednesday at 10.30 p.m. for an
emergency escort of an airplane to Sweden. By 2.30 a.m. was at the airport
and we were quickly briefed about the situation on the airplane, before it
arrived at 4.30 p.m. Until the plane landed in Abu Dhabi, a doctor, who
was on the flight as a passenger, was taking care of the patients on
board. And although several days have already passed, since that day I am
still brooding about the situation that awaited us in that airplane.
The passengers had not been severely injured; some had
open wounds, small bone fractures and slight bruising. But the worst part
was their expressions. Their faces bore no expressions, only empty looks.
Some passengers suddenly broke out in tears for no apparent reason. The
airplane was so quiet it was a chilling feeling.
I have worked in a lot of evacuation procedures (Iraq,
Palestine) but what do you say to a woman who lost three children and
whose husband still hasn’t been found? Or to children who watched their
parents get washed away? I have still not found the answer.
I worked for over 40 hours, without closing an eye. For
me this was the worst experience I have had to take part in my life.
Maybe these words will get people to think a little
before they put on their sunscreen and lay at the beach to get a tan.
Nurse Brigitte Peetz
Abu Dhabi
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