HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Hundreds of thousands invade Pattaya for International Music Festival 2005

St. Patrick chased the snakes out of Ireland!

Rotarians celebrate 100 years of service to humankind

Red Ants

Young musicians to perform a Chamber Music Charity Concert at Horseshoe Point

Hundreds of thousands invade Pattaya for International Music Festival 2005

Estimated 2 billion baht injected into local economy

Pattaya Mail Reporters

Hundreds of thousands of fans from around the country and abroad piled into Pattaya for the Pattaya International Music Festival 2005 last weekend. Throngs of people lined the Pattaya Beach Road stage areas at Soi 5, Soi 9 and at Bali Hai to grab a glimpse of their favorite rock stars during the 3-day event.

Mayor Niran and Joey Boy, same style ... almost

The opening ceremonies took place at the Bali Hai international “World Box” stage on Friday evening, March 18.

Before the ceremonies got underway, Thai singer Tata Young took to the stage in a sexy jumpsuit, much to the delight of fans, and raised the mercury levels for red-blooded males. Tata Young has had a string of recent hits in Thailand and on the international charts. She sang numbers from her latest album “I Believe” including “Sexy, Bitchy” and the title track.

(L-R) Juthamas Siriwan, TAT governor, Somsak Thepsutin, Tourism and Sports Minister and Pisit Ketphasook, Chonburi governor open this year’s music festival.

Following the headlining set, honored guests Somsak Thepsutin, Tourism and Sports Minister, Juthamas Siriwan, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor, Pisit Ketphasook, Chonburi governor, Pol. Gen. Jongrak Jutanont, Region 2 police commander, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and city councilors took to the stage to declare the Pattaya International Music Festival open for 2005.

Japan’s Makoto wais to Thai fans.

“The Pattaya International Music Festival is another activity for both Thai and foreign visitors to attend and enjoy with plenty of fun ... This year we welcome a more international feel to the event,” said Somsak Thepsutin.

“There are many international artists from the Asian and European regions and big name Thai artists as well. We are all here for one reason: to enjoy music, and this can only benefit the image of Pattaya,” said the Tourism and Sports Minister.

Juthamas Siriwan, TAT governor, said during her opening speech, “TAT has spent 44 million baht on organizing this year’s Pattaya International Music Festival and we estimate that as a result an additional 2 billion baht will be injected into the Thai economy through fans of both Thai and foreign musicians.”

Blackhead’s vocalist Pu had fans moshing in front of the stage.

The TAT governor also said that they had projected at least a million visitors to this year’s event - although the final estimates were somewhat less than that - as part of the TAT’s “Happiness - no place like home” tourism campaign for 2005, aimed attracting tourists from around the globe to come back following December’s tsunami tragedy.

Following the opening ceremonies, Taiwanese superstar Ken Chu and the F4 band hit the stage to screaming fans, both Thai and Chinese, wanting to hear their favorites. The performance included a stunning guitar solo.

Taiwan’s Ken Chu from the F4 band wooed plenty of fans.

Alan Lo and Dylan Kuo, also from Taiwan, were next, and along with the sexy Baby VOX girls from Korea, entertained their fans leading in the first night of the festival.

The two larger stages, Peace Box (Soi 9-10) and the Love Box (Soi 5-6) cranked up the volume with both Thai and Asian stars playing to huge crowds. The younger and more volatile fans had the opportunity to chill and ‘mosh’ to big name Thai and Asian bands, including Potato, Zeal, AB Normal, Clash, Taxi, Big Ass, rapster Joey Boy and Gancore Club, Black Head and Labanoon. Hardcore fans mulled around the stages waiting for their idols to appear live and ‘get with it’.

Some of the artists hang out with Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Deputy Governor Pisit Boonchuang, Chonburi MP Chanyuth Hengtrakul, and others.

The very crowded Beach Road was closed to motorized traffic during the festival period, allowing people to walk around, looking at many of the numerous booths offering a variety of goods and merchandise in between concerts.

The sexy girls from Baby VOX.

As with any large event, there was also a more unpleasant side - but thanks to increased security and law enforcement officials who inspected everyone for weapons, incidents were kept to a minimum. Some fights did break out among drunken youths, but security quickly brought these under control and disbursed the combatants. There was also a number of pick pocketing crimes recorded this year.

Tata Young got everyone in the mood for a good time.

Medical personnel were also kept busy attending to many who fainted in the crush of the masses, and to the minor injuries due to scuffles that broke out - but by comparison, everything went fairly smoothly.

Pattaya’s roads and major arteries were, however, just as packed with autos as Beach Road was with pedestrians, as motorists from Bangkok and other provinces converged on the city to enjoy the weekend of music. Despite looking like Bangkok on Friday payday afternoon, traffic flow was slow but consistent over the weekend. Motorists, both local and from out of town, cooperated with the large amount of police and volunteers sent out to keep everything running as smoothly as possible before Pattaya returned to its less chaotic system on Monday.

“Senahoy” jamming with the song...

Hardcore fun with Big Ass...

Clash banged out some of their hits.

Teen favorites Alan Lo (right) and Dylan Kuo from Taiwan.

Nurses on duty were kept busy with the fainted and injured.

Thousands of fans turned out to see their favorite artists over the weekend.

There was plenty of fun away from the main stages with more live music on Beach Road.

St. Patrick chased the snakes out of Ireland!

But they all went to Australia and became policemen

Pattaya’s Irish pubs could not go past March 17th without “a wearin’ of the green” to commemorate the birth of the Patron Saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. All over the world, similar festivities marked St. Paddy’s day, with green hair, green beer, green faces, green shoes, green shirts and lots of people muttering “Begorrah, to be sure, to be sure!”

Amongst those in Pattaya who wore the green were Jameson’s Irish Pub on Soi AR and The Kilkenny Irish Pub on Walking Street. Special mention must be made of the maid from The Kilkenny, who made her own green outfit from 500 green plastic bags!

Part of the celebrations (probably the main part) involves not just wearing green, but also making plenty of noise, singing Irish ballads, telling improbable tales and getting uproariously drunk. This part was carried out to the satisfaction of all who could claim any ancestry to the Emerald Isle, and even more so by those who’ve never set a foot on the clover leaf hills of County Cork, County Down or Count me Drunk.

Fortunately, the next St. Paddy’s Day will not be till March 17th 2006, so we can all get our greenery finery together in plenty of time.

Woaw and Ron “Begorrah” Keeley can’t decide whether they’re orange or green at Jameson’s.

Special mention must be made of the maid from The Kilkenny, who made her own green outfit from 500 green plastic bags!

The smile and the hat say it all...

“A wearin’ of the green”

The good Doctor Iain O’Corness mutters “Begorrah, to be sure, to be sure!” whilst interviewing lively guests at Kilkenny’s.

Likely lads from the Emerald Isle and Harpic, ‘the lady from across the way’ were seen being interviewed at Kilkenny’s on Walking Street.

And the orange beards were a flowin’ down at Kilkenny’s on Walking Street.

Even the littlin’s can get a wee tired after running around on St. Patrick’s Day.

Ahh...a pint o Guinness for leprechauns Peter, Kim and Malcolm at Jameson’s.

Rotarians celebrate 100 years of service to humankind

District governor recognizes local clubs for their outstanding work in the community

Every year Rotary districts around the world organise a District Conference, which is one of the most important gatherings of Rotarians from not only the district but also from other parts of the country and the world.

Mayor Niran Wattasartsthorn welcomes Rotarians from all corners of the world.

The purpose of the conference is for Rotarians to meet in peace, fellowship and world understanding. Rotarians also learn more of the ideals and plans of Rotary. This is beneficial for all Rotarians give them more knowledge and create avenues for the opportunity to serve our community.

District Governors past and present and their wives cut the huge 100th anniversary cake.

With Pattaya being one of the most important cities in tourism and industry, it has now become a very popular site to hold conventions and seminars. Rotarians know this very well and look forward to making a pilgrimage here when the opportunity arises. Early this month almost 500 Rotarians from District 3340, which encompasses the Eastern Seaboard and the Northeast of Thailand, met at the Pattaya Park Hotel for two days of learning and fellowship.

DG Surat lauds the president and members of the Rotary Club of Taksin Pattaya.

District Governor Surat Buawan chaired the functions of learning and celebrations and Past District Governor Dr. Ruben G. Hensen from the Philippines was the special representative of Rotary International President Glenn E. Estess Sr.

President Orn-anong Siripornmanus and members of the Rotary Club of Plutaluang accept the DG’s special award.

Apart from the learning process during the two-day seminar, held March 5-6, the district governor took the opportunity to thank and present awards to outstanding Rotarians and Clubs in the district.

President Susiree Charnchailert of the Rotary Club of Pattaya accepts the DG’s award.

This year also marks the centenary celebrations of Rotary and thus made the event an even more meaningful one for the service minded people.

In his message to Rotarians allover the world, R.I. President Glenn E. Estess Sr. said, “Rotary Club members are ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things – sometimes through sheer force of will. Thanks to the Rotary Foundation of RI, Rotarians have provided more than $1.4 billion for service projects all over the world. Rotary supports the world’s largest privately funded international scholarship program and sponsors one of the world’s most popular youth exchange programs. We have been leaders in the global fight against polio, saving millions of children from this crippling disease. It is our birthday gift to the children of the world.

Martin Brands president of the Rotary Club Eastern seaboard receives his award.

“Few organizations reach their 100th anniversary, illustrating the tremendous need for Rotary over the years. But our centennial is not just a time to reflect upon our past accomplishments. It is also a time to look to the future, to set new goals, and to face new challenges. We must continue to dedicate ourselves to world peace, promote high ethical standards, and seek new opportunities for service.

Judy Hoppe president of the Jomtien-Pattaya club accepts the award for her club’s achievements.

“One hundred years ago, Paul Harris (the founder of Rotary) took the first steps on our journey of service. As we enter our second century of service, we must continue to evolve and grow as an organization. I encourage Rotarians to raise the bar and reinvent the Rotary wheel. With more than 1.2 million members in 166 countries, we have incredible potential to change the world.

A proud moment for President Nucharee Thanomsuksant of the Rotary Club of Sattahip.

“RI President James L. Bomar Jr. (1979-80) described Rotary’s founding fathers as the ‘builders of eternity.’ Rotary is truly ageless in that its legacy lives on through millions of people who have benefited from our project and program. Let us Celebrate Rotary by creating a better world and better future. The next century holds even greater – and greater promise.”

Red Ants

Ian Frame

I was startled by a sharp needle like pain at my stomach. Tearing open my shirt I discovered the cause of my discomfort to be a red ant (mot daeng) with its jaws locked onto my flesh like a pair of pliers. I eventually managed to persuade my antagonist to release me, but the smarting lingered for the rest of the morning. I was amazed that something so small could produce so much pain.

Since my painful awakening I have become more aware of the large number of ants living in my surroundings.

This rogue ant had probably dropped down the back of my neck from an overhanging tree branch. I suspect that my ant may have been voted out of its arboreal community for displaying aggressive and antisocial behaviour.

A number of large trees on Jomtien Beach have recently been felled to make way for what appears to be large lamp posts. This tree felling exercise displaced quite a few red ant colonies which had been living in the trees. As I watched, ant eggs, leaves, and other insects were being carried off in ant columns to other trees in the vicinity.

The ants appeared to be constructing a home by folding this leaf into a clam like shell.

Apparently ants can carry 5 times, and pull 25 times, their own body weight. I tried photographing some of these displaced ants, but standing still for too long resulted in them mistaking my legs for tree trunks. The contractors who were sawing the fallen trees into logs appeared to experience similar problems, and could be seen performing elaborate Highland Fling like dances to shake them off.

I was amazed that something so small could produce so much pain.

A few days earlier, following a strong wind, I had observed a group of red ants crawling over a large leaf on the footpath. The ants appeared to be constructing a home by folding this leaf into a clam like shell. I watched in wonder as they used their strong jaws to clamp the sides together. On another day I watched a red ant army foraging over a car headlamp - where presumably some dead flies had been sticking. Other insects make up a large part of the red ants diet.

The ants store formic acid in their bodies and use this for protection (this is the same acid found in nettles). Some rural communities add these ant juices to food as a lemon substitute. And I understand that the red ant larvae are a delicacy in Isaan - where they are eaten with onions, garlic and chilies.

Since my painful awakening I have become more aware of the large number of ants living in my surroundings. According to one Web site I visited, Thailand has more than 800 ant species.

Those wishing to know more about ants can visit the Ant Museum at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Kasetsart, Bangkok. The museum boasts more than 100,000 specimens of ants preserved in alcohol. There are also more than 10,000 dried specimens, including 512 types, 87 families and nine sub-groups from Thailand, and 150 types, 65 families and 10 sub-groups from other countries.

Young musicians to perform a Chamber Music Charity Concert at Horseshoe Point

The Horseshoe Point Resort & Country Club, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) proudly present a chamber music charity concert by the Hong Kong Academy String Quartet on March 27, 2005 at the Horseshoe Point Resort and Country Club beginning at 6 p.m.

Dechopol Kowintaweewat, a 16-year-old violinist who is a scholarship student at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, is bringing 3 of his Chinese colleagues to create a String Quartet Chamber Music concert tour in Thailand with the objective of helping the tsunami victims.

This promising string quartet has performed throughout Hong Kong and will be making a concert tour in the USA this coming summer. The concert’s program is set for 3 masterpieces by great composers, which are String Quartet (Quinten) by Joseph Haydn, string Quartet No.8 by Dmitri Shostakovich and String Quartet by Maurice Ravel.

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts has been established for 20 years and is known as the best performing arts school in Hong Kong. HKAPA has been a great supporter of young Thai musicians for the past 10 years and is sending this string quartet to perform 3 concerts in Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chonburi and Bangkok).

Ben Craft, dean of music at HKAPA, has set the objectives of this tour as:

- To assist in the re-establishment of education opportunities and the re-building of lives of children affected by the calamity.

- To mark the gathering of children, youths and families in sharing through music, “From children to children and for children”. Everyone can participate, whether you are music player or music lover. We could also term this “From music communities to affected communities”.

- To raise funds from selling tickets and receiving donations, without cost deduction. Funds will be delivered through sponsored organizations.

- To encourage tsunami victims to continue their lives and realize that among the worldwide assistance, there is a small group of music students who are deeply concerned and put much effort into this huge matter.

The String Quartet will perform at the Horseshoe Point Resort and Country Club on Sunday March 27, 2005 at 6 p.m. in the Svennas Ballroom. Tickets are 300 THB for adults and 150 THB for students. All proceeds go to help tsunami victims in the South of Thailand. For more information and to order tickets, please contact the Horseshoe Point Resort and Country Club 038 735 050 or email info@ horseshoepoint.com

Musicians Profile

Dechopol Kowintaweewat - Violinist (16 years old) - Dechopol has studied violin since the age of eight and is now enrolled in a certificate program at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts on a full music scholarship.

He has participated in several master classes with various professors, i.e. Prof. Michael Ma (Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts), Moshe Murvitz (Israel Philharmonic), Ho Wing (Beijing College of Music), Maestro Alberto Lysy (International Menuhin Music Academy, Switzerland).

He was selected to attend Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra as an observer in Verbier, Switzerland, which is the result of Y4Y Music Festival 2003 at Horseshoe Point.

Gui Li – Violinist (20 years old) - Gui Li was admitted to the Wuhan Conservatory of Music and continued her education there until September 2001, when she was awarded a full scholarship to study at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in the certificate programme. Gui Li has won several prizes and scholarships, and has been on tours with the Academy Symphony Orchestra to the UK, Austria, Italy, France, Thailand, Vietnam and Bangkok.

Yang Fan - Violist (19 years old) - Yang Fan joined the ShenZhen Youth Chamber Orchestra, and was admitted to the ShenZhen Arts School in 1997. He was admitted to the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2003 and is now finishing his diploma. He studies under Professor Wang JiaYang.

Xiong Yin - Cello (19 years old) - Xiong Yin was born in Shanghai into a musical family. At the age of nine, Xiong Yin was admitted to the primary school as a full-time music student.

Xiong Yin has already obtained many distinguished achievements, most notably second prize of the Youth Division in the Fourth National Cello Competition of China in August 2000, also winning the Best Performance Award for a set-piece in the same competition.

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