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Sparkling visit for Austria’s “Father of Crystals”
Elfi Seitz
Stopping over in Bangkok and Pattaya on his way to China
was Gernot Langes-Swarovski, head of Austrian Tyrol-based crystals
specialist Swarovski, and renowned as the “Father of Crystals”.
Welcoming him to Thailand was Josef Aigner, head of ACD Thailand Co, a
company that makes objets d’art set with Swarovski crystal components.
 Josef
Aigner (right), head of ACD Thailand Co., welcomes Gernot Langes-Swarovski
to Pattaya.
ACD was established in 1999 and now has around 200
employees, many of them based at the workshops in Pattaya. The company
designs and produces its own brand Crystela art products, which it
distributes to more than 140 affiliated shops and boutiques throughout
Thailand. ACD artisans also set jewellery such as rings, earrings, necklaces
or dress adornments.
The secret is to weave crystals of any size into a hard
surface and to agglutinate them permanently. This is done using a patented
Swarovski technique, ACD being the first and so-far only company worldwide
to be allowed to use this method on a commercial basis. ACD craftsmen have
to undergo a three-month training course to learn the technique.
Many
pieces produced by ACD in Pattaya can be seen at the famous Swarovski museum
Kristallwelten in Austria, in the Tyrol.
Many pieces produced by ACD in Pattaya can be seen at the
famous Swarovski museum Kristallwelten in Austria, in the Tyrol.
Langes-Swarovski is the great-grandson of the founder of
the company, who had migrated from the former Czechoslovakia to Tyrol and
set up Swarovski workshops there in 1892.
On his visit to Thailand, Langes-Swarovski was accompanied by his wife
Eva, his daughter Diana, Alain Xaviver Meree, Christian Koidl, Kurt
Schwarzenberger and Chockchai Vulkuk together with wife and son. After
inspecting the ACD factory they celebrated their visit at the Royal Cliff
Beach Resort and at the Montien Hotel.
Lanna scholar back
in Pattaya for second time
Elfi Seitz
Professor
Penth and his wife in front of the Bali Hai patio at Siam Bayshore Hotel.
Back in Pattaya for his second visit is Professor Hans Penth,
one of the world’s leading specialists on historical manuscripts from the
Lanna era. Professor Penth, the author of many books about Siam during the Lanna
period, teaches at the university in Chiang Mai, a city he has made his home for
many years.
He first visited the Siam Bayshore Hotel in Pattaya last year. Now he and his
wife are back for a second relaxing visit away from grind of academic life, and
are resolving to come back on a yearly basis.
Spirits evoked in Dutchman Andr้’s beach house
Elfi Seitz
Dutch Buddhist Andr้ Machielsen has been living in
Pattaya for over 30 years. He loves the traditions of Thailand, and with his
Thai wife Tieuw and son Sam he observes the regular holy days and festivals.
The sacred
spirit house is adorned with offerings.
Every year, a “spirit blessing” ceremony is held in his
house on the beach. This is to pay respects to the deities and spirits of the
earth and ocean and is done by offering them beautifully decorated altars of
food and gifts.
On the day, the tones of classical Thai music played by
maholi musicians reverberated throughout the area, and inside, nine monks were
waiting to ask for Buddha’s blessings on the occupants and their friends
through chanting and prayers. At the end of the religious observances, the lady
of the house and her friends served a meal to the monks.
Andre
Machielsemn leads family and friends in the blessing ceremonies.
A surprise awaited us after refreshments: The medium
Chatparitta Dhammawatcharaphan, who is well known as being able to channel
different deities and spirits, was introduced. We watched as this beautiful Thai
lady with the aristocratic facial features fell into a state of trance. Then the
goddess Kali possessed her body and spoke through her. She predicted many things
for the attendees, and astonishingly she was able to describe aspects of each
person present that the lady as a person could not have known.
No one was quite sure how much time had passed since we sat down, but as our
session dispersed we were all deeply moved and full of hope that we could
participate in such an event again soon.
Colourful yai bua flowers can be made by anyone
Vase of
flowers made from yai bua material
Chatchanan Chaisree
Bang-On Naknual, of the women’s development group at
Village No 5, Pong sub-district in Banglamung, is an instructor in the making of
“yai bua” flowers such as ginger, lotus, orchids and roses.
She says it’s easy to do, but takes time and needs patience
on the part of the students. Basic materials are wire, plastic tubing, and yai
bua.
Prices start from 10 baht to over one thousand baht. The
market amongst individual households is not that large, she says. Most of the
flowers go to official functions organised by the district office or local
executive. Anyone interested can find out more by calling 07-1316431.
Butterflies
made from yai bua material
Nature and the art of interpretation
Monika Podleska exhibits at Art Café
Peter Nordhues
A new exhibition at Art Café features the works of Monika
Podleska, a German artist who takes her motifs from nature. Twenty-seven of her
paintings are on display.
Art Café owner Joe Stetten welcomed guests to the cocktail
reception on June 6 and thanked all the sponsors, who include Pattaya Mail
and Pattaya Blatt.
 Jo
Stetten introduces Monika Podleska before unveiling her masterpieces.
Monika Podleska, who has been painting for 30 years, grew up
partly in Norway which helped to nurture her love of the forms and colours of
nature. She and husband Eberhard moved to Pattaya in 1997, and many of the
pieces on display at Art Café were created here. Most of the works are water
colours, but there are some silk paintings amongst the collection.
“As a child and teenager I was never much interested in
art,” said Monika. “Only after I was married did I become interested. Then I
had a great opportunity to have lessons from a famous artist in Germany. Later I
went to other schools, to improve my style and learn some others.”
She goes with open eyes through nature. “I sometimes take
pictures of motifs and when I get into the right mood, I start painting them.
But I never just copy, I combine my own feelings about the object. On other
occasions I just sit amongst nature and start to work.”
Painting is not Monika’s only form of artistic expression.
She also makes pottery and creates porcelain dolls.
The exhibition at Art Caf้é is on until June 18. All
the paintings can be purchased. Monika’s piece “Anthurium” will be
auctioned, the proceeds going to the Camillian Social Centre in Rayong.
More info at Art Caf้é: tel 038 367 652 or email info@
artcafe-thailand.com
The
‘Anthurium’ will be auctioned off on June 18, proceeds of which will be
presented to the Camillian Social center.
Time out for an ice cream
Opening day proceeds go to Redemptorist Street Kids’ Centre
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Time Out Gelato Co Ltd opened a new outlet at Carrefour in
Central Pattaya on June 1, with Pinit Phoonsiri, Pattaya’s promotion and
tourism development chief presiding over the ceremony. Directors Avi and
Thanisorn Harnkobkul were on hand to serve up ice cream to the guests. All
income from opening day was given to Redemptorist Street Kids’ Centre in
Pattaya.
Pinit
Phoonsiri, chief of promotions and development of tourism in Pattaya, was the
official opening presenter. Directors Arvi and Kobkul donated all income from
the first day to the Redemptorist Street Kids’ Centre in Pattaya.
This homemade ice cream made its debut on June 14 last year, at Walking
Street. Customers took very quickly to the different flavours and styles of ice
cream that are made every day, along with the waffle cones, smoothies, and
pancake ice cream. The second branch was opened in Tuk Com in South Pattaya,
with the Carrefour outlet number three. The fourth will open soon at Central
Festival Center.
Charity Club
of Pattaya welcomes first platinum sponsor
The Charity Club of Pattaya has received its first platinum sponsor from
husband and wife team Louix Van Den Bergh of 4A Properties Real Estate situated
in Jomtien Plaza.
The Charity Gala Dinner and grand prize draw and auction
which will be held at the Dusit Resort Pattaya on Saturday October 1.
Ticket prices will be 1,600 baht. This will cover live
entertainment, a free bar and a Thai and international buffet.
All the money raised will be split between 3 charities.
Contact Christina on 095454185 or Malcolm 097441040, or email
chari tyclubofpattaya @ yahoo .com
EDITORIAL: Powerful incentive for saving energy
Suchada Tupchai
Over the years Pattaya has focused on tourism and numerous
activities to promote the industry. However, one subject that has disappeared
off the radar is that of creating new locations to attract new visitors and
capture a new market. This has been long talked about, but nothing has been
done.
Tourism promotion is the city’s responsibility but so too
is stringent and specific planning for long-term projects. Particularly welcome
therefore is the trial planting of mangroves at the beach end of Soi Naklua 12.
Here, between 20,000 and 30,000 mangroves are being planted in a desolate area
that can no longer be used as a beach. The results of the trial will not be seen
for at least three to six months, but it needs to be followed eagerly because
the aim is not only to reinvigorate the environment but eventually to create a
raised walkway through the area as part of an eco-tour programme.
A new
mangrove forest has been started in Naklua. Let’s see how it is progressing in
three to six months’ time.
Mangrove swamps in Pattaya are of particular interest because
the city’s natural resources and environmental conditions are constantly
changing. Commercialisation has taken to the forefront, with developing and
improving the local environment running a poor second. The paradigm must shift
and residents need to readjust their attitudes and take responsibility for their
own backyard.
The benefits of the project, should it be successful, are
substantial. If Pattaya can build on the success of the province’s efforts of
developing and maintaining a large mangrove area, extending on the established
but limited mangroves that already exist in this area, the city will have a new
place for visitors to wander through.
There are many obstacles but the project is new and time will
tell if it is successful, and as such create a new dimension for eco-tourism in
a city overflowing with development and construction projects. The main factor
in this decision is the human one: can people change their habits, take care of
the environment and contribute to improving marine resources which ultimately
benefit everyone?
The most important part is that we, as residents and visitors, join in the
efforts to improve our environment whether it is for commercial value or
otherwise. We are all relatively small by comparison to Mother Nature, but we
have all played our part in thwarting her efforts through our own practices. It
is time we gave something back.
The Bay Restaurant gets the nod from the Italian Embassy
Miss Terry Diner
In line with the Dusit Hotel’s forward moves, their
recently revamped ‘The Bay’ Restaurant received an accolade from the Italian
Embassy, being selected as the only Pattaya Italian restaurant to be chosen by
the embassy and the Italian Trade Commission to be part of their Italian
Culinary Week.
A little known fact is the influence on Bangkok (and
Thailand) which came from Italy. For example, Government House, Silpakorn
University and the Hua Lampong Railway Station all owe their design to Italians
such as Corrado Feroci, CarloAllegri and others including Giorgio Berlingieri,
the co-founder of Ital-Thai.
Of course Italian cuisine has also left its mark on the
world, and on Thailand too. To celebrate this, the Italian authorities decided
to select 14 restaurants to produce a culinary tribute to the ‘mother
country’, and I was fortunate enough to experience The Bay’s Italian Food
Festival, lovingly watched over by The Bay’s new Italian chef Maurizio
Menconi.
For lovers of Italian cuisine, this new chef has certainly
brought a new sparkle to The Bay, and if it is available, the spaghetti neri
alle cozze, vino bianco, pomodori, basilica e olio d’oliva (ink squid
spaghetti with mussels, cherry tomato, basil and olive oil) is superb, served
correctly al dente.
The Dusit is also now preparing its own ice cream and the
creamy deep dark chocolate is wonderful, taken with the Batasiolo Moscato
D’Asti Bosc DLA Rei dessert wine. Do try it! You will not be disappointed.
Pickles at PCEC
Carl Kull, the new part-owner of the Pattaya-based “Rancho Texas”, was
the guest speaker at the Pattaya City Expats Club at their regular Sunday
morning meeting recently.
Carl Kull,
the new part-owner of the Pattaya-based “Rancho Texas”, was the guest
speaker at the Pattaya City Expats Club.
Carl gave a special presentation he called, “How to be a
Pickle Tzar in Thailand,” incorporating a talk about setting up a food
business, or any other business for that matter, and getting the appropriate
government approvals. He emphasized that with the new regulations, inspecting
groups and various licenses it is almost the same as in the US.
But, more specifically, Carl introduced the members to the
various pickles and salsa that his company prepares.
In a fairly light-hearted presentation Carl explained the
development of the pickle industry and the differences in preference between the
European and American markets. He and his staff had very kindly prepared for
distribution to the first 100 attendees bagged samples of his pickles for
members and guests. These were made in two kinds: “hot and fiery” and
“sweet and fruity”. They obviously found favour among the members as more
than one jar was opened and eaten during the course of the meeting!
As usual there was an opportunity to ask questions of the
speaker. For more information about Rancho Texas: sales@ ranchothai.com or fax
038-716-920. You can buy the pickles at Best, Friendship, Belucky and Foodland.
For more information about the Pattaya City Expats Club and its regular
meetings and special events go to www. pattayacityexpatsclub.com
Albert & Susan Celebrate 55 years together
The Dusit Resort, Pattaya hosted a special party on Saturday May 21 to
celebrate the 55th wedding anniversary of Albert (aka Barney) & Sue Barnett.
The English couple has been coming to Thailand for many years and indeed regards
the Dusit as their second home.
Friends and family joined them for a wonderful dinner and
everybody sang the beautiful ballad “Love Me Tender” to mark fifty-five
years of wedded bliss.
 Albert
& Sue Barnett look great - hard to believe they are celebrating their 55th
wedding anniversary.
When asked what was the secret to such a long and happy
marriage, the jovial Barney, who is sometimes referred to as Captain Mannering
because of his striking resemblance to the character from the much loved BBC TV
series: Dad’s Army… His response was:
“Each day is a new day in itself, we don’t notice the
passing days. We are happy together and we respect one another and we love each
other.”
His Wife Sue added, “We are very different but we agree to
differ … you have to respect the differences.”
Jim Gardener, a very good friend of the couple, told us that
he met Barney & Sue about 8 years ago at the Dusit at which point Barney
intervened to say that he felt Jim was his long lost brother, “At the Dusit we
are part of a family as we have made many friends over the years.”
So it seems that the key to a successful marriage is to
respect and love each other and to recognize each other’s differences.
Happy Wedding Anniversary Barney & Sue and here’s to many many more in
the future.
German boatman
lands beautiful Thai woman
Elfi Seitz
Through the German company Asia-Dreams, 48-year-old boatman
Rolf Bach from Ochtendung near Koblenz met the beautiful Supart Bansuwan, 28,
from Thailand, and fell in love with her immediately. It took only three months
until the couple became engaged.
 Das
junge Paar mit Dieter Horray (Mitte), dessen Gattin die Chefin von Asia-Dreams
ist.
The engagement celebration took place at the German
restaurant Schweine-Dieter, because Supart is related to the owner’s wife.
Many friends were invited and the mood and food were very good.
The couple will soon fly to Rolf’s home country to get
married and spend their honeymoon on one of the two boats Rolf owns.
Two birthdays were celebrated together with the engagement: that of the happy
young bride-to-be, and the other of Oon, the cute little daughter of butcher
Karl.
Thinking caps on for the PILC Quiz Night
Gillian Thom
Pattaya International Ladies Club recently held its first
Quiz Night, generously sponsored by the Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa and
Four Winds International Movers.
Over 70 contestants put their brains into gear and
hilariously muddled their way through four rounds of testing general knowledge
questions. The evening had an “English Pub” theme and started with a
delicious buffet of pub type food, including fish and chips, steak and kidney
pud and the “World’s Longest Sandwich”! The draught beer meant that the
questions seemed to get easier as the night went on – and the level of noise
as the answers were pondered around the room also definitely went up.
The all-male
winning team Four Winds International Movers won beauty treatments from Estee
Beauty House.
There were 11 teams in all, and the overall winners were the
all-male (a first for PILC!) team from the co-sponsors, Four Winds International
Movers. Other winners included the Sore Losers, the Weakest Link, Tinglish (a
multi-national team from the Marriott Resort itself), Tip 2 Win, 5 Wiz + One and
the Global Thinkers.
The evening had been organized by several PILC members,
including Helle Rantsen, Rosanne Diamente and Gillian Thom and the event was
beautifully presented by the Marriott. Gillian, assisted by husband Andy, read
the questions on the night and kept the evening on a light note, and Rosanne had
sourced some excellent prizes for the top teams, including meals at the Marriott
Resort & Spa, Shenanigans and Casa Pascal, beauty treatments from Estee
Beauty House (rather bemusedly received by the gentlemen of the winning team),
pizzas from Pan Pan, and lovely lacquerware boxes from Kala๋ Art &
Decor.
Eggheads were not forgotten either, with wooden spoon prizes
being presented to the lowest scoring team – and hopefully all the teams will
come back to the next event to defend their titles.
PILC were delighted that the evening, as well as being great fun, and an
opportunity for spouses and working members to attend, also had the benefit of
raising over THB 60,000 for various PILC-nominated charities and it is hoped
that the event will definitely become a regular fixture on the club’s
calendar.
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