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PILC Annual Christmas Bazaar 2005 - bigger and better than ever
Gillian Thom
The Royal Cliff Beach Resort was once again the setting
for the popular Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) Christmas Bazaar,
held as usual in October to give community residents the opportunity of
some early shopping for festive gifts.
 Arlette
Cykman (left) and Atchara Patchimnun exchange pleasantries before the
opening ceremony.
The bazaar this year was bigger and better than ever
before in many ways - with more vendors, more attendees, a larger variety
of products for sale, and a record-breaking amount of money raised for the
PILC’s various charities.
The day started with an official opening by Atchara
Patchimnun, wife of the permanent secretary to the minister of the
interior, who then accompanied the president of PILC, Sharon Tibbits,
around the stalls to see the large array of items displayed. There was a
well-utilised kids’ room, where various activities were organized for
the little ones, and the children had their own painting competitions with
prizes of books for the best pictures.
 Atchara
Patchimnun officially opens the event.
Many of the PILC ladies had been working hard the day
before to cover the enormous amount of legwork that goes into the running
of a successful event, and they were hard at work again on the day itself,
keeping to a strict schedule overseen by Dinie de Vries, volunteer
organiser.
The raffle raised a large amount of money this year,
ably administered by Judy Clausen, with record ticket sales and a host of
prizes donated by many of the businesses and companies around Pattaya who
regularly support this event.
The vendors went to a lot of trouble to make their
displays look enticing, and their efforts seem to have been rewarded, with
several stalls already booking their places for next year.
 PILC
President Sharon Tibbits welcomes everyone to this year’s bazaar.
“We are delighted to announce that the final figure
for cash raised is over THB 460,000, nearly 112,000 baht more than last
year,” said Sharon Tibbits, president of PILC and a member of the Bazaar
committee. “It has been a huge team effort, but it is always worthwhile
when we hear nice comments from happy shoppers, and at the same time, to
know that we are able to put something back into the community. We would
like to say a very sincere thank you to all the sponsors and vendors, to
the staff and management of Royal Cliff Beach Resort, to the hard-working
volunteers from PILC, and of course to everyone who came along and shopped
on the day!”
Finally, a big Thank You to our main sponsors: Volclay
Siam, Judie Payne, Pattaya Marina Rotary Club, and Transpo.
Atchara
Patchimnun talks with Georgina from the Chameleon Centre.
(L to
R) Arlette Cykman, Atchara Patchimnun, Sharon Tibbits and Panga Vathanakul
cut the ribbon to ceremonially open the 2005 PILC Christmas Bazaar.
Helle
Ransten explains some of the PILC’s welfare projects to Atchara
Patchimnun.
Sharon
Tibbits shows Atchara Patchimnun around the exhibits.
Rungratree
Thongsai (left) helps fit a young miss with a pretty earring as Elfi Seitz
(right) and Nic Demet look on.
Happy
faces at the World Vision stall.
Bronwen
raises funds for North Star Library.
Happy
shoppers inspect the local handicrafts.
Dr
Iain Corness from the Pattaya Mail has a laugh with Harinder Pal Singh
from Sher ‘E’ Punjab restaurant.
Hundreds,
perhaps thousands of items were on sale.
Elfi
and Chitra ponder their purchases.
Rosanne
and Joan proudly display Christmas Crackers hand made by the PILC Crafts
Group.
Pattaya International
Ladies Club’s Welfare Projects 2004-2005
Redemptorist Street Kids Home:
* Dental check up program for 160 kids
* Counselling project for girls
* Shopping trip for 140 kids (one full outfit+ shoes)
Fountain Of Life:
* 5 Health workshops
* Food parcels for 200 families
Garunawayet Home For Disabled Ladies:
* Parties for 170 women
Our Home Quilting Project:
* New windows
Scholarships (Mercy Centre):
* For School Number 7
* Kao Bai Som
North Star Library:
* Thai Children’s books
Redemptorist Organisation:
* Organic vegetables garden (Pattaya Farm), in cooperation with
Jomtien Pattaya Rotary Club
The Training Centre In Rayong:
* Establishment of art workshop
* Renovation of girls toilets
* Bakery project (training centre), in cooperation with Rayong Ladies
Circle
Rayong Emergency Shelter:
* Construction of a new (second) emergency shelter, in cooperation
with Jesters Care for Kids and Pattaya Sports Club
Kindergarten in Pattaya:
* Cupboards
Helping Hands (helping Tsunami victims):
* Milk program
* Lunch program
Banglamung Boys Home:
* Renovation of dormitory for young boys, in co-operation with Laem
Chabang International Terminal and Jomtien Pattaya Rotary Club
Fountain Of Life (Women’s Centre):
* Kitchen project
Chonburi Emergency Centre:
* Construction of a second shelter building and new canteen, in
cooperation with Pattaya Sports Club and Jesters Care for Kids.
Kao Bai Sci School:
* Physiotherapy assistance for handicapped children
PILC Holiday Bazaar 2005
Raffle Prize Winners
1 Anantara Resort Chiang Rai 2 Nights Stay/1 day
Elephant Training Ralph Wragge 0073
Massic Travel 1 Airline Ticket
2 Samui Palm Beach 2 Nights Stay Reina Rances 2629
3 Krabi Pimalai Resort 2 Nights Stay A. Fnis 3914
4 Phaophya Park Hotel (Bangkok) 2 Nights Stay Ingrid 4927
5 Phaophya Park Hotel (Samui) 1 Night Stay Mr. Chai 1621
6 Shangri La Hotel (Bangkok) 1 Night Stay Anne Ribbins 1078
7 Pattaya Emporium Gallery Art Sculpture Liz Shepherd 0558
8 Kalae Decor 10,000 Baht Voucher Michael Cromwell 0624
9 Cabbages & Condoms (Pattaya) 2 Nights Stay Jakob Fnis 4120
10 Amari Watergate (Bangkok) 1 Night Stay Sheila Bagnell 0799
11 Amari Airport (Bangkok) 1 Night Stay K. Somchai B 0375
12 Royal Cliff Beach Resort (Pattaya) 1 Night Stay Siegfried 1799
13 Dusit Hotel (Pattaya) 3 Month Gym Pass Rungthip 0977
14 Royal Cliff Beach Resort (Pattaya) 1 Night Stay Pam Sepoton 0536
15 Marriott Hotel (Pattaya) 3 Month Gym pass Paul Brown 2785
16 Casa Pascal Dinner for 2 With Wine Harvinder Narang 3289
17 Casa Pascal Dinner for 2 With Wine Judy Hoppe 0484
18 Casa Pascal Dinner for 2 With Wine John Rainey 2928
19 Bruno’s Dinner for 2 With Wine Narinut 2538
20 Central Gems 3,000 Baht Voucher Susan Farrar 4570
21 Cabbages & Condoms Dinner for 2 Christian Gilbert 3201
22 Thai Bijoux (Mr. Chai) Earrings Judy Clausen 4828
23 Amari Orchid-Henry J. Beans Dinner for 2 Kutio 1688
24 Amari Orchid-Henry J. Beans Dinner for 2 Judy Clausen 3794
25 Woodland Resort Hotel Dinner for 2 Nuanoi 0292
26 Marriott Hotel Dinner for 4 Chris 5529
27 Dusit Resort Dinner for 2 Elke Franke 5042
28 Marriott Hotel Dinner for 4 Napaporn 2524
29 Top Shop 2,000 Baht Voucher Anne Ribbins 0029
30 Ocean Marina Dinner for 2 Suwiter 2690
31 The Beauty House Spa Treatment Kavita Singh 5541
32 Hard Rock Hotel 1,500 Baht Dinner Voucher Shan Jansgard 4679
33 The Beauty House Spa Treatment Phan Seekiew 0288
34 Hard Rock Hotel 1,500 Baht Dinner Voucher Helle Rantsen 3880
35 Aquanauts Diver Dive Package Leo Song 1386
36 Greenway Golf 6 Lessons Wananong 0591
37 Royal Cliff Beach Resort Dinner for 2 Mats 0108
38 Pan Pan 1,000 Baht Voucher Ellen Jackson 2845
39 Cliff Spa Spa Treatment Margaret Grainger 1299
40 Pan Pan 1,000 Baht Voucher Dr. Paiboon 2553
41 Art Cafe 1,000 Baht Voucher Helle Rantsen 4113
42 Estee Beauty Salon Massage Khun Jariya 0287
43 Indian by Nature 500 Baht Vouchers (2) Helle Rantsen 0287
44 Jim Thompson Sharon Tibbitts 2114
45 Art Cafe 500 Baht Voucher Julie Instram 4642
46 Salon Simone Spa Treatment Francis Leader 4933
47 Bookazine 3 Novels D. R. Nunn 2476
48 Estee Beauty Salon Spa Treatment Gulati Narinder 3265
49 Salon Simone Spa Treatment Judy Clausen 3812
50 Jim Thompson Kylie Grimmer 4274
Life begins at 40
Life begins at 40, or so said the banners at the Hard
Rock Hall of Fame when ESC’s Steve Graham threw Pattaya’s biggest
birthday bash to celebrate his 40th.
Steve Graham is managing director of ESC (Thailand) Ltd.,
the premier security and communications company, with branches in
Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and Phuket, and to say that Steve is one of our
hardest working entrepreneurs would be no exaggeration. To see an
opportunity and capitalize on it has been Steve’s life, starting very
early. Even at school his entrepreneurial flair became apparent. The school
used to organize bus trips to the ice skating rink, using a small mini-bus
to take interested students. Steve organized his own trips, selling the
concept so well that he ran 15 trips using 50 seater coaches, eclipsing the
school’s efforts and eventually putting over one thousand pounds in his
bank account. He was 15 years old!
 That
Steve also knows probably the widest cross section of Pattaya would not be
exaggerating. The guest list confirmed that, with vehicles outside in the
car park ranging from Mercedes Benzes and BMW’s to Harley Davidsons and a
lone Suzuki 125, which was hoping to turn into a Harley one day soon.
Literally hundreds of people turned out to celebrate with
Steve and his family, and the line-up of well-wishers was the largest that
the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya’s Hall of Fame, has probably ever seen. Since
Steve Graham is a man who has helped hundreds of local people and children
with his donations to charity (Steve and ESC were the principal sponsors of
the PC Classic Regatta and then dipped his hand in his pocket to add to the
donations with another 50,000 baht at the dinner, and also in Udon Thani,
Steve and ESC have several ongoing charity projects in the region, including
sponsoring a village there and supplying the local school with computers).
Looking after the glitterati was Roland Nikolic from the
Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, ensuring that everything and everyone was happy.
“Can do” being his motto, and he ‘can did’ superbly, conjuring wines
out of the air to keep those propping up the bar in a happy birthday state,
including John Richards and son Brendan.
But it was a birthday, and a boomer of a one at that, with a Rock ‘n’
Roll birthday cake being produced during a rousing rendition of “Happy
Birthday”, where Steve showed his prowess as a swordsman, cutting the cake
with a gilded sword. Birthday presents and wishes came from everywhere, and
the spread of food that was laid on, was fit for royalty. With a live band
keeping everyone’s feet tapping, the night proved that Steve Graham sure
knows how to throw a party. We are all looking forward to his 50th!
Steve
cut the cake to mark the “beginning” of his life (or was it the end of
the old one?).
Steve
Graham and his lovely wife Jeab made sure that all had a full glass in their
hands and that all had a good time drinking what was in the glass.
Pol.
Capt. Jirawat Sukonthasap (left), deputy tourist police inspector, and
Police Colonel Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai, superintendent of Pattaya
Immigration were also seen enjoying the party.
All sang
happy birthday to Steve in several languages and in several melodies.
Rob
Scarr, MD of Image Limousines says Happy Birthday to the birthday boy.
Happy
Birthday Steve from Jeab.
Hundreds
of Pattaya celebrities turned up at the party to wish Steve a happy 40th
Birthday.
Wine Club: A gourmet treat and a cultural journey through Alsace
Peter Cummins
Being a man of little culture myself, I was always of the
impression that the dreaded Alsations, beast requiring the utmost caution,
were descendents of the infamous wolfhound and came from somewhere near
Alsace.
Last week, however, my own misconceptions were laid to
rest and, in fact, canines - any kind of canines - were far from the
thoughts of members of the Royal Cliff Wine Club who were introduced to an
incredible array of the some of the world’s best wines: the viniculture of
Alsace, in the Eastern region of France bordering on Germany.
 Thierry
Fritsch waxes lyrical at the Alsace wine/Thai food match.
It was a very different evening from the numerous wine
tastings held during the year, organized by acknowledged wine expert,
Ranjith Chandrasiri, deputy managing director of the Royal Cliff, who is
also the founder and president of the Royal Cliff Wine Club.
Presented by Thierry Fritsch and Chalie Amatyakul, the
evening was a workshop on the “matching of Alsace Wines with Thai food”
– an epicurean journey into the treasure trove of one of France’s prized
viticultures.
Under the most informative and knowledgeable guidance of
Thierry, who insisted that he comes from a long heritage of “wine
producers” - and not “wine-makers” - a packed house at the Royal Cliff
evening, mixed and/or matched seven vintages of Alsace wines with a variety
of spicy Thai food. Tokay Pinot Gris 2001, Pinot Blanc de Blancs 2004,
Riesling 2003, Pinot Blanc de Blancs 2003, Riesling “Schiefferberg” 2002
and the best wine mix with hot Thai food, according to Thierry, the
Gerwurztraminer, the Alsace Grand Cru 2002 and the Vendange Tardive 2001.
Now let
the tasting start.
These wines were served in this order, to match a herbal
salad, shrimp spring rolls, herbal soup with garupa in coconut milk, baked
shrimp Woonsen, stir-fried seafood in chilled holy basil sauce, stir-fried
rice with crab-meta.
However, our charming guide was a little unsure of what
wine to match with the dessert, which was, of course, coconut ice cream. My
helpful colleague leaned over and said simply, “Whatever wine you have
left in the glasses goes very well with ice cream!” He was not wrong.
Thierry also pointed out the quite strict rules which
apply to names, appellations, etc. For example, in Alsace, wines generally
are called by the grape variety. Champagne is only from the Champagne region
of France, and all other types of “effervescent” wines cannot be called
Champagne; rather sparkling wine. “In fact,” Thierry added, “our own
Tokay Pinot Gris will soon just be called Pinot Gris, for Tokay is a
brand-name of Hungary’s most salubrious wine, emanating from the Tokay
region in North Hungary.
Thierry waxed lyrical about the area he obviously loves,
the wonderful Alsace, sheltered from the oceanic influence by the Vosges
Mountains, very little rainfall for this reason and, being thus blessed with
a semi-continental climate, sunny and dry.
At an altitude of some 300m, exposed to maximum sun and
the incredible mosaic of the ‘terroir’ made of granite, limestone,
gneiss, schist and sandstone, covering some 15,000 hectares.
Not only was the wine dinner an enlightening and
delicious gourmet treat and a marvelous journey through Alsace but also,
courtesy of Thailand Sopexa, each Wine Club member was given a bi-lingual
(English/Thai) beautifully-illustrated hand-book entitled, “Wines and
Spirits of France”, arranged by region, and a concise guide to “Enjoying
Alsace Wines with Asian Cuisine” – especially Thai food. This little
booklet also makes some handy references to mixing and matching types of
food (for example, seafood, poultry, red meat, sushi, soups and cheeses).
One final touch was a small pocket-calendar type of an
evaluation of vintages, best temperatures, etc.
This short piece is really only the “tip of the iceberg” and I do not
feel that I have done full justice to such an enlightening, educational,
cultural and, not the least, an evening of great camaraderie, food and wine.
As Thierry said it” What else do we need?”
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