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Skål International Pattaya and
the East elect new executive committee
The “new” Skål International
Pattaya and the East executive committee.
With the World Congress of Skål International scheduled
for Pattaya in October this year, the new local executive knows that they
are in for much work between now and then. With this in mind, the office
bearers for 2006 reflects experience, as well as enthusiasm for the
promotion of Pattaya as a world tourism destination.
Many of the ‘new’ office bearers of Skål International Pattaya and the East
were actually in the team that went to the world congress in 2002 and
successfully made the bid for Pattaya to host the 2006 congress, beating the
much fancied London (UK) at that time, with Andrew Wood (these days GM of
the Chaophya Park Hotel and Resorts) and Peter Malhotra (MD Pattaya Mail)
stepping back in to the executive board for 2006, as the two
vice-presidents.
Live-wire GM of the equally live-wire Hard Rock Hotel is Andrew Khoo,
backing up for another stint at the top, as is Ingo Raueber (secretary) and
Stefan Heintze (treasurer), all very professional hoteliers, who understand
the importance of this world congress for the future prosperity of Pattaya,
as a whole, not just for their own hotels and resorts.
The other office bearers for 2006 include Dr. Iain Corness (from Bangkok
Pattaya Hospital – the medical services provider for the congress), Deborah
Bundityanond (AKA “Mrs. Rabbit” from the Rabbit Resort), Khun Chookiat (GM
Asia Hotel) and Harjinder Pal Singh (Benni Travel).
The Skål World Congress will see 1,000 of the most senior tourism
professionals in the world coming to Pattaya to evaluate our city. If they
are impressed, Pattaya will benefit from increased tourist numbers. This has
been understood by both the Pattaya City Hall with Mayor Niran
Watthanasartsathorn and his deputies right behind the congress, and by the
TAT.
Skål International Pattaya and the East is working hard for everyone in
Pattaya, right from the noodle sellers at the side of the street, right the
way through to the five star resorts. Everyone benefits from increased
tourist arrivals in Pattaya, Thailand’s most important tourist destination.
A colorful night at the YWCA’s Blue Ball
(l-r) Noorirat Noparatanaraporn,
Nittaya Patimasongkroh, Jitra Wattansin, Juthatawat Intarasuksri, Satil
Khunplome and Sirilada Khunplome.
Elfi Seitz
The ladies of YWCA Chonburi under the leadership of president Jitra
Wattanasin organized the Ball in Blue on February 18 at the Tide Resort in Bang
Saen, with all guests invited to wear something blue.
Amongst the VIP guests were the Chonburi governor’s wife Samoekhae Ketphasook,
Member of Parliament Wittaya Khunplome and his lovely wife Gattin Sirilada, as
well as his mother Satil Khunplome, president of YWCA Bangkok-Thailand Dr Jareet
Ongkasuwan, executive secretary of YWCA Bangkok-Thailand Noorirat
Noparatanaraporn, and director general of the labor department Juthatawat
Intarasuksri.
There was Nick Demet with daughter Cherry, Dr Olivier Meyer, Bruno Wagner, and
Michel Charvolin with wife, all from the Rotary Club of Pattaya Marina. Nittaya
Patimasongkroh, president of YWCA Pattaya was present with several of her
members and Tony Malhotra of Pattaya Mail attended with his future wife
Rungratree.
With so many guests wearing blue in different shades the hotel ballroom took on
a gorgeous hue.
To help fill the purse of the treasurer, guests had not only to pay for the
entrance ticket, which included a sumptuous dinner plus wine, but whoever wanted
to sing a song would have to pay 5,000 baht. A very good idea, and many of the
guests participated in this amusing activity. Luckily for the guests, everyone
was a good singer, especially Samoekhae Ketphasook who was the first on stage,
and Juthatawat Intarasuksri, who sang two Elvis Presley songs.
After all this fun, the real fun started, when guests danced to the sound of the
Navy band until the late hours.
Rotarians Michel Charvolin with
his wife, Nick Demet and daughter Cherry, Bruno Wagner und Dr. Olivier Meyer
enjoy the ball.
Food is Fun – Chaine des Rotisseurs at the Mercure
Miss Terry Diner
The Chaine des Rotisseurs, the oldest gourmet group in the history of the world
(it began in 1248 AD, if you doubt me) began its 2006 season of events with a
light-hearted dinner at the new Mercure Hotel in Pattaya.
(L to R) Malwinder Malhotra, Elfi
Seitz, Som Corness and Nittaya Patimasongkroh, with Marlowe behind, deep in
confab.
The ‘full house’ met in ‘Ray’s Place’ for a pre-dinner kirsch
royal (or two), before moving into the bistro area for dinner, with the ladies
already finding that kirsch can loosen tongues and were happily into the gossip,
with Malwinder Malhotra, Elfi Seitz, Som Corness and Nittaya Patimasongkroh deep
in confab.
With the advice from the local Bailli, Louis Noll, that “food should be fun”,
the Chaine members and guests then began the ‘funerous’ task of attempting to
eat the Mercure kitchens empty (they failed).
The initial fun offering was “charcutrie maison” translated to individual plates
of cold antipasti eaten with some beautiful hot, crusty French bread, with a
choice of wines, with the majority seeming to favour the red, a French (after
all, the Mercure is a French chain).
The following course was an interesting truffle risotto with foie gras, quite
unlike the usual presentation of either ingredient. Fairly heavy, I was glad it
was a small portion.
All Chaine dinners are expected to have a roast, and the Mercure’s was no
exception, presenting some very tender and carefully cooked lamb on white beans
for the fun evening. This came with some French cheese over toast and melted
under the salamander before serving. Very novel. Or perhaps very “nouvelle”!
Dessert was a ‘Brownie’ with raspberry, the sweet chocolate and the sauce
needing a liberal dose of wine to cleanse the palate, though some members, like
the Chaine treasurer Jan-Olav Aamlid, seemed to take this to extremes!
It certainly was a dinner with a difference, the Mercure not pretending it was
going to be ‘fine dining’ in the grand manner. Rather it was bistro dining, in
good company, and altogether a fun evening, as Louis had promised. The finale
was the presentation of the Chaine certificate to the Mercure staff, who had
also tried very hard to show that this new hotel could deliver both service and
food.
Av and Jack Khanijou flank John
van Zantvoort (2nd left) together with Dinie and Willem de Vries enjoying their
kirsch royal (or two).
Everybody wants to look their best
Helle Rantsén
Welfare Chairperson PILC
For a number of years PILC members have met on a regular basis at the Karunyawet
Home for Disabled Ladies on the last Friday of every month.
PILC, being an International Club, is always represented by members from as many
as seven different countries. Getting together to take part in therapeutic
social activity that not only benefits the 170 disable ladies present, but also
the women from PILC themselves.
 The
disabled ladies have make-up applied to their faces and their fingernails
painted in bright colours by women from the PILC.
What activity am I referring to? As many as possible of the disabled ladies will
have make-up put on their faces and their fingernails painted in bright colours
by women from the PILC. While doing so, there is a connection between two women
from very different worlds linked by the human touch and a smile.
As one of the regular participants in the activity said, “It is a natural
instinct in every women (and men for that matter) to want to look their best.”
By witnessing the joy of the end result from the disabled ladies I must say that
I do agree with her.
After and during the activity dance music is played and everybody can’t wait to
get on the dance floor to move to the catchy rhythms – with everybody looking
their best.
There are 340 disable ladies of all ages and different disabilities at
Karunyawet, being cared for by qualified staff. The ladies all have serious
handicaps and live at the home because they need care and are not capable of
staying on their own.
PILC coffee morning at Au Bon Coin
Pattaya International Ladies Club had its monthly coffee
morning at the Au Bon Coin Restaurant in Soi 5, Beach Road, on February 21 and
over 50 enthusiastic members met at the venue. Although the space was rather
limited for such a large group, the host and his staff worked hard to make
everyone comfortable.
 Gillian
Thom, president, welcomes new members to PILC.
New President Gillian Thom welcomed the guests with a short speech and
announcements about forthcoming events. “The new committee for 2006 has already
met twice since the AGM,” she reported, “and we are working hard to make 2006 a
successful year for the PILC.”
There were lots of new faces at the event, with three new members joining the
club, and many more familiar faces renewing their membership for 2006.
Helle Rantsen advised that there would be a Beach Day picnic for the 60 kids
from Ban Jing Jai home, and asked for volunteers to help on the day, and to
bring along drinks and food for the party. Sheila Bagnall also invited members
to sign up for the day trips planned to Koh Si Chang and Bangkok in March, and
Roseanne Diamente reminded guests of the Family Beach Day later this month.
All these activities form part of the structure of PILC, which in the past two
years has gone from strength to strength. “We are welcoming ladies to the group
from all walks of life, and all backgrounds,” says Gillian Thom. “Arriving in
Pattaya can be a bit overwhelming at first, and our group concentrates on
providing a support network for new arrivals, to give ladies the chance to make
new friends and try the many activities we offer. We also have some major
fundraising events during the year, and use all the monies raised to support
some very worthwhile causes around the Pattaya area.”
PILC meet every month on the first Tuesday for lunch, and the third Tuesday for
coffee. There is also a newcomer’s coffee morning, held at Casa Pascal’s
Restaurant, under the generous patronage of Kim and Pascal Schneider, which is a
perfect introduction to anyone new to the area. If you are interested in finding
out more about the club, please contact Gillian Thom, president, on 01-7626003
or 038-756923, Nancy Bradburn, vice-president on 07-8129149 or 038-731108 or
e-mail [email protected].
Milan Crosse holds
networking night at Art Cafe
Peter Stirling (standing) hosted
Milan Crosse Partners’ monthly networking night.
Milan Crosse Creative held its monthly networking night at Jo
Stetten’s Art Cafe in Pattaya recently.
 Roger
Yee commented on Container Port Development in Laem Chabang.
The first speaker was Michael Baker, country manager and chief executive officer
of Thai National Power Co., Ltd, who addressed the Electricity Supply Outlook on
the Eastern Seaboard.
The second speaker, Roger Yee from Scott Wilson, commented on the Container Port
Development in Laem Chabang.
The evening, which was hosted by Milan Crosse Managing Partner Peter Stirling,
was very informative and well attended by business people from several
international companies from both Bangkok and the Eastern Seaboard.
Ursula’s Antiques re-opens at new location
Ursula Rothstein proudly welcomes
friends to her new location at 3/140-141 M.6 Pattaya Third Road.
Elfi Seitz
Ursula’s Antiques reopened at a new location on Saturday, February 18, with
Ursula Rothstein having an open house for her customers throughout the entire
day.
Just a few steps from the old location on Pattaya Third Road, the new premises
covers three stories filled with antiques and fine furniture. Old customers and
new came along to take a look at the elegant new showcase, with Ursula and
George the perfect hosts.
Casa Pascal was on hand to spoil the guests with champagne and other delicious
goodies, and the day was more like a friendly neighborhood party than a store
opening.
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