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Blessings for the elderly a pre-Songkran tradition

Mata Hari opens in new location at Thappraya Road

Six young singing hopefuls aim for the stars

Royal Cliff staff sign celebration book in commemoration of HM the King’s 60th anniversary

It’s magic as Tuxedo Castle opens on Second Road

Blessings for the elderly a pre-Songkran tradition

Narisa Nitikarn
National Elderly and Family Day was celebrated at the Social Development Center Elderly Home in Banglamung on April 10, a pre-Songkran tradition in which respects are paid to senior citizens.

Rewat Pollook-in (deputy chief of the Chonburi Provincial Administration Organization) poured water as a blessing for Mee Nokkrum (102 years old); she is the oldest person at the Social Development Center Elderly Home in Banglamung.
Deputy Governor of Chonburi Thongtawee Pimsen conducted a brief ceremony that was attended by members of the Elderly Club at Apakorn Kiatwong Hospital, the Elderly Service Center at Banglamung, the Boy’s Social Welfare at Banglamung, and Karunyawet Disabled Social Welfare.
The oldest resident at the home is Mee Nokkrum, who is aged 102 years. She sat with six other elderly people for the younger ones to sprinkle water for blessings during this Songkran occasion.
On this day there were also free haircuts from Ketsiri Beauty School in Pattaya, physical checkups for the elderly from the Somdet Parsangkarat Yanasangwararam Temple Center, foot massages from Ban Karuna 2 in Chonburi, a booth for product distribution to elderly people, and many games, notably bingo, which attracted the most participants.

Thongtawee Pimsen (deputy governor of Chonburi) and others line up to pour water as a blessing for 7 elderly people.

Over 300 elderly people attended National Elderly and Family Day 2006 at the Social Development Center Elderly Home in Banglamung.


Mata Hari opens in new location at Thappraya Road

Louis Noll (center) with staff at the new Mata Hari premises.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Mata Hari opened at its new location in the Nirvana Place condominium complex on Thappraya Road on April 5.
The new premises are larger than the previous restaurant, says Mata Hari’s Louis Noll, but the menu of European and Thai dishes will be instantly recognisable to regulars.
Mata Hari had originally been located on Pattaya Second Road, but its popularity had grown to the extent that it was always crowded and Noll decided larger premises were needed, choosing the Thappraya Road area because it is very much an up and coming destination.
Facilities of the new Mata Hari include a bar and a meeting corner. The restaurant is open every day except Monday. For reservations tel 01-762 2359 or fax 0 3836 4620.


Six young singing hopefuls aim for the stars

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya will see the finals of the Luk Tung singing competition in which young contestants will be given the opportunity to win prizes and go professional.
A preparatory meeting was held on April 3 by Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn, with May-T Subsuk, activities manager of VC Spot Productions Co Ltd and team presenting their plans to Pattaya City Council.

May-T Subsuk, activities section manager, VC Spot Production Co. Ltd presents his plans at city hall.

The event follows on from the success of the Luk Tung Conservation Project Singing Contest staged in honor of Her Majesty the Queen’s 72nd birthday, and created by Tai FM between 2004- 2005 under the “Conquer the Stars” theme. The contest was supported and sponsored by city hall and the Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 3 Central Office. More than 300 young Luk Tung singers competed and 6,000 people attended the event in 2005.
For this year Tai FM is carrying on the Luk Tung theme with the cooperation of city hall and the TAT by giving 15-25 year olds the chance to compete in the second Conquer the Stars project for those who dream of becoming professional Luk Tung singers.
This year VC Spot Production Co has accepted male and female applicants. The contestants were whittled down to 24 and on March 5 a competition was held to select the final six, three males and three females. The event was held in Bangkok.
The six finalists were Niyom Homjit number TF1, Niyom Charoensiri number TF3, Prasit Jiangraksa TF5, Miss Pachara Kawianwong TF2, Miss Kasarin Seesaen TF4 and Miss Phinyo Tomyim TF6. The six will enter the recording studio to cut a special album of new songs and the songs will be sung at the event in Pattaya, which will be the finals.
May-T Subsuk said the judging would be held over two days. On May 7 at 5 p.m. the six contestants will display their singing talents at Big C North Pattaya and earn points for the final judging. Luk Tung star Fon Dhanasunthorn will make an appearance. On May 28 the winner will be selected at Pattaya School #8. Contestants will be required to sing one fast song and one slow song. Siriporn Amphaiphong and Yingyong Yodbuangaam will also be performing.
The winners of the men’s and women’s event will receive 10,000, 7,000 and 3,000 baht respectively and a lucky winner of a vote by SMS will win 5,000 baht.
Mayor Niran said that the city had given full support in providing venues and budgets for the event aimed at giving the young a chance to display their talents and continue the Luk Tung tradition.
Viewers can vote for their favorite by SMS using their allocated number (TF1 - TF6) on 4554545 between 15 - 28 May.


Royal Cliff staff sign celebration book in commemoration of HM the King’s 60th anniversary

 Panga Vathanakul (center), managing director of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort led 50 hotel managers and employees to sign a book to celebrate the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne.

Narisa Nitikarn
Royal Cliff Beach Resort managers and employees led by managing director Panga Vathanakul signed a book in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne, in a ceremony held at Pattaya City Hall on April 7. The 50 employees of the hotel all wore yellow as a sign of respect to His Majesty.
Pinnat Charoenphol, assistant director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central Office Region 3 said the TAT has organized the book, which is being circulated amongst 75 provincial halls and 22 TAT offices. Pattaya City Hall officials have also signed the book.
The signing project is part of the Thailand Grand Invitation 2006 project. Members of the public can participate in the signings until December 31, after which all the books will be collected and presented to His Majesty.


It’s magic as Tuxedo Castle opens on Second Road

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh cuts the ribbon for the official opening of Tuxedo Magic Castle, along with Pairoj Idthiawatchakul, GM of Tuxedo Entertainment (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (right side of Ronakit), the magician from “Tuxedo” and team members.

Narisa Nitikarn
Tuxedo Magic Castle opened on April 8 not in a puff of smoke but with an awards ceremony presented by Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh.
Located near the Shell gasoline station on Second Road, Tuxedo Magic Castle is operated by Tuxedo Entertainment (Thailand) Co Ltd, whose general manager Pairoj Idthiawatchakul was on hand to welcome the local and foreign tourists attending the opening.
The Castle received a Master of Magic Award from Bangladesh for gathering international magic and magicians from such a diversity of countries as China, Hong Kong and Japan. The magic team also received an award from the Asia Magic Association.
Magic Castle is billed as the first complete magic theatre in Thailand. A complete show has a 45-minute duration, and female magicians are a feature. Currently the theater can hold only 120 spectators, but this will be increased to a capacity of up to 300 in the near future. There are also plans to open a magic course for youngsters during the school holidays.
Shows are held every day at 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., and there is a supplementary show at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. For more information tel 0 3848 8880, or visit www.tuxedo-magic.com