Royal Garden Plaza increases summer temperatures with fashion show
Piyavadee Suvannahong
Thai and foreign models both male and female strutted the catwalk at
the Hip Hop B-Boy Thailand Championship at Royal Garden Plaza to welcome
summer.
Summer Hip on the Beach 2006 started at 6 p.m. on April 9, with models
such as Stefan Santi Weerabunchai, Mathew Dean, and Chompoo Araya
Ehargate taking part.
Hip-hop music was also on the agenda, led by well-known record mixing DJ
the Z-Cool-X. Along with fashion and dancing, the evening also featured
games and guest appearances by actors Foo Watchara, Bung Tanachat, Jib
Keetapat, Aui Sutita, and Air Pumawaree.
Piangruethai Jiewsakul of the Royal Garden Plaza’s public relations
division said the event was designed to attract Thai and foreign
customers, and included marketing support for the shops in Royal Garden
Plaza.
DJ the Z-Cool-X
The bikini fashion show
was a big hit.
Be Boy dancing put on a
show to the music of DJ the Z-Cool-X.
The summer event at Royal
Garden Plaza drew a large crowd.
Stars and models line up
on stage at the Royal Garden Plaza.
New master divers are presented
with their international certificates
Eighteen divers recently
trained to international master level.
Narisa Nitikarn
Eighteen divers trained to international master level under the TDA
Diving Association of Thailand in cooperation with SEAL, the Royal Thai
Fleet in Sattahip, and were presented with their certificates at
Pinnacle Jomtien Resort and Spa on April 5.
Rainer Gottwald, chief executive officer of the TDA supervised the
training. Pragon Geatgun, vice president and secretary of the TDA said
that a master diver from the Royal Thai Navy acted as trainer to upgrade
the divers to the international standard.
Rainer
Gottwald, chief executive officer of the TDA supervises the training.
Training was held from April 4-5 and was divided into two parts, one for
classroom theory and the other for practical work. The TDA was acting
under the direction of CMAS (Confederation Mondiale Des Activites
Subaquatiques) to train and issue international certificates. CMAS has
112 diving membership clubs around the world.
Pragon said that the TDA also conducts training in water sports in the
educational institutions, and they work to preserve the sea environment.
They have trained national sea park officers and other official
departments.
Course attendees receiving their diving certificate can operate anywhere
in the world, and it is hoped that the course will attract other divers
from around the world to come and dive in Thailand.
The TDA is a volunteer organization that exists to promote diving as a
sector of tourism, and to help ensure that diving standards are adhered
to.
Buddha relic installed
at Khao Kheow Open Zoo
The relic arrived in grand
fashion.
The installation ceremony
was huge.
Thai folklore was featured
during the parade.
Suchada Tupchai
A Buddha relic was installed at Khao Kheow Open Zoo on April 1 so that
members of the public can pay homage and bring good fortune to
themselves and their families.
The relic was brought in a parade to the zoo entrance while school and
military bands played and elephants and horses marched. Monks led by
Phra Rachawisutmatee, the dean of Chonburi and president of the
religious proceedings offered Buddhist chants, after which Pandhit
Chakraphan, leader of the lay proceedings presided over the installation
ceremony.
Zoo director Suriya Saengphong said Khao Kheow believes in maintaining
strong cultural values as part of the tourism business. The Supreme
Patriarch and the Supreme Patriarch of Sri Lanka provided the Buddha
relic. During the school holidays families will be able to come and make
merit and bring good fortune to their families.
Ceremonies will take place right through to April 30, and Buddhist fairs
and shows from Sri Lanka will also be featured.
Interested parties can contact the zoo on 0 3829 8195, 09 544 6994 or
visit website www.khaokheowopenzoo.com
Sheraton shows its mettle to local Chaine
Miss Terry Diner and Staff Reporters
The newly opened Sheraton Pattaya Resort showed that it may be the ‘new
kid’ on the block, but it has very well experienced staff who gave the
local Chaine des Rotisseurs one of the most polished gustatory evenings
that the Chaine has had for some time. While the Bailli Louis Noll was
unable to be present that evening following the re-opening of the Mata
Hari, the new Conseiller Gastronomique, Joop von Zandvoort, was
introduced to the members by the Charge de Presse, Peter Malhotra after
which Charge de Mission, Hugh Millar guided the diners through the
exquisite array of food and wines.
Guests
were welcomed in style.
For many of the Chaine members and guests, which totaled over 30 for the
dinner, it was their first visit to the new Sheraton, which has superb
views out over the beach, putting them in the right frame of mind for
what was to turn out to be a superb evening.
The Mez restaurant was decked out in lotus leaves, with the only
lighting being the candles on every table, lending a romantic ambience,
even before the first bottle of aromatic Spanish 2004 BASA Blanco had
had its cork extracted! (For the connoisseurs, this is a blend of
Sauvignon Blanc, Viura and Verdejo grapes.) The GM of the Sheraton,
David Cuddon had personally chosen the wines to complement the various
courses that were to follow.
To heighten the romance, the waiters were decked out in short white
jackets, reminiscent of the American waiters in sophisticated New York
restaurants, whilst the waitresses were stunning in long burgundy dinner
dresses, complete with elbow length white gloves. It must also be said
that their expertise in service matched the elegance of their outfits.
Adding to the setting was the string ensemble, playing gracefully in the
background. A choreographed contemporary dance group also performed,
adding to the entertainment. For many, it was worth the fee for the
dinner, just to experience the ambience.
Hugh
Millar and Peter Malhotra, prepare to launch the evening’s proceedings.
Following the mini tapas and potato style waffle with caviar mimosa and
sour cream, the Chaine went on to the lobster and black truffle ravioli
on a bed of pureed celery infused with a citrus coriander dressing. The
description was mouthwatering. The taste was even better.
In a synchronized performance, the service staff swished in with the
pan-fried wild snapper on a river prawn brandade with a sweet creamy
garlic sauce. With the creaminess offset by the acidity on the palate
from the 2004 Vinho Branco Tres Bagos from Portugal, this dish and wine
combination was just superb.
All Chaine des Rotisseurs dinner events must include a roast, and the
Sheraton Pattaya Resort brought out a very special lacquered roasted
pigeon, set on a bed of asparagus and snow pea mousse topped with Edaman
beans and tomatoes.
The Chaine, as a group, felt that chef Olivier Belliard had really
worked hard to present these dishes, and later it became even more
outstanding when it was found that chef Olivier had been taken to
hospital that day, and the responsibility for the Chaine dinner had
fallen on his kitchen staff. Once again it was obvious that the high
standard demonstrated by the Sheraton’s front of house was mirrored
behind the scenes. The ovations that the staff received when the
certificates were handed out were testament to this.
This had been a wonderful evening of superlatives, and GM David Cuddon
and his staff can sit back and bask in the fact that this dinner will be
the one against which all other Chaine des Rotisseurs events will be
measured for the rest of this year.
Joop von Zandvoort
presents Alongkorn Saenganant, Executive Sous Chef, the certificates for
the administration team.
Supanida Suwannapothisri,
Mez restaurant manager receives the certificates on behalf of the
service team.
The Contemporary dancers
held the diners under their spell.
The Ploy Music trio
serenaded the diners with timeless melodies.
The service was
choreographed to perfection.
Members and guests gather
for a group photograph on the steps leading to the beach.
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