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Royal Garden Plaza increases summer temperatures with fashion show

New master divers are presented with their international certificates

Buddha relic installed at Khao Kheow Open Zoo

Sheraton shows its mettle to local Chaine


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.