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Exhibition details the life and
works of His Majesty the
King in celebration of
60 years on the throne
Suchada Tupchai
An exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s
accession to the throne is on display at the IMPACT exhibition center in
Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi Province between May 26 and June 4.
 The
exhibition’s poster for the Sixtieth Anniversary Celebration of His
Majesty’s Accession to the Throne.
Dr Wisanu Kruangam, chairman of the organizing committee, said that the
exhibition gathers examples of His Majesty’s work and his many projects that
have brought great benefits for the people. There are exhibits on His
Majesty’s life, his daily routine, the foreign dignitaries he has met, and
on his thoughts and ideas for the future.
The exhibition blends historic materials with new technology being used for
the first time in Thailand, and will be in itself a landmark presentation
that will be recorded in the history of the nation.
The display area is divided into three sections. One part focuses on the
progression of His Majesty from childhood to his succession to the throne,
and to his engagement to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and their marriage. His
childhood playthings and personal possessions will be on display here.
The second zone presents many of the projects initiated by His Majesty for
the benefit of the people, such as conserving the forests, water management,
land management, agricultural theory, and economic self-sufficiency, with
many of the displays including photographs taken by His Majesty to show
progress on the projects.
Zone three has activities by the people to show their love and loyalty to
His Majesty, and there will be products and souvenirs as keepsakes of this
great occasion in the history of Thailand.
For more information contact the Exhibition Cooperation Authority for His
Majesty’s Celebration at tel 0 2686 7334.
Father of the Royal Thai Navy is commemorated on Apakorn Day
Piyavadee Suvannahong
A ceremony was held on May 19, Apakorn Day, to commemorate the passing of
Admiral Prince Apakornkhietiwong Chumporn Ket Udomsak, the Father of the Royal
Thai Navy.
 Rear
Admiral Amonthep na Bangchang conducted the proceedings to commemorate the
passing of Admiral Prince Apakornkhietiwong Chumporn Ket Udomsak, the Father of
the Royal Thai Navy.
Rear Admiral Amonthep na Bangchang conducted the proceedings, which began at
7:30 a.m. in the grounds of the Prince Apakorn memorial near the Sor Tor Ror 5
radio station at Khao Pratumnak.
Instructor Yodthong Senanan and deputy chief of Pattaya City Apichart Puedphan
were amongst those attending, with a large number of naval families and local
businessmen presenting offerings at the memorial.
Admiral Prince Apakornkhietiwong Chumporn Ket Udomsak was the 28th child of King
Rama V. He was born on December 19, 1880, the son of Queen Mod. King Rama V sent
Prince Apakorn to study naval tactics in England, the first of the King’s
children to do so.
After he graduated in 1900 he became Lieutenant Junior Grade, the equivalent of
Lieutenant Commander nowadays. King Rama V appointed the prince as commander of
HTMS Maruthawasitsawat.
In 1901 he became the deputy commander of the Navy Department, which he
subsequently restructured and developed to place the Royal Thai Navy on an
international footing. Prince Apakorn died of fever in Chumporn province on May
19, 1923.
The Thai Royal Navy has named Prince Apakorn “The Father of the Thai Royal Navy”
and has designated May 19 every year as Apakorn Day.
YWCA receives money for sponsorship
Nitaya Patimasongkroh (3rd from
right), president of YWCA Pattaya Chapter, received from Elfi Seitz (3rd from
left), executive editor of Pattaya Blatt, a 10,000 baht donation for the YWCA’s
Foster Child Project.
Staff reporter
At the last meeting of the YWCA on May 9 at the Green Bottle Pub, Nitaya
Patimasongkroh, president of YWCA Pattaya Chapter, received from Elfi Seitz,
executive editor of Pattaya Blatt, 10,000 baht for the Foster Child Project.
Elfi eagerly collects donations from her meditation group, “Soul Searchers”, who
meet weekly.
The YWCA meeting was attended by many members, and by Sopin Thappajug, managing
director of Diana Group, Noorirat from the YWCA Bangkok chapter, and Jitra
Wanasin from the YWCA Chonburi chapter.
Smell of success for Nong Nooch Garden’s giant Titanum
Amorphopallus Titanum Indonesia,
reputed to be the world’s largest plant species, is on display at Nong Nooch
Garden.
Patcharapol Panrak
Kampon Tansacha, director of Nong Nooch Garden, hosted visitors to a viewing
of what is reputed to be the world’s largest plant, Amorphopallus Titanum
Indonesia, on May 16. The plant, which was imported from Indonesia seven years
ago, weighs approximately 22 kg and is 90 cm tall. Under the right weather
conditions it can grow around 10 cm each day, and typically reaches a height of
120 cm.
Amorphopallus Titanum Indonesia, apart from its extraordinary size, is also
remarkable for the horrible stink it releases when blooming, a smell that has
been compared to that of a dead elephant. It is, however, very alluring to the
carrion beetles that pollinate the plant.
The Nong Nooch specimen was due to open between seven and 10 days after the
official visit hosted by Kampol, and is open to public viewing. This is the only
example of the plant in Thailand. It is already nearly 1 meter tall, and has
opened twice before.
The Titan is the most astonishing member of the aroid family and was discovered
in the rainforests of central Sumatra in 1878 by a Dr Odoardo Beccari. The huge
bloom is often taller than a man and is produced by the plant kingdom’s largest
tuber. After the flower opens the plant is ready for pollination and begins
releasing the overpowering stench in waves. The odor lasts only about eight
hours, but the flower blooms for more than two days before collapsing.
Ripley’s crowns Most Beautiful Wo-Man 2006
Zena Tarasena
Glamour, glitz and diamonds were the theme of the Ripley’s Most Beautiful Wo-Man
2006 contest, when 30 of the most gorgeous transvestites graced the cat walk at
the Royal Garden Plaza on May 17th with the dream of becoming Ripley’s Queen
this year.
 Rat-Ravee
Jirapraphakul (center) was crowned Miss Ripley’s Most Beautiful Wo-Man 2006. She
is shown here with 1st runner-up No. 8 Manunchaya Meechai (left) and 2nd Runner
Up No. 13 Aphirada Terachanukul (right).
The Tiffany dancers burst onto the stage, with a rumba number, in an array of
colors, feathers and sparkles to entertain the spectators and set the atmosphere
for the next stage of the contest.
The 30 girls then introduced themselves, leaving the audience with a comment. It
was easy to see their true beauty, as the contest began at 4 p.m. so the
daylight left no lies.
Special guests Ken Smith, technical director, and Miss Alisa Phantusak,
assistant managing director of the Tiffany Show, along with Miss Mimi Marks,
Miss International Queen 2005 from Chicago, Miss Tiptantree Rujiranon, 2nd
runner up of Miss International Queen 2005 and Nong Taetae, Pheeraya
Ruangroongroj, Ripley’s Most Beautiful Wo-Man 2005 were in the VIP seats.
Mimi said that she was so happy to be back in Thailand again as she loves it
here, besides the weather is freezing in Chicago right now. During her last trip
she developed a love of Thai food, especially Patthai. Her message to this
year’s line up of beauties was that they should all have a really good time,
have fun and enjoy themselves; after all, beauty is not everything. Mimi was
back here in Thailand with us to judge and promote the Miss Tiffany Universe
Queen 2006 contest on May 19.
Alisa, who was head of the organizing committee for this year’s Miss Universe
pageant, said that the standards of the Tiffany contest applicants were raised
considerably, which is easy to see from Ripley’s participants.
The judges made their choices of the final five contestants; numbers 6, 8, 13,
14 and 20, and questions were presented to them from sealed envelops drawn
randomly. Each girl had to think quickly and give an appropriate answer, and
each received much applause. Then Somporn Naksuetrong, general manager of
Ripley’s World of Entertainment was invited to present the winning title as the
excitement grew within the crowd.
Then the finale, the moment everyone had waited for: to loud cheers the winning
crown was placed on number 20, Miss Ratrawee Jirapraphakul, 22 years old,
winning 10,000 baht, a crown and sash. The first runner up was number 8
Mananchaya Meechai, 23 years old, and second runner up, number 13 Apirada
Taerachanukul, 18 years old, both winning money and prizes. Finally all 30 girls
and the VIPs were once again brought on stage for a final farewell for questions
and photos.
PCEC visited by beautiful women
It was an especially beautiful Pattaya City Expats Club
meeting last Sunday at Henry J. Bean’s when the club was visited by Mimi Marks.
The world’s most glamourous
PILC President Gilliam Thom
(left) and Mimi Marks were guests of honor at the PCEC meeting last Sunday at
Henry J. Bean’s.
transsexual and the present holder of the title of Miss
International Queen won last year at the Tiffany’s Show theater. She is back in
town from her homeland USA to add support to the present contestants for the
Miss Tiffany Universe, the finals of which took place at on Friday May 19 at
Tiffany Show Theatre on Second Road.
She was followed on stage at the PCEC meeting by Pattaya International Ladies
Club president, Gillian Thom, who spoke about a charity barbeque to be held at
the Rabbit Resort to help the children at Baan Jing Jai. After, Nick and his
lovely lady cabin attendants (along with some of the lads) explained about the
new Ocean Queen cruise ship service coming into effect from Pattaya to Koh Samui
and Phangan.
More info about the regular Sunday meeting of the PCEC and their mid-week
activities can be found on the website: www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com
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