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All the fun of a day at the buffalo races
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The crowds turned out over the period October 23 to 25 for the
Chonburi Buffalo Races, one of the oldest events on the Thai calendar,
and this year celebrating its 136th staging. Chonburi Governor Pracha
Taerat chaired the official opening ceremony.
 No
parade is complete without a marching band, and every marching band
needs a drum majorette.
Past years have seen buffaloes from the neighboring provinces taking
part, but this year there were not so many outside entries, owing to the
gradual decline of the buffalo as a farm animal.
The buffalo competition was divided into three categories: small, medium
and large. There was plenty else going on too, with a buffalo fancy
dress contest and competitions in kite flying, archery, Muay Thai, and
climbing a greasy bamboo pole.
The Miss Farmer contest attracted 99 competitors this year, the winner
being 22-year-old Miss Suparat Kulachon. Second came Miss Chuthamat
Thanimat, third was Miss Araya Parsompol, and fourth was Miss Weeranut
Sukkasem.
The buffalo race is an annual tradition that is held on the 14th waxing
moon of the 11th lunar month, which is one day before the end of
Buddhist Lent. Farmers and villagers believe that it revives the spirit
of the buffalo, and keeps the animals healthy. Originally very much a
local festival in Chonburi, the races have in recent years become an
attraction for visitors from all parts of Thailand and overseas.
The exciting event begins
with a lovely parade.
Looks like something out
of Star Wars.
Now that’s one big set of
horns.
Ready, aim, fire.
Rumbling towards the
finish line.
It’s going to be a photo
finish.
Pulling away from the
chasing pack.
Some billies butting heads
kept the amusement going between races.
Can’t we all just get along?
The Miss Farmer contest
attracted many attractive contestants.
Festival a magic way of raising
funds for Father Ray Foundation
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Ten greatly respected magicians from around the world gathered for
the 1st Pattaya International Magic Festival, the funds raised by the event
going to the Father Ray Foundation.
 Pairot
Itthiawatchakul, committee member of Tuxedo Entertainment (Thailand) Co.,
Ltd., thanks the spectators and performers.
Organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in association with Pattaya
City, the Pattaya Magicians’ Club and the Alangkarn Theater, the festival
was divided into two parts. There were free shows at Central Festival over
the period October 17 to 19, and then from October 20 to 21 the magicians
moved to the Alangkarn Theater.
America’s Franz Harary proved to be one of the most popular performers, one
of his most amazing feats having been to make an airplane materialize on
stage.
The other acts included Australian magic champion Jeremy Pei, Keiko Muto
from Japan, Xio Run from China, P J Wan from Taiwan, Byung Wook, the Korean
magic champion of 2005, and Ger Copper, the Netherlands magic champion.
Three magicians from Thailand took part, namely Philip, named as champion by
the Professional Magicians’ Association for two consecutive years; Mr
Balloon, who specializes in comedy magic with balloons; and Mr Tuxedo, the
Asian magic champion of 2005.
Magic products from leading specialist companies were on display, and after
the onstage performances the magicians met with spectators to sign
autographs.
Many Magicians attended the
event.
Franz Harary, an
internationally renowned magician from America, poses for a photo with
lovely Thai assistants.
The venue was packed with
magic lovers.
Thai Magician Philip (standing
center) takes a moment to visit with students and officers from the
Redemptorist School.
Pretty girls took part in the
magic show.
Local children were excited to
greet the magicians on stage.
Magic performances by Koreans conjure up top three awards
Pattaya Mail Reporter
The awards presentation for the 1st Pattaya International Magic
Festival was held at the Amari Resort and Towers.
 Dutch
magician Heinz Minten entertained the audience, wandering from table to
table and leaving puzzled guests.
Before the results were announced, Dutch magician Heinz Minten entertained
the audience, wandering from table to table and leaving puzzled guests,
including Deputy Mayor Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, shaking their heads in
disbelief.
The excellent buffet and selected wines were both sponsored by Hanky Panky
Toys, whose CEO Jack Monshouwer added to the atmosphere of magic and good
fun with his own brand of charisma and humor as he announced the winners.
In addition, Dr Kovit Kantasiri and his band provided the musical
accompaniment during the evening. The accredited professor of music learned
and taught in the Netherlands and in the US for several years, and today is
the director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra (BMCO).
 First
place went to Shin Yong Woon (2nd left), seen here receiving his prize from
Pairot Itthiawatchakul (left), Jack Monshouwer (2nd right) and Ger Copper
(right).
Jack Monshouwer said he rarely saw so many ambitious talents gathered at one
place. Although there was sadness that none of the Thai magicians was named
amongst the winners, the stunning achievement of the Koreans in winning the
top three places was greeted with genuine cheers and applause.
Jack said that the superiority of the Koreans was very apparent, and
considering that more than 300,000 magic boxes were sold in South Korea
within just one year, their ascendancy doesn’t seem surprising.
“Magic surely booms in South Korea, and it is even promoted by special
magician schools that correspond to international standards,” he said.
First place went to Shin Yong Woon, followed by Shin Hyun Jae and Park Jong
Won. All of them received trophies, certificates and 1,000, 500 and 300 US
dollars respectively.
To round up the evening, Ger Copper, a former world champion and multiple
Dutch champion, and member of the jury, gave a great performance of his
magic arts, enchanting not only the guests but also the other magicians.
The festival conjured up other benefits. Several sponsors, among them Gerard
Lemmers, the Rotary Clubs of Eastern Seaboard and Jomtien Pattaya as well as
the ever-helpful Martin Brands, gathered some 54,000 baht that will be given
to the Banglamung Boys Home to help take care of the kids. All 116 children
were invited to the shows on October 20 and 21.
A great part of the profits from the ticket sales will be for the benefit of
the Father Ray Foundation.
To round up the evening, Ger
Copper, a former world champion and multiple Dutch champion, gave a great
performance of his magic arts, enchanting not only the guests but also the
other magicians.
Hard Rock kicks off sports month
Andrew Khoo kicks off the Hard Rock Hotel
Pattaya’s 6th annual sports month, as mayoral advisor Itthipol Khunplome and
Hard Rock staff look on.
The green team is ready to rock and roll.
The blue team gets psyched up to compete in the
event.
The red team cheers for success.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
October 18 saw the start of the Hard Rock Hotel 6th annual sports month,
designed to develop team spirit amongst staff members and to improve
individual skills and leadership qualities.
Itthipol Khunplome, chief advisor to the mayor, and Hard Rock general
manager Andrew Khoo co-presided over the opening, with the day beginning
with a parade from the hotel along the seafront, led by the Pattaya School
No 8 band.
Participants were divided into four teams, each of which was given a color
of blue, green, yellow or red. The events, which include futsal, volleyball
and basketball, will continue through November 22, and there will be a
special skills-based competition on November 27. The closing ceremony will
take place on November 29.
Three hotel organizations combine to raise standards
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Three hospitality organizations in the Eastern region have combined
for a program that will create “trainers” who will help to continually
improve the international standards of the industry and pass on skills and
experience to the next generation.
 Andrew
Khoo, general manager of the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, presents a welcome
speech for the first of 3 in 1 Hoteliers Night Thank You Party at the Hard
Rock Hotel in Pattaya.
On October 17 the Pattaya and Eastern Provincial Chefs’ Association, the
Waiter/Waitress Club for Pattaya and the Eastern Region, and the Eastern
Housekeepers’ Administration Association organized a 3 in 1 Hoteliers Night
at the Hard Rock Hotel.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, mayoral advisor Itthipol Khunplome, and
former Chonburi senator Sansak Ngampichet were amongst the guests of honor.
Hard Rock general manager Andrew Khoo presented a speech of welcome, saying
that the trainer concept is an excellent way of passing on skills to the
young people entering the fast growing hospitality industry.
 Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn (left) receives a memento as a thank you from
Raewat Thongsong, chairman of the Waiter/Waitress Club of Pattaya and the
Eastern Region.
“Without the ongoing transference of occupational skills to our talented
young people, the industry would not be able to progress,” he said.
Suchart Dencheychai, chairman of the Pattaya and Eastern Provincial Chefs’
Association said that the three organizations had jointly organized the
Pattaya Food and Hoteliers Expo 07, which had been a success. There had been
a large number of hotels participating, and the trainer program had been an
important part of the event.
Chairman of the Waiter/Waitress Club of Pattaya and the Eastern Region said
the expo was the first time that the three organizations had worked jointly
on a project, and that with the trainer program now running, there would be
other joint enterprises in the future.
Of course food and drink were
plentiful at this event.
(From left) Andrew Khoo,
general manager of the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, Ingo Raeuber, Raewat
Thongsong, chairman of the Waiter/Waitress Club of Pattaya and the Eastern
Region, and Dr. Vongbhum Vanasin.
(From left) Raewat Thongsong,
chairman of the Waiter/Waitress Club of Pattaya and the Eastern Region; Sec.
Lt. Chaiwat Charoensuk, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand
Central Region 3 Office, who received a memento as a thank you from Pranee
Pitaktham, chairwoman of the Eastern Housekeepers’ Administrative
Association; and Suchart Dencheychai, chairman of the Pattaya and Eastern
Provincial Chefs’ Association.
Honored guests attend the
first 3 in 1 Hoteliers Night Thank You Party at the Hard Rock Hotel in
Pattaya.
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