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Thai people everywhere rejoice as our
beloved King celebrates His 80th Birthday
The public make merit,
offering alms to 80 monks in front
of the Banglamung District Office.
Banglamung District Chief
Mongkol Thamakittikhun leads officials and the public
in praising His Majesty the King.
Staff Reporters
December the 5th is considered to be the most important day for
the Thai people, for on this day, we celebrate our beloved King’s
birthday. This day is also considered National Day and Father’s Day.
 Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn leads a group of administrators from Pattaya
City in order to walk to honor His Majesty the King.
As His Majesty reached his 80th birthday this year, the Thai nation
celebrated again, with every person from the youngest to the oldest
renewing their pledge of loyalty and devotion to our great King.
In Pattaya, the streets resembled a huge sunflower field, as thousands
of residents were adorned in yellow, HM the King’s color, as they
gathered to pay homage and respect to HM the King and wish him the
happiest of birthdays.
The festivities began early at Banglamung District Office when
residents, public officials, students and guests presented alms to 80
monks from temples in and around Pattaya, in honour of His Majesty.
After the religious ceremonies, government officials from all government
organizations and members of the public gathered to pay homage to His
Majesty. Traditional gold and silver ornaments were placed at the foot
of a large portrait of HM the King as a sign of love and respect for the
father of the Thai nation.
 A
beautiful Thai dance is performed to honor His Majesty the King.
The populace was then led in reading a proclamation pledging their
loyalty and good intentions to lead their lives on the path of
righteousness and truth. The people also pledged to help in uniting all
the people of Thailand to live together in peace and harmony.
In the afternoon, a parade of more than 3000 people walked from Lanpho
Park in Naklua to the Banglamung School Sports Field where the evening
ceremonies were held.
Citizens from all walks of life, including both the public and private
sector, turned out in huge numbers to queue up to pay their respects by
placing their gold and silver ornaments at the foot of His Majesty’s
portrait.
The evening ceremony was presided over by Banglamung District Chief
Mongkol Thamakittikhun and Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, who led the
multitude of joyful people in reconfirming their pledge and devotion to
our beloved King. At the auspicious hour, which was also observed by
people all over Thailand, candles were lit and the night air was filled
with the voices of thousands of people singing songs of praise to Their
Majesties the King and Queen.
The evening ceremonies culminated with the firing of hundreds of
fireworks into the night sky bringing cheers of joyfulness from the
populace.
Many venues around town also organized Father’s Day activities.
The parade wends its way
from from Lanpho Park in Naklua
to the Banglamung School Sports Field.
The magnificent fireworks
display lights up the night sky.
Members of Pattaya’s Sikh
community wish HM the King a happy 80th birthday.
Staff members from Pattaya
Mail, Pattaya Blatt and Pattaya Mail on TV
attend these grand activities.
Thousands of People from
every level of society participate in the candlelit ceremony to send
their best wishes to His Majesty the King.
Up, up and away for Pattaya’s first balloon fiesta
100,000 visitors attend five-day event
The event at night is truly
quite spectacular.
These three girls are having
fun taking souvenir photos with the giant hot air balloons in the
background.
Many of the colorful balloons
feature amusing themes.
More than 30 multi-colored hot
air balloons participated in
the event over a 5 day period.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Almost 30 hot air balloons from 10 countries took to the skies over
Pattaya over the period December 8 to 12 for the first Pattaya International
Balloon Fiesta, organized in honor of His Majesty the King’s 80th birthday.
 Many
people also gathered to fly kites during the festivities.
The Royal Thai Army Sports Center worked together with the Sport Flying
Association Thailand to organize the event, which was held at the Pattaya
Learning Resort College of Innovative Education at Thammasat University’s
Chonburi campus.
Lt Gen Sanit Prommart, director of the Royal Thai Army Sports Center
conducted the official opening ceremony on December 8, saying the intention
is to make this an annual event that will attract large numbers of overseas
visitors.
An area of 400 rai was used for the balloons, many of which were in exotic
shapes such as a cake, an elephant, and a doll. France, the United Kingdom,
the Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Belgium and Dubai were all represented, with Dubai particularly prominent in
presenting three balloons.
Amongst the other activities to keep the visitors happy were paramotoring,
parachuting, and remote control airplane competitions. There was a display
of acrobatic flying, a flotilla of ultra light aircraft were put through
their paces, a kite show was performed by the Sanook Sky Kite Flyer Club,
and there was a motocross competition.
Mountain biking, an exhibition of antique Volkswagen vehicles, and a jazz
music concert performed by an Australian band provided by the Australian
Consul in Thailand Robin Hamilton-Coates added to the fun.
During the evenings the balloons were lit up, there was a firework display,
and colored lamps rose into the sky. Booths supplied souvenirs and gifts.
The Royal Thai Army Sports Center estimated that there were approximately
20,000 attendees at the event each day, which over the five-day period
totaled about 100,000 visitors.
Gen Kanit Permsub celebrates 64th birthday
Friends and family celebrate at the Hard Rock Hall of Fame
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Gen Kanit Permsub, Deputy Chief Aide-De-Camp, General to His Majesty
the King celebrated his 64th birthday with a party at the Hard Rock Hotel on
November 24.
General Manager Andrew Khoo and his management team and staff all dressed in
blue to suit the theme of the occasion welcomed Gen Kanit and his entourage
as they wrrived at the Hall of Fame.
 Gen
Kanit Permsub speaks of honour and loyalty to HM the King.
Guests of honor included Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat and Amrik Singh
Kalra, head of the Thai Sikh Community of Pattaya.
Celebrations began with a traditional Thai long drums parade performed by
students of Wat Nongkam School in Sriracha, the participants filing onto the
stage and then turning to sing a special song that was written by Acharn
(teacher) Pennapa Thaiphum to bless Gen Kanit Permsub on his birthday.
Khunying Busyarat Permsub, the general’s wife, addressed the gathering,
thanking everyone for being present to take part in the celebrations. She
said that the party was also for the benefit of the community, as tickets
were on sale for “The Spy Who Rocked Me”, which took place on December 1 at
the Hard Rock Hotel, with the funds raised going to help support three
organizations, namely the Melissa Cosgrove Charity Foundation, the
Foundation for the Development of Life for Disabled People, and the Fountain
of Life Center for Children in North Pattaya.
General Kanit Permsub is the Deputy Chief Aide-De-Camp, General to His
Majesty the King and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Khunying Busyarat watches as
General Kanit Permsub lights the candle of truth,
love and success for everyone.
Chonburi Governor Pracha
Taerat (left) greets Gen Kanit
and Khunying Busyarat Permsub.
Amrik Singh Kalra (left),
president of the Thai Sikh Community in Pattaya,
pre-books a table for “The Spy Who Rocked Me” charity event.
Gen. Kanit receives a gift
from Chonburi Deputy Governor Monthian Thongnit.
Children perform a dance of
felicitations for the birthday boy.
Deborah and Paisan
Bundityanond present a birthday gift to Gen Kanit.
Scores of residents of Pattaya
came to pay their respects to General Kanit Permsub.
Chaine des Rotisseurs
takes in new members
The new ‘Bailli’ Ranjith
Chandrasiri was inducted in the Promenade Terrace by Joe Thawilvejjakul
(representing Bangkok) and Pongthep Leenutapong,
the ‘Conseil Magistrate’ (representing France).
Miss Terry Diner
The local chapter of the oldest gourmet group in the world, La
Chaine des Rotisseurs, held the induction ceremony for its new members at
the Royal Cliff Beach Resort last week. With the new president (“Bailli”)
being Ranjith Chandrasiri, the assistant GM at the Royal Cliff, the choice
of venue for the traditional welcome was never in doubt.
Starting in the Promenade Terrace, the inductions were carried out by Joe
Thawilvejjakul (representing Bangkok) and Pongthep Leenutapong, the ‘Conseil
Magistrate’ (representing France), since the Chaine des Rotisseurs began in
‘la belle France’ in 1248 AD.
Ceremony was the order of the evening, with the swords being laid on the
shoulders of the inductees, and they all swore to maintain the culture of
the table. It was obvious that for these people, food, wines and culture
were important.
To round out the evening, the Chaine members and guests moved to the Grill
Room and Wine Cellar, the Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s award winning
restaurant, for a six course banquet (eight if you count the sorbet and the
coffees with Royal pralines), devised by the Royal Cliff’s executive chef
Walter Thenisch.
Items presented to the diners included duck liver mille-feuille, pigeon
supreme, roasted venison and Reblochon cheese with kumquat marmalade.
The individual courses were served with varying wines including a South
African white Springfield Estate, Life From Stone, Sauvignon blanc 2006;
followed by a French Chateau Close Floridene, Graves blanc 2004; then the
first red being a Napa Valley Delicato Merlot 2005 and then my favorite for
the evening, a Peter Lehmann, Futures Shiraz 2003. South Africa, France,
America and Australia. A great selection. However, there was still one more
wine to come, and this was the Ceretto Moscato d’Asti 2006, served
completely chilled, and releasing “pleasure bubbles” around the tongue. I
have tried this wine before, and as a finish to a great repast, it is
without peer.
And speaking of great finishes, the Charge de Mission Hugh Millar almost
made it perfectly through his final speech for the evening, but seemed to
develop a lisp about half way. I believe that he found his tongue was stuck
to the roof of his mouth the next morning, which might explain it! In his
defence, Hugh did start the evening by telling everyone to “have some fun”.
We did and he did!
The next Chaine des Rotisseurs dinner will be on February 4, 2008 and will
be held at the Sheraton Resort Pattaya. Further details can be obtained from
[email protected]
New members: Charles Richard Evans - Chevalier, Philip Wall Morris -
Chevalier, Jan Chris von Koss - Chevalier, Ms. Siriporn Thamcharoen -
Chevalier (Dame de la Chaine), Mrs. Janet Theresa Smith - Chevalier (Dame de
la Chaine), Frenny Johannes Hesling - Chevalier, John Nicholl - Chevalier,
James Lumsden - Chevalier, Max Peter Popovic - Maitre de Table, Neil
Blenkharn - Maitre de Table.
Promotion: Dieter Herbert Precourt - From Chevalier to Officier de La
Chaine; Jacques Laurent - promoted to Conseiller Gastronomique; Ranjith
Chandrasiri - Promoted from Maitre de Table Rotisseur to Bailli Delegue
Regional.
The local chapter of the oldest gourmet group in
the world, La Chaine des Rotisseurs, held the induction ceremony for its new
members at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
Royal Cliff Wine Club puts on a Hardy dinner
(L to R) Iain Corness, Bill
Hardy, Oenologist at Hardy Wine Company, Ranjith Chandrasiri, Deputy general
manager of Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Lt. Somphon Charumilinda, managing
director of Ambrose Wine Limited, Athitanan Toyingpaiboon, marketing manager
of Ambrose Wine Limited, and Matthew Morrissy, regional manager South East
Asia Singapore Representative Office of Constellation.
(L to R) Athitanan
Toyingpaiboon, marketing manager of Ambrose Wine Limited, Ranjith
Chandrasiri deputy general manager of Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Bill Hardy
oenologist at Hardy Wine Company, Panga Vathanakul, managing director of
Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Vashana Vathanakul, executive director of Royal
Cliff Beach Resort, Lt. Somphon Charumilinda, managing director of Ambrose
Wine Limited and Matthew Morrissy, regional manager South East Asia
Singapore Representative Office of Constellation.
(L to R) Trevor Ian, chairman
of IndoChine, Charlie Warner of Silvermover, John Gillies managing director
of IndoChine and Peter Smith, director of AA Insurance Broker Co., Ltd.
(L to R) Richard Smith,
chairman of the Expats Club, Janet Smith, Bebe Benson and Jim Benson.
(L to R) Apple, Veerawan
Mansatthawit, building manager for the Royal Cliff Garden Juristic Person
Condominium, Irene Ovtun and Kjell H. Ovtun jr, director of Royal Cliff
Garden Condominium.
Miss Terry Diner
I have said it before, but the Royal Cliff Wine Club’s gala dinners
represent the best value for money in up-market dining in Pattaya. And the
Hardy’s Winemakers Dinner last week was probably one of the best that
President Ranjith Chandrasiri has presented to the Wine Club members and
guests.
 (L
to R) Dieter H. Precourt, Kritchanat Srethao and Apple.
Hardy’s Wines was represented by Bill Hardy, a fifth generation Hardy at the
helm of Australia’s oldest vineyards, which has been going since 1853. After
104 years, you would imagine that they could get it right – and let me
assure you, they have! Discussing the wines late in the evening with a man
of the cloth, I opined that if he were to present Hardy’s Eileen Hardy
Shiraz, McLaren Vale 2002 as the communion wine to his parishioners, I would
be prepared to join the order. It was that good.
Bill Hardy gave a relaxed address without too much of the oenologist jargon,
relating how his forebear, Thomas Hardy arrived in Australia in the early
1850’s with 30 pounds in his pocket and secured a job as a shepherd.
Shepherding was not his métier, losing two flocks in the first week, so his
boss transferred him to a vineyard. The legend that was going to be Hardy’s
Wine Company went from there.
 (L
to R) J. David Meador, personal counselling and coaching for Communication
Skills Training and Consulting, Bebe Benson and Jim Benson.
As Bill Hardy himself proclaimed, it needs good food to make the wines even
better, and the Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s executive chef Walter Thenisch
excelled himself again in preparing a magnificent five course feast, with
the ginger and herb marinated braised beef short ribs on soft polenta
receiving Bill Hardy’s unreserved compliments, teaming with the Hardy’s
Nottage Hill Shiraz, South Australia, 2005 vintage.
Bill Hardy also revealed that the Nottage Hill label was named after an
uncle, and they have sold one million bottles of the Nottage Hill Chardonnay
in 80 countries.
For me, the course of the evening was the oh-so-tender slow roasted
Australian prime veal rack with provencale vegetables in a crispy crepe pan
and jus reduction. This was teamed with Hardy’s Oomoo (from the Aboriginal
word meaning “pleasing to the eye” Bill told us) Shiraz from McLaren Vale,
which was very pleasant, but the Eileen Hardy Shiraz, the final wine of the
evening was even more enjoyable.
We had experienced six Hardy’s wines during the evening, and for me, each
one just got better and better, and this was the general feeling at the
tables I visited at the end.
A lucky draw for some bottles of Hardy’s wines was done at the conclusion of
the dinner, with Wine Club members Ron Fleitman and Kees Cuypers taking home
some very special bottles, bringing out rampant jealousy in all of us.
It will be difficult to top this latest Australian Winemaker’s Gala Dinner,
but it will be interesting to see just what the Wine Club President Ranjith
Chandrasiri can come up with next.
Details about the wine club and its dinners can be obtained by emailing wine
[email protected] or ran [email protected]
City scandalized by story of
11-year-old girl living in cemetery
Patcharapol Panrak
Pattaya has been shocked by the story of an 11-year-old girl who has
been living in a cemetery with her father for most of her life.
Bunkerd Phothikul, a 35-year-old security guard at Ban Sukhawadee, alerted
the media to the plight of the child. He said that the father and daughter
had been living at Chonglom Temple cemetery next to Ban Sukhawadee in a
small hut without lights and utilities for 10 years.
 Things
are looking up for the youngster, for help has finally arrived.
The father survives and sends his daughter to school by collecting refuse.
Some days they didn’t have enough money to buy food, and Lt Salee
Muangruang, chief security guard at Ban Sukhawadee supports them with meals
because he is afraid that the girl may starve.
Reporters went to the cemetery where they found a hut 2 x 2 meters in
dimension, and 2 meters high. The wall is plywood covered with old zinc. The
father, 35-year-old Thongplaew Chompoo, was lying in an old mosquito net.
The hut had no light and was full of mosquitoes. Miss Sarocha Chompoo’s
school schedule was stuck on the front door. Under the hut is a polluted
source of water that is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and many dogs roam
the area. There was no cooking equipment.
 Deputy
Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh explains some paperwork for Sarocha and her father
Thongplaew.
Sarocha said that she is 11 years old. Her father’s friend takes her to
study at Pattaya School No 2, where she is in primary school class 2/1. She
had never allowed her teachers and friends to know about her situation. Then
on November 22 she suffered a stomachache. She was in the school first aid
room, and her teacher accompanied her back to the hut in the evening after
class. At that time her secret was revealed.
Thongpleaw said that he came from Bangban, Ayutthaya. His wife was Mrs
Rattana Kamsat, and she had left him and their daughter for another man when
their daughter started to walk. He took the girl to follow her mother, who
was living with her stepfather on Soi Rong Maikheed in Pattaya for support.
However, his wife rejected them. He walked along the road and found an empty
space in a thicket, and he set up a hut for himself and his daughter. They
have been there ever since, for 10 years.
Thongpleaw said that people threw their refuse into the cemetery, and the
refuse collectors were sympathetic with him. They allowed him to go and
collect garbage with their motorbikes and sidecars. This was the way he
earned money and supported his daughter. Some days they had no food, and
then the guards at Ban Sukhawadee helped them with meals. Because of this he
was able to survive up till now.
Following the emergence of the story, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh went
with police and social workers to the cemetery. Kasem Chimjiew, director of
Pattaya School No 2 and Mrs Pornsuda Yaemkaesorn, the teacher of primary
school class 2/1 also went, and were shocked at the conditions in which the
father and daughter were living.
They said that Sarocha was often complaining of headaches and worrying that
her father hadn’t had any food for several mealtimes, because they had run
out of money. Officials have now arranged a scholarship for Sarocha to cover
the nine-year basic education period, and have promised to find a job for
her father.
Ronakit said he was astonished that anyone in Pattaya should have to live
like this, and that it is a danger for the girl to grow up in this
situation. Sarocha has been taken temporarily to stay at the Redemptorist
Foundation for her security. Once her father is in employment and able to
take care of her himself, the two will be reunited.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, mayoral advisor Itthipol Khunplome and the
Rak Pattaya Group have vowed to ensure that father and daughter have a
better life.
School director Kasem said that Sarocha is a good student, well behaved and
diligent. The school has provided her scholarship and opened a Demand
Deposit account at the Government Savings Bank Banglamung Branch, account
number 03-2105-20-112608-2, under the name of Miss Sarocha Chompoo.
Sarocha looks out from the
door of her “home” before all the publicity.
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