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100 youngsters ordain as novice monks at Sattahip Temple

Diana Dragon Sports Corner celebrates 10th birthday

Traditional Songkran celebrated at Fountain of Life Pattaya

Chaine goes ‘amical’ at Pan Pan

Rotarians help foster peace though kindness and service for schoolchildren in Narathiwat

Mozart enchants Globe Theatre

Obituary


100 youngsters ordain as novice monks at Sattahip Temple

Young novice monks and their families make merit
for Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani.

Young novices make their way round the temple grounds.

Dressed in pure white, the young novices receive their saffron robes.

Youngsters from Sattahip and Samaesarn districts express their loyalty
to His Majesty the King for his upcoming 81st birthday.

The newly ordained novice monks at Sattahip Temple gather for a colorful photo.

Patcharapol Panrak
One hundred youngsters ordained as novice monks at Sattahip Temple to make merit for Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani, who passed away on January 2, and to spend part of their summer studying within the temple.
The ordination ceremony took place in the sermon hall at Sattahip Temple on April 7, with the dean of Sattahip District Abbot Wibunthammabal presiding, assisted by Deputy Mayor of Sattahip Municipality Brat Bunbancherdsri, who also heads the Layman Party.
There were 80 youngsters from Sattahip District and 20 from Samaesarn District taking part, and they expressed their loyalty to His Majesty the King for his upcoming 81st birthday.
During summer school, the novices will learn about strength of character, giving them the self-discipline to avoid excessive participation in computer games, the exploitation of youngsters by entrepreneurs more intent on making a profit from them than helping them as growing individuals, and the temptations of drugs.


Diana Dragon Sports Corner celebrates 10th birthday

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Champagne corks popped on April 4 as the Diana Dragon Sports Corner celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Who can guzzle a Chang Beer the fastest?
Sopin Thappajug, managing director of the Diana Group welcomed friends and guests to the venue for an evening of music and good fun, with a fast-moving roster of bands, singers, and comedians.
Guests were encouraged to join in the games, with prizes of Chang T-shirts being handed out, and there was a competition to see who could drink a bottle of Chang Beer in the fastest time.
Well-known singer David Inthee provided the musical highlight of the evening, performing songs from his albums such as “Fak Faen Pom Duay” from the albums “Mue Mai Had Rak” and “Sua Poen Wai”. The singer received bouquets of flowers from his fans, including from Sopin.
Wasa Sukasem, manager of the Diana Dragon Sports Corner said that progress for the venue had been remarkable in the 10 years since it had first opened.
“We started with a small shop, and now there are 150 seats to provide service to Thai and foreign customers,” said Wasa. “They can relax with soft music, and can if they wish join in games and beer drinking contests. The first Friday of each month sees our Friday Night Party, which is especially popular.”
The Diana Dragon Sports Corner is open every day from 7 a.m. to 12 midnight. It is located on Soi Buakao across from Soi Diana Inn.

A comedy show leads the entertainment before David Inthee’s concert.

David Inthee and his band perform for an appreciative audience.

Management and honored guests pour the champagne over the champagne tree during the celebration of Diana Dragon’s 10th anniversary at Chang Beer House.


Traditional Songkran celebrated at Fountain of Life Pattaya

Lela Aukes-Niemer
On April 11, Sister Joan and the Fountain of Life staff invited people from the community to come and celebrate Songkran with the children in their care. Several members of the Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) came to participate in this important event and celebrated with them.
The Fountain of Life staff was free from their regular routine work and the children and staff shared a real “Songkran” Thai New Year celebration with us. The Songkran festival is very much related to water, since people believe that water splashing will induce abundant rainfalls in the incoming year. Water is also a symbol to clean up bad things, so Thai citizens traditionally wash up to start a clean new year.
Nang Rochana told the children about the meaning of Songkran and explained how to perform the annual rite of showing respect to their elders. The highlight of the event was when the younger Thais, paying respect to their elders, sprinkle their elders’ hands with scented water.
Several PILC ladies attended, including last year’s president Roseanne, Ingrid, Inga, Karin, Sheila, and others. We were all there to take part in this celebration of delightful, colourful, and very wet fun, as a very traditional event. It was a symbolic, beautiful day which, in fact, suitably united the mutual relationship between members of the Fountain of Life, PILC and the Thai society as a whole.
Many guests, including Pastor Fred from the Mercy Center and Bill from the Jesters, all joined in with the children.
The Songkran Festival has proved to be the most important and grandest festival of the year. The children played cultural games, performed song and dance and performed serious rituals like bathing the Buddha image with scented water. The children also took part in forming sand pagodas.
Afterwards, they washed the hands of guests, elders, and respected ones to ask for their blessings. After that it was traditional cake, desserts and goodies for everyone and lots of playing by splashing water at one another, praying for good luck and good life. We all had a great time.

The Festival proved to be the most important and grandest, children played cultural games, performed song and dance and bathing the Buddha image with scented water, blessing were then given by elders.


Chaine goes ‘amical’ at Pan Pan

Miss Terry Diner
The local chapter of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, the oldest gourmet group in the world (started in 1248 - that’s a lot of dinners across the table) held an evening with a difference last week. It was an evening ‘amical’ (friendly), a culinary adventure, but without the pomp and circumstance usually associated with Chaine dinners.

Local Chaine Bailli Ranjith Chandrasiri welcomes members to the dinner.
It was held at Pan Pan in Jomtien, which has a glassed-in garden area behind the main restaurant, which proved to be very suitable for the event. Holding the “event” was the rationale for the dinner ‘amical’, rather than adventurous cuisine, with the Italian food being produced by Pan Pan’s very experienced Italian chef, Lamyuan and the owner Wanphen Prantera, who had also trained overseas in Rome and Paris.
The reception wine was not a Prosecco, as many had predicted, but a neat Campari, a palate-startling commencement for the evening. This was drunk while consuming many small brochettes as appetizers.
President of the local Chaine, Ranjith Chandrasiri, welcomed everyone and said that the venue was one of the most popular Italian family restaurants in Pattaya, and was one that could promote friendship amongst the members and guests.

Hugh Millar, emcee of the night.
After seating, the members were served the traditional Italian anti pasti of Parma ham and melon balls, served with pizza bread and a very interesting Radicchio salad, which had greens, fried potato, mozzarella cheese and crispy bacon. It was superb. During this course, the Prosecco was served, a wine that goes well with almost anything.
After much chat and discussion on many topics, and not just food, the second course was brought in, and again was another different concoction, called a Caponata Siciliana. This was a lukewarm sweet and sour combination with eggplant, tomato, prawns, celery, olives and red capsicum. This was washed down with a strong white at 14 percent, a Quater Bianco, being a combination of Grillo, Catarratto, Carricante and Zibibbo grapes.
The main course was Roman farmhouse style ox tail, which had been roasted and then simmered to make the meat fall off the bones. Julius would have been proud of the fact that he had conquered Gaul, leaving a tradition for the Chaine des Rotisseurs! A red wine accompanied this, a Chiaramonte, being another Sicilian made from 100 percent Nero d’Avola grapes.

Ranjith explains to Dr. Iain for PMTV the true meaning of ‘amical’ culinary adventure.
Desserts and further chat rounded out the evening, with a plate holding an Italian style English trifle, chocolate truffle cake and pistachio ice cream being served along with the wonderful traditional Limoncello, which according to the MC Hugh Millar (Symphony restaurant) was 97 percent proof. The proof of the pudding was in the drinking, or something similar!
It was a different evening, and was designed to be that way. Whilst the Chaine is thought of as having rather ‘grand’ dinners, it was good to see the lack of stuffiness and everyone letting their hair down. Some more than others!

Dr. William van Ewijk and his fiancée with Apple, Elfi and Meow Aamlid.

Jan Van Koss, Jan Olav and Meow Aamlid, Dr. Iain Corness
and Elfi Seitz were chatting the night away.

It was an ‘amical’ evening, a culinary adventure, but without the pomp
and circumstance usually associated with Chaine dinners.


Rotarians help foster peace though kindness and service for schoolchildren in Narathiwat

Wat Choeng Khao School a perfect example of tolerance and harmonious co-existence

Happy Rotarians, the military, teachers and most of all the children gather
 for a group photograph at the presentation ceremonies.

John Botting &
Peter Thorand

On January 31 this year at very short notice members of the Rotary Club Taksin-Pattaya and the Rotary Club (RC) of Chantanimit, Chantaburi, traveled to Narathiwat in southern Thailand, a town which is 70 km from the border of Malaysia. In this area the insurgency is very active and has been for many years. In general, it’s a not very secure area for foreigners to visit.

President John Botting is hard at work again organising fundraisers to finance more projects in the south.
The Rotarians who traveled there were President Wiboon, Past President Jedsada, Past President Kosol, Past President Suvan, and Past President Worarit from the RC Chantanimit, Chantaburi; from RC Taksin-Pattaya Charter President and Project Chairman Peter Thorand, charter member Erwin Rohner and executive secretary Michael Butler. Also attending was David Biow, one of our sponsors and Hajo Schielmann.
On arrival an airline employee mentioned to us we are the first 5 foreigners to arrive here on one day for many years!
In Narathiwat we were welcomed by the commander of the 3rd Infantry Regt, MARDIV, RTMC at the HRH Princess Chulabhorn Camp, which is located at Tambol Khok Kean, Ampor Mueng, Narathiwat Province. The camp is very near the airport and from the time we arrived till we left we were constantly guarded by many soldiers.
We moved into the rooms provided for us on the camp and enjoyed a Thai lunch. Thereafter we changed and boarded the busses to take us to Wat Choeng Khao School, Palukasmoa Sub-district, Bacho District, which is about 50 km from the Royal Thai Marines camp.
Naturally, everyone was waiting for us at the school and on arrival the festivities started. The area is poor and has high unemployment. Our project consisted of the construction of a football field with a raised cement floor, a Thai sala for the kids to use as a waiting area after school, and a library. This will be the only library in this area which has a tiled floor. All other floors were dirt.
The kids put on a traditional cultural dance, performed by two boys and around 12 little girls. It was a very nice show with a lot of improvisation! Considering they have nothing, the show was outstanding.
We provided them with sports equipment kindly donated by Rotarians Erwin & Susi Rohner, and Erwin also handed out 300 candy sticks, which the kids loved. CP Peter Thorand handed out 75 match box cars and he was nearly mobbed by the boys. They have never had such a toy before and were overjoyed at this gift.
At around 7 p.m. we gathered on the beach for a meal and get together. Rotarian Michael provided the beverage for the evening. The police commander for the region, Yongyut, joined us (he was a police chief in Pattaya & Chantaburi previously). Also joining us were the headmaster of the school, the teachers and all the military commanders who were responsible for implementing this project.
Charter President Peter handed out some very special coins featuring King Rama 5 on one side and different temples of Thailand on the other side, to the people which where instrumental to make this project a success. The camp commander was presented with a Rotary coin and the civilians all given an info booklet on Rotary.
We enjoyed a great dinner and many stories were swapped and many friendships formed. By around 10 p.m. we all went back to our rooms for a much needed rest. The next day we left the camp around 10 a.m. and boarded our flight back to Bangkok.
We’d like to give a big Thank You to our hosts, Capt. Nivech Bootsri, Commander Southern Marines Task Force / 3rd Inf Rgt, MARDIV and Somchai, R.T.M. Capt Pongsak Tongsai, LCDR Kitipumi & Lt Putporn, for the professional way they implemented and completed the project, for their great hospitality and security they provided during our stay.
This project was carried out by the two Rotary clubs mentioned here who raised 150,000 baht in cash. We would like to also thank some of our sponsors, King Seafood, Marriott Hotel & Spa, Chaiaboon Construction and Sahip Tailors.
This was a pilot project for us in the deep south of Thailand and we are now looking to help 4 more schools in the same way. Also we would like to give each school a water purification system and help the rural clinics (currently they are only First Aid stations).
Everyone down there told us what we have done is good, as the locals see that the soldiers are also there to help and protect. When they see the way we were helping them they see that other areas in this country are also concerned about them. This way we can contribute to the poor in the area and maybe help wean them away from the extremists and join the rest of the country.
The two clubs working in this area are the RC of Taksin-Pattaya and the RC of Chantanimit, Chantaburi. These 2 clubs are the first Rotary Clubs ever to go there. The area is very poor and in need of anything we can provide them, from healthcare to school supplies to clothes and more of the same that we have just done there.
Our aim is to raise more funds and continue the same type of project for 4 more schools in the more outlying areas to give the community a place to meet, the kids a safe place to play and the end result will be we push the insurgents back.
Hopefully we can do this as we have just successfully completed our first project and now have contacts in this area, an area no one wants to go and every one is afraid. However, since we are partnered with the Royal Thai Marines we are able to implement projects there and we need not to be afraid as they are very professional in the way they contact their business.
As an old saying goes, “When you do good, good comes to you”.
We would like to appeal to some of our local businesses to come forward and support our effort by donating to the new project, as we have to assist another 4 schools.
For more information contact the project chairman, Peter Thorand charterpresident @rotary-pattaya.org or call Peter on 081 909 9098, or President John Botting, president@rotary-pattyaya. org or call John on 081 894 2118 or project member Michael Buttler, michael@ siambusinessservices.com

The military and local workers are to be wholeheartedly thanked
for their tireless work in completing the projects.

The work completed, a lot of fun was had by all at the presentation ceremonies.


Mozart enchants Globe Theatre

Jonathon Davie
In a city that is undoubtedly starved of classical music performances, it is keen anticipation that we greet to launch of a new home-grown musical enterprise. The newly formed Siam Chamber Orchestra, founded by Suriyothai/Naresuan composer Richard Harvey with the backing of the Royal Overseas League Thailand, is one such enterprise, but one that proved well worthy of our attention. The programme, presented in the Globe Theatre at the Regent’s School was a nicely balanced Mozart selection under the baton of two conductors, Harvey himself for the first part and Leo Phillips for the more substantial second half.

Jonathon Davie
The evening commenced with the champagne moment that is the Marriage of Figaro overture, a fleeting moment of pure, heady musical effervescence. Almost gone before it started, one felt that the newly formed orchestra was warming up, but with its high energy levels, sparkling one moment, hammering the next and cajoling in between, it had the desired curtain raising effect.
The SCO and Harvey were then joined on stage by Leo Phillips (this time in his role of virtuoso violinist) and Nian Liu, virtuoso violist from Shanghai, for the E flat Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra. This amazing work is rarely heard in Thailand but is one of Mozart’s finest. Both soloists were on top form and the honeyed tones of Mr Liu’s viola were as were as seductive as Phillips’ violin was brilliant.
The slow movement was very moving indeed, the large audience sat transfixed before being stung back into life by the hyper-active and super-exuberant last movement.
After a very well catered intermission, the orchestra returned, this time with roles reversed for Harvey and Phillips, now Phillips the conductor and Harvey the soloist for the Clarinet concerto in A, one of Mozart’s last compositions. This is a beautiful piece, no doubt about that, but often placed on too high a shelf by dint of it being one of the great composer’s final offerings. The fact is… that it wasn’t meant to be! Although he talked about death frequently, the 35 year old Mozart was not a morbid character and this work was written for his friend, fellow freemason, showman, drinking and gambling partner Anton Stadler, pioneer and virtuoso of the then recently invented clarinet. It is a work written for a charmer and a chancer, full of wit and vigour with one of the most beautiful Adagios you’re ever likely to hear sandwiched between an elegant opening Allegro and a sparkling Rondo. As soloist, Harvey did not disappoint, a twinkle in his eye as he negotiated the passagework of the last movement with insouciant ease.
A lengthy second half was concluded with the main course for the evening, the towering and magnificent symphony number 41, “The Jupiter”. This is an ambitious undertaking for any orchestra, particularly a small group, where as the inner workings of the piece are laid out like the movement of an intricate Swiss watch… Nowhere to hide here. This really was, rightly, the highlight of the evening. The first movement with its elegant classical structure spiced with amazing changes of key and colouration, came and went. The achingly beautiful Adagio with its silken muted violin phrases and pre-echoes of Wagner in the woodwind writing came and went, with not a sound from the audience. The elegant minuet and trio, like a sorbet between courses, came and went, giving the emotions a break before the finale.
Woody Allen once said that the closing vivace of the Jupiter symphony “made you believe in God”. What a defining moment in the cultural history of mankind this fleeting, quicksilver 8 minutes or so is! It is like Mozart as the magician and the supreme composer he had become. He sets out his five different but complementary themes like cards on a table, then proceeds to play such tricks with them that you are left dizzy and breathless. Under Leo Phillips the SCO did a fine, really fine job of the entire work. There’s not much that anyone can add to this masterpiece, the trick is to take as little away as possible, providing a pure conduit from the amazing mind and soul of Mozart the genius to the here and now. That’s the joy of music, it’s a bit like watching a great painter making his brush-strokes … every performance is just like the premiere, with life breathed anew into the notes on the page. There was real life here. The audience leaping to their feet and shouts of “bravo” was further evidence of that.
Well done SCO et al, Pattaya needs this kind of well-directed energy, let’s have some more and don’t leave it too long!


Obituary: Piyapatch “Namphon” Malarat

Namphon’s home for the past 3 years was the Mercy Centre Children’s Home. She had suffered from leukemia since she was 3 years old. Ongoing treatments, plus chemotherapy and radiation were not able to bring healing, and she passed away on Thursday March 27 at approximately 11:40 a.m.

Piyapatch “Namphon” Malarat
August 10, 1993 - March 27 2008

This is Namphon’s story. The story of a special child of Pattaya.
On Saturday March 28, many came to St Nikolas Church, Pattaya to say a last farewell to this special 14 year old child they all knew. Many people and organizations were involved in Namphon’s life, but let’s start with Namphon herself and how she came to be at the Mercy Centre Children’s home.
A New Home
Namphon’s mother and biological father fought a lot and finally separated when Namphon was still very young. Not long after Mom brought home a new ‘foster father’ and not long after that she became pregnant again, more fighting and beatings, a baby brother ‘Beer’ born … and another ‘separation’. Namphon spent most of her young life being cared for by a variety of “Auntys’, always herself caring for her small brother and always longing for a ‘family’ again.

Namphon’s little brother Beer, with Dianne Doell at the Mercy Centre.

Her mother ‘worked’ nights, and often disappeared for days at a time, but finally when she was gone for weeks, kind hearted friends at Chumchon Kohpai referred Namphon and her 6 mo. brother to Mercy. That was over 3 years ago, and the Mercy Centre became their new family, able to provide care, shelter and love and to make sure that Namphon received the medical treatment she needed.
Fun at School
Namphon attended Fountain of Life School and was a smart kid. She previously had very little education, being forced to leave school due to her illness, then later to care for her baby brother. She really like learning, but sometimes it was difficult for her to study because of her illness. She was well-liked and had many friends at the Fountain of Life, and will be missed by the other children there.
A Last wish
Namphon’s wish was to see her mother and father again before she died, and the Mercy Centre was able to make this happen. Both of them were at Namphon’s bedside for the last 2 days of her life, and this made her very happy.
The Letters
Before she died, at the request of her doctors, Namphon wrote some letters which have been translated. These are just a few extracts from those letters.

Namphon after chemo with Kru Wannee of the Fountain of Life Center.

“Now I am very happy to stay at the children’s home. There are many other children. I would like to be with those children because they smile when I play with them. I feel like many people concern about me and love me. I am happy to know that many people love me.”
“I know that I got leukemia but many people are concerned about me. I am very happy reaching today with many other people’s support. I don’t care about leukemia. I will fight with it. I will look after my brother well. My Mom told me to love my brother, don’t leave him, be strong to look after him.”
“I have love for everyone and gain love from everyone as well, even though I didn’t stay with my mother. Lots of people are concerned about me, look after me. I know that there are many other children who have faced worse situations than me and are poorer than me. I am happy to be at the shelter. I miss my Mom.”

Namphon with her little brother Beer.

“If I got heal from leukemia. My Mom and Dad might be very happy. If I got better I would like to be a doctor or have my own shop so we could stay together as a family. I wanted to be happy.”
And this was Namphon’s last letter:
“When I grow up I want to be a doctor like Doctor East so I could heal myself and heal my mother, my brother and other people when they are sick. I wanted to be a good doctor like Doctor East and Doctor Jeadsadha who look after me many times. They are both very good. I wanted to be good doctor so I can heal my leukemia. If I got better I wanted to stay with my mother and brother. I wanted my brother to be smart at school so that when he graduated he can get a job like my dream that I wanted to be a doctor. I don’t know what Beer wanted to study or to be or what he dreams. I want him to get a good job. I wanted whoever got cancer got healed or any other disease get heal soon. Good bye to Doctor East and Doctor Jeadsadha.”
Some of the many people who were involved in Namphon’s life:
* The home referred to is Mercy Center - Children’s Home in Pattaya, where Namphon lived with her brother Beer. Beer still lives there - a lively young boy who now misses the sister who looked after him all his life.
* Namphon saw a pediatric hematologist, Dr. Preeda to begin procedure for bone marrow transplant donor search, with all costs paid for by Take Care Kids Foundation (Italy). Although donors were found, the procedure became impossible because Namphon’s last relapse reduced possible success to less than 10%. She was also treated by Dr. Sureeporn (East) and Dr. Jeadsadha, at Chonburi Hospital and the medical staff at Banglamung Hospital.
* The Fountain of Life played an important part in Namphon’s life. She went to school there and had many friends. She really enjoyed learning, but sometimes it was difficult for her to study. She always received love and encouragement from Sister Joan and the staff and volunteers at the Fountain of Life.
* Jesters Care for Kids are the major supporter of the Fountain of Life, and many Jesters attended Namphon’s funeral. The Jesters also contributed towards the funeral costs, as did the PILC (Pattaya International Ladies Club) who also support Fountain of Life and the Mercy Centre projects.
If you would like to read more about Namphon, or see the full text of her letters, please visit the Mercy Centre website www. mercypattaya.com
A message from the Mercy Centre, Pattaya
Mercy Center and Fountain of Life want to thank all those who through their kindness and generosity have helped Namphon and so many others like her have a better life. It continues to be our greatest joy to be part of a community that is so caring and works in so many ways to help bring hope to those in need, particularly the children.
In the special letters Namphon wrote before she died, she talked about the things she would like in her life. With humility, gratitude and love she wrote of her life, and her desire to be with her ‘family’, who separated when she was small. We thank God that her mother and father were both able to be with her in her final days. There were, however, some other ‘dreams’ Namphon wrote about that have not yet become real. It is those special requests that we ask any and all who are touched by Namphon’s story to help us make her dreams come true:
* Namphon’s brother Beer’s future education: Namphon wrote that when she ‘grew up’ she wanted to be a doctor to care for other children with leukemia, and that if she was not able to, then she wanted her young brother Beer to have this opportunity. Those who would like to be a part of Namphon’s dream for her brother come true, are invited to make a special offering through the Mercy Center to be kept in trust for Beer’s future education, whatever is most suitable for him at that time.
* Chonburi Hospital: Those who visited Namphon in Chonburi Hospital feel that for those children especially who spend considerable time there as Namphon did; it could use some ‘cheering up’ in terms of new and colorful bedding, curtains, pictures, etc. When we visited the hospital to thank them for their care of Namphon and discuss our desire to help, they showed us a wonderful new children’s wing of the Chonburi Hospital. The building was completed with funds raised through a local Thai foundation, but the equipping and furnishing was just beginning, and apart from those things that would obviously be transferred, they had no idea where the necessary extra equipment & furnishing would come from.
We have asked them to provide a list of things needed for Mercy to use to help raise support for a special memorial project. We also asked for a list of those organizations already committed to help them, so we are not duplicating efforts.
Those who would like to contribute toward either memorial project may make a special designation through Mercy Center - Pattaya directly, or by using on-line giving at our Mercy web site at: www.mercypattaya.com. Those wanting more information may email: mercyp [email protected] or by mobile phone as follows: Liz Shepherd: 086- 562-4080; Fred Doell: 086-688-5867; Dianne Doell: 081-945-4307.
MERCY Center is an authorized charity project registered with Goodwill Foundation – Thailand.
This story was written by Elaine Poole, in conjunction with the Mercy Centre, and PILC and Jesters Care for Kids.