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Evil omen seen
in Pattaya Bay
Funnel cloud causes panic on beach
This funnel cloud caused some consternation
when it appeared in Pattaya Bay on 9-11.
Boonlua Chatree
A 30-story high funnel cloud in Pattaya Bay on September 11 caused panic
amongst residents and tourists, who ran from the beach in fear that the
twister would come ashore.
The funnel of water vapour appeared in the bay about 2 kilometers from the
coast and stayed there for about half an hour before eventually subsiding.
The phenomenon, known to Thais as an Elephant’s Trunk, was first spotted in
Jomtien Bay as a small twister before spinning into Pattaya Bay, where it
grew larger.
Most people seeing it had never seen one before, and were scared, and some
recalled an earlier cyclone that had caused damage in Nakhorn Sawan
Province.
Others took it as an omen that disaster was imminent, saying that this was
the first time in living memory anything like this had been seen in Pattaya,
and that the twister was a harbinger of worse to come as the political
turmoil continues in Bangkok.
Meteorologists explained that a funnel cloud is a natural occurrence, albeit
a rare one. It occurs in an area of intense low pressure and is caused by
high wind speeds and rapid rotation. When forming over water, the rotation
causes water vapor to rise into the air, often to a height of 100 meters or
more, becoming visible as a funnel of condensation.
Home alone with only a 3-meter python for company
The rottweiler safely locked
away, rescue workers stretch
out the captured snake to get an idea of its length.
Theerarak Suthatiwong
Rescue workers turned out just after midnight on September 7 when a
14-year-old boy reported that his rottweiler dog had found a 3-meter python
outside the house.
Sawang Boriboon Foundation officers Wathanyu Saenawong and Sunthon Akaruan
arriving at the address in Ban Suan Rungroj Village in Naklua were met by
Master Rachan Jaro, or Bic.
The house was a single two-story property, and the python was curled up in
the fishpond in front of the house, sheltering from the rottweiler that was
barking vigorously at the serpent.
The rescue workers bagged the snake, and later released it into the wild a
long way from human habitation.
Mrs Bong Malisorn, 60, stated that this house belonged to Ms Prayong
Malisorn, 37, who was living in Sweden with her husband. Only Prayong’s
nephew Bic was watching over the house, Bong residing at another house at
Naklua Market.
Bic said that he was in the house when suddenly the dog outside began
barking furiously. He went outside and found the snake coiled up at the
fishpond. Then he called his grandmother, who alerted the rescue service.
Bong said that she is sure the snake had brought luck to the house.
Predictably, perhaps, she had gone out and bought a lottery ticket.
Bangsarae jetty to be enlarged
Officials inspect the jetty
expansion project.
Patcharapol Panrak
An extra budget of 1 million baht has been allocated to enlarge the
Bangsarae jetty and provide more space for the fishing boats.
The amount is in addition to the 13.5 million baht budget approved by the
Chonburi Administrative Organization to construct a new jetty, enabling it
to be longer and wider.
Sattahip District chief Narong Teerachantarangkul, announcing the project on
September 9, said that it came under the strategic plan for developing
facilities in Chonburi Province for the benefit of the community.
Mayor of Sattahip Sub-district Pinsom Nimsuwan welcomed Narong and his team
to Bangsarae, where they went to inspect the jetty under construction.
Pinsom said the existing jetty was now too small and that considerable
congestion occurred when the fishing boats were moored, which led to
difficulties unloading and transporting the fish.
The municipality had submitted the plans to Chonburi province, and the
budget had finally been approved.
The extra budget allows the jetty to be lengthened by another 258 meters and
widened by 5.5 meters.
Police arrest Long-neck
Karen in Sattahip
Theerarak Suthatiwong
Eleven Karen immigrants from Chiang Mai have been arrested by police
in Sattahip for breaches of their temporary entry permit into the country.
A Thai national, Weerasak Yainat, 48, from Buriram Province, was also taken
in for questioning.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Atthakrit Thareechat, commander in chief of the Tourist
Police, said the 3 male and 8 female “Long-necked” Karen hilltribe people
were arrested on September 10 while selling handicraft and posing for photos
with tourists at Kao Chichan in Sattahip.
He said the Karen had breached conditions of their temporary permit to
reside in the country by not informing police of their relocation from
Chiang Mai to Sattahip.
Police alleged that Weerasak had organized the Karen to come from the north
and had built huts for them to live in. The entrepreneur wanted to make it
easier for tourists to see some hilltribe people and buy their goods without
having to travel north, police said.
During the arrest, police take
time out to pose
for a group photo with the hilltribe folks.
Stores help tourists in emergency
(L to R) Panada
Wekawakayanon, Edward Kitti, Mayor Ittipol Khunplome, Panthip Yudee and
Pol. Maj. Gen Koson Poawes at the project launching.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
All 7-Eleven stores in Pattaya and Koh Chang have become
emergency police contact points for tourists in a trial project of
co-operation between the company and police.
Tourists can now telephone Tourist Police for assistance directly from
all 151 7-Eleven street corner stores in the trial area 24 hours a day.
The emergency numbers to call are 1155 for Koh Chang and 1337 for
Pattaya.
The aim of the project is to eventually expand the tourist emergency
assistance network to cover all 4,000 7-Eleven stores in the country.
7-Eleven staff of these first stores to display the emergency contact
signs are being trained to help tourists contact police.
Edward Kitti, director of the Rakchart Management Group, said crime
against foreign tourists tarnishes our tourism image. The new
co-operation with police has the approval of Veerasak Kowsurat, Minister
of Tourism and Sports, and should improve security and assistance for
tourists in trouble.
Noppakorn S. Tansakul, project consultant, said the emergency link was
tried out during the last Songkran Festival in Kaosan Road in Bangkok.
It was a short period but the result was impressive. The public helped
inform police on a variety of non-violent crimes through the chain
stores there.
Effectiveness of the trial will now be monitored for the next 3 months,
he said.
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome, along with Lieutenant Panthip Yudee, deputy
mayor of Trad, Pol. Maj. Gen. Koson Poawes, deputy commissioner of the
provincial police in region 2, Panada Wekawakayanon, deputy general
manager of the Prasarn Rattakit Office of CP ALL Company which operates
7-Eleven, and Edward Kitti met on September 9 at city hall to launch the
project.
Business sector voices unease as tourist numbers fall
More to be spent on attracting Thai tourists to city
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya businessmen are voicing their concern about the decrease in
tourism and investment that is resulting from the current political
turmoil in the country, and more money is being budgeted to increase the
number of Thai tourists here to help offset the shortfall.
 (L
to R) Mayor Itthipol Khunplome, Banglamung District Chief Mongkol
Thamakittikhun, PBTA Chairman Jamroon Wisawachaipan, Deputy Mayor Verawat
Khakhay, and TAT Region 3 Director Niti Kongkrut meet to discuss boosting
tourism.
Jamroon Wisawachaipan, chairman of the Pattaya Business and Tourism
Association, speaking at the association’s regular monthly meeting on
September 10 at the Eastern Grand Palace Hotel on Soi Khaotalo, said
that the political conflict in Bangkok and the outbreaks of violence has
to stop because it is affecting almost all kinds of business.
Investors are losing confidence and foreign tourists are canceling their
visits to Thailand, and Pattaya is beginning to suffer.
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome said that Pattaya City is experiencing a severe
fall in the number of foreign visitors and this is likely to continue,
even with the high season approaching, and consequently there is a
marketing campaign to bring Thai visitors to the city to help compensate
for the lack of foreign tourists.
Niti Kongkrut, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya
Office said the TAT is continuing to promote Pattaya overseas and there
is a campaign that has been prepared advertising the city as an exotic
destination.
He said that discussions are being held with Pattaya City and the
Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organization to consider an
additional budget for 2009. It was expected that both this year and next
an extra budget totaling 50 million baht will be needed. So far, only
2.5 million baht has been approved by the TAT Central Office for this
purpose, so the team hopes to garner the remainder of the money the from
the Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organization and Pattaya City.
Niti said that much of the budget would go into promotions in the main
markets, such as participating in trade shows in Singapore, Dubai,
Germany and Kazakhstan, and conducting campaigns in Japan and Australia.
Niti added that more resources are now going into domestic marketing,
especially to attract groups of visitors from Bangkok. This requires an
extra budget.
The TAT in Pattaya is working with Sontaya Khunplome, former Minister of
Tourism and Sports to develop new initiatives in bringing more local
tourism to Pattaya.
Mystery over youth who raped and murdered an 8-year-old girl
Patcharapol Panrak
Police are investigating the identity of a youth, initially thought
to be aged 14, who has been arrested for the rape and murder of an
eight-year-old girl who went missing after her mother allowed her to go to a
public restroom alone.
 Pet
Samunprai (kneeling, right) is brought in to face his victim’s mother.
The girl, a primary school class 2 student was found dead two hours later in
the grounds of a temple.
At 12:10 a.m. on August 28, Pol Lt Col Padungsak Suekamnerd, investigator at
Sattahip Police Station received a report from the radio center at the
Sawang Rojana Thammasathan Foundation rescue service saying that a
14-year-old boy named Pet Samunprai had come in to say he had found a girl’s
body near the wall behind Luang Por Temple, in Moo 1, Sattahip Sub-district.
Pol Col Supathee Bunkrong, superintendent at Sattahip Police Station led a
team of officers and rescue workers to meet the boy, who led them to the
scene.
In a water drainage pipe next to the temple wall they found the body of
Saichon Srisawat, or Nong Oy, an eight-year-old student at Ban Sattahip
School. She was lying on her back. About 50 meters away was a blue sandal
and yellow slip belonging to the girl.
Dr Apinya Wongkaew, physician on duty at Sattahip Hospital examined the body
and said that there were signs of strangulation and rape.
Mrs Lapin Buranakitti, 31, and Saithan Srisawat, 13, the dead girl’s mother
and brother formally identified the body.
The police officers questioned Pet, as he had found the body, but his
behavior aroused their suspicions. He was taken to the police station for
further questioning, and he confessed that he had committed the crime.
Pet stated that at approximately 9:30 p.m. he was walking to the public
restroom next to Sattahip Temple, and found the girl coming out of the
toilets alone. He had been taking ya ba and was experiencing a strong sexual
desire. He tricked the girl into going behind the temple, and pushed her
down when they were out of sight with the intention of raping her. However,
she struggled and shouted for help. He strangled her until she lost
consciousness, and carried her 50 meters away from the first location,
because he was afraid that someone might see him.
Then he started to rape her but the girl regained consciousness, and he
became afraid, so he strangled her until she passed away. He then showered
to remove the evidence, and fabricated the story that he had innocently
found the body.
Lapin, the girl’s mother, said that at about 9:10 p.m. she was selling Issan
sausage, and her daughter needed to go to the restroom. She allowed the girl
to go alone, but two hours passed and she didn’t return. Lapin began
searching, and then heard that a body had been found beside the temple. Nong
Oy had been a good child, she said, and often helped her sell food, never
causing any problems.
Doubts began to arise over the true age and identity of Pet later during
questioning. Pol Col Supathee said that Pet declared he was only 14 years
old. But although it had become apparent he had committed crimes on other
occasions, there was no record in the files of a boy of his age named Pet
Samunprai.
There was, however, a record of a youth of that name who had been born in
1990, and who had been detained for raping someone at the Rayong Juvenile
Probation Home. That person had been released less than a month ago. If they
are the same person, that would make Pet 18 years old, and not 14 as he
claimed. In which case, he had been giving an incorrect statement to
deliberately hide his real age.
Later that day, police took Pet to the scene of the crime, where they
encountered a crowd of about 1,000 people threatening to lynch him. The
officers had to ask the Navy to provide security, and 100 officers were
drafted in to hold the crowd at bay. Angry spectators shouted and threw
objects at the accused and several of the officers were hit, although no one
was injured.
After finishing the reenactment of the crime, the police had to remove the
accused from the scene by climbing over the temple wall, as the crowd
refused to disperse and a lynching could have resulted.
Hugging pickpockets
nabbed by crowd
Boonlua Chatree
A gang of female pickpockets who tried to steal the wallet of a
British man were foiled when their victim fought back and a crowd of
passers-by held the women until the police arrived.
 Police
question and search the 3 suspects, finding the stolen wallet in their
possession.
The incident happened just after midnight on September 8 opposite the Thai
Military Bank on Second Road in South Pattaya.
Officers from Pattaya Police Station arriving at the scene found Tony White,
a 34-year-old citizen of the United Kingdom, and a group of Thai and foreign
people detaining three women.
The women were identified as Sunan Kiewsaard, 39, Arunee Bunkerd, 43, and
Buathip Sotang, 20. All were residents of Banglamung.
White told the police that the three women had come up to him while he was
walking along the street, and they had talked to him and hugged him, taking
his wallet containing 7,590 baht in the process.
The women then attempted to flee on a blue-black Honda motorcycle, but White
had gone after them and kicked the bike over. Passers-by gathered round to
help by holding the three thieves while someone called the police.
Officers searched the women and found White’s wallet in the possession of
Sunan. The three were taken to the police station and charged with
congregating for the purpose of theft.
Swedish man found dead
after apparent suicide
Boonlua Chatree
A Swedish businessman was found dead in his Jomtien apartment after
an apparent suicide.
Lars Erik Lenart Gustafsson, 58, was found dead on September 5, lying on his
bed in his apartment in Soi Welcome Jomtien with his wrists slashed.
Police said that his body was found by a friend, Jatuporn Lantz, who came on
business to Gustafsson’s Jomtien Golf and Travel Service Company which
catered for tourists from overseas.
Police said they found a 30-centimetre kitchen knife by the bed. They said
there were no signs of theft, as cash and valuables were found in the room.
Pol. Col. Nopadol Wongnom, superintendent at Pattaya station, said
investigation showed that Gustafsson had been depressed. He allegedly had
debts and had been visited by foreigners asking for their money. His Thai
wife had left him.
He had previously tried to poison himself but was rescued.
Mother’s milk and early reading the key to healthy and intelligent babies
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya was the venue on September 6 for a seminar
conducted for parents on the importance of breast-feeding of infants,
emphasizing that this is the best food for babies.
 Associate
Professor Kannika Wijitsukhun says that mother’s milk is important for the
development of all babies.
Associate Professor Kannika Wijitsukhun of the Department of Pediatric
Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University gave advice on the
nutritional aspects of feeding, while Associate Professor Kunwara
Chupongpairoj, an authority on children’s literature from Srinakharinwirot
Prasanmit University advised parents on the ways in which to encourage their
children’s interest in reading from the earliest age.
The event was sponsored by the Rak Luk Group Co Ltd, a publisher of family
publications that includes Rakluk Magazine, Modern Mom, She’s Smart, Kids
and School, and Highlight Hi5, along with the Bio Consumer Company Ltd,
producer of the D-nee product range for infants. Mayor Itthipol Khunplome
officially opened the seminar.
Asst Prof Kannika said that the best food for babies is mother’s milk, and
that baby care should start even before conception. Couples should have
health checkups before marriage and pregnancy, and during pregnancy the
mother should undergo regular checks to ensure that the food she is eating
is clean and of good quality and that the baby in the womb is receiving
enough nutrients.
Asst Prof Kunwara said that the very young infants, who are unable to talk,
will use other ways to express their needs and consequently will be very
responsive to kindness and attention from both parents.
Parents can greatly help the creative development of their very young
children at this time by reading them stories and interacting with them,
ensuring that the child receives full attention and love. Selection of these
very early stories was important, as a good story would encourage the child
to want the next one.
Close family activity such as this can bring a family even more closely
together, she said.
A variety of D-nee products were distributed at the event, with copies of
the Rak Luk Group publications also available.
New homes for marine
life deemed a success
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
A project to provide new homes for Pattaya marine life appears to be
succeeding.
Pattaya City is continuing into its fourth year its project to provide
artificial coral for underwater marine life using old cement pipes, with
encouraging results.
 Cement
pipes are being barged out to sea for their new existence as artificial
coral.
This year some 100 surplus cement pipes will again be submerged into the sea
some 3 kilometers offshore from Pattaya and Jomtien beaches.
There is consensus from local boating and fishing interests that the
artificial creation of new breeding habitats in this way has succeeded in
increasing the population of fish and coral in these waters.
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome and Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay chaired the
opening of the project ceremony on September 2.
Mayor Itthipol said that after 3 years of the project the Fishing Club and
the Coastal Small Boat Association has affirmed that fish numbers are
increasing.
He said that in general the project has received widespread support from
groups such as boating entrepreneurs, Pattaya Fishing Club and the Pattaya
Fishery Association.
He said that the cement pipes are now being sunk in the coastal area
starting from in front of Pattaya Park southward to the Zigma Hotel, a
distance of 4 kilometers.
Deputy Mayor Verawat said it is important to improve the underwater coastal
scenery and marine life and to regenerate coral that used to be plentiful in
the sea off Jomtien Beach. This in turn would be good for tourism.
Other conservation measures are also in place, such as banning fishing using
explosives and fish-netting close to the shore, he said.
A spokesman the Pattaya Fishing Club supports the project, saying that the
numbers of fish caught in their fishing competitions had noticeably
increased from year to year.
Sanoh Changmai spoke for small boat owners in Jomtien, saying that the
success of the project has boosted the livelihood of many boat owners with
more tourists now going out to dive and fish off Jomtien Beach.
Business community discusses ways to combat recession
(L to R) Jamroon
Wisawachaipan, Sopin Thappajug, Alisa Phantusak
and Somkid Suchittanonrat discuss the current economic climate.
Saksiri Uraiworn
The Pattaya Mass Media Club and the Diana Group jointly held a
seminar on September 9 in which leading members of the business community
aired their views on how best to combat the economic recession that is now
engulfing the country.
Venue for the event was the Diana Garden Resort, with Diana Group managing
director, Sopin Thappajug in the chair.
Speakers Miss Alisa Phantusak, assistant managing director of the Woodland
Resort and Tiffany Co Ltd, Jamroon Wisawachaipan, president of the Pattaya
Business and Tourism Association, and Somkid Suchittanonrat, manager of the
Business Relations Department at Krung Thai Bank addressed a large number of
business people concerned at the threat to their investments and
livelihoods, as Pattaya’s economy continues its downward spiral caused by
the worldwide economic problems and the political turmoil in Thailand.
Alisa said that the combined problems have severely affected tourism to
Pattaya, which has sharply decreased. At the same time, inflation is
forecast to reach 8.6 percent next year, and prices for fuel, food and
consumer products are rising.
In Pattaya, said Alisa, the hotel business has taken much of the impact. Yet
other sectors have continued to flourish, notably the real estate sector,
with many new apartment and condominium buildings under construction.
Businesses now need to implement a strategy that ensures they remain
competitive, she said, as competition is going to intensify in the coming
months.
Being competitive requires not just attractive pricing, said Alisa, but the
development of human resources and the initiation of fresh ideas, so that
tourists continue to be attracted to Pattaya.
Jamroon said that despite the negative impact the political situation in
Bangkok is having on tourism, and despite the uncertainties in the world
economy, the underlying fundamentals of Pattaya are strong and will ensure
that the city continues to be an attractive destination.
The city and its environs has a diversity of tourist attractions that cover
every interest and sector, the proximity to Suvarnabhumi Airport makes
Pattaya very accessible, and prices are low. Once the domestic political
situation improves and the international economy brightens, Pattaya will
bounce back.
In the meantime, said Jamroon, the hospitality industry needs an enhanced
promotional strategy that includes a road show in the prime overseas
markets.
Somkid said that while the Western world is suffering economic problems, a
strategy of promoting Pattaya to the Thai domestic tourism market and to the
emerging Chinese and Indian markets would bring new business into the city.
Both China and India are experiencing growth rates of 8 percent, he said,
and a strategy of offering a combination of high quality with affordable
prices would work in these markets.
Internationally, said Somkid, more resources need to go into promoting
Pattaya’s diversity into niche markets, such as nature tourism, spas, golf,
shopping, and medical tourism.
Ceremony held for 29 retiring nurses
Retiring nurses are being
given a grand send-off.
Patcharapol Panrak
The Nursing Development Network held a reception for 29 nurses who
are retiring from the profession on September 30.
The event was held at Somdej Phranagnchaosirilkit Hospital, under the Naval
Medical Department, on September 9.
Formed in 1999, the Nursing Development Network has members from hospitals
and medical facilities under the Ministry of University Affairs, hospitals
in Bangkok, the Thai Red Cross Society, the Ministry of Public Health, the
Ministry of Defense, the Royal Thai Police, and another 19 governing
hospital organizations.
Captain Saichon Kong-Orn, director of the Bureau of Nursing and chairwoman
of the Nursing Organization at the Somdej Phranagnchaosirilkit Hospital said
that the 29 senior nurses would now spend time training junior nurses.
Three hundred junior nurses attended the retirement ceremony. Of the 29
retiring, six nurses were from Siriraj Hospital, three from the Hospital for
Tropical Diseases, seven from Chulalongkorn Hospital, two from Queen Savang
Vadhana Memorial Hospital in Sriracha, five from Maharaj Nakhorn Chiang Mai
Hospital, three from the Police General Hospital, and three from the Somdej
Phranagnchaosirilkit Hospital.
Orchid training provided to boost income
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Nongprue Municipality’s answer to a shortage of income in tough
economic times is to grow orchids. It organized an occupational training
program for 50 of its residents to grow orchids and to make organic
fertilizer to boost their income in accordance with the self-sufficient
economy principle of His Majesty the King.
 Growers
are shown how to plant the orchids.
Mai Chaiyanit, mayor of Nongprue Municipality, opened the two-day training
workshop at the Chalermprakiat Fitness Park on September 8.
“Growers can earn additional income by planting these orchids that grow very
well in our climate. They can also make a natural fertilizer that will
nourish the soil without adding chemical substances … and makes good use of
our overflowing garbage,” the mayor said.
On the first day of the workshop the growers are taught the theory of
growing Moccara orchids and of making pellets of the organic fertilizer.
The second day involves the gardeners getting their hands dirty at a farm in
Bangrakam Sub-district, Nakhon Pathom Province, planting the orchids and
mixing the rich brew of the “Insee” (eagle) brand of organic fertilizer.
Radio station donates
to AIDS orphanage
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
City Radio Pattaya 90.25 FM has donated 18,411 baht to the Camillian Social
Center in Rayong for its work of caring for HIV-infected children.
 Tae
Witsarat, Mint Perspective, and Rose Sirinthip present the donation to
Soraya Hemapusit of the Camillian Social Center.
The radio’s City VIP Club raised the money from memberships of listeners and
a recent charity pop concert in Pattaya.
Autasith Cheuchuchart from the radio station said members of the VIP Club
paid 100 baht to join.
A concert at Easy Corner behind Big C in North Pattaya on September 7,
featuring Rose Sirinthip, Tae Witsarat, and Mint Perspective, saw
performances and the auctioning of favorite belongings of the musicians
which raised the money donated.
Autasith said the radio has been playing music 24 hours a day for more than
3 years and has been raising money for the orphanage on a continuing basis.
Soraya Hemapusit from the Camillian Social Center said the center will spend
the money on the education of youngsters in their care. Currently there are
70 young people at the center aged from 4 to 22 years, infected with HIV or
have full-blown AIDS.
The center has funded their schooling for more than 15 years.
City Radio Pattaya invites all to join the fun in their VIP Club simply by
contacting City SMS on their cell phones. This is done by typing CT Club
followed by name, surname and age and sending to 487007. Members will be
kept informed about future fund-raising events.
Navy to build adobe
training center
Patcharapol Panrak
Plans for the new Recruit Training Center of the Thai Royal Navy to
be constructed at Sattahip feature adobe construction and food growing based
on the self-sufficiency concept of His Majesty the King.
 Recruits
in Sattahip learn how to build adobe huts.
The Navy trainees will help make mud bricks to build the new center, grow
rice, vegetables and fish for their food and learn other non-naval rural
skills, such as even running home-stay tourist accommodation, which would
equip them for life after the Navy.
Capt. Wirat Somjit, deputy commander of the Recruit Training Center, Naval
Education Department, said the new center was built to mark the 80th
birthday HM the King on 9.9 rai at Bangsarae Sub-district. It will become a
showcase for other naval training centers, family members of the sailors,
students and members of the general public to learn self-sufficient skills
that they can then use elsewhere.
The self-sufficient economy approach had in fact been applied at all naval
installations and facilities in the country, he said.
To get the ball rolling and the bricks stacking, an adobe building expert
from the Bandinthai Learning Center in Chaiyapum Province, Surat Sarakham,
was invited to come to show the new sailors how to make bricks from mud.
Following brick techniques and house design from New Mexico, Surat showed
how to put together a balanced mixture of soil and sand to shape the bricks
in moulds, each 48 x 24 x 18 cm in size, ready to be dried in the sun.
Navy provides lunch treat for temple school
Patcharapol Panrak
Rice with boiled chicken (khao mun kai) followed by ice cream and fruits was
the lunch menu treat for students at the Wat Kaokanthamat School as the Navy
made merit.
To celebrate the anniversary of its establishment, the Support Regiment of
the Air and Coastal Defense Command of the Royal Thai Navy, led by Regiment
Commander Capt. Sucha Kiamthongkam and other officers, gave food to the
students at the temple school on September 9.
School principal, Nopawan Konsue, staff and students welcomed the sailors
and thanked them for their generosity.
Such a good lunch it seemed was unusual at the school.
Nopawan said the school’s 165 students, from kindergarten to Grade 6, were
from low-income farming and working families and the school struggles daily
to give them enough food for lunch.
She said that the school benefited from the kindness of the Abbot
Silasalathikhun, monks and novices at the temple who shared food that they
received from the community each morning with the students.
Naval officers look on as
students enjoy a lunch the Navy provided.
New Father Ray day
care center opens
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Father Ray Foundation has opened the Pra Mahatai Small
Children’s Development Center in Pattaya to care for orphans, children from
poor families and disabled children.
The new center was built with a budget of 10 million baht provided by the
Father Ray Foundation, set up to continue the work of the late and respected
Father Raymond Brennan, and other charitable donors.
 Father
Thanu Krathong presides over the center’s opening ceremony.
Father Thanu Krathong, chairman of the Pattaya Redemptorist Foundation for
People with Disabilities, poured holy water at the opening ceremony on
September 11.
Boonthavee Klinsukhon, director of the new center, said that the center is
ready to help young children from the slums whose parents were not able to
provide adequately for them.
Parents with income less than 6,000 baht a month can bring their
2-6-year-old children to be cared for and educated at the center free of
charge. The center currently looks after 60 children from at-risk
backgrounds and has room for 200 children in total.
The center is located at 440 Moo 9, Sukhumvit Road Kilometer 145, Banglamung
District. It is open from Monday to Friday 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fire training held
at Amari Ocean Tower
Pramote Channgam
Chonburi Province and Pattaya City worked together to hold a fire
training exercise that established safety procedures for fire in tall
buildings.
 Rescues
workers spring into action during last week’s fire training exercise in
North Pattaya.
Held on September 4 in the Ocean Tower building at Amari Orchid Resort and
Tower, the demonstration was opened by Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat and
his deputy Komsan Ekachai, Mayor Itthipol Khunplome, and deputy general
manager of the hotel Maku Taechasopon.
Designed to prepare for readiness in managing a fire that could happen in
high-rise buildings, the field training exercise, FTX, had support from a
number of organizations including the Office of Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation, Banglamung Hospital, the Pattaya police, and the Sawang Boriboon
Rescue Foundation.
The demonstration enacted a scenario in which a fire had broken out in a
tourist’s room on the 7th floor of the building, and spread violently out of
control. Under the office of Governor Pracha, all rescue units were
mobilized to provide assistance.
Pracha reported afterwards that the Amari Orchid Resort and Tower was an
excellent venue for such a training program, and that the construction of
the Ocean Tower itself was very impressive, with excellent in-built safety
measures.
There were, however, some procedures that had been unclear in the mobilizing
of the rescue services, and these are being followed up in order to ensure
that all units cooperate successfully in the event of a real fire breaking
out.
Thousands expected to turn out for annual Vegetarian Festival
The annual Vegetarian Festival is this year expected to
once again draw a large crowd, despite the economic hardships currently
being experienced in Thailand and the world. The event will take place over
the 10-day period September 28 to October 8.
 Dragon
and lion dances are big attractions at the yearly Vegetarian Festival.
The festival, which will take place at the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan
Foundation and is held mainly for Thai people of Chinese descent, is being
supported by Pattaya City with a budget of 1.8 million baht.
Chefs at the festival will use 500kg of dry noodles to make Imperial Noodles
that will form the centerpiece of the event. The Imperial Noodles, served up
to all those taking part, will be cooked in a giant pan measuring 3.5 meters
in diameter. The ingredients will include 500kg of dry “mee sua”, which is
the main ingredient, along with shiitake mushrooms, carrots, Chinese
lettuce, bean sprouts and asparagus. It is estimated that 5,000 dishes will
be distributed.
Religious ceremonies would be performed throughout the opening day,
September 28, starting at 9 a.m. At 12:19 p.m. a parade would start from
Bali Hai Pier and travel through Walking Street. After this it would divide,
one line passing along Pattaya Beach Road through to the Central Pattaya
Junction, the other passing along Pattaya Second Road, stopping for a dragon
show at Mike Shopping Mall, and then going to meet up with the first line at
the Central Pattaya Junction. From there, the parade would proceed to the
TOT Intersection.
Later, the parade would reform at Sawang Fa Temple and travel to Lan Pho
Naklua, and on to the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation.
Elvis to raise money
for Women with a Mission
Recently WWM, helped by many
other companies, organizations and individuals arranged a shipment of
clothes, food and medical supplies that was delivered to the Hsa Thoo Lei
Orphanage.
Elaine Poole
Women with a Mission (WWM) is a private group of three women who
work to organise and direct help to people who need it. They are currently
working to help provide educational supplies (such as a photo copier) to
benefit some of the thousands of Burmese children living in the camps along
the Thailand/Myanmar boarder (previously Burma). They are also trying to
raise money to supply the children with food, clothing and medical supplies.
These children have been displaced by both political uncertainty and more
recently a natural disaster, namely the devastating cyclone Nargis, which
left thousands of children orphaned.
Recently WWM, helped by many other companies, organizations and individuals
arranged a shipment of clothes, food and some medical supplies to Nargis
survivors. This shipment went directly to the Hsa Thoo Lei Orphanage where
there are 210 displaced children. Further shipments were sent inside
Myanmar.
WWM are committed to assisting families inside Myanmar and in the refugee
camps on the Thailand border with daily meals, educational material,
clothing and medicines.
On Thursday September 25, a special dinner and evening of entertainment with
Elvis is being held at the Jomtien Boathouse Restaurant, Jomtien Beach Road.
The evening starts at 7 p.m. and includes a welcome drink, sit down dinner
and entertainment by Elvis. There will also be raffle prizes and an auction
of donated items. All proceeds from the evening will go to support the
welfare and educational needs of refuge Myanmar children living in camps on
the Thailand border. The cost is 1000 baht per person (500 of that will go
directly to the charity).
If you would like tickets, or if you would like to become a sponsor or
supporter of this project, please contact Rosanne Diamente (081-865-0714) or
e mail [email protected]
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