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Jumbo dad sires 34th baby
Ply Bird (left) meets his 34th
offspring, Ply Santisuk, for the first time.
Patcharapol Panrak
Meet Ply Bird, the hulking 30-year-old Jumbo Dad extraordinaire.
The mighty father elephant is certainly doing more than his share to ensure
the survival of his endangered species by just now siring “Ply Santisuk”,
his 34th offspring, brought into the world by Pang Duen Pen at the Nong
Nooch Tropical Gardens outside Pattaya.
It is believed that Ply Bird may hold the world’s record for the number of
offsprings sired, in captivity at least.
In fact Ply Bird is daddy to all the young elephants in Nong Nooch Tropical
Gardens while Pang Duen Pen has produced four babies: Pang Spy, Pang
Poonsap, Pang Tanwakhom and now Pang Santisuk.
Around 2 a.m. on the good-fortune date of December 9, 23-years-old mum gave
birth to her baby after going into labor on the King’s birthday. She was
then brought to the 200-acre resort to give birth.
Excited keepers waited day and night for the mother to deliver her baby.
Kampol “Khun Tong” Tonsajja, director of Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens
Pattaya, named the baby elephant “Ply Santisuk” or “Peacefulness”, since
December is considered an auspicious month and after peace reigned again in
the country.
At 8.09 a.m. Jiraprit Sodorn, sales and marketing director, and elephant
keepers brought 20 elephants to present a garland to congratulate the jumbo
mum, dad and “tiny tot” of which were healthy and fit.
Jumbo Dad trumpeted in celebration with Mum while the other elephants made
suitably joyful noises to welcome the new arrival to the jungle.
Isaan comes to Pattaya
Contest winners and officials
gather for a group photo.
Tony Malhotra
Isaan came to Pattaya as the annual ‘The best of Isaan’ festival got
underway on December 20-21 on the sports field of Pattaya School No. 8.
 A
couple contestants proudly show off their somtam entry.
Graceful dances and the distinctively upbeat folk music of our northeastern
region enticed and welcomed local and foreign visitors who had a chance to
enhance their knowledge of the art and culture of Isaan.
There were plenty of OTOP quality handicraft products to buy and take home for
those Christmas and New Year gifts on the shopping list.
The highlight of the event was the somtam (spicy papaya salad) competition to
win 10,000 baht prize money, as well as educational scholarships for students
who excel in studies. Lucky judges and participants could lunch on the
competition entries and breathe out fire.
More festivals of this kind in 2009 are promised by Pattaya City Administration.
Youngsters from Pattaya Orphanage sing carols for PCEC
The highlight of the Pattaya City Expats Club’s December
21 meeting at Henry J. Beans was Christmas Carols sung by 25 youngsters from
the Pattaya Orphanage with their beaming faces and melodic voices. Their
opening carol, “Joy to the World” positively brought joy to the hearts of
the audience. Prior to the appearance of the children, Radchada “Toy”
Chomjinda, who brought them to the meeting, was introduced by emcee Richard
Silverberg to talk about the beginnings and current operation of the
Orphanage.
 Ratchada
(Toy) Chomjinda shares the history of Pattaya Orphanage since Father Ray
Brennan found a baby on his doorstep 30 years ago. Now it has 189 orphans,
ranging in age from babies (pictured) to university undergraduates.
She said she has been with the Orphanage for 15 years with the last 8 years
handling adoptions. She began by explaining how the Orphanage began when
Father Ray Brennan, an American Redemptorist priest, found a baby left on
his doorstep over 30 years ago. Father Ray took the child in and cared for
it. As word got around, even more babies were left with Father Ray.
This was occurring during the Vietnam War when Pattaya was a popular rest
and recreation location for American troops serving there. Since many of the
babies were from girls that were working in Pattaya to entertain the
Americans, Father Ray asked the Americans at Utapao Air Base for assistance.
Father Ray then approached the Catholic Diocese with the idea of building an
Orphanage on land they owned in Pattaya. The Americans, for their part had
agreed to build the Orphanage and donate over time 500,000 baht. Father Ray
told the Diocese he would take charge of looking after the orphans and would
also raise any additional funds needed. This was the beginning.
 Club
member Bob presents the children with gifts to sparkle their Christmas.
Over time, the Father Ray Foundation took on the responsibility for the
Orphanage as well as a school for the deaf co-located with the Orphanage.
Based on the recent expiration of the original agreement for the land, the
Diocese took over the operation of the Orphanage and the School for the Deaf
from the Father Ray Foundation. Toy, whose heart was with the children at
the Orphanage, chose to continue the adoption work she has been doing for
the past eight years.
Although many of the children can be adopted, others cannot because they are
often unable to locate the birth mother to obtain the required release.
Presently, she said, the Orphanage is taking care of approximately 189
orphans, ranging from newborn babies to students studying at the university
level. The children receive pre-school lessons at the Orphanage and then go
to public school so that they will be assimilated into the mainstream of
Thai society.
 Pattaya
City Expats venue sponsor, Amari / Henry J Beans, presents gifts of freshly
cooked muffins to all the Orphanage Singers. They were greatly appreciated!
For those going only through High School, the Orphanage assists them for a
few months in transitioning to employment and living outside the Orphanage.
For those going on to higher education, the Orphanage continues to support
them till they finish their studies. She said that several have gone on to
obtain their masters degree.
The children at the Orphanage live as brothers and sisters. After leaving
the Orphanage, they often return to help out as big brothers and sisters for
those that remain. For health care, she spoke about the doctors that donate
their time. There is a pediatrician that has been coming in once a week for
several years and recently, doctors and nurses from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya
are donating their time to providing additional health care for the
children.
Toy said that their current operating budget is about 2 million baht per
month. About 50 percent of their funds come from donations received by their
two European organizations. She said the Orphanage welcomes visitors,
especially expat wives who come to help hold and take care of the babies.
However, for the protection of the children, all volunteers go through a
vetting process and if they take any of the children for an excursion into
town, it is always in the company of a chaperone.
She said that often people want to know how they can help the Orphanage. Toy
said there are several ways. One can make donations, give scholarships,
provide powdered milk, buy articles for the children, or sponsor a meal for
the children.
In response to questions from the audience, she said that sponsoring a
luncheon for the children costs from 3,500 baht to 5,000 baht, the latter
including desert, which she said was a treat the children look forward to.
At this point, the much anticipated arrival of the children took place. They
all were resplendent in their white choir robes. To the accompaniment of
their two guitarists, the audience was entertained with several well known
Christmas Carols concluding with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” The Club,
having been tipped off by Toy, presented each of the carolers with a bag
containing Hershey Kisses (their favorite) and other useful items. At this
point, the staff of Henry J. Bean brought trays of muffins as their gift to
the children.
For those interested in learning more about Pattaya Orphanage, they can
visit their website at: www.thepattayaor phanage.org/eng/index.php
After the inspiring talk by Toy and the delightful singing of the children,
PCEC board member Marjorie Blissett, who had taken up a collection at
previous meetings asked PCEC board chairman Michel de Goumois to join with
her in presenting 10,000 baht to Toy for the Orphanage. Marjorie also
mentioned that another 9,000 baht had been collected and shared with the
Mercy Centre and Father Ray Foundation’s School for the Blind. Board Member
Richard Smith also announced that PCEC members had been invited to tour the
Orphanage, which would take place after the first of the year.
The Orphanage Carol singers
delight PCEC members with a number of very well sung popular carols.
New Isaan restaurant tempts customers
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Delicious somtam (papaya salad) and kaiyang (grilled chicken) is
definitely on the menu as the Amorn Group steps into the restaurant industry and
opens the Isaan Inter Restaurant on Pattaya 3rd Road.
 (L
to R) Rungratree Thongsai and Suwanthep Malhotra, director of sales and
marketing for Pattaya Mail Publishing Co. Ltd., congratulate Amorn Malhotra.
Amorn Malhotra, managing director of Amorn Decor of Amorn Group, and his wife
Amornrat are doing their bit to fight the economic crisis with good food at
their new restaurant.
Amorn said Issan Inter is a fully Isaan (northeastern) restaurant offering Thai
and western dishes. The chef is from Khon Kaen Province with 20 years of cooking
experience.
“The prices of the dishes are moderate with music creating a relaxing
atmosphere. The quality of food used is clean and fresh and all sorts of drinks
are available. Current opening hours are between 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Tuesday
to Sunday with Monday as a holiday,” Amorn said.
Somtam is a favorite of all now but the recipe is only some 40 years old when
the main ingredient of papaya was imported from Melaka, Malaysia during the
Vietnam War.
The Thai government at that time gave permission to the United States to have an
army base in Sattahip. Papaya seeds eventually arrived in the eastern part of
Thailand and spicy somtam had been tantalizing the Thai and farang palate ever
since.
Black & White Splendour
PILC Special Events Committee 2008
Saturday January 17, 2009 is shaping up to be a glamorous event; a truly
festive way to bring in the New Year with a bang! With sweeping views of the
bay, and a January sea breeze to match, the Dusit Thani will be hosting the
Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) Black & White ball.
The evening begins on the veranda, listening to the lively sound of Bangkok Jazz
Band “Sharps and Flats”. Wash down your canapés with a lychee martini and
sparkling wine, while you browse our fantastic auction items, including a
private French chef who will cook for you and 5 of your friends, a weekend away
in Hua Hin, fabulous artwork donated by renowned Pattaya artists, an antique
silver cutlery setting valued at 100,000 baht, and your very own sailing coach
at Royal Varuna Yacht Club!
A four course meal will follow, along with a sumptuous dessert buffet, after
which the real fun begins; you can let your hair down and spend the rest of the
night on the dance floor, with a DJ and Jazz Band to ensure your feet will be
sore!
Of course beautiful wines and stunning company is a given, but we must not
forget the purpose of this important event … to raise money which the PILC
welfare team will distribute to many needy causes throughout 2009. Your
participation will ensure the health and welfare of many local families and
orphans. We have received tremendous support in the form of sponsorship for this
event, now we need you to make this night one to remember!
Tickets are on sale for 3500 baht; this includes sunset cocktails, canapés, a 4
course meal, wine, beer & soft drinks on tap, fabulous entertainment,
photographs and of course a special gift from the PILC, a massage for those
tired feet!
The theme is black and white, so be creative. There will be prizes for the best
dressed!
Contact Jacinta Chamberlain on 086 997 0671 or Rachel Hoag on 081 782 6118 to
make your reservation now!
Happy 35th birthday, Mayor Itthipol
Mayor Ittipol Khunplome began his
birthday celebrations by paying respects to King Taksin the Great’s statue in
front of city hall.
Pramote Channgam
Politicians, local leaders, government officials, businessmen and the
public congratulated Mayor Itthipol Khunplome on his 35th birthday December 15.
The morning saw the mayor paying respect to King Taksin the Great’s statue in front of
city hall. Religious activities followed, including worshipping Phra Rattanatrai
and receiving blessings from monks.
Then the mayor had a happy lunch with guests and well-wishers.
At his residence in Soi Tong 5 Pattaya-Naklua Road, birthday greetings and gift
baskets came from many senior officials including Mongkol Tummakittikul, Surasit
Nitiwuttawornluk, Poramet Ngampichet, Niran Wattanasartsathorn and Mai
Chaiyanit.
The birthday party was also attended by Itthipol’s brother Sontaya Khunplome,
former minister of sports and tourism, his mother Satil Khunplome, president of
Women’s Development of Chonburi, another brother Wittaya Khunplome and the rest
of the high-profiled Khunplome family.
Apichart Puechphan and government
officials present a birthday gift to the mayor.
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