HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Indian handicrafts hit the mark with Bangkok shoppers

A Nite at the Opera

Pattaya Players gear up for latest ‘murder-mystery’

Carry your wife to glory this coming Valentines Day in Ripley’s unique contest

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Indian handicrafts hit the mark with Bangkok shoppers

Dr Trirong Suwankiri (2nd left), the former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, opens the “Made in North East India” exhibition at the Fashion Island shopping mall in Bangkok.

An exhibition of northeast Indian handicrafts recently took place at one of the biggest shopping malls in Thailand. Dr Trirong Suwankiri, former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, inaugurated the first ever stand alone exhibition of indigenous handicraft products of northeast India, aptly titled “Made in North East India”, at the Fashion Island Shopping Centre in Bangkok on January 26.
The exposition, organized by Industries & Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA) in association with DC (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India and with support of the Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi and the Thai Council of Commerce, took the elite evening crowd at the stylish mall by surprise as all the participants including the organisers came out in the traditional dress of northeast India to commemorate the nation’s independence day.
Dr Trirong Suwankiri was impressed with the colourful designs of handicrafts and pointed out that a mixture of Thai and northeast Indian wares can capture a niche in the world market. The huge evening crowd at the mall cheered as the senior politician posed in a colourful Naga jacket.
The fashion conscious Thai shoppers made a beeline for the colourful jewellery of Suresh Das from Tripura. “Surprisingly the young generation liked my designs more, with some girls finding it fit for trendy wear,” informed Das.
Meanwhile Manendra Deka from the Barpeta district of Assam had a difficult time convincing people that the bamboo replica of his Rickshaw was not for sale.
The organisers were overwhelmed by the love and affection shown by the Thai community to the artisans on their maiden visit to the country. “Every second moment we are receiving invitations for either lunch or dinner. Some even brought Thai food to our office. Everybody finds a connection between northeast India and Thailand,” informed Rajesh Das, Vice President ITFAA.
The exhibition was held over 5 days from January 26-31.

A Nite at the Opera

La Dolce Vita opened its doors for its first ever charity opera night on Sunday, February 1. The restaurant has been open less than month but its reputation for great food and opera is quickly spreading. Opera lovers donned their best garb and headed to Soi 18 Naklua to enjoy staged scenes of ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ by W.A.Mozart performed by Nuni Productions from Bangkok, who have already made a few appearances at La Dolce Vita.

Singers from Nuni Productions act out a scene from Mozart’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro.’
The scenes were performed in between courses of a delicious three-course dinner, allowing guests to enjoy both the opera and the food without any disturbance. The evening was truly filled with all the sights, sounds and flavours of Italy. Chef Paolo Nota was the inspiration behind the event and donated a door prize voucher allowing one lucky guest to come back and dine at the restaurant once again.
There were many raffle prizes to be won with Angela Poustie winning the major prize of a Burmese Jade ring with a sapphire. All proceeds from the evening will be used for the various projects undertaken by the Mercy Center.

The guests were treated to a sumptuous
three course meal prepared by chef Paolo Nota.

Pattaya Players gear up for latest ‘murder-mystery’

Pattaya Players (Home of Pattaya’s Professional Amateurs) is inviting you to a wedding dinner cruise aboard its latest production “Murderous Crossing” at the -5 Supper Club in North Pattaya. This production is the second in a series of dinner theatre offerings presented by the Pattaya Players, this one written by David Landau.
Landau is credited with creating this unique theatre genre, and has provided past hits including “Murder to Go,” “Seance,” “The Hilarious Hillbilly Massacre,” “Murder at Cafe Noir” and “Noir Suspicions.”
Synopsis: The famous Inspector Clurrot has tracked down a homicidal mastermind hiding out on board. Meanwhile, the ship is the vessel of matrimony for the Contessa Follette and John D. Rothchild - a marriage encouraged through financial need and murderous greed. But not everything is as it seems, and it turns out that the English Channel isn’t the only thing being crossed.
Much like Pattaya Players last murder mystery, “Death and Deceit on the Nile,” this current play is played strictly for laughs. Audience members are encouraged to dress as if they were attending a formal wedding and some will be recruited to stand in for the best man, bridesmaid, mother of the groom, and father of the bride in this Agatha Christie style comic mystery.
During the play, the audience will be asked to join in by studying clue cards, which may reveal the identity of the killer. Audience members are encouraged to “get in character” and join in on the fun - but may also choose to just sit back and enjoy the show. The production consists of a one-act play set in four scenes.
Ray Lightbown directs a versatile cast of the Pattaya Players and presents his production in the unique surroundings of -5 Supper Club. As a Clinical Psychotherapist, Lightbown brings a unique and refreshing perspective to the production.
The show runs two nights only on Friday, February 27 through Saturday, February 28 and tickets must be purchased in advance as seating is limited. The doors will open at 6:00 pm. Dinner will consist of a three course meal drawn from -5 Supper Club’s acclaimed menu of eclectic fusion cuisine.
Since this is a two-night-only engagement, tickets are required and are available by emailing pattayaplayers@ gmail.com or in person at -5 Supper Club in North Pattaya. The cost for an entire evening of food and fun is just 1,000 Baht per person.

Carry your wife to glory this coming Valentines Day in Ripley’s unique contest

To celebrate Valentines Day in the appropriate manner, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum in Pattaya is organizing a wife carrying contest to be held on Saturday, February 14.
The contest welcomes all married couples who have a registered marriage certificate showing that they are legally husband and wife. There are no limitations on age, nationality or race and entrance is free to all participants.
The race will commence in front of the Royal Garden Plaza (Beach Rd. side) near The Pizza Company and head towards Walking Street before making a turn at the South Pattaya junction and finishing in front of Royal Garden Plaza (2nd Rd. side) near Sizzler (see map).
Contestants are required to show up at 7 a.m. at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum for make-up and hair dressing. The race begins at 2 p.m. and all activities will end by 4 p.m.
Entrants are asked to bring along some running shoes for the contest (the faster the better) and a bouquet of flowers that the husband will give to his wife during the race.
Ripley’s will provide bridal clothes for the first 20 couples who apply, together with hair and make-up for the bride and groom on the contest day and a party to celebrate Valentine’s Day for 20 couples on February 14.
The winners of the race will receive a cash prize of 30,000 baht, the runners up will get 10,000 baht in cash and the third placed couple will receive 5,000 baht. The top three couples will also each receive a package stay of 3 days and 2 nights at the Anantara Hua Hin Resort and Spa, free passes to Ripley’s Believe It or Not and many more prizes. (Note: A 5% withholding tax will be deducted from the winners’ cash prizes.)
Couples wishing to participate in the race can apply now until February 10 at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, 2nd Fl., Royal Garden Plaza, South Pattaya (038-710-294 ext. 345) or via the website: www.ripleysthailand.com.

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