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Gung Hei Fat Choy - Pattaya welcomes Year of the Golden Ox
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome and
city officials (photo, left) pay respect to the Great King Taksin monument
via a sacred golden dragon and lions dance troupe at Pattaya City Hall
(photos above), before beginning the parade.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
With the slogan “Greater strength to welcome the year of the Golden
Ox,” Pattaya’s Chinese New Year festival at Bali Hai went off with the usual
whizzing and banging and cautious optimism that this year will bring better
prosperity the last one.
It was all happening from January 24-27.
A special attraction was a cultural show from seven provinces in China
complete with ancient Chinese mask art, plate-spinning, pot-spinning,
jumping through hoops and very skillful acrobatics.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand supported the spectacular show and
Chonburi Governor Surapon Pongtadsirikun chaired the official opening.
On January 26 a sacred golden dragon parade started at Pattaya City Hall
where administrators, led by Mayor Itthipol Khunplome, paid respect to the
Great King Taksin monument. Later at Bali Hai, administrators beat nine
auspicious drums to bring good fortune and to welcome the new year according
to Chinese customs.
In the evening, the golden dragon, Eng Gor Pa Bu, Hok Lok Siew, and nine
prestigious gems of the lion paraded from Walking Street in South Pattaya to
a stage at Bali Hai Pier.
Shows were also performed at Bali Hai, including the Chinese Girl 2009
contest with 30 pretty girls participating. The winner was Jarinya
Charoenporn Ressi, 8, from Sawang Boriboon Wittaya School who received a
6,000 baht scholarship, a sash and a trophy.
Other performances included bands such as Pek Palitchok, Ice Saranyu,
Scrubb, and Thai rapper Jo-ey Boy together with Sing Nua Sua Tai.
Central Center Pattaya in Pattaya put on great new year activities with
general manager Teeraporn Jitnava organizing a 30-metre long dragon parade,
a Singhui Lion, Pae Yim and a gamelan for the good fortune of employees and
all entrepreneurs in this huge shopping plaza.
Other astounding shows captivating the audience included acrobats and
fire-blowing, Hong Tae face-changing, and a favorite local show from Sichuan
Province.
Not to be outdone, Mike Shopping Mall’s parking lot on Pattaya 2nd Road was
the setting for a dragon and lion dance with a 30 meter long dark-green
dragon.
Vendors complained that people were not spending as much as in previous
years, obviously still keeping a reality check on the economic downturn,
even while enjoying the celebration as much as they could.
Jarinya Charoenporn Ressi,
winner of the Miss Chinese Girl 2009 contest.
Beautiful Thai-Chinese girls
welcome guests to the Central Center Pattaya.
Mike Shopping Mall’s huge
grounds were packed with revelers watching the lion and golden dragon dance
troupe from Luang Poo Tim.
The Chinese God of Wealth
blesses businesses at Central Center Pattaya.
The lion dance troupe marches
though
Central Center Pattaya bestowing good fortune upon all the shops.
‘Jae Tata’ of King Seafood in
her (his) Chinese dress welcomes the season.
Scrubb.
Ice Sarunyoo.
Pek Palit-Choke.
Sing Nua Sua Tai.
Joey Boy.
Astounding shows captivating
the audience included acrobats, balancing acts and various favorite local
shows from Sichuan Province.
The ‘Luang Pho Kaew’ golden
dragon and lion dance
troupe march through Walking Street.
The amazing Golden Dragon show
excites the crowd at the Central Center Pattaya.
Central Center Pattaya’s
management team organized great celebrations in Pattaya.
Chonburi Governor Surapon
Pongtadsirikun along with the team from TAT and Pattaya City perform a drum
roll to officially open the celebrations on the main stage at Bali Hai Pier.
PILC Black and White Gala is a fantastic success
Rachel Hoag
It was a beautiful evening, and the mood was set for great things to
happen! The PILC (Pattaya International Ladies Club) Black and White Ball
was held on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the Dusit Hotel in Pattaya. The
event was months of planning for one night of bliss, and it was well worth
the efforts and the wait.
Every year the PILC holds its gala, and as usual, it was the most
anticipated event of the season. PILC is a social club whose main goals
include providing charity and support to the Thai community. The club is 21
years in the making, and has made a huge difference in the lives of many
expats as well as locals. PILC has always raised funds for charity projects
in many different ways, but the annual gala is one of their biggest
fundraisers of the year.
This year’s theme was “Black and White” and the ballroom was stunning. With
beautiful black and white feather centerpieces, candlelight, and white
orchids everywhere, it was a true feast for the eyes. Most of the guests’
attire stayed with the theme as well. Men looked dashing in their tuxedos
and women looked stunning in black and white gowns. It was a scene straight
from Hollywood!
The cocktail hour whet the appetite with martinis, daiquiris, and sparkling
wine served immediately upon entrance. There were canapé stations set up on
the terrace, and a photographer to capture the moment.
Once the guests were seated inside, the emcee, Gillian Thom then welcomed
PILC President Marloes de Saegher, who gave a welcome speech and then
thanked the sponsors. The generous sponsors who were honored that evening:
LCIT, DP World, Fisher & Paykel, UTI, Pluto, Mermaid Maritime, Dana Spicer,
and Foster Wheeler. Then guests were shown a slide show with great photos
from the various charities and club events which happened throughout the
year.
The jazz band Sharps and Flats from Bangkok played while a delectable dinner
was served. The highlight for many was the orange Grand Marnier sorbet
served in personal ice sculptures… that was so cool! Then the auction
started off with a bang, and they proceeded to raise almost 100,000 baht all
from donated items. The top item raised 30,000 baht alone, and was a dinner
at your home prepared by professional chef Jacques Laurent.
After a scrumptious dessert buffet, guests danced to the tunes of DJ Matt
until the wee hours of the morning as the wine and beer were free-flowing.
There was also a special surprise for each guest, a complementary 1 hour
Thai massage and a silk photo frame with photo as a commemoration for the
evening. A wonderful reminder of an amazing evening!
The Ball was a huge success and raised a total of almost 600,000 baht for
charity! Well done go to the organizers of the Special Events committee:
Adene Paykel, Michelle McCann, Fran Laurent, Jacinta Farragher, Chantal
Oldaker, and Rachel Hoag. Keep your ear out for next year’s ball, as it is
sure to be a fantastic affair!
If you would like to join the PILC, they are always looking for new members.
The club is open to any woman who is an ex-pat, a foreigner, or anyone who
can speak some English. The PILC has over 260 members from 30 different
countries, including over 20 Thai members. Please contact them at pilc262
@yahoo.com if you are interested in joining or if you are aware of any
charities that need assistance.
Skål International emerges to meet tourism depression
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National president
of Skål International, Brian Sinclair-Thompson talks about the
tourism outlook. |
The acting
president of the local Skål International, Ingo Raueber, the GM
of the Pinnacle group, welcomes members and guests to the event. |
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Skål International
councilor, Andrew Wood works tirelessly to promote tourism here
in Thailand. |
Pattaya City was
represented by the eloquent Saksit Potisit, shown here outlining
the directions being taken by Pattaya City. |
Dr Iain Corness
Global events have led to a decrease in international tourism
throughout the world. Events in Thailand towards the end of 2008 also hit
the local tourism sector very hard, with some of Pattaya’s leading hotels
recording occupancy rates in single figures. People in the hospitality
industry could be forgiven for walking around with long faces.
 Peter
Malhotra, managing director of Pattaya Mail Publishing, gives an
inspirational speech, asking all present to throw their weight behind acting
President Ingo Raueber.
However, one group that is not walking around waiting for extinction is Skål
International, the global hospitality and tourism professionals, but has
risen to the challenges of the changing face of the business.
There is a local branch, Skål International Pattaya and East Thailand, which
has been fairly low-key in the past couple of years, after hosting the very
successful Skål International World Congress in Pattaya in 2006, with over
1,000 delegates coming to Pattaya for the event. But with the new challenges
ahead, there has been a resurgence of interest in “doing business with
friends”, the catch cry of Skål International, and to show that it means
business, a function was held at the Pinnacle Grand Resort in Najomtien last
weekend.
The acting president of the local Skål International, Ingo Raueber, the GM
of the Pinnacle group, welcomed the national president of Skål
International, Brian Sinclair-Thompson, and the international councilor,
Andrew Wood. Both of these office bearers presented a scenario of
opportunities for tourism professionals in Pattaya, and it was interesting
to note the presence of Alex Hauesler, the GM of the Royal Cliff Beach
Resort, who has also been very strong in his support of the Skål group.
Two of the founding members of the local Skål International were also
present, Elfi Seitz (Pattaya Blatt newspaper) and Peter Malhotra (managing
director of Pattaya Mail Publishing). Peter gave an inspirational
speech, asking all present to throw their weight behind acting President
Ingo Raueber, as the way forward would be for everyone to work together
towards a stronger Pattaya. He also stated that “Suvarnabhumi is ours” as it
is quicker to come to Pattaya than it is to get to Silom through Bangkok’s
crowded roads.
Pattaya City was represented by the eloquent Saksit Potisit, who outlined
the directions being taken by Pattaya City and its officers, under the
leadership of Mayor Ittiphol Khunplome. He assured everyone present that
Pattaya City would do everything in its power to assist Skål International
members in promoting Pattaya as a preferred destination.
It behooves all those in the travel and tourism industries to also look at
joining the Skål International organization. More information can be had at
www.skal.org
Skål International Pattaya and
East Thailand shows that it means business by holding a function at the
Pinnacle Grand Resort in Najomtien last weekend.
Skål International, the global
hospitality and tourism professionals,
has risen to the challenges of the changing face of the business.
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