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Jesters Children’s Fair 2010 - a perfect day out
(L to R)
Tony Malhotra, Peter Malhotra, Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn, Graham
Macdonald, Sopin Thappajug and Lewis Woody Underwood cut the ribbon to
officially launch this year’s Jesters Care for Kids Children’s Fair last
Sunday, Sept. 12 at the Diana Resort Driving Range. Tons of fun was had by
all, celebrating the culmination of another successful year for the charity
drive.
Story by David W.
Smith,
Ammy Bua & Saysunee Ubonpeun
Photos by Pattaya Mail reporters
This year’s Jesters Children’s Fair was the 12th staging
of this increasingly popular event as a part of the year of fundraising
organized by the Jesters Care for Kids Committee, associates and friends.
Organizing the Children’s Fair is a culmination of many things including the
promotion of and gratitude towards the many people who donate money and or
services in support of the Charity Drive through the year, but most
importantly it is a chance to expose our greater community to the Jesters
Care for Kids Charity Drive, our beneficiaries and how we do things. Of
course it is also a perfect day out for the 500+ children that are involved
in the many beneficiaries supported by our programs.
Deputy
Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn started the Children’s Fair by presenting the
charity a donation of 5,000 baht from Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome.
This year’s event was missing our friend and
long-standing committee member, Mike Franklin (R.I.P.), and as it was one of
his many tasks to write this Jesters Children’s Fair day summary, so I trust
this article is worthy of his legacy.
The day kicked off for most of the 100+ stallholders with
a dawn start in preparing everything for the 10 a.m. official opening by
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn alongside Diana Group Managing Director
Sopin Thappajug and Jesters Care for Kids Chairman Lewis (Woody) Underwood.
The Diana Driving Range was in great condition following heavy rain most of
the week and luckily, in true Jesters Care for Kids tradition, the weather
was simply perfect. The day started off sunny with a light easterly sea
breeze in the morning and gained a good cloud cover through the hottest part
of the day, albeit with just a few spits of rain to cool down the fairgoers.
The
marching band from Pattaya School No. 3 plays the National Anthem, followed
by a parade of six immaculate gleaming Harleys.
Jester Kevin (‘Mighty Mitch’) and Jester ‘Wild Bill’
Freeman oversaw the fair-day management, layout and set up at the Diana
Garden Resort & Driving Range for the ninth consecutive year with their
familiar dose of patience, excellent management, efficiency and good humor.
It was the biggest and best layout yet, skillfully designed for the
fairgoers and so as to make it easy to browse the stalls, relax in the
shaded areas and cool zones, sample the wide variety of food stalls and
enjoy the activities.
The stage performances and entertainment were superbly
highlighted on the 12m x 12m ante-stage and a simply outstanding outdoor
sound system. The families came in droves all day and the overwhelming sight
was the multitude of happy children having fun and many displaying the 2010
colorful Care for Kids event shirt. After all, it was their day.
Event
shirts are selling like hot cakes.
At 10 a.m. Lewis ‘Woody’ Underwood, Jesters Charity Drive
Committee Chairman, gave a warm welcoming speech acknowledging the enormous
support from all the sponsors supporting the 13th Annual Jesters Care for
Charity Drive. Corporate sponsorship included four Diamond Sponsors (400,000
baht): Glencore International Indonesia, Herrod Foundation Switzerland,
Devil Creek Development Project Australia, and Canadian Jackalope Open
Thailand, plus 19 Platinum, 19 Gold, 28 Silver & 36 Bronze sponsors and 32
Pledge for Kids sponsors. This makes a total of 133 corporate sponsors
equaling just on 5.4 million baht, with the Children’s Fair and Party Night
Grand Raffle & Auction results still to come.
An
impressive exhibition by Pattaya Aikikai Aikido.
Important recognitions were made to the team of Honorary
Jester committee members who contribute their essential skills, management,
expertise and their time free of charge, to make the fund raising effort of
‘Care for Kids’ the success that it has been for the past 13 years. The
ceremonial ribbon was cut and then Deputy Mayor Wutisak gave the customary
welcoming address and the 2010 Jesters Children’s Fair was in action!
A colorful marching band from Pattaya School No. 3 played
the National Anthem to conclude the Opening Ceremony. It would not be a
Jesters Children’s Fair without Jesters MC proudly bringing on the Harleys,
so six immaculate gleaming machines with engines at thunderous high throttle
concluded the drive-in ceremony. Then it was over to emcees Russell Jay from
Mix 88.5 FM, and Jester Poodle Pete (Thai), to keep things going at pace
throughout the day, and they did just that.
Horseshoe Point’s extravaganza featuring pony rides and Floating Orbs are
absolutely busy throughout the day.
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya nurses were in attendance to
give free blood pressure checks for adults and children. Our gratitude and
thanks also to the BHP Ambulance Unit for being on station all day to deal
with any mishaps or emergencies. There was never a dull moment and certainly
no lack of enthusiasm or enjoyment throughout the day.
The Children’s Variety Show was first up at 10.30 a.m.
featuring many of the 140 children from the Fountain of Life giving
beautiful performances representing the very young and the older kids
attending the center.
The ever
popular tug-of-war draws a big crowd.
The musicians & singers from the Redemptorist School for
the Blind also put on an interesting performance which really makes one
marvel at their strength of character under the circumstances, and they did
so with a smile!
Clown
Eckie’s stall proves a popular attraction with all the kids.
Orphans from the Ban Jing Jai, children from the Mercy
Center and the ISE Circus Art Troupe made up the rest of the entertainment
in this set. By then it was high noon and time for lots of exciting
children’s games enthusiastically organized by Linden Phanpho from ISE.
The games were run in front of the stage with many prizes
donated by Double A Logistics, the Pattaya International Ladies Club and the
Jesters. That was just the first of four children’s games sessions organized
throughout the day, including the ever popular tug-of war.
Lewis
(Woody) Underwood, an icon of love and benevolence for all children.
After the second children’s games session, the variety
show continued with a set from the Psychedelic Band consisting of high
school students from various international schools. This was followed by
another 30-minute games slot until it was time for the Pattaya Aikikai
Aikido’s impressive exhibition.
Then it was time for the presentation of bicycles,
donated by TQ to the 8 ‘Best of Class’ kids at the Fountain of Life in
loving memory of Chris Kays. More children’s games followed and the ever
popular Climbing Wall from Geckotech and Clough Engineering, Bouncy Kingdom
and the Horseshoe Point extravaganza featuring pony rides and Floating Orbs
on a 10m x 10m pool were busy throughout the day.
PMTV’s
Naz on presents a TV show with the stars.
‘Pop’s Cool Zone’ was there again with a music workshop
put together by musician Rick Bryant with a variety of instruments available
for the kids to try their hand at. Just next to that was a new entry to the
fair, the Psycho Jump which was a group of adventurous teenagers trying out
a new type of “Jumping stilts”. You have to see it to believe it, check out
the video on our Facebook page. This year for the first time we uploaded
photos and video to Facebook (Care4Kids) and Tweets throughout the day on
twitter, as well as uploads to our website where you can find our networking
links.
The Children’s Activity area was the best yet providing
the most fun for the younger ones. Primarily organized by local
international school communities, these stalls featured all sorts of fun and
games. Staff, students and parents from Garden International School, St
Andrews International School, International School of the Regents and the
International School Eastern Seaboard (ISE) turned out in force to support
the ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive, and ensure fun for everyone.
Grammy Superstars A-Tom, Techin, Som-Wink
and Ten creates excitement
for all teenage fair-goers.
Clown Eckie was entertaining the kids throughout the day
all over the fair ground and of course he was constantly a popular
attraction with all the kids. The Dunk Tank was again so very popular where
the kids could get their chance to Dunk the Adults if they hit the
bulls-eye. Teachers were obviously the most popular victims and the students
from the International School of the Regents were seemingly the most
enthusiastic customers!)
This year we were again fortunate to have the popular
Grammy teen music Superstars A-Tom, Som-Wink, Ten, and Techin and they
performed for about an hour with the teenage fair-goers going wild with
excitement and enthusiasm. They were magnanimous in their support of the
Care for Kids Charity Drive and gave extended photo and autograph
opportunities to all the teenage fans attending. Media from Bangkok was in
attendance thanks to Ammy Bua and from television, press and magazines, and
all are reporting the event throughout the national Thai channels.
A photo
opportunity with the stars.
Som was first with her popular hit Wink followed
by Rak baebp Peun Mai Meun Fan (Love you same as a friend not same
lover). A-Tom was next with Ham Thing (Don’t Leave Me), then Leuk
Gun Teu (Please Leave NOW!) which was quite ironic really. Ten was next
with Yahp Ploy (Hold me tight) followed by Ya Ngaow Lreuay Buay
(What should I do?). Techin was up last with Kam Dob (The answer)
followed by Kon Mai Ru Dua (I don’t know what to feel).
Presentation of bicycles donated by TQ to the 8 Fountain of Life’s ‘Best of
Class’ kids in loving memory of Chris Kays.
The Children’s Raffle followed and featured 15 valuable
draw prizes, generously sponsored by Pattaya Sports Club, Diana Group,
Pattaya Trader and Jesters. Bernie Tuppin and his team managed the raffle
ticket stall all day, ably assisted by a lot of willing volunteers.
The final period of the fair was left to live music from
Leo Blues Bar Band with Lot, Eor & Golf, followed by Naffa Band with Nate,
Brian Marc & Rick and then the Rick Band played with Rick, Kris and Eor. The
entertainment was wrapped up by Jerry & the Axeterix featuring Scott, Nick,
Tom and Chris.
Kids
wanna rock with Pop at ‘Pop’s Cool Zone’.
A last tour of the stalls and, for the organizers and
stallholders, a well-deserved visit to the Jesters beer tent for a cold
Heineken, San Miguel or Tiger beer, or the Blue Parrot stall for a few
chilled Margaritas. Our thanks to all the ‘beer donors’ providing cans for
the beer garden and the team from the Jesters who ran the 3 beer tents this
year amassing 240,000 baht at last count.
In fact, from very early on one could detect a real
‘buzz’ at the fair, and a great atmosphere that lasted to the close, many
fairgoers staying right to the end. However, at 6 p.m. it was time to wrap,
with the inevitable few lingering on, sitting around, enjoying the live
music with a relaxing drink, wanting more, and wondering how the day had
passed so quickly. It had been another hugely successful Jesters Children’s
fair to celebrate 13th Anniversary of the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity
Drive.
Jeab
the lucky Big Bear winner.
Finally, on behalf of the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity
Drive Committee, sincere thanks to all the fair-going families and children
that came to support the Jesters 2010 Children’s Fair; thank you to the
stallholders for supporting the event every year; thank you to the schools,
our Charity Drive partners and of course the Jesters Care for Kids committee
who (after Lewis Woody Underwood) are a large part of the driving force
behind this organization. Thank you to our media partners Pattaya Mail,
Pattaya Daily News and a special thanks to Khun Sopin Thappajug and the
Diana Group Management for generously providing the Diana Garden Resort &
Driving Range facility for the ninth consecutive year.
But it’s not all over yet! This coming Saturday night
the Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive ramps up for the crescendo Party
Night held at Jameson’s Irish Pub in North Pattaya. We will have the famous
Charity Auction, the drawing of the Grand Raffle where a Honda Scoopy-i, a
30,000-baht rental voucher from Q Cars, a Nokia E71 telephone, and hotel
stays at the Rachamankha Hotel Chiang Mai; Marriott Resort & Spa Bangkok and
Hua Hin; Anantara Resort in Krabi and Hua Hin; Centara Grand Mirage in
Naklua are some of the main prizes. PMTV’s Paul Strachan will be the Emcee
and Bob Philp will be the auctioneer.
Some of
the items up for auction on Saturday, September 18.
All
smiles as the Fair proves to be ‘a perfect day out’.
|
Jesters Beer Donations 2010 |
BEER DONOR’S NAME AMOUNT
Doc 5000
Lasse 2000
Paul Ovens 1000
Dale Drader 1000
Matt Millar 1000
James Millar 1000
Doug Millar 1000
Tha Millar 1000
Ewe Khamhintang 1000
Alex Bevis 1000
Clive Pearce 1000
Daniel Demarais 1000
Saigon Bar Ladies 700
Saigon Bar Manager 700
Somneuk Pluemsook 700
Sticky 1000
Paul Shortino 1000
Chis Oxley 1000
Angel 2000
Mark Loper 2000
Steve Ball 1000
Steve Staley 1000
Jim Horne 1000
TQ Ladies (Day Shift) 1300
Bob Finch 1000
Chris Hogg 500
Danny Keller 1000
Mark Sminy 1000
Sweet Lou 5000
Jim Lindquist 700
Graham Watkins 1000
Paul Baker 1000
Simon Quigley 1000
John Earl 1000
Woody 1000
Soda 1700
Mark Robbins 1000
Angel Barca 1000
Geckotech 1000
Drippy 1000
Russell White 2000
Ray Matti 2000
Steve Michaels 1000
Tim Bar 1000
Derek Reaper 2000
Mark Gorda 2000
Scar 1000
Love Boat 8500
Goran Strandheim 2000
Café Kronborg 1000
Kim 1000
Steve Gray 1000
Richman Poorman 1000
Rob Kennedy 1000
Borie A. Johansson 1000
Werner Lamm 1000
Ulf 1000
Carl Aldous 1000
Steve Ruddell 1000
Beaver Bar and Grill 1000
Moe Deverdenne 10,000
East Coast Choppers 1000
Hot Rod 1000
Bobby Clark 1000
Deane Mundy 1000
Kenneth Mau 1000
Jerry Galbreath 1000
Niclas 1000
Janne B. Good 1000
Jon Fox 1000
Bill Thompson 1000
Jack Levy 1000
Billy Powell 5000
Lars Mueller 2500
K.Chatri-Road Machine 2000
Hakan Bertell 1000
Henry Strand 1000 |
BEER DONOR’S NAME AMOUNT
Eddie Jansson 1000
Goran & Family 5000
Rickard Magnusson 2400
Christoffer Carlander 2500
LidaCon 3000
Per Rehnman 1500
Håkan Thudin 2400
Arne & Ann-Katrin Nyman 2200
Sunkan & Pak 5000
Johan Svensson 1000
Mia 1000
Sam & Koy 10,000
Mikey 500
Tom Mad Dog 850
Tim Mad Dog 850
Dale Mad Dog 1000
Peter Mad Dog 1000
Tester 1000
Kevin 1000
Fredrik 1500
Janne Lowrider 3000
Kaj 1000
Mikel 1000
Niclas & Andreas 2000
Johan Ponytail 3000
Mark Gatto 1000
Scott McLaughlin 1000
Sukanya 1000
Martin Greenacre 1000
Luke Rogowski 1000
Glen Cunningham 1000
Scott Vaughn 1000
Colin Ward 1000
Paul McDermott 1000
Phil Ellis 1000
Frank Drennan 1000
Spam 800
Simon 1000
Lorian Bamberg 1000
John Chase 1000
Eddie 1000
Richy 1000
Oddie 1000
Bob Scandiffio 1000
Ski 1000
Howie 1000
Jimmy 2000
Sal 100
JL 800
Jamie 1000
Chris 1000
Eric Moore 1000
Gary Small 1000
Tim Brewmaster 1000
Jim Vessels 1000
Jim Horne 1000
Kieth Brazier 1000
Glen Moore 1000
Simon Summer 1000
Erle Kershaw 2000
Pan Strandheim 1000
Don Cameron 1000
Greg Freeman 4000
Saigon Girl Bar 5000
Eriksson 500
Geoff Evans 13000
Karyn Walker 1000
Karumba 1000
Manaol 1000
Victor 1000
David 1000
Robert Doightlander 1000
Dave Unsworth 1000
David Jones 200
Saloon Bar 2800
Bernie Morris 1000
Dan Nikey 1000
Total:
242,200 |
| Jesters Children’s Raffle
Prize Winners
PSC CHILDREN’S RAFFLE PRIZE
SPONSOR
WINNER
WARMING PAN/MIXER PSC
BOONCHU
GAME/RADIO HELICOPTER PSC
REBECCA REAPER
SAFE PSC
SOMSI
TALKING DICTIONARY PSC
NOOT
GUITAR WITH CASE DIANA GROUP
TICK TOCK
GAME/RADIO CAR PSC
KHAO BAISRI
DVD PLAYER PSC
JAMES
POLICE TOY MOTORBIKE PSC
TUM
GAME/RADI HELICOPTER PSC
NUAL
COOLING FAN PSC
KARAMBA
MIKEY THE BEAR JESTERS
JEAB
CHILD’S BICYCLE PSC
THEPPRON
VIDEO CAMERA PSC
NUNG
SLIMLINE TV PSC
PAPHI |
Am-Cham hosts a ‘sweet & cool’ tour of Rayong factories
MD
Herman G. Rowland Jr welcomes his guests to the Jelly Belly factory.
Sue Kukarja
Factory tours are not for everyone as they can be quite
technical, but when the factories in question make jelly beans and home
appliances, you’d be surprised how many people show up.
Such was the case Sept. 10, when the American Chamber of
Commerce Thailand organized visits to the Jelly Belly Candy Co. and Emerson
Climate Technologies Co. plants in Rayong. Sweet-toothed members of the
American Chamber, Pattaya Expats Club, Pattaya International Ladies Club,
Rotary Club and others all turned out.
First stop was the American-owned Jelly Belly plant,
where Managing Director Herman G. Rowland Jr. and daughter Christie, the
purchasing manager welcomed the guests. With its headquarters in Fairfield,
Calif., another plant in Chicago, and distribution center and warehouse in
Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, USA, Jelly Belly now produces 34 million pounds
of jelly beans per year, in addition to assorted gummy, licorice, candy
corn, and chocolate treats.
Guests
wear protective smocks and cover their hair and shoes,
plus protective hats before entering the inner sanctum.
By 2006, the company was struggling to produce enough
jelly beans to satisfy the U.S. and international demands, and was ready to
build a plant abroad. In 2008, it opened a 4,645 sq. m. plant in Thailand.
Herman said they had spent a year looking around the
world for the right location. His father, Herman Sr., traveled to Thailand
and chose Rayong, due its proximity to a vital ingredient: tapioca. The Thai
facility now supplies customers in at least 35 countries.
Asked if the humid climate in Thailand effects the
production, ingredient storage and packing, Herman said it was important to
regulate the temperature and the humidity inside the plant, as well as
during shipping. The Thai factory was designed with more insulation and
different air conditioning units than U.S. facilities to protect the beans
from the climate.
It was
an eye-opener for most visitors to see the various processes of producing
the delectable jelly beans.
On average, it takes 7-10 days to birth a jelly bean, but
it can take up to 21 days to achieve perfection for some flavors. The
production process involves four stages, plus packaging: cooking, molding,
panning, and finishing.
Currently, the Jelly Belly Thailand facility employs
about a hundred local employees and four foreigners, and the future looks
promising. The five million pound goal mark will be reached this year and
next year will see floor space triple.
Oddly, all those beans have always been just for export.
But Rowland said there’s a strong possibility Jelly Bellies may turn up
locally within a month.
Herman
proudly shows off the packaged products to Sue of PMTV.
Next Stop: Emerson Climate Technologies
Emerson’s air conditioning compressors manufacturing
plant may not have smelled as sweet, but it was definitely “cool.”
On hand to explain the art of the scroll compressor were
Bruce Hoppe, Mike Tampurages, Rungracha Kenwithee, and their staff. Bruce is
currently the vice president of Asian operations, responsible for its
compressor-manufacturing plants in Thailand, Suzhou and Shenyang, China; and
support for two plants in India. Tampurages is the local managing director.
Mike
Tampurages MD of the Emerson Rayong plant speaks about the overall
operations.
When Emerson first pioneered the use of scroll technology
in compressors, it changed the industry forever. To date, Copeland Scroll
technology remains at the forefront of air conditioning and refrigeration
applications with its efficiency, reliability and ease of installation.
Emerson (Thailand) Ltd. opened its plant in Rayong in
late 1996, representing a $130 million investment covering both compressor
and motor manufacturing. The 28,400 sq. m. plant employs more than 1,000
people.
The plant manufactures 1.5 - 15-horsepower Copeland
Scroll compressors and is currently expanding production to a million units
per year. It supports customers in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Emerson is
publicly owned and listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Bruce
Hoppe, Vice President of Asian Operations, Emerson Electric welcomes AmCham
guests to the state of the art manufacturing plant.
The visitors were taken to the work floor to get a close
look at the Copeland Scroll compressors being born and were promised that
after the tour they would be able to assemble a scroll compressor with their
eyes closed.
Basically, the Copeland compressor has one scroll, or
spiral, orbiting in a path defined by a matching fixed scroll. The fixed
scroll is attached to the compressor body. The orbiting scroll is coupled to
the crankshaft and orbits, rather than rotates. The orbiting motion creates
a series of gas pockets traveling between the two scrolls. On the outer
portion of the scrolls, the pockets draw in gas, and then move into the
center of the scroll, where the gas is discharged. As the gas moves into the
increasingly smaller inner pockets, the temperature and pressure increase to
the desired discharge pressure.
Visitors
get a very close look at the various stages of production.
It was
an experience of a lifetime to see
the automated assembly line which is second to none.
Visitors
gather for a group picture at Jelly Belly (Above)
and at Emerson Climate
Technologies (Below).
AmCham cool and sweet in Pattaya
(L to R)
Dee Richmond, business development manager for Agri Source; Judy Hoppe;
Piyawan Phillips; and Sue K strike a pose for the camera.
Dr. Iain Corness
Pattaya welcomed the Bangkok contingent of the American
Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), joining with its local members from the
Eastern Seaboard for a fact-finding trip organized by the AmCham
Manufacturing and Food and Agri-Business Committee.
(L to
R) Santi Pongjareanpit from KPMG Phoomchai Audit Ltd.; Munchupa Singsuksawat,
executive director of KPMG Phoomchai Audit Ltd.; and Frank van Baal, Asia
regional director for ZI-Argus Ltd.
The ‘sweetener’ for the Bangkok members was a visit to
the Jelly Belly Candy Company, a very long established manufacturer of jelly
beans and candies in the United States, having been in business since 1898.
Who would have imagined that as the Spanish-American War commenced on April
25 of that year, that the US Congress were chewing jelly beans?
In 2006, Jelly Belly built a large plant in Rayong
Province, with the concept being to build a factory to service the European
and the emerging Asian market. GM Herman G. Rowland Jr., a large and affable
American, was delighted to welcome his compatriots with bags of jelly beans,
with Christie Rowland, his purchasing manager, bringing even more of the
delicious sweets (the peach was sensational)!
Herman
G. Rowland Jr. (left), managing director, and Christie Rowland (right),
purchasing manager of Jelly Belly Candy Company (Thailand) Ltd., are
interviewed for PMTV by Dr. Iain Corness
After Jelly Belly, the American contingent visited Bruce
Hoppe’s Emerson (Thailand) plant in Rayong, which opened in late 1996,
representing a US$130 million investment covering both compressor and motor
manufacturing. This plant manufactures 1.5 - 6.0 HP A/C scroll compressors
and is currently expanding capacity to one million units per annum. Bruce
and wife Judy are very well known on the Eastern Seaboard, and have been
very strong supporters of the local community.
(L to
R) Ali Fancy, general manager of Jelly Belly Candy Company; Nathan Christoff,
managing director of Litehouse Asia (Thailand) Ltd.; and Thidarat
Thavornchichoke, sales and purchasing director of Litehouse Asia (Thailand)
Ltd.
After the plant visits, the AmCham members were brought
by bus to the Amari Orchid Resort and Tower where a networking function was
in full swing in the new Tavern by the Sea where they were welcomed by the
RM Max Sieracki, later to be joined by the Amari GM David Cumming, who did
(with tongue in cheek) thank AmCham for ‘coming’, a play on words which had
been started by the AmCham Executive Director Judy Benn.
Alan S.
Verstein, managing director of Siam Gazette Co., Ltd.; chats with Herman G.
Rowland Jr., managing director of Jelly Belly Candy Company (Thailand) Ltd.
Amongst the US attendees was John Romero, the Business
Development Manager - Pacific Rim for National Air Cargo, and he indicated
that the cargo side of the aviation business was doing well, and in fact
they had just enlarged their fleet.
Another networker, whom we see down on the Eastern
Seaboard for every chamber’s event was Robin Hyde, the Overseas Manager for
Seabra Movers, joined by Mark Butters of RSM Advisory, who indicated that he
is very close to opening up an Eastern Seaboard office to cater for the
increase in business from this area. One American, based locally and seen
everywhere, was Alan Verstein, a man who just enjoys life and living!
Dr.
Iain Corness (right) interviews AmCham Executive Director Judy Benn for PMTV.
Two new networkers down from the capital were John Howe,
the MD of Knight FM and his Sales and Marketing Manager Thanasate Wong-Arree.
Their business was not radio, but in the supply of janitorial services and
cleaning.
The plan of the evening was for the AmCham members to
quietly jump in their bus at 7.30 p.m. and head back to Bangkok, but the
organizers had underestimated the fun their members were having in the
Tavern by the Sea (complete with a strawberry and chocolate fountain) and it
was not until much later that they were finally shepherded into their
transport.
The Pattaya community was very pleased to see the Bangkok
AmCham folk, and hopefully we will see more of them in the next few months.
Ron
Carlton (left) compares white to red with Alain Deurwaerder,
managing director of Katoen Natie (Thailand) Ltd.
(L to
R) Christie Rowland, purchasing manager for Jelly Belly Candy Company
(Thailand) Ltd.; Herman G. Rowland Jr., managing director of Jelly Belly
Candy Company (Thailand) Ltd.; David Cumming, general manager of Amari
Orchid Resort & Tower; Bruce Hoppe, vice president of Asian operations for
Emerson Electric; and AmCham Executive Director Judy Benn.
(L to
R) Rungracha Kenwithee, administrative assistant for Emerson Electric
(Thailand) Ltd.; Christie Rowland, purchasing manager for Jelly Belly Candy
Company (Thailand) Ltd.; Alain Deurwaerder, managing director of Katoen
Natie (Thailand) Ltd.; Judy Hoppe; and Herman G. Rowland Jr., managing
director of Jelly Belly Candy Company (Thailand) Ltd.
Royal Cliff Wine Club plays the goat
(L to
R) Ranjith Chandrasiri, deputy general manager of the Royal Cliff Beach
Resort and president of Royal Cliff Wine Club; H.E. Douglas H.M. Gibson,
Ambassador from the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa; Charles Back,
owner and winemaker of ‘Charles Back Fairview’ wines of South Africa; and
Ron Batori, president of Bangkok Beer & Beverages Co., Ltd.
Ron Batori; Ambassador Douglas Gibson; Charles Back and Ranjith Chandrasiri,
in the company of Executive Chef Walter Thenisch (5th
from left) and the F&B service team led by Choopong Payotorn, F&B Manager
(far right) and Vichai Poo-alai, Grill Room restaurant manager (3rd
from left).
Dr. Iain Corness
The South African Winemaker’s Gala Dinner was held at the
Royal Cliff Beach Resort, organized by the Wine Club’s president Ranjith
Chandrasiri. It featured wines from South Africa, being some of the many
Charles Back offerings from the Fairview Winery.
Charles
Back, owner and winemaker of ‘Charles Back Fairview’ wines of South Africa
is a wonderful and colourful speaker.
In keeping with the theme of the event, prominent South
Africans were in attendance, including the South African Ambassador HE
Douglas Gibson, Charles Back, the winemaker himself (but who described
himself as a simple farmer), and South African wine promoter Allan Riddell.
The very popular Ron Batori was also present, with his Bangkok Beer and
Beverage company being one of the sponsors of the dinner.
Charles Back turned out to be a wonderful and colourful
speaker, saying that he had to take his jacket off first, as he was really
just a farmer who grew grapes. He also explained the whimsical name for the
reception wine, which was a Goats do Roam white. This was a play upon words,
mimicking the French “Cotes du Rhone” wine. The goat analogy was even
greater than this, with a limited production “The Goatfather” being
mentioned, but I have the feeling that Charles Back was pulling our legs!
(L to R)
Sakunnee Siriprasert, Yoko San,
Paitoon Ritdej and Chitra Chandrasiri mingle before dinner.
What many people did not know was that Charles Back was
voted the second most influential South African Person of the Year, second
only to Nelson Mandela, and his Camembert cheese has been judged as the Best
in the World for the past five years.
Ib
Ottesen Junior and his fiancée sip white wine from South Africa.
Incidentally, the Fairview Winery vines were imported to
South Africa in 1653, with the first wines being made in 1659. “We are the
oldest New World wine producer,” said Charles, whilst also commenting that
“First we have to sell South Africa before we sell South African wines!”
Charles Back is certainly a ‘realist’ farmer in his shirt-sleeves.
The dinner was, as always, a sell-out, and the Wine Club
members and guests began the five courses with a Timbale of Tasmanian salmon
and smoked trout mousse with golden caviar on horseradish foam. The fairly
strongly flavoured dish required a strongly flavoured wine, and the Charles
Back Fairview Sauvignon Blanc 2009 was certainly that. A wonderful nose and
a great long finish.
Ib and
Kanikar Ottesen enjoy some pre-dinner white.
The second course was baked red snapper filled with clams
(there appears to be no end to the Royal Cliff’s Executive Chef Walter
Thenisch’s imagination)! A milder dish needing a more mellow wine, this time
the Charles Back Fairview Darling Chenin Blanc 2008. For me, the previous
Sauvignon Blanc was still preferable, but as always, wine appreciation is
subject to a personal taste.
The third course was Cajun spiced braised beef ribs and a
Goats do Roam red 2007 was presented with this dish. Again a good
combination.
(L to
R) Piyawan Phillips, James Phillips and Judy Hoppe pose for an event photo.
The main course of juniper berry and pepper-crusted
venison loin was brought to the table, with a choice of two wines - the
Charles Back Fairview Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, and a Charles
Back Fairview Pinotage 2007. For venison, I do believe it needs a ‘big’
wine, and the Pinotage did it for me, even though many diners preferred the
Cabernet Sauvignon. Personal tastes again.
As the finale, the dessert of vanilla-raspberry sandwich
with pistachio cream log and apricot spherical was a prize winning
presentation at the food and wine show in Thailand.
There was no doubting that once again, the Wine Club
members and friends had been treated to a spectacular evening of food and
wines. With the cost being slightly over THB 2,000, it was one of the
culinary bargains of Pattaya.
Further details on the Royal Cliff Wine Club can be
obtained by contacting the president
[email protected].
Meticulously groomed and attractive service staff
add spice to the fabulous wine dinner.
(L to R)
Chitra Chandrasiri, Ria Hesling and Dinie de Vries are ready for a great
event.
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