Ancient Sukhothai enchants visitors with rich history and culture

Over 500 Rotarians from 55 clubs in District 3360 traveled to the historic city of Sukhothai for their annual conference on March 9 and 10, held at the Pailyn Hotel.

The purpose of a Rotary district conference is to provide opportunities for networking, listening to inspirational addresses by leading Rotarians and discussions of Rotary related matters.

It is hard to imagine that the Thai Garden Resort is now 25 years old in Pattaya.

The Thai Garden Resort has clung to its principles in being a family resort and prides itself for pleasant service and delicious food. Anyone who has eaten at the Thai Garden’s buffet evenings will attest to that!

Pattaya slides into Year of the Snake

Tributes to gods and ancestors were made across the region as Thai-Chinese residents welcomed in the Year of the Snake.

Culture Minister Sonthaya Kunplome presided over the Chinese “Wai Jao” ceremony Feb. 9 at Sawang Boriboon Foundation headquarters in Naklua to pray to gods and ancestors for good luck. A lively circus of dancing dragons and lions then took the stage, moving out to various destinations around Pattaya afterward.

Having taken a break during the festive season when every hotel was packed to the brim, and no GM had any spare time for fellowships, Chatchawal Supachayanont, general manager of the Dusit Thani Pattaya thought it was high time to summon his ‘gang’ for a little celebration, not only to hail in the new year but also to get to know some of the new faces that have now made Pattaya their working home.

More than 150 foreign expatriates and an equal number of Thais attended a day-long “Pattaya Community Safety” meeting Jan. 29 at city hall, taking in briefings from top Royal Thai Police and Pattaya officials, and splitting into groups to brainstorm ideas on crime prevention and suppression.

Youngsters perform the latest dance style with their friends, the dancing sea animals, at Royal Garden Plaza.  Saturday, January 12 was once again one of their favorite days of the year - Children’s Day, and from navy ships to city halls, airports to shopping malls, children were everywhere as the Eastern Seaboard celebrated Thailand’s annual festival for little ones.

More than 2,000 fireworks turned night into day when the Pattaya area counted down the end of 2012 and welcomed in the New Year.

Pattaya Countdown 2012 capped a week of musical celebrations Dec. 31 as Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and area MPs led festivities and a massive fireworks show at Bali Hai Pier. Tens of thousands strolled through a street market set up on Beach Road while others stayed in and partied at their hotels, at least those smart enough to have booked rooms in advance, as nearly all the 80,000 hotel rooms in Pattaya were filled.

The Dusit Thani Hotel hosted a thank you party for corporate customers to celebrate Loy Krathong.

The themed “Sukhothai Night” Nov. 23 allowed business clients to begin Loy Krathong celebrations early, and featured culinary bits and culture of the Sukhothai period. The party mixed its historical theme with modern day entertainment from the hotel’s dance troupe, The Honeybees, with tradition.

Tradition triumphed over rain as Pattaya celebrated Loy Krathong with beauty contests, children’s shows and floating lanterns.

Top city, police and tourism officials led Pattaya’s official holiday celebration at Bali Hai Pier Nov. 28, which featured a child pageant, cultural shows and musical performances.

The Pattaya Sanitation Department last week was busy cleaning the drainage system on Third Road in preparation of the upcoming (and sometimes current) rainy season.