Central Festival marks 4th anniversary

Employees prepare incense to pay homage to their Brahman house, making merit to mark the company’s 4th Anniversary.

Warunya Thongrod
Central Festival Pattaya Beach celebrated its fourth anniversary by making merit and celebrating new honors.
General Manager Saran Tantijamnaj led the Jan. 23 event at the beachfront mall as executives and employees offered alms and paid homage to the Brahma pavilion, home to its joss and spirits houses.
They welcomed nine monks from Nongket Yai Temple who blessed workers and prayed before sitting down to lunch.
The event also celebrated Central Festival’s ISO 9001 and 140001 environmental certifications and receipt of an award of excellence in labor and labor welfare from Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Central Festival opened Jan. 23, 2009 as the largest beachfront shopping mall in Asia.

General Manager Saran Tantijamnaj (center) serves lunch to the monks during Central’s anniversary merit making.

Management and employees gather for a group photo to mark Central Festival Pattaya Beach’s 4th anniversary.

 

A legend in Pattaya

A member of the audience accompanied Johnny on the vuvuzela.

Derek Franklin
There was not a spare seat to be found at the Volna Restaurant at Bali Hai recently when Danish entertainer and singing legend Johnny Reimar performed a charity concert in aid of the Father Ray Foundation.
Johnny’s association with the work of the Foundation goes back more than twenty five years and he was a good friend of the late Father Ray. His musical career goes back even further to the 1960’s when he was a member of the rock group The Cliffters.

Johnny presented a donation to Father Peter and Father Michael of the Father Ray Foundation.

He continues to entertain audiences all over Denmark and when he is not crooning he sits on the board of the Den Danske Pattaya Fond which raises money for both the Father Ray Foundation and the Pattaya Orphanage.
The Pattaya concert was opened with a performance by Barry Upton, former member of 1970’s pop group Brotherhood of Man and local radio personality. Barry entertained the crowd with a selection of songs before being joined on stage by Pattaya’s favourite Elvis impersonator, Colin Young.

Johnny Reimar.

But it was Johnny the audience had come to see, and they were not disappointed. Within moments of arriving on stage the mainly Danish crowd were on their feet, clapping and singing along to the songs. Even those who were unable to understand the words to the songs were on their feet and having a dance.
The main aim of the concert was to raise funds and after the final song was sang Johnny presented a donation of 83,500 baht to Father Peter and Father Michael of the Father Ray Foundation.

Johnny signs an autograph for a lucky fan.

The crowd were on their feet singing along.

AFG canvasses its members

Uli Kaiser (left) and Frank Holzer (right).

Dr. Iain Corness
The first Automotive Focus Group (AFG) meeting of 2013 was held on Friday 25th of January at the Amari Orchid Hotel, Pattaya. The session was billed as the ‘AFG Open Forum’, a new format to inform the members on the status of the AFG and the plans for 2013. Members were asked for feedback and the sitting AFG committee members provided an update on the forthcoming AGM and the AFG committee, the upcoming elections and introduction of the candidates for the new committee.
This first meeting of the year turned out to be very lively, with much emphasis on the desirability of good speakers during 2013. It was acknowledged that whilst some speakers last year were excellent, others were not as stellar in their performance.
Topics of interest that came from the meeting included the ‘apprenticeship’ program, supply chains and logistics amongst others. Another popular topic last year was plant visits, and the new committee will be looking at this also for 2013.
One suggestion that was very well received by the members were to have ‘mini’ forums with three speakers on stage, each speaking for around 10 minutes and then to be involved in Q&A. This had been run very successfully in Australia last year and looks like being a feature for the AFG here.
Current Treasurer Frank Holzer intends to plan and produce a calendar for the AFG functions in 2013, an idea that was met with approval by all.
Ken Hinckley spoke on the proposed golf tournament, and whilst the concept met with approval, finding a suitable date was going to be a problem. However, this will be got over shortly and the golf tournament date will be published in Frank’s calendar.
After the meeting, the AFG members were invited to join the joint chambers networking evening, which they did with gusto, hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) in the garden of the Amari.

Pattaya Pride founder’s birthday raises 225,000 baht for HIV/AIDS charities

“Madame“ Jim Lumsden going full speed on his birthday.

Elfi Seitz (Photos: PattayaHotmale.com)
More than 200 people helped raise 225,000 baht for HIV and AIDS charities as they helped Jim Lumsden celebrate his birthday.
The Cuban-themed party Jan. 7 party at Lumsden’s Boutique Resort Baan Souyee raised funds for his Pattaya Pride organization, which primarily benefits Dr. Philippe Seur’s Heart2000 foundation. Guests paid 800 baht to for the event, with a quarter of that going to Pattaya Pride.

Dr. Philippe Seur expresses his thanks.

Friends from around Europe and business owners from the Boyz Town bar district filled the room as the flamboyant Lumsden opened a cabaret show featuring The Viaduct Girls from the United Kingdom, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator from France, performer Ivana, the Dolly Sisters, and male go-go dancers from Boyz Boyz Boyz and the Copa Showbar.
Seur also took the stage to thank guests and Pattaya Pride for the help he has received over the years.
Organizers also raffled off prizes, including a gold necklace, bottles of spirits and a motorbike donated by “James and Lazlo”. It was won by Peter Storrow of the Copa Showbar. He immediately put it up for auction and Terrance purchased it for 61,000 baht, then himself put it up for auction again. The bike finally sold for 45.000 baht, with all the funds going to Pattaya Pride.

Lumsden wrapped up the evening thanking his guests for their generosity as performers Marisa and Roxanne cut him the first slice of birthday cake, which he sampled immediately.

Miss Qipao dress competition marks Chinese New Year

(L to R) Naddakorn Supharak, Chankit Na Ranong, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, and Central Festival Pattaya Beach General Manager Saran Tantijamnaj announce the upcoming Miss Qipao 2013 at Central Festival Pattaya Beach.

Warunya Thongrod
Pattaya will help celebrate Chinese New Year with a beauty contest featuring women in Qipao dresses.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh joined Central Festival Pattaya Beach General Manager Saran Tantijamnaj and Chankit Na Ranong of Pattaya Entertainment Republic Co. Jan. 21 to announce the mandarin dress competition Feb. 10.
The grand announcement was a show unto itself, with song, dance, and martial arts exhibitions.

A martial arts student from Shaolin Kung Fu Syndicate flies through the air during his demonstration.

The “year of the snake” celebration marks 46 years of relations between Thailand and China and, city officials hope, will promote Chinese tourism to Pattaya.
Qipao dresses, more commonly called “cheongsam,” are snug, one-piece dresses won by both men and women in China. However, the stylish and often tight-fitting qipao is most often associated with today with those created in the 1920s in Shanghai and made fashionable by socialites and upper-class women.

Students from the Shaolin Kung Fu Syndicate demonstrate Vusu Shaolin Kung Fu.

First prize in the pageant to be held at Central Festival will carry a 30,000 baht prize and gifts worth another 30,000 baht. Contestants will be judged not only on their attire, but talent as well. For more information, see Facebook.com/missqipaocontest  or call 038-730-844. Contestants can register through Feb. 5.

Hi ya! Another student takes to the air during his Kung Fu performance.

Children from Pattaya City Academy perform a fan dance during the press conference.

Women With a Mission deliver a class act

Bronwyn Carey talks to PMTV about the Women With a Mission projects.

Sue K.
The doors opened at the Hard Rock’s Hall of Fame on the evening of Sunday 13 January to welcome the amazing American Jazz & Blues duo of Tuck & Patti.
The Amicus Foundation of Thailand, close friends of Tuck & Patti, had suggested to Women With a Mission (WWM) just a few short weeks ago that the duo were prepared to come down to Pattaya and give a benefit concert. Undaunted by the short notice, WWM swung into action, wrote articles, printed and plastered posters all over town, emailed everyone they knew, did radio and TV interviews, twisted arms, got sponsorship, and partnered with the Hard Rock to put together a memorable evening. Probably the best music of its genre ever heard on the Eastern Seaboard.

Tuck amazes the audience with his virtuoso guitar playing, while Patti’s velvet voice flows through the Hard Rock Hall of Fame.

More than 120 people came to the Hard Rock auditorium. Many of them had heard little about Tuck & Patti previously except for their fame among hard-core aficionados of American jazz and a group of the locally based musicians. Many had been won over checking them out on YouTube. Some had read about the accolades they have received over the years. Many came just to support WWM, knowing that they always put on a good show, and were keen to see any class act coming to town. This show was a rarity and they did not go away disappointed.

The Tuck and Patti duo sing their soulful rendition.

Amicus and Tuck & Patti are also friends of Dr Mechai who had provided them with accommodation at his well-known Birds & Bees Resort in exchange for them giving a music tutorial to the Mechai Pattana School Ukulele Band currently on a year’s exchange from Buriram. There is an old adage among performers that you should never share the stage with children and animals - you will always be upstaged. The MPS students came close, performing during the pre-show dinner, usually the death-zone for most artists, but these children were received in hushed silence and ended receiving a standing ovation.

Mathew Kelly got the audience tapping their toes with his performance on the harmonica.

Only a world-class act could top this, and Tuck & Patti delivered the goods on the night. Patti only had to open her mouth. Her velvet voice, likened to that of Ella Fitzgerald, flowed through the Hall of Fame. When she spoke, it sounded like song. When she kicked off her shoes and stood barefoot on the stage, she gave us a stunning rendition of High Heel Blues without accompaniment. She was talking to us through song.

The Women with a Mission: (from left) Kylie Grimmer, Rosanne Diamente, and Bronwyn Carey.

And then there was Tuck. The audience was in awe of his guitar skills and virtuosity. A flawless display of some of the greatest jazz guitar playing. Tuck extracted sounds and harmonics from his guitar that left the experienced musicians in the audience gasping and cheering for more. And when they combined it was sheer bliss.
For much of the night Tuck & Patti were joined by our local Matthew Kelly (Kingfish & Grateful Dead) who backed them with his famous wonderful soulful harmonica playing. For one song, Matthew strapped on his old electric guitar and revisited one of the old Grateful Dead’s classics that had been re-arranged by Tuck.

Tuck and Patti give an exclusive interview to PMTV.

For WWM it was a lot of hard work over a short space of time, but well worth it. They delivered a wonderful evening of the greatest music, in the best music auditorium in town, great food, free-flowing wine and beer at an affordable non-Bangkok price. Their thanks go out to the sponsors, Legacy of Legends, Hard Rock Hotel, Mechai Pattana School, Paul Strachan who donated his time as compere, Pattaya Mail, Amicus Foundation of Thailand for giving them the opportunity, the generosity of Tuck & Patti, our local Karma Sound Studios for the sound technicians, and most importantly to all the friends out there who are tireless supporters of our local Women With a Mission.

Students from Mechai Pattana School give rousing ukulele performance.

Mechai Pattana students accompany the ukulele with Hawaiian dance.

Guests at Hard Rock enjoy a sumptuous buffet prior to the concert.