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This life has only
flowers for you...
by Kittisak Khamthong
The Buddha’s enlightenment taught that the birth of
mankind was a result of actions, or Karma, causing the many variations of
mankind’s nature and existence with no one person being able to choose
the position he or she is born into. The human species is considered to be
the highest level in the chain of life but obtaining this level does not
necessarily mean an easy path lies ahead. However, everyone has the
opportunity to make individual decisions creating either good or bad Karma
affecting their own lives. Everything seems to have its own opposite,
changing all the time, with one or the other occurring in our lives at any
given moment affecting the life of all individuals, and the actions
performed by individuals directs life’s experiences in the future.
 Nakhorn
Chiwithai and his flowers.
The people of Thailand are all aware of these
teachings. Most, if not all, sincerely believe in the principles. Nakhorn
Chiwithai, age 58, from Bangkok is one of those individuals who trusts and
believes in the Karma principle. The direction of his life has never been
on a certain path but he has survived by adhering to his beliefs.
Nakhorn has raised four children - three graduated from
high school and the fourth child went to college. His earlier life
appeared to have a direction, until he was involved in an accident that
cost him both his legs and dramatically changed his life forever. But
Nakhorn’s belief’s gave him the determination to continue pursuing
life’s challenges without questioning his fate built upon previous
actions, and he moved to Pattaya to take on a new occupation.
Nakhorn’s new life selling flowers is a livelihood no
person can look down upon, as he has been roaming throughout the city on a
three wheel cart selling flowers to tourists and residents for the past 15
years. He averages about 300 baht per day selling his flowers to countless
numbers of people visiting Pattaya, never asking for anything special in
return, just pleased to be engaged in spreading some beauty with the
flowers he sells. He may be physically handicapped, but he is not
handicapped in his heart.
His new occupation has brought him in contact with
people from many countries over the years. Many converse with him and take
his picture. Many interviews have brought him much notoriety throughout
the world, but not the type of fame that brings material wealth into his
life. A sense of well-being is his reward instead.
Nakhorn’s eyes have seen much and a lot of what he has observed over
the years disturbs him, as Pattaya seems to draw many people looking for
generosity from visiting tourists by begging or taking advantage of them,
degrading Pattaya’s image. He hopes Pattaya’s administration can
correct the problems before it becomes too late, because the tourist
industry appears to be the main source of income for the majority of
people during the current economic crisis. But from what Nakhorn’s eyes
perceive, the situation is steadily crumbling down.
Laem Chabang School of
Engineering holds first awards presentation
Recently the Laem Chabang School of Engineering held
the first solemn graduation ceremony, acknowledging the hard work of 26
graduates for the past few years. Mark Laurence, Director of LCSE, said in
his opening speech that his school knows the importance of providing
students with the skills and knowledge that will help them get a job in
their chosen field of endeavor. “As we head towards the new millennium,
post secondary education has never played a more critical role in shaping
the future,” he said.
 Graduates
of the Laem Chabang School of Engineering receive their degrees from
Professor Iain Wallace at the commencement ceremonies on November 5th.
Professor Iain Wallace, President of Swinburne
University, who came to Thailand especially for this occasion, addressed
the graduates, “This graduation ceremony is an important occasion for
LCSE as it gives a public profile to Swinburne’s ongoing commitment to
provide opportunities to the people of South East Asia to pursue a range
of educational qualifications which will assist them to make a
contribution to their own communities.”
Prof. Wallace added, “We trust that this commitment
to learning will continue and that the association with Swinburne through
further study and membership of the Swinburne Alumni Association will be
maintained.”
Khun Chitpoun Tummasiri, Chairman of the School Board,
congratulated the graduates and expressed his gratitude for their hard
work. “Today’s ceremony marks the passing of a dream into reality.
Though it will be repeated many times in the future, today will remain as
a special time in our history,” he said. “The graduation of our first
group of students opened the way for all vocational students to obtain an
internationally recognized technical qualification, which can be built
upon, like stepping stones in a pathway,” he added. “Today is a day of
rest and celebration, but it also is just the beginning; we are already
working hard preparing the essential building blocks for tomorrow’s
Thailand - our students, your children, your staff, Thailand’s
future.”
Ms. Prapaporn Jibsoongnean, presented with the Best
Student Award, thanked the board of Swinburne Tummasiri Laem Chabang
School of Engineering on behalf of her fellow students, promising to do
all they can to prove the importance of Thailand’s economy to the world
and to make their school proud of them.
Swinburne Tummasiri Laem Chabang School of Engineering
is operating at the Laem Chabang Industrial Estate under the Thailand
Industrial Estate Authority. It is an educational facility of Technology
Training Company, a joint venture company between Swinburne University,
based in Australia and Technology Supply Group, based in Thailand,
providing a leadership role in international education based upon the use
of Australian standard curricula. LCSE already is to be regarded as a
leading technological school, focussed and enterprising, excelling in
vocational education and training. Its mission is to provide teaching,
learning and training that enhances the skills, knowledge and capabilities
of students and customers, emphasizing industry relevance and a spirit of
innovation.
If you go down to the
woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise!
The “Teddy Bears Picnic” always was a catchy
children’s song and perhaps it is no coincidence that the Woodlands
Resort has a Teddy Bear as its logo. The other fact that is interesting is
that if you go to the Woodlands Resort today you really will be in for a
big surprise! The resort has been totally refurbished, renovated,
redesigned and rebuilt!
 Pattaya
Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat (3rd from right) congratulates Sutham
Phantusak at the new Garden Bar at Woodlands Resort.
This massive project has taken only five months yet has
encompassed the rooms as well as the restaurant and the pool bar. The
other surprising aspect was that the rebuilding was able to be done while
the resort continued to trade, the owners taking the daring step of
actually involving the guests in the redesigned facilities, getting them
to test and comment on the refurbishing.
 Managing
Director of Pattaya Mail Peter Malhotra (center) presents a
congratulations bouquet to Sutham and Orawan Phantusak.
To celebrate the finish of this 15 million baht
project, Sutham Phanthusak, the Managing Director of the Woodlands Resort
threw open the resort for a cocktail party in the new Garden Caf้
last Friday evening, and even the attendees were a surprise. From the
leading lights in the local hospitality industry such as the Royal Cliff
Beach Resort’s Wassers, the Amari Orchid Resort’s Pierre-Andre
Pelletier, the Royal Garden Resort’s Bjorn Richardson and the Green
Bottle Pub’s Khun Sophin Theppajug, to overseas Travel Agents like
Australia’s Bob Dickins and then other overseas visitors like the Pattaya
Mail’s Dr. Iain’s mother, Ella Corness from the north of Scotland
and his sister Bridie and brother in law Thomas from Canada. Interspersed
with all these were several of the movers and shakers from the local
community, like the Director of the local Tourism Authority of Thailand,
Eddie Buddhani, to property developers Georges and Ursula Rothstein.
Sutham thanked everyone for their attendance, with a
special mention for his wife Orawan for her assistance and backing in the
enormous project.
The guests were then entertained by the Seaboard Sound
and Friends, led by Monika Rottman, followed by some beautiful renditions
of popular songs by Khun Sutham’s lovely daughters, Lalida and Bible.
The party extended well into the evening, as the Teddy Bears continued
to enjoy their picnic!
Indians in Pattaya
celebrate Diwali
Deepawali, or Diwali, the most pan-Indian of all Hindu
festivals, is a festival of lights symbolising the victory of
righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. The word
‘Deepawali’ literally means rows of diyas (clay lamps). A family
festival, it is celebrated 20 days after Dussehra, on the 13th day of the
dark fortnight of the month of Asvin (October-November).
Continuing the story of Rama, this festival
commemorates Lord Rama’s return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing
his 14-year exile. Twinkling oil lamps or diyas light up every home and
firework displays are common all across the country. The goddess Lakshmi
(consort of Vishnu), who is the symbol of wealth and prosperity, is also
worshipped on this day.
 This festive occasion also marks the beginning of the
Hindu new year and Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, the symbol of
auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshipped in most Hindu homes on this
day.
Another view is that Deepawali is meant to celebrate
the destruction of the arrogant tyrant Bali at the hands of Vishnu when
the latter appeared in his Vamana (dwarf) avatar.
The occasion of Deepawali sees the spring-cleaning and
white-washing of houses; decorative designs or rangolis are painted on
floors and walls. New clothes are bought and family members and relatives
gather together to offer prayers, distribute sweets and to light up their
homes.
In West Bengal, the Deepawali festival is celebrated as
Kali Puja and Kali, Siva’s consort, is worshipped on this day.
In Pattaya, residents adorned in their most beautiful
sarees, children in their exotic traditional costumes and men looking ever
so poised in their turbans gathered at the poolside of the Champ Hotel to
celebrate Diwali. Namaste Restaurant laid on a majestic feast of the
finest curries and authentic Indian dishes for the indulgence of the
guests. Men and women sang songs, children and adults played games and the
night was livened by the sound and beauty of fireworks.
A group of singers singing Hindi and Punjabi songs entertained the
guests into the small hours of the morning.
Elephants never forget
The mighty elephant, the symbol of old Siam, really is
one of the wonders of this country and with their numbers dwindling we
must all do our bit to keep them protected.
The Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) certainly have
not forgotten our precious pachyderms and as one of their projects runs
the Elephant Hospital at Lampang. This facility, which commenced in 1994,
includes the Infirmary Units for the elephant patients, a laboratory, a
Convalescence Unit that takes up to four sick elephants a day,
accommodation quarters for the mahouts and then the buildings for the
veterinary surgeons, interns and students.
 This specialised hospital gives all its treatments free
of charge and since 1994 has treated more than 300 elephants. The
treatment includes both inpatient and outpatient visits, where the
veterinarians visit the elephants in their villages.
Make no mistake about it, Thailand’s elephants are in
danger. The destruction of their natural habitat, as industrialisation
takes over from the previously agricultural lifestyle, plus poaching for
ivory and the slaughter of cow elephants to take away the calves to sell
to circuses have all meant that the numbers are falling. In addition, as
logging has dropped off, the working elephants can no longer earn their
keep and become neglected.
The FAE realise they cannot save the world, but can save an
irreplaceable part of Thailand’s natural heritage. But they need your
help. You can contact the FAE in Bangkok on 02-945 7124, or email [email protected]
or you can wait till the Royal Garden Plaza’s display of carved
elephants which is being held between the 27th of November and the 5th of
December. Proceeds from the purchase of any of the superb carvings goes to
the FAE and you will be able to look at your elephant carving and imagine
the elephants at the Lampang hospital all sitting up in their hospital
beds and smiling. The old adage goes that Elephants never forget. Let us
not forget the elephants!
Cachecom launches ASEAN
Internet trading hub
Largest in Malaysia
A brand new Internet service has recently gone on line
in Malaysia. Export.com.my is an online business-to-business source center
for products made in the countries of the ASEAN region including countries
like Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore,
Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
“By giving sellers timely access to thousands of
buying requests posted by buyers worldwide, our services provide the right
tools for ASEAN exporters to secure new customers while saving time and
reducing financial commitment,” said Marco Yap, CEO of the founding
company, Cachecom Corporation Malaysia.
“We offer the buyer greater selection and the seller
expanded sales capabilities - radically reducing the amount of time,
money, and resources involved in either trying to make a purchase or
trying to market products to potential customers,” added COO Arthur
Cheong Tsun Sang.
The system works in three easy steps. First, the buyer
submits a buying request online. For each posting, buyers will be asked to
fill out a request form. Next Cachecom automatically matches the request
with thousands of registered sellers once the buying request form is
submitted. Finally sellers access selected buying requests by using
Cachecom’s online retrieval system to respond to the buyer’s request.
Once a seller reviews a buying request, the seller will
contact the buyer via telephone, facsimile and the postal address provided
by the buyer. Note that we do not disclose the buyer email address to
avoid spam and unsolicited email. These services are provided free of
charge.
“The mission of ASEAN Premier Exporting Information
Network is to facilitate international export activities of ASEAN
companies by using the sophistication of today’s information technology.
We are striving to build the most effective channel of distribution for
ASEAN exporting industry. The network is expected to create the biggest
sourcing system for international buyers community sourcing for quality
products made in ASEAN countries,” said CTO Scott Fung, who has been
serving the Internet industry for the last 5 years.
In its first 5 months of operation the service has notched up 20,000
registered on-line buyers. The service can be accessed via www.export.com.my.
Aussies Overhaul Asia
Strategy
by Imtiaz Muqbil,
Executive Editor Travel Impact Newswire
Australia took advantage of the recent Asian economic
crisis to research how the Asian outbound travel market will pan out once
recovery sets in. The recovery is now afoot, and the Aussies are on to it.
The Australian Tourist Commission has announced a
sweeping overhaul of its marketing and promotion strategy in Asia. In a
series of rapid-fire press conferences at the October 18-21 Travel
Australia Business Show (TABS), the ATC unveiled its strategic response to
changing holiday preferences and travel trends in Asia, which has this
year returned to growth after a two-year decline as a result of the
economic crisis.
Visitor arrivals from Asia, excluding Japan, totalled
1.1 million in 1998 and are forecast to touch 1.17 million this year. The
ATC is planning for arrivals of 2.08 million from these markets by the end
of 2004, with most of the growth expected from Korea, China and India.
The planned changes emanate from an extensive
research-driven product audit undertaken by the ATC in the wake of the
1997-98 crisis to better understand the socio-economic and political
changes in Asia, how they will affect future travel trends and be impacted
by the growing usage of technology in the travel distribution chain.
The changes also are designed to address a number of
problems such as the resurfacing of cut-price Korean package tours
subsidised by shopping commissions as well as to take advantage of trends
such as the growing preference for niche-market products like soft
adventure, cosmopolitan experiences, cruising and aboriginal culture. They
also take into account the changing role of the travel agent in the
booking chain.
The 18-month research has helped the ATC adopt what
Managing Director John Morse calls ‘’a leadership role’’ in
maintaining its Asian brand-profile. While upholding this presence is
vital, the ATC is clearly moving away from putting too many of its eggs
into the Asian basket because of the economic and political fluidity in
many of its neighbours.
Said Deputy Managing Director Bill Calderwood in
response to a question about what lessons the ATC learnt from the Asian
crisis, ‘’We will maintain a good spread of source markets; and we
will continue to allocate resources in order to maximise returns and not
become dependent on any one market.’’
He added, ‘’At the same time, in those markets
where we have invested substantially, we will change strategies as
situations dictate. But we will never walk away from any market unless
there is a serious or catastrophic event that warrants it.’’
One important move has been to dissolve TABS in its
present format, taking one international trade show out of an increasingly
cluttered calendar of global, regional and national shows. Mr. Rhett Lego,
the ATC’s Group Director, Trade Marketing, who is supervising a global
trade show audit, said that if all travel fairs are marked on a calendar,
no dates would be free except between Christmas and the first week of any
new year.
The decision was a surprise because this year’s TABS
was also the biggest ever, with 315 buyer delegates from 21 countries,
including Japan and the Middle East. Since 1985, TABS has been
Australia’s most important promotional event for the Asian market but is
to be replaced from next year by five ‘mini-TABS’, two of which will
focus on India and China and the rest on specific niche-market products in
Southeast Asian countries.
The ATC’s regional director for Asia Mr. Richard
Beere said the new strategy would adopt a mix-and-match approach that
would seek to generate more visitor volume from markets like China, India,
Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, while generating more
yield from markets like Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.
In all the Asian markets except Malaysia and Singapore,
the ATC is expecting the average length of stay to drop by one day over
the next five years as many Asians begin to move towards shorter-break
holidays.
In other developments:
Japan: In line with the ageing of the Japanese
population, the ATC will focus more on attracting the over-50 market to
make it the largest single visitor segment by 2004. It will work with some
of the giant Japanese tour wholesalers to build upon the strong
destination awareness of Australia and create specific products that are
of shorter duration and cheaper.
China: A code of conduct has been initiated between
Chinese and Australian tour operators to ensure that only those tour
companies ‘’accredited’’ by the private and public sectors of both
sides operate tours according to mutually agreed principles, especially
regulating the quality of the tours and payments.
Korea: A ‘’satisfaction index’’ is to be
initiated some time next year. This will involve a survey of Korean
visitors to Australia to ensure they are getting value for money from
their tours. Koreans will be the only visitors surveyed initially. The
move is designed to help the ATC check whether the Koreans are really
getting the tour products they are buying or being ripped off by
discounting tour operators.
Travel Agents: A number of local-language gateway
websites are to be set up Asia-wide to generate inquiries for Australia
and push referrals to travel agents to make the bookings. These will be
supported by a number of computer-based training courses for agents to
help them deliver the product that customers want.
A pilot project will be unveiled in Malaysia from March
to June 2000 and then rolled out throughout Asia thereafter. It will not
be an entirely new strategy; the system has been used with some success in
Europe and North America and is being ‘’tweaked, changed and
evolved’’ for the Asian market.
Pattaya welcomes Pastor
Roy and Doris
The members of the Pattaya International Church
recently welcomed the arrival of Pastor Roy and his wife Doris to the city
of Pattaya. After arriving in Thailand on the 4th of October, Pastor Roy
and Doris have spent the last four weeks in Bangkok becoming familiar with
the Thai language and culture.
 Pattaya
International Church welcomed the arrival of Pastor Roy and his wife Doris
to the city of Pattaya.
Pastor Roy comes to Pattaya with a wealth of experience
after ministering to churches in Michigan and Texas. In addition to this
he has worked in the police force for a number of years which has given
him the opportunity to work with many different people.
He and his wife have accepted an appointment for three
years here in Pattaya and they are keen to become involved in both the
church ministries and with the local community.
The move from their home in Dallas has been quite a dramatic
transition. However, they are both enjoying their experiences here in
Thailand and look forward to the rest of their stay.
Rewards from the Pattaya
Road Show
The Pattaya Road Show, which combined promotional push
by both governmental and private enterprise groups in Pattaya, is starting
to really show results. Only four months ago, the group, headed by
Councillor Sutham Phantusak and Eddie Buddhani of the Tourism Authority of
Thailand, went to Australia and New Zealand with the message that there is
much more to Pattaya these days than the out-of-date guide books will tell
you.
 Bob
and Gail Dickens stopped by to pick up their prize from Classic Tailor
that they won at the Pattaya Road Show in Melbourne.
One Travel Agent who attended the Road Show in
Melbourne, Australia was Bob Dickins from Transit Travel. Bob, who said
that he was most impressed with the positive attitude shown by the Road
Show personnel, and having won a couple of nights accommodation at Flipper
Lodge, decided to look at Pattaya for himself.
Bob has been most impressed with our city during his
all too short stay, but even from the first impressions on the trip down
from Don Muang Airport in Bangkok, he has been amazed. “I have been
really surprised,” he said, “the road construction from Bangkok to
Pattaya is exceptional. Certainly we had to go through a few toll gates,
but it was worth the price to have such a smooth and speedy trip.”
His first impressions of Pattaya were, “This place is
on the move. More travel agents should come here and see just what is
happening.”
He has been looking at the standard of hotel rooms
available here and feels that with so many hotels right here in the city
of excellent standards, be that “budget” to “five star”, Pattaya
really does “have it all.”
Bob mentioned that in Australia the wholesalers have
been pushing Koh Samui, but he, for one, is convinced that Pattaya is the
place to push forward for the international market. “They should come
and see the difference and the changes in Pattaya,” were his final
remarks.
The Pattaya Mail congratulates all the people in the Road Show. By your
unselfish promotion of this city, we will all benefit in the end. Well
done!
PILC Melbourne Cup
Ladies Lunch
Michael Vogt, Moon River Pub’s mine host, was saved
from a fate worse than death by Australian former jockey David Smith.
Without David he would have been the only male at the Melbourne Cup Ladies
Lunch!
David, with his usual winning streak, or should I say
insider knowledge, even predicted the cup winner Rogan Josh. Our resident
jockey gave an entertaining talk at the champagne lunch, explaining why
the whole of Australia stops for the Melbourne Cup, in much the same way
as Thailand stops for the water throwing tradition of Songkran here.
 Jockey
David Smith giving the ladies the tips.
Great fun, great food and hilarity were had by all.
Cindy Burbridge, former Miss Thailand World, could have been star of the
day, except she left her hat behind. Cindy and David were seen conferring
over the famous horse Phar Lap’s name, which means “Lightning” in
Thai. Apparently the trainer, Tommy Woodcock had a Thai girlfriend at the
time (late 1930’s).
Several notable Aussie ladies were present but wish to
remain anonymous.
 Emma
Malone fit right in with her elaborate hat.
“Where did you get that hat?” was the refrain of
the day. In the Aussie tradition, prizes were awarded for the most
tasteful and imaginative hats, and they went to Elfi Seitz, Marion Vogt
and Khun Piawarin.
PILC Vice President Mary Harris mentioned that Christmas gifts, not
exceeding 200 Baht, for the Fountain of Life Children’s charity could be
brought to the next PILC lunch. Hannah Panton from the Royal Garden Spa
and Fitness Club offered 25% discount for spa treatments and fitness club
membership for all PILC lady members. So it was a great day for all the
ladies. Even if their horses were still running at the end, everyone was a
winner.
Copyright 1999 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Boonsiri Suansuk. |
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