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Amari launches
honeymoon package
Press release
The Amari Rincome Hotel, Chiang Mai, has launched a delightful two day
honeymoon package. The package offers 2 days, 1 night accommodation with a
complimentary upgrade to a suite. The honeymoon couple will receive a half
bottle of champagne, honeymoon breakfast, a candle lit dinner, welcome drink,
fruit basket and a honeymoon cake. Upon arrival honeymooners will be met at the
airport with a garland festooned tuk tuk for transfer to the hotel.
On the first day, in the late afternoon, honeymooners are taken to visit Doi
Suthep temple to enjoy an evening cocktail and watch the sunset over Chiang Mai.
In the early morning of the second day, the couple will be taken to the Tha Phae
City Wall Gate to participate in the morning merit making by offering food to
nine Buddhist monks.
The honeymoon couple are also invited to plant a tree in the gardens of the
Amari Rincome Hotel, which will have a plaque with their names on it beside it.
The cost of this package is Bht. 10,000 for two people, including taxi and
service.
The 158 room Amari Rincome Hotel in the historical city of Chiang Mai reflects
the unique culture of the North with the charm of its elegant interiors and the
warmth of its hospitality.
For further information, contact Ms. Rachel Foord, Director of PR and
Communications, Amari Hotels and Resorts, Bangkok, Tel 02 267 9708, Fax 02 267
9707
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Dennis T. James -
Pattaya’s own Mr. Universe
One of the poses that won
Dennis the title of Amateur
Mr. Universe in 1995.
by Elfi Seitz
When he walks on the streets of Pattaya he always make
people’s heads turn. Dennis T. James, Amateur Mr. Universe of 1995 and
Professional Mr. Universe 1st Runner Up of 1996. He is quite a sight: Black,
handsome and a body women are falling for. Thais who don’t know him stop and
stare. They are not used to seeing bulky bodybuilders. They are amazed at
his body frame and find big muscles fascinating to look at. But not only
Thais give him nick-names like: Rambo, King Kong or Hercules. He is an
American Citizen who grew up in Heidelberg, Germany. His father, a GI, was
stationed there when he met a beautiful German girl and fell in love with
her for the rest of his life. One of the results of this marriage is Dennis.
Pattaya Mail visited him in his “Universe Gym” in Soi 2 for an exclusive
interview.
Q: Looking at your body makes me feel smaller than I am. Have you always had
a body like this?
Young Dennis - after starting
his training again in 1990 - with great ambitions.
A: No, of course not. Only after I started to practice
body-building. But it came easily to me, naturally I have the physique for
it - it’s in my genes. My father performed sports and encouraged me to do
the same. When I was 4 years old I started to play American football and
break-dance. Body-building came much later, at the age of 18. I trained for
one and a half years, won the International South German Championship in
1985, the International German Grand Prix in 1986 and the 1986 New York
State Championship All Junior Category. I stopped my training after I was
not eligible to join the German Nationals since I am a US Citizen.
Dennis in his gym with his
girlfriend of 6 years.
Q: How come you decided to start again?
A: When I came to Thailand for the first time in 1990, my friends and I were
on the beach and they kept bragging about their bodies. I have to admit, I
started growing a belly and that pissed me off. I made a bet that within six
weeks time I would look much better than them. I won the bet.
Q: Needless to ask, after starting your training again, you’ve had a target?
A: Well, body-building is like a drug. As soon as you start to get involved
it’s very hard to stop. I made up my mind and started to prepare for the
Amateur Mr. Universe competition. At that time, none of the gyms in Pattaya
had the proper equipment I needed to get my body into top competition form.
Q: How did you get into the competition?
A: Somehow the organizers heard of me and I got an invitation to join the
Mr. Universe contest from the world president of the body-building
association. Usually, contestants have to go through a lot of
qualifications, but I only had to join one: The Night of the Champions, and
I was in. Of course I didn’t win the title the first try, but on October 10,
1993, I made 4th place.
After I came back to Pattaya in November 1993, my friend, Jan Zander,
convinced me to open my own gym. We became business partners and I opened my
own gym in February 1994. I was so sure I was going to win the title one
day, I called my gym “Universe”. I started very intensive practice and in
October 1994 I became Vice-Mr. Universe. After coming back to Pattaya, I was
quite worn out and was not too sure if I should continue. I was also
extremely frustrated because I only lost by one point, and I began to lose
my concentration on the big target. But after a while, I got over it and
made a promise to my customers that I would make my goal come true. I kept
training and finally, in October 1995, I won the title.
Q: Why did you decide to leave the Amateurs and change to the Professionals?
A: After winning the title “Mr. Universe”, I automatically received my pro
license. It looks like a passport and I tell you, this “passport” opens
every door. I got promotional offers to appear in advertisements, and that’s
where the real money is. Anyhow, last year, in October 1996, I joined my
first Pro Mr. Universe contest and won the title of Vice Mr. Universe.
Q: After winning the title at the Amateurs, was it kind of disappointment
for you to get “only” second place?
A: Not really. It’s like boxing. The champion always wins - even though the
second in line has the same amount of points. I’ll try it again this year.
Q: Apropos boxing: You are already 29 years old. Is it the same with
body-building as with boxing that you have to stop at a certain age? And do
you need the same kind of preparations?
A: Some athletes need only a few weeks of practice to improve or train for a
sport. However, just like boxing, a bodybuilder needs a few months to
develop and sculpt a muscular physique. The challenge of altering muscles is
met over a long period of time. Body-building is a hard job. It requires a
tremendous amount of dedication and willpower. A strict diet is essential.
Usually five meals a day, or one every two and a half to three hours, all
year long. You need to consume a great deal of water, and foods that are
very high in protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamin supplements. You
must limit your fat, sugar and salt intake. While in training, I eat 1 1/2
kg of chicken breast, with rice and vegetables, without any salt or other
spices, every day. I very seldom eat a steak. I never drink alcohol.
Sometimes I might have a diet-coke, but mostly I drink 8 - 10 litres of
water per day. After my first Mr. Universe competition, when I finished in
fourth place, I got the inspiration to train for the title. My diet became
stricter and I increased from five to eight meals per day in order to have
more calories to gain more muscle mass. Three months prior to the show, I
added an extra two hours of stationary bike into my program in order to
obtain muscle definition. When I think about it now, I must have been crazy!
It was torture and I really had to force myself many times. But it paid off,
and: “no pain - no gain”.
Q; After winning the title and the following year the title of Vice
Champion, what did it feel like to be the best?
A: Wow, it was an incredible feeling. After working so long and so hard to
finally make it, it was indescribably and absolutely the best feeling.
Q: During a competition, what is it like?
A: All you can see backstage is muscles. Biceps, backs, big legs and veins
popping out of everybody. You smell the posing gel and the self-tanning
creams. You feel the tension in the air and the nervousness. All of the
bodybuilders pump iron before they appear on stage to make their muscles
look bigger and fuller. I myself don’t get nervous before a show. This is my
strong point. I don’t know what makes me so cool, but as soon as I walk into
the room, I somehow manage to remain calm. I am probably used to it because
I made, and still make, a lot of break-dance shows.
Q: You, a break-dance show with your muscle-packed body? Aren’t
break-dancers usually quite small?
A: Not necessarily. It’s all concentration and muscle-control. I was a
Break-dance Champion in 1984. I usually start with a slow song and then
finish with hip-hop or rap music. I also like to incorporate a little
break-dance into my body-building routine - it’s a hell of a show. The
audience loves it! My routine sells well, especially in Europe. I often
guest pose at local body-building competitions, special parties, disco’s and
other festivals. It’s always a great success and the audience always calls
me back to pose and dance some more. I have a tape here, would you like to
watch?
Q: Of course. But before that I would like to ask you one more question. Is
body-building healthy, and when should someone start?
A: Body-building is a form of exercise. It is a way to redeem yourself from
a life of fast food, beer and indolence, and makes you look and feel great.
It also keeps you young. To start body-building, there is no age limit. You
can start any time.
Q: Thank you very much for this interview and we wish you the best for your
next competition. We hope we can address you next time as Professional Mr.
Universe.
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Pattaya Mail debuts on TV
Peter Malhotra (right) being interviewed by
Shawn O’Leary of CNBC.
Pattaya Mail is growing up, and in the process is achieving fame
as a truly unique newspaper. So unique, in fact, that we will be
featured on “Hot Property Asia”, on “The Asian Property Report”, a CNBC
Business Network show run on cable and satellite TV, and the “Richard
Ellis Property Report” on Thai TV.
Shawn O’Leary, reporter and producer for CNBC, brought his film crew to
Pattaya last month to interview Pattaya Mail Editor and Publisher Peter
Malhotra.
The main topic of discussion revolved around the unique, “old fashioned”
style of Pattaya Mail, how we are viewed in the community, and the
history of Pattaya Mail. The film crew visited Pattaya Mail offices,
newsroom, and printing press.
“Its a great opportunity, not only for us to get our name out into the
international community, but for our local readers who see the show to
see what we do and what we go through to get a paper out every week,”
Peter Malhotra said. “It is also a good chance to repeat the message we
have been trying to convey since our inception in 1993. We want to be
the voice of the people, and produce a realistic alternative to the
constant ‘sensationalist’ international press our resort town has been
receiving over the years. We are not a bad place as the international
press would have everyone believe. In fact, Pattaya is just the
opposite. It is a growing town with a strong community that is
interested in the well being of the town, its residents and its
visitors. Who could ask for a better place to live?”
The Asian property report began in 1995 as Thailand’s first
international English language television program. It is currently seen
in more than twenty countries by more than 100 million homes.
The interview with Pattaya Mail will run over the weekend of February
8th and 9th at 14:00, and will be repeated at least four times. The
Richard Ellis Property Report is run on IBC 1. The Hot Property show is
run on CNBC and UTV.
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