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Shopping-spree
Beauty and fashion shopping tips and information
by Ariyada
The Chitralada Shops, under the patronage of Her
Majesty Queen Sirikit, were estab-lished on December 20th, 1977, one and one
half years after Her Majesty founded the Support Foundation to allow village
women to supplement their income by the sale of traditional products. Thai women
originally had the skills to produce them. The second aim of this foundation was
to preserve those skills as they were disappearing quickly due to the rapid
industriali-zation of Thailand.
The project was begun using Her Majesty’s private funds to buy materials and
equipment, and to find experts of the old crafts to teach younger people.
Other funds were donated by private citizens who had faith in the project itself
and especially in the foundation.
Projects included silk-weaving, traditional embroidery, basket and mat-weaving,
artificial flower making, and lace tatting.
Thanphuying Maneerat Bunnag, one of Her Majesty’s ladies-in-waiting, thought
these products should be more widely known and distributed to the public.
Thanphuying Maneerat thus made it her special project to buy and use these
products so the public would become aware of them and the funds from their sale
could be put back into the foundation.
Thanphuying Maneerat then asked for Royal permission to open shops selling these
products.
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit granted permission and the shops were to be called
“Chitralada”.
The first shop was opened at the Oriental Plaza Shopping Mall.
Now, very recently, a “Chitralada” shop was opened in Pattaya. It is located at
the Royal Cliff Grand Hotel. As soon as you enter the door to the shopping
arcade you will find it on the left hand side.
Its only a small shop, but its filled to the brim with the finest of products.
Very tastefully decorated, the interior is eye-catchingly bright, awash with the
typical colors of the silks and cottons of Thailand.
It’s a small paradise for those who love natural materials. Everything inside is
hand-made, including keepsake boxes of many different sizes and colors, priced
around 180 baht, tissue-boxes, dolls and animals for the youngsters or to be
seated in closets or on a couch, book-covers, pillow-covers of silk priced
between 400 and 500 baht, and pillows, as well as beautifully painted and
embroidered table-sets for six persons, priced between 1,100 and 1,500 baht
only.
If you let your eyes wander around the shop, you will see silk-flowers in
various sizes and colors of nature, placed in many vases - ready to be sold. The
price for one flower is between 18 and 110 baht, which is more than reasonable.
I was told that all the prices are stable, the same for Thais as they are for
“Farangs”. Khun Som, the manager of the shop, was very helpful while showing me
around. She is a very lovely and friendly Thai lady who couldn’t stop praising
the products in such a manner that I ended up (once again) buying a few items
which I actually didn’t need but now am wearing with pride.
Two of those items were a lovely colored straw-hat, priced at 250 baht, and a
matching straw handbag, priced at 350 baht. Many more hats hung on the walls,
along with handbags, some made out of straw, others covered with hand-woven
cottons or silk, all priced between 400 and 950 baht. Not to mention the nice
“fan-hats” which can be used as a fan and as a hat - whichever way you prefer.
Matching scarves, hankys, and neckties, all made of the finest silks, are
available. Whenever you need something original to give as a present or for
birthdays, Chitralada is the right place. Key chains laying next to purses,
pen-etuis, eyeglass-etuis, hand-fans, combs, hair-rings, diaries, and house
decorations (also available) round out the picturesque scenery.
Would you like to spend your night underneath hand-embroidered and painted
cushions? No problem. Chitralada has got it. Made out of finest hand-woven
cotton for a price of 2,500 baht.
Where are all the silks and cottons to be worn as dresses, you might ask? Don’t
worry, you’ll find them. The finest silk and cotton materials are waiting for
you, cut in the right lengths for you to have a beautiful Thai dress made. All
are so beautiful you’d be an eye-catcher if you wear them even in a
Western-style cut. The price? A wide range between 250 and 1,800 baht per meter.
Ready made garments are also hanging on racks, fantastically em-broidered, yet
still with simple and elegant cuts, available for 500 up to 6,500 baht.
Going to Chitralada makes one feel like she is going back into history, looking
at the same original designs and colors used for many centuries but still in
fashion and modern. At the same time, it makes one feel proud to be able to buy
products from a project under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen and
therefore be part of it.
A short trip up the hill to Chitralada at the Royal Cliff Grand is worth the
way, for a silk and cotton “wonder-world” is awaiting you.
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After a break up....
Tips by Ariyada
After a break-up that saw you in tears for several weeks
or months, he’s back, telling you he wants to try again. You genuinely want
to believe things will be different. He seems like a changed man and you’re
prepared to take the risk. Terrific! But take some time and look before you
leap back into the relationship. If you are going to take him back, do it
wholeheartedly, not with reservations, therefore keep a watch on things,
proceed with caution.
The ending of a relationship is an incredibly painful process, so think long
and hard before starting up again otherwise you might have to go through all
the hassle of it all over again.
Don’t even think about it if...
* He’s treated you badly without any justifiable reason for doing so.
* He was mentally, emotionally or physically abusive.
* Your friends, family or people you trust think he’s bad news.
* He’s just been dumped himself - he’s coming back to you for a confidence
boost.
* He tries to sleep with you within the first 10 minutes - this is lust, not
love.
* You have to pressure him to come back to you.
* You’re taking him back because you’re lonely.
Take him back if...
* The relationship broke up because of an outside stress that’s since been
resolved.
* He’s willing to put in some hard work. He’s thought about the problems, is
willing to talk with you about them and has thought of sensible solutions.
* He’s willing to change his attitudes or his behaviour - or both - if they
were hurting the relationship previously.
* His actions match his words. He’s doing what he promised.
* He doesn’t expect the relationship to be as it was. The old relationship
is over; you need to make a new one together.
If you take him back - make it work by...
* Treating him with respect. If you can’t forgive, don’t go back.
* Not talking about what happened while you were apart. Don’t tell him if
you went out with someone else; don’t ask him if he did. Remove any
lingering signs - notes, cards, clothes, diary dates - and tell him to do
the same.
* Acting as a team. Think in terms of “we” rather than “I”. Make sure he
does the same.
* Giving it one month, then leaving if things haven’t improved. He might be
worth a second chance; he’s not worth a lifetime of misery.
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First visit of the Jumelage of the Gold Coast
After the Jumelage between the Chaine de Rotisseurs of
Pattaya and the Chaine de Rotisseurs of the Gold Coast, Queensland in
Australia, was formed three months ago, the “sister” Club will be arriving
in Pattaya on April 12, 1997, for a one week visit.
During this week a “chaine” of entertainment will be held as follows:
Monday, April 14; 19:00 hours: Dinner Buffet at the Moon River Pub, Thai
Garden Hotel, Baht 750.
Tuesday, April 15; 19:00 hours: Gala Dinner at Benjarong Restaurant Royal
Wing (Royal Cliff Beach Hotel) Baht1,500.World reknowned opera singer
Mario Bolognesi will entertain the guests.
Wednesday, April 16; 9:00 hours: Catamaran trip to Bamboo Island, start at
Royal Cliff Beach, Baht 700.
Thursday, April 17; 19:00: hours Dinner at Thai House, North Pattaya Road.
Friday, April 18; 19:00: hours Farewell Dinner around the swimming pool of
Mercure Hotel.
All members of the Chaine de Rotisseurs in Pattaya are asked to support with
their participation these important and at the same time enjoyable events.
Please bring your family and friends along.
Reservations should be made in advance with:
Kim Caula, Royal Cliff Beach Hotel Tel.: (038) 250 421 - 40 Fax:
250 511, Marion Gardner, Mercure Hotel, Tel.: (038) 702 777 Fax: 702 778, or
Michael Vogt, Thai Garden Hotel, Tel.: (038) 426 009 Fax: 426 198.
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Discovery of the week
A normal fun filled evening at
La Havana.
La Havana in Ban Chang, run by Johannes von Ankershoffen
(Khun Joe), has to be seen to be appreciated. The internal decor is plush
but not overdone. The atmosphere is very cosy and what’s so nice to see is
that everybody, be they guests or staff, are a bunch of very friendly
people. The quality of the food is exceptionally good. The buffet that was
put on last Friday as part of the “Strassenfest” was enjoyed by the whole
family. The in house band, “The Revolution Band”, performs songs that are
enjoyed by all generations. A must visit if you are working or living on the
Eastern Seaboard.
Expat children enjoying the
sumptuous buffet at the “Strassenfest”.
Le Kaiku caters
Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce
Le Kaiku French Restaurant in Map Ta Phut was chosen as
the caterers during the visit of members of
the Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce to the factory site of Humex Bonna
(Thailand) Co.Ltd. in MapTaPhut. Chef Charly was on hand to give his
personal attention.
Ban Chang & Map Ta Phut
Ban Chang is not as far away as one might imagine. Only
40 minutes from the center of Pattaya, it has a bustling night life,
although of a different sort. A great little pub which to take your friends
or loved one for a quiet drink without the loud blaring noise of music
turned up too high is the Katz Bar (located at the side of the Eastern Star
Plaza). The interior is very tastefully decorated and the staff is extremely
courteous. Run by Kim and Yui, it has become one of the popular meeting
places for the expat community of Ban Chang.
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