Pattaya’s image problem: can it be solved?

by Mick Vannisse, member FCCT
Pattaya wants to wash off its bad image and replace it with family-values and respectability. Understandable, but not half easy, given that ‘image’ doesn’t just come about from nowhere. Though beautiful, Pattaya does not have a jealous stepmother dead-set on poisoning her. So, where does the shoe hurt Cinderella and how can it be fixed?
On page 4, FCCT member Mick Vannisse takes up the story on Koh Larn, just off the coast of Pattaya.

Its in Na Jomtien!

Sattahip district chief points out that the beautiful Buddha image is indeed in his district.

The Laser carved Buddha Image on Chi Jan Hill, which his Majesty the King graciously named Phra-Phuta-Maha-Vachira-Uta-Mokat-Sasada, has been the subject of a bit of controversy lately.
The image, officially located in Ward 7, Sub-district Na Jomtien, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province is purported to be the largest Carved Buddha image in the world. The only work left to be done on the shrine is the gazebo and the main pole or Sao Lak.
Even though the area is not totally complete and His Majesty the King has not yet performed the ceremony of ‘Opening the Eye” of the statue due to the many duties which involve the welfare of the people, the carving has been attracting the faithful from around the world. Tourists come to see its size and beauty.
But there is controversy now, arising from erroneous reports as to the site of Chi Jan Hill. The media has located the carving in Banglamung District instead of the correct Na Jomtien District. This has become a big issue with district officials, and the Sattahip District Chief has been on a campaign to point out that its correct location is indeed in his district. He feels that this immense problem has not yet been rectified in the press even though many efforts have been made to have the information in print.
Let it herewith be known. The magnificent carving is in Na Jomtien and not in Banglamung.

Municipal League meets in Pattaya

Pricha Kamolbut, Chonburi Provincial Manager, opened the 4th meeting of the National Municipal League of Thailand for 1997. Arjharn Siripool presided at the meeting, the 39th since the League was founded.
After the meeting, Arjharn told the media that a large general meeting will be held in June with over 3,000 people in attendance.
The people attending this meeting in Pattaya will also have the opportunity to see the city and its many facili-ties for tourism, seminars and sports.
Somsak Yomchinda, Pattaya’s city manager, said this will be following the world meeting of the J.C.s in May of this year which will be attended by more than 4,000 people.
The city manager called for all businesses and enter-tainment venues to conduct their businesses in the most ethical matter possible during these visits.

Storm drain delay

Work on the digging of trenches for the storm drains which are to be laid along Beach Road were scheduled to begin in March, but have been delayed, City Manager Songsak Yomjinda an-nounced.
He explained that the reason for the delay was that the Environmental Protections Agency’s budget committee has had many projects to consider and has not had time to consider authorisation for the Beach Road project.
This is despite the fact that Pattaya submitted a bid well within the pre-established requirements of the com-mittee with an approved contractor.
It is now known that the budget of 1,800 million baht has been approved and the funds are to be remitted by the central government no later than the end of April.
When notification is received, the city will sign the final contracts with the contractor at once and work will begin.
So look forward to traffic delays along Beach Road in the near future.

Indigent shoplifter nabbed

Police received a call from a security guard at Mike’s Shopping Mall that he had apprehended Charoon Kuanluang, 25. The young man was caught stealthily putting shoe polish and deodorant into his bag. When apprehended, he refused to pay for the items.

Destitute yet philosophical, Charoon awaits his fate for shop lifting tools of his trade.
At the Pattaya police station the young man confessed to stealing the items. He told officers that he polished shoes to make money and that business was not very good. He said he plied his trade in the beer bar area hoping to find foreigners in need of shines.
Charoon also does exhibition boxing at various entertainment places but now that the low season has returned, there is no employment.
“I know what I did was wrong”, confessed Charoon, gaining police officer’s admiration. “But I’m willing to pay my debt to society.”
“May I be born on a mountain of gold in my next life,” repined the youth. “Then I will help the poor myself.”

Police officer shot

Two police officers were wounded when they tried to stop a robbery in progress. The first was grazed by one of the assailant’s bullets, the second was injured in a fight that broke out between police officers and the thieves.
The incident began when a young couple’s motorcycle was accosted by three robbers. The woman on the motorcycle shrieked for help and when police responded, they were attacked by the three robbers. Fisticuffs ensued, during which one of the brigands managed to escape into the darkness.
Guns were drawn and one officer was grazed by a bullet, and was later taken to the hospital for treatment.
After managing to get the situation under control, police arrested two of the three assailants and charged them with conspiracy, armed robbery, and attempted murder. They are now searching for the third.

Songkhran; More than Just a Free-For All

Adapted from an “antique” Thai book, submitted by Kittisak Khamthong and translated Jay Patterson

The beginnings of Songkhran Day.
At the beginning of the history that we know today, there was a very rich man. He had every material thing that humans want. Yet he was childless.
His house, which sparkled with jewels like a rain sprinkled tree in the sun, was near the hovel of a drunkard. The drunkard was lucky in one thing. He had 3 children whose skins shone like burnished gold.
One day this drunkard came to the rich man’s house and called him rude and unseemly names.
“And why do you insult me? Who are you to come and look down on me who lacks nothing?
“It is true you have all things material,” said the drunkard. “But you have no children. When you die, all your wealth will erode away as the earth does in a flood. Your wealth is useless. You have no-one to whom to leave it.”
“I have three beautiful children. So I am better than you,” exulted the drunkard.
The rich man heard the truth in this and was ashamed before the drunkard. His heart desired children all the more.
He made obeisance and prayed to the Sun and then to the Moon for three full years, in vain.
In the fifth month of the third year, at the time of the golden spring of the spirit, when the sun moves from Pisces into Aries, the young people of the whole world engaged in games and rejoicing.
For it was the new year.
The rich man took his servants and slaves to a giant banyan tree by the edge of a great river which was home to all of the birds of the earth.
The rich man and his servants washed and cooked white rice and putting it vessels of the finest gold and silver, offered it to the mighty spirit of the giant tree. The wealthy man played the most beautiful of music and sincerely prayed for the spirit of the tree to grant his wish.
The spirit heard the man’s prayers and pitying him, flew to the heavenly world, begged the mighty god Indra to give the man children.
Indra, hearing this, sent two angelic beings to earth to be born children of the man and his wife. Great Indra willed a beautiful palace into being under the banyan tree for the angelic children.
As the children grew, they learned the languages of the birds and the wisdom of the scriptures. When they were eight years old, their wisdom was vast.
They told all the people of the earth of good and great events.
When Qabil-Brahma, the Lord of the Law, heard of the angelic children’s fame, he saw fit to test their wisdom and suitability to receive such acclaim. Qabil-Brahma’s head, which was made from the great and weltering flames of truth, brightened the sky as he descended from the heavenly world.
Qabil-Brahma asked three questions. They were thus:
1. Where does the holy aura of humans reside in the morning?
2. Where does the holy aura of humans reside in the afternoon?
3. Where does the holy aura of humans reside in the evening?
With these questions, Qabil-Brahma gave his promise; if the angelic children were not wise enough to answer the riddle, he would take their heads.
But if the children could answer them in 7 days, he would return to heaven and leave them unharmed.
The wise children thought for six days and could not think of the answer.
“Tomorrow,” said the angelic children, “we will suffer the penalty of death from the rightful prosecution of the Lord of the Law. We don’t want to die. We must conceal ourselves.”
Leaving the palace, the children took themselves to the river bank and hid under a great sugar palm in which a he-eagle and a she-eagle were building their nest.
As the children lay under the palm, they heard the she eagle say to her mate, “Where shall we find food tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is the last day the angelic children have to answer The Lord of the Law’s conundrum.” So He will have their heads and we will have human flesh to eat.”
“Do you know the answers,” asked the she-eagle.
The he-eagle did and told her the answers thusly:
1. In the morning, the holy aura of humans resides in their faces which they wash.
2. In the afternoon, the holy aura of humans resides in their bodies which they bath from heat and fatigue and dust with sandalwood powder.
3. In the evening, the holy aura of humans resided in their feet, which they wash before entering their dwellings.
The angelic children heard the eagle’s conversation and overjoyed, went back to their palace.
At the appointed time, Qabil-Brahma, the Lord of the Law, descended from the heavenly world to hear the children’s answers.
When the angelic children answered as they had heard from the eagle, Qabil-Brahma was mightily impressed and con-ceded defeat.
But before severing his own head as promised, he com-manded seven of Indra’s goddess-daughters to come down from the heavenly world.
These goddesses each ruled on one day of every week and the most powerful was called Maha-Songkrant.
Qabil-Brahma spoke to the goddesses thus:
“If our head is laid upon the earth, it will burn the material world to ashes.”
“If it is hurled into the sky, it will cause great draught.”
“It must be put on a holy-palaver and kept in a safe place.”
He then severed his own head and Maha-Songkrant put in on the holy palaver. At the same time, wild weather seized the earth and nature went into a frenzy of madness. Maha-Songkrant raised her hand and peace returned.
She then took the holy fire and walked three times around holy Mount Meru, whose fires were as great as those of the Lord of the Law. She then put the holy fire in a cave on the Mount and made obeisance to it with celestial objects.
Vishnu appeared and willed a casket of fiery jewels into existence.
The seven goddesses placed the fire into the casket and bathed the fire three times with ambrosial water. The heat from the fire gentled.
After three weeks, the earth became cool and the rains fell.
It is believed that every year when the sun moves from Pisces to Aries, the holy fire is brought out of Mount Meru for one month. The seven goddesses carry it in procession around Mount Meru. After this, it is anointed with ambrosial water.
The seven goddesses then return to the heavenly world.
And the rains fall again.
From this, Songkhran Day was born.

It’s time once again for the Pattaya Festival!

It’s that time of year again. Songkhran, the Thai New Year, time to get wet, enjoy a holiday Thai style, and forget about trying to get anything substantial done for a few days. What to do with your spare time? TAT and many local hotels and businesses have lined up plenty of fun-filled events to pass the holiday time away.
Schedule of events for Pattaya Songkhran Festival, 1997:
March 28 - April 19:
Football competitions at Jorm Tawan Field.
April 14-15:
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Car and motorcycle races at Bira Circuit on Phra Tamnak Road.
April 17:
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Jet ski and banana boat races at Jomtien Beach.
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Beach volleyball at Jomtien Beach.
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Takraw competition at Jomtien Beach.
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Windsurf competition at Jomtien Beach.
5:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.: Opening ceremonies on the beach between Soi’s 4 and 5, Pattaya.
5:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.: Flower float com-petition.
5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.: Marine Band Concert on Pattaya Beach.
5:00 p.m.: Jazz charity concert for the College of Music, Royal Garden Plaza.
6:00 p.m.- 10:30 p.m.: Thai Village exhibit at the Tropicana Hotel.
6:00 p.m.- 11 p.m.: Red Cross booth of Banglamung, Sois 4 - 5.
6:00 p.m. - Midnight: Isan Cultural show at Pattaya Beach.
6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.: The Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm exhibition at the junction of Beach Road and Pattaya Central Rd.
10:00 p.m.: Fireworks display.
April 18:
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Pouring of lustral water ceremony at Larn Pho, Naklua.
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Jet ski and banana boat races at Jomtien Beach.
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Beach volleyball at Jomtien Beach.
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Takraw competition at Jomtien Beach.
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Hill climb race, Bira Circuit.
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Windsurf competition at Jomtien Beach.
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Grand Traditional Thai Dance & Drama Performance at the Naklua market.
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Surf Wine Marathon.
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Thai Toke concert and singing competition on Sois 4 & 5.
4:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.: Sand-castle building competition.
6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.: Thai Village exhibit at the Tropicana Hotel.
6:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m.: Red Cross booth of Banglamung, Sois 4 - 5.
6:00 p.m. - Midnight: Isan Cultural show at Pattaya Beach.
6:00 p.m.- 10:30 p.m.: The Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm exhibition at the junction of Beach Road and Pattaya Central Road.
10:00 p.m.: Fireworks display.
April 19:
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Pouring of lustral water ceremony, Chai Mongkok Temple, Pattaya.
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Speed boat races in front of Bali-Hai.
Noon - 2:00 p.m.: Songkhran Day Parade beginning at Chai Mongkol Temple.
6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.: Thai Village exhibit at the Tropicana Hotel.
6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.: The Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm exhibition at the junction of Beach Road and Pattaya Central Road.
6:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m.: Red Cross booth of Banglamung, Sois 4 - 5.
6:00 p.m. - Midnight: Isan Cultural show at Pattaya Beach.
6:00 p.m.- 10:30 p.m.: The Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm exhibition at the junction of Beach Road and Pattaya Central Road.
8:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.: Thai boxing match at the temporary ring at the Amari Orchid Hotel.
9:30 p.m.- 11:30 p.m.: Cultural shows from the four regions of Thailand at Pattaya Beach.
10:00 p.m.: Fireworks display.
April 20:
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Speed boat races in front of Bali-Hai.

Pattaya’s image problem: can it be solved?

by Mick Vannisse, member FCCT
Koh Larn (Bald Island), although it may have been a bit barren or ‘bald’ at one time, at present is covered nicely... with tourists, especially on week-ends. Such was the case when a 40-strong pack of international news-hounds was checking it out, all part of a media package aimed at upgrading Pattaya’s much-maligned ‘image’, an issue of such concern to the local tourist industry - not to forget its business community - that it launched a three day program, initiated by the beach resort city’s local tabloid the Pattaya Mail and co-sponsored by the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA).
PBTA’s newly elected president Suphadit Maneerat-charatsci warmly welcomed the (mostly foreign) journalists invited through the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) at a dinner party hosted by cosponsor Thai Garden Resort shortly after their arrival that Friday. [March 21, 1997]
Pattaya’s bad image is directly related to its thriving and bustling night life of which, unfortunately, the foreign media chose - about a decade ago - to focus on its sex trade, while willfully overlooking the resort’s many other aspects.
Interestingly, the Thais themselves have deemed it fit to add to Pattaya’s bad name. For instance, when this writer went to school to learn Thai in Bangkok (at AUA: American University Alumni) in the early l990s, his (female) Thai culture teacher used to joke about Thailand’s “three P’s: Patpong, Petchburi (Road) and Pattaya” (notably not Pathong on Phuket Island, where plenty of nasty copy could be found by date-line journalists if they felt inclined). What did not help was the fact that US armed forces used Pattaya as a main R&R destination during the Vietnam War era. It would be fair comment to say that Pattaya’s reputation was established then. But that was before the widely publicized issue of child-sexual abuse by foreign paedophiles, a topic high on the agenda of such organizations (NGOs) as ECPAT (End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism), with Pattaya mentioned as a main venue for this nefarious and shameful - since internationally criminalized - offense.
Increasingly, ‘genuine’ foreign tourists were staying away in droves, but date-line foreign journalists kept coming to satisfy their editors’ feeding frenzy on this highly-salable type of copy. Pattaya had become a caricature of Thailand’s worst ‘attractions’. Besides the dirty business of sex-tourism (with child-sexual abuse its ‘apocalypse’), there were the ‘un-swimmable’ beaches with their dark-gray, garbage-littered surf (a product of irresponsible over-development), drug abuse, and rampant greed-generated corruption to feast on; a complete smorgasbord for freelancers in need of hard cash and anyone in the media wishing to entertain their readers or viewers with some hard-core - if predictable - sleaze.
Then, four years ago, Pratheep (Peter) Malhotra started the Pattaya Mail, the city’s first English language newspaper, not just because there was an obvious niche to fill and a fair likelihood money could be made, but very much because they wanted to give Pattaya a voice to counter the city’s bad press overseas. Interestingly, the Pattaya Mail did not turn out to be a cheap advertising rag specializing in glossing over the real and nasty issues of the day, but a paper that through its fair and unbiased reporting would seek to improve things by bringing the issues out in the open locally. This also meant that the community could participate in any media dispute and no longer had to stand by idly and remain impotent vis-à-vis the ongoing onslaught by the world’s gutter press (including the features sections of so-called respectable newspapers, magazines and TV stations).
However, Pattaya’s image did not improve as hoped for, despite concerted efforts by the Pattaya Mail and the various hotel and business associations. Such efforts included presenting Pattaya as a family holiday destination, and keeping sexually slanted advertisements out of the Mail and other publications. And, while families indeed started to frequent Pattaya hotels more often, the city’s bad press abroad continued unabatedly. Nevertheless, and to demonstrate trust in the future, hotel expansions went ahead (more than 40,000 rooms at present) while concentrating on family tourism. Says Michael Vogt, general manager of the Thai Garden Resort: “The 5-star hotels weren’t built for sex tourists!” He adds that these type of tourists prefer cheap hotels and guest houses.
Come 1997 and although business is picking up, those damned paparazzi of the foreign press keep writing only sleaze, as far as Pattaya is concerned. What to do? Invite the foreign media and show them that the bad press is - though not totally unfounded - extremely one-sided. Also, present the many other attractions of this beach-side city. These include a year-round season (unlike competitor Phuket with only about half a year), proximity to the capital, very competitive hotel rates, and fair-to-good infrastructure, including a nearby airport.
Well, to invite the entire world press, or even just those that write bad things about Pattaya as their staple on Thailand, was a bit of a long shot, and thus the next best thing was conceived: invite the journalist members of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT).
The FCCT was happy to oblige, although at times during our stay in Pattaya it seemed that the locals were over-rating the capabilities of the FCCT in curbing the said sleazy reporting. After all, other than their own ethics committee, the FCCT has no control over what foreign news hounds do, let alone write home about. At the same time, because of the fact that they live here, the said correspondents were far less inclined to write only bad things about Pattaya. [Most date-line journalism is a hit-and-run affair.]
However, during the round-table conference at the Pattaya City Hall on the Sunday before returning to Bangkok, the foreign correspondents managed to explain to their hosts, in a straight-forward fashion, that for Pattaya to clean up its image, it needed to clean up its act first. They thus demonstrated that it had indeed been a productive idea to invite them - that is to say; if their hosts could accept constructive criticism, which they actually did, by and large. This advice was given after taking into consideration that all big cities have red-light districts (a point brought forward by the FCCT’s hosts several times) and that similar nasty stories could be written about New York, London, Paris and Buenos Aires. But in Pattaya’s case the scale of the entertainment industry was rather large in proportion to its population (150,000), while “cleaning up its act” would have to begin with the closing down of bars that specifically cater to paedophiles. Ignoring the problem just makes things worse. By the same token, the correspondents realized that this nefarious business is a huge money spinner, which will oppose vehemently any efforts at getting rid of it.
It was concluded that it’s up to the Pattaya community to create a better image. For this a considerable initial sacrifice will have to be made. Hopefully this sacrifice will only be monetary and not include the loss of life through assassination organized by vested interests.
What may be needed more than the help of the FCCT is that of the Thai government. In this respect, Pattaya may indeed be lucky. Present was Dr. Virachai Techavichit, Advisor to the Prime Minister, who said that unlike before, the government regards matters concerning Pattaya to be of national interest. This means that Prime Minister Chavalit’s no-nonsense stance on crime is directly applicable to Pattaya, and that even the most powerful players are no longer safe from the strong arm of the law.
Another plus factor regarding infrastructure are the plans to upgrade the nearby airport of U-tapao to international level, meaning that tourists could land directly at their destination - important since Bangkok’s international airport is becoming overcrowded.
Is there hope for Pattaya? Yes, but it may take a fair while before its image emerges as pristine as our hosts would like to see. But with the message well and truly understood, moves are likely to get underway before long. That would have to be a step in the right direction, on a path that’s likely to require (1) large amounts of courage and endurance on behalf of Pattaya’s sincere citizens, and (2) their sustained good faith in the future. Says Pattaya Mail’s Amorn: “I want my son to be proud to be a citizen of Pattaya.” With so much energy and dedication being applied to Pattaya’s clean future, there is every chance Amorn’s wish will come true.

The birth of Kalsa

Since the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji more than five centuries ago, people have become interested in his words. Followers have tried to put their faith in such a way that they believed was true, but could find no patterns. In other words, they followed what they believed to be true without giving thorough consideration to the teaching, and even though each had put their faith in the teaching of one prophet, many were divided into different groups that did not get along well together. This was because the disciples of each group came from different levels of society, including different status, social classes, races and even different schools with different teachers.
Guru Gobind Singh recog-nized the problem and attempted to bind all disciples together without looking at differences in their various status, social classes and races. He tried to create love and friendship between them.
Finally, on Song Kran Day when people were celebrating, he announced that he would create a new community and call it Kalsa, or what is now called Sikh.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh made sacred water and announced he wanted the bravest of brave soldiers. Five brave men showed up, all willing to sacrifice their lives and souls and even their heads for the Guru. Therefore, he took the five men and made them his first main disciples and called them ‘The Beloved Five’. The amazing thing about them was that all five disciples came from different social classes and status. Eventually, Guru Gobind Singh allowed the ‘Beloved Five’ to continue this ceremony from generation to generation until today.
From the day the new community was set up, a wave of people came and sur-rendered themselves to become disciples and asked for the sacred water. The records made by the journalists of King Aurangzeb, who ruled in India during that period, stated that about 20,000 people, including men and women, believed in the teachings of the Guru. A lot more were also ready to join in (some books record over 80,000 people came to believe in this religion).
The Process of Making Holy Water
‘The Beloved Five’ would sit together in a circle in meditation. In the middle of the circle there was an iron bowl containing water and sugar. Each of the ‘Beloved Five’ would takes turns singing a hymn from one chapter, and use their sword (with 5 cutting edges - Sikh people called this sword a “Kanda”) to stir the water. The first disciple would sing the hymn until the end of the chapter, then the second, third, fourth and fifth disciples would take their turns. When all had finished, the ‘Beloved Five’ would get up and pray to God ‘Kartapuruk’ and allow all the people to drink from the same bowl to ensure their honesty for each other. They would all say together...
- We are the children of one God (the Prophet)
- We all will respect each other as relatives without holding on to status, class, or even race.
- We all will hold on to all rules and regulations that the Prophets have set up, seriously, until the end of our lives (Five Commandments to be followed and four impractical things to be forbidden).
- We are all willing to sacrifice our lives to protect the moral standards.
- We will hold on to the moral standards of God (Kartapurak) that Sri Guru Gobind Singh has taught.
We can conclude that...
- The Prophet has set up the new year day/new era for Sikh people.
- The Prophet has announced integrity by granting rights and freedom to all people equally. Even before they could realize the importance of the words Rights and Freedom, not only men were granted these rights, but women were being granted as well. The Guru has praised women who have never been cared for and given them freedom before they would ask for it. The Prophet also praised women and called them ‘The Mother of Earth’. He further asked, why do we have to insult women, even the King of Kings was born from her womb.
- The Prophet established ‘Punj - Kalsa’ (Sikh Com-munity) which gave op-portunity to people being harassed and tormented and showed them rights to freedom. He granted these rights equally with honour and grace. Eventually, tormented people came together and held on to His teaching which he taught:
“Human is my friend
Not enemy,
not stranger”
(of the people).
The Prophet has predetermined life with honour and grace. When this teaching was publicised from place to place, people pleasantly accepted it and turned themselves toward the words of Sikh religion. The numbers of Sikh people has increased tremendously, starting from its small ‘Beloved Five’ disciples. This community then became a big community with great capacity in industrial, agricultural, and linguistic fields, located in Punjub, including all regions in India and other foreign countries through today.
The Thaisikh Internal Security Association (Thailand) asked Guru (Kartap) to bless you all with happiness and may you all be successful and have good health at all times. May God bless and protect the three institutions that are; nation, religion and king, and let these institutions be with the Thai kingdom for eternity.
In this great new year, may God bless you and your family to have a pleasant time and success in everything you do.
If anyone is interested in anything about the Sikh religion wishes to know more, please contact:
The Thaisikh Internal Security Association (Thailand), open every day. Telephone; 2411543. Address; P.O. Box 5 Samrong Post Office 10273. Or page; 182 call 188-791.

Grand Opening of Kellogg’s plant

Thailand welcomes the arrival of Tony the Tiger.

Many distinguished guests joined the grand opening ceremony of the newest Kellogg’s plant in Rayong. Amongst them were the Grand Chamberlain Khun Khwankeo Vajarodaya together with his wife Tanphuying Vajarodaya.
Mr. Jean-Luis Gourbin, President Kellogg’s Asia Pacific, said in his opening speech that the goal of this new plant will be not only to supply Thailand, but the whole of Asia with Kellogg’s products. He also thanked all Thai officials for their great help and support for without them it couldn’t have been done so fast and efficient.
Mr. Peter Horekens, Director of Asian Operations, underlined the thanks of given by Mr. Gourbin in his speech, and added on that Kellogg’s is very pleased with the work of all their Thai employees. He said now the always fresh cereals will be even fresher in Thailand since they will be produced here.
Mr. Arno G. Langbo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kellogg’s Company, headquarters in Michigan, U.S.A., mentioned during his speech that this plant is very important for all of Asia. He said Kellogg’s didn’t chose Thailand by accident, but for their great confidence in this country. “Thailand is a fantastic location, not only to produce but also to export to other countries.”
70% of all Kellogg’s pro-ducts produced here will be shipped internationally. The people of Thailand can be assured that only the highest quality will be produced here in Thailand. He said Kellogg’s already has ninety years of experience with a global market share of 40%, selling it’s products in more than 160 countries. Now with the opening of the new plant in Thailand, the company looks to a much brighter future.

April is “Mango Month”

Thailand is famed for its wonderful range of exotic fruits with a fruit for every season. At the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, April is the month of that most tempting of tropical fruits, the mango.
For long-term aficionados of this golden fruit and mango novices alike, Royal Cliff’s executive chef has prepared a divinely delicious mango menu featuring both traditional mango dishes plus some home-grown specialties.
How about a cooling chicken salad on yogurt dressing with sweet mango slices or pork medallions on a spicy mango stew? And for those with a sweet tooth, Royal Cliff advises heading straight for the desserts where you can ‘stick’ with traditional dishes like mango with sticky rice, or the little more adventurous mango roulade with vanilla sauce.
The mango lovers menu will be featured throughout the month of April in the Coffee Shop (Royal Cliff Beach Hotel), Grand Café & Terrace (Royal Cliff Grand) and the Palm Terrace (Royal Wing).

Naval graduation

The graduating sailors receive their diplomas from Admiral Suchart.

The Naval Technicians Academy held graduation exercises for 100 servicemen stationed at the Sattahip Naval Base. Admiral Suchart Lertlam presided at the ceremony.
The young sailors had taken courses is various trades, trained by Captain Choosak Senakrom.

Happy Birthday Admiral

Admiral Chanin Saengfueng, Commander of Naval Intelligence for Sattahip Naval Base, and a group of officers are seen giving flowers to Admiral Bovorn Mingmueang, Deputy Commander of Navel Intelligence for the Base, on the occasion of the anniversary of his birthday.
Members of the Pattaya Mail staff were present to wish the Deputy Commander a happy birthday and thank him for his valuable work on behalf of the Thai nation.

Back to the green shield-stamps

The Ambassador City Jomtien has organised a stamp collecting program in order to return profits for those who dine in the hotel’s restaurant. Every 500 baht spent will receive one stamp. Collect it to the exact amount, to be exchanged for various prizes such as free rooms or meals, gold jewellery, and even air tickets, round trips of course, to save more stamps. The promotion is from April 1st 1997 until 31 March 1998.