by Elfi
Ratchaburi is not only a town well known for
the art of making beautiful ceramic-vessels, it also has many different talented
citizens. Aroonsiri Saila, nicknamed Ri, who was born and raised there together
with her five brothers, has a very special gift: her voice.
Her five brothers, all musicians, became aware of this very
early on and at the tender age of nine, Ri was already performing together with
three of her brothers in their own band.
She attended many parties with them and was always the ‘big
star’ in school-plays and many other festivities.
E: “What did it feel like singing in front of a big
audience at that age?”
R: “When you are a child you take things easier. Of
course I was very proud to perform together with my brothers, but on the other
hand they were very strict with me.”
E: “Did you become a professional singer right after
you finished school?”
R: “No. My parents always said that five musicians are
enough in one family. I had to attend high school and achieved my diploma as a
teacher. After four years of teaching the youngsters, I needed a change. One of
my brothers was working at the Siam Bayshore in Pattaya. I visited him several
times and decided to join him again. That was about eighteen years ago. As soon
as I was into music again, I felt alive. Soon after my ‘come back’ to the music
world, I joined the Yamaha singing contest in Bangkok. It was ‘the’ contest at
that time. I was very lucky, I managed to win.”
E: “I don’t think that it was only luck, especially
with a voice like yours, so wide ranged and full of expression. I just cannot
get enough listening to you, especially all the songs you sing of Barbara
Streisand, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and even the husky voice like Tina
Turner.”
R: “Thank you. I am always happy to receive a nice
compliment. Since you mentioned it, I love to sing this kind of music. You have
to give it your all to perform the right way, and I do try. I believe classic
songs are the best for my voice, although I like to sing soul and jazz as well.”
E: “Have you always been in Pattaya during those
years?”
R: “No. After I met my husband, who is English, I went
with him to England. Of course, doing so, I had to give up my career.”
E: “That must have been hard for you.”
R: “In a way it was, but love helps you to survive
anything. We were moving around in Europe, due to his job. We also spent two
years in Scandinavia.”
E: “How was it there? Did you ever get to sing there?”
R: She laughs and wraps her arms around her body.
“Most of the time it was cold. Also we had a lot of nice experiences and a lot
of fun. One time we went to a pub and my husband insisted on hearing me sing. It
was in Sweden. All those big people didn’t like me to go on stage. They believed
I am a child, but after they heard me singing they just couldn’t get enough.
That was really fun. I had to go back there as often as possible and they always
made me sing. By the way, the same thing happened in Denmark and in Norway and,
many times, back in England.”
E: “Which means you never lost your touch. How come
you are back in the arena again?”
R: “It happened by accident. I have two children, one
boy and one girl. They both go to school, but at weekends I have time for them.
One day when we were walking on the beach, I saw an old friend of mine, Anucha
“Lek” Chaidee. He approached me immediately. First I refused, but soon as I
found out that he is the bandleader of the famous “Soulhouse band” who is
playing every day at the Moon River Pub, I got itchy. I agreed to join them one
day during their practice and I got caught. See, it is perfect to sing with such
dedicated and 100% full-hearted musicians. I just had to take the opportunity. I
also fell in love with the Moon River Pub at first sight. Its cozy atmosphere
and lovely ambiance makes everybody feel at home. Of course, my husband agreed
to my plans and here I am, back in the lime light.” She smiles. “The Soulhouse
band is made up of genuine, fantastic musicians. I just couldn’t say who is the
best out of all of them. Lek, who plays the base guitar, has a husky voice like
Joe Cocker and Kanit “Nit” Chareaunsuk on the keyboards is the one who sings all
the soft love songs. Both of them were members of Lek Carabao’s band only just
before the Moon River Pub opened. They are great. Munsood “Sood” Slam, our
drummer, is not only very good at that but has one of the best voices I’ve ever
heard. He can sing anything from Michael Bolton to Luis Armstrong with
perfection. Sometimes I even get goose pimples listening to his beautiful voice.
Many times, people would ask if we use playback when he sings. I always have to
reassure them that he sings real life.” Ri gets a bit exited. “See, we don’t use
diskettes or playback. We don’t need to pretend. ‘My’ boys have just got it. Our
other singer, Aucrit “Tom Tom” Bunyopakorn, is also fantastic. He is like me,
into all the classical hits, especially the Beatles and the Eagles. Having a lot
of experience performing all over Asia with a very famous group, he adds the
right touch. Last but not least, we have Wuttichai “Pom” Yangchomchern, our lead
guitar player. He is the youngest and the quietest one. He sings a lot of
Scorpions and Sade. With his rather high voice he’s predestined for it. This is
a group of musicians who have been together for many years. They are good-minded
and very gifted. I love to work with them.”
E: “Wow! That was a nice speech. As far as I am
concerned, you just said it all right. Now, my final question: How do you like
Pattaya?”
R: “The answer is simple. Would I and my husband have
come back if we wouldn’t love it here? It’s beautiful. All you can ask for is
here, one only has to reach for it. The environment is much, much better than in
Bangkok and, excuse me, better than many places in Europe. I wouldn’t like to
move away again. I am a Pattayan already. No way to get me out of here.”
E: “Ri, thank you very much for this nice talk we had.
I appreciate very much that you have taken the time off stage for this
interview. See you soon at Moon River again.”
Giani Ji Pritam Singh prays before the Holy
Granth Sahib.
General Jaturit Phromsakha Na Sakol Nakorn, Commander of
Internal Security, presided over the opening of the Thai-Sikh Internal Security
Office on June 22 at the Sikh Temple (Guru Dwara) in Soi 17, Pattaya.
This is to enhance co-operation between the government and private organisations
in maintaining security within the country. The Thai-Sikh community in Pattaya
is devoted to help maintain Thailand’s internal security in an open manner with
their own organisation, which is recognised by the Royal Thai Government. It is
one of the very few non-governmental organisations that is recognised and
approved by the Internal Security Command.
General Jaturit Phromsakha Na
Sakol Nakorn presided over the ceremonnies.
The Thai-Sikh Internal Security Association was formed by
about two dozen young Thai Sikhs in September 1985. It has steadily grown, and
recently was registered officially with the help of the Thai Military Romano
Suanluang.
The primary aim of the Association is to forge close relations between the Sikhs
and the Thai’s of different religions, and to help the poor and the less
fortunate. With their many charitable works, they have provided relief to fire
and flood victims, and whenever there is a disaster the association organises
the distribution of food, clothing and other needed supplies.
Pongpairoj Ratasap President of
the Thai Businessmen Internal Security Association presents a gift to Amrik
Singh, President of the Thai Sikh Internal Security Association (Pattaya) as Gen
Jaturit looks on.
Siri Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded the Sikh religion over 500
years ago in India. Guru Nanak taught that a life of suffering and self denial
was not necessary to know God. During the turmoil that erupted during the
partition of India and Pakistan after India gained her independence, many Sikhs
who lived in the combined state of Punjab, left their homes and migrated in
large numbers crossing Burma into Siam on foot. Sikhs born in Thailand, usually
adopt the Thai way of life, but at the same time they have also strictly kept
the old Sikh tradition and customs.
Gen. Jaturit receives the Holy
Parshad after the religious ceremonies.
“There are certain misinterpretations regarding Thai-Sikhs,”
said Kulwant Singh Kukreja, the President of the Thai-Sikh Internal Security
Association. “A Sikh certainly does have a distinct appearance, what with his
stately turban and an elegant beard and are therefore seen as foreigners and
therefore different. We have got to define and separate one’s nationality and
religion. Thailand is a land of freedom, where every religion plays a very
important roll in her society. We have Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Hindus,
Sikhs and many other religions. As Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country,
the Thai-Buddhists are just called “Thais”, but other religions, such as Muslim
and Sikh, tend to be refereed to as Thai-Muslims or Thai-Sikhs. But all Thais
never-the-less.
Acharn Vasant (left) on behalf of
the Maya Devi Foundation presents President Kulchart with a donation towards
charitable projects of the association, as Raphin Kukarya, Gen. Jaturit and Khun
Anchalee look on.
Every Thai national has a duty to serve his or her country
and every one of us is proud to do so. Thai Sikhs are proud and privileged to be
born in Thailand and hold Thai nationalities. We believe and honour Country,
Religion and HM the King. We will do everything in our power to keep this
country, our home, safe both externally and internally. I hope that through such
an important association as the Thai Sikh Internal Security Association, we are
able to project to one and all that we are true and honest citizens of Thailand
and will work together for a great future” concluded Kulwant.
Senior ranking officers of the
Royal Thai Army show their respects for the Sikh religion which is typical of
Thai nature.
Past President Kees Peperkamp
(left) the newly installed President Prempreecha Dibbayawan (right) with
past District Governor Khun Som Indra-Payoong.
by Elfi
Kees Peperkamp, President of the Rotary Club of Jomtien
Pattaya, handed over the reigns to incoming President for 1997-1998
Premprecha Dibbayawan at the annual Installation Night at the Royal Cliff
Grand.
Kees, who truly served the club during the past year with great effort and
energy, according to the theme: “Build the Future with Action and Vision”,
thanked all the members and friends of Rotary for their great support and
help. He pointed out major new projects which will be completed within the
next few years and expressed his hope that President Premprecha will receive
the same support.
The world’s newest Rotarians -
(l-r) David Rice, GM Foster Wheeler Corp, Cmdr Carl Bindman, Naval Attache
US Embassy, and Erika Keller were inducted as members of the Rotary Club of
Jomtien-Pattaya
Khun Som Indra-Payoong, past District Governor, held a
short speech to remind all members of the good intentions of Rotary. He then
completed the Installation by handing over the presidential chain and pin to
the new president.
Premprecha said during his humorous but strong speech: “The question then
being that having already once been a President, why would I want to take on
such a work-load again? If one insists on an answer, I don’t know what I
could say. Could the reason that I accepted the assignment be because I am a
Rotarian? Often Non-Rotarians ask us what do we get out of Rotary through
serving. Not ironically, I think the answer can be the happiness gained from
working together for the good of the community. Having once served, I
already know that I will enjoy serving together with all our members. Let me
quote something I read somewhere which impressed me so much that I kept it:
‘One man is as much master as another, and since men are made of the same
clay there should be no distinction or superiority among them’. Therefore, I
did not say NO! - Because I was aware that I was not alone, but would have
my members together with me to serve and ‘Show Rotary Cares’ to the
community.”
Neera Sirisampan (left)
was inducted as an honorary member of the Club and received the Paul Harris
Fellow award for her outstanding work and contribution to last year’s
success of the charity projects, presented by past District Governor Som
Indra-Payoong.
Khun Neera Sirisampan, who was the MC together with PP
Dennis Stark, to her surprise received an honorary membership to the Club
and the Paul Harris Fellowship for her outstanding work and contribution to
last year’s success of the charity projects. Other members and doctors of
the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital and members of the US Navy and US Embassy were
presented with plaques.
Pattaya Mail wishes to express its great appreciation for Kees Peperkamp and
wishes the newly installed president Premprecha and his Board of Directors a
successful and fruitful Rotary year 1997-98, with the guidance of the new
theme “Show Rotary Cares”.
Club members who received
plaques for outstanding contributions over the past year.
Guests form the US Navy and US
Embassy were present at the function.
The Board of Directors of the
Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya for 1997-98.
