His Majesty The King: The Monarch on Land and Sea

This week’s issue of Pattaya Mail is dedicated to the celebration of the 71st birthday of H.M. the King on Saturday, December 5.

Pattaya Mail correspondent Peter Cummins has had the good fortune to have sailed with His Majesty the King off the Klai Kangwol Palace in Hua Hin. From this unique personal experience, Peter presents a story of the Monarch as a sailor and an inspiration to all sportsmen and women in the Kingdom, on the very eve of the Thirteenth Asiad.

Exclusive to Pattaya Mail - by Peter Cummins

Prologue

When His Majesty the King trained a magnifying glass on the torch to ignite the flame of the Thirteenth Asian Games last Thursday, it was symbolic. The Monarch, a world-renowned yachtsman and an ardent supporter of all sports in the Kingdom and elsewhere was, through that simple ritual, figuratively conducting sunlight and the blessings it brings, onto the Games.

HM the King and Princess Ubolratana share the winner’s podium at the Fourth South East Asian Peninsular Games, December 1967. Photo Peter Cummins.

From another viewpoint, His Majesty’s care for the environment and the natural state of the ecology as life-support systems for his subjects is also well known. What better way to light the torch than using Nature’s own power?

It is interesting to note that this is the fourth time that the King has started the Asiad flame, as well as declaring open the Games which he will do at the Rajamangala Stadium on Sunday, the day after his 71st birthday tomorrow, the fifth of December.

Thirty one years ago this month, in fact, the King himself stood on the winner’s podium as a Gold Medallist sailor in the Fourth South East Asian Peninsular Games: he has been an inspiration to Thai athletes for more than three decades since then.

Thus, there was a great sense of history when two weeks ago - Monday, 16 November, to be precise - His Majesty the King, as he usually does before Thai athletes are about to compete in an event of international importance, addressed the more than 1,000 athletes, officials and support staff who will participate in the Asiad.

"All sports must be played according to the rules," His Majesty pointed out to those assembled at Chitrlada Palace. "Show spirit and aim for victory and friendship. If everybody does their best to win in both sports and friendship, the country will benefit," the King added. "A successful Asian Games would show that the enthusiasm of Thai people had not been dulled during their fight against the country’s dire economic crisis," the Monarch observed. He urged sportsmanship above all else: "Other competitors should not be regarded as enemies, but rather as fellow competitors," the King concluded.

The Thai Monarch is not only acclaimed as a sportsman, however; he is even better known to people around the world for his resolve to improve the lives of each and every one of his subjects - singular dedication to the welfare of the Thai population at large.

The most recent of these accolades has just come from Australia’s Griffith University which, last month, conferred an Honorary Doctorate on His Majesty, "in recognition of His contribution to the development of education in Thailand and His care for His people," Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer noted in Canberra, mid-November.

"His Majesty, the world’s longest-serving monarch, is closely involved in developing practical measures to ensure greater prosperity for the people of Thailand. He is much respected in Thailand and Australia," Mr Downer added.

The King - A Man for all Seasons

Although this feature focuses on the King as a sailor, there are so many other facets of life where the Monarch has excelled and a few of these must be mentioned. For example, His Majesty is an accomplished musician and composer, a painter, an inventor, a photographer, a boat designer and builder and a Gold Medallist yachtsman who, along the way, has mastered five languages.

Of course, these attributes are well known in their respective fields around the world and the theme of this story, likewise, is a favourite topic in yacht-racing circles specifically and in the sporting arena generally.

A lasting universal image of the King, in fact, is that of a man clutching a topographical chart, with a camera at the ready, to capture essential details and the emotions of His rural people. Photo courtesy of the Royal Palace.

He is an acclaimed musician and has composed upwards of 40 works, predominantly jazz. In 1960, the King played with the Benny Goodman band in New York, after which that all-time jazz great was moved to say: "I would hire him (the King) as a member of my band, anytime" - the highest compliment one musician could make about another. The King has also played with such jazz legends as Lionel Hampton and Les Brown.

During the 1960s, the many musicians who came to Southeast Asia to entertain the forces in Vietnam often found themselves at the Chitrlada Palace for informal jam sessions.

Woodwind instruments, clarinet, saxophone and piano were all within the King’s competence. His ventures into classical music reached an apogee with the composition of the "Manohra Ballet", a three-movement work which had a most successful debut in that city which jealously guards its grip on western classical music - Vienna.

The King played with the Austrian National Orchestra in a 1964 performance and so successful was the rendition of "Manohra" that the He became the first Asian in Vienna’s history to be inducted as an honorary member of the Institute of Music and Art of the City of Vienna.

"Blue Day", a popular song composed by His Majesty when only 22 years of age, was featured in a Michael Todd production "Peepshow", though, for his own reasons, Todd retitled the song "Blue Night."

From 1959, when He took up painting seriously, the King was inclined to abstract style, working principally in oils, using lines and colour boldly, moving towards an expressionism that has been described as "individual, original... and Thai."

But, above all, Thailand’s King, the world’s longest-reigning Monarch (52 years ruling as the Ninth King Rama of the Chakri Dynasty), is known universally as the quintessence of devotion, dedication and tireless application to the development and well-being of each and every one of his subjects.

A lasting universal image of the King, in fact, is that of a man clutching a topographical chart, with a camera at the ready, to capture essential details and the emotions of His rural people. Often wearing fatigues and jungle boots, He tramps along the remote areas of his kingdom, bringing help, relief and hope to even the very least of his subjects.

Over the past decade or so, the world’s press has captured the spirit of His Majesty’s dedication in such reports as: "The Working Royals - The King and Royal Family Spur Thailand’s Development..." by Denis Gray in Thai Airways "Sawasdee" magazine (January, 1987); "A Right Royal Example: King Bhumibol Acts as a Catalyst for Progress," by Derek Davies, "Far Eastern Economic Review", January, 1986; and, "King Bhumibol’s Day: Jungle Boots, Leeches and Pouring Rain," by Sylvana Foa, United Press International, October, 1980.

"Planting Peaches, Not Poppies," an article also written by Sylvana Foa, published in 1981, describes one of the King’s most difficult and, at the same time, most beneficial endeavours - to ALL mankind - a crop substitution project aimed "at weaning the mountain nomads away from opium production - and its deadly derivative, heroin." Mom Chao Bhisadej Rajani, who features prominently in the following story, manages the King’s projects from a Chiang Mai base.

The Royal Sailor

Unquestionably, the advent of His Majesty the King’s interest in and enthusiasm for sailing in the 1960s was the major catalyst in the rapid development of yachting and the marine leisure sector, generally, in the Kingdom. It was Mom Chao Prince Bhisadej Rajani, His Majesty’s mentor and life-long close associate, who introduced the King to sailing.

MC Bhisadej recalls a warm summer afternoon in 1963 when His Majesty, in residence at the Klai Kangwol Palace at Hua Hin, was out rowing on a calm sea, sculling past a sailing dinghy, barely moving. "That was me," MC Bhisadej admits. In fact, that chance encounter constantly reminds him of an age-old tenet held by ‘landlubbers’ (an old salt’s distortion of the derogatory term sailors use for non-sailors who, they consider, are a bunch of ‘land lovers’) which defines sailing as "the fine art of getting wet and becoming ill while slowly going nowhere at great expense."

Not so His Majesty who, although curious as to how ANYONE could be content to move so slowly, if at all, to nowhere in particular, nevertheless showed great interest and examined Bhisadej’s boat minutely. It was not long before Bhisadej was called to the royal residence at the Chitrlada Palace in Bangkok to assist the King in building the first of several subsequent dinghies.

Thus His Majesty started building and sailing His own dinghies. A skilled carpenter, having learned wood-working as a boy in Switzerland, the King converted a room at Chitrlada into a mini "boat-yard" and, with Bhisadej as the "co-builder and adviser", as he termed himself, the two men worked countless hours, among the wood shavings and sawdust covering the floor, while a boat was taking shape under their skilled hands.

The King did not BUILD boats, Bhisadej noted; he was so meticulous that he FASHIONED each individual piece which made up the whole. "He was like an artist designing woodcuts - a designer with his patterns," Bhisadej noted with unmistakable pride. Thus it was no coincidence that the first Enterprise built by the King and Prince Bhisadej was appropriately named "Rajpatan", which translates roughly as "Royal Pattern".

The ‘fashioning’ of the "Rajpatan" was also the cause of much hilarity as the two men worked into the night. "The King was so enthusiastic," recalls Bhisadej, "that sometimes he would arrive at the door of our workshop, still wearing the formal attire of some official function." A quick change and the Monarch was the boat builder.

As anyone who has built dinghies or, at least knows the anatomy of a small wooden craft, there are names for every part. Naturally, the "king post" (the mast support beam) and the "king plank" (first strake alongside the keel) were given very special treatment by the Royal builder and his co-builder/advisor.

Based on a model of the International Moth class, the King designed and built ‘Mod’ and ‘Super Mod’ dinghies, single-handed craft especially adapted to suit the somewhat smaller and lighter Thai physique. Bhisadej was to sail these craft to many victories in local and regional regattas. "Over the years, I have won seven national championships in boats His Majesty had built," he told me recently.

The "Super Mod", in fact, is one of the eight classes comprising the yachting division of the current Thirteenth Asian Games: an enduring tribute to the foresight of the designer.

The King’s masterpiece was the "Vega", the OK dinghy he built and in which he made a Trans-Gulf crossing from the Klai Kangwol Palace at Hua Hin to the Royal Thai Navy base at Toey Harbour, Sattahip, on 19 April, 1966 - a grueling 12-hour marathon sail.

Let anyone, except a seasoned dinghy sailor, spend even one hour on a small dinghy - pitching and rolling, fighting every wave, hiking out well over the side, the body curved into an "S" shape with the feet precariously held in toe straps on the floor of the dinghy - to understand the sheer skill, stamina and determination His Majesty displayed in that momentous crossing.

That demonstration of tenacity and ability was mooted, at the time, as the longest crossing of open sea ever undertaken in such a small, open boat. The King thereafter donated the rudder of the "Vega" for an annual Trans-Gulf race, the most recent of which was reported in detail in the Pattaya Mail of 20 November.

The Golden Era

The founding of the Varuna Marine Club on 1 July, 1957, was also to have a great impact on yacht racing, sailing, and later, other marine-related activities in Thailand, from the 1960s onwards.

With Walter Meyer as the Marine Club’s first Flag Commodore (known then as Chairman of the Board) and Prince Bhisadej in charge of the sailing programmes, the Varuna Marine Club opened at a beautiful sea-side villa "in a Pattaya," recalls Walter, "of about 20 fisher-folk".

Walter’s memory of those halcyon days - and nights - is still vivid. How could the ‘Chairman of the Board’ ever forget that he had to borrow two thousand baht from his wife to pay the rent for the new club? His wife Olive certainly has not forgotten!

When His Majesty the King bestowed Royal Patronage in April, 1965, the Varuna Marine Club became the Royal Varuna Yacht Club. At the same time, His Majesty established the Royal Chitrlada Yacht Squadron at the Klai Kangwol Palace, Hua Hin which is now the home for some l00 OK dinghies of the King’s own fleet.

The 1960s were the golden age of yachting, with the Royal Family and other Thai and visiting Royals, ambassadors and various luminaries all taking an active part in the racing programmes and the festivities, principally around the Varuna Club at South Pattaya.

His Majesty became a frequent and enthusiastic helmsman around the South Pattaya waters - as well as at his own dinghy club at Hua Hin - sailing his Enterprise dinghy the "Rajpatan", with Prince Bhisadej as crew and chief tactician.

Overboard for Sailing

Prince Bhisadej , an excellent and experienced sailor himself, taught the King how to sail, recalling how quickly his ‘protege’ learned the intricacies of sailing a dinghy.

Naturally, though, as for any other novice, there were pitfalls along the way for the Royal sailor. On one of their first outings on Pattaya Bay in the "Rajpatan", the King was helming beautifully, preparing to undertake a gybe - a difficult enough manoeuvre at any time. Bhisadej coaxed the King through the steps to be followed. Nothing happened and there was no response from the helm. Bhisadej looked aft to see the King swimming strongly towards the dinghy: during the gybe, he had fallen overboard.

One of the more memorable events was in April, 1965 comprising a race from South Pattaya to Koh Larn, with the British Royal Consort Prince Philip as guest sailor. The Prince, a Dragon class sailor of great skill, was not exactly covered with glory, however, when he finished dead last.

As Bhisadej remarked recently, his wife Datcharee had refused to sail with him that day but chose, rather, to sail with Philip. The outcome is history, Bhisadej remarked, scarcely able to stifle a chuckle.

H.E. Sebastiao de Castello-Branco, the then Portuguese Ambassador to Thailand, noted that while the race "was not much of a sporting event, a great picnic at Koh Larn and the later banquet hosted by Their Majesties, were ample rewards for all participants." For the record, the Ambassador won the OK dinghy section of that race.

Nevertheless, Prince Philip so enjoyed the picnic outing, greatly enhanced by the friendly ambience created through the hospitality and informality displayed by Their Majesties the King and Queen, as well as other members of the Thai Royal Family that, upon his return to England, he sent a wooden catamaran as a gift to the King - the first multi-hull to enter the Kingdom.

The King’s great sense of humour was revealed in several ways, especially through the arrival of Philip’s catamaran. According to Prince Bhisadej, the King was not only delighted with the new craft, but was also amused that the British Royal Consort would like to commemorate his crushing defeat on the waters of Pattaya Bay, by sending a boat to Thailand.

So, what to call the new arrival? It is catamaran, so why not call it "cat fish" which, in Thai is "pla duek"? A gift from a Duke, then "Pla Duek" is the perfect name.

Bhisadej recalls the launching of the new Enterprise "Rajpatan". It had to be assigned an international number by the class association in the UK. It was so beautifully built that both His Majesty and I thought it was "number one" in all aspects. So what number was assigned to the superb dinghy: of course E 11111!

Yacht racing in the Kingdom took a quantum leap forward during that era, culminating in 1967 when HM the King created yachting history - still unmatched in the annals of sport. It was the first time that a father and daughter had come equal first in a regional competition. When that father and daughter happened to be a reigning Monarch and a Princess, the record is likely to stand for years to come.

On 16 December, 1967, HM the King and Princess Ubolratana stood together on the winner’s podium, to receive gold medals from HM the Queen for equal-first placings in the OK dinghy class of the yachting division of the Fourth South East Asian Peninsular Games, now the Southeast Asian Games. This day has been celebrated in perpetuity since then as National Sports Day.

It was in recognition of the King’s abilities as a sailor as well as to acknowledge his enormous contributions to the development of sports in the region, generally, that the International Olympic Committee in 1987 awarded His Majesty the "Insignia of the Olympic Order." He is the only reigning Monarch to be so honoured.

Sailing with the King

As a long-time resident of Thailand, I have seen the King in many of the roles he plays, have seen some of his paintings and have heard some of his compositions. But it has always been as an observer, from a distance: a lasting media image of a man of the people, often trekking through remote areas of the Kingdom, discussing and seeking solutions to the problems facing the rural people who comprise some 70 percent of Thailand’s 55 million.

HM the King reveling in the challenge of the sea, drives hard to windward in OK Dinghy “Vega 2” which he built. Photo Peter Cummins.

As an avid dinghy sailor, I had also followed the King’s prowess during the 1960s when he and other members of the Royal Family were dedicated dinghy sailors. But that was, once again, as a spectator. Thereafter, pressures of royal duties and his concern for his people which takes him to the poorest regions of Thailand, kept the Royal Helmsman off the water - apart from some outings when at Hua Hin - for almost two decades.

Suddenly, in the mid-1980s, the King re-appeared at the helm of his OK dinghy. An enthralled nation read the banner headlines with great joy, seeing pictures of a fit, active Monarch, once again, at the helm of his dinghy: "The King puts new life into yachting", "The King rules the waves", and, "A Ruler on Land and Sea", were just some of the reports.

I was most fortunate, at that precise time, to receive an invitation to sail with the King, in the privacy of his own club at the Klai Kangwol Palace, Hua Hin. No more media images: I met the King in the very informal ambience which pervades any dinghy club - anywhere - even a royal one.

Without the pressure of the burdens of his office, the essential man who is the King of Thailand, is warm, friendly and humorous. He, like some other members of royalty around the world, revels in the solace and the challenge of the sea - away from the constant dazzle of public exposure.

A day sailing with the King starts when he appears in the doorway of the Klai Kangwol Palace adjoining the dinghy club’s social room. He is dressed in shorts, shirt, cap in hand and bare-footed, ready to go sailing.

He discusses prospects for the race with the group of sailors comprised of members of the Royal Household, senior Government officials, doctors, lawyers, armed forces personnel, with a big contingent of sailors from the Royal Thai Navy in Sattahip, police and, on this particular occasion, just one farang - yours truly. His Majesty looks around the group and smiles, remembering from previous encounters that some are good sailors - and some are definitely NOT!

The race is held: the winners and the losers gather on the beach while drinks are served from silver trays. The participants stand around recounting the race - it could be a typical dinghy scene anywhere in the world.

Finally the day’s race officer approaches with a long sheet he holds at both ends, reminiscent of the "town crier" of medieval times. The officer solemnly reads out the boat numbers, the helmsman, finishing time and the placing.

Polite applause follows each of the announcements as the King comments on the performance of each of the 25 participants, including the farang sailor. Woe betide one of the court doctors who finished last. His myriad excuses were drowned in laughter as the King chided him. "I can only hope that you are a better doctor than you are a sailor," he was soundly admonished.

The "town crier" disappears with the evidence and the King leads the group back to the Palace, takes his leave and proceeds to his chambers, to take up affairs of state again.

As an avid dinghy sailor, I had also followed the King’s prowess during the 1960s when he and other members of the Royal Family were dedicated dinghy sailors. But that was, once again, as a spectator. Thereafter, pressures of royal duties and his concern for his people which takes him to the poorest regions of Thailand, kept the Royal Helmsman off the water - apart from some outings when at Hua Hin - for almost two decades.

Suddenly, in the mid-1980s, the King re-appeared at the helm of his OK dinghy. An enthralled nation read the banner headlines with great joy, seeing pictures of a fit, active Monarch, once again, at the helm of his dinghy: "The King puts new life into yachting", "The King rules the waves", and, "A Ruler on Land and Sea", were just some of the reports.

I was most fortunate, at that precise time, to receive an invitation to sail with the King, in the privacy of his own club at the Klai Kangwol Palace, Hua Hin. No more media images: I met the King in the very informal ambience which pervades any dinghy club - anywhere - even a royal one.

Without the pressure of the burdens of his office, the essential man who is the King of Thailand, is warm, friendly and humorous. He, like some other members of royalty around the world, revels in the solace and the challenge of the sea - away from the constant dazzle of public exposure.

A day sailing with the King starts when he appears in the doorway of the Klai Kangwol Palace adjoining the dinghy club’s social room. He is dressed in shorts, shirt, cap in hand and bare-footed, ready to go sailing.

The writer meets Their Majesties at Klai Kangwol Palace, after the day’s racing is over. Photo Royal Courtesy.

He discusses prospects for the race with the group of sailors comprised of members of the Royal Household, senior Government officials, doctors, lawyers, armed forces personnel, with a big contingent of sailors from the Royal Thai Navy in Sattahip, police and, on this particular occasion, just one farang - yours truly. His Majesty looks around the group and smiles, remembering from previous encounters that some are good sailors - and some are definitely NOT!

The race is held: the winners and the losers gather on the beach while drinks are served from silver trays. The participants stand around recounting the race - it could be a typical dinghy scene anywhere in the world.

Finally the day’s race officer approaches with a long sheet he holds at both ends, reminiscent of the "town crier" of medieval times. The officer solemnly reads out the boat numbers, the helmsman, finishing time and the placing.

Polite applause follows each of the announcements as the King comments on the performance of each of the 25 participants, including the farang sailor. Woe betide one of the court doctors who finished last. His myriad excuses were drowned in laughter as the King chided him. "I can only hope that you are a better doctor than you are a sailor," he was soundly admonished.

The "town crier" disappears with the evidence and the King leads the group back to the Palace, takes his leave and proceeds to his chambers, to take up affairs of state again.

Eptlogue

Now, as Thailand is preparing for the sixth cycle, 72nd birthday of our beloved Monarch on the fifth of December, 1999, people around the world will join with the people of Thailand to wish the Royal Sailor "fair winds and happy landfalls" whenever he is sailing his OK dinghy carrying the auspicious number TH-72.

Scots wha hae wi’ Wallace bled!

The Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) again hosted their St. Andrew’s Night Charity Ball at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort last Friday night. It was a "star studded" affair with several dignitaries and important people mingling amongst the assembled glitterati.

Yes, this was the time to break out the formal finery and tiaras. St. Andrew’s night is the last excuse the social set has to get "dressed up" in the grand manner. In fact, the invitation stated that dress standards were "Formal or Highland Dress optional. Gentlemen please wear jacket and tie." Judging by the dresses worn, the ladies of PILC took this very seriously, with some wondrous numbers having been brought out of mothballs for the event. As is the norm, the males of Pattaya went from one extreme to the other, with some daring to ignore the jacket request (Good on yer, Jimmy!) to one chap resplendent in Jacobite jacket and troos. The last chap had correctly ignored the "jacket AND TIE", wearing the jabot as worn with that costume (and well done to you, sir!).

US Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. William Itoh gave an amusing address.

Emcee of the evening was the ever loquacious Peter Malhotra of the double entendre and infectious laugh. Peter chose to open the evening by suggesting that the price of the ticket should have been the same as the date of the Battle of Bannockburn when "In 1314 the Scots beat the hell out of the English or something." For the education of Peter and for those who are attuned to Scottish poetry, the worst poet in the history of the world was a Scot, William McGonagall who penned the following words on Bannockburn:

"By St. Andrew and our God most High,
We’ll conquer these epicures or die!
Then the Scots charged them with sword in hand,
And made them fly from off their land;
And King Edward was amazed at the sight, and he got wounded in the fight;
And he cried, Oh Heaven! England’s lost, and I’m undone,
Alas! Alas! Where shall I run?
Then he turned his horse and rode on afar,
And never halted till he reached Dunbar."

PILC President Catherine Bond gave thanks to the Dance Commitee.

So now you know the true story of Bannockburn, but back to Pattaya and the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. The evening began with the VIP’s being assembled by Field Marshall Marcee of the strident voice, who arranged them all, then gave the order "Wagons roll" and they were ceremoniously piped in to the banquet hall by the Royal Scots Guards.

Father Giovanni then said Grace.

Next on the agenda were the loyal toasts, with Pattaya’s Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat leading the Loyal Toast to the King and Queen of Thailand. His Excellency Bill Fisher, the Aussie Ambassador, couldn’t make it, so sent Group Captain Jack Fanderlinden, Military Attaché of the Australian Embassy, to take his place and propose the Loyal Toast to the reigning British Monarch. To sing that national anthem was the ubiquitous Mrs Catherine Bond, AKA the Yellow Rose of Texas. Showing that Australia will not be a monarchy much longer, he raised his glass and exhorted us to drink to the health of the King of England. Since there hasn’t been one since the 1950’s this must be a republican omen for the sunburned land down under!

The guests then began the repast (sounds so much better than "got noshed in") with a small break for the Ceremony of the Address to the Haggis. This was carried out by Bob Moss, with the help of a couple of the Royal Scots Guards pipers, one of whom, Pipe Major Danny Fleming, at the appropriate moment pulled a knife and stabbed it to death! Unfortunately, most guests, after trying it, felt that the person responsible for bringing the recipe to this country should have been stabbed to death first!

After the main course, the main event began. This was not the Royal Scots, but the right Royal Sale of Raffle Tickets! The ladies of PILC descended on the assembled and imprisoned diners and slaughtered them (like Bannockburn, I suppose) selling tickets by the armspan or short arm or something. Great fun and very successful too, with an enormous amount of money being raised this way for the chosen charities of the evening, which were the Redemptorist School of the Blind, the Camillian Social Centre and the Fountain of Life School.

Between times, the United States Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. William Itoh gave an amusing address and the aforementioned Catherine Bond, in her position as President of PILC, gave thanks to the Dance Committee of Ffion Mercer, Mary Harris, Sally Taggart, Marcee Laudick, Akiko Bultman, Jo Hall and Gwen Robinson.

The Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards enthralled the crowd with their riveting performance.

The entertainment was grrrand, (spoken in brogue) and everyone was enthralled by the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, who entertained with bagpipe medleys, drum rattles and sword dancing, in addition to backing the dancing of talented youngster Erin Johnston.

The evening came to its conclusion with the Diamond Sponsors Unithai, Visteon and Morrison Knudsen being awarded their plaques, and then came the big draw for the prizes in the raffle. 3rd prize was return air tickets to Udon Thani from Thai Air, 2nd was return air tickets to Singapore donated by All Seasons Travel, while the major prize was a Business Class return flight to Vienna, flying with Lauda Air, through the Travel Clinic. The winner of this prize was none other than a member of the large Visteon crew, under the watchful eye of MD Mark Critz, who saw the coveted flight go to Bob Van Der Molen.

With 46 prizes having being donated, prize numbers were displayed and guests could claim later. Unfortunately, some had left before the draw, so you missed out chaps!

The evening finished with a splendid rendition of "The Black Bear" by the Scots Guards and then wholesale dancing with music supplied by Tony and Friends (courtesy of Delaney’s Irish Pub).

But was it a success? Of course it was! Almost 300,000 Baht in cash was raised by PILC for their nominated charities. A sterling effort by the local ladies, and planning has already begun for next year! Start designing your frocks now, girls!

Wetting the baby’s head

Just over twelve months ago a little foundling was left at the bottom of the steps in front of the Royal Garden Resort, Pattaya 2nd Road. The baby was found by businessman Trevor Allen.

Realising that since he spent most of his time in Bangkok Trevor arranged for a foster father to look after the growing baby. His name was John O’Farrell and he guided the infant in its first tottering steps.

The Royal Scots Guards get the adrenaline flowing with a resounding display of musical talent.

However, John felt the calling to his Emerald Isle home and the baby looked like being abandoned again. This is where Trevor played his master stroke. Ringing Kim Fletcher, he posed the question, "Do you want to look after a bub?" Kim, being the family man that he is, immediately said "Yes!" not realising that what Trevor had actually said was "Do you want to look after a pub!"

So from these humble beginnings, Delaney’s Irish Pub in Pattaya has now firmly found its feet and established itself as one of the premier expat hangouts and THE place for music on any night.

To help Trevor and Kim celebrate the momentous occasion of Delaney’s one year in Pattaya, the Royal Scots Guards arrived with drums and bagpipes (described unkindly by some as "An ill wind that nobody plays any good" or "Jocks in frocks with porridge guns") and piped in the next twelve months. To keep the music flowing, Tony and Trek on electric haggis and Galway Pipes kept the crowds dancing while Kim and the hard working waiters (and -tresses) kept the Kilkenny, Guinness and other ales and spirits flowing.

Like all of the last 365 nights at Delaney’s it was an evening of fun and frivolity and everyone is looking forward to the second anniversary. T’anks Kim!

All you can eat for 75 Baht?

That’s a big call from a restaurant in a small soi in South Pattaya. But it’s for real. The Dining Out Team has been there. We saw, we ate, we enjoyed!

The Apollo Beer Garden opened with its 75 Baht Buffets just a little over two months ago. In that time, proprietor and chef Mammud has already carved out a niche for himself and the Apollo, now fast becoming a restaurant and watering hole for many of the expat communities.

Sunday nights is the French night (or Soiree Francophone if you like) where Mammud offers a free BBQ, red or white wine at 65 Baht per glass, Sangria at 70 Baht or a litre of draught beer for 130 Baht. For those who are really into things Francais, the Apollo also serves Ricard at 60 Baht a hit! C’est magnifique n’est ce pas?

Just so the resident froggies don’t have it all their way, the Apollo has a German night on Thursdays as well, with draught Carlsberg 45 Baht a glass to wash down the German BBQ.

Quite frankly, after filling ourselves at his buffet on Saturday, we don’t know how Mammud does it. The salad bar has a good selection, from a reasonably spicy salsa through to the best potato salad I’ve had this side of the black stump. Pushing Mammud for the ingredients for the salad brought only the response, "Every day I go to the markets for fresh vegetables. My potato salad is special. I put in many things and have to make more than 20 kgs every night."

My partner in the Team felt there was a hint of fennel or even tumeric with the potatoes, but whatever, it was certainly more-ish.

The restaurant buildings are large and open air in feel, with a rattan lined sala in which the resident nightly band performs. It can seat up to 400 guests (if you snuggle up tight) so it could be a great place for some of those Xmas parties we all have to arrange from time to time.

The Apollo is in Sunee Plaza, just off Soi VC in South Pattaya and is well worth a visit. At 75 Baht for all you can eat, that makes it cheaper than half the breakfast buffets round town. It really is too good to last, so hop in now for your chop! Parking is a bit of a problem in the narrow streets and you need to get there around 7.30 p.m. or you’ll be last in the queue. Unbelievable value and a fun place to eat. Try it!

Locals learn ballroom dancing at Sunbeam Hotel!

On November 20th at 6:30 p.m., at the Sunbeam Hotel on Soi 8, Madame Phakatip Thanasethakorn, wife of His Excellency the District Chief of Banglamung, presided over a dance, with Acharn Niki and Ms. Vi as teachers. Everyone had a lot of fun dancing.

The terpsichorean fantasy (dance) was organized by the Sunbeam Hotel in order to increase the number of tourists they attract and to let Thai people know about the ‘right’ and ‘civilized’ way of dancing in the west. This is how westerners dance and easterners are dancing now.

In Europe, ballroom dancing has the same type of connotations as Thai folk dancing does in Thailand.

There was a ‘lovely dress’ competition at the function, with Madame Phakatip giving out the reward to Ms. Marika Tantrakul, who danced western dances in a very lovely fashion.

There was also a lovely prize for the person who dressed ‘most in keeping with the atmosphere’.

This is done every year at the Sunbeam Hotel and those entering the competition gain great knowledge about dancing and have the opportunity to talk about social graces and solving business problems. Most importantly, it helps certain segments of society ‘get to know each other.’

No more at cross-purpose...

"I don’t understand it! How can they do it like that?" This sentence is very common amongst Westerners living in Thailand. Many times it even goes so far, that people say things like, "Well, this is Thailand. They’re so stupid." Wrong! It’s not lack of intelligence that drives Westerners crazy - it’s the different culture, the different mentality - and it’s our own ignorance not to accept and/or try to understand it.

If your staff doesn’t speak up willingly with all the information you need to make decisions; if there is bad news and the Thais hesitate to report it, leaving the expatriate manager to struggle to draw it out - well, it’s time to learn the skills of cross-cultural management in Thailand in a special seminar for executives and multi-national organizations and their spouses. This program is both very interesting and highly useful for the day-to-day work responsibilities in Thailand.

Cross-Cultural Management is holding seminars to get rid of misunderstandings between Thais and Westerners. Dr. Henry Holmes, founder and Managing Director of Cross-Cultural Management, holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts and Harvard, with specialties in business, anthropology and cross-cultural training.

In just two days, expatriate and Thai colleagues can benefit from his 25 years of experience in Southeast Asia. Dr. Holmes has both experienced and studied the well-meaning blunders of multi-national managers, and has developed focussed training courses, which shorten the learning curve in effective communication. He is also co-author of the book "Working with Thais".

What does cross-cultural training offer? This course provides expatriates and Thais with a uniquely frank, enlightening, and yet cordial learning situation, and offers what is probably the best opportunity to tackle the whole range of cross-cultural problems. You will learn and practice approaches to problem solving that will pay off into the future and transform a frustrating assignment into a rich and productive one. In just two days you can learn how to build a productive cross-cultural team... with understanding of both the Thai and expat ways of getting a job done.

Who should attend this seminar? 1.) High-potential Thai executives, who lack extensive overseas exposure. 2.) Expatriate executives, both newly arrived and old-timers. 3.) Expatriate spouses, whose adjustment to Thailand is critical to family satisfaction.

The skills expatriates will learn: How to get timely, reliable information; understanding and utilizing important Thai values; interpreting Thai behavior correctly; motivating Thais; issuing instructions that work; conducting effective meetings; major do’s and don’ts; understanding Thai expectations of a manager; ways of changing old patterns for new ones; managing domestic staff more effectively.

The skills Thais will learn: Approaching expatriates directly; understanding the major values of successful expatriates - accountability, assertiveness and others; using assertion effectively - initiating, contradicting and convincing; interpreting foreign behavior correctly; contributing effectively in meetings; techniques of giving and receiving feedback/criticism; gaining career advancement in a multinational company; ability to separate personal and professional relationships.

The first seminar was held in Rayong, in November. This writer learned more in that two day seminar from the course leaders, Dr. Holmes, Inn Narula, Pattama Taninpathomrat and other participants, about working and interacting effectively with Thais, than in 22 years living here. Also, the Thais in the workshop picked up a lot of confidence, both in understanding expatriates better and in expressing themselves more openly with them.

If you would like to learn the skills of cross-cultural management, contact Dr. Holmes, tel. 02-391 8586-7 or 01-902 08 38, fax: 02-391 85 89. He’ll give you all the information you need if you like to attend one of his seminars. It is also possible that the skills of cross-cultural management can be presented in your workplace.

Amazing Pattaya Night

Saturday December 5 marks the start of nightly tours of the bay by the refurbished S.S. Mayflower. An inclusive fee of 650 baht brings you a wholesome farang and Thai buffet style meal, a live band and the chance to see the bright lights of Pattaya several miles away. Cruises are at 5 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.

Chris Boulton, chef manager of the sponsor Sportsman’s Restaurants, said, "A sea cruise is another first for Pattaya’s already extensive night life." Tickets from the Sportsman’s restaurants in Soi 6 and 13, or board at the pier in South Pattaya.

“Just Friends”

This is the name of the newest music band in town, playing nightly (except Tuesdays), from 9:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. at the Premier Supper Club (next to the lobby) of the Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel.

Just Friends performs nightly (except Tuesdays) at the Premier Supper Club of the Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel.

"Just Friends" is as international as a band can be, with three different nationalities within this trio. Elder, an American, is the trio’s saxophonist and vocalist (great voice!). He used to play with the "Blue Notes" at the Apollo Theater in New York, and has participated in shows with Ella Fitzgerald, B.B. King, Donald Bird and Lionel Hampton. He has been staying in Thailand for 8 years now, mostly playing in Bangkok (at the Brown Sugar, Sheraton and Shangri-La).

Ramil, a Russian, has been in Thailand for 5 years. He studied music back home and made himself a name in Ural, Russia. He is a magician on the piano and the keyboards. He also used to live and play mostly in Bangkok. About 2 years ago, Elder and Ramil met during a jam session in Bangkok, left their bands, went to Phuket and have been together since.

Pretty and petite Jenette, a Philipina vocalist with a big, big voice, was an English teacher before she decided to go into show business in the Philippines, where she enjoyed great success. Living already for 7 years in Thailand, mostly in Bangkok, she joined the band about eight months ago.

"Just Friends", a truly great trio, has a wide repertoire that includes Motown, Pop, Jazz, Soul, Reggae and Rock ‘n Roll. Since Ramil is also a vocalist, he sometimes features Russian songs; typically soft, a bit melancholy, but very melodious.

For everybody who likes to listen to good music, it’s a "must" to watch this trio. By the way, the prices at the Premier Supper Club are in the range of normal pub prices!

Copyright 1998 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]
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.