PILC Holiday Bazaar 2000 - The bargain hunters were satisfied!

With their Four Winds shopping bags crammed to bursting, many excited ladies in the Pattaya community completed their Xmas shopping last weekend at the Pattaya International Ladies’ Club (PILC) Holiday Bazaar 2000. With the proceeds from the entry tickets and raffles all going to the PILC Charity purse, it was a double benefit - the shoppers getting the bargains and the PILC getting the charity coffers re-filled.

Liz Harris and Pauline Dalton look over the pickings

After Atchara Pachimnan, the wife of the governor of Chonburi, opened the “show”, she toured the stalls with Panga Vathanakul, the managing director of the resort along with Arlette Cykman, the PILC event organizer, and Julie Garratt, PILC president. After the “official” window shop, it was on for all the eager ladies.

Held in the Siam Ballroom of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, the day long bazaar was undoubtedly the shopping event of the year. With stalls all the way round the ballroom and overflowing into the walkways outside, there was certainly something to buy for everyone’s mother, great aunt, nieces and nephews.

Yes, it washes of - eventually

Of course, some of the stalls themselves were also donating their proceeds directly to charity, such as the Fountain of Life stall, with well known face around town, Alice Poulsen, selling the children’s hand made Xmas cards, or the Mission Sisters from Nong Khai, with Sister Monica from Perth in Western Australia selling the locally produced bags and other articles.

Enough is enough Mum!

Another ex-Pattaya lady who came down all the way from her new home in Bangkok was Pauline Dalton, seen scrutinising the many original wares on Liz Hall’s stand. For many mothers, the concept of being able to park the children while she did the shopping was a sterling feature. Margaret Walker-Cedolin from Saensukh left her girls happily painting in the kids’ art contest room while she grabbed her Four Winds bag and began to fill it.

Aspiring artists (who appear to be quite talented) compete in the kids painting competition

Arlette Cykman looked radiant, but exhausted, by the end of the day. Events such as these do not just happen on their own. A team of dedicated PILC women, along with organizer Arlette made it happen, and all involved should be proud of their efforts, including the staff of Royal Cliff, who helped with the preparations.

Arlette Cykman takes a deserved break after making it all happen

Hundreds of happy shoppers passed through the doors on the day, many pausing to read about the current welfare projects supported by the PILC before entering the main shopping hall. Later in the day the Grand Raffle was drawn. A full list of winners is available from Julie Garratt on 306150 or e-mail [email protected]

The next fund-raising drive for these energetic PILC women will be the Gala Ball on November 18th. If you missed the Bazaar - don’t miss the Ball!

	Margaret Walker-Cedolin and Patrick Gossett of Four Winds
The lovely Jum of Crystal World
	Yes! It’s Alice!

Ib Ottesen and Friends concert a sell-out

Foster Wheeler - the musicians company

Ib Til’Ottesen’ the king of Country &Western ballads.

The very popular restaurant, The Captain’s Corner, was the venue for another musical evening, with Ib Ottesen and assorted friends doing some great renditions for the guests.

Kannikar (left) didn’t sing but was still very popular with the guests.

“Star” billing was undoubtedly the talented duo of Foster Wheeler’s Rick and Harpic. Their up-tempo music, including Janis Joplin and Tina Turner numbers, wowed the crowd, but workmate Julie, finally overcoming her shyness (and a cold sore) almost stole Harpic’s position as Queen of the Pops, with some great numbers towards the end of the evening.

Julie the emerging star.

The idea of these evenings, according to Rick and Ib Ottesen, is to bring out some of the other talent that is hiding in bathrooms around Pattaya. The expectant crowd was “warmed up” by resident keyboard singer George Sinatra and were soon ready for the entertainment.

 

Harpic gets down on her knees begging Peter to stop singing.

First to step out from behind the bathroom door was none other than Sue Malhotra, better known as the “face” of TV News on the Pattaya Mail Channel. Sue surprised many patrons with her emotionally charged numbers, such as the theme from Titanic. “I can only sing from my heart,” she said - and it was obvious that she meant it.

Jill and Gethin enjoy the barbeque unpurturbed by all the racket

Next up was another of the Foster Wheeler crew, complete in Elton John pink sunglasses, who was a great warbler who obviously enjoyed his chance in the spotlight, even though he forgot most of the words. His enthusiasm was infectious and he received a great applause from the crowd, who were really warming up by this stage.

Carl, Harpic and Rick bring the house down.

Foster Wheeler was wheeled out again, with another of the office ladies belting out an up-beat number. However, this was all just the build up for another of the bathroom “stars” - the self-made media mogul Peter Malhotra, complete in Classic outfit, who sang “I did it my way” - and he certainly has! Peter was rewarded with flowers from Captain’s Corner owner Kannikar Ottesen and a 20 baht note from Dr. Iain who was covering the event for the Pattaya Mail Channel.

Stars of the future

Of course, Ib was there himself, guitar in hand, as he was when he first came to Thailand thirty years ago, and thrilled the crowd with some great Country and Western ballads.

In between, Rick and Harpic and Julie kept everyone entertained and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the mix of pro-am singers. There will be a TV special next week on the Pattaya Mail Channel and hopefully a repeat live performance by Ib and his friends before the end of the year.

At the Heart of the World Exposition - The Bertelsmann Pavilion “Planet m - media for the world”

EXPO 2000 in Hanover Germany

by Marion Vogt

The EXPO 2000 world exhibition in Hanover, Germany can still be seen throughout the month of October, and since we visited it, we would like to share a couple of things with Pattaya Mail readers and will present you over the next weeks our views of different pavilions which we found fascinating and extraordinary. Maybe it will make you curious enough to take this once in a lifetime opportunity to see and visit the EXPO before it closes. This week, the Bertelsmann Pavilion is our first stop.

The Web World at “Planet m”; at “hovering” computer terminals, visitors can get a taste of the media offerings of Bertelsmann.

The fascination of the media in the past, the present and the future is the subject of the Bertelsmann Pavilion, a visitor magnet attracting the general audience and celebrities alike to the world exhibition.

Bertelsmann, the international media company, presents itself as a “world partner” with its own pavilion at EXPO 2000. The pavilion, called “Planet m – media for the world” is centrally located at the EXPO Plaza.

Planet m invites visitors to discover the versatile world of media. In a thoughtful review of the past and an exciting look into the future, it presents its guests the opportunities of boundless communication. Planet m is both entertaining and informative. At the same time, it is a declaration of love for media.

The Media Gallery in Planet m: on 2 floors, the whole diversity of the Bertelsmann Group is presented in a total of 137 productions.

Bertelsmann did justice to the importance of the theme with their concept – a media planet resting nine meters above the ground on 18 pillars. The outer shell of the 48-meter long, 26-meter high and 36-meter wide planet consists of a stainless steel mesh used for the first time in fa็ade construction. A light installation with 850 halogen spotlights integrated into the fa็ade allows the planet to glow with a myriad of colours as dusk sets in. Night after night, visitors can witness the effects of the Planet m light show. It transforms the extraordinary, round shape into a structure of light which appears to float on air, while during the day, the sunlight breaks up into multiple patterns on the three-dimensional stainless steel fabric that surrounds the planet.

The adventure-filled voyage to the world of media begins with a trip in the world’s largest elevator, the Space Lift. 200 visitors lift off to soft ethereal sounds and experience a 100 second flight through space to Planet m.

The Bertelsmann Pavilion is located centrally at EXPO Plaza.

Right after the Space Lift arrives at the planet, the eight-and-a-half minute long multimedia show begins. A stream of images with 2,500 motifs will embrace the viewers on their journey through the history of media: from the first cave paintings to the Internet, from the medieval art of the scribe to Gutenberg’s printing press, from photography and radio to TV and new media. The images show the earliest beginnings of media and its significance as an important part of human history. They explain how media has influenced cultural developments and how it links to the past, present and future.

After the pre-show, visitors are guided into the softly curved movie theatre of Planet m. Here, the film “Catching the Stars” begins as the main show. In it, Abou, the 12-year-old Berber boy from the Sahara, finds answers to his questions about the origin of the world. A girl from Cairo assists the boy from the desert, and together they communicate via Internet with children throughout the world and receive answers from Tibet, Namibia, and the United States. The camera follows this worldwide exchange of information in brilliant scenes filmed in original locations and shows how media can unite people and cultures and guide us on our path into the future. This coexistence of many different world views – that is the message – is a symbol for tolerance within the framework of global communication.

A spectacular light show lets “Planet m-media for the world” shine over EXPO Plaza night after night.

Whereas the pre-show and main show deal with the history, effects and fascination of the media world in its entirety, the media world of Bertelsmann can be discovered in the main gallery. The gallery, a 30-meter wide and eight-meter high picture box, presents the entire spectrum of Bertelsmann’s programme – books, newspapers, magazines, print & services, music, radio, TV, film and multimedia – in 137 scenes. The visitors can scroll along the gallery and continuously discover details in the pulsing overall picture. These include a copy of the 5000 year old iceman from Similaun, “ึtzi”, meticulously created by scientists, along with the stories dedicated to him in Geo Magazine, as well as an original stage costume of the opera singer Montserrat Caballe.

Directly opposite the media gallery is the media galaxy. This represents the social commitments of Bertelsmann worldwide, in particular the Bertelsmann Foundation. On a star-spangled wall, the creators and users of numerous social and cultural Bertelsmann projects are quoted.

The Bertelsmann Web World completes the tour. It presents visitors with the chance to try out the media on their own. At 50 terminals, with the assistance of trained staff, they can access, click on and use various online and e-commerce offers. According to the motto: “Creating trust in the future of the media”, the shop offers visitors the opportunity to get to know various media services and practise using the Internet.

Spaniards throughout the Kingdom celebrated Spain’s National Day on October 12

Message from HE César Gonzálaz Palacios
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Spain

This is the fifth and last time that I have the honour to convey the people of Thailand a message of friendship and cooperation on the occasion of the Spanish National Day.

Many things have happened in the Kingdom since my arrival in September 1996, and all the experience I have gone through in these years have served me to know better and better this beautiful country and its industrious, hard working an friendly people.

I arrived in Bangkok as a diplomat representing Spain with practically no experience in South East Asian Affairs. I read a lot about Thailand before I came here and I tried my best to get an anticipated flavour of what I was supposed to expect during my tenure in office. And, I have to say, I liked very much everything I learned about the country and about its culture.

Nevertheless, there is nothing like the experience and so I can tell now, after these four years living among the people of old Siam, that the reality is by far better and more exciting than the books.

As a diplomat, my life in Thailand has been easy and rewarding. The access to the people and to the authorities is direct and without hindrance, and our work can always be done without problems of communication. These factors have allowed me to feel at home in Bangkok and to make many friends during my stay here. It has also permitted me to witness the wonderful way the Thai people have faced the great hardships they had to suffer during the crisis, and the sense of solidarity and national unity, as well as the pride that was developed in order to overcome it.

I really hope that the economic turmoil that has troubled this wonderful country will soon be over and that this society will experience very soon a new era of sound economic growth and of social success.

Concerning the relations between Thailand and Spain I have to define them as excellent. We have a frame of political and economic agreements subscribed by the two countries that make any dealing easy and fruitful. Historically our ties go back to the XVI Century and nowadays the friendship between our two Monarchies is another factor that reinforces and gives more depth to our political links.

Our commercial relations have been steadily growing during the last decade and last year the total value of our exchanges was very close to one thousand million USD, with more than 80% of it corresponding to Thai exports to Spain, which has become a very important market for Thai products.

Mallorca – Cala sa Font sa Cala

From the cultural point of view, it is necessary to underline the increasing interest among Thai students for the Spanish language, which is becoming more and more popular. This should not be considered an unexpected phenomenon, because Spanish is the second fastest growing universal language in the world, backed by over twenty countries, both American and European, where Castellano or Spanish is the mother tongue. Artist exchanges, though not very intense, are very popular among the public that understand and cherish Spanish music and folklore.

I think it is also important to point out that right after winning the last general elections last May, Prime Minister Jos้ Marํa Aznar confirmed that one of his foreign policy priorities for the next four years was to strengthen the ties between Spain and Asia. Bearing in mind that my country is one of the ten richest countries in the world and a major UN contributor, the decision taken by the Spanish Prime Minister will certainly boost our relations at all political, economic and technical levels not only bilaterally, but also in the regional fora.

Five centuries ago sailors from my country reached the shores of the “Americas”. This event remains the most important contribution of Spain to modern history. That is why even today Spaniards celebrate as their National Day the date when the first three Spanish ships crossed successfully the Atlantic Ocean. But maybe it could be advisable to recall today that precisely through Spanish America, four hundred and fifty years ago, the first trans-Pacific connection was established by Spanish sailors, between Manila in the Philippines and Acapulco in Mexico, thus creating the first permanent link between Asia and America.

Perhaps today those events seem to be very far away. But we should all try to put together our experiences, efforts and ideas in order to contribute to a more interdependent and peaceful world order. It is my firm conviction that old countries such as Thailand and Spain can contribute greatly to achieve that goal.

Mending the fabric of a shattered society

Duanrat (Ple) is 43 years old. She lives in a small village outside Chiang Mai with her two children, her mother and her brother’s family. She recently lost her husband to AIDS, and has since discovered that he passed the legacy on to her before his death.

At first the disease meant little to her. She continued to work in the communal rice fields with her children and her extended family. But now the disease is catching up with her. She no longer has the strength or endurance for the long hours in the fields.

In such a small village, there is no real alternative employment. And for many like Ple, their last years would be drawn out and isolated - without the means to contribute to the community or to earn their keep. But Ple is one of the lucky ones (if such a term can be applied to someone so young who is terminally ill). She has been co-opted into a sewing group, using equipment provided by the BCTFN, and acts as village seamstress. She has been taught the basics of sewing, and assists with all the additions, repairs and alterations that the village needs. Her community regards her as an asset.

Ple is one of the many that benefits from the generosity of the Ploenchit Fair.

Later, when Ple becomes too weak to travel to the community centre, she will be given a machine to take home, so she can continue to contribute to the good of the village. And in the not too distant future, when Ple becomes too weak even for work at home, the sewing machine will be passed back to the centre, which will pass it on to the next victim.

This downward spiral is one of the hardest to live with and administer. As healthy people lose their vitality, and eventually die. But thanks to organizations like the BCTFN, the people who devote themselves to many different Thai charities, people like Ple are provided with the means to make the most out of their situation.

The BCTFN, or the British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy, has been easing the plight of the underprivileged for 50 years. It is not a charity itself, but a fund-raising group administered by an honorary committee who personally oversee the requests for funding and the allotment of donations. Over the years, many charities have been started on the premise that non-government, non-profit organizations like the BCTFN exist and that they can be counted on for help.

Previously known as the UKCTC, the group’s prime role has always been to bring the (then) predominantly British community together once a year for a mammoth fund-raising effort. And that occasion is the Ploenchit Fair.

As the ex-pat community has expanded, so has the fair. On the last Saturday in November this year, the 25th, organisers expect around 25,000 people of all nationalities to come along and enjoy the myriad of treats for the whole family. There’s over 2,000 volunteers manning the stands, and thousands of prizes donated by hundreds of companies.

Right now, the BCTFN needs pledges. Prizes are the first priority, as most stalls are supplied from a central prize pool. If you have spare premiums or short-dated stock, please contact us now. If you have any personal items which you no longer require - books, kids stuff, or knick-knacks - please send them along.

Or if you’re leaving Thailand (not just now, but any time in the future), we’ll gladly accept your unwanted household effects, and convert these into happiness for the less fortunate among us.

For donations (goods, services or even cash) call Bea Grunwell on 748 2190 or 01 665 282 or Carolyn Tarrant on 390 0797 or 01 617 2690. If you have stock or premiums to give away, we have storage facilities courtesy of Bangkok Nursing Home, and you can call Edith Stewart on 671 3461 to arrange delivery or collection.

BCCT to hold “Pub Night” at Shenanigans

The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) is holding an international networking evening on the Eastern Seaboard, sponsored by Sutlet Group (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Shenanigans Pattaya (previously known as Delaney’s) at Shenanigans, Royal Garden Plaza Complex, Pattaya on Friday the 13th of October from 6.30 p.m.

All are very welcome to attend regardless of nationality of company or individual. The main objective of the networking evening is to provide an opportunity for companies on the ESIE to network with each other and with representatives from other companies in the area and from Bangkok.

Sutlet Group (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Shenanigans are kindly sponsoring some beverages and snacks (on a first-come first-served basis). After the sponsored items are finished standard prices will apply.

There is no entry fee for this event but please RSVP to BCCT by fax (02) 651 5354, or e-mail: [email protected] as a courtesy to give our host an idea of numbers. Also remember to bring some business cards with you.

A complete sell-out!

Bruno Forrer and Fredi Schaub, the co-owners of Bruno’s Restaurant in North Pattaya, were overwhelmed by the response to their 4th Anniversary Dinner. Whilst their restaurant is the accepted “gold standard” in fine dining in Pattaya, they did not realise that just so many people would want to come and share the anniversary celebration with them. Many people found to their dismay (and to Bruno and Fredi’s also) that there were just no reserved seats left after the Pattaya “foodies” heard of the occasion and the menu items on offer. Four days before the dinner, all seats were gone.

The Gourmet Club enjoys Bruno’s 4th Anniversary

Whilst food groups such as the Gourmet Club were obviously there in force, all the diners on that special evening were treated to the finest gourmet food that Fredi, the master culinary artist, could produce. The first course was a chicken liver parfait served with port wine gelee and orange segments, followed by cr่me of artichokes soup with goose liver. By the way, did you know that goose liver sells for 2,000 baht a kilo? This item was so popular, Fredi is thinking of presenting it as a New Year dinner item as well.

With Fredi’s skill in combining wines and fine food, he and Bruno presented a ravioli of smoked salmon in a champagne and dill cr่me sauce as the next course.

Bruno (left) and Fredi (right) received a packed house for their 4th Anniversary party

For the main course, the dining guests were treated to some of Bruno’s best beef, with an Australian beef tenderloin and pink European peppercorn sauce and a New Zealand veal served with curry and potato gratin.

With the fine wines available at Bruno’s wine cellar, the evening was made even more superb - especially since the dinner menu was only 444 baht per person (to go along with the 4th anniversary theme).

Bruno and Fredi have taken to heart the pleas and recommendations of the diners that 4th anniversary evening that they should similarly commemorate their next anniversary. Consequently, book your seats now, for the culinary event of the year 2001 - Bruno and Fredi celebrating the 5th Anniversary of their Bruno’s Restaurant in October next year!

The Rotary Club
of Jomtien-Pattaya

International

Pattaya Fun City
By The Sea