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ITB team plans most concerted effort yet to re-launch Pattaya to the world
The annual International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin
is the largest tourism trade fair in the world. As reported previously (Pattaya
Mail Vol. X, No. 9) Pattaya is to be represented at the ITB by a
consortium made up of leading members of the private sector and government
departmental heads. This is the most concerted push to change world
opinion in our favour, for the past 8 years.
News that Her Serene Highness, Princess Ubolratana is
to preside over the ‘Pattaya Night’ gala dinner in Berlin is a very
welcome addition to the Pattaya programme, now with overt Royal blessing.
 Her Serene Highness Princess Ubolratana will preside over the ‘Pattaya Night’ gala dinner in Berlin, a very welcome addition to the Pattaya programme.
Her Serene Highness will also be joined by the Thailand
minister for tourism, Somsak Thepsuthin, the acting governor of the TAT,
Juthamas Siriwan and the deputy governor of Chonburi. The dinner will also
see the mayors of Berlin and Pattaya exchanging ideas as well as the other
750 guests which include the heads of the two major travel groups, LTU and
Thomas Cook.
According to Manit Boonchim, the director of the
Tourist Authority of Thailand central region 3 office in Pattaya, the
re-launch is important. “I agree with the business community,” he
said. “Now is the time for Pattaya to announce this (re-launch) to the
overseas public, media and travel business.”
 Elephant
rides are an exciting part of visiting Thailand, and will feature big at
the “Pattaya Night” March 18 at the ITB.
He was frank in his admission that 8 years previously
Pattaya had many problems which resulted in the tour operators ignoring
Pattaya as a tourist destination, but there have been great changes since
then. Those changes which include the cleaner waters and environment and
ease of access will be even better as continuous upgrading takes place.
With the new Bangkok airport due to open in 2005, we will benefit as this
will bring Pattaya less than an hour from the main airport.
To show the differences in the “new” Pattaya, the
TAT in Frankfurt has organized the gala night on the 18th of March. The
theme is to show that Pattaya is a beach resort and can be promoted as the
gateway to the Eastern Region and even Indo-China. The press kits even
come in a beach knapsack to maintain the concept. The welcoming drinks are
called Pattaya Breeze and Pattaya Cooler and traditional cultural dances
and crafts will be displayed. They have even secured some elephants to add
to the unique atmosphere that this Pattaya re-launch will present to the
European travel industry.
 Manit
Boonchim, director of the TAT region 3 office in Pattaya, is convinced we
have a package that should be brought into the world’s spotlight at this
year’s ITB.
With so much that has happened in the intervening 8
years, including our major convention centre facility, the Pattaya
Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH), the many new tourist attractions
with such diverse subjects as zoos, temple complexes, horse riding and
equestrian shows as well as the traditional golf and night life, Manit
Boonchim is convinced we have a package that should be brought into the
world’s spotlight at this year’s ITB.
With the revenue that is brought into Pattaya by
tourism, cash that benefits not only Pattaya, but also the province of
Chonburi and Thailand itself, it is important that we are all behind our
representatives who are doing their bit to present the new Pattaya to the
world. Let us do our bit, by making sure we give all tourists a very warm
welcome. After all, we want them to come back - and bring their friends!
International Tourismus Börse (ITB)
Statistical Details
(for 2001 event)
Overall area (m2)
Net area (m2)
Total No. of Exhibitors
No. of Foreign Exhibitors
No. of German Exhibitors
No. of Countries Represented
Total No. of Visitors
No. of Trade Visitors |
 152,224
88,645
10,149
6,997
1,997
179
123,400
56,000 |
| Cost of
Indoor Space/Row Stand 2001 (EUR/m2) 137.- |
Frequency:
Date of Next Event: |
annual
16 - 20 March 2002
Berlin, Germany |
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Pattaya Mail does it again
Awarded “Best in the East” for 4th year in a row
Veerachai Somchart
Pattaya Mail was once again
voted “the eastern region’s outstanding English language newspaper
both in news presentation and promotion of tourism” by the Eastern Mass
Media Association of Thailand. This is the fourth straight year Pattaya
Mail has received this coveted award.
Pattaya Mail received the award at the Eastern Mass
Media Association of Thailand’s annual dinner party at the Bang Saen
Beach Resort on March 3.
Pratheep Malhotra, managing director of the Pattaya
Mail Publishing Company, accepted the award with grace and dignity.
“This is indeed a proud moment for all of us here in the Pattaya Mail
family. This award once again proves to one and all that the Pattaya
Mail is the leading English language newspaper on the Eastern
Seaboard.
“But it didn’t come easy. It has been a long hard
struggle. Our team built this newspaper on more hard work, dedication and
sacrifice than I could possibly describe in words. But it was all worth
it. Not only will we strive to maintain but push onward to improve the
quality and quantity of our news presentations.
 Pattaya
Mail managing director Pratheep “Peter” Malhotra (left) accepts the
Eastern Mass Media Association of Thailand’s award for the eastern
region’s outstanding promoter of tourism, presented to him by Mayor of
Saensukh Municipality Somchai Khunpluem (right).
I sincerely thank the Pattaya Mail team for
being there. The newspaper business is a tough one. I know what all of us
have to go through, day after day, night after sleepless night. Thank you
for sharing mutual trust, support and respect for each other.
“Our weekly English paper is the largest in terms of
distribution on the eastern seaboard, which also goes to show that we have
the largest readership in the east. Our loyal readers know that we are not
ones to stand still, for to stay in the lead and maintain our commitment
to society and our community we have to continue to work harder than ever.
“I wish to thank our readership and advertising
clients for your trust and support. You give us the strength to carry on -
and the money.
“We look forward with anticipation to celebrating our
9 th anniversary this coming
July. Then we’ll look forward to at least 99 more.”
In all, seven prestigious awards were presented to
honor individuals and publications that have distinguished themselves in
media circles over the past year.
Other award recipients included Damrong Junlawattaka,
director of the National Radio Broadcast Station in Chonburi, radio
frequency 99.75 FM.
Suttirat Khunaklad, from the Matichon newspaper in
Chonburi, received the mass media news reporter award for outstanding
contributions in human relations (male).
Nongnooch Phantumaopas, a reporter with the CTV cable
network in Chonburi, received the mass media news reporter award for
outstanding contributions in human relations (female).
Mr. Ong-ad Sommool, a reporter with PTV cable network
in Chonburi, received the award for outstanding TV news reporter.
Phisit Samrarnrad, a reporter with the Prachacon News,
received the award for outstanding rural relations newspaper reporting.
Mr. Thee Kaewka, a reporter with the TV 11 public
relations department, assigned in Chonburi, received the award for
outstanding public relations reporting.
The Under-Secretary in the office of the Governor,
Phisid Boonchuang, honored the occasion by presenting awards to private
and governmental organizations for continuously providing support to the
association.
Mayor of Saensukh Municipality Somchai Khunpluem, also
known as “Kaman Poh”, presided over the awards ceremony and
acknowledged the welcome support and cooperation from the government and
the private sector.
The president of the Eastern Mass Media Association of
Thailand Padungsak Tantrawarasil also addressed the audience and
acknowledged the assistance and mutual aid the association has received in
its 24 years of service to the community. He said, aside from recognizing
outstanding individuals in the media, the purpose of the annual award’s
presentation ceremony is to provide a platform to exchange experiences in
different areas involving the media in the eastern region and to enhance
liaisons between the government and the private sector.
Padungsak also expressed his sincere thanks to members
from the government and private sector who have continuously contributed
by coordinating various matters with the mass media, and most importantly
in considering the recipients of the Eastern Mass Media Association
awards.
Students, sailors, local officials hit the beach with brooms and trash bags
Once again, Pattaya emphasizes environmental awareness
Veerachai Somchart and Chakrapong Akkaranant
An environmental preservation campaign aimed at
cleaning up Pattaya beaches rolled into action February 21-24. Suchit
Nimitkul, Environmental Protection Foundation chairman, mayor Pairat
Suttithamrongsawat, and Phisid Boonchuang, under-secretary in the office
of the governor of Chonburi, participated in the opening ceremony kicking
off the “Clean up the Beach” campaign.
 The
Royal Thai Navy stormed the beach for the annual “Operation Clean
Pattaya’s Beaches” campaign last week.
The “housecleaning” efforts also included Bangsaen,
Sattahip and other beach areas in Chonburi as part of an environmental
preservation awareness campaign to care for the natural environment and to
return beaches and area waters to their natural state. Navy recruits were
out in full force cleaning up other areas of the city.
City administrators and the Tourist Authority of
Thailand Central Region Area 3 office were in full support of the campaign
to increase awareness on environmental preservation concerns, restoring
natural beauty and beautifying the beaches to promote tourism. Setting an
example for others to follow, representatives from local government rolled
up their sleeves and pitched in to help the hundreds of students and
members from the community who took part in the campaign.
As part of the campaign in Pattaya a six-kilometer
“Walk Rally” took place along the beach with participants distributing
printed material explaining the importance of caring for the environment
and natural resources.
On February 25, mayor Pairat took charge of another
clean up campaign assembled at the King Taksin the Great monument in front
of City Hall. The continuation of the weeklong “Clean up the Beach
Campaign” was part of the “Waste Recycling Program”.
Mayor Pairat said the problem of increasing waste in
Pattaya is a major concern requiring added measures to manage proper
disposal and increase environmental awareness among members of the
community since this is an important step involved in waste management.
Over 2,000 recruits and navy personnel from Sattahip
were dispatched to designated community areas including all city schools,
major roads and central areas in Pattaya where they collected debris. The
effort was aimed at presenting a better appearance for visiting tourists.
Personnel from the city environmental and sanitation
department assisted in the clean up. They want to increase public
awareness of environmental concerns and draw in community participation to
help continue with the beautification of the tourist resort region.
Chonburi Juvenile Court and Air Defense Unit organize Anti-Drug Youth Leadership Camp
Chonburi chief judge from the Juvenile and Family
Court, Padinya Sutsuwan recently announced that a new anti-drug program is
being created with cooperation from the 12 th
Air Defense Battalion in Bang Phra. The camp program will begin March 13
at the 12th Air Defense
Battalion home base located in Bang Phra sub-district, in Sriracha
District.
Commander Prawut Rodmone will be the officer in charge
of the training camp. The training will target young people in age groups
that are easily tempted into experimenting with the unknown or tempted by
peer pressure.
The Anti-Drug Youth Leadership Camp’s agenda will
include an education on the dangers of drug abuse. The program is aimed at
instilling confidence in young individuals, and will promote a value
system that teaches them the difference between right and wrong. Students
from the Photisarn Phitayakarn School in Naklua, the Ban Phoonsri Uppathum
Center, and others from the Road of Hope Project are already interested in
attending the camp.
Judge Padinya stressed that the drug epidemic in
Thailand has prompted increased action involving all aspects of
government, local communities and the justice system in an all out effort
to halt the spread of drug abuse that is jeopardizing the country’s
young people.
The vast majority of juvenile court cases are
drug-related and the criminal behavior brought on by drug addiction or the
sale of illegal drugs requires immediate attention. A tough stance and
strong measures will be taken to protect the nation’s youth who will
play a vital role in the future of Thailand.
Elephant Day - preserving the species and promoting tourism
Chakrapong Akkaranant
This year’s “Wan Chang Thai” or “Elephant
Day” festivities begin at 9 a.m. on March 13 th
at the vacant lot near the Peace Resort Hotel on North Pattaya Road.
The Pattaya Thai Elephant Preservation Group met with
city administrators and members from the Tourist Authority of Thailand
Central Region 3 office and the Provincial Wildlife Office on February 28
at City Hall to organize the event.
This special day for elephants is now an annual affair
in Pattaya after it was decided to dedicate more attention to this proud,
intelligent and talented animal. Unfortunately, the traditional work of
the Thai elephant, working in the teak forests, has diminished through the
years and many Thai mahouts and their elephants have migrated to Pattaya
looking for employment.
The Pattaya Thai Elephant Preservation Committee was
formed to protect the elephant’s health and insure that a suitable
environment is provided with adequate food and medical attention. Other
restrictions had to be applied to protect the public.
Currently, there are 300 elephants registered in the
Chonburi area, with the majority residing in Pattaya. This migration in
growing numbers has brought new problems for everyone involved. The
elephants create hazardous situations in Pattaya’s crowded city and
moving elephants through motor traffic is a danger to the animals and
motorists. Some businesses involving elephants are also not attending to
the special needs of these great beasts.
Aside from promoting tourism and the TAT policy of
“Touring Thailand Every Month” the “Wan Chang Thai” will include
medical check-ups for each elephant including vaccinations, examination of
blood and stool samples, and the recording of pertinent information on
microchips to complete the provincial registration process.
During the festivities contests will take place that
will judge each animal’s attributes with groups of elephants 10 years
old and younger ones judged separately. Older male and female elephants
will be judged in separate groupings. Another contest will decide the most
outstanding proprietor out of six businesses offering elephants as an
attraction.
Other entertainment will display the multi-talented
elephants performing various feats that continue to amaze people of all
ages, including athletic games with elephants competing against elephants,
and elephants competing against humans. Many displays of the elephant’s
astounding intelligence will be presented throughout the day. A large
buffet will be set up for the elephants and will feature their favorite
foods as a reward for providing a day of enjoyable entertainment.
For additional information contact the TAT office in
Pattaya at 038-428750 or call the Pattaya Thai Elephant Preservation
Committee at 01-3026075.
Hours change for closing off South Beach Road
City administrators’ ears “numb from complaints”
City administrators held an ad-hoc meeting on March 5,
responding to the multitude of complaints they have been receiving about
the Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair and the closing of Beach Road every Saturday
from noon to 2 a.m.
The main decision made at the meeting was that starting
this week, the road won’t be closed to motor traffic until 4 p.m. It
will continue to be closed until 2 a.m.
Not
what the organizers had hoped for - the Beach Road Walking Street is empty
during the early hours of the Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair, so the opening
hour has been moved up to 4 p.m.
The city administration received a petition containing
96 signatures from businesses located on and nearby Walking Street in
South Pattaya, who were complaining of difficulties sustained from Beach
Road closing to motor traffic on Saturdays starting at noon.
Walking Street in South Pattaya is closed off to motor
traffic each night from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. The main complaint in the
petition concerned a loss of business at restaurants during the early
afternoon. Delivery trucks are also facing problems.
After assessing the claims in the document and
considering the fact that few tourists were attracted to the fair during
the hot and humid afternoon hours, a unanimous decision was made to change
the starting time for the Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair to 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, Chonburi governor Chadej Insawang spent a
few hours at the Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair during the 2nd week at around 10
p.m., and said that it was good to see so many young children enjoying
themselves playing, exercising, and riding bicycles along the street minus
motor traffic.
Governor Chadej remained confident that in due time the
weekly fair would be appreciated as a safe and enjoyable street free from
motor traffic where tourists and people from the community can enjoy
themselves in a clean pollution free environment.
He said the minimal turnout was probably due to the
approaching end of the tourist high season. Ever the optimist, the
governor said that once the weekly fair gains more notoriety, he expects
more people will turn up.
He also said that his office has requested more funding
in the annual budget to support the weekly fair throughout the year.
However, the ears of city administrators are already
going numb from the complaints mounting up in opposition to the walking
street plan.
“Traffic free” is not a description which can be
applied to the fair. During the early evening hours and well into the
night Pattaya’s traffic is backed up on all roads connecting and leading
away from the beach. Traffic snarls also discourage people from
participating.
Unfortunately, the situation can only worsen when
construction along this stretch of road starts. The roadwork will commence
from Dolphin Roundabout and continue along Beach Road to the Saturday
walking area. Construction equipment is already in position.
The provincial administration insists the fair will
continue with suitable modifications, or possibly replaced with a new
activity or a temporary halt if necessary.
However, the deputy mayor of Pattaya, Watana
Chanthanawaranont, revealed that a panel of officials will decide within
10 weeks on the feasibility of the Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair and whether or
not it will continue.
Members of the National Counter Corruption Commission hold brainstorming session in Pattaya
Participating members and high-ranking officials from
the National Counter Corruption Commission held a seminar at the Pattaya
Montien Hotel on February 23rd under the heading of “Preventing a New
Era of Corruption”.
During the session, officials exchanged ideas and
compared experiences, focused on problem areas and discussed how to
continue to develop the system already in place to prevent a new era of
corruption. By the end of the seminar members of sub-committees received a
better understanding of the complexities involved and were better informed
of the enormity of the problem.
Areas which need urgent attention include more
sophisticated techniques and measures in the investigation of assets and
personal property which may be acquired through corrupt practices of civil
servants and public officials. It was acknowledged that much stricter
measures must be taken to effectively weed out corruption.
Ophas Arunin, chairman of the National Counter
Corruption Commission, opened the seminar and the commission secretary,
Klanarong Chantid, identified the seminar’s objectives of continuing
current polices and the introduction of new measures which will continue
the fight against corruption.
Mother of paralyzed girl arrested with guns and drugs
Said early bar closings forced her to find other ways to meet medical costs
Boonlua Chatree
Sawitree Roboon, a 34-year-old former resident of
Sukhothai, was arrested after selling one methamphetamine pill to an
undercover police officer at an unregistered address behind the Khaesai
Restaurant in Naklua.
 Sawitree
Roboon, 34-year-old mother of a 6-year-old paralyzed girl, was arrested
for selling amphetamines. She said the early bar closings had forced her
to find other ways to support the medical costs for her daughter.
Sawitree was arrested at 1.20 a.m. on February 27
during a sting operation organized by Pattaya police inspector Pol. Lt.
Col. Kryd Siriprasertchok, assisted by Pol. Cpt. Sirichai Tharathan.
After the sale, a team of police officers advanced on
the home of the suspect in Moo 5, Naklua, and during a thorough search of
the house and Sawitree’s belongings, they found a plastic bag containing
a 7.62mm automatic pistol with five rounds of ammunition, and 526
methamphetamine pills stuffed inside a cosmetic case.
Another 56 pills and eight type orange methamphetamine
pills were found in the open for quick sales. Also included in the
confiscated items were 44,840 baht in cash, one mobile phone, materials
for packaging the drugs, and four address books containing information on
clients.
Sawitree admitted to selling the drugs to other small
time agents and working girls from the Pattaya beer bar business trade.
She defended her actions by saying it was to make enough money to support
her paralyzed six-year old daughter.
She said that after beer bars were forced to close on
time it was no longer possible for her to make enough money to meet the
medical costs, and she turned to selling drugs. She said the weapon was
for her protection in a male dominated illegal trade.
She was charged for possession and distribution of
class 1 illegal drugs, and possession of an unregistered weapon.
Australian trio drugged by street girls
Woke up next day with all belongings missing
Boonlua Chatree
Three Australian men, Mario Bisker (sic), 40,
Lieatner Cruth (sic), 30, and Alfred Brisnet (sic), 29,
reported to police that a chance encounter with three women of petite
size, with dark eyes and long black hair cost them more than they had
bargained for.
The victims told Pattaya police inspector Pol. Maj.
Kriangsak Sintuprasert, the officer on duty at 11 p.m. on February 27,
that the previous night on the way back to their hotel they had met up
with three women dressed similar to hotel employees. After talking for
some time the girls persuaded them to go drinking in Soi 8, and later they
continued drinking at their hotel.
They said that they couldn’t remember anything after
the drinking session with the women in their hotel, and suspected they had
been drugged.
When they began regaining consciousness at around 9
p.m. the next evening, they discovered that their room had been ransacked,
and that 50,000 Australian dollars and 300 Euros were gone.
The three told police that the women had somehow
drugged their drinks making them easily manipulated which resulted in an
easy robbery.
Police are continuing the investigation but no arrests
have been made at the time of this reporting.
Uzbek woman’s attempted suicide thwarted by neighbor
Hospital able to save her life
Chakrapong Akkaranant
Uzbekistan tourist Olesya Fyborva was admitted to the
Pattaya Memorial Hospital in critical condition after an apparent suicide
attempt. She had lacerations to both wrists and an almost fatal slash in
the neck area.
A tourist staying in the room next-door heard screams
coming from inside Olesya’s room and upon investigating found the door
ajar and the woman lying in a pool of blood. The next-door neighbor rushed
her to the hospital at 10 a.m. on March 4th.
Medical attendants were able to stabilize the patient,
and she was later transferred to the provincial hospital.
The receptionist at the Little Court in Soi Bua Khao
later told police that the woman checked in on February 25, and said that
she kept to herself, remaining inside the room most of the day. Ms. Olesya
would leave her room each evening and return in the early hours of the
morning in a highly inebriated condition, the receptionist said.
Police investigators presume the woman was suffering
from some sort of personal problem or delusion when she decided to take
her life, possibly under the influence of illegal drugs mixed with
excessive alcohol. The investigating police officer, Pol. Cpt. Veerawut
Meelai said she is lucky the hospital was able to stabilize her condition
and that she arrived at the hospital in time.
Grover Tailor fights on
March 11 deadline looms near
Grover Tailors on Walking Street in South Pattaya is
still battling to keep part of the shop which has been decreed as
encroaching on public land. The court order deadline to tear down the 3.5
by 16 meters unauthorized construction is March 11.
Provincial litigation enforcement officials,
accompanied by city officials and a demolition crew went to Grover Tailor
ready to dismantle the offending part of the building last December 20,
but Harbree Grover, owner of the tailor shop, managed to convince them to
wait until the matter could be settled in court.
Harbree Grover adamantly protested the demands
contained in the provincial court order, and a second deadline was set for
January 10.
However, Grover continued to protest the court order
and managed yet another extension after he volunteered to do the
dismantling himself. This gained him another two months, with the new
deadline set for March 11.
The clock is ticking on this “cliff-hanger” and it
remains to be seen whether Grover’s determination will get him yet
another extension. Stay tuned, we should find out by Monday.
The tailor shop is located in the midst of 101
businesses identified for removal to make way for city renovation plans.
Allegedly only 13 businesses have been able to produce ownership
documents; the rest have “questionable property rights” for the
businesses residing on city property.
The area is slated for modern development, and high
drama and an ongoing saga have dogged both the business owners and city
officials ever since. A committee was formed to protect the interests of
the 101 businesses, but the court ruled in favor of removal. Progress
reports are sent to the courts every six months.
The disputed area is obstructing one of three remaining
developmental projects out of a total of nine projects established
12-years ago. Six of the nine projects have been completed; the remaining
three include an erosion prevention project in North Pattaya Beach, a
South Pattaya Beach landfill project, and the new Tourist Pier at Bali
High Cape.
The latter project is the main concern affecting the
future status of the 101 businesses identified for removal in South
Pattaya’s Walking Street. The planning for the new pier has continually
been revised and reduced to an area of 18.79 rai of land.
Recently, an assistant legal representative from the
city plans division appointed to monitor progress at the Grover Tailor
Shop, Mekhin Sivapornchai said that the city is insistent on carrying out
the order, implying that it would be accomplished whether the shop
complied as agreed upon or not, otherwise the city would appear negligent
in its duties.
Makha Bucha Day or Buddhist All Saints’ Day concludes February’s month of holidays
Commentary by
Boonlue Chatree
Chinese New Year was a thrilling event, especially for
the young and old in Chinese communities. This was followed by Valentines
Day, an important day for sweethearts but not a particularly significant
event compared to Makha Bucha Day. The Buddhist Holy Day of “Makha Bucha”
(worshipping (Bucha) in the third month (Makha)) occurs in the middle of
the 3 rd lunar month, unless
during a leap year when the day would fall within the 4th lunar month.
This year the Holy Day fell on February 26th
during the 4th month of the
lunar calendar.
The holy day commemorates the miraculous event when
1,250 disciples of the Buddha, Gautama Sakayamuni, traveled to meet with
the Buddha with no prearranged agreement at Weluwan Mahawiharn Temple in
the area of Rachakhryha, India.
The day gained official recognition during the reign of
Rama IV and became a national holiday with all government institutions
closing down and observing the rituals associated with Buddhist
commandments.
Devout followers participate in morning ceremonies,
making merit and listening to sermons at local temples, and later in the
evening return to the temple to perform the “wienthien ceremony” -
walking three circuits around sacred grounds whilst paying homage to the
“Triple Gem” or the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. The day quickly
developed into an annual event observed all over Thailand.
Aside from Thailand, other countries where the Buddhist
faith is predominant and Makha Bucha Day is officially observed as a
national day include Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and India.
Other countries with populations observing the day but in limited numbers
include China, Korea, and Vietnam.
Disseminating the Buddha’s teachings and the journey
to meet with the Buddha on the 15 th
night of the 3rd lunar month
are part of the historical events that include the sermons and truths
spoken by the Buddha. Having good intentions, not harming others, avoiding
evil actions and making the heart and mind pure in thought were among the
truths spoken by the Buddha. Additionally, other truths spoken by the
Buddha cautioned individual restraint in all that attracts one’s
attention, to include desiring possessions belonging to others, and
exploiting others for personal gain.
Before departing the Buddha also referred to the
people’s interest in making merit gaining self-esteem and a comfortable
reassurance that moral integrity exists. More importantly, having faith in
the “Triple Gem” (Phraratanatrai) was illustrated by emphasizing the
importance of avoiding drunken, irresponsible and immoral behavior, and
focusing on supporting loved ones while being content in one’s existence
with friends and without selfish greed.
Upon hearing the words spoken by Buddha many can easily
recognize the inherent truth contained therein but adhering to the truths
are not so easy and like all religions and philosophies, some show little
interest in the faith at all.
Today, there are many Buddhist temples open to the
community offering the Buddha’s teachings on designated evenings during
the week without charge. Needless to say, attendance is minimal at most
monasteries, and the older generation is the main group attending
instruction on Buddhist principles.
It would be much better and wiser if the same
instruction was made available at a more impressionable age, but modern
schools are refraining from religious training opting for academic
pursuits. These days teaching the guidance left by the Buddha is like
casting a net and catching only one or two fish out of thousands in the
pond.
Young people who do not receive some form of moral
guidance often lose their way in life. Communities would do better to
integrate such learning in order to provide the moral ethic that is
lacking in today’s society which seems to be taken over by a new
religion known as commercialism or materialism. Isn’t a return to
promoting spiritual matters and improving inner peace what is really
needed?
Nong Khai scrambles to cling on to world class status
To the rest of the world, the name of this sleepy
little border town on the Mekong River may not mean very much, but Nong
Khai has been designated as the world’s seventh most pleasant town to
live in, and it intends to stay that way.
In a bid to cling onto its world class status, the town
and the provincial governor, Thawach Sathien-ngarm, are rushing to deal
with the thousands of foreign laborers who flock to Nong Khai in search of
work. Thawach said that all related agencies would be out in force to
ensure that foreign laborers requested work permit extensions between
February 24 and March 25, in line with government policy.
Of the town’s registered foreign laborers, 2,091 are
Laotian, 32 Burmese and seven Cambodian.
Nong Khai was voted the world’s seventh most pleasant
town to live in by the US Association of Senior Citizens. (TNA)
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