|
City officials use “shock therapy” to impact anti-HIV message in students’ minds
Students taken to visit Lopburi HIV and drug rehab center
Suchada Tupchai
City officials recently took a group of 150 students to
Lopburi to visit HIV and drug rehab centers to graphically show them the
dangers of drug use and HIV transmission. As part of the tour, students were
taken to the morgue and a skeleton display area.
Pattaya
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Remkijikarn (left) presented funds for AIDS patient
care to Chankasaem Muangsiri, a volunteer with a master’s degree and the
head of the Thammarak Niwet drug rehabilitation center project.
AIDS
patients “bone art” on display outside the center.
Students
from Pattaya schools donated necessary goods to Chankasaem Muangsiri to go
to help AIDS patients.
Students
were taken for a tour of the “After Dead Room” where preserved bodies
are on display.
Wutisak Remkijikarn, Pattaya’s deputy mayor in charge
of the Public Health Department, led the group to Wat Prabatnamphu, the HIV
patients care unit and Tham Krabork Drugs rehabilitation center in Lopburi
Province.
Chankasaem Muangsiri, a volunteer with a master’s
degree and the head of the Thammarak Niwet drug rehabilitation center
project led a tour of the center and explained its history and how each unit
operates.
Chankasaem explained how the center made great gains when
Dr. Alongkorn Thihpanyo, who graduated overseas, dedicated his life to the
project and applied new ways of medical and mental treatment.
After the visiting group donated money and basic
necessities they toured several departments. They first stopped at the HIV
patients’ morgue. Chankasaem said the corpses were displayed to remind
people of the horrors of HIV.
Then the group moved on to tour the skeletons storeroom,
then another area where HIV patients make souvenirs, and Mettatham, the
residence for HIV patients.
The residence is divided into 4 sectors. The 1st sector
houses the incurable and dying patients, and sectors 2, 3, and 4 serve
patients receiving treatment and who need close monitoring. Many patients
cannot speak, move or perform routines tasks. One to three patients die
every day.
Volunteers
from abroad help take care of the patients.
Addicts
and others go through a “receive voracity” ceremony.
This
musician was once part of an HIV band, but now he is a solo singer...
Volunteers
from abroad donate their time to help care for AIDS patients.
The group then went to Tham Krabork drugs rehabilitation
center. Pra Gordon, along with other foreigners ordained as monks, has
dedicated his life to the center. Monk Gordon lectured students on the
dangers of drugs use and showed the herbs that are used in curing drug
addicts including thatch grass, lemon grass, Morning Glory, and castor oil
leaves. Patients take these herbs to cleanse their body and take herbal
saunas and mild medication for about 10 days.
Wutisak said it was a great opportunity for students to
visit both the AIDS patients and drug centers since these places would
remind the kids of the danger and raise their awareness.
Tham Krabork Temple, situated in Khunkhlon village,
Phraphutthabat District, Saraburi Province was established in 1957 under the
leadership of Luang Por Yai, Ajarn Jamroon and Ajarn Charoen Parnchan.
Besides performing daily religious routines monks also
receive drug addicted patients for treatment. They lecture visitors on drug
abuse and how to kick their addiction. Both Thai and foreign patients visit
the temple for help.
Addicts
drink medicinal herbs, then vomit as a way to purge drugs from their
systems.
The Thammarak Niwat Project for AIDS treatment is
situated at Phra Bat Namphu temple in Lopburi Province and was established
in 1992 under the leadership of Dr. Alongkorn Thikpanyo, head monk of the
temple.
Dr. Alongkorn was born in 1955 in Nong Khai Province,
graduated with a master’s degree at Australian National University,
Canberra, and returned to Thailand in 1984. He worked a few years at the
Ministry of Agriculture, then entered the monkhood and resided at Phra Bat
Namphu temple until 1992.
When Dr. Alongkorn visited AIDS patients at a hospital,
he felt great sorrow for them because these victims were rejected from
society. He moved some of them to the temple but other monks and villagers
opposed him. He fought for the rights of these patients for over 6 years
until he was given full support from both the government and private
sectors.
Thammarak Niwet Project accommodates over 10,000 AIDS
patients, counsels them in ways to cope with their condition and gives out
information on prevention. The Thammarak Niwat Project provides 2,542 houses
for single male and female patients, and for families.
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit presented her personal fund of
300,000 baht to this project. When completed in December 1999 it became a
charity to commemorate the 72nd birthday of His Majesty the King Bhumibol
Adulyadej the Great.
The Thammarak Niwat Project treats AIDS patients with integrity and
compassion. It presents hard facts about the disease to the public in order
to promote prevention. The center also helps family members of AIDS patients
to live with infected relatives peacefully.
Brits storm the Cliff!
The local chapter of the British Chamber of Commerce
Thailand (BCCT) held their most recent networking evening at the Royal Cliff
Beach Resort on the Grand Deck, overlooking the Bay of Siam.
Alain
Duerwaerder, managing director Thai Automotive Supply Center, Kateon Natie
(Thailand), Paul Ware, Sales Manager Asian Tigers Transpo, Roger Parry,
director Professional Portfolio International and Ken Sly, Principal Garden
International School all enjoy a ‘cold one’ during the evening of
networking.
Peter
Malhotra, MD of Pattaya Mail, cuts his birthday cake as Pat Gossett director
of sales Asian Tigers Transpo and David Quine, vice chairman of the BBCT
watch on.
It was well attended, with many from “head office” in
Bangkok availing themselves of the opportunity to meet up with the movers
and shakers from the Eastern Seaboard. The evening’s libations were
sponsored by Asian Tigers Transpo, whose director of sales in this region,
Pat Gossett, assured everyone that his Asian Tiger was very well and no
veterinarian’s help was necessary, outlining the many aspects that his
company covered in the relocation industry (they will even take your wife
shopping!).
The nibbles and munchies were provided by the Royal
Cliff, with executive chef Walter Thenisch seen hovering, just to make sure
the vol au vent had not sunk. A birthday cake plus suitable serenaders were
supplied in honour of the birthday of the MD of Pattaya Mail Publishing,
Peter Malhotra, who was overwhelmed by the whole affair.
(l-r)
George Strampp, the lovely Mam, Peter Stirling, Kavita Singh, Marlowe and
Peter Malhotra talk shop on the terrace.
Nick
Bauer, resident manager Royal Wing Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Apichart
Sriporamanont, Director Business Development Transpo Logistics Group, David
Holden, Director of Sales & Marketing Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Pat
Gossett, director of sales Eastern Seaboard Asian Tigers Transpo, Graham
Macdonald, BCCT Eastern Seaboard Committee chairman, Vidhya Kraisuriya,
Manager Ocean Operations, Transpo Logistics Group, Dr. Iain Corness, Pattaya
Mail, Andrew Wood, general manager Royal Cliff Beach Resort
General manager of the Royal Cliff, Andrew Wood, welcomed everyone to the
event, with Graham Macdonald, the chairman of the Eastern Seaboard Committee
outlining the networking function. Everyone left (eventually) with a
pocketful of business cards and a bellyful of beer, wines and spirits, and
Walter Thenisch’s great food! Notification of the next BCCT event on the
Eastern Seaboard will be in the Pattaya Mail.
THA members reminisce about their days of youth
Suchada Tupchai
The Thai Hotels Association (THA) Eastern Chapter had so
much fun “getting young again” at their Back to School party in the Park
View Room of the Siam Bayshore Resort in South Pattaya, we decided to better
document the event for posterity.
(L-R
Standing) Yuthana Chuenkroy, personnel manager of the Royal Cliff Beach
Resort, Somboon Mahittarritthigrai, hotel manager at Mountain Beach Hotel,
Kungwal Watanakit, general manager of KP Grand Hotel Chantaburi, Manit
Boonchim, director TAT Office Central Region 3, Chatchawal Supachayanont,
general manager of Dusit Resort Pattaya, Rungthip Suksrikarn, managing
director of Sunbeam Hotel. (L-R kneeling) Saran Nimithut, general manager of
Siam Bayview, Nattasit Wijitwikrom, assist. managing director of Mountain
Beach Hotel, Boondarik Kusolwit, managing director of City Hotel Sriracha
and Rurkrudee Suknum, PR manager at Dusit Resort Pattaya, all having a great
time “gong back to school”.
Phichit
Tantiprasut, managing director of Town in Town Hotel and Chatchawal
Supachayanont, general manager of Dusit Resort Pattaya join together to
hoist the flag to kick off the party.
To recap the event: Members of the THA and guests joined
Chatchawal Supachayanont, president of the THA for the association’s
annual party to enhance relations within the club.
Partygoers dressed in school uniforms to get into the
mood of the evening, during which everyone was to remember their ‘glorious
days’ of youth. The theme obviously worked wonders and even special guest
TAT Region 3 Director Manit Boonchim and others, including Ingo Rauber from
the Dusit Resort Pattaya, Pichit Thantiprasut from the Town in Town Hotel,
and Buntrik Kusolwit from the City Hotel in Sriracha got in on the act.
The
Dusit Honeybees swarm around Chatchawal as he gets into the groove.
Senior
student, Nattasit Wijitwikrom, assist. managing director of Mountain Beach
Hotel, Phichit Tantiprasut, managing director of Town in Town Hotel and
Alisa Phantusak, assist. managing director of Woodlands Resort line up for
their turn on the floor.
One of the highlights was when both Chatchawal and Pichit
carried the Thai flag to the music of Loy Krathong. There were plenty of
other fun activities as well before the dinner bell rang. The evening
continued until late with many receiving gifts and prizes.
The THA Eastern Chapter’s members are hoteliers from around the Eastern
Seaboard and were taking a break from their hectic daily work schedules is
quite often difficult. The party gave everyone a chance to relax and have
some fun.
Lions and horses get together on Valentine’s Day
What do Lions and Horses have in common on Valentine’s
Day?
The Lions Club of Jomtien Pattaya recently held their
Valentine’s Day fundraising dinner at the Horseshoe Point Country Club
Resort. The members and guests experienced the opportunity to witness the
spectacular equestrian show put together by the team of the Horseshoe Point,
featuring the talented directors, Chainarin and Chaikiri and the lovely
Cherrie Srifuengfung. Performances included riders from the junior riding
school and excerpts from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms show.
Paul
Davies (right) presents Chainarin Srifuengfung with a plaque of
appreciation.
Performers
in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms with guests.
The show commenced after a brief cocktail reception and
was followed by a four-course dinner in the resort’s restaurant.
Paul Davies, president of the Lions Club Jomtien Pattaya
was somewhat pleased with the turnout for such a new club, having just been
chartered last year. “We have learned some lessons this year and there
will be changes next year.”
This activity was to raise funds for the club’s
community service projects as part of the ‘We Serve’ motto under which
Lions Clubs worldwide adhere to.
Once dinner was complete, attendees were treated to live
entertainment by an in-house band for the remaining hours of Valentine’s
Day.
During the festivities, Chainarin Srifuengfung accepted a
plaque of appreciation on behalf of the resort for their support of local
charity organizations. Chainarin said it would take place of pride at the
reception counter for all guest to see.
Those wishing to find out further information on the Lions Club of
Jomtien Pattaya can direct inquires to Paul Davies or Peter Smith 038 420
960-1.
Vocational Education Department meeting focuses on local economy
Suchada Tupchai
A seminar titled, “The workshop to develop current
vocational study courses for local economy” was presided over by Payungsak
Jantarasurin, director general of the Vocational Education Department. More
than 200 administrators and representatives from vocational organizations
attended the session, held at the Ratchapruek Meeting Room at Ambassador
City Jomtien.
Payungsak
Jantarasurin, director general of the Vocational Education Department (left)
received flowers from representatives of the Vocational Education
Organization.
Organized to develop skills and expertise of vocational
students, the workshop courses were a blend of practice and theory since
vocational students must have both proficiency and general knowledge to meet
labor market requirements.
The meeting also served as a brainstorming session for
the administrators to analyze the strong points of these courses and take
note of which areas need improvement in order to set better standards for
vocational education management.
Payungsak said, “The economy of Thailand is going strong. Vocational
students must be quality workers who can apply their skills in real
occupations. There are now many employers that want efficient Thai
employees, such as cruise operations, tourism businesses, fishery and others
in their organizations.”
Globalnet-Education for Peace join seminar on Inter Relation of Sentimental Living and Life Value
Hosted by Pattaya City, Rotary Club of Jomtien Pattaya,and Mathura Human Society
Songklod Kaewvisit
“Today teachers are the students’ role models and
they must set a good example. Teachers should train their students to be
good, kind and understanding. Most important they should learn to love and
be at peace with themselves so that they can give the same compassion to
their students. Therefore we must train our teachers to develop these
qualities before they can pass them on to their students.” These were the
words of Khun Kasemsukh Phamornsathit, chairperson of the Mathura Human
Society who chaired the seminar on the “Inter Relation of Sentimental
Living and Life Value”, held at the Learning Resort of Thammasat
University in Pattaya.
Aunty
Kasaemsukh Phamornsathit
Bruno
Keller, president of Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya
In his opening speech Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat
said “the Happiness Camps organized for the exchange of information on the
development of teachers and students in Pattaya schools are considered of
great value and benefit to Pattaya City’s education department”. He went
on to say that the Happiness Camp would be a worthwhile experience,
especially when the words of advice were delivered to students through Ajarn
Kasaemsukh, who is a well-known and dedicated person in the field of helping
children to develop their minds and emotions.
The project is one in which two organizations, the Rotary
Club of Jomtien-Pattaya and Mathura Human Society, have invested much of
their time and funds to realize.
Members of the Globalnet-Education for Peace headed by
Dr. Carlos Alberto Emediato, director of the Institute for Studies of the
future, Chief Nana Apeadu Yiadom I, Queen of Apuri Akuapem, Ghana, and Dr.
Nina Lin Meyerhof, president of Children of the Earth also joined in the
discussions with teachers and students from many schools in Pattaya and
Rayong.
Khun Kasaemsukh Phamornsathit, lovingly known as Aunty
Sai, shared great knowledge of mind and emotional development with the
audience.
Aunty Sai explained that the Happiness Camp is a project
that brings teachers and students in the local community together to absorb
words of advice and join together in activities to build strong minds,
balanced emotions and good character.
The camp stresses the importance of the family and
promotes unity. The programs and activities also impart the philosophy of a
balanced viewpoint and teach the participants that excessive materialism can
often lead to unhappiness. Respect for the environment and preservation of
nature are also part of Happiness Camps’ message.
Globalnet
Education for Peace team with the Pattaya team.
Mayor
Pairat Suttithamrongsawat (right) presents a thank you gift to Dr. Nina Lin
Meyerhof, president of Children of the Earth, a Globalnet Education for
Peace Group.
Mayor
Pairat Suttithamrongsawat (right) presents a thank you gift to Queen Nana
Apeadu Yaidom I, Queen of Apuri Akuapem, Ghana.
Aunty Sai said the traditional Thai-style ways of
nurturing their children allows parents to combine their teachings with lots
of love and care. In this way children don’t notice that they are being
taught. But that was sadly quite amiss in many families today, where parents
are busy making a living and not giving enough time to their children.
Therefore the teacher becomes a substitute parent and the school becomes a
second home.
Aunty Sai went on to say that the technique for teachers
to teach their students effectively was that first they have to be in a
relaxed state of mind, communicate in the same language, and most
importantly, teachers should speak in a beautiful and comfortable manner and
see things in a positive way.
Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya and Mathura Human society
were the main sponsors, and deserve applause from all of us. Special
visitors, Dr. Nina Lynn Meyerhof and Queen Nana Apeadu were very kind to
lend their support of the project.
Bruno Keller, president of Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya,
expressed his happiness to be a part of such a wonderful project like the
Happiness Camp.
Bruno gave special thanks to all the teachers for their dedication and
devotion they give to the project, and said he hopes that many people get
the opportunity to attend the camp.
Art-lovers roll up for Skal lunch
The local branch of Skal International, the world-wide
tourism and hospitality organization, had a full turnout for their monthly
lunchtime meeting, held this time at the Art Café in Soi 16 Naklua,
with wine sponsorship from Nicolas BC, arranged through their most
attractive local representative, K. Tik.
Mein
host, Jo Stetten welcomes Skålleagues.
(l-r)
Bob Lee and Murray Hertz present guest speaker Ronelle Stossel with a
certificate of appreciation.
Many guests attended, including Amy Sriwarin, the
publisher of Thailand Time Out magazine, Philippe Duceaux from the Foreign
Correspondents Club of Thailand and the itinerant Irish photographer Liam
McKeown, who roams the world photographing Skal events.
The Pattaya group is very active and have already started
preparing for the 2006 Skal International World Congress, having won the
right to host this event at the World Congress in Cairns, Australia, last
year, defeating a strong bid from the London club.
The Skal Asian Congress is being held in Kathmandu this
year and members were appraised of the agenda for this, with many of the
members indicating their intention to represent Pattaya at the event.
Sarunya
Seedakan, from Nineteen Colors receives her membership certificate from
Peter Malhotra, Club VP.
Happy
birthday Liam!
Pres.
Murray Hertz presents David Smith, GM PMCI Environmental with his membership
certificate.
Johanna
Stetten chats with Rene Pisters, general manager of the Thai Garden Resort.
Marlowe
Malhotra, managing director of Massic Travel is inducted into Skål.
The next meeting will be on March 20 at Cafe New Orleans, with a most
interesting post-lunch speaker. Those who would like more information on
this prestigious organization should contact the secretary, Andrew Wood,
email andrew@royal cliff.com
|
