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Pattaya celebrates Thai Elephant Day with a host of thousands in attendance
Miss Jumbo winner hails from Pattaya Elephant Camp
Songklod Kaewvisit
Thousands of residents and tourists turned out for
Pattaya’s version of Thai Elephant Day last Thursday afternoon to watch
these enthralling giants at play. Almost 100 elephants and their mahouts
from Pattaya’s tourist attractions also turned up to show off their
animal’s unique skills and give them a chance to enjoy a massive feast
prepared especially for the jumbos.
Sawang
Srisakun, Chonburi governor sounds the gong to official begin Thai Elephant
Day.
The
children’s favorite, ‘Nong Muay’ takes them for a ride.
One of
the many shows, ‘Sabachai Drum.’
At 4:00 p.m. Sawang Srisakun, Chonburi governor
officially opened Thai Elephant Day celebrations as officials from the
Chonburi Livestock Development Department and thousands of onlookers joined
him as he sounded the ceremonial gong declaring the festivities open.
Thai Elephant Day, now in its fourth consecutive year,
was brought about to create awareness amongst the population of the
importance of elephants in Thai society and in history. The largest of all
forest animals, the elephant played a vital role in the development of old
Siam. These magnificent beasts fought many battles against invading armies.
They carried great loads on long treks and cleared areas for the creation of
small regional communities. The elephant is a beloved symbol of Thailand and
national Elephant Day is a tribute of gratitude to these enduring animals.
However, the Thai elephant has fallen on hard times -
from a majestic past to a pitiful present. Almost all elephants now in
captivity are used to support mahouts and their families. But supporting the
elephant is not always easy for owners. These elephants often fail to
receive proper care and medical attention because of economic restraints and
other variable factors such as inadequate diet. They consume large amounts
on a daily basis. Destruction of habitat and rapid urbanization often leaves
elephants without enough to eat. Working in tourist attractions can often be
the only means of support for mahouts and their animals.
A very
rare show from the north of Thailand featured dance and drums.
Muay
Thai’s art of sword fighting, the ‘Krabi Krabong’.
Thousands
of people visited Thai Elephant day festivities.
Elephant
buffet, plenty to go around.
Thailand wants to preserve the species of its indigenous
elephant. With the cooperation of the Elephant Preservation Society and
Livestock Development Department, Thai Elephant Day was declared an annual
event.
This year over 90 elephants were treated to medical
checkups and a jumbo-size buffet so they could eat to their heart’s
content. Afterwards these wonderful beasts displayed their talents before a
fascinated crowd. Festivities included elephant painting, a parade, the
‘healthiest elephant’ pageant, and the most disciplined elephant.
Humans also got in on the act and put on a number of
shows including Muay Thai boxing, a Thai sword fighting display and
traditional Thai entertainment.
However, it was the Miss Jumbo beauty pageant that drew
roaring cheers from the crowd. Ten rather large human contestants showed up
for the pageant. The only qualifications were they had to be heavier than 70
kilograms. Contestants lined up and were given points on personality,
attitude and showing off any specific skills. Contestant number 2, weighing
in at 100 kilos, Laksamee Meechokchai, from the Pattaya Elephant Camp won
over the panel of judges to be crowned Miss Jumbo Pattaya 2003.
A
picture tells a thousand words as this elephant shows whilst displaying its
artistic talents.
Laksamee
Meechokchai, Miss Jumbo Pattaya 2003.
Miss
Jumbo (center) with MC’s Kentamanee ‘Petch’ Intramanee (left) and
Suwanthep ‘Tony’ Malhotra.
Laksamee picked up 12,000 baht in prize money and a
trophy. Runners up were Chutima Anthien and Supanee Sinsurin respectively.
As Miss Jumbo Pattaya 2003, Laksamee Meechokchai’s duties will include
preserving Thai elephants and promoting tourism by representing these
majestic creatures in PR campaigns over the next year.
Candlelight vigil for peace held at Asian University of Science and Technology
Wave of vigils opposing US invasion of Iraq held on Sunday in over 3000 cities in over 126 countries
About 30 individuals quietly gathered with lighted
candles on Sunday evening in Asian University of Science and Technology’s
Activity Square to participate in a worldwide candlelight vigil for peace.
The
event was organized to demonstrate the depth and breadth of worldwide
opposition to war with Iraq. By Sunday more than 5,555 vigils in 3,876
cities around the world were scheduled.
The
Asian UST vigil was one of at least seven others scheduled in the Kingdom of
Thailand.
Dr.
Michael Catalanello and about 30 others quietly gathered with lighted
candles on Sunday evening in Asian University of Science and Technology’s
Activity Square to participate in a worldwide candlelight vigil for peace.
The Asian UST vigil was one of at least seven others
scheduled in the Kingdom of Thailand, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket,
Jomtien, Nai Yang Beach, and Nong Khai. The Thailand vigils were held in
coordination with a wave of protest vigils which began in New Zealand on
Sunday night and continued sequentially in time zones all over the world.
Local Asian UST organizers responded to a call by Win
Without War, the mainstream anti-Iraq war coalition, and its million-member
affiliate MoveOn.org, to participate with citizens of 126 nations around the
world in this unprecedented set of vigils. The event was organized to
demonstrate the depth and breadth of worldwide opposition to war with Iraq.
By Sunday more than 5,555 vigils in 3,876 cities around the world were
scheduled.
On Friday one internationally prominent vigil organizer, Nobel Peace
Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu introduced the worldwide demonstrations
by announcing, “On Sunday evening people in every corner of the globe will
shine beacons of light throughout the world. May our candles rekindle the
light of reason and hope so that war will be averted in Iraq and peace will
prevail in the world.”
A Thai Wedding
by Lesley Warner
Anyone who lives with a Thai will know how it works - we
never seem to get any advance notice of coming events. I was out fishing one
Friday night at Jomtien Fishing Park; I had just caught a 10kg fish and was
feeling quite proud of myself, my biggest yet since I invested in my own
fishing rod. One of the down sides of night fishing in Thailand is the
insects. I sat fending off the mosquitoes and other assorted bugs as I
watched the bats skimming across the water catching those that were unlucky
enough to get in their way.
One day
it will be me…
The
family counts the gifts.
Then, unnoticed by me, the biggest beetle like creature I
have ever seen landed on my leg. I’m not known to be particularly
squeamish but this I definitely did not like. My friend picked it off my leg
and held it between his fingers. He turned it upside down so its legs were
thrashing around giving me goose bumps on the back of my neck. He calmly
said, “These bite very hard but taste very good and make the food smell
good. You can sell them for 10 baht, and I think I’ll take it home.”
With this he put it in with the fish food, then sat up and said we go now,
tomorrow we have to get up at 6 a.m. to go to a wedding in Ban Bueng.
The next morning, true to his word, he woke me at 5.30
a.m. I decided that the reason the Thais do everything so early is to avoid
the heat but then whenever you get there you wait for hours before anything
happens. There were many people waiting around outside where there were
tables and chairs set up for the guests and when I went into the house the
ladies upstairs were buzzing around getting into their wedding finery.
As I wandered around watching the proceedings I was, as
usual, the only farang. I learned that the previous evening there had
already been a ceremony with the monks coming to the house. During this
ceremony, the newlyweds paid homage to their ancestors.
Pray to
Buddha for future happiness.
A
beautiful young couple.
After about 3 hours things started to happen and the
groom arrived at the house of his bride. His feet had to be washed by the
bride’s family before he was allowed to enter. The young couple were
absolutely gorgeous - the groom was decked out in a silk suit in a modern
design; it was ivory to match his bride’s beautiful traditional sarong.
They were very obliging to the rather impolite farang that kept muscling in
for a photograph, especially as they had absolutely no idea who I was or who
I was with.
It is expected from the beginning when the couple first
decides they want to marry that the prospective groom’s parents will go to
discuss the arrangements with the parents of the young lady. They will agree
on a dowry that the young man’s parents must pay. It appears to be an
expensive option for a young man to marry here. I’m not sure of the exact
figure this boy’s family had to pay but I know his personal gift to his
bride was 5 baht of gold. With my 4 daughters I could have done very nicely
if we still had this arrangement in England.
It is traditional practice to present an envelope
containing money to the young couple; this young couple did very well and
they were given 100,000 baht by the guests. The families of both the bride
and groom ceremoniously counted this while the young couple prayed to Buddha
asking for lasting wealth and happiness. They did this in amongst the
washing up and the bins at the side of the house, in front of the family
shrine and some part of a pig carcass; goodness knows how they kept those
beautiful costumes clean.
In the afternoon the serious joining of this couple
started. It is called rod-nam-sang, and is the main event where both
the bride and the bridegroom’s family get together to witness this
important event. The bride and groom sat close together on the floor with
their hands held in wai while a flower chain was wrapped around the
wrists of both, joining them together.
The most senior member of the family soaked the
couple’s hands in water and wished them good luck for the future. Then,
the parents and other close family members did the same.
During the wedding ceremony the 9 monks arrived again.
The monk in charge wrapped a sacred thread around the heads of both bride
and groom joining them together and then unrolled it into his hands. This
seemed to mean the deed was done and the couple was now man and wife. If
they want to, the couple can register the wedding at a later date but it’s
not mandatory.
When all this business was complete the party began.
These can carry on for several days but I left long before the first day was
over. I understand that at the end of the party when the young couple retire
to bed it is not yet time to assume their conjugal rights. For 3 nights they
must sleep with a bowl of dry rice and flowers between them and not partake
of any sexual activity. Each morning mama will check to be sure that the
couple do not play any naughty games and not one grain of rice has been
disturbed.
There are various different styles of marriage ceremony
depending on finances and regions, but it’s a great experience to be
involved in and not to be missed if someone invites you.
However romantic it all sounds, it is not always a happy
ending. I know a young couple that want to marry but when the boy’s
parents found out the dowry price for his girlfriend they said unfortunately
he could not marry her, they did not have the money, even though I heard
that she is not expensive because she has two children already. That seems
to be the end of it, neither the boy nor the girl appear to question this
decision. ‘Oh that my children would take the slightest notice of anything
I say!’
United Nations ESCAP
visits Hard Rock
Suchada Tupchai
The Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya was graced with some very
distinguished guests last week. On March 9 the hotel’s general manager
Andrew Khoo gave a warm to the UN-ESCAP Group including the managing board
members as part of their educational trip to Thailand between February 25
and March 11. The group was supervised by the Pattaya Disabled Center during
their visit to Pattaya City.
Andrew
Khoo GM of the Hard Rock Hotel presents a wheelcahir for use by the
handicapped.
Their mission was to attend the seminar held at the UN
building in Bangkok to learn more about the city’s infrastructure
regarding architecture and engineering, and the general environment which
tends to the everyday needs of disabled persons.
The group consisted of 20 disabled representatives from
China, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Fiji, Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh, and Thailand.
The visitors were served a welcoming lunch and toured the
hotel’s premises, which received comments of praise for the decor and fine
facilities. The group was especially delighted with the artful portraits of
musical legends in the bedrooms. A photo session followed the tour so that
everyone would have a memento of the visit.
Miss Queen of the Universe - can Miss Tiffany Universe do it again?
The most prestigious title any transvestite can win is
the Miss Queen of the Universe, and Pattaya’s “ladies” have been right
up there with the best of them, in fact previously scooping the world title.
This year, Miss Tiffany Universe 2003 will also be
winning a trip overseas to not only have a crack at the Miss Queen of the
Universe title, but also to promote Pattaya and its many tourist attractions
to the world. The local contest itself is a major supporter of charities
looking after HIV infected children as well as helping to create a human
rights awareness and promote a positive transvestite image internationally.
The contest will be judged on March 29th at the Tiffany
Show theatre and the new Miss Tiffany Universe 2003 will win a car, 100,000
baht cash and the overseas trip as part of the title. There are also prizes
for first and second runner-up and others for Miss Best Costume, Miss
Photogenic and Miss Congeniality.
If you would like to be present for the judging, some VIP
seats are still available at 1000 baht, Deluxe B. 800 and Economy B. 600.
Telephone reservations on 038 429 642 or email [email protected]
French wines feature at this year’s
Foodland Pattaya wine tasting
This year’s selection bigger and better
Suchada Tupchai
Foodland’s annual wine tasting get-together has become
an institution in Pattaya. This fun event gives everyone a chance to try the
wide range of wines available at the supermarket. This year, in conjunction
with suppliers and Sopexa Thailand, Foodland showcased the latest range of
French wines.
Pattaya
Mail wine columnist Ranjith Chandrasiri and his lovely wife Chitra were of
course taking part in the event.
Edwin
Lim (left), managing director of Foodland Supermarket Co. Ltd. and Somsak
Yonokphan, Banglamung district chief cut a huge cake as part of the wine
tasting festivities.
The French wines promotion was held March 13 in the
Foodland car-park on Pattaya Central Road with hundreds of wine enthusiasts
both Thai and foreign arriving to taste the fruit of the vine. The opening
ceremony was presided over by Somsak Yonokphan, Banglamung district chief
and Edwin Lim, managing director of Foodland Supermarket Co. Ltd. as both
cut a huge cake which was distributed to the crowd along with samples of
wine.
During the party avid tasters had a choice of over 20
different varieties of French wines accompanied by delicious snacks.
The promotion includes 5 baht of every bottle purchased will be put
towards building a school. The promotion runs until April 13th with plenty
of prizes and specials available during the period.
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