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Woodlands Hotel and Resort opens new wing amidst grand celebration
Suchada Tupchai
Sutham Phanthusak, executive group managing director of
Woodlands Hotel and Resort Co. Ltd., his family and their loyal staff
welcomed guest of honor Chonburi Governor Sawarng Srisarkun and
distinguished guests, Dr. Umnuay Weerawan, former deputy PM, Chatree
Sophonpanich, Sansak Ngamphichet, president of the Ministry of Tourism and
Sports advisory board, Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat, and over 1,000 local
Thai and foreign businesspersons to the grand opening of the Woodlands Hotel
and Resort last weekend.
Although it was raining, Miss Tiffany 2003, Parntawan
Charuwattanakul performed a stunning show titled "Paradise on Earth’.
Fireworks, underwater dance, and singing performances given by Panadda
Ruangwut and Puwanart Poonplin were all part of the delightful entertainment
for the audience on opening night.
Sutham said, "Woodlands Hotel and Resort is situated
on 8 rai of land, and is equipped with 81 nicely furnished rooms. We have
been giving our best service to visitors both Thai and foreigner since
1989."
Sutham explained that last year he and his managing board
decided to add 54 rooms to the total to be able to accommodate the
increasing demand of visitors to the hotel, in which currently there are 50
superior rooms, 3 superior suits, 1 boutique suit room, and 1 room for
handicapped. Spa pool and restaurants have also been refurnished.
Honored
guests cut the ribbon to officially open the new wing.
Pantawan
Jaruwattanakul, Miss Tiffany 2003 pins a flower on Pol. Gen. Kamolchai
Tienrungrot, chief of Pattaya Police station.
Mayor
Pairat Suttithamrongsawat congratulates executive group MD Sutham Phanthusak
and his wife Khun Orawan.
Khun
Orawan receives a bouquet from Amari Orchid Resort executives.
The hotel’s decor blends nicely into the spacious
setting which features a natural wonderland of beauty, trees, gardens and
water pool.
Woodlands has on many occasions received H.M. the King of
Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and has provided lodging to many other
distinguished quests of honor and high ranking officials.
Woodlands hotel is now ready to serve a wide range of guests including
families, commercial travelers, and business groups for functions.
Chatchawal
Supachayanont, GM of Dusit Resort Pattaya presents a bouquet of
congratulations to the Woodland executive group.
Sopin
Thappajug, MD of Diana Group presented a congratulations bouquet to the
Woodland executive group.
"Paradise
on Earth" performed by Miss Tiffany 2003.
Two
lovely water ballet performer thrilled the crowd.
An afternoon at Tha Sadet Market
by Kathryn Brimacombe
Tha Sadet Market in Nong Khai is a wonderful place to
explore if the endless lazy days slide effortlessly into each other without
much differentiation and you find you need something to do. The market is
next to Tha Sadet pier and customs office in the centre of town, and is
where boats used to ferry people back and forth across the Mekong River to
Laos before the Friendship Bridge opened in 1994. Today the pier is mostly
used for transporting merchandise across the river.
For a
mid-week afternoon there are few people at the market; today Thais and
tourists amble leisurely, taking in the visual array of merchandise offered,
occasionally stopping to ask the price of an item and begin bargaining.
Brightly
coloured silks spill out of baskets.
Although the heart of the market is a few paces past the
customs office, the entire area along Rimkong Road from Banteringjit Road
eastward (including the many small streets branching off from it) has become
a marketplace. You can find everything in Tha Sadet Market from Lao textiles
and dried goods to Thai-made clothes and jewelry, and much more in between.
I begin my exploration outside the customs office, where
tuk-tuks and pickup trucks continually drop off boxes and rainbow-striped
bags full of goods to be taken across to Laos, and where men and women line
the road, sitting under large umbrellas with brightly coloured silks
spilling out of baskets. Next to them, vendors with large carts displaying
mounds of mangos and long links of red sausage also take cover from the sun
under the wide umbrellas.
Vendors
with large carts displaying mounds of mangos and long links of red sausage
also take cover from the sun under the wide umbrellas.
Not
looking for anything in particular, just happy to window shop, I pass slowly
by stalls of toys, puzzles, kitchenware and herbal medicines.
I follow the road and walk into Tha Sadet Market proper,
which is like entering a tunnel. Shops on both sides of the road extend
their store displays as far out onto the pavement as they can, offering in
some places a very narrow path to walk along, while overhead the sky is
concealed with umbrellas and plastic tarps. Although the covering shields
shoppers and merchants from the sun’s rays, the effect is that of a
greenhouse - very hot and humid.
For a mid-week afternoon there are few people at the
market, which is a relief as sometimes it’s so crowded you must walk
shoulder to shoulder and shuffle along with baby steps. But today Thais and
tourists amble leisurely, taking in the visual array of merchandise offered,
occasionally stopping to ask the price of an item and begin bargaining.
Not looking for anything in particular, just happy to
window shop, I pass slowly by stalls of toys, puzzles, kitchenware, herbal
medicines, and floor rugs, whilst scanning my eyes widely over the displays
of items for sale. There is so much to see, the effect is dizzying!
I continue through the tunnel, passing by an electronics
shop filled with cameras, VCD players, portable CD players, karaoke
machines, microphones, and every possible electronic gadget imaginable. Next
to it is a beauty shop selling makeup, creams and lotions, and a group of
teenage girls chatter and giggle as they open the jars and bottles to smell
their contents.
Several stalls down is a shop selling dried goods, its
shelves overflowing with packages of biscuits, crackers and snacks, jars of
coffee and boxes of tea, while huge clear plastic garbage bags filled with
thousands of dried mushrooms stand out front.
Further along I pause by a woman selling dried and
pickled fruit - luscious sultanas, cherries and cranberries as well as a
delightful assortment of other fruits burst from pots and plastic
containers. Seeing me stop, she takes out a spoon and gently scoops out a
bright cherry, the colour of a maraschino, offering it to me. Unable to
resist, I pop it into my mouth, savouring each sweet and sour bite as the
juice tantalizes my tongue. The young woman raises her eyebrows as I nod my
head and she laughs. She hands me a bag of the delicious red morsels, and I
place the bills into her hand, reaching into the bag for another cherry.
Sucking the tart juice, I continue my exploration.
Clothes shops selling everything from army fatigues and dresses to jeans and
socks abound, but gradually give way to stores selling beautiful textiles.
The textiles’ intricate hand-woven geometric patterns shimmer in rich
russets, golds and greens. With my non-sticky hand I caress the fabric with
my fingertips, the sensation of the soft silk delicious.
Soon, however, my stomach begins grumbling, and I leave
the textiles to follow the tempting aroma of grilled fish. My nose takes me
to a restaurant only a few shops away. I choose one of the smaller fish
beside the grill that has already been cooked, its dark, dry scales covered
with coarse white salt.
The woman stirs up the charcoal with a stick, revealing
the red hot coals beneath layers of white ash, and lays the fish on the
grill above the heat. Instantly the sweet scent of herbs and fish titillates
my nostrils and my mouth begins to water. She motions me to sit down and I
choose a table overlooking the Mekong River.
The fish soon arrives along with several dipping sauces, a plate of crisp
lettuce, mint, basil leaves, chillies and lemongrass, and a small basket of
sticky rice. As I wrap a packet of fish and herbs in the lettuce leaf and
take a bite, I look across the river and think this is the perfect way to
spend an afternoon at Tha Sadet Market.
My memory of Bruno Forrer
It’s the parting which sometimes truly unites us
Pascal Schnyder
When Bruno Forrer died, I learned that this parting would
only intensify my affection for him, and every time I thought of him it
would grow a little warmer.
With the death of my good colleague Bruno Forrer I became
painfully conscious that a man had to go who really loved life, with whom we
gladly lived together and whose life was shaped by love of his fellow man.
One may recognize now that I am in deep mourning from the
bottom of my heart. I would have never thought that a person outside of my
family and my circle of close friends could awaken such feelings.
I want to confirm that this is not feigned sympathy, but
sincere mourning. We live our life always going forward, yet will understand
it only backwards. Without having to look for details, a view of the very
successful life of the beloved deceased shows clearly: His thinking and
acting applied to his occupation, his guests, his staff and Pattaya in
particular.
I’m not one of the "in people" who now miss
him. I am not a gourmet who mourns over the loss of his talent. I personally
have lost something which nobody else in Pattaya has given me so far in that
way: his admiration and above all his serious respect and his generous
acceptance.
Bruno never saw Casa Pascal as a rival business or me as
an opponent. Just the opposite. He supported us with respect and
objectivity. He was and will always remain one of the big personalities in
Pattaya.
Bruno accepted me as a newcomer in the circle of the
gastronomes and always respected my activities, without ever showing envy.
Often he praised me and my restaurant in front of his own guests. This is
one of the reasons why I am so sad today. I regret I never had the real
opportunity to talk to Bruno alone, to show him my great respect. Now it is
too late for that, yet not too late to speak and think good about him beyond
the grave.
Success and failure served Bruno as a sample and
correction for his purposeful life, which was shaped by the basic idea: Life
is like a game of cards. It very much depends on how you play the hand you
are dealt.
He was a fine human being who worked hard to make good
decisions instead of leaving things to coincidence. He had great inner
strength and self-composure. Only he who loves himself, only he who has
confidence can pass on love and understanding to other people, can radiate
strength and assurance. Only a person who looks at the world with sparkling
eyes will see a sparkling world and see himself softly like in a mirror in
other people’s eyes.
The greatest monument to a good person is a fond memory in the hearts of
its fellow men. We will retain an honored memory for Bruno in our hearts.
May he rest in eternal peace in the earth of his beloved Thailand.
Devout Buddhists gather at temples
for TamBoon Tak Baat and Wian Tian
ceremonies on Visakha Bucha Day
Suchada Tupchai
Visakha Bucha Day is the most significant holy day for
Buddhists around the world. The day marks the beginning of Buddhist Era year
2,545, and celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha
which all fell on the same date. This holy day is observed each year during
May, is determined by the lunar calendar, and is on the 15th day of the
waxing moon during the 6th month of the Thai calendar.
Inside
the temple, Buddhists pray to the Lord Buddha on this most important holy
day.
Dressed
in saffron robes, first Buddhist monks, followed by novices, led the Wian
Tian ceremony around the temple.
To devout Buddhists this is a very important event. This
year Visakha Bucha fell on the 15th of May. Crowds of devotees participated
in the ceremonies at temples such as Wat Sawang Fa and Wat Chai Mongkol,
making merit in the morning by offering alms to the monks and listening to
sermons.
Later
in the evening devotees participated in the Wian Tian ceremony, a candle-lit
procession with people carrying joss sticks and flowers around the chapel
three times, honoring the Buddha, the Dharma or Buddhist teachings, and the
Sangha, the Buddhist Monastic Order.
In the
morning, alms bowls were prepared.
Later in the evening devotees participated in the Vien
Tein ceremony, a candle-lit procession with people carrying joss sticks and
flowers around the chapel three times, honoring the Buddha, the Dharma or
Buddhist teachings, and the Sangha, the Buddhist Monastic Order.
It is believed the offering of alms and virtuous thoughts will carry over
to their next life which will be better and healthier.
Mechai Viravaidya talks on “Sponsoring a Village through Thai Business Initiative in Rural Development” at the German Business Lunch
The German business community was treated to a special
talk at their monthly luncheon. Guest speaker Mechai Viravaidya, who also
runs the Cabbages and Condoms Resort and Restaurant and calls himself the
‘Head Gardener’ of the place, spoke on the many projects carried out by
the Population and Community Development Association (PDA).
Mechai
Viravaidya said that since PDA’s inception there has been a 100% success
rate in turning around micro-economies in a number of villages around the
country.
(L to
R) Karl Mack from Siemens, Christel Pilz and Walter Kretschmar, director
TGI.
Defining poverty, Mechai explained that in the past,
society as a whole - including governments and charity organizations - have
failed to solve the problem of poverty. These were strong words in a city
where there are a large number of charity organizations.
However, Mechai formidably backed up his statement by
pointing out that since the project’s inception there has been a 100%
success rate in turning around micro-economies in a number of villages
around the country. These villages have risen out of their poverty and have
achieved financial independence.
"People who are poor sell food and products because
they are poor. They are therefore business people. We should take a
different approach and make them better businesspeople instead of just
handing out money and donations," Mechai said.
Mechai added, "The government cannot help because
they use the welfare approach. Charity is okay, but it is not sustainable.
We must use a business approach, and who better to do that than the business
sector!"
Founded in 1974, the Population and Community Development
Association (PDA) has pioneered some of the most effective integrated
community-based development projects on the principle that local
participation and initiative are essential for self-reliant growth.
Mechai explained that the plan is a long-term approach
intended to develop communities by bringing in companies to sponsor a
village or community in order to train people and develop skills which can
then be used in the marketplace.
Today PDA operates a range of programs in water resource
development, vocational training, HIV/AIDS prevention, education,
income-generation, environmental conservation, population, and primary
health care from Bangkok and its twelve rural development centers in
northeast and northern Thailand.
The PDA field staff surveys villages to help companies
select a village and plan projects with the villagers. During a project’s
implementation, PDA staff members monitor activities, provide technical
assistance, contact local government agencies and keep the sponsor informed
of the project’s progress.
Companies participating in projects such as this have
included Swedish Motors Thailand, Bangkok Glass and Bata to name a few. Each
company brought their business knowledge to develop the skills necessary to
create a financially viable business.
One example, in the case of Bangkok Glass where they
needed a specific product in glass manufacturing, the company sponsored a
community to produce the product locally, which is now exported for use in
Germany.
PDA has engaged numerous companies that sponsor
communities and provide scholarships to children whose parents have died
from AIDS. The most famous is the world-renowned Cabbages and Condoms, where
food grown from these villages is marketed and profits go toward furthering
new projects.
Throughout this same period the PDA and private
enterprise have developed skills and secured financial loans - all of which
are paid back - and sponsored projects ranging from agricultural products
and rice, to shoe production and water towers. The water towers not only
provide water but also allow for crop irrigation.
Mechai Viravaidya is a man on a mission: to wipe out
poverty in Thailand and use the PDA methods as a model to spread throughout
the world by inspiring corporate social responsibility.
Interested companies and private sector interested in the
program can email Khun Mechai at: [email protected]
Following Mechai’s entertaining and thought provoking speech a tour of
the Cabbages and Condoms was given to the attendees. The venue is a hotel
resort set in a lush tropical garden overflowing with orchids and other
native flowers. And all this right by the sea!
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