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Rotarians and Interactors clean up beach after Loy Krathong Festivities
“City Hall doesn’t work on Sundays”
Newly installed president Pratheep
‘Peter’ Malhotra of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya announced two
joint projects with the Interact Club of Banglamung last week. One was to
work together to clean up the beach after the Loy Krathong Festival, and
the other would be to help the children organise a bowling tournament
scheduled for the 15th of November in Jomtien.
Rotarians
and Interactors couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw the horrible
state of the beach that morning. It’s Ok to have fun, but this is
disgusting. Some people really have no shame!
Regarding the beach clean up Peter said, “It is
customary that every year the Interactors make beautiful krathongs to be
sold along the beach to party revellers during the Loy Krathong Festival,
raising funds for their service projects. But we also realise that the
morning after the fun and games, the beach is littered with thousands of
krathongs, as well as bottles, cans, plastic bags and rubbish of every
kind that these apathetic celebrants leave on the beach, with no regard
for cleanliness nor the protection of the environment.”
(Before)
Alvi, Phil, the children and even swimmers ‘lend a hand’ in filling up
scores of garbage bags with krathongs and garbage.
He went on to say, “Acharn Suriya, head of the
Banglamung School, in charge of the Interactors, came up with the
brilliant idea that the Rotary Club and the Interact Club could fulfil one
of the joint projects by organizing a beach clean up on the morning after
the celebrations.”
 (After)
Having toiled in the hot sun for three hours, about a kilometre of the
beach did look a lot cleaner.
And so it came to be. A Rotarian taking part in the
beach clean up made this report about the operation: “Dawn broke over
the relatively deserted and peaceful Pattaya Beach, emanating a sense of
calm in contrast to the exhilarating and fun filled parties of the Loy
Krathong celebrations the night before. A handful of Rotarians and 22
Interactors met on Pattaya Beach opposite Soi 6 on Sunday morning. We
stood looking down on the beach and were flabbergasted with what we saw.
It was awful. It was more horrible than we had imagined. Our worst fears
were realised.
 Oh
my God, is this what has become of the gentle and beautiful art of
Krathong making? (Below) With 2 inch rusty nails?!
“Whiskey, beer and soft drink bottles were strewn
everywhere. Ugly plastic bags, the scourge of all environmental concerns,
paper and foam cups and plates were scattered all over the beach.
Krathongs were floating listlessly in the sea with most of them washed up
on to the beach.
 Interactors
get down to business of cleaning up the mess.
“Shaking our heads in dismay, but determined to make
things better, we began the daunting task of mopping up. Adults and
children wearing protective rubber gloves and with black garbage bags in
hand, embarked on a mission to pick up as much rubbish as we could from
the beach and in the sea. All of a sudden we heard a scream from one of
our lady Rotarians. Rushing to her side to find out the cause, we found
her in a state of shock as she held out her hand showing pieces of a
banana leaf krathong that was held together with more than six 2 inch
rusty nails, menacingly aiming their treacherous sharp tips upwards,
threatening to draw blood and inflict pain to any unsuspecting victim, if
he or she was unlucky enough to come into contact with them. ‘Oh my God,
is this what has become of the gentle and beautiful art of Krathong
making? With nails?!’ she exclaimed in disbelief. Children were running
along the beach barefooted and that really worried us. Some holidaymakers,
observing our work, ‘lent a hand’ to help ease our workload.
 “After
having toiled in the hot sun for three hours, about a kilometre of the
beach did look a lot cleaner. The Rotarians and Interactors did achieve
what they set out to do. Though we wanted to, we could not have cleaned up
the whole beach. That, we thought, is the duty of city hall. With the
abundance of manpower and machinery, they would have made light work of
the task at hand. But alas, it was a Sunday and city hall is not open for
business. We were informed that city hall had left instructions with the
beach vendors that they should clean up in their own designated areas,
because city workers could only come to work on Monday. So last Sunday,
thousands of visitors swarmed onto the krathong and rubbish infested
beaches of Pattaya, enjoying sea, sand, sun and garbage.”
Diana Group hosts meritorious activities
to provide encyclopedias for Pattaya students
Suchada Tupchai
The Diana Group, led by managing director Sophin
Thappajug and all staff joined with various organizations in Pattaya’s
special ‘Tod Kathin’ and ‘Tod Pha Par’ ceremony at the Nongprue
Temple in Banglamung on Sunday November 2.
Those joining in the traditional merit making ceremony
included members of Pattaya City Hall, led by Mayor Pairat
Suttithamrongsawat, Pattaya’s 10 schools, Pattaya Mail Publishing Company,
Pattaya Post Newspaper, Romance of Three Kingdoms Park and more than 100
local residents.
Sophin said, “This ceremony is an annual activity where
Buddhists offer new robes to monks in the temple a month after the end of
Buddhist Lent. This year, not only Diana Group participated, but many groups
in Pattaya joined to maintain this Thai Buddhist tradition.”
Also held was a special activity that gathered funds from
this ceremony to provide encyclopedias for students of the 10 Pattaya City
schools in order to provide a new wider outlook and encourage children
reading habit.
Diana
Group Managing Director, Sophin Thappajug (center) led her staff to the
Nongprue Temple in Banglamung where they participated in Pattaya’s special
‘Tod Kathin’ and ‘Tod Pha Par’ ceremony on Sunday November 2.
Mayor
Pairat Suttithamrongsawat (3rd right) and Sophin Thappajug (2nd right) led
members of the Pattaya community to take part in the ceremonies.
(above)
Friends, families and the devoted take part in one of the most sacred
Bhuddist ceremonies of the year.
UK Club raises over 200,000 baht for charity at Gala Dinner
The UK Club of Pattaya recently held their annual charity Gala Dinner.
From the outset it was destined to be a success as charity officer Cristina
Boden collected well over 200,000 baht worth of raffle prizes which raised
most of the cash slated for the Camillian Social Center for HIV infected
persons, and more specifically for the children born with the virus.
 Mr.
And Mrs. Hutchings, I presume?
The dinner, hosted by the Marriott Resort & Spa,
attracted over 80 diners keen to enjoy the sumptuous buffet, the free bar
for the night and a live band playing some easy dinner music.
Father Nadini from the Camillian Center, together with a
few friends, was present to witness the event that took many months and a
lot of sweat to pull off this very successful night.
UK Club Chairman Ron Hall thanked everyone for their
attendance and support, especially for forking out for raffle tickets.
Andrew Hutchings, in charge of information for the club, also welcomed the
group and thanked everyone for their support, and expressed a special thank
you to the organizers, Cristina and Malcolm Boden and Norman and Eileen
Denning for their help. Deserved praise went to the lovely ladies who
continued to fold raffle tickets well into the evening as the draw
approached after dinner.
 Bertram
the bear (center) kept careful watch over the huge amount of raffle tickets.
He was also being monitored to avoid any hi-jinks.
Well-known Pattaya columnist and ‘Automaniac’, Dr.
Iain Corness was called to the stage to begin the auction and draw the
prizes.
The auction raised more than 40,000 baht for the charity
and as the draw was completed most people attending the evening won
something to take home.
When the formalities ended the night rolled on as diners
took to the dance floor to work off those extra pounds gained from indulging
in the fine food.
However, the real winners of the night were the Camillian
Center children. They are the ones who will receive the maximum benefit from
these noble, well-planned and well-executed activities that raised over
200,000 baht to provide added comfort for their already shortened lives.
Chris
(right) was busy selling the last of the night’s raffle tickets to Marlowe
Malhotra.
Cristina
Boden, Ron Hall, Father Nadini and Dr. Hans ready for dinner.
Henry J. Bean’s Bar and Grill turns six
Miss Terry Diner
The Amari Orchid’s Henry J Bean’s Bar and Grill
(Hank’s) celebrated its 6th anniversary at the beginning of the month with
a party outside, followed by another indoors. Many of the guests were kept
recounting takes from all the anniversaries, as well as recounting all the
GM’s that have been at the Amari Orchid in that time - with them all going
on to bigger and better projects, but all remembered for fun evenings in the
F&B outlet.
Lucky draws were the start of the evening’s
entertainment with ‘Lucky Drawers’ Drew Noyes using due noise to keep
the attention of the crowd while everyone rummaged through their pockets
looking for the winning tickets. He was assisted by Executive Assistant
Manager (EAM) Michael Goetz, while GM Dominik Stamm hovered in the
background awaiting his turn at the front to cut the large birthday cake,
and their lady EAM, Orapin made sure that everyone was seated and happy.
Following the draws, Drew drew the crowds inside to listen to the
Blackhead Band, and continue the festivities. As always, Hank managed to
miss his own birthday, but I’m sure we will all line up again next year
for another dose of lucky draws and birthday cake!
The
Amari Orchid Resort team sing Happy Birthday before they cut the humongous 6th
Anniversary cake.
No party
is complete without (l-r) Pat Burbridge, Bruce Hoppe, Sue K, Sandra
Haeberli, Peter Cummins, Sandra & Steele Lambrinos, Khun Som and Dr.
Iain Corness
Front
row (l-r) Wanwisa, Apple & Tom Hoar, Nittaya Noyes, Miss Toh, Judy Hoppe
and Pauline Morrison. Back row (l-r) Bruce Hoppe, Dominic Stamm GM &
Michael Goetz Asst. Manager Amari Resort, Susie Zofkie, Glenda & Steve
Stewart VP & GM-Asia Operations Copeland Hongkong, Drew Noyes, Tom
Zofkie, Eric Barajas, Copeland Mfg Engrg, USA and Dave Morrison
Pattaya celebrates Loy Krathong in grand style
Ancient Thai festival glows with success
Staff reporters
The ancient festival of Loy Krathong, which began over
700 years ago in Thailand’s Sukhothai Era, was stylishly celebrated
throughout Pattaya last weekend. Starting on Friday along Beach Road, the
city organized booths with vendors, hotels and restaurants selling food and
drink at market prices.
 Beautiful
Miss Noppamas contestants greeted arrivals to the Montien Hotel.
This year saw the addition of the local expat community
who were given the opportunity to promote their cultural activities and
organizations to the greater public, as well as take part in the ‘Miss
International Loy Krathong’ pageant as a lead-up to the primary
extravaganza on Saturday.
As the city joyously celebrated over three days, a
multitude of other entertaining Thai cultural festivities also included Muay
Thai boxing displays, traditional Thai dancing and singing. The ‘Nang
Noppamas Beauty’ pageant was held on the main stage opposite Soi 4 and
drew a throng of gorgeous ladies dressed in breathtakingly beautiful
traditional silk dresses.
 Beautiful
Miss Noppamas matched only by the beauty of the krathong at the Thai Garden
Resort.
Masses of people walking along the beachfront gazed at
the glory of the uniquely Thai festival as residents and visitors set their
magnificent krathongs out to sea and floated lanterns in the skies to float
away bad luck and wrongdoings, and ask for forgiveness and a brighter year
ahead.
 Everyone
joins in for the sing along of the Loy Krathong theme.
The activities along Pattaya Beach were far from the only
celebrations taking place. Jomtien Beach and Mabprachan Reservoir were
filled with people performing the same rituals and celebrations. A large
number of hotels also held parties and traditional activities for guests and
visitors under the light of the full moon.
 Winners
of the Nang Noppamas pageant: Miss Thanawan Kambun, 22 (center) studying for
her Masters degree at Bangkok University; Runner up Miss Natchaya Sriviboon,
21 (center left), 4th year at Ratchapat Suan Dusit, and third place, Miss
Laksamee Locky, 17 (center right), finishing her last year at Assumption
College Sriracha.
Back to Beach Road: On Sunday morning the clean-up was an
enormous effort. However, a number of organizations and city workers rolled
up their sleeves and worked tirelessly to restore the waterways to their
former glory as the 2003 Loy Krathong festival came to an end for yet
another year.
The official closing of the Beach Road festival saw
displays of traditional arts including dances, music and a mini-concert by
well-known singer Dao-Mayuree. This year’s Loy Krathong festival was
declared the most successful celebration in the history of the city.
Emcees
for the opening ceremonies, Tony Malhotra (left) and Kantmannee introduce
Mayor Pairat to declare the festivities open.
The
Pattaya Mail team had a booth set up on the beach.
Traditional
dancing was just one of the many activities at the Loy Krathong 2003
festivities.
Thai
Houses from the four regions of Thailand were set up along Beach Road.
Day time
activities were popular among the children.
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