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“Into the Storm”, Koreans shoot TV series at Cholchan Pattaya Resort
Suchada Tupchai
A production team and group of actors from the Korean
drama series called “Into the Storm”, which is under the license of SBS
TV Drama Team in Seoul, South Korea, recently set up camp in Pattaya.
 Last
week, Nitti Kongkrut, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central
Region 3 Pattaya, and Suchai Jirayunond, assistant sales and marketing
manager at Cholchan Pattaya Resort and a group of officials and hotel staff
organized a farewell party for a Korean TV series production team and actors
at Cholchan Pattaya Resort.
The manager of the team said they fell in love with
Thailand’s beautiful landscape and weather, and praised its people for
their warmth and hospitality.
On this trip to Thailand, the crew brought along 7 South
Korean superstars: Kim Min Jun, Kin Seok Hoon, Song Yun Ah, Sung Ji Roo, Lee
Kye In, Eom Ji Won, Lee Chan, and Lee Da Hee. Some scenes were also shot at
Cholchan Pattaya Resort.
Nitti Kongkrut, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central
Region 3 Pattaya said, “The Tourism Authority of Thailand was very pleased
to welcome the group from the SBS TV drama production. It was a great
opportunity for Thailand to again have some parts of the country appear on
the screen in other countries, and moreover this will help Thailand to
promote tourism. This will certainly help to reduce the consternation
tourists might have about the recent avian flu outbreak.”
“Bird flu - things that you should know”
Bangkok Pattaya Hospital hosts informative seminar
Ariyawat Nuamsawad
Bangkok Pattaya Hospital’s Dr. Ongart Kosinthornjitr,
physician specializing in lungs and chests, hosted an open informative
session discussing the present situation of bird flu and things that we all
should know. Currently, most people are quite worried about the phenomenon
and are still confused about which procedures should be taken to cope with
the bird flu situation in the region.
 Bangkok
Pattaya Hospital’s Dr. Ongart Kosinthornjitr
Dr. Ongart said, “With the spreading of avian flu
around the country, citizens are becoming increasingly aware of the
situation and becoming very worried, which may distort their daily lives. In
reality, there is little chance for ordinary people who have no direct
contact with the birds to become infected with bird flu. However,
precautions should still be taken into consideration to ensure maximum
safety, like keeping your body healthy, which will also prevent you from
other diseases.
“The paths that can transfer this disease are mouth, conjunctiva and
breathing ... Bird flu symptoms in human patients are fever, throat pain,
and coughing. People with severe cases will suffer from heavy chest pains
and hard breathing due to lung infection. These patients should be taken to
the doctor at once to prevent them from dying. But the disease cannot be
transferred from humans to humans. The government is ensuring that the
consumption of chicken is safe when it is well cooked.”
Austrian Ambassador presides over opening of “Thai-Austrian-Tech 2004” exposition
Students show their ability
Elfi Seitz
On February 5, for the third time, Austrian Ambassador HE
Dr. Herbert Traxl and the advisor of the committee for vocational training
opened the three-day academic exposition “Thai-Austrian Tech 2004” at
the Thai-Austrian academy at Sattahip.
 Guest
of honor, Austrian Ambassador Dr Herbert Traxl (center) tours the
exhibition. He said he was quite impressed.
Thirty-five years ago, on September 1, 1969, the academy
was founded based on an agreement between the Thai and Austrian governments.
Today, 3000 students from the east coast are taught in this academy. Through
the years the Thai-Austrian academy has developed its own capacity and
produces a lot of academic developments and activities.
Niti Kongrut, the director of the TAT Region 3, welcomed
the guests, stressing the advantages of the Chonburi region. “This is not
only a modern region, but it also offers a variety of attractions like
beaches, good food, buffalo races and festivals. But it is also a region
where you can live and learn well and do business. The Thai-Austrian academy
is one of the role model schools in the Chonburi region with a high teaching
standard and a high standard of technical equipment. The exposition will
give proof that the technical formation and the ability of the students play
an important role in the vocational training of Chonburi and all of
Thailand,” Niti said.
Afterwards, His Excellency, Dr. Traxl said, “I am proud
and happy to be here today und therefore to deepen the friendship between
Thailand and Austria which started in 1969 and which had been renewed
exactly 50 years ago. Especially the logo of the academy which connects the
flags of both countries and is a special sign of solidarity of our two
states. Thanks to good education, Austria is one of the five most successful
countries in Europe. Austria wants to transfer its knowledge to Thailand and
the east coast plays a significant role.”
At the end of his speech Dr. Traxl wished the students
and professors much success and luck in their future efforts.
The next speaker was the director of the academy,
Watchare Anursarsnakun. He thanked the great number of attendees for coming
and gave a short introduction to the goals of this exposition, which had
been held previously in 1996 and 1998. “This academic exposition includes
a variety of activities like training, job search, student expositions,
short training programs, student performances, academic expositions,
seminaries, and exposition and sales of One Tambon, One Product,” Watchare
said.
Watchare declared the official opening of the exposition
after the advisor of the committee for vocational training, Songsawat
Thipkhongkha, made a short speech, where he stressed the importance of a
good education and the good cooperation between the government and the
private sector.
Together with Dr. Traxl he cut the ribbon and the tour
through the exposition began, which included all buildings of the academy.
Many professors and guests of honor took part and Dr. Traxl was very
impressed and pleased with the abilities of the students.
After the tour pretty Thai students performed traditional
Thai dances. Then a buffet lunch prepared by the hotel school students of
the academy was served. Finally Dr. Traxl had to return to other important
business in Bangkok.
Meguiar opens new outlet in Pattaya
It was 102 years ago, back in 1901, when Meguiar first
started as a small company providing cleaning products and furnishing care
products. Meguiar car care products are an American brand that has its head
office in Irvine, California, with world-wide branches as far flung as
Toronto, Sydney, Tokyo, Dubai, Hong Kong, and recently Bangkok.
 Mayor
Pairat Suthithamrongsawat cuts the ribbon to launch the celebrations.
Its newly appointed representative introduced and
exhibited their products at the promotion floor of the Central Festival
Center, led by “Meguiar’s Car Crazy Pattaya Mini Motor Show”.
The event was presided over by Mayor Pairat
Suthithamrongsawat and attended by many distinguished guests, including
Thawit Chaisang, president of the Pattaya city council.
At the exhibition, Meguiar products were presented amidst
games and quizzes and a bevy of beautiful models.
Meguiar products consist of various items such as
exterior color protection, interior polishing, and tires and wheel cleaning.
The Meguiar service branch in Pattaya is situated in the Thieng Chai
Petrol station next to Mini Siam Pattaya on Sukhumvit Road. For more
information call 038-415173.
Peace - an unusual hair dressing shop
by Steve Rhodes
The moment you enter Alongkorn Tangsawat’s “Peace”
hairdressing shop on the corner of Third and Central Pattaya Roads, you get
the impression that there is something, well, a bit different about the
decor.
 The
moment you enter Alongkorn Tangsawat’s “Peace” hairdressing shop on
the corner of Third and Central Pattaya Roads, you get the impression that
there is something, well, a bit different about the decor.
Toilet fixtures line the walls, and one actually has to
sit on a toilet pedestal to have one’s locks groomed.
Alongkorn studied hair dressing in Malaysia and his
teacher, upon his graduation, told him to do something a bit different when
he set up his first shop. After agonizing over what to do, he decided that
he should create an atmosphere that made him feel happy, as a happy
hairdresser is a good hairdresser, and pass that happiness on to his
customers.
“I loved to sit on the toilet and always felt happy and
contented after I’d used the toilet,” he said. “Many others share my
feelings. The toilet is a place where many people have received some of
their greatest inspirations.”
When he first opened the shop, the reaction was one of
great amusement among the citizens of Pattaya. At first he was afraid that
no one would come, but people have flocked there in droves. Older people and
children are particularly enraptured by the d้cor, which includes an
old bathtub full of newspaper and magazine articles extolling the virtues of
the shop and the skill of the owner. Accolades also adorn the walls in the
form of pictures of Thai superstars and bands such as Fly, Why Not Seven,
Mr. Tim, Big Ask, and Taxi, all of whom have had their hair styled by
Alongkorn.
The many trophies on display are another tribute to his
talents. He’s won many international awards and traveled extensively to
participate in hairdressing competitions. Korea is his favourite country
because, as he says, “They really know how to stage a competition, with
much singing and dancing, as well as haircutting.”
Unlike many hairdressers who tend to be a trifle
temperamental, Alongkorn believes that the customer is always right. They
always discuss what the end result should look like, but the customer should
always have the final say. A few customers can be difficult. They make
unrealistic demands, believing that he can create a silk purse out of a
sow’s ear, but he always does his best, no matter what.
He’s been cutting hair now for seven years and had his
first shop in Chiang Mai. He still has a shop in Bangkok, as well as this
one in Pattaya.
His next project is to set up a shop featuring bedroom
furniture, but he has an even bolder plan in mind: a shop in the jungle
where one can be groomed in the great outdoors, sitting by a babbling brook,
admiring the sights and sounds of Mother Nature, and catching the odd fish
or two while Alongkorn works his magic with his client’s locks.
This should really appeal to his legions of fans, many of
whom come from as far as Chiang Mai, Korat, Phitsanulok, and Petchaburi. He
even has customers from Germany, Australia, and Japan who have seen stories
about him on television and drop by his shop whenever they come to Thailand.
What inspired him to name the shop “Peace”? Well, Alongkorn attended
a Christian college in Malaysia where he converted to Christianity and
studied the Bible, which preaches peace and love. Since then Alongkorn has
always attempted to practice what the Bible preaches.
New ACS-Asian U International Pre-University Programme
Assumption College Sriracha and Asian University recently
agreed to cooperate on a new international study programme for 40 Mathayom 4
students this year, to be followed by Mathayom 5 and 6 students in the
subsequent years. The purpose of this programme is to provide the ACS
students with an opportunity to enhance their English and basic knowledge
from the experience of international university teaching at Asian U. They
will graduate with ACS high school certificates.
 Brother
Achin Tengtrakul, director of Assumption College, Sriracha, and Dr. Viphandh
Roengpithya, president of Asian University, exchanging the agreements with
happy parents of students already enrolled in the programme looking on.
The students will be taught on Asian U campus the full
ACS curriculum plus other additional studies selected by Asian U to enhance
the basic knowledge of the students. For preparation, they will be required
to attend the English Summer Camp either at ACS or at Asian U.
Students from other schools who would like to join the ACS-Asian U
international programme may apply directly to Asian U Admissions Office to
take their entrance exam for acceptance into ACS jurisdiction.
Kalra Family celebrates introduction of new member
Amrik Singh Kalra, affectionately known as ‘big
brother’ in the local Sikh community due to his leadership in social and
civic duties, joined family and friends in a religious ceremony at the Sikh
Temple to welcome their 2 month old grandson Jagtar Singh, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Aswin Kalra, proprietors of Taj Mahal Tailors on Pattaya Second Road.
 Aswin
Kalra, proud father and son Jagtar Singh.
The Lodi ceremony, held in the month of January, has
great significance to all Indians. The ritual congratulates parents of the
year’s newly born children, especially when they are boys.
Later, the proud and beaming family laid out a fete for all well wishers.
Sharon Tibbitts elected new PILC president
Elfi Seitz
Sandy Langford, the previous president of the Pattaya
International Lady’s Club (PILC) recently handed over the scepter to her
successor, Sharon Tibbitts. As is the tradition, the changing of the guard
took place in the Amari Orchid Resort, but this time inside the Henry J.
Beans Pub.
 Farewell
of the old board members, and a warm welcome for the new board.
Many club members attended the meeting to vote for the
new president and the new board of directors. During the meeting, the board
members also presented the results of last year. The ladies then received
flowers and words of gratitude for their excellent efforts over the past
year.
The new board members presented themselves in front of
the other members, and Sharon Tibbitts gave her inauguration speech.
She said that she would try very hard to follow the
examples of her predecessors and that she would work very hard to support
the club and lead it to success.
The new board of the PILC consists of the following members: President
Sharon Tibbitts; Vice-President Amy Chillingworth; Secretary Judy Hoppe;
Treasurer Candice Chi; photographer Dinie de Vries; newsletter Helen
Cartridge; membership Liz Shepherd; common welfare Hellen Rantsen;
hospitality Rita Cromwell; tombola Tracy Hall; events Arlette Cykman;
advertisement Judy Clausen; distribution of the newsletter Dienie de Vries;
co-editors Sheri Ferguson and Tracy Hall; and welcoming of new members, Amy
Chillingworth and Arlette Cykman; old books sale Ellen Jackson.
Pattaya Finland Society holds meeting to discuss legal issues of living in Thailand
Suchada Tupchai and
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The Pattaya Finland Society recently organized a meeting
to share information on legal issues involving foreigners in Thailand. The
meeting was presided over by Pekka Kamari, chairman of Pattaya Finland
Society and special guests of honor included H.E. Heikki Tuunnanen,
Finland’s ambassador to Thailand, Esa Jonnsson, consul of Finland along
with Lieutenant Col. General Arpon Chaiyapa, deputy commander of the Office
of the Immigration Police 1, Bangkok. 200 Finnish citizens attended the
meeting at the Baiyoke Hotel in Pattaya.
 H.E.
Heikki Tuunnanen, Finland’s ambassador to Thailand, was the guest of honor
at the recent Pattaya Finland Society meeting to share information on legal
issues involving foreigners in Thailand.
The vast number of foreigners now living in the Kingdom,
both legally and illegally, has made it difficult for immigration
authorities to keep track of all of them. Also, many foreigners are not
well-informed as to the exact procedures required to ensure their legal
status.
Foreigners living in Thailand are advised to consult with
the Pattaya Immigration Police or the main office in Bangkok, to prevent
difficulties if they want to live or work in Thailand, especially in Pattaya
where a lot of foreigners are living for both short term and long term
periods. Therefore, accurate procedures must be taken when coming into
Thailand to prevent any illegal immigrants.
After the meeting an informal questions and answers session was held
where everyone got a chance to meet with each other and enjoy the snacks.
YWCA Club from Bangkok - Pattaya branch to aid blind woman and her two small children
Ekachai Kamolsri
Nitaya Patimasongkroh, president of YWCA’s Pattaya
chapter, and her team recently paid a visit to Cha Sawlong at her house in
Ban Marb village on Soi Siam Country Club to help support her and her small
children.
 Nitaya
Patimasongkroh (left), president of YWCA’s Pattaya chapter, and her team
recently paid a visit to Cha Sawlong (right) at her house in Ban Marb
village on Soi Siam Country Club to help support her and her small children.
Two years ago Cha had problems with her eyes. Lacking
sufficient funds for treatment, Cha lost her sight. A widow, she doesn’t
have a reliable income and has two little children to care for.
Before she became blind she worked in a laundry. Now she
works part time as a masseuse, but the money she makes from this skill is
not enough to support her daily life and send her children for a primary
education at the Nernplubwan School. She has asked various organizations for
help but received no response until Kroo Yodtong Saynahluk, the owner of
boxing school, contacted Nitaya Patimasongkroh, president of the local YWCA.
Nitaya and other club members joined to support Cha with
some money and scholarships for her two children. Cha will be sent to a
blind school to enter a massage program and will have free transport needed
for her livelihood.
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