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Devout Buddhists celebrate Visakha Bucha Day in Pattaya
Visakha Bucha Day is considered the holiest of days in
the Buddhist calendar and is commemorated on the 15th day of the waxing
moon of the 6th lunar month. On this day each year Buddhists mark The Lord
Buddha’s passing from this life 80 years from the day of his birth 2547
years ago. This year it was celebrated on June 2.
 The
morning activities were filled with merit making, such as ‘Tak Baht’,
in the Sawangfar temple in Naklua.
In modern times this day is revered among Buddhists
throughout the world and no less than here in Pattaya, as residents and
followers of the Buddha’s teachings journeyed to local temples to pay
their respects, make merit and listen to sermons.
Devout
Buddhists present rice as alms on Visakha Bucha Day in Pattaya.
A hive of activity was seen early in the morning as
residents made merit performing the ‘Tak Baht’ activities, donating
funds and food to monks at many of the temples. The early evening
ceremonies continued at the Chaiyamongkol, Sawangfa, Pothisampan and
Nongyai temples as devout followers prayed and performed ‘Wien Tien’,
walking around the temple prayer hall three times carrying candles,
flowers and praying.
 Revered
monks lead the ‘Wien Tien’ ceremonies.
This year is of particular importance, as the United
Nations has designated Thailand as the center for Visakha Bucha Day
activities for Buddhists around the globe.
The Lord Buddha’s enlightenment and death are
represented in the many reclining Buddha images to be found in numerous
temples throughout the nation. This style shows him just prior to his
departure from this earth, and is typified by the serene and peaceful
postures and facial expressions, reflecting the inner soul at peace for
eternity.
 A
young, novice monk leads residents in the evening ‘Tak Baht’ ceremony.
On his 36th birthday, Siddhartha reached a state of
understanding of the world, and spoke of Four Noble Truths that had the
power to liberate the minds of men who could realize them. They are: the
Truth of Suffering - Existence is suffering; the Truth of the Cause of
Suffering - Suffering is caused by desire; the Truth of the Cessation of
Suffering - Without desire, suffering ceases to exist and the Truth of the
Path - The Eight-Fold Path is the way to eliminate desire.
 In
the evening, residents listened to sermons.
The Eight-fold Path is comprised of eight elements of
living that must be done correctly. They are (1) Right Understanding, (2)
Right Mindedness (Right Thought), (3) Right Speech, (4) Right Bodily
Conduct, (5) Right Livelihood, (6) Right Effort, (7) Right Attentiveness,
and (8) Right Concentration. It was the discovery of the four truths and
the eight-fold path that ultimately paved the way for Siddhartha to attain
enlightenment and is the model within which many followers strive to
attain.
Hundreds,
perhaps thousands of residents performed the ‘Wien Tien’ ceremonies in
Pattaya.
H.E. David Fall, UK Ambassador to Thailand, honored speaker
at BCCT dinner
Sharp wit and rye humor leaves
audience laughing
Brendan Richards
H.E. David Fall, British Ambassador to Thailand, spoke
candidly at a British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) dinner held last
week at the Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa. The event, sponsored by
Henry Butcher & Co. (Thailand) Ltd. saw over 50 people turn out to
listen to Mr. Fall’s ‘off the record’ humorous talk on the Foreign
Office, the duties tasked to a diplomat and dealings with chambers of
commerce meetings.
 H.E.
David Fall (left), British Ambassador to Thailand, receives a thank you
gift from Graham Macdonald, chairman of the BCCT Eastern Seaboard.
Ambassador Fall’s down-to-earth manner created ease
among old ‘faithfuls’ and some fresh faces not previously seen at BCCT
events. His affinity to Monty Python movies shone through, eliciting
laughter throughout the dining hall.
From
left to right: H.E. David Fall, Gwendolyn Fall, Eileen Denning, Don
McKennzie, Norman Denning and Graham Macdonald enjoying pre-dinner drinks
and a chat on the terrace.
An extensive buffet was spectacularly laid out by the
Marriott team while the sponsored wine was poured into numerous waiting
glasses, as enthralled listeners received a rare glimpse into the real
life of a high-ranking diplomat.
The
camera caught Peter Cummins, Pattaya Mail; Chittraporn Inkaew, Henry
Butcher & Co. (Thailand); Pat Gossett, Transpo International Movers,
and Thomas Christensen, Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa while chatting
away.
HE Fall also presented some insight on UK subjects from
an embassy’s point of view. With tongue firmly in cheek, the ambassador
nonetheless provided an element of truth that served as a reminder to
those who visit their embassy with commercial agendas.
In all, it was a delightful evening with good food, good wine and a
superb speaker. Such events serve as a reminder that there is more to the
BCCT for expats than meets the eye. Can’t wait for the next one!
Wine Club Dinner a sensational sell-out
No Aussie wines left at the station!
Miss Terry Diner
The Royal Cliff Wine Club Australian Winemaker’s
Dinner had all the hallmarks of success, even before the doors to the
Grand Ballroom were opened to let the 200 strong throng into the amazing
Aussie makeover.
Captain of the Wine Club, Ranjith Chandrasiri, was
assured that this evening would be a success, as all available places were
booked within three days of the event being notified to the Wine Club
members. The other factors that assured success were the wines selected
from the boutique Australian winery, Yering Station, and the consummate
skills of the culinary team, under the stewardship of executive chef,
Walter Thenisch.
The
bold and the beautiful at the wine dinner extravaganza. (l-r) Mr. Ranjith
Chandrasiri, Royal Cliff Beach Resort Deputy General Manager and Wine Club
President, Dr. Niti Meyer, Nicolas BC Company Chairperson, Dr. Jantaratana
Insawang, Khun Chadej Insawang, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism
and Sports, Mrs. Panga Vathanakul, Managing Director, Royal Cliff Beach
Resort, HE Mr.Miles Kupa, Australian Ambassador to Thailand, Wine
connoisseur Mr. David Andrews of Yering Station, Dr. Iain Corness of
Pattaya Mail, and Mrs. Kristen Andrews.
The Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s MD, Panga Vathanakul,
was the gracious hostess for the evening, welcoming the Permanent
secretary of the ministry of tourism and sports, Chadej Insawang and his
wife; the Australian ambassador, HE Miles Kupa; and the MD of Nicolas
B.C., Dr Nitti Meier.
The reception vintage, to freshen the guests’
palates, was a Yarrabank Thibaut & Gillet Cuvee 1998, a very cleansing
sparkling wine, which incidentally had just won the Australian methode
champenoise award. This one had Image Limo’s Rob Scarr licking his lips,
and the dinner had not even started.
The ballroom was decorated in an amazing central
Australian Ayer’s Rock theme, and more than once I was expecting Skippy
the bush kangaroo to come jumping out from behind the rocks. However, the
Royal Cliff kitchens had managed to carve Skippy the butter kangaroo for
every table instead! Sandy Langford tried to take hers home, but it
melted.
Keeping to the Aussie theme, HE Miles Kupa welcomed
everyone to the dinner, slipping seamlessly from (Australian) English into
Thai, much to the delight of the Thai guests. He also proudly informed
everyone that Australian wines were now outselling French in the UK and
the best selling labels in the US are also from Down-Under.
To introduce the Yering Station wines, David Andrews
from Melbourne, the Asian sales manager for the vineyard, was on hand to
enthusiastically give something of the history of the company, the oldest
winery in Australia, speaking from the podium and then doing personal
rounds of all the tables.
Formalities over, the first course of Tasmanian salmon
roulade with truffle flavoured ricotta mousse on honey mustard dressing
appeared, along with the Yering Station Chardonnay 2000. Both were an
immediate hit with the diners, and I personally found the ‘khem thong’
(golden needle) mushrooms a delightful addition to a sensational opening
dish. Bronwyn Carey was seen trying to buy this wine at 50 percent under
the ticket price but was unsuccessful, both with her purchasing agents and
with the attempted purchase.
Other items on the menu that I thought were
particularly good were the Australian blue-eyed cod medallion with Yarra
Valley grapes on a Pinot Noit-Port wine reduction, that went so well with
the very delicate Yering Station Pinot Noir 2001, and the double rib
Victorian lamb chop was, in the words of the Pattaya Mail’s
yachting man Peter Cummins, “succulent”!
The jury was still out at the end of the evening as far
as the Yering Station’s Shiraz 2000 and Reserve Pinot Noir 2000 were
concerned, both very smooth reds. A straw poll taken amongst the local
wine buffs, had the Ib and Kannikar Ottesen Jomtien Boathouse table on the
Shiraz, whilst the NPC Village team of Graeme and Sam Moore with Jan Olav
and Mio Aamlid heavily into the Pinot Noir!
It was a spectacular evening, with the Yering
Station’s David Andrews admitting he had never seen a wine dinner to
come anywhere near the total Royal Cliff package. He said that he now
understood why our local wine dinners are spoken of in hushed and reverent
tones all over Asia.
For all those who would like to know more about the Wine Club (and the
dates of the next dinners), contact Ranjith Chandrasiri by email
[email protected]
Skål May meeting ups international membership
Toast of the day: milestone 80th anniversary celebration
Skål colleagues gathered at the Marriott Garden Resort
recently for their monthly membership meeting where Skål Club members
from Koh Samui and as far away as Hanover, Germany were in attendance.
Skål is an organization of travel industry professionals and just
recently celebrated its 80th birthday, making it the world’s oldest and
largest travel and tourism industry organizations.
 President
Bob Lee also announced the intention of preparing a bid for this year’s
Ecco-Tourism Award which is hotly contested world-wide.
Even though the name Skål has connotations of toasting
to one’s good health or good luck, the organization has a very serious
side to it. The local chapter here in Pattaya and East Thailand is no
exception as it prepares itself for the World Congress here in 2006.
 Rene
Pisters (left) from the Thai Garden Resort, and Bob Lee (right), president
of the Skål Club of Pattaya and the East, listen in as Horst Horning
(Skal Samui) addresses fellow Skålleagues.
The World Congress is a significant event for Pattaya
and indeed Thailand’s travel and tourism industry as a whole, as it
brings the top levels of industry professionals here with an opportunity
for our host city to showcase itself to these power brokers for the full
week of the Congress.
 Skålleagues
Stefan Heintze (left), resident manager, Dusit Resort and Kenneth Whitty
(far right) and his team, who sponsored the Paulaner beer listen intently
to a presentation of the club’s future plans in Pattaya.
President Bob Lee also announced the intention of
preparing a bid for this year’s Ecco-Tourism Award which is hotly
contested world-wide. Deborah Bundityanond from the Rabbit Resort in
Jomtien is working in unison with Panga Vathanakul and her team from the
Royal Cliff Beach Resort along with the Tourist Authority of Thailand
(TAT) and Pattaya City Hall. Expectations are high, as last year’s
submission ranked in the top percent from over 65 entrants throughout the
world.
 (Front
row) the two Peters, Malhotra (left) and Cummins (right) surround the
beautiful Johanna Stetten, as Rene Pisters (background) provides a wry
smile for the camera.
Another new initiative from Skål Pattaya was announced
by David Smith in the form of the first Skål International Travel &
Tourism Awards for Pattaya, where the Skål Club will be recognizing the
outstanding achievements of people and organizations in our local travel
and tourism industry at a gala dinner in December.
More information on this can be found at the Skål website at www.skal
pattaya.org or by contacting David at telephone number 01 0013 044.
Thai German Institute (TGI) takes an important step into the future
Professional apprenticeship finally a reality on the Eastern Seaboard
Elfi Seitz
Last month the Thai German Institute (TGI) leapt over
an obstacle of the past and took a giant step into the future. In a
visionary move, fifty young people signed apprentice contracts with 8
famous companies from the Eastern Seaboard. Mangkorn Harirak, the deputy
director for vocational training was the guest of honor.
 Thai
director of TGI Manop Thongsaeng greeted the representatives of the
companies, the apprentices and guests.
Since 1988 a project has existed in Thailand in theory
and ‘on paper’ for apprentices; however, it was never practiced in
reality. TGI took the initiative and brought the necessary partners
together.
Most important are the students themselves, and then
the parents who have to give their agreement for an apprentice contract
and have the task of communicating with the companies and telling their
children to do the right thing.
 German
director of the TGI Walter Kretschmar said, “I have a dream. My vision
is that in three years, when these new apprentices have completed their
training, the companies will fight over them.”
The third very important partners are the companies
that train the apprentices and therefore have a great responsibility
towards them.
The fourth partner carries the heaviest burden to
secure the future of the coming specialists. This is the ‘tuition’
commission which trains the apprentices in cooperation with the companies.
 When
all 50 apprentices, the parents and the eight companies, signed the
contracts, a very important step into the future was taken.
The tuition must always be brought to the latest, most
up-to-date level because of fast-changing methods and technology. This is
where TGI comes in. It mediates with each partner as well as trains
teachers on the commission committee and in the vocational schools, and
keeps everyone up to speed including training foremen for participating
plants.
In Germany only a company with trained and qualified
foremen is allowed to take and train apprentices. This specification is
unknown in Thailand. TGI is the place where the teachers of the vocational
schools and the trainers in the companies learn how to transfer knowledge
to young people, perfect training, and transfer the newest technology from
overseas to Thailand.
TGI
directors Walter Kretschmar (back left) and Manop Thongsaeng (back right)
look on as apprentices, parents and company representatives sign
contracts.
After Manop Thongsaeng (Thai director of TGI) greeted
the representatives of the companies and the apprentices and guests,
Walter Kretschmar (German director of the TGI) had some comments. “I
want to name this day as a start for these young people who sit in the
back of this room, but will be upfront in reality. These future
apprentices are Thailand’s future. Fifty apprentices for eight companies
is a small group for such a large task, and much work awaits us to retain
this region’s hard earned success. Life becomes faster and is changing.
That is why we have to be prepared for changes.”
Afterwards Kretschmar explained the above mentioned
partner system. He continued, “As a neutral partner we will hold regular
meetings with all the partners and be a mediator. I have a dream. My
vision is that in three years, when these new apprentices have completed
their training, the companies will fight over them. In my vision I see
these companies finally having the workforce they really need. The young
people will learn something and reach a goal in life. Other countries will
say ‘Thailand is progressive and the TGI has done a wonderful job.’”
At the end of his speech Walter Kretschmar said he
hopes he will see only happy faces at the end of the training. He thanked
the Thai government which is doing more and more for young people, and
thanked the parents, the teachers and the companies who gave these young
people a chance. He promised the apprentices, “At the end of the
training I will be here, it doesn’t matter if I am back in Germany or
not. But I will be here, shake your hands and will be proud of you.”
In his speech Mankorn Harirak asked the young people to
“take over the technology of the Germans and to learn it and use their
knowledge for the good of their country.” He said, “Everybody here is
responsible for our future. Everybody should know that the future will be
more challenging and only the ones with a good education will succeed.”
He lauded the TGI and especially the initiative of Walter Kretschmar, who
“does everything to help young people on their path of life.”
Mankorn praised the Pattaya Mail and Pattaya Blatt for
publicly paving the way for this project by printing articles which
publicized the efforts of the government and TGI.
At the end of the event all 50 apprentices, the parents and the eight
companies, Allied Data Technologies, BMW, K.T. Machining Technology Ltd,
Neuman & Esser, Thai German Institute, Sony Mobile, Asian Chemicals
& Engineering and Daetyler o/o Devices (Asia) signed the contracts. A
very important step into the future was taken.
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