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Treechada Petcharat crowned Miss International Queen 2004 in a pageant of glitter and glamour
Staff Reporters
Twenty-four of the most beautiful ‘women of the
second category’ took Pattaya by storm last week as they toured and
played at the various tourist attractions at this world renowned beach
resort, in preparation for the day when one of them would be crowned the
queen of queens.
The
lovely girls visit the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital
Their week came to a close on Saturday November 7, when
they took to the stage at Tiffany’s Show Pattaya where in view of a
packed auditorium they proudly strutted about the stage like peacocks in
their full glory, dressed to the nines. Each trying to out-dress and
outshine their counterparts, or their competitors rather, in their bid to
woo the judges with charm and beauty, so that one of them would be chosen
as Miss International Queen 2004.
 Nong
Poy goes for a joy-ride on the back of this road monster. (The bike that
is)
They came from 13 different countries, some from as far
away as France and Germany, others from relatively closer destinations
such as Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Each more beautiful than
their other and some even more muscular.
The
charming contestants enjoy a bit of spicy Thai food and a lot of warm Thai
hospitality.
Almost one thousand people packed Tiffany’s
auditorium to cheer on their favourites. The contest was televised live on
ITV and seen all over Thailand. During the telecast, audiences were
encouraged to SMS in their cyber votes.
Tiffany’s
Show, 30 years of success, attracting audiences from all over the world.
Tiffany’s Show, Pattaya’s original Transvestite
Cabaret show, is celebrating their 30 th
anniversary and put on a set of shows, as one person in the audience said
in amazement, “Comparable to the best in Las Vegas”. The themes
depicted their history, which had humble beginnings as a little corner
nightclub at the Bali Hai pier. In the early days when it all began, the
show had only 4 entertainers, and has now grown to a respectable 60-member
troupe.
The
Phanthusak family gathers around to celebrate sis’s birthday. (l-r)
Mummy Orawan, the birthday girl Alisa, papa Sutham, Warasaya and Lalida
At the end of a most fascinating night, where
contestants pranced around in their national costumes, swimsuits and
evening gowns, Treechada Petcharat (Nong Poy) from Thailand was crowned
Miss International Queen 2004, followed very closely by the beautiful
Arisha Rani from India and Ma Cristina Dandan of the Philippines. They
were presented with prizes of US$ 7000, US$ 3000 and US$ 2000
respectively.
In other categories, Choi Jong Soo from Korea won the
Best National Dress competition and received US$ 1000, Irene Sue from
Germany was chosen Miss Congeniality receiving US$ 500 and Angela from
Taiwan was picked by the press as Miss Photogenic receiving US $ 500.
The two hot favourites, Treechada and Arisha, who went
on to win the crown and first runner-up, also won the Best Swimsuit and
Best Evening Gown competitions, each receiving an extra US $1000
respectively.
Nong Poy, 21, is the reigning Miss Tiffany’s
Universe, having been crowned in April this year. Her vital statistics are
34-24-35, weighs 48 kilogrammes and is studying for a Bachelors degree at
the Rajbhat Suan Dusit College.
To end the queen of all celebrations that evening, Sutham Phanthusak
the MD of Tiffany’s threw a little birthday party for his daughter
Alisa, who also celebrated her birthday that day. Alisa is the assistant
MD of Tiffany’s and was instrumental in orgainsing and making a success
of this world-class event. Family and friends gathered around a huge
birthday cake singing Happy Birthday. Alisa cut the cake as her father
popped the champagne cork celebrating not only the successes of his
businesses but also the happiness and unity of the Phanthusak family.
Fashionable ghouls haunt Pattaya on Halloween
Staff Reporters
All Hallows Eve, October 31, was celebrated in
Pattaya’s numerous entertainment venues, hotels, restaurants and
shopping centers, each in their own style. Ghosts, ghouls, zombies and
demons were seen throughout the city haunting their respective ‘terror-tories’.
The Hard Rock Cafe held a ‘Dead Men Walking
Weekend’ at the end of October, carrying out traditional and
contemporary activities including a ‘Phee Pha’ Party Dance to the
tunes hammered out by the in-house, Elizabeth Band.
The Royal Garden Plaza held a ghoulish pageant with
contestants dressed in their favorite and most outrageous costume, with
participants from 7 to 70 taking part. The beauties from the grave
flaunted and haunted the center stage with a ‘demonic ghost’ taking
the 10,000 baht first prize for the ghastly display of bizarre death.
Upstairs at Benihana, it was vampires galore as
restaurant staff were decked out under the concept of ‘Sexy Dracula’,
complete with a ‘Sexy Dracula Bartender’ show that amused diners and
guests.
In North Pattaya, Henry J. Beans, Amari Orchid Resort
saw guests greeted by a giant skull as they entered the twilight of the
bar, scared into being served by skeletons and batty staff. The family
venue provided entertainment for both adults and kids in a ‘Casper’
style of service.
With all major venues conducting their own activities, Pattaya’s bars
and restaurants dragged the corpses out of the closets and celebrated with
ghastly antics creating fun for all throughout the night and past the
bewitching hour.
Ghoulish
dancers and staff were a frightening sight at the Hard Rock Cafe Pattaya.
Sanya
Kunsingha, “Tiger demon” took out second prize and 5,000 baht in the
Royal Garden’s Halloween Pageant.
Somyot
Nardsuk, using broken glass and copious amounts of fake blood, scared the
judges so much they had to award him winner of the ghostly pageant at the
Royal Garden Plaza.
Where’d
that corpse go?
What’s
for dinner? Meatloaf!
“I
vant to drrink your bloooood.”
“No,
I’m not on the menu.” “You are tonight.”
Miniature
ghosts, ghouls and hobgoblins showed up at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club,
which hosted a kid’s party with their own Halloween theme.
It was
the night of the living dead as ‘A gaggle of ghosts and ghouls’
terrorized the Royal Garden Plaza on Halloween.
The
new bartenders’ diet: Serving too many drinks will leave you with
nothing but bones...
Witches
at your door? Don’t worry, at Henry J. Beans Spiderman will save you.
Batty
staff at Henry J. Beans haunt the entrance.
Vampires
at Benihana served up witches brew ...
Bangkok Pattaya Hospital Charity Fair
In what has now become an annual event, looked forward
to by all the bargain hunters, the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital’s spacious
lobby area was again transformed into an Aladdin’s Cave full of
treasures last weekend.
 The
Fountain of Life
Many organizations took advantage of the venue, with
the Camillian Center from Rayong selling hand-made wares done by the
children themselves. Another stalwart in the charity field is the Rayong
Ladies Circle, with Welfare Chairperson Helle Rantsen doing very well
selling all the organic vegetables grown as one of the projects for the
remand home.
 Rotary
Club of Pattaya
Pattaya Rotary Club was very active, selling wonderful
cheap blankets that had been made by Isaan women as part of a charity
project, but as sometimes happens, the project foundered. The Pattaya
Rotary Club heard of their predicament and stepped in, and the local
shoppers were the beneficiaries.
 Pattaya
City Expats Club
The Pattaya International Ladies Club were also doing a
brisk business selling their hand made Christmas crackers, as well as
selling copies of their Living in Pattaya and Rayong guide book (which
incidentally will be reviewed in Lang Reid’s book column next week).
 The
Jesters and Kid.
During the day, shoppers (and sellers) were entertained
by children from the Photisampan School playing classical Thai stringed
instruments, with three very well turned out young musicians making sure
that some Thai traditions and customs are not forgotten in today’s
hectic world.
Not only did the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital provide the venue for the
fair, but it also supplied lunch for the stall holders, making a very
generous contribution themselves to the many charity projects that are
carried out on the Eastern Seaboard.
Som
and Dr. Iain’s Treasure Trove
Brunhilde
making a sale.
Rayong
Ladies Circle
PILC monthly luncheon treated to “Diwali” festivities
Indian by Nature was the setting for the PILC luncheon
on November 3. This was a special venue, because of it being the start of
the Diwali Indian Festival of Light in India. It was a perfect place for
the PILC to be introduced to the Indian culture by Av Khanijou, on what is
the “Festival of Light” and why it’s so popular in India.
 Av
Khanijou enlightens the audience on the legend of Diwali.
After explaining all about the festival, Av, befitting
the occasion, introduced a Bharat Natyam dancer from Bangkok, who
explained the meaning of Bharat Natyam.
“Bharat Natyam is the most intricate and famous of
all the south Indian classical dance forms,” she said. “There is some
controversy as to whether Bharat Natyam is exclusively a south Indian
style of dance or whether it was also prevalent in the past in North
India.
 Indian
ladies both true and foreign born look lovely in their Indian dresses.
“Bharat Natyam was at one time only performed by a
community of women called Devdasis, which means ‘servants of God’.
These women were brought up by the temple, never married, and their
life’s sole purpose was to dance in honor of the temple’s presiding
deity.
 The
master of the Bharata Natyam mesmerizes the audience.
“The word Bharat consists of a combination of 3 words
– Bhava-feeling, Raga-melody, Taal-rhythm. The word Natyam translates as
dance. So Bharat Natyam is a dance uniting feelings, melody and rhythm.
Each and every movement is charged with meaning and conveys different
emotions. The dance is normally accompanied by a singer, drummer and one
or two musicians on stringed instruments. This form of classical dance can
now be performed by both men and women.”
 Rita
Cromwell, hospitality, presents Gill Smith, team member as “Sunshine
Person”, with a bouquet of flowers as Sharon Tibbitts looks on.
Not only was the show classical, but the Indian buffet
also deserved a big applause.
As PILC has many ladies who come into the Pattaya area
as expats, there are always times when we must say “good-bye” to
committee and support team members which make PILC possible.
 President
Sharon Tibbitts (right) presents Candace Chia with a trophy engraved with
her name and the year she served as PILC Treasurer (2004).
Two of these members received gifts and flowers for their dedication
and hard work: Candace Chia, PILC Treasure for the year 2004 and Gill
Smith, team member as “Sunshine Person”.
India’s Diwali Festival celebrates the joys of life
Av Khanijou
India is a land of festivals. Diwali, the festival of
lights is celebrated with great fervor and gaiety. The festival is
celebrated by young and old, rich and poor throughout the country to
dispel darkness and to light up people’s lives. The festival symbolizes
unity in diversity as every state celebrates Diwali in its own special
way.
The festival of Diwali extends over five days. Because
of the lights, fireworks and sweets involved, it is a great favorite with
children.
What does the word Diwali mean? The name of the
festival comes from the Sanskrit word Dipavali, meaning row of lights.
Diwali is known as the ‘festival of lights’ because houses, shops and
public places are decorated with small earthenware oil lamps called Diyas.
These lamps, which are traditionally fueled by mustard oil, are placed in
rows in window, doors and outside buildings to decorate them.
What is the significance of Diwali? According to Hindu
mythology and popular belief, Diwali celebrates the return of the Hindu
God Ram and his wife Sita to the kingdom of Ayodhya. Ram had been in exile
for 14 years because of a disagreement as to whether he or his brother
should be the next king of Ayodhya.
Diwali is also a celebration of the triumph of good
over evil. The wicked king of the island of Lanka, Ravana had kidnapped
Sita. Ravana is said to have had ten heads, signifying that his
intelligence was equivalent to that of ten people. After a great battle
Ram killed the demon and recovered his wife.
Ram’s return with his wife to Ayodyha and his
subsequent coronation as king is celebrated at Diwali. When Ram and Sita
first returned to Ayodyha it was a dark moonless night and they couldn’t
see where they were going. Their people put little lamps outside their
houses so that the new king and queen could find their way, thus beginning
the tradition of the festival lights.
For the Sikhs Diwali celebrates the release from prison
of the sixth, Guru Hargobind Singh in 1619. However, the Sikhs had
celebrated Diwali before that period when the foundation stone of the
Golden Temple at Amritsar, the holiest place in the Sikh world, was laid
in 1577. The Jains celebrate the attaining of Moksha (Nirvana, or eternal
bliss) by the founder of Jainism, Lord Mahavira.
For many Indians the festival honors Lakshmi, the
goddess of wealth. Hindus will leave the windows and doors open so that
the goddess can visit their homes. There is much feasting and celebration
and the Diwali lamps are regarded as making it easy for Lakshmi to find
her way to favored houses.
Rangoli, which is the Hindu folk art of drawing
patterns on the floors, is very popular at Diwali. Rangoli is a Sanskrit
word which means a creative expression of art through the use of color. In
ancient India, rangolis were used to decorate the entrance of homes, a
floor-painting which provided a warm and colorful welcome to visitors.
In Indian culture all guests and visitors occupy a very
special place and a rangoli is an expression of this warm hospitality. The
Diwali festival is widely celebrated with rangolis, since at this time;
people visit each other’s houses to exchange greetings and sweets. The
materials used for Rangoli are powdered chalk or colored rice flour paste
and the most popular subject is the lotus flower. This is because images
of the Goddess of Lakshmi traditionally show her either holding a lotus or
sitting on one.
Like Christmas, Diwali is very much a time for buying
and exchanging gifts. Traditionally sweets and dried fruit were very
common gifts to exchange, but the festival has become a time for serious
shopping, leading to anxiety that commercialism is eroding the spiritual
side of the festival.
Many fashion designers will unveil their new
collections at Diwali and most shopkeepers expect sales to rise
substantially in the weeks before the festival. Even the famed
‘Bollywood’ times the releases of its blockbusters to coincide with
Diwali’s auspicious dates, adding to the aura and excitement.
Diwali, also considered as the unofficial Indian New
Year, is a traditional time for thorough spring-cleaning the home and for
wearing new clothes.
Fireworks are also a big part of the Diwali
celebrations, although in recent years there has been a move against them
because of noise and atmospheric pollution and the number of accidental
deaths and injuries.
Whatever the significance different religions give to
this festival of lights, Diwali is a time when the whole country unites in
celebration, it is a time of joy - it is a time when families re-unite, it
is a time of happiness.
In a recent editorial, the Times of India summed up the modern meaning
of Diwali: “Regardless of the mythological explanation one prefers, what
the festival of lights really stand for today is a reaffirmation of hope,
a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously
sanctioned celebration of the simple – and some not so simple – joys
of life.”
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