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Blessings for the elderly a pre-Songkran tradition
Narisa Nitikarn
National Elderly and Family Day was celebrated at the Social Development
Center Elderly Home in Banglamung on April 10, a pre-Songkran tradition in
which respects are paid to senior citizens.
 Rewat
Pollook-in (deputy chief of the Chonburi Provincial Administration
Organization) poured water as a blessing for Mee Nokkrum (102 years old);
she is the oldest person at the Social Development Center Elderly Home in
Banglamung.
Deputy Governor of Chonburi Thongtawee Pimsen conducted a brief ceremony
that was attended by members of the Elderly Club at Apakorn Kiatwong
Hospital, the Elderly Service Center at Banglamung, the Boy’s Social Welfare
at Banglamung, and Karunyawet Disabled Social Welfare.
The oldest resident at the home is Mee Nokkrum, who is aged 102 years. She
sat with six other elderly people for the younger ones to sprinkle water for
blessings during this Songkran occasion.
On this day there were also free haircuts from Ketsiri Beauty School in
Pattaya, physical checkups for the elderly from the Somdet Parsangkarat
Yanasangwararam Temple Center, foot massages from Ban Karuna 2 in Chonburi,
a booth for product distribution to elderly people, and many games, notably
bingo, which attracted the most participants.
Thongtawee Pimsen (deputy
governor of Chonburi) and others line up to pour water as a blessing for 7
elderly people.
Over 300 elderly people
attended National Elderly and Family Day 2006 at the Social Development
Center Elderly Home in Banglamung.
Mata Hari opens in new location at Thappraya Road
Louis Noll (center) with staff at
the new Mata Hari premises.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Mata Hari opened at its new location in the Nirvana Place condominium complex on
Thappraya Road on April 5.
The new premises are larger than the previous restaurant, says Mata Hari’s Louis
Noll, but the menu of European and Thai dishes will be instantly recognisable to
regulars.
Mata Hari had originally been located on Pattaya Second Road, but its popularity
had grown to the extent that it was always crowded and Noll decided larger
premises were needed, choosing the Thappraya Road area because it is very much
an up and coming destination.
Facilities of the new Mata Hari include a bar and a meeting corner. The
restaurant is open every day except Monday. For reservations tel 01-762 2359 or
fax 0 3836 4620.
Six young singing hopefuls aim for the stars
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya will see the finals of the Luk Tung singing competition in which young
contestants will be given the opportunity to win prizes and go professional.
A preparatory meeting was held on April 3 by Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn,
with May-T Subsuk, activities manager of VC Spot Productions Co Ltd and team
presenting their plans to Pattaya City Council.
 May-T
Subsuk, activities section manager, VC Spot Production Co. Ltd presents his
plans at city hall.
The event follows on from the success of the Luk Tung Conservation Project
Singing Contest staged in honor of Her Majesty the Queen’s 72nd birthday, and
created by Tai FM between 2004- 2005 under the “Conquer the Stars” theme. The
contest was supported and sponsored by city hall and the Tourism Authority of
Thailand Region 3 Central Office. More than 300 young Luk Tung singers competed
and 6,000 people attended the event in 2005.
For this year Tai FM is carrying on the Luk Tung theme with the cooperation of
city hall and the TAT by giving 15-25 year olds the chance to compete in the
second Conquer the Stars project for those who dream of becoming professional
Luk Tung singers.
This year VC Spot Production Co has accepted male and female applicants. The
contestants were whittled down to 24 and on March 5 a competition was held to
select the final six, three males and three females. The event was held in
Bangkok.
The six finalists were Niyom Homjit number TF1, Niyom Charoensiri number TF3,
Prasit Jiangraksa TF5, Miss Pachara Kawianwong TF2, Miss Kasarin Seesaen TF4 and
Miss Phinyo Tomyim TF6. The six will enter the recording studio to cut a special
album of new songs and the songs will be sung at the event in Pattaya, which
will be the finals.
May-T Subsuk said the judging would be held over two days. On May 7 at 5 p.m.
the six contestants will display their singing talents at Big C North Pattaya
and earn points for the final judging. Luk Tung star Fon Dhanasunthorn will make
an appearance. On May 28 the winner will be selected at Pattaya School #8.
Contestants will be required to sing one fast song and one slow song. Siriporn
Amphaiphong and Yingyong Yodbuangaam will also be performing.
The winners of the men’s and women’s event will receive 10,000, 7,000 and 3,000
baht respectively and a lucky winner of a vote by SMS will win 5,000 baht.
Mayor Niran said that the city had given full support in providing venues and
budgets for the event aimed at giving the young a chance to display their
talents and continue the Luk Tung tradition.
Viewers can vote for their favorite by SMS using their allocated number (TF1 -
TF6) on 4554545 between 15 - 28 May.
Royal Cliff staff sign celebration book in commemoration of HM the King’s 60th anniversary
Panga Vathanakul (center),
managing director of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort led 50 hotel managers and
employees to sign a book to celebrate the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the
King’s accession to the throne.
Narisa Nitikarn
Royal Cliff Beach Resort managers and employees led by managing director Panga
Vathanakul signed a book in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty
the King’s accession to the throne, in a ceremony held at Pattaya City Hall on
April 7. The 50 employees of the hotel all wore yellow as a sign of respect to
His Majesty.
Pinnat Charoenphol, assistant director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand
Central Office Region 3 said the TAT has organized the book, which is being
circulated amongst 75 provincial halls and 22 TAT offices. Pattaya City Hall
officials have also signed the book.
The signing project is part of the Thailand Grand Invitation 2006 project.
Members of the public can participate in the signings until December 31, after
which all the books will be collected and presented to His Majesty.
It’s magic as Tuxedo Castle opens on Second Road
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh cuts
the ribbon for the official opening of Tuxedo Magic Castle, along with Pairoj
Idthiawatchakul, GM of Tuxedo Entertainment (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (right side of
Ronakit), the magician from “Tuxedo” and team members.
Narisa Nitikarn
Tuxedo Magic Castle opened on April 8 not in a puff of smoke but with an
awards ceremony presented by Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh.
Located near the Shell gasoline station on Second Road, Tuxedo Magic Castle is
operated by Tuxedo Entertainment (Thailand) Co Ltd, whose general manager Pairoj
Idthiawatchakul was on hand to welcome the local and foreign tourists attending
the opening.
The Castle received a Master of Magic Award from Bangladesh for gathering
international magic and magicians from such a diversity of countries as China,
Hong Kong and Japan. The magic team also received an award from the Asia Magic
Association.
Magic Castle is billed as the first complete magic theatre in Thailand. A
complete show has a 45-minute duration, and female magicians are a feature.
Currently the theater can hold only 120 spectators, but this will be increased
to a capacity of up to 300 in the near future. There are also plans to open a
magic course for youngsters during the school holidays.
Shows are held every day at 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., and there is a
supplementary show at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. For more information tel 0 3848
8880, or visit www.tuxedo-magic.com
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