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PILC enjoys Songkran lunch at the Sheraton
A young performer shows
the ladies the correct way to pour water over the Buddha during Songkran
festivities.
A young man and young lady
demonstrate a traditional Thai dance.
Young stars greet PILC
members upon their arrival at the Sheraton.
A lovely fan dance - a
highlight of the event.
Beautiful young ladies in
traditional dress greet the PILC.
Traditional Thai music,
expertly played, wafts through the meeting area.
It was an absolutely gorgeous day to spend looking
out to sea while enjoying the very cool temperatures inside the Sheraton
for the April lunch.
For those of you who have not yet been to the Sheraton, it is an awesome
setting with white sandy beaches, deep blue water and an inviting
ambience inside the hotel. The food was excellent. The choices for
entrees ranged from duck to snow fish to a shitake noodle dish. It was
more like a gourmet dinner than a light lunch.
Prior to lunch we were treated to a traditional Thai Songkran ritual and
Thai dancing demonstration. Songkran is the Thai traditional New Year
which starts on April 13 and lasts for three days (we started the
celebration a little early!). Songkran marks the end of the old year and
the beginning of the new year. It is a time for Thai families to gather
together to celebrate. Songkran means “move” or “change”. It is when the
sun changes its position in the zodiac. Over time, the use of the term
has become more generic and Songkran is more commonly associated with
the period when the sun enters Aries, in April. During this time, the
sun is equidistant to the earth, so there are an equal number of hours
during the day and night. This marks the beginning of the Thai New Year.
It is also known as the “Water Festival” as people believe that water
will wash away bad luck.
School children demonstrated the traditional Thai Songkran water ritual.
First they poured water over the Buddha image and then they used several
PILC members as actors and poured scented water onto the hands. The
Thais do this to show respect for their elders. They also present their
elders with gifts and make merit to dedicate the result to their
ancestors. The elders in return wash the youngsters to bring them good
luck and prosperity. After the formal rituals, both young and old enjoy
playfully splashing water on each other.
The official Songkran holiday is April 13 - 15, but in Pattaya, it will
be celebrated on April 18 and 19. Look out for the water splashing fun
and be careful not to go out on those days unless you want to join in
the fun and get pretty wet in the process.
PILC members were treated
to traditional Thai dance.
Alvi Sinthuvanik (right)
meets with the performers.
Prior to lunch, PILC
members were treated to a traditional Thai Songkran ritual and Thai
dancing demonstration.
School children pour
scented water onto the hands of several PILC members.
Awash with Songkran at the Fountain
Carefully and solemnly,
the children help clean the Buddha statue.
The children learn how to
dance the Ramwong.
“Yours truly” (left) had
the privilege of being invited (and taught) to participate in three
cultural dances which were performed for the children and guests.
Our star hula hooper was
only three years old!
Time to cut the cake.
London Bridge is falling
down…
The children enjoy playing
Duck, Duck, Goose.
Many children went outside
to build pyramids of sand, a tradition that originated with people
carrying handfuls of sand to their temple to in order to replace the
dirt that they carry away on their feet during the rest of the year.
Happy faces at this year’s
Fountain of Life Songkran party.
All 133 children filed
past the seated volunteers and poured cupfuls of water over our hands.
Lynne McIntosh
As a roving reporter for PMTV and a volunteer at the Fountain of Life
Children’s Center, I found myself celebrating my first Songkran a little
early this year.
Songkran is usually celebrated between 13th and 15th of April - however,
as most schools are getting ready to close and families are preparing to
go back to their homes, the Fountain of Life Children’s Center chose to
celebrate earlier than usual.
The day began early in the morning, before the guests arrived, with the
children making flower leis to present to the guests, and baskets out of
banana leaves to put goodies into. Some of the older children were
practicing their music on the angalung. There were others who were
outside building pyramids of sand, a tradition which originated with
people carrying handfuls of sand to their temple to in order to replace
the dirt that they carry away on their feet during the rest of the year.
The sand would then be piled into large, tiered piles and decorated with
colorful flags.
I did a little research on the customs of Songkran, and the most
obvious, and well-known part of Songkran is the throwing of water. It is
rumoured that people roam the streets with bowls of water, water guns or
even a garden hose, and drench each other and passersby. Hmm, this I
have yet to experience. However, this is not the heart of this festival,
as I learned from the children.
Traditionally, the day would begin with a visit to a temple to pray and
give food to the monks. Then one would clean the Buddha with water and
flower petals, as it is believed that this will bring good luck and
prosperity for the New Year. Our Buddha was carefully washed by the
volunteers and the children alike, all paying great attention so as not
to get the head of the Buddha wet.
The time came for our celebration to begin - the kids were so excited,
sitting and giggling. The festivities began with the children singing
songs, playing traditional games and dancing for the volunteers and
their guests who have helped out over the past year.
No Thai celebration would be complete without food, and there were tasty
treats, courtesy of Jenny Jenkins and the Sisters of the Good Shepherd,
all served in the handmade beautiful banana leaf boats.
Of course as is true with all celebrations, there must be dancing, both
to watch and also participate in, with all our volunteers being
encouraged to join in. This roving reporter had the privilege of being
invited (and taught) to participate in three cultural dances which were
performed for the children and guests.
I’m really glad, however, that I wasn’t invited to participate in all
the games, as my hula hooping days are definitely over. Our star hula
hooper was only three years old! The children also enjoyed playing
versions of Duck, Duck, Goose and Oranges and Lemons - Thai-style.
The day ended with my being blessed by all of the 133 children as they
filed past the seated volunteers and poured cupfuls of water over our
hands and tied string around our wrists. What a wonderful day and a
great first Songkran for yours truly.
Songkran is a time for cleaning and renewal, and can also be a time for
resolutions and new beginnings. So I say to all: Sawatdee Pi Mai - Happy
New Year.
Kids have fun at Rim Hat pool party
Elfi Seitz
The Father Ray Foundation had its annual pool party
at the Rim Hat Jomtien Beach Condominium on March 28, with Egbert and
Birgit Scherer organizing the event.
About 250 children came along to enjoy the big
swimming pool, with the residents of the apartment complex happy to make
the water available to the youngsters, who had a wonderful time
splashing about.
A group of friends from Germany helped with the
catering for the party, which has grown in size each year.
Egbert and Birgit have been organizing the pool party
for nine years now. “We receive full support from the Rim Hat
management,” said Egbert. “They not only provide the pool free of
charge, they even supply staff to monitor and help.”
This time, Pattaya International Hospital also sent
two assistants to take care of any minor bathing accidents.
There was a delicious meal cooked by the Boat Bakery,
with staff handing out crispy chicken and fried rice. Unlimited
beverages flowed freely throughout the afternoon.
14 youngsters brought from Khon Kaen
for English language camp
Narisa Nitikarn
The Taksin-Pattaya Rotary Club worked in association
with Thai-France Group Co Ltd to organize an English language camp that
brought 14 outstanding students from Khon Kaen Province to train on a
one-on-one basis with volunteer teachers provided through the Father Ray
Foundation.
Florent Pellegrin (right), managing director of the
Thai-France Group, presents certificates to students who passed the
English training.
The students stayed in Pattaya over the period March
30 to April 1, and were given sightseeing tours during their spare time.
Declaring the camp officially open on March 30 was
Pinit Poonsiri, head of tourism promotion and development at Pattaya
City Hall, Charles R Evans, president of Rotary Taksin-Pattaya, Florent
Pellegrin, managing director of the Thai-France Group, and Pratheep
Malhotra, district governor nominee of Rotary International District
3340 for 2008-2009.
Tassanee Sarkmit (left), leader of the teachers’
group from Ban Nongwaengsokpra School, presents a souvenir to Pratheep
Malhotra, district governor nominee of Rotary International District
3340 for 2008-2009.
Organizer Kantarat Wedphitak Pellegrin said the
project was to help students who were outstanding academically but who
came from underprivileged families. Rotary Taksin-Pattaya and the
Thai-France Group brought the children from the Muangphon District in
Khon Kaen. The 14 came from four schools, namely Ban Nongwaengsokpra,
Chomchonnongmeg, Muangphon Pittayakom, and Polprachanukul. They were
joined by one student from Pattaya School No 7.
(From left) Organizer Kantarat Wedphitak Pellegrin
speaks with Crystina Gibb and Hayley Mason, volunteer teachers from the
Father Ray Foundation.
The students learned English from foreign volunteer
teachers, and were able to go for visual education in many tourist
places during the training period, including Million Years Stone Park,
the Crocodile Farm, and Pattaya Beach.
The children responded with great excitement to their
three days in Pattaya, and even had the opportunity of talking to
tourists in the Pattaya Beach area with visitor information forms.
The teacher who accompanied the group from Khon Kaen
said this project was an excellent way of expanding the children’s
knowledge, and that it is to be hoped a similar project could be
organized soon.
A tiger … will you write that in English?
What’s your name? Where do you come from?
Oh, a large Himalayan Black Bear.
Florent Pellegrin (left), managing director of the
Thai-France Group, and Charles R Evans, president of Rotary
Taksin-Pattaya, witness the English training course.
The Crocodile Farm in Pattaya provides exciting visual
material for the students to learn English.
Students, teachers, organizers
and supporters pose for a souvenir photo.
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