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Safety is theme of this year’s Songkran festival in Pattaya
Young novice monks line up
for alms.
Banglamung District Chief
Pratheep Jongsuebtham (right) and Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn (left)
leading people in making merit at Lanpho, Naklua.
A monk takes time to stop
by one of the entrants at the sand castle building contest at Wat
Chaimongkol in South Pattaya.
Umbrellas from the North
were a popular feature during the Songkran parade.
Youngsters taking part in
a Songkran dance contest.
It’s all good fun.
The grownups have fun
preserving Thai tradition, too.
Mayor Niran gets a face
full of powder from a young reveler.
Elephants, mahouts and
kids join the fun during Songkran celebrations at Nong Nooch Tropical
Gardens.
Young dancers perform an
ancient Thai dance to preserve Thai tradition.
Pattaya Mail elders and
senior staff received blessings from, and gave blessings to, the rest of
the staff during the Songkran festivities.
It was complete madness
during the Wan Lai festivities.
Four girls from the Girly
Berry pop-group holding a concert in front of Hard Rock Cafe Pattaya to
alleviate the heat.
The party raged on until
sunset.
Tourist police and
volunteers have fun whilst spreading the “Don’t drink and drive” message
down Walking Street.
Our camera man Pop (left)
and the police were not immune to receiving a complete soaking.
There wasn’t a dry spot in
the city, outside on the streets.
A typical scene during
Songkran – three on a motorbike and not one person wearing a helmet.
Oooh, that’s cold!
Sorry, your little squirt
gun just doesn’t stand up to an elephant’s built-in water cannon.
More than a few revelers
were standing red-faced as police confiscated more than 500 PVC water
guns.
Song and dance as tourist
police and volunteers spread the “Don’t drink and drive” message down
Walking Street.
Pol. Col. Sutin Suppuang,
Pattaya Police superintendent, mandated that PVC water guns would be
confiscated.
It’s a tough job directing
traffic during Songkran.
Traffic was at a
standstill nearly all day – as it is every year during the Songkran
water throwing melee.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Whereas traditional values were the theme last year, this year’s
Songkran theme was deemed “safety” when the annual water throwing
madness once again took over the greater Pattaya area. Police were sent
out in force to quell any disturbances, checkpoints were set up on roads
to discourage drunk driving, and PVC water cannons were confiscated.
The extra effort seemed to work, at least in part, as there were no road
deaths recorded in Pattaya. There were, however, 5 traffic deaths
reported in Chonburi province, slightly down from last year. 53 people
were injured, and most of the accidents involved motorbikes.
Pol. Col. Sutin Suppuang, superintendent of Pattaya Police, said that
checkpoints were set up on the roads from April 9 - 19, resulting in 17
drunk driving arrests. Police also managed to confiscate over 500 PVC
water cannons during the festival.
Pol. Col. Sutin said, “985 people were given a citation for not wearing
helmets, 158 people were cited for not having the necessary equipment
for vehicles, 168 people were not using their seatbelts, 608 people
didn’t have driver’s licenses, and 221 people were driving on the wrong
side of the road.”
Police were also on the lookout for “people who weren’t dressed in
appropriate attire,” Pol. Col. Sutin said, but “officers were not able
to cite everyone due to there not being specific laws to do so.
Nevertheless, police officers were sent to warn groups of people who
were playing in the water and not dressing in appropriate attire.
However, it was unknown if anyone heeded there warnings.”
Traffic throughout the holiday period was heavy, and once again came to
a complete standstill in Pattaya on April 19, the height of the Wan Lai
festivities. An attempt was made to mitigate the congestion by trying to
keep most water throwing traffic in the large, one-way Beach Road to
Pattaya 2nd Road loop.
In Jomtien, Beach Road was converted to one-way traffic from the Grand
Condotel intersection to Sukhumvit Road at Soi Wat Boonkanjanaram on Soi
Chaiyapreuk. People with cars from Sattahip that wanted to play in the
water at Jomtien Beach were required to enter the fray from Thepprasit
Road.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh said that, even though the results this
year were satisfactory, more could be done in future years. He suggested
a more advanced safety campaign and establishing a set time for water
play. “There were complaints from people who had problems going to and
from work,” he said. “Perhaps zones should be set for playing in the
water.”
Ronakit also suggested that perhaps Pattaya Beach Road should be closed
to traffic during the Wan Lai period in Pattaya. “The road would be used
for playing in the water and holding activities to boost local culture …
to show foreign tourists the good traditions of Thailand, so they will
know more about them,” Ronakit said.
Even with all the safety measures in place, Pattaya was once again
turned into a big free-for-all. Thousands of tourists, both Thai and
foreign, converged on Pattaya for a week of water throwing fun,
culminating in the city-wide water throwing party on April 19.
Most hotels and resorts held their own versions of the festivities, many
offering safe havens from the complete madness outside. And since the
annual event infuses billions of baht into the local economy, no doubt
it is here to stay.
Murder for Mercy
Nova Devoe and Eddie Cheek brutally murdered
The shocking announcement
as the murderess Billy Clubb confesses her crime.
Lynne questions the
suspects as the hunt for the killer intensifies. Billy Clubb remains
tight-lipped in the background.
Actress Nova Devoe (Rachel Hoag) and Producer Eddie
Cheek (Paul Strachan) were both brutally murdered at the Habitu
restaurant in downtown Pattaya on Saturday night, April 21.
 “Have
you stolen my script?” Andrew and Nova go through their lines.
Pattaya’s wealthiest rubbed shoulders with the social elite at this
glitzy event held in the chic Habitu restaurant where they had gathered
at the invitation of producer/director Eddie Cheek. The evening was
designed to attract backers for Mr. Cheek’s new film venture “The Alien
was a Zombie”.
Rock Stud (Mike Diamente) was in attendance escorting the newest Pattaya
starlet, Cheri Pitt (Jacinta Chamberlain). Miss Devoe appeared to be
without an escort except for her mysterious and somewhat inept bodyguard
Dan Druff (Matthew Hoag). Also in attendance was Billy Clubb (Clare
Bryant) from Clubb Casting, and the rest of Eddie Cheek’s production
company - Edith Header (Glenis Townsend), his costume designer; Quinnie
Winston (Sanjay Lamba), his makeup artist; Henny Loggersnapper (Ann
Ribbins), his script supervisor; and Dr. Willie (Nancy Bradburn), Rock
Stud’s therapist.
LA has Hollywood, India has Bollywood and Pattaya has Pollywood with all
the accompanying rumors and gossip. Tensions were certainly running high
early in the evening with Miss Devoe, Rock’s former wife, threatening to
tell all in an interview with Entertainment Tonight to be aired later
this week.
 Dr.
Willie (left) and Graham hand out the evening’s awards.
Eddie Cheek held impromptu auditions with the wealthiest backers reading
short scenes from the new movie, with Quinnie Winston, Nova Devoe and
Cheri Pitt. One banker who had a realistic foreign accent is rumored to
have secured a bit part.
Mr. Cheek then dropped a Pollywood bombshell by announcing that he had
rewritten the script and was taking the lead from Cheri Pitt and giving
it back to Nova Devoe. The resulting scenes were ugly and ended in what
can only be described as a cat fight between dueling divas.
It was shortly after this that Nova Devoe staggered into the room, blood
streaming from a head wound, and died in the arms of a multi-millionaire
banker. The rumor that she asked for his phone number before dying
cannot be substantiated.
 Judy
(left) picked up the ‘Best Costume Award’.
The rumor mill then took over sparing nobody. It seems that everyone in
attendance had a secret to hide or a motive to kill Miss Devoe.
Rock Stud tried to assert some order, citing his experience as a TV
Private Investigator. With Eddie Cheek, who was in his customary evening
dress, they decided to try to solve the murder before the local police
could get involved and ruin their careers. All this was to no avail, and
just moments later Eddie Cheek staggered into the room, the victim of a
brutal stabbing.
Pandemonium followed as all the guests shouted accusations and tried to
question each other in a quest to find the guilty party.
Order was restored by Dan Druff who revealed himself as an undercover
policeman. He announced that Eddie Cheek was being blackmailed by Billy
Clubb, the original author of “The Alien was a Zombie”.
Billy Clubb tried to slip away but was detained by Dan Druff. She then
tearfully confessed to killing both Nova Devoe and Eddie Cheek. Her
final swansong was her attempt to also murder Dan Druff, but she was
thwarted in this attempt and eventually was detained by a Thai policeman
who cuffed her and escorted her off the premises as the evening came to
a dramatic end.
That brought to a close the PILC’s first Murder Mystery event with the
proceeds benefiting the Mercy Center for their dental program. The cast,
under the direction of Lynne McIntosh had been rehearsing for the past
three weeks to put on the event which was a resounding success. The
event was filmed by PMTV and excerpts will be shown at a later date.
As a finale, the cast presented certain guests with following awards:
The Outstanding Detective, won by George McDonald; The Bumbling
Detective Award, won by Lisa Hernandez; The Best Costume Award, won by
Judy Hoppe and The Most Involved Detective, won by Graham Joyce
Quinnie Winston and Lisa
are relieved that the murderess is now behind bars.
Lynne, Roseanne and Edith
haggle over the tip.
Gen. Kanit Permsub gives good advice to youngsters at Songkran blessings ceremony
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Gen. Kanit Permsub, deputy chief aide-de-camp to HM the King, led an
annual ceremony to bless members of the community during Songkran.
 Andrew
Khoo pours lustral water on the hands of monks and receives their
blessings in return.
The ceremony was held on April 13 at the Hard Rock Hotel, with general
manager Andrew Khoo and his staff gathering to welcome the guests.
Gen Kanit was accompanied by his wife, Busyarat Permsub and other guests
including Pratheep Malhotra, managing director of Pattaya Mail
Publishing Co Ltd and his wife Vasinee Malhotra, Suwanthep Malhotra,
head of sales and marketing for Pattaya Mail and his wife Rungratree
Malhotra, and Jiraphong Ruksasut, CEO of Royal Furnishings Co Ltd along
with his wife Ubolpan Ruksasut.
 Gen.
Kanit Permsub blesses the children at the “Kids Wanna Rock Project VI”,
at the Hard Rock Hotel’s Songkran Festival.
Thai traditional ceremonies followed, with nine Buddhist monks chanting
prayers. Management and staff line up to receive their blessings from
the holy men, after which Gen. Kanit and Khunying Busyarat presided over
the blessing of the Hard Rock Hotel employees. 42 youngsters from
Pattaya School No 7 were invited to join in the Kids Wanna Rock Project
VI celebrations, which included a sumptuous lunch, before jumping into
the hotel’s swimming pool for an afternoon of fun and games.
Gen Kanit addressed the children, saying that he was very happy that the
children had been given the opportunity to visit the Hard Rock Hotel,
which he considers to be one of the best anywhere. He thanked the
management for their generosity and compassion by making Songkran for
the children a most memorable one.
“I hope you carry the memory of this experience with you,” he said. “My
own past was a difficult one. I was an altar boy, I ate food left over
from the monks, and I learned the principles of uprightness and strict
morals. At your tender ages, you must concentrate on your studies. You
must become a person who seeks knowledge for the betterment of your
lives.
 Children
from Pattaya School No.7 enjoy spending Songkran in the Hard Rock Hotel
pool.
“An excellent example of improving oneself is Her Royal Highness
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Wherever she travels, whether at home
or abroad, she always carries a notebook and a pen. She takes notes of
everything that she hears and sees. She is very keen in keeping an
account of her experiences and interesting information about all the
places that she visits.
“When she comes back home she puts all her notes into their proper order
and compiles them together into the form of a book. These books are then
printed and distributed not only for the reading pleasure of the people
but also that they may learn something from them. Income raised from the
sales of these journals is redirected back to support the youth in the
country.
“Her Royal Highness is an outstanding example that youngsters should
follow in developing and improving their quality of life. If you let
life’s experiences go by without taking advantage of the wisdom and
knowledge from them, then they would have all been for nothing.”
In conclusion Gen. Kanit said, “You must learn to be generous and kind
to others. You must learn to help those in need. This is true happiness
that you cannot buy, but can achieve only by your own good deeds.”
Andrew and Roslyn Khoo
give and receive blessings from Gen. Kanit and Khunying Busyarat
Permsub.
Pratheep and Vasinee
Malhotra, join in the ceremonies to give and receive blessings from and
Gen. Kanit and Khunying Busyarat Permsub.
42 children from Pattaya
School No.7 enjoy the activity at the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya.
Elderly Day celebrated with blessings and scented water
Director of the center
Somdej Naen-Udorn sprinkles scented water on the hands of the elderly
folks at Ban Banglamung.
Banglamung district chief
Pratheep Jongsuebtham (left) sprinkles scented water on the hands of the
elderly folks, asking for blessings.
The elderly folks
participate in a Thai folk dance on “National Elderly Day 2007”.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
National Elderly Day was celebrated on April 12 at the Ban Banglamung
Social Welfare Development Center for Older Persons with a Songkran
ceremony conducted by Banglamung district chief Pratheep Jongsuebtham.
Director of the center Somdej Naen-Udorn said the ceremony, which
included the sprinkling of scented water on the senior citizens, was
part of the Songkran tradition of showing respect to the elderly for the
sacrifices and the contributions they have made during their lives.
Other activities were organized during this day, including foot massages
performed in cooperation with the Foundation of the Center in Honor of
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn, haircuts from Ketsiri Beauty
School, and medical services from Abhakornkiatiwong Hospital and
Chonburi Hospital.
Money was presented to a total of 26 elderly families in Banglamung, and
a total of 24 families in Laem Chabang.
Pratheep said that Banglamung district has been carrying out a project
in cooperation with the Thai Red Cross to repair the residences of the
elderly who have no families to support them. Ten houses in the
Banglamung area have so far been repaired, under a budget of 200,000
baht.
Monsters can be loveable too
Pattaya’s newest attraction displays freaks of nature
Theerarak Suthatiwongse
The discovery of freaks of nature such as a turtle with two heads, a
house lizard with two tails, and coconut trees sprouting baby bananas
tends to send people hurrying to light incense or to buy lottery
tickets, but Chonlachai Anumas had an even better idea.
Monster World Pattaya, opened just seven months ago on the ground floor
of the Herb Garden Hotel on Sukhumvit Road, just past the intersection
with Soi Chaiyapreuk, gathers many of these curiosities together and
presents them as an attraction for visitors.
 This
frog has a wee too many legs.
Thitisak Fhakpairoj, better known as Oh, is the 31-year-old general
manager of Monster World. He says that Chonlachai, who is a
Bangkok-based businessman, has a hobby of collecting unusual animals and
oddities of nature, and that his collection has been growing. Rather
than keep these rarities to himself, Chonlachai decided to place them in
a setting where everyone could see them.
Monster World is the only exhibition of its kind in Thailand.
 A
turtle on a diet? No, it just has two shells.
“At Monster World Pattaya we have land animals, water animals,
amphibious animals, and reptiles that are very hard to find, including
genetically mutated animals,” says Oh.
“There are more than 160 species of animals here, with approximately
1,000 exhibits.”
The show is divided into two zones. In the indoor zone are smaller
creatures that are kept in glass cages and tanks. Here can be seen
albino red-eyed stingrays, a giant iguana, a white crow, and an oarfish
from the Mekong River. Mutants such as the two-headed soft shell turtle,
a tortoise with two shells, a six-legged frog, and a white cobra draw
the crowds.
 Perhaps
this turtle took too seriously the clich้, “Two heads are better than
one.”
Oh says that this part of the exhibition is carefully temperature
controlled, and that the salt level of the tanks for the sea creatures
is carefully moderated to ensure that all the creatures swimming there
are in their own kind of environment.
The other zone is outside, and looks like a miniature zoo. Here are
found rare animals from many countries. One of the favorites is the
hairless pig, which is from America. The skin has no hair at all, and
the eyes glow a red color. Although it really is a pig, the animal is
only 35 centimeters from head to tail. It lives on green vegetables and
is a peaceable creature, says Oh.
Monster World is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is 150 baht
for adults and 70 baht for children.
No, this isn’t the star of
the Austin Powers movie, it’s a hairless pink cat.
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