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Crowds enjoy four-day weekend at Pattaya
Buddhist Lent traditional festivities observed in city
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Tourist flocked to Pattaya when Asalahabucha Day and the beginning of
Buddhist Lent created a four-day holiday weekend.
Both Pattaya and Jomtien beaches were crowded, and police and volunteers
struggled to keep the traffic moving.
 Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn (below, center), and Itthipol Khunplome, the
mayor’s chief advisor, make a Buddhist Lent donation at Krathinglai
Temple.
Pattaya’s Buddhist Lent festival began on July 27 and included a
competition for making the huge traditional candles that are presented
to the temples at this time of the year. On July 29 the candles were
taken in a procession that started from Lan Pho Market in Naklua and
passed along Pattaya Beach Road to its destination at Chaimongkol
Temple, in South Pattaya.
The competition and procession attracted support from Pattaya City’s
schools, hotels, and private and public sector organizations. More than
30 organizations had beautifully decorated floats and the candles were
later presented to temples in and around the city.
At Photisamphan Temple, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn led a service
attended by city officials and members of the public, with a number of
blind students from the Redemptorist Vocational School also attending.
 Buddhist
monks pray at the beginning of Buddhist Lent.
On the following day, July 30, Mayor Niran, mayoral advisor Itthipol
Khunplome, and city hall officers took part in a ceremony to present
robes to the monks at Krathinglai Temple, another tradition during this
time of the rains.
Despite the tailbacks of traffic along Sukhumvit Road, which at times
stretched for several kilometers, police and volunteers kept the
vehicles moving and no serious accidents or disturbances took place.
Buddhist Lent marks the beginning of the period the monks stay within
their temples for three months, during the height of the rainy season.
Consequently the presenting of candles, food and robes has long been of
great practical as well as symbolic importance, and forms one of the
most important festivals of the Thai year.
Pattaya citizens take part in the
traditional candle ceremony at the beginning of Buddhist Lent.
Traditional clothing and music are an
integral part of the candle procession during Buddhist Lent.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn leads the
candle procession through town.
Blind children from the Redemptorist
Vocational School solemnly participate in the candle procession for
Buddhist Lent.
The Pattaya School No. 3 marching band,
resplendent in their Pattaya Mail PC Classic Royal Cliff Beach Resort
International Regatta sponsored uniforms, provide music for the parade.
The candle procession is a colorful affair.
Mantra for a South African winemaker
Miss Terry Diner
The Mantra restaurant ‘dared to be different’ again, with a wildly
successful South African Wine Dinner, graced by the presence of the wine
maker - an unbelievably energetic lady called Reni Hildenbrand.
Reni is one of those unique personalities that one meets very rarely. Her
Hildenbrand wines are also unique. Reni says, “I want my wines to be
individual, to taste where they come from … I will not interfere with
nature, but let the environment develop my unique style. There is nothing
typical about my wines … They are unique and individual, as we all are.”
After getting your head around the fact that Reni is a German architect who
became a passionate winemaker, you have to get your tongue around the fact
that her wines are indeed unique. And powerful. Reds at a typical 14.5
percent alcohol have to be treated with care by the tippling diner.
To complement the wines, the Mantra’s ‘superchef’ Supachai put together an
extensive menu commencing with the wonderful lobster and Alaskan king crab
rillettes with Maine lobster and Alaskan king crab poached in Tarragon
butter, fennel tartar with baby salad and crustacean dressing. The slightly
tart, clean flavor was to offset the smooth, mellow ‘honey’ taste of the
Hildenbrand Chenin Blanc. I enjoyed the dish and the wine. A great start to
the evening.
Another course with contrasts was the very smooth white asparagus puree with
blackened Maine scallop and forest mushroom scented broth accompanied by the
sharp, ‘citrussy’ Hildenbrand Chardonnay, which Reni said had been aged in
Hungarian oak casks.
In between courses, Reni came round the tables to answer any questions,
often accompanied by Reinhard Murer, the director of Food Com Thailand, the
local representatives and distributors of Hildenbrand wines.
By the end of the evening, after five courses and six different wines,
everyone left more than replete, after Maurice Bromley, the president of the
South African-Thai Chamber of Commerce and his vivacious wife Granita
(sorry, Renita) toured the restaurant to make sure everyone left happy (and
in a fit condition to leave)!
A different evening, with different wines, in Mantra, the restaurant that
dares to be different!
Reni with Renita, Sue of PMTV
and a handsome guest.
Reni is the center of
attraction amongst the Amari and Food Com executives.
Allan Sherratt, Richard and
Janet Smith enjoying the reception wine.
Dominic Stamm (left) and Reni
greet Dr. Iain
(2nd left) and Som Corness (right).
“Try this vintage” says the
waitress to the wine maker.
Reni Hildenbrand, the petite
bombshell, climbs up on a table to be seen by all as she addresses the
diners.
Peter Cummins looks so tall
next to Reni.
Wine lovers from around
Pattaya gather at the Mantra
for another sensational evening.
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