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Remembering the past on ANZAC Day
Bert Elson
Once again members of the Royal British Legion Thailand traveled to
Kanchanaburi and the Bridge over the River Kwai to join our Australian
and New Zealand friends in their commemoration of ANZAC Day. This year
29 of us traveled up a day earlier than previous visits, thus allowing
us a free afternoon on arrival and more importantly time to join the
Dawn Service at Hellfire Pass. ANZAC Day and in particular the Dawn
Service has its roots in Gallipoli, during the First World War.
 Vic
Jackson lays our wreath at Chungkai, the lone poppy wreath was from
November.
After the First World War, returned soldiers sought the comradeship they
felt in those quiet, peaceful moments before dawn. With symbolic links
to the dawn landing at Gallipoli, a dawn stand-to or ceremony became a
common form of ANZAC Day remembrance during the 1920s. The first
official Dawn Service was held at the Sydney Cenotaph in 1927. Dawn
services were originally very simple and followed the operational
ritual. In many cases they were restricted to veterans only and the
daytime ceremony was for families and other well-wishers. Before dawn
the gathered veterans would be ordered to “stand to” and two minutes’
silence would follow. At the end of this time a lone bugler would play
the Last Post and then concluded the service with Reveille.
 Members
of the Royal British Legion Thailand lay a wreath at Chungkai.
In more recent times the families and young people have been encouraged
to take part in dawn services, and services in Australian capital cities
have seen some of the largest turnouts ever. Reflecting this change, the
ceremonies have become more elaborate, incorporating hymns, readings,
pipers, and rifle volleys. Others, though, have retained the simple
format of the dawn stand-to, familiar to so many soldiers.
We certainly felt that air of comradeship as the first light of dawn
started to put shapes to what had been shadows and we could start to see
faces, so many of them young schoolchildren here on a pilgrimage or
young backpackers who had all headed here for this one day. It was well
worth our 3 a.m. reveille to get here and the dark walk to the Cenotaph,
lit only by candles along the path and the ones we carried.
After our Bundy Rum breakfast we had time to head back to the hotel for
another breakfast (this one with solids!), shower, change and be on
parade for the 11 a.m. service, this one being held at Kanchanaburi War
Cemetery.
When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federal commonwealth
for only 14 years. The new national government was eager to establish
its reputation among the nations of the world. In 1915 Australian and
New Zealand soldiers formed part of the Allied expedition that set out
to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula to open the way to the Black Sea for
the Allied navies. The plan was to capture Constantinople (now
Istanbul), the capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany.
They landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the
Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock
Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign
dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the Allied forces were
evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured
great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian and 3,000 New Zealand soldiers
were killed. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on
Australians and New Zealanders at home and 25 April quickly became the
day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war.
Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives of
capturing Constantinople and knocking Turkey out of the war, the
Australian and New Zealand actions during the campaign bequeathed an
intangible but powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as the
“ANZAC legend” became an important part of the national identity of both
nations. This shaped the ways they viewed both their past and future.
Both countries now use Anzac Day to remember all those who have given
the ultimate sacrifice in war, especially at Kanchanaburi where so many
died building the Death Railway between Thailand and Burma in WWII.
After the service we were once again introduced to that good old Aussie
custom of ice cold beer!
As members of the Royal British Legion we were honored to be alongside
our Aussie and Kiwi friends and also honored that they allowed us to
both collect money for our Poppy Appeal (the box was full and all the
poppies gone after 10 minutes) and fly our standard, but our parade was
not over yet. There is another lesser known cemetery in Kanchanaburi
called Chungkai. It is situated about 10km from the main one and lays on
the banks of the River Kwai. Chungkai was one of the base camps on the
railway and contained a hospital and church built by Allied prisoners of
war. The war cemetery is the original burial ground started by the
prisoners themselves, and the burials are mostly of men who died at the
hospital. There are now 1,427 Commonwealth and 314 Dutch burials of the
Second World War in this cemetery.
We first visited Chungkai last year and found that not one wreath had
been laid there so decided that in future years we would order an extra
wreath and after a few words by our chairman Middy Campbell lay it at
the Chungkai Cenotaph. Our duties now complete we joined our
Commonwealth friends once more. By this time they were at the Bridge
along with the pipe band, more cold beer and plenty of food.
We will return again next year along with our extra wreath, poppy boxes
and alarm clocks for that 3 a.m. reveille, for they are just small
burdens to have the honor of paying our respects to so many.
Lest We Forget
The Royal British Legion meet at Tropical Bert’s every Sunday Afternoon.
A unique photo, our
standard bearer Richard Holmes lowering
the Standard as 2 Thai Army Buglers play Last post.
A lone monk, the river and
bridge all at peace.
The Royal British Legion
Standard Bearer being escorted
by an Australian Army Honour Guard.
Cold beer and food by the
river after the service.
The wives help sell
poppies.
Chairman Middy Campbell
says a few words at Chungkai Cemetery.
The Cenotaph at
Kanchanaburi.
Superstar Night Party says
thank-you to Hard rock regulars
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Hard Rock Cafe’s first Superstar Night Party was held on April 25,
with regular customers invited along as guests, and the promise that the
party will be held on the last Friday of each month from now on.
 Three
female guests were invited on stage for the Lady in Red contest.
Host for the evening was Dissaphong Rojanasin, better known as Tata, who is
the Hard Rock’s assistant manager.
Games were a highlight of the evening, with three female guests invited on
stage for the Lady in Red contest. The evening ended with a picture-taking
session of all the guests as a souvenir.
Tata says that the Superstar Night Party is a way of saying “thank you” to
regular diners at Hard Rock, and that it will be held on the last Friday of
each month, between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Regular customers of the Hard
Rock Cafe Pattaya gather
for the Superstar Night Party.
Mantra turns two - with a splash of champers
(L to R) Dominik Stamm,
general manager of Amari, Dr. Iain Corness,
Som Corness, and Super-chef Supachai Saisoigeon.
(L to R) Alexander Parry,
Dominik Stamm, Dr. Salam A. Hoshang,
and Supachai Saisoigeon.
(L to R) Ken & Debbie
Cavanugh, Judy & Bruce Hoppe, Eric Lai and Tony Malhotra
(L to R) Panuwat Rattanapanya,
sales co-ordinator of Amari; Brooke & David Begouich, and Ducanpan
Thongsonbat.
(L to R) Ampawan Kuhasak,
sales manager of Mantra; Sasikornpong Muadtaisong, director of sales &
marketing of Amari; Aunchisa Kenchaiwong, sales co-ordinator of Amari; and
Panuwat Rattanapanya sales co-ordinator of Amari.
(L to R) Piset Singsupran,
Alexander Parry, and Arphiradee Boonsom.
Miss Terry Diner
The Mantra restaurant turned two years old with a superb champagne
popping celebration, with the guests and diners joining in with the red and
black theme of the evening. It was one of those events where you had to go,
had to be seen, and could not help but enjoy yourself.
For Madame and I, it was difficult to leave the cocktail bar, following the
kind invitation from Amari Orchid Resort and Tower GM Dominik Stamm to knock
back a champagne. Or two. Whilst they were being poured I also noticed the
young chap in the corner with the freshly shucked oysters and joined the new
restaurant operations manager Alexander Parry in an oyster shot toast. Or
three. (For those who have not been to Mantra recently, the previous
restaurant operations manager Geev Bahrampoori has gone to Phuket, but he
rang me rather wistfully to say he was enjoying his new assignment, but was
obviously missing the unique ambience that is Mantra.)
For the second birthday, super-chef Supachai had prepared a special five
course menu for the occasion, being some of the favorites plucked from the
regular menu, but what a combination! Imagine beginning with a Peking Duck
sushi and then going on to a seafood sampler with Alaskan king crab with
avocado, Maine scallops, deep-fried prawns with a sweet horseradish sauce
and Ahi-Tuna loin with a spiced Japanese dressing. For the main course, we
had chosen the roasted snow fish which came on a sensational orange and
passion fruit butter sauce. Sweet and tangy and it just brought the snow
fish alive.
It was a night to remember, with all the staff sporting face-painting and
wearing black and red outfits incorporating an “M” and a “2”, as if we could
forget that Mantra, the restaurant that dares to be different, has now
turned two.
Happy birthday, Mantra, from us all at Pattaya Mail.
Local and national celebrities
in the ‘Mantra’ mood.
Sand castles honor ancient Buddhist belief
The Sattahip Municipality
Elderly Club performs a Pranbun-Manora dance.
Patcharapol Panrak
Sand castles and stupas were built at Sattahip during the Songkran
festival to honor an old Buddhist belief that the sand carried off temple
land on the soles of the feet of devotees has to be replaced.
Sattahip Mayor Narong Bunbancherdsri presided over the competition in which
the sand castles took many exotic forms, and afterwards presented the
prizes.
Pre-school children from two of Sattahip’s child development centers put on
a stage performance for the crowds, with a long drum dance and a four
regions dance, while an Aridang show was performed by Ban Taothan
Kindergarten School, and a Thai musical show was performed by Siam Music
School.
Senior citizens too provided on-stage entertainment. The Apakorn Kiatiwong
Elderly Club performed a Lao Somdet show, and the Sattahip Municipality
Elderly Club performed a Pranbun-Manora dance.
Narong said that the Sattahip sand castle contest is held every year to make
merit during Songkran, and that creating the designs and building sand
castles is a fun and creative activity for the school children to watch.
The Sattahip sand castle
contest is held every year to make merit during Songkran.
Pattaya workers feel
the squeeze as prices rise
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The rapidly escalating cost of living and doing business is hurting
Pattaya residents and entrepreneurs, with Labor Day on May 1 prompting many
of them to speak out to Pattaya Mail reporters and to say that they
hoped the national government would do something to alleviate the plight of
people throughout the country.
 Jintana
Ratsueb, an employee of a laundry business in Central Pattaya, “Meals used
to be 25 baht, now they are almost double.”
A 44-year-old man who identified himself as Od, a carpenter for a boat
construction company in Pattaya, said that he is a daily worker, and that if
he didn’t go to work then he wouldn’t have an income.
“The experience and skill of a carpenter is reflected in his income,” said
Od. “For myself, I am satisfied with my current wage, which is higher than
the average low income. Nevertheless, I have to make ends meet and it is
more difficult than before, when I look at the current economic situation,
compared to my income. This is due to the increased costs of food and the
necessities of life.”
Od said that one of his colleagues, a daily worker, had a work-related
accident. Like Od, he had no Social Security card, so he must pay for
medical care. He was fortunate in that his employer is contributing to the
cost. But it underlined the vulnerable situation people like Od and other
daily-rate workers face. He said that welfare payments for daily workers
have not been adjusted for two years.
 Od,
a 44-year-old carpenter for a boat construction company in Pattaya, “If I
don’t go to work, I don’t get paid.”
Mrs Jintana Ratsueb, an employee of a laundry business in Central Pattaya
said that her income has become unstable during this economic situation.
People, she said, are becoming more frugal. Instead of buying household
items in large quantities, they are looking for free promotions so they can
save on expense.
Not long ago, she said, she was paying 25 baht for food per meal. Now she
said she is paying 10 baht more. The cost of living is rising, and people
are very worried.
There are approximately 700 baht bus vehicles in Pattaya, and their
operators are facing increased costs although their income remains the same.
Chamlong Sukprom, head of the Pattaya baht bus cooperative said that fares
have not been allowed to increase in proportion to the rising cost of
gasoline.
“For short distances it is still 5 baht, but some customers are willing to
give 10 baht because they sympathize with the operators, who are being
squeezed by the rising gasoline prices.”
First ever Expat theatrical group
gets ready to tread the boards!
Paul Strachan
Although Pattaya is often described as ‘Fun City’ with its abundance
of bars, Karaoke’s and live music venues, the one element that was missing
was: The Arts, but perhaps that’s all about to change.
 “Final
Dress Rehearsal” is a farce about a production of “Cinderella.”
A little over a year ago a group of like minded individuals got together and
staged a ‘Murder Mystery’ at a local restaurant, it was deemed a great
success and left the actors and the audience hungry for more.
This proved to be a huge undertaking and required the talents of a wide
range of individuals, some of whom had a background in the theatre and
others who simply brought their fervour and passion to the team. And so
Pattaya Players was founded, it has a board of directors, a stage manager,
director, set designers, carpenters and of course actors.
An informative website was set up: www.pattaya players.org and links made
with local businesses to help get the troupe get up and running.
Their first ever production ‘An Evening of One Acts’ will be held at the
10th Floor Function Hall in Bangkok Pattaya Hospital on the Friday, May 16
at 7:00 p.m., with another performance on the following night and then a
matinee show on Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 p.m.
For their first outing the board have came up with an ingenious way to test
the appetite of Expats in Pattaya and will surely attract a supportive
audience.
 “The
Last Leaf” is based on a classic short story by O. Henry.
This Evening of One Acts will showcase three very different plays. First up
is ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ which follows a family living in London at the time of
the Second World War. A friend brings into their home the ‘Monkey’s Paw’,
which they believe has powers to make them rich. We see their happy family
life begin to break down with tragic results.
The second act is ‘The Last Leaf’: a bittersweet story involving Johnsy, a
young artist who is suffering from a severe case of pneumonia and has lost
her will to live. However, a friend provides the ultimate gift to Johnsy,
and in doing so, saves her life. Based on the wise and poignant classic
short story by O. Henry.
Then things take a comedic turn in ‘Final Dress Rehearsal’ a simple farce
about an amateur troupe of actors (how appropriate) putting on a production
of “Cinderella.” Predictably, they are nowhere near ready to perform. The
actress playing Cinderella arrives late, while the prince never arrives
period. This inspires the “Prompter” to offer to play the prince’s part. The
“Prompter” seems to want to play all of the parts in the play. The
stepsisters fail to enter at their cues; the stage crew is composed of
buffoons, the sound effects are played incorrectly, and when the author
arrives, she quite understandably feels that her play is being ruined.
 A
scene from “The Monkey’s Paw.”
All three plays are directed by the founding board member Chris Parson a man
with a wealth of experience who has the ability to get the most from his
actors.
A brief intermission half way through the production will allow audience
members to gather and discuss the performances while enjoying their
favourite beverage and snack. Tickets for a lucky draw raffle featuring many
fantastic prizes and gift certificates will also be available for purchase
before the show.
This is the first time that such a thing has been done in Pattaya and with
more productions already in the pipeline, theatre lovers should bookmark the
website to keep up to date with the upcoming shows.
Seating is limited and at only 300 baht for adults and 200 baht for
children, it’s a very small price to pay to see real theatre here in
Pattaya. Tickets are available at the Pattaya Mail Office on 2nd Road,
Jameson’s The Irish Pub, North Star Public Library or you can buy online at
the website www. pattayaplayers.org
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