HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Farewell beloved Princess

Loy Krathong fun for all

Ladies from the NSO learn English at Asian University

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Farewell beloved Princess

Cannons, conch shells and soldiers accompany funeral procession of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana

Their Majesties the King and Queen attend religious rites for the late H.R.H. Princess Galyani Vadhana at the Dusit Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace Friday, Nov. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Bureau of the Royal Household)

Their Majesties the King and Queen kindle a fire beneath the funeral pyre for the late Princess Galyani Vadhana. (AP Photo/Bureau of the Royal Household, HO)

HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej lights candles as he attends the religious rites for
his elder sister (portrait at left). (AP Photo/Bureau of the Royal Household, HO)

H.R.H. Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn accompanies officials carrying the relics of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana from the crematorium to a waiting carriage.
 (AP Photo/Bureau of the Royal Household)

HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, 2nd left, is joined by Her Royal Highness Srirasm, left, Princess Sirivannavari, sitting, HRH Princess Sirindhorn, center, and HRH Princess Chulabhorn following the funeral procession for HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)

The royal cremation procession for the late Princess Galyani Vadhana slowly moves past the Grand Palace, background, towards the crematorium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. (AP Photo)

The Royal Great Victory Carriage carrying the urn and remains of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana is pulled by soldiers dressed in ancient uniforms past the Grand Palace during the royal cremation procession. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

A Brahmin priest helps elevate the urn of the late Princess Galyani Vadhana
on to the crematorium during the royal cremation rituals.
(AP Photo/Bureau of the Royal Household)

People take photos next to a portrait of the late Princess Galyani Vadhana during her cremation procession in Bangkok on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008.
 (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

Thai people place flowers in front of a photo of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana
at Sanam Luang near the royal palace during the funeral procession.
(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Smoke from her remains rises above the crematorium of late Princess Galyani Vadhana. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

Ambika Ahuja
Bangkok (AP) - To the wail of conch shells and the thunder of cannon fire, crimson-clad soldiers pulled a gilded chariot containing the body of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, His Majesty the King’s sister, to a seven-story pyre where she was cremated.
HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, the world’s longest-serving monarch, kindled a fire beneath the funeral pyre containing his sister’s remains Saturday night, after a day of Buddhist and Hindu rites for the Princess. She died of abdominal cancer 10 months ago at the age of 84.
More than 2,000 soldiers in dress uniform marched alongside the elaborate chariot containing a tall gilded urn with the remains of the princess in a funeral procession from the glittering Grand Palace through the heart of old Bangkok.
Throughout the day more than 100,000 people lined the route under clear skies to bid farewell to the princess, while millions of others watched on television.
Many indicated they wished to honor the beloved 80-year-old King as much as the princess.
“I am here to send her to heaven,” said Pairin Huasiri, a 69-year-old former civil servant who came from Chonburi province, 40 miles south of Bangkok, to pay his respects.
“The King has done a lot for the country and today we want him to know that we are mourning with him,” he said.
Flanked by rows of drummers, trumpeters and conch-blowers, the slow-moving procession ended at the crematorium - a temporary complex of pavilions built at a cost of $5.7 million by hundreds of Thai craftsmen over the past seven months.
In Buddhist temples around the country, Thais performed religious rites and burned sandalwood flowers in her honor.
The grand six-day funeral ceremony officially started Friday when HM the King led the Royal Family in ceremony at the Grand Palace, with more than 100 specially chosen monks in attendance.
The color and pageantry has proved popular. Jiew, a ferry boat ticket booth operator at the dock on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River nearest the procession route, said the boats were overflowing with people traveling to the procession.
“On a regular day we have fewer than 10,000 passengers. Today it has been many, many, many. Maybe nearly 100,000,” he said.
Clad in black, 82-year-old Sanit Sompotong from Thonburi, across the river, stood for hours for a glimpse of the procession.
“The wait is not a problem for the joy of being here to support the royal family,” he said, surrounded by others wearing black who nodded their heads in agreement.
HRH the Princess was noted for her interest in the arts, especially theater and classical music, a taste cultivated when - like HM the King - she was educated in Switzerland, where she spent much of her life.
Farewell beloved princess. You will forever remain in our hearts.

Loy Krathong fun for all

Mayor Itthipol Khunplome opens the festivities
by floating his krathong on a specially set up stage.

Staff reporters
With fireworks banned and the world’s political and economic upheavals kept at bay at least for the night, the traditional Loy Krathong festival was more sedately celebrated all over Pattaya.

The Dusit Thani Hotel in Pattaya has its own Miss Noppamas.
Also with the funeral for HRH Princess Galyani approaching, many people refrained from too much celebration.
Fortunately for the environment, the campaign for using biodegradable organic krathong floats, instead of nasty foam ones, was taken up by many.
There were krathongs galore made from bread, ice cream cones, water hyacinth, corn husks and coconut shells. But floats made from styrofoam still turned up on the beach this year, although not as many as in previous years.
One krathong per family or couple also seemed in vogue, perhaps following the self-sufficiency principle in harder economic times.
The price of marigolds was higher due to heavy rain causing a shortage for this flower in the market. Business at the fresh-flower market was in fact not as lively as usual.
Ubiquitous Mayor Itthipol Khunplome opened the festivities at Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya on November 12.

The 1st Mr. Full Moon Pattaya contest winner.
At Lan Pho public park in Naklua, Miss Noppamas, Mister Full Moon and Little Noppamas contests of beautiful people were in full parade, followed by a cultural show, an old-time folk dance and other entertainment activities.
It was the very first time that handsome men have a chance to show off too in the Mister Full Moon contest, instead of just admiring the glittering ladies.
The winner in the krathong creation competition was the primary class from Muang Pattaya School 5. Muang Pattaya School 9 won the prize for the secondary school class and N2, led by the Peace Flower team, won in the people’s category.
International hotels were busy, too, showing foreign visitors our traditional ceremony under the full moon.

Winner of Pattaya’s Miss Noppamas 2008 contest.
Marriott Resort and Spa served Thai food from four regions to guests who then floated the organic krathongs in the hotel swimming pool.
Guests at the Dusit Thani Hotel loy krathong in the swimming pool next to the sea and the hotel chose its own Noppamas.
Amari Orchid & Tower also showed off its own Miss Noppamas plus presented a stage show and an international food buffet.
A krathong is made in the shape of a lotus and usually contains a candle, three joss-sticks, some flowers and coins. People also cut their fingernails and hair and add them to the krathong as a symbol of letting go of their bad parts.
Many believe that floating a krathong will create good luck, float away sins and bad luck and honor and thank the goddess of water, Phra Mae Khongkha.

Loy Krathong at the Marriott Resort and Spa.

Lovely maidens greet guests at the Loy Krathong Night at the Montien Hotel, Pattaya.

Winners in Pattaya’s Little Noppamas contest.

Young elephants float their krathongs at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden.

Tourist couples join in under the full moon

Pure concentration whilst making her krathong out of natural materials.

Not easy to judge! All of them are beautiful.

Staff and guests celebrate at the Amari Orchid & Tower.

Ladies from the NSO learn English at Asian University

The National Statistical Office women pose
on the front steps with Dr Vip and teachers.

A thank you gift for Ajarn Roy.

All that effort works up a hearty appetite.

The women diligently work on their English language skills in the classroom.

Susan Joyce
Twenty seven ladies from the National Statistical Office, mostly from Bangkok, have just completed a special weekend English language programme at Asian University, to improve their English communication skills.
They have been at the university for eight weekends, arriving Friday morning and leaving Sunday midday with fourteen hours of class each week. The ladies were all very keen students, and their attendance record was exemplary. They stayed on the campus, alongside the regular university students, and, outside class times, they were able to walk on campus and use the sports facilities to keep themselves fit.
Some of the ladies had been on several other courses and commented that the Asian University course compared favourably.
They particularly liked having native speaking teachers, and appreciated the teachers’ patience. Several mentioned the variety of ways in which they learnt English, using songs and games; some of these methods were new to them and they found that having fun enhanced the learning process. The ladies learnt in two groups (different levels), so there was plenty of opportunity to practice their speaking and listening with each other.
The course was run especially for the NSO staff, as a part of the English Immersion programme.