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Thousands enjoy healthy lifestyle during Vegetarian Festival
Leaders carry the ceremonial
incense pot into the holy ground
to pay respects to their deity. (Photo by Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome
(center) gives an opening day speech.
(Photo by Vimolrat Singnikorn)
Sontaya Kunplome, former
minister of tourism and sports welcomes people to the festival. (Photo by
Vimolrat Singnikorn)
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The parade is finished, the rice eaten, and the Pattaya Vegetarian
Festival at the Sawang Boriboon Thamasathan Foundation in Naklua finished as
of Oct. 27, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy healthy living that
was promoted during the yearly festival.
 Colorful
dragons on sale at the festival. (Photo by Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
Although the majority of people attending the festival were of Chinese
origin, many Thai and foreign tourists also took part as the festival has
become a highlight on Pattaya’s calendar, with many restaurants and hotels
participating.
The festival, sponsored by Pattaya City, Sawang Boriboon Thamasathan
Foundation and the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Pattaya office kicked off
Oct. 17 with a two-headed parade. At the end of the parade, “Nine Empowers
Fried Rice” was served to 4,999 people and a lighted “Eight Chinese Gods”
sculpture presentation was on display.
 A
long dragon makes its way through Walking Street. (Photo by Vimolrat
Singnikorn)
The festival began at 9.19 a.m. with a religious ceremony, followed by a
grand parade that started from Bali Hai Pier at 12.29. The parade proceeded
down Walking Street where it split into two formations. One traveled Beach
Road to Central Road while the other turned up South Road and moved north
along Second Road to Mike Shopping Mall where it paused for a special
Chinese dragon show.
Afterward the two groups rejoined at the Second and Central roads
intersection and moved in tandem up Central Road to the intersection with
Third Road, where the parade concluded. The parade participants then took
buses to Sawang Fa Temple to regroup and moved on to Lan Pho for a Buddhist
ceremony to bless the opening of the Vegetarian Festival.
 Feeding
the dragon for good luck. (Photo by Vimolrat Singnikorn)
The opening ceremony took place at 4:30 p.m. at the Sawang Boriboon
Thamasathan Foundation’s Vegetarian Hall in Naklua, with Sontaya Kunplome,
former minister of tourism and sports, Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, and Wisit
Chawalitnititham, president of the Sawang Boriboon Foundation presiding.
Wisit said that the festival is based on ancient Buddhist tradition, giving
followers the opportunity to cleanse their bodies by not eating meat or
taking alcohol during these nine days.
Prized ingredients for the Nine Emperors Fried Rice were prepared and 4,999
guests dined under the glow of the Eight Chinese Gods sculptures.
Vegetarian “pork” and “steamed fish” were also on the menu, along with white
tofu and a huge variety of vegetables. The chefs estimate they would be
using up to 500 kilos of cooking oil.
 Chinese
characters representing the elders march in the parade. (Photo by Ariyawat
Nuamsawat)
Locally, the annual vegetarian festival has its origins in the founding of
the Sawang Boriboon Foundation some 50 years ago by the Chinese business
community in Naklua. Many restaurants and food outlets are taking part, a
yellow flag with the Thai word “Jay” signifying that they are serving
vegetarian food.
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome said dining vegetarian style creates a pure
body and cleans the heart. He invited those of all faiths to not only
partake in the festival 10-day festival, but continue healthy living
throughout their lives.
Suwanthep “Tony” Malhotra
(left) and Umaporn “Poo” Rachatawattanagul (right) emcee the opening day
festivities. (Photo by Vimolrat Singnikorn)
Eng-Kor-Pabu troops from the
Look Praya group out of Nakorn
Sawan perform at the Sawang Boriboon Thamasathan Foundation in Naklua.
(Photo by Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
Guests dined under the glow of
the Eight Chinese Gods sculptures.
(Photo by Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
Two young actors give an
amazing performance during
the opening day of the festival. (Photo by Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
Golden dragons are an exciting
part of the parade. (Photo by Vimolrat Singnikorn)
Lions and dragons make their
way up Walking Street.
(Photo by Vimolrat Singnikorn)
Eng-Kor-Pabu troops from the
Look Praya group perform after the parade.
(Photo by Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
The parade stops at Mike
Shopping Mall to perform an acrobatic dragon show. (Photo by Vimolrat
Singnikorn)
Local dignitaries donned chef
hats and coats to cook the huge pan of Nine Emperors Fried Rice. (Photo by
Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
White clad participants in the
opening day parade make their way up Walking Street. (Photo by Vimolrat
Singnikorn)
Lan Pho market in Naklua was
abuzz with activity during the annual Vegetarian Festival. (Photo by
Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
Parade participants finish
their walk at the Sawang Boriboon Thamasathan Foundation in Naklua. (Photo
by Ariyawat Nuamsawat)
British and German Chambers rock Pattaya
(L to R) Paul Strachan from
PMTV, Rene Pisters from Thai Garden Resort,
George Hazard from the Hard Rock, Ricki from the Hard Rock
and Dr Iain Corness from the Pattaya Mail enjoy a tipple.
(L to R) Patrick Ng and Ricki
of the Hard Rock, Bruce Hoppe, Vice President Asia Operations, Emerson
Electric, Elfi Seitz editor of the Pattaya Blatt, and Laurent Levraud,
manager of the Hard Rock Café have a rockin good time.
Dr. Iain Corness
The Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya was the venue October 22 for the
combined British and German Chambers of Commerce to have a networking
evening, with GM George Hazard leading the assembly in the Hard Rock war
cry!
 Peter
Malhotra (left), MD of Pattaya Mail Publishing shares a laugh with George
Hazard (right), general manager of the Hard Rock Hotel and Cafe Pattaya.
Before the networking evening, there had been a site visit to the Hemaraj
Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate (ESIE) and Chantana Hunkaew, the director
of corporate marketing for Hemaraj was very proud of the ‘Detroit of the
East’ and the fact that Hemaraj ran upskilling courses for the Thai workers,
preparing them for the new technologies used in auto parts manufacturing.
Due to the success of previous visits to the ESIE, the German-Thai Chamber
of Commerce (GTCC) together with the British Chamber of Commerce (BCCT)
decided to pay another visit to the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate
(Rayong). While last year they visited the “Detroit of the East”, this year,
Hemaraj invited the group to visit Wetland followed by Waste Management Siam
(TBC).
 Stefan
Buerkle (left), executive director of the GTCC and Greg Watkins (right),
executive director of the BCCT, ensure that the networkers did truly mingle.
The executive directors of the two chambers, Greg Watkins (BCCT) and Stefan
Buerkle (GTCC), ensured that the networkers did truly mingle, with around 90
members and guests attending. The fact that the majority of the German
nationals could all speak English certainly helped. Sebastian Habler
(Leschaco Thailand) and Raymond Bertsch (ARC group) being good examples of
this.
Hemaraj also sponsored the food and wine, and Hard Rock did an excellent job
there with everyone enjoying good food, served on good-sized plates,
including sauerkraut and a pig on a spit.
One of the other sponsors was Royal Coffee, who were not offering coffee
that night, but instead were also involved with the German beers and
different red, rose and white wines to be sampled. The Bitburger beer I
found to be a particularly pleasant thirst quencher.
Regulars, such as the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s dynamic duo of Ann and Pik
were seen charming guests into check-up packages, while the prize for the
hardest working networker was Northern Thai Insurance’s Tooiee, seen with an
enormous fistful of business cards.
Despite some initial misgivings over joint networking evenings, this one was
a great success, brought about in part by the excellent Hard Rock venue.
(L to R) Paul Strachan from
PMTV, Anita Bromley from the Chiang Mai Sixes, Maurice Bromley from
GoIndustry-DoveBid, and Stefan Buerkle from the GTCC enjoy each other’s
company.
Temperatures rise during
Hard Rock Cafe’s 8th anniversary party
(L to R) George Hazard, general manager of the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya,
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay, and Siam Thongkong, sales executive for Ternod
Ricard pour the Champagne during the Hard Rock Cafe’s 8th anniversary
celebration.
Saksiri Uraiworn
Grammy rock band Fahrenheit provided the heat as guests, management
and staff celebrated the Hard Rock Cafe’s 8th anniversary October 15.
 Deputy
Mayor Verawat Khakhay and Hard Rock GM George Hazard cut the cake.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay was the honored guest, as was Akkarawit
Thepasit, deputy director of TAT Pattaya Office.
Hard Rock Cafe GM George Hazard welcomed the guests and invited one in all
to a rockin good time. Thais, expats and tourists happily fulfilled this
request.
It’s hard to believe it has been 8 years since the Hard Rock Cafe was
officially opened in Pattaya. It seems like it has been here forever,
providing upscale music, food and drink to its large fan base.
Champagne flowed down the glass tower, honored guests helped cut the large
guitar shaped cake, and the band played on.
The Hard Rock Hotel will be celebrating its 8th anniversary next month, on
November 15.
George Hazard grinds his ax on stage.
Grammy rock band Fahrenheit provides the musical excitement.
Crowning of Miss
International Queen
Some of the contestants for this year’s event meet the press.
Dr Iain Corness
The fourth running of the Miss International Queen pageant culminates on
Saturday October 31 with the crowning of this year’s winner. Always a
star-spangled affair, the pageant draws to Thailand 25 of the world’s most
beautiful transvestites, representing their home countries.
Last year, the winner was the Thailand entrant, and as previously, the
opening number of the glittering show reflects the nationality of the
out-going Queen.
Ken Smith, the creative director for Tiffany’s said in an exclusive
interview with Pattaya Mail TV that the new show has been planned for
12 months and is probably one of the most spectacular ones he has ever
produced.
Seating in the world class Tiffany Theatre is available for the performance
and judging, which runs from 9 p.m. on October 31. VIP seats B. 2,000,
standard seats B. 1,000. Further details are available on the website
www.missinternationalqueen.com
2009 Poppy Appeal underway
 Bert
Elson
Once again we see the appearance of poppies and collecting boxes
around Bangkok, Pattaya, Chang Mai and Korat as the Royal British Legion
Thailand gears up for Remembrancetide, the period between October 24 and
November 11. This year Remembrance Sunday falls on November 8.
Why the poppy and how did it all come about? Well to find the answer to that
we must go back to the First World War and a certain Major John McCrae.
Major McCrae was a medical officer in WWI and described it as “impossible to
get used to the suffering, the screams and the blood.”
After seventeen days in a field hospital he wrote; “I wish I could embody on
paper some of the varied sensations of those 17 days…seventeen days of
Hades! At the end of the first day if anyone had told us we had to spend
seventeen days there, we would have folded our hands and said it could not
have been done.”
After the death of a close friend McCrae sat and wrote the poem, “In
Flanders Fields”. In fact it was very nearly not published. Dissatisfied
with it McCrae tossed the poem away, but a fellow officer retrieved it and
sent it to the newspapers in England. “The Spectator” in London rejected it,
but “Punch” published it on December 8, 1915. McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields”
remains to this day one of the most memorable war poems ever written. It is
a legacy of the terrible battle of Ypres salient in the spring of 1915.
In Flanders Fields
Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
The wearing of a poppy to keep faith began when an American, Miss Moina
Michael, read the poem and was so greatly impressed that she decided always
to wear a poppy to keep faith. Miss Michael wrote a reply after reading “In
Flanders Field” entitled “We Shall Keep the Faith”.
We Shall Keep the Faith
Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a luster to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
Miss Moina worked for the YMCA in America and on Saturday November 9, 1918
hosted a meeting of YMCA wartime secretaries from other countries. When
several of the secretaries presented her with small gifts of money to thank
her for her hospitality, she said she would spend it on potpies and told
them the story of McCrae’s poem and her decision to always wear a red poppy.
The French secretary, Madame Guerin, conceived the idea of selling
artificial poppies to raise money to help needy soldiers and their families,
and she approached organisations among the countries of the world that had
fought as allies in Europe to promote the concept.
 Bill
enjoys a cup of tea in the lounge.
The first Remembrance Service as we know it was held in 1919. The British
Legion was founded in 1921 as a voice for the ex-service community. The
poppy, thanks to Madame Guerin, had already been adopted as the Legion’s
emblem. It was granted the Royal Prefix on 29th May 1971 to mark its 50th
anniversary.
The work of the Legion carries on today for we will always care for those
who have served, are serving and/or their dependents. Indeed 2 years ago saw
an increase of 30% of help given by the Legion to those under 35 years of
age, a sign of the toll of present conflicts perhaps.
The Royal British Legion Thailand is still a young branch but is expanding
every year. Last year we rose over 271,000 baht, which has been used on such
things as hospital visits, hospital fees, funeral expenses, repatriation,
prison and jail visits, care, comfort and advice for widows and a variety of
other things.
One of the Pattaya branch’s highlights this year was the repatriation of Old
Bill. Those of you who walk Pattaya Beach most mornings may have seen Bill
on his daily walk. What you may not have known was he was old; 95 in fact.
He joined the army in 1932, leaving 30 years later. He spent almost 5 years
as a POW in WWII and was awarded the B.E.M.
Unfortunately Bill’s sight and hearing were deteriorating so badly that he
found it hard to shop or even leave his small room. Within a week of us
informing the Royal British Legion’s welfare and housing department of
Bill’s situation he was in back in England being cared for in his new home
at the Legion Village. He has his own room with small garden, large communal
lounge and dinning area and should he need it constant care.
Money that you people donated to the Poppy Appeal is now helping to care for
Bill. Please give generously so we can continue that care. Should you wish
to make a private or corporate donation please feel free to contact me, Bert
Elson, bert@tropicalberts .com, tel. 089 8072335, Secretary Royal British
Legion, Thailand.
The Royal British Legion Thailand meets every Sunday at Tropical Bert’s 2nd
Road opposite the Bangkok Bank.
Fish and Chips in the restaurant.
Blood pressure screening at PCEC meeting
The regular Sunday meeting
of the Pattaya City Expats Club on October 18 at the Amari’s Henry J. Bean
Restaurant began when Master of Ceremonies Les Edmonds welcomed everyone to
the event. After the usual announcements, emcee Les introduced Dr. Benjaporn
Nitinavakarn, M.D. from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
 MC
for the day, Les Edmonds, begins by welcoming new visitors to Pattaya City
Expats Club and inviting them to introduce themselves to the other members.
Dr. Benjaporn received her medical degree from Khon Kaen University and her
certification from the Board of Diagnosis Radiology at Chulalongkorn
Hospital. Her specialty is medical imaging and diagnosis radiology. Her
topic was “Imaging Vascular Screening.”
Dr. Benjaporn started by explaining how the various arteries in the body
take blood from the heart to the body’s organs and how veins take blood back
to the heart. These blood vessels (vascular system) are needed to keep the
proper blood supply to the organs, whose performance would decrease
otherwise.
There are several factors that can impact upon the arteries ability to
deliver an adequate blood supply such as high blood pressure, inflammation,
and a high cholesterol level.
She also mentioned that smoking is one of the main risks to good vascular
health as a long term study has shown that smoking causes inflammation of
the blood vessels.
 Dr.
Benjaporn Nitinavakarn, M.D. from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, is a radiologist
with a specialty of medical imaging and diagnosis. Dr Benjaporn gave a very
interesting talk on the vascular system, the diseases of the vascular system
and how these conditions are diagnosed and treated.
Vascular disease is mainly caused by atherosclerosis (hardening of the
arteries). This is the buildup of fatty deposits called plaque in the walls
of the arteries. Over time deposits of cholesterol, fat and the smooth
muscle cells that line the arteries are transformed into a thickened and
sometimes calcified mass. This causes the arteries to narrow and lose their
elasticity, which leads to a reduction in blood flow through the vessels.
Narrow, hardened arteries make it more difficult for blood to provide the
needed oxygen and nutrients to the body’s organs. Those parts of the body
most affected by the blockages suffer the consequences of poor function and
tissue damage (in the worst cases, death).
She noted that there are now available several non invasive means of
exploring the condition of the body’s blood vessels. These methods are an
ultrasound, an MRI, or a CT scan.
 Air
mike champion of Pattaya, Bob Sutterfield, conducts the open forum, where
all kinds of questions are asked, and often answered, about living in the
‘Land of Smiles’ (LOS). Bob (and the shirt!) are from Hawaii.
Ultrasound imaging involves exposing a part of the body to high-frequency
sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Ultrasound can
show blood flowing through blood vessels.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses magnetic and radio waves which can
provide clear pictures of various parts of the body. The MRI scan is able to
show both the heart and the large blood vessels in the surrounding tissue.
Computed Tomography (CT) is an imaging method employing tomography created
by computer processing. It generates a three-dimensional image of the inside
of an object from a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images (the word
tomography was derived from the Greek tomos which means “a section”, “a
slice” or “a cutting”).
The CT examination can be used to determine the level of calcium in blood
vessels to determine whether blockages may exist. The coronary arteries
supply blood to the heart. Calcium in the coronary arteries is a sign of
coronary artery disease.
A CT scan takes pictures of the heart in thin sections. The pictures are
recorded in a computer and can be saved for more study or printed out as
photographs. Cardiac calcium scoring based on a CT scan can give your doctor
more information on your risk of having blockages.
Another aspect of CT calcium scoring is to identify calcium deposits in the
blood vessels to the brain. Dr. Benjaporn showed a series of photographs
obtained by CT scan of the blood vessels leading to the brain.
At the conclusion of Dr. Benjaporn’s presentation, it was announced that
special checkup packages were being made available from BHP to screen for
the three most common fatal conditions which are cancer, heart disease, and
the brain (stroke).
Dr. Benjaporn remained after her presentation to provide private
consultations for those that wanted them. BPH also provided free blood
pressure checks for members and guests throughout the meeting.
After the Doctor’s presentation, Barry Stone, managing director of Mermaid
Cruises and Shipping Co. in Hua Hin announced that his company was building
the first solar powered catamaran in Thailand. It will be finished in four
to six weeks and it will sail the 56 nautical miles across the Gulf of
Thailand. He said it will hold 50 passengers and will be luxurious having a
bar, jacuzzi, sun beds etc. The catamaran will be available for corporate
events as well as for tourists. He will inform the Club of the launch date
and first crossing of the Gulf.
Emcee Les concluded the meeting by updating everyone on upcoming events and
calling on “Hawaii” Bob Sutterfield to conduct the always informative,
interesting, and often humorous Open Forum where questions are asked and
answered about living in Thailand and Pattaya in particular.
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