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Old Ang Sila market celebrates 134 years in Chonburi
Deputy Gov. Songpol Champaphan presides
over the opening
of the May 1 celebration.
Boonlua Chatree
Chonburi’s Ang Sila market celebrated its 134th year in
business with exhibits showcasing handicrafts, art, folk music and food from
past decades.
Deputy Gov. Songpol Champaphan presided over the opening
of the May 1 celebration at the market, which sits in front of Maharat
House. It has been a popular spot for both locals and tourists due to its
old-time charm and unique products.
There was an exhibit of local handicrafts, food and
beverages that were popular in the past and have faded from consciousness.
Art and folk music and a variety of promotional items were on sale for 100
baht each.
Visitors got into the act, participating in
demonstrations on how to make old-style drinks, such as the ice press,
traditional Thai desserts, production of local handicrafts and students folk
music show.
Songpol said that the Ang Sila market has a long history and rich culture
associated with it. He added he thinks the market will be around for many
years to come.
Chonburi Deputy Gov. Songpol tries some of the delicious
food featured
at the anniversary celebration.
PCEC visits Russia
Master of Ceremonies Judith Edmonds welcomed everyone to the
Sunday, May 2, Pattaya City Expats Club meeting and called on any first time
visitors to introduce themselves. After the usual opening announcements, she
called on fellow Member Roger Fox to join our guest, Lev Ovsyannikov on stage.
Roger thanked Lev for agreeing to give everyone some insight into the Russian
presence in Pattaya.
Open Forum host Sig Sigworth extols the virtues of Planters
Cocktail Peanuts with Sea Salt - indeed anything with sea salt. Sig is looking
for an Aeronautical Engineer with a minor in Hat Repair.
First, he asked Lev to tell everyone about himself and how he
came to be in Thailand. Lev said he was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, but grew
up in Vladivostok. His mother, father, and younger brother continue to live
there. He attended University there and later went to China to study the Chinese
language. About 2 years ago, his mother bought two condominiums in Pattaya and
he came here to make arrangements for their rental. After working with a local
real estate agent, he said they invited him to work for them as an agent. So, he
took them up on their offer and is now learning Pattaya’s real estate business.
Roger mentioned that it seems many of the Russians visiting
Pattaya tend to be rude and not wishing to socialize with other foreign visitors
from the West. He asked Lev if he could shed some light on the cultural
differences between Russians and other westerners that might explain this
behavior. Lev responded that Russia is a vast country with many regions; each
area has their own culture. He noted that Vladivostok is in the Far East and
Russians there are influenced by Asia, whereas Russians that live in the western
part are more influenced by Europe. But, like the West, he said most Russians
are brought up to be polite.
Member Richard Silverberg presents the ‘website of the week’
- detailing improvements in Google Map, which has now been given the 3D
versatility of Google Earth, as MC Judith Edmonds looks on.
The majority of Russians that are coming to Thailand, he
believes, fall into a particular background. Most made their money from 1992 to
2000. This was after the fall of communism and was a period of near anarchy.
Consequently to survive, it was everyone for themselves. To exist during this
period, many took from others and they tended not to trust anyone. Earlier and
later generations did not have the opportunity to make a lot of money;
consequently, they cannot afford to visit places like Thailand. However, those
that made their money during this era can afford to travel. So, most of the
Russian visitors that come to Thailand made their money in the 1990s. He said
they are not necessarily being rude, but they are distrustful of others and do
not want to socialize - not even with each other. For example, there are many
Russians living in Pattaya, but there is no particular area where they
concentrate or socialize.
Lev concluded by answering many the audience’s many
questions. Judith then called on Richard Silverberg to share his latest Internet
find. Richard said that it really wasn’t a find, but many would be interested to
know that Google Maps has added some new features. One is a feature from Google
Earth that lets you pinpoint an area and then view a three dimensional rendition
of it at street level. When using Google Maps, there are buttons at the top to
select different views such as map and satellite. A new button has been added
for the “earth” view. Select this button to bring up the three dimensional
renditions. This feature is currently available for most major cities including
Bangkok. Richard also said Google Maps has now added “directions” to its map of
Bangkok. You can ask for directions for walking, public transit, or driving.
Although the route given may not be the best, if followed, they should get you
from point A to point B.
Judith then updated everyone on upcoming events and called on
Sig Sigworth to conduct the always informative and sometimes humorous Open Forum
where questions are asked and answered about living in Thailand and Pattaya in
particular.
Roger Fox and Lev Ovsyannikov share a joke as Lev describes
life growing up
in Russia, in Vladivostok, and studying in China, Korea and now
Thailand.
Diana Group awards 204,850 baht
in scholarships to employees’ children
The children and employees say thank you to Sopin Thappajug,
Diana Group managing director, after she presented scholarships to the children
of employees and the mass media.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Diana Group handed out more than 200,000 baht in
scholarships for 88 children of hotel group employees and the media.
The 204,850 in grants marked the 22nd time the hotel group
has provided financial aid for its workers. The latest scholarships were awarded
May 4 at the Chaktheppiman convention center at the Diana Garden Resort by
Managing Director Sopin Thappajug.
Nineteen scholarships for the kindergarten level, 30 for
primary school, 33 for secondary school, four for vocational school and four
basic scholarships were presented. Furthermore, the Diana Group also gave out
nine scholarships for educational support to children of the local press as
well.
“This distribution of scholarships to children is considered
as one activity for the employees’ welfare in the hopes of reducing their
present daily living costs, which are increasing everyday,” Sopin said. “Apart
from scholarship support, there was also a summer training course for employees’
children. It opened for children a minimum of 14 years of age, to train them in
a variety of sections. This will make children have the habit of using their
free time for useful purposes. Additionally, the annual presentation of
scholarships also provided an educational visit to enhance knowledge for the
children and youth.”
This “morality workshop” was also organized with Buddhist monks lecturing on
Dharma related to basic culture, the importance of religious days and living
happily in society in hard-pressed conditions. It was supported by Klongtham
Thammapo and the Recreation group led by lecturer Saijai Kongcharoen, deputy
principal of Pattaya School No. 7, and Panyasak Pulsawat, deputy principal of
Wat Ratsattha School.
Bobbing Bollywood comes to Pattaya
Winners in the costume competition receive their vodka prizes.
Sue K
Once again Bollywood took Pattaya by dance, with a workshop
held at “The Bed” Amari Nova Suites on the 8th of May.
The event was beautifully and jointly organized by Kavita
Lamba and Martin Simons.
The guests were in full swing showing off their beautiful
traditional and not so traditional Indian gowns. A costume competition was held
and the prizes of vodkas went to Claudia and Martin Hayes, Hannah Robson, and
Sue from PMTV.
Souvik the dance “Guru” came all the way from Bangkok to show
the wannabe Bollywooders some moves on how to thrust their hips, bob their heads
and change light bulbs while patting a dog, all at the same time. That takes
talent and as it turned out, all did very well.
Food for the dancers’ energy that night was Indian porcelain
“Thali’s” or trays with selections of mouth watering delights of tandoori
chicken, mutton, veggies, and more.
It was a fun filled night all around. We will have to keep
practicing our shimmy shake shake hips until the next Bolly Wolly Wood comes to
town again.
Souvik the dance “Guru” shows wannabe
Bollywood dancers some patented moves.
Later, Souvik managed to get everyone dancing Bollywood style.
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