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Bangkok University student crowned Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2010
Mik-Nalada Thamthanakorn is crowned Miss Tiffany’s
Universe 2010.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
A 19-year-old Bangkok university triumphed over 27 other
transvestites to be crowned Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2010.
Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2010
Mik-Nalada Thamthanakorn, flanked by Nadia-Numpath Prasopchok (left) 2 nd
runner up and Bank-Chanya Denfanapapol (1st
runner-up).
Nalada Thamthanakorn won 100,000 baht and a new car for
winning the crown during the pageant’s nationally-televised finale May 7 at
the Tiffany Theatre. Two 21-year-old Bangkok university students, Chanya
Denfanapapol and Numpath Prasopchok, took first and second runner-up,
respectively.
The final round of the four-day competition was the usual
extravaganza of sound and light with the 28 women of the second category
parading around the stage in evening gowns and cocktail dresses. The
finalists were then given a random quiz question before singer Ruengsak
Loyshusak took the spotlight.
Mik-Nalada Thamthanakorn receives the winner’s trophy and
crown from Senee Jittakasem, governor of Chonburi.
The 13th Miss Tiffany’s Universe pageant carried the
theme of “I Am What I Am,” which not coincidently was the finale song in “La
Cage aux Folles,” the Tony-award winning Broadway musical about a French
transvestite cabaret. The idea was that celebrating their transsexuality can
liberate the young men from struggle and ability to realize their self
potential.
All the contestants were between 18 and 25 years old,
with 75 percent bachelors from well-known universities. Their occupations
ranged from television production editor to firefighter to lecturer.
Alisa Phanthusak, assistant MD of Tiffany’s Cabaret Show
presents the Miss Unlimited Sexy Star winning prize to Bank-Chanya
Denfanapapol.
Nalada is an arts student at Bangkok University.
Runner-up Chanya, who also captured the honor of “Miss Silky Sexy Skin”
attends Dhurakij Pundit University and second runner-up Numpath attends
Bangkok University.
Other award winners were Dutlada Iamphung for Best
Dressed, Rinlaphat Phuk for the Friendship Beauty Queen and Best Complexion,
and Songsuda Songklittakorn and Atsajankawee Phromaksorn took the Media
Favorite prizes. Each won 20,000 baht.
Nalada said she was proud to have won the Miss Tiffany
crown, seeing it “as an opportunity for transvestites to express their
abilities correctly and be treated the same as natural women.”
“Most people still separate us from society, even though we can do many
things for it,” she said. “This stage is an honor for us, helping us be more
respected in society.”
James-Ruengsak Loychoosak joined the show
on stage for the Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2010 contest.
Nong Jazz - Sorrawee Nattee bids farewell to her fans
as
her year as Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2009 ends.
Haruna Ai - Miss International Queen 2009 shows off
her extraordinary dancing talents.
Nong Poy - Trichada Malkul performs a cabaret
number.
Contestants gather around to congratulate the
winner.
Beautiful contestants vie for the coveted title.
Twelve wines in sixty minutes
(L to R)
Chitra Chandrasiri, Ranjith Chandrasiri, Sakunnee Siriprasert,
and Virach Siriprasert line up for a commemorative photo.
Dr Iain Corness
The Royal Cliff Wine Club celebrated its ninth
anniversary in style, with a wonderfully entertaining evening tasting 12
Sauvignon Blanc wines from both the old and new worlds.
(L to R) Men in black - Ranjith Chandrasiri, Dr. Iain
Corness, and Ron Batori, the latter having received a huge round of applause
for his endless knowledge and his humorous presentation that evening.
After some ‘royal canap้s’ the wine club members and
invited guests were ushered into the Grand Ballroom where 12 empty glasses
awaited them, along with Wine Club President Ranjith Chandrasiri plus the
ever-smiling Ron Batori, president of Bangkok Beer and Beverages (BB&B).
Ranjith explained the concept of the ‘blind tasting’ of
the wines, and thanked all the Royal Cliff Beach Resort staff who had
assisted in making the Wine Club the success it has been, including a
special thanks to the Royal Cliff chefs and his PA, Acharee.
(L to R) Elvira Harris, Terrence Harris, and Paitoon mingle with the wine
tasting crowd.
Ron Batori took the stage and spoke on the history of the
sauvignon blanc grapes, which up till the 1980’s had been mainly used in
blending, but with the world tiring of the chardonnays, New Zealand
sauvignon blanc wines began to appear on the world’s dinner tables.
With scoring sheets supplied by Ranjith Chandrasiri, the
members had 12 glasses of different sauvignon blancs poured from bottles
which were wrapped in silver foil, hiding their origin from the tipplers.
The idea was to identify the wine(s) the members enjoyed
most, and for the tasters to then attempt to place those wines by
region/country.
Peter Schlageter (left) and Pat Burbridge (right) sip an
early evening wine.
The member who identified most of the wines by area was
Roseanne Diamente with seven correct from the 12. A great effort! My humble
picking was nowhere near as accurate, but at least my favorite wine of the
night was the same as Ranjith’s and Ron’s, being the exceptional Chateau
Doisy-Daene 2008, Bordeaux, France (which I had thought came from New
Zealand on my blind tasting)!
Thanks were expressed to Pongchalerm Chalermsaphayakorn,
the executive director of BB&B, and to Virach Siriprasert, the distributor
for BB&B on the Eastern Seaboard, with a huge round of applause being given
to Ron Batori for his endless knowledge and his humorous presentation that
evening.
Ron Weston (left) and Ian Vickers (right) are in a festive
mood during the tasting.
Roger Lucas (left) and Liz Shepherd (right) sample some
white wine.
Mayuree (left) and Herman van Gucht (right)
agree that these events are
not to be missed.
(L to R) Holly Claeys, Simona Sukyte, Hisne Yanai, and
Ranjith Chandrasiri enjoy each other’s company before settling in for the
blind tasting.
(L to R) Pat Burbridge, Chitra Chandrasiri, Patricia
Foulstone, Kylie Grimmer,
and Ivv Schlageter add pulchritude to the
evening’s gathering.
(L to R) Bill Freeman, John Guenther, Dr. Iain Corness,
and Som Corness
try to decide which wine they like best, and from where it
originated.
(L to R) Peter Schlageter, Ivv Schlageter, Werner Kuehr,
Elfi Seitz and
Pat Burbridge engage in light conversation.
Royal British Legion joins ANZAC Day activities
Lumpy Russell along with a visiting Australian school boy
lay our wreath at the main service.
Our Standard Bearer Richard Holmes lowers our Standard at
the main service.
Bert Elson
Once again the Royal British Legion joined our Australian
and Kiwi friends to travel to The River Kwai and commemorate ANZAC Day. This
year there were over 50 in attendance with members and their wives
travelling from Chiang Mai, Korat and Udon Thani to join up with the main
group from Pattaya.
Duties done it was time for a BBQ.
Many attended the Dawn Service and all attended the main
service. This was followed by our own small service at Chungkai War
Cemetery. This 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. The cemetery was designed by Colin St
Clair Oakes.
Chungkai War Cemetery is approximately 5 kilometers west
of Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. It can be reached by road over the narrow
Sudjai Bridge, by ferry crossing at the junction of the two rivers, or by
any of the many river boats running up and down the rivers. We noticed many
years ago that whilst the main cemetery is well visited and many wreaths are
laid there, nobody ever seemed to visit Chungkai, so we took it upon
ourselves to hold a small service there every year.
Anyone interested in joining the Royal British Legion Thailand: we meet
in Tropical Bert’s every Sunday from 2 p.m. or call Bert on 089 8072335.
Secretary Bert Elson explains the history of Chungkai War
Cemetery.
Members of the Royal British Legion Thailand at Chungkai Cemetery,
as you
can see in the background nobody else is in attendance.
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