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The Hard Rock plucks the right chord for the blind

Cristina sings up a Songkran storm at the Hard Rock Hotel

Lots of fun at the Thai Garden Resort’s annual staff party

Are you ready for Xtreme Games?

The Hard Rock plucks the right chord for the blind

True joy is expressed in many forms, the most common being a smile. But when that smile comes from a child who lives in darkness, it tugs at the heartstrings. This was the scene at the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya last weekend when over 30 children from the Redemptorist Centre for the Blind were treated to an afternoon enjoying all the hotel has to offer.

Thai tradition during the Songkran festivities features traditional cultural values such as making merit and paying respect to one’s family. The Hard Rock Hotel has made Pattaya its home and has done just that over the Thai festive season.

Even though this child cannot see, anyone looking could see her joy as she splashed about, a joy shared by her helper, Redemptorist Centre for the Blind volunteer Tim.

The blind children of various ages started the day enjoying the cool sensation of splashing about in hotel’s swimming pool. Ably guided in the unfamiliar surroundings by the Redemptorist Centre volunteers and hotel staff, the children splashed around the pool with the younger ones staying in the children’s pool and the more adventurous trying their hand in the larger section. The cool water was refreshing on such a humid day, bringing a smile to many - including the hotel staff.

Tim, a volunteer at the Blind School said, “It’s good for the children to get out and about, it gives them more confidence in the outside world.”

Tim occasionally takes the children to Pattaya Park where they now know the surroundings, and where some are adventurous enough to try the waterslides.

Following their swim, the children were served dinner, graciously served by Hard Rock’s staff and management, followed by a concert.

Community projects such as this are part of Hard Rock’s policy of creating a better world by acting locally on a global scale, with one the of the precepts being ‘All is One’.

Cristina sings up a Songkran storm at the Hard Rock Hotel

Famous Thai singer Cristina Aguila sang up a storm over the Songkran festivities, as hoards of people packed the poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya to listen to their favorite singer live in concert.

Cristina Aguila (left) signs the famous “star guitar” and presents it to Hard Rock Pattaya GM Andrew Koo.

The Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, billed as “The most happening hotel in Pattaya” hosted numerous activities over the traditional Songkran weekend. Special guest, VJ Mathew Dean from MTV showed up to participate in the fun and games and give away prizes before main event.

During the main attraction, Cristina sang many of her hit songs and had the crowd screaming for more at the end of her set.

In true Hard Rock tradition, Cristina signed the ‘star guitar’, which will hang on the wall at the reception counter where all stars sign their name to signify their visit to the Hard Rock.

After the signing ceremony was over Cristina was mobbed by her adoring fans, all anxious to get an autograph and get close to this charismatic singer.

Following the concert, the Hard Rock put on a mega-rave foam party with hard rockers dancing the night away and celebrating the traditional Thai New Year in modern fashion.

The Hard Rock Hotel hosts a foam party every Saturday night for all party animals.

Lots of fun at the Thai Garden Resort’s annual staff party

The Thai Garden Resort recently held its annual staff party. The venue was - where else? - the hotel’s Moon River Pub. Since the regular performing musicians from Trinidad are considered staff as well, the entertaining group was a local Thai band, and of course played a lot of Thai songs, which were much appreciated by all the Thai staff.

Thai Garden Resort GM Rene Pisters honors employee of the year Sangravee Niemnoy.

The mood was high right from the beginning and everybody enjoyed the shows, performed with a lot of skill by staff members. Yet it got even better when the big raffle drawing started. Great presents like a bicycle, TV-set, and refrigerator amongst many other nice presents were given away.

Staff and management enjoyed the party and even Pattaya Mail’s Peter Malhotra, who came to join for a while, was so impressed he sponsored another prize on the spot.

Are you ready for Xtreme Games?

No, that’s not trying to cross Pattaya Second Road on a Saturday afternoon during Songkran. A different kind of high flying thrill seekers looking for the ever-addictive adrenalin rush were hanging out in Pattaya last weekend.

A cyclists does a helicopter move during the Xtreme sports competition at the Hard Rock last weekend.

The event, Xtreme Games, featured in-line skating and skateboard demonstrations, as well as pro-stunt bikers performing on the tennis courts of the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya. The display also featured the ‘in-line pro high air challenge’ with skaters vying for the title of the highest jumper.

While the rest of Pattaya engaged in the more placid fun of dowsing anyone and everyone with water, throngs of people turned out last Saturday and Sunday to watch the madmen fly through the air and perform seemingly impossible stunts on wheels. The weather was humid but the action was hot as tourists and locals watched in awe as these guys put their wheels to the test flying, twisting, flipping and somersaulting on the tennis courts in front of the hotel, also featuring some spectacular wipe outs.

The results of the ‘in-line pro high challenge’ weren’t available at press time but be assured, this is not the last time Pattaya will see such an event.

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