HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Nearly half a million people cram into Pattaya for Grand International Music Festival

Cake, rings and cheer at Casa Pascal’s 5th anniversary

A swinging BCCT evening at the Tarzan Hut

Nearly half a million people cram into Pattaya for Grand International Music Festival

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Hundreds of thousands of people of all ages thronged Beach Road last weekend for the Grand Pattaya International Music Festival 2006, the largest in the five consecutive years the event has been staged.

The return of the new style Tik Chiro.
On Friday March 17 at the Orange Stage set up at Soi 9, the official opening ceremony as conducted by Juthamas Siriwan, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chonburi Governor Pisit Ketphasook, and Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn.
The music festival was organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chonburi Provincial Administration and Pattaya City Council, with help from Thailand’s music industry.
There were three stages set up along Beach Road to accommodate the three music giants taking part, GMM Grammy, RS Promotions, and Music Television Networks (Mtv), who each lined up their own star performers.
The Orange Stage at Soi 9 featured artists under the Mtv banner such as Clash, Body Slam, Thaitanium, and Blackhead. At the Yellow Stage on Soi 6 were artists under the GMM Grammy label including Mos Patipan, Paradox, Zeal, Ebola, Skalaxy and Ka La. The Green Stage near Bali Hai Pier featured artists under the RSS Promotions label with the likes of Dan-Beam, Gear Knight, James, CC Pu, and Dang Pankorn.
Beach Road was closed off to traffic from 5 p.m. each day, causing the inevitable congestion on other main roads and leading to some frantic rushing on foot to get to the stage where a favorite artiste was performing. Some also complained that the entrance to the stages, especially the Orange Stage, were too narrow resulting in people crushing up against each other. But at the end of the day it was music all the way, with the added sound of success providing sweet music for the tourist industry.
The overall atmosphere at the event was hectic with the many tourists visiting the event each day. On the final day, just before the concerts were about to get underway, it started to rain heavily throughout Pattaya which delayed the start by about an hour, but this didn’t dampen the crowds’ determination.
Over 400 stalls were spread along Beach Road from North Pattaya to South Pattaya. The stalls did brisk business, as they were no less busy than the actual concert, and were able to bring a large amount of income into the city. The best sellers were beverages – water and alcoholic beverages, with clothing and jewelry not far behind in terms of sales.
Police and volunteers from Banglamung were on hand providing tight security throughout the three days.
Rangsan Wajeesajja, assistant director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 3, said that over 400,000 music fans attended the event, generating more than a billion baht. Rangsan said 98 percent of the hotel rooms were booked up one week in advance. Rangsan went on to say that he hopes next year will be as successful as this year.

Mos Patipan keeping the standards of a leading Thai performer.

Body slam received a lot of interest from fans.

Ka La are loved by the young boys.

Young girls scream for Clash.

Paradox always add color where ever they perform.

Playground for the modern youth.

Pala Pon and Punch, the brother and sister act.

Bow Suratnavi enjoyed her return to the music scene.

The Rockers Zeal.

Lanna Cummins and her Northern accent pulls on the heart strings.

Basher has become the new pop band of today.

Skalaxy played head banging music on the Yellow stage at Soi 6.

The new Rockers – Dezember, who might have worried the security staff.

Khon Kaen is a hit with the young.

Thaitanium - Thailand’s top Hip Hop band.

Stalls were everywhere along the beach.

The Mtv ball made its way around the crowd, much to the delight of the spectators.

Even military police were on hand to keep the peace.

Security was very tight.

Cake, rings and cheer at Casa Pascal’s 5th anniversary

By Miss Terry Diner
Pascal and Kim Schnyder celebrated the 5th anniversary of their restaurant in style. Referring to the restaurant as “our baby” Kim was the delightful hostess as ever, and Casa Pascal was full on that evening, with friends and regular guests there to enjoy what Kim and Pascal call their philosophy of cordial hospitality and culinary art.
And it was indeed culinary art, with chef Pascal coming up with such items as champagne soup with calf’s sweetbread and prawns with Ceylon tea and chili oil, but the finale, a marble of three tenderloins in a port wine and Balsamico sauce was just superb. Pork, lamb and beef wrapped together, each exquisitely tender and yet each still retaining their individual flavors. Culinary “art” at its best!
However, there was one diner who had arrived with more than just a pleasant dinner on his mind. Immediately after the champagne soup, Ingo Raueber, the GM of the Pinnacle Resort, got down on one knee and proposed to his long-time girlfriend Cristina, showing just how much champagne the soup really had! As the Casa Pascal staff showered them with rose petals, just what could the young girl do, other than to say “Yes”! Ever prepared, Ingo had the engagement ring on the third finger before she could have any second thoughts, and the guests toasted their future happiness.
However, the celebrations did not end there, as towards the end of the evening, the entire staff of the restaurant came out to sing “Happy Birthday” and wish Kim and Pascal all the best for the next 12 months. In response, Kim, Pascal and Pascal’s father drank from the world’s largest brandy balloon, while the guests sampled the birthday cake.
It was certainly an evening for everyone to remember, not just Kim, Pascal, Ingo and Cristina, and it will be difficult to top this evening at the 6th anniversary of Casa Pascal, but I am sure they will try.

Georges Rothstein presents Kim and Pascal with an enormous magnum of champagne.

The newly betrothed, Cristina and Ingo.

Lindsay and Hans enjoy the celebrations.

Kim is thrilled to see Adi.

Ingo on his knees proposes to Cristina.

Kim welcomes Axel and friend.

Helmut, Adi, Helmut and Kori gather to wish Pascal a happy 5th anniversary.

Hugh Millar, Cristina, Ingo and Dr Iain shown here celebrating both Casa Pascal’s 5th anniversary and Ingo and Christina’s engagement.

Pascal is joined by his staff as he drinks from the world’s largest brandy balloon.

Cheers! To many more years of success. Elfi, Stefen, Marie Therese, Felice, Fridolin Schnyder (Pascal’s father), Anita and Georges.

A swinging BCCT evening at the Tarzan Hut

Harry Paizuru
Driving along Sukhumvit on St Patrick’s evening it seemed like everyone in Thailand had discovered an Irish relative. I even started re-examining my own family tree for a hint of Shamrock. But what I was really searching for was the Tarzan Hut, aka Sharky’s, in South Jomtien, hosts of the latest British Chamber of Commerce Networking evening. What a great spot. Right on the sea, a cooling breeze taking the heat out of the day. Sponsored by Transpo International, I was welcomed with some big smiles and a glass of wine, my beverage of choice on this particular occasion.

(L to R) Ray Matti, advisor of View Talay Jomtien Condominium 1999; Renita Bromley, committee member, treasurer of Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes; Maurice D. Bromley, managing director of Henry Butcher & Co (Thailand) Ltd.; and BCCT director Mark Butters discuss wickets.
I once attended a conference where on the programme, at suitable breaks in the formal agenda was written, “Networking and Coffee”, which brought guffaws of incredulity from some delegates who were sceptical of the value of the term “networking”. But for those of us who have been in business for any longer than a day, the idea that meeting people is good for business doesn’t require any justification. It’s part of reality. It’s necessary. It’s how things happen.

(L to R) John L. Hamilton, general manager of WMS (Waste Management Siam Ltd.); Roger Parry, senior adviser of Professional Portfolio International Co., Ltd.; and Patrick T. Gossett, Eastern Seaboard sales manager of Transpo International Ltd. Talk business over beer and wine.
Nonetheless, I did wonder how so many ostensible competitors could find mutual benefit in such an evening. Graham MacDonald, chairman of the Eastern Seaboard BCCT, soon put me right, convincing me of their inherent worth in a succinct and expert manner. He spoke of healthy competition in a booming economy and the sharing of ideas and information which leads to win-win situations. Suddenly the true meaning of “networking” hit home.
A meeting such as this leads to many more face-to-face encounters between experienced business people from all over the region in an environment where ideas can blossom and inventive pragmatic development plans are hatched. Through cooperation as well as healthy competition, these knowledgeable operators are the engine of economic growth, the fruits of which we all enjoy.

Horseshoe Point was well-represented with (L to R) Kaneungnit Chankij, resident manager, Natcha Charoenrach, asst. sales manager; and Watcharin Kongjinda, asst. guest relations manager.
Patrick Gossett, Eastern Seaboard sales manager for Transpo International was effusive in his praise for the BCCT evenings. In a booming economy such as the Eastern Seaboard, he positively welcomed the opportunity to develop contacts and possibilities. Clear too, were the mutual benefits of sponsorship of an event such as this. Indeed, if we talk about growth markets, ‘sponsorship’ is right up at the top of the league.
With the demographic expansion of Pattaya and the coast as far south as Ban Chang, blessed with excellent infrastructure as it is and with a new airport about to really open up the region, never has there been a better time to take advantage of the expanding and increasingly diverse media opportunities. Pattaya Mail TV, who covered this event with their usual panache, is at the forefront of revolutionising programming and production in the region.
If any proof was required of the thriving economic environment, then the number of attendees, who had come from all around Thailand, provided it. There were representatives from an extraordinary range of industries, from education to property, to waste management and there was a healthy buzz about the Tarzan Hut throughout the night. From talking with many of them, it became abundantly clear that enthusiasm for investing in the Eastern Seaboard is huge and growing fast. Listening to the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore, it was easy to understand why.

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