The Rotary Club of the Eastern Seaboard’s final fundraising event of 2011 was the “Christkindl Fair” at the Diana Garden Resort & Golf. Thirty-four vendors showed off their products, some in 3-D.
The free Dec. 3-4 event was opened by Sopin Thappajug, managing director for the Diana Group, RCES President Carl R. Dyson and Jack Levy, managing director of MLG Insurance Brokers, who doubled as a jovial Santa Claus.
Pattaya Orphanage dancers perform traditional Thai dances.
Once the doors opened, the fundraising began in earnest and visitors all seemed happy to grab pre-Christmas gifts. Exhibitors offered a whole range of merchandise, from local products to technical and electrical appliances, from home coffee-brewing to T-shirts, from casual lady garments to trendy polo shirts, and hand-woven carpets from predominantly Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Two artists displayed oil paintings on traditional wood and canvas, one of whom developed his artworks based on natural materials like tree roots and highlighted with small ceramic tiles.
Furniture was presented in wood and linen upholstery. Another vendor displayed trendy, though classic, leather seating sets. Jewelers also brought their collections, both fashionable and rustic, classic and modern. Skin potions, healing creams and herbal medicine also found their way to interested visitors.
The RCES Tombola this year was another highlight of the day. Twenty grand prizes were drawn, with some spectacular winning opportunities carried away by lucky winners.
Steve Ryser (2nd left) mans “Steve’s Champagne Bar” with Carl R Dyson, Brian Alexander and Aad Scholtes.
Amongst the many donated items were a Mityon Suzuki Smash, a pair of Bangkok Airways tickets with three nights at the Serenity Resort & Spa in Phuket, and a stay for two nights at the Amari Watergate Hotel in Bangkok.
Innumerable food vouchers from top hotels and restaurants in Pattaya were also offered, including about 100,000 baht in prizes from the Pattaya Hilton, Marriott Resort and Spa, Bruno’s, Casa Pascal, Swiss Paradise Village, Swiss Sabai, Antoni’s and Ristorante da Marco.
Santa in conference with two visitors receiving their goodies.
Bottles of wine, spirits, mobile phones, and electrical appliances rounded out the list of items to be won with a 20 baht ticket.
The evening’s finale came with two sessions by the choir of the Pattaya Orphanage. One was a traditional Thai performance dedicated to HM the King and the other a collection of Christmas carols. Kids from ages 3 to 20 all participated, led by Director Radchada Chomjinda.
Sopin “Noi” Thappajug does some pre-Christmas shopping.
This 70-member choir, dressed for the occasion in white tunics, a Santa hat and a red slash over the right shoulder, performed renditions of holiday classics in Thai, English and German.
Of course, every Christkindl Fair features “Steve’s Champagne Bar” and despite a recent health scare, Steve Ryser was there once again to host.
The adorable Pattaya Orphanage Choir performs superbly.
