Pattaya’s Austrian ex-pats celebrated their country’s National Day a week late with a party in Jomtien Beach.
The Nov. 5 celebration at the East Tapas Lounge was hosted by Consul General Rudolf Hofer and featured the first Pattaya appearance by new Ambassador Enno Drofenik.
Radchada Chomjinda, director of the Human Help Network Thailand, and 10 children from the Child Protection & Development Center welcomed them with dances.
HE Ambassador Enno Drofenik and his family and consul general Hofer are greeted by the children of the CPDC.
Hofer said he will try to bring Austrians in Pattaya together more often together by building an Austrian club.
Drofenik said that he was happy to be in Pattaya and will try to visit more often.
The Austrians collected almost 10,000 baht to give to the children from the CPDC for their nearly flawless performance of an Austrian dance.
Consul General Rudolf Hofer welcomes his guests.
The Pattaya reception followed Drofenik’s National Day party at Bangkok’s Intercontinental Hotel in Bangkok eight days earlier.
The ambassador opened the Oct. 25 event with a short speech, pointing out that many Austrian politicians will visit Thailand soon to reinforce good relations.
After the Austrian dance a group picture was taken.
After his speech, two couples clad in white danced the Vienna waltz and then the ambassador and his wife Juri opened the dance floor with another waltz with guests joining.
Austrian food and wine from the Gottschuly winery were served. Even German Ambassador Rolf Schulze was impressed, saying “those Austrians really know how to celebrate.”
