May 2003 89th Issue

Proud day for Schiller-Stamford International University

April 5th was indeed a very proud day for the Schiller-Stamford University Council, it’s lecturers, students and invited guests as Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali, presided over The Formal Inaugural Ceremony for the University Status of Schiller-Stamford International University. Schiller-Stamford International University was founded in 1996, by a Petchaburi Province prominent and successful real estate developer, Mr. Pongpan Sampawakoop, offering Bachelors and Masters Degrees, international (English) programs in business administration and liberal arts. For those Thai working business and government officials who want to pursue higher education, the university has developed and offered Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Public Administration (MPA), Thai Programs, conducting learning and teaching instructions, on week-ends, in Thai. Presently, the under-graduate (bachelors degree in Business Administration) Thai program has been developed and offered, class scheduling to be also on the week-ends.
The university is under the management of an internationally known Thai economist and businessman, who was once a former Minister of Commerce, and currently is one of the Government Economic Advisors to the Taksin Government team, Dr. Narongchai Akraseranee.

This month's holidays

May is a bumper month for holidays - May 1st is Labour Day, May 5th Coronation Day, May 8th is Royal Ploughing Day and May 15th is Visakha Bucha Day.

Labour Day is celebrated here in Thailand in the same way and for the same reasons as in the west.
Coronation Day is celebrated because His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s coronation took place on this day in 1950. Thai people rejoice and express their affection and loyalty to him. On May 3rd the King will perform a merit making ceremony at the Audience Hall of Amarindra in dedication to the deceased kings, while Buddhist monks perform a requiem on the royal ashes of the deceased kings. The following day a proclamation is read by the Chief of Brahmin priests. Finally on May 5 food is offered to monks. At noon the Army and Navy fire a 21 gun salute to honour the king. On this day His Majesty presents royal decorations to worthy people of the community.
The Annual Ploughing Ceremony has been performed since ancient times and is designed to give an auspicious beginning to the new planting season. It is of Brahman origin and was practised even before the birth of Lord Buddha, who, then a prince, used to take part in the ceremony.
Visakha Bucha Day is a significant celebration held to commemorate the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. Ceremonies are centred around temple where people attend sermons during the day and in the evening they take part in candle lit processions that circumambulates the temple three times.

Four years is never too late!

Those of you who remember Hurricane Rock Pub, which was forced to close some 4 years ago, may also remember the annual collection they made for poor school children from ‘Hurricane’ Thep’s home village near Korat.
The unhappy closure of Hurricane was followed by a series of woes which life tends to deal out with such regularity, thus preventing a trip to Korat for 4 years. The 20,000 Baht collected from Christmas 1999 has been sitting in the bank earning the breathtaking interest of 190 Baht p.a. since that time!
Late last month Verity and Thep, Hurricane’s owners for 7 years, were able to re-visit the small village of Baan Kradarn, “What made it so exciting this time was that no-one knew of our visit until a couple of days before”, explained Verity.
During their 4 years absence, electricity had come to the village making the furnace like temperatures just about bearable with the aid of fans. With the advent of electricity to this tiny village came a number of shiny glass telephone boxes, looking like they’d lost their way, and just set themselves down at the edge of the dusty, potholed road. Strains of Dr. Who (for those old enough to remember the great BBC series).
Nothing else had changed, the road was still gravel with potholes every 200 metres, the land was flat, arid and treeless. The small waterholes were dry, dust was everywhere and the heat relentless, needless to say, tourists were nowhere to be seen.

A quick meeting was arranged with the school teacher, the same one who taught Thep, and who, often rapped him round the ears, to discuss what was needed. “Fans, please, fans for the kindergarten children, when they are resting after lunch, and some for grade 1 and 2”, was the request.
The next day a pick up truck arrived at the school loaded with fans, school uniforms, shoes and many helpers. The children had only been told of the visit at assembly, so were overjoyed and determined to carry what they could grasp in their small hands. Some little ones were very unsure of the light bown lady farang (Verity has lived in Thailand for 14 years) with the camera pointing at them. But smiles abounded as they were handed their gifts.
It’s such a shame Hurricane’s kind guests who donated their money four years ago, weren’t able to see the joy their generosity gave those poor country children on a hot morning.
“We’d like to thank each and every one of you” concluded Thep, who was able to combine the trip with a visit to his 94 year old grandmother.

Obituary - Anuphap Kanakaratna - 14 Apr 1946 - 24 Mar 2003

Anuphap Kanakaratna, “Dam”, as he was known to his family and many friends, was brought up in the small tin mining village of Ron Phibun in Nakhorn Si Thammarat province. Before he could finish his schooling, his father became too ill to work. Dam, as the eldest son, was forced to leave school and to work to support his parents, brothers and sisters.
Having left home, he worked first for the United States Military in Bangkok, where he learned his Western cooking skills and was able to pick up a working knowledge of English. Later, he became a representative for a pharmaceutical company, travelling extensively between Bangkok and the south of Thailand.
In 1977 he moved his family to Hua Hin and opened the “Friendship Restaurant”, the first restaurant in Hua Hin to offer a complete Western menu. In the Nineteen Eighties, at the height of it’s popularity, the restaurant was always full in the evenings during the tourist season, and Dam - ever mine host - would entertain his customers, singing old favourites such as “My Way” and “Feelings”. He was also a keen golfer and had been a frequent player at the local golf courses.
Unfortunately, with the construction of Satukarn Square by his landlord, Dam was forced to close the “Friendship” in July 1996. He moved to Soi Tanawit where he opened a bar/restaurant called “Guys”. For some time, he also managed the Tanawit “Indo China” and “Terrace” restaurants. In October 2002, “Guys” having moved to a new location, he opened a guest house called “The New Friendship”.
With his outgoing personality, Dam had many friends throughout the Thai community and among Farang residents and visitors. Therefore, it was not surprising that hundreds of people turned up to pay their respects both at the funeral rites at the New Friendship and finally at his cremation in the temple on 31st March 2003. He is survived by his daughter Kwang and his two grandchildren - Tua and Tare.
He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

Tips to make your holiday smooth

Thai people believe the head is the most sacred part of the body. Refrain from touching a Thai person on the head.
The feet should not be used for pointing at people or objects.
The Buddhist faith is strong here, it is considered disrespectful to wear beach clothes to a temple, or to climb over Buddha images.
The Royal Family is deeply loved, and speaking ill of any its members is considered a serious matter.
Displays of affection in public is poor form as is topless sunbathing.
Most independent small businesses and street vendors are open to bargaining. All discussions should be done in a friendly manner.
Thailand and in particular Hua Hin/Cha Am remain very safe for tourists with almost no violent crime, pickpockets and credit card crime rares its ugly head from time to time.
Respect for the police should be shown at all times, they do not take kindly to rude or loud talk.
Take particular care on the road, motorbike spills are very common and can ruin your holiday. If you hire a motorbike and it is damaged, you will have to pay for its repair. The major car hire companies do have insurance, but check first. An accident can be very costly.

Remember these Thai phrases throughout your stay “Sanuk” which describes anything which is fun, and “Mai pen rai” which means never mind, and all will be well!

Wild animals still exploited in tourism industry
Forestry Officials Raid and Confiscate Gibbons in Hua-Hin

Illegal hunting and exploitation of wildlife for the benefit of "tourism" is still happening. Two baby white-handed gibbons, barely a few weeks old, have been discovered being kept at a tourist attraction in the city of Hua Hin. Like all wild animals captured for the illegal wildlife trade, each of these gibbons has been obtained by poachers by brutally killing the mother and probably the whole family group.
For every young gibbon that is seen being exploited in the tourism industry, it is estimated that up to 9 gibbons have been killed in the wild. The authorities have been informed of the plight of these poor animals, and it is expected that action will be taken shortly.
It is unbelievable that some tourists think it is still acceptable to have an endangered animal caged up for tourism exploitation . .
3 gibbons have been confiscated by the Royal Forestry Department and have been taken in for care at a wildlife breeding center run by the authorities. The swift action taken by the enforcement officials of the RFD has made sure that the animals were confiscated in time before they could be moved elsewhere by the "owners" who were aware of the possibility of being raided.

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