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Central Airport Plaza hosts First Chiang Mai Wedding Fair
Supatatt Dangkrueng
Chiang Mai Wedding Fair 2002 was held October 11-17 at
Grand Hall, Central Airport Plaza and the opening ceremony was presided over
by Chao Duangduen Na Chiang Mai.
Lanna
style wedding outfits were on display at the Chiang Mai Wedding Fair 2002,
October 11-17 at Grand Hall, Central Airport Plaza.
The fair included many contests with the bride’s
bouquet, bride’s European hat, make-up, wedding dress, and bridal couple
model contest being amongst them. The winners were awarded a shield
presented by the Deputy Chiang Mai Governor and Chao Daungduen Na Chiang
Mai.
The fair was an opportunity to show wedding products and
services, photography, make-up, wedding cards and wedding dress fashion in
both European and Lanna style.
The highlights of the fair were the 7-story wedding cake and the exotic
fashion.
Matrix drug treatment being promoted by Suan Prung Hospital
Supatatt Dangkrueng
Due to the extensive use of ya ba (speed pills), the
numbers of patients to local hospitals and treatments centers are
increasing, and are spreading to all age groups, even among school students.
Statistics from Suan Prung Hospital show that their
outpatient department handled 2,045 cases in 1998, 2,563 in 1999 and 3,119
in 2000.
The solution for this problem requires help from
everyone. An addict needs both physical and mental treatment. There are
several ways to help the addict, with the latest method called Matrix.
According to Suan Prung Hospital, Matrix is suitable for
OPD (out patient department) patients, who will be advised that addiction is
not guilt but a mental illness. The idea is that this will make them feel
more comfortable and give them the inspiration to quit.
The Matrix process covers consultations, family
understanding, primary drug-quitting, prevention of relapsing, and mutual
assistance. Patients and their family will receive a handbook containing all
the important information.
Rehabilitation takes two hours a day, three times a week
over four months, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1.30-3.30 p.m.
To undergo this therapy, the patient should not be
psychotic and be completely willing to have a full course of treatment over
the four months. The hospital staff trained in this rehabilitation includes
doctors, nurses, psychologists, and technical officers.
For more information, contact the Suan Prung Hospital on
053 280228-47, ext. 222.
Chiang Mai receives English language tourism radio program
A first for Chiang Mai Province, Thai nationals and
foreign residents have joined forces to produce an English Language Tourism
Radio Program to specially serve long-stay tourists and expatriate residents
of Chiang Mai and its vicinity. This has been made possible through the
Public Relations Agency Radio Thailand Chiang Mai Region 3’s Public
Relations Department.
Mrs. Chintana Bhandfalk, executive director of Public
Relations Office Region 3 announced that the program, titled “Helping
Hand”, will be hosted by Christopher John, a former dentist from the US
and his team of more than 10 volunteers from Europe, Asia and South
American, led by Sakda Silaprasit, the Thai coordinator.
The focus of the program’s content is aimed at
promoting tourist destinations, local culture and customs as well as
providing useful information for long stay tourists and residents. A phone
line will be available for foreign visitors to call in and ask questions or
chat with the host during the program. If a listener phones in and speaks
English, the call will be broadcast on the air immediately. In the case of
another language such as Mandarin, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Spanish,
French or German, there will be someone available to speak to them off the
air.
The Helping Hand program was scheduled to begin broadcasting on October 1
from Radio Thailand Chiang Mai, frequency 93.25 MHz between 7.30 and 9.00
a.m. daily.
MOI push for family development centers
UNICEF and the Department of Community Development in first local project
The Ministry of Interior is launching a program to set up
Family Development Centers. This is being done by assigning Chiang Mai
Community Development Office to promote family values, leading to setting up
Family Development Centers in the communities in each province.
In Chiang Mai, the Department of Community Development
will be starting this project in Nam Boa Luang Community, Sanpatong,
sponsored by UNICEF, with the objectives of promoting the strength of the
families in the communities, supporting the family development center in
community, and creating new opportunities for the community in education and
participating in family development.
The chief of Chiang Mai Community Development Office,
Udom Maneekhat emphasized that the activities in the center would rely on
the participation of the members of communities in the districts and would
support and develop the role of leaders in the communities and share the
responsibilities with the government in family development.
The Chiang Mai Provincial Governor’s Office arranged
workshop meetings for the chiefs of provincial and district government
sections and the teams responsible for the setting up and continuation of
the Family Development Center between October 8-10 at the Chiang Mai Phucome
Hotel.
It is hoped that staff that participated in the meeting
obtained a better knowledge and understanding of Family Development Centers
in community and are now ready to support the steps of the program.
“Chatting with Monks” deemed a success
The future’s bright - the future’s orange?
Monk Chat at Wat Suan Dok, on Suthep Road, has given
foreigners a chance to sit down and talk with Thai monks 3 days a week. The
program is involved in conversation and cultural exchange between Thai monks
and foreigners who are interested in learning about monk’s lives and
discussing Buddhism. “We are glad to have a chance to practice our
English,” said Doctor Phra Saneh Dhammawaro, the monk responsible for this
program.
Lisa,
left, and Jennifer are seen chatting with a monk at the famous Wat Suan Dok
in Chiang Mai.
For over 2 years, they have welcomed foreign guests, on
average 10-20 people per day. The conversations are, in general, regarding
the monk’s lives, Buddhism or even the weather. The topic is dependent on
the interests of the participants.
The objectives of this program are to provide the
teachings of the Buddha to foreigners, to support an eco-cultural tourism,
and to practice English skills for the monk students. Chat days are every
Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 5 p.m. and 7p.m.
Lisa Mansty and Jennifer Kefer, tourists from Washington
DC, USA, said it was their first time to chat with monks, and they thought
the program was very interesting. They could share an idea with the monks
and in return, the monks could also share ideas with them.
It should be pointed out that foreigners who want to join
this program have to be aware that it is necessary to dress politely and
conservatively, shoulders must be covered, no short pants or short skirts.
They must also realize that a monk is not permitted to touch or be touched
by a woman.
There is another program for foreigners that has proved
to be very popular, called the Experiencing Thai Buddhist Culture Program
that allows them to spend a night like a monk and experience Buddhist ways.
Tourists can learn some of the teachings of the Buddha and Insight
Meditation techniques.
Both programs have been arranged by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya
University. For more information please contact at 053 278 967, 053 275 149
or website www.cmbu.net
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