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Students parade to publicize Payap National Games
More than 500 students from Payap University took to the
streets last week in a parade to publicize the 33rd Nation Games (Nakhon
Chiang Mai Games). The parade started from Buddha Sathan Chiang Mai, then
proceeded past Thapae Gate, Chiang Mai moat and Waroros Market.
A young
woman carries Singha Namchai, the games’ mascot, at the head of the
parade.
More
than 500 people from Payap University paraded around Chiang Mai City
campaigning for the National Games.
The parade was organized to interest local people and
invite tourists and foreigners to participate in the games’ activities.
The games’ mascot, Singha Namchai, was featured, as well as the
introduction of sports that will be competed during the games.
This activity was held to not only encourage local people
to participate in the National Games as hosts but also to promote exercise
for good health.
Jimmy Carter’s FFI visits us - twice!
Last week, Chiang Mai Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn
welcomed 22 Ambassadors of Friendship and the chairman of Friendship Force
International (FFI) from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. This was the second FFI
visit, as the previous week the mayor welcomed the FFI group from Central
Coast, Australia.
Twenty-two
Ambassadors of Friendship from Friendship Force International (FFI) USA
visited Chiang Mai last week.
The ambassadors were shown a video of Chiang Mai City,
and listened to a speech from the mayor. Following this, the leader of the
group joined in friendly discussion with the mayor and exchanged souvenirs.
FFI was founded by the ex-US President Jimmy Carter to enhance cultural
exchange, peace and friendship amongst members, and the organization now has
members all over the world.
Making merit during krathin ceremony
Udornphant Chantraviroj, president of the
Chiang Mai Provincial Administration Organization, plus Monchai Tesapaet,
editor of Thai News daily and Captain Kajit Hapnanont, the past president of
World Lions Club, recently made merit by giving alms and donating money to
Phra Khrue Batuang Nartsilo, the abbot of Wat Banden, during the
“krathin” ceremony held in Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai.
The
famous monk, Phra Khrue Batuang performs a traditional ritual for President
Udornphant.
President
Udornphant (center, white suit) says a prayer and pays respect to the monks
during the krathin ceremony at Wat Banden in Mae Taeng District.
Udornphant
Chantraviroj, president of the Chiang Mai Provincial Administration
Organization, leads a procession to the krathin ceremony at Wat Banden in
Mae Taeng District.
Wanabe warm? Try O-na-be says Chiang Mai Hills
Phitsanu Thepthong
The answer to the winter chills is the hot Japanese food
festival called “O-na-be”, says Natthatira Boonpaepol, public relations
officer of the Chiang Mai Hills Hotel. During the cold season, the popular
tropical food will help warm up those who love to enjoy food sitting
together in a circle with close friends or family members.
Sukiyaki
This food festival is taking place at the Japanese food
restaurant, Sui -Zen-Te, where the hot food is warmed up by the BBQ in the
middle of the food table. This Japanese O-na-be food is very popular among
Japanese people.
Shabu-Shabu
The Japanese food called Shabu-Shabu consists of meats
sliced into small pieces, mixed together with several kinds of vegetable and
then cooked in the soup or curry.
Apart from Shabu-Shabu, there is also another hot food, also cooked on
the BBQ, which is quite well known among the Thai food lovers. Sukiyaki will
also be part of the cold weather O-na-be Japanese food festival, which will
continue till the end of December.
World’s orchid enthusiasts to gather in Chiang Mai next month
International Seidenfaden Orchid Symposium coming December 1-4
Nuttanee Thaveephol
The International Seidenfaden Orchid Symposium will be
held at Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel, Chiang Mai December 1-4, with the
opening ceremony presided over by Dr Veerachai na Nakorn, the director of
the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden (QSBG). The conference is organized jointly
by the (QSBG) and Sanga Sabhasri Research Foundation (SSRF) and all the
activities use English as the official language.
Seidenfaden comes from Dr. Bunnar Seidenfaden, the Danish
diplomat, arctic explorer and world-renowned orchidologist who died in
February 2001. Until his death, he was actively working on a project he had
begun in 1955, the study of Southeast Asian orchids.
As well as the orchid symposium, the participants can
visit the Sai Nam Pueng, Suan Bua Orchid Nurseries and the collection of
native orchids at the orchid nursery at the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, as
well as visit Doi Inthanon National Park to experience the highest summit in
Thailand and the virgin evergreen forest.
Interested persons who have not yet registered should
contact QSBG as soon as possible for hotel reservations in Chiang Mai. To
make entry procedures simpler, Thailand will also offer short-term visas
upon entry to a variety of foreign nationalities.
Women’s rights sparks interest in art
An international art exhibition, “Who Owns Women’s
Bodies?” (WOWB) will be held December 6-31 at the 2nd floor of the Chiang
Mai University Art Museum, Nimmanhaeminda Road. WOWB is a traveling
exhibition of more than 30 artworks by top artists from the Philippines,
organized by the Creative Collective Center, Inc., a non-government group
which uses art and media for popular education, in cooperation with the Ford
Foundation.
The exhibition has already been shown in seven venues in
the Philippines and at Chulalongkorn University Art Center during June this
year and now opens in Chiang Mai.
The exhibition aims to convey human sexuality and
reproductive rights, and encourages reflection on personal issues that are
seldom dealt with in art.
Rochit Tanedo, WOWB manager and a journalist/social
activist, and Imelda Cajipe Endaya, an internationally renowned artist,
believe that the discussion on women’s sexual rights needs to be aired. In
the Philippines, there were many issues on women’s rights that needed to
be resolved. The WOWB organizers were to find a suitable entry point for
discussing the subject at grass roots level. By working with Filipino
artists, the WOWB formula has succeeded in the Philippines.
For more information, contact Rochit 09 681 6435 or Kop
06 654 2544.
Thai whisky and material products for export contest
The Impact Trade Show, Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi will
feature a contest comparing Thai whiskies and export material products. This
is an extension of the National One Tambon - One Product Project which will
include the New Year Gifts Festival December 15-25.
There are two classes of materials being judged, silk and
cotton, divided into local class and trading class. In the Thai Whisky
contest, there are three classes, herbal whisky, fruit whisky and grains
whisky. The competitors must be silk or cotton product traders registered
with the project and for the whisky contest, the applicants need to be an
agricultural cooperative or limited partnership, and the company must be
legally registered to produce and sell whisky.
The winner of the Northern region will get the 5,000 baht
prize, and the national winner receives 50,000 baht with an honor shield.
For further information, contact at the Chiang Mai Community Development,
5th floor, city hall.
Cultural heritage on show for tourists
Lamphun Governor Tawat Satiennam said that the Chama
Dhevi and Red Cross Winter Festival 2002 will be held from November 29 -
December 8 at the Lamphun Sport Stadium.
It will be showcasing northern cultural heritage for
tourists to the region and promises many interesting activities, including a
folk song contest.
The first rounds of the contest will be on December 1 and
3, and the final round will be held on December 7. There are two categories,
over and under 20 years of age. Each entrant has 10 minutes on stage. There
will also be products from the One Tambon - One Product project and the Miss
Lamphun beauty contest.
For additional information, contact Lamphun Provincial
Office, 053 512 017 and 01 784 7623, or the Tourism Authority of Thailand
Northern Office Region 1, 053 248 604 and 053 248 607.
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