|
Chiang Mai’s Chun-ki Movement
In July 2002 a couple of friends were talking over a beer
and decided that they wanted to have a party. They had lived in Chiang Mai
for some time and were bored of the same old bars and the constantly
changing faces. The plan was to make an event that would bring together
people in the Chiang Mai expat community and be special enough to make it a
lasting memory in all of their minds. Eight months later, Chun-ki parties
have become Chiang Mai’s biggest underground success story with an
ever-growing following of international residents, Thais and travelers
alike.
Chiang
Mai’s Chun-ki Movement - having fun and raising money for charity.
Chun-ki is now a coalition of several local
professionals. The committee is made up of English teachers, sound
engineers, editors and NGO workers, all of whom share the same drive to have
a great time and do as much good for their local community as possible. To
those who have attended the events, now numbering in the hundreds, it may
seem like a purely hedonistic venture. However, through the combined effort
of like-minded individuals more than 75,000 baht has now been raised for
numerous local charitable concerns.
The events are funded by an entrance charge of 100 baht,
of which 50% goes directly to a local charity that changes every month, the
rest being spent on entertainment and publicity. Guests receive a free drink
on entry, have the chance to grab a special fun-filled party pack at
midnight and may take part in a demented dance contest with a variety of
prizes supplied by local sponsors. In addition to the eclectic musical mix
provided by the resident DJs, an ever-changing selection of live
entertainment is on offer, so far ranging from break-dancers to MCs, live
drummers, fire dancers and visual artists.
Having realized the possibilities of bringing so many
people together under the banner of ‘A Good Time for a Good Cause’, the
Chun-ki management is now looking to become much more diverse. This is both
in order to maintain freshness and variety to their events, and to attract
as many members of the local Thai and Expat community as possible. Over
coming weeks, as well as their usual party nights they are organizing a
sponsored cycle ride to Wat Suthep and a ‘Bowlerama’ 10 pin bowling
extravaganza at Bully Bowl in Kad Suan Kaew (see advertisement page 30).
The future is bright for Chun-ki and the crew sees no end
of opportunities on the horizon. It is already set to become an
international event with some of the original coordinators now living in
Australia and running Chun-ki nights of their own in both Melbourne and
Sydney, as well as interest from an events management group in Manchester,
UK. The publicity is growing as word spreads, and as coverage in more of the
Thai national press is achieved.
To make their events bigger and better, the Chun-ki crew are always on
the lookout for ideas and support from the community. Local sponsors,
charities, entertainers and fun-seekers are invited to get involved with
their ideas and energy. For more information contact chunkievents@yahoo.com
Lucky motorcycle winners thank mayor’s wife
Supatatt Dangkrueng
Lions (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Saha Pattana Phibhul Co.,
Ltd. (Public) jointly promoted a special Pao Hug Muang Nue (or Pao loves
northern people) lucky draw, with products valued at 700,000 baht up for
grabs for lucky shoppers.
Aim-Orn
Buranupakorn, the mayor’s wife, drew the lucky winners.
The project was first launched in September last year,
and organizers have been giving away t-shirts every month to customers who
sent in coupons to the Don Tree Season radio program.
The big day for the lucky draw was January 21st, with
prizes donated by Lions and Saha Pattana Phibul, including five Yamaha
motorcycles, 10 LA brand bicycles and 500 t-shirts with Pao Hug Muang Nue
logos.
Mrs. Aim-orn Buranupakorn, the Chiang Mai mayor’s wife,
drew the names of the lucky winners at Kad Suan Kaew, with many people
coming along, hoping to be in the winner’s circle.
The five recipients of the Yamaha motorcycles were Chansom Kheo-Ngam from
Sanphathong, Surang Harnnarong and Apichai Teowpradit from Muang and Sayan
Kulpradit from San Sai.
“The Art of Successful Negotiation”
Do you communicate well enough to get that raise you know
for sure you deserve? Or can you negotiate successfully to sell or buy a
business or a house at a price that’s favorable to you? Well, now’s your
chance to find the secrets of successful negotiation.
Dr.
Pimurai Limpapath
Dr. Pimurai Limpapath, a world-renowned expert in
intercultural communication and negotiation skills will give a lecture (in
English) on Sunday, March 9, at Payap University’s Graduate Studies Center
(Mae Khao campus). The lecture titled, “The Art of Successful
Negotiation”, is free of charge and open to all Chiang Mai residents and
visitors and will keep you occupied from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
Since 1994, when Dr. Pimurai received her
interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Communications from Arizona State University in
the United States, she has lectured at most of the major universities in
Bangkok. She has also conducted professional training in such high-flyer
companies as Oracle Systems, Panasonic, and Thai Airways.
Dr. Pimurai currently holds academic appointments at
Thammasat University and the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce in
Bangkok.
Since 1997, she has received no less than five Honorary
Speaker awards from a variety of organizations such as the Bank of Thailand,
Bangkok.
There are spaces for only 100 attendees, so please RSVP your attendance
to Payap at email imba@ payap.ac.th or call 053-304 805 ext. 7203 or 7205.
Fish meals and foot massage
The New Changpuak Restaurant on Chotana Road in Muang
District is enlarging the building to include a traditional massage parlor
in its offerings for its dinner guests. The new service commenced on March
1.
Keatisak (Dang) Saythai, the owner of the New Changpuak
Restaurant, said that this style of Thai traditional massage has become very
popular, especially with foreign tourists and visitors.
He said this new service would offered by professional
masseuses who would provide massage following the strict principles of Thai
traditional massage.
The massage parlor hours will be 4 p.m. - 12 midnight.
Since the restaurant is very well established, Dang felt that it was time to
expand the scope from just a dining establishment to one that catered for
other traditional Thai modalities.
Send your questions to “Ask the Consul”
Do you have a question about visas,
passports, travel to the United States, services for American citizens, or
related issues? Ask the Consul. Send your e-mail to acschn@state. gov with
“ask the consul” in the subject line. Selected questions will be
answered in the Chiangmai Mail (please see this week’s column on page 21).
If your question isn’t selected, you can get an answer by calling the
Consulate at 053-252-629, from 8 to 4.
|
