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Wat Suan Dok seminar to preserve Thai culture
Metinee Chaikuna
The
cultural conservation group from Kamphaeng Phet lectured on Thai lifestyle.
Cultural
performances were performed around Wat Suandok.
The House Committee on Religion and Culture hosted a
seminar on the conservation of Thai culture at Wat Suan Dok, Chiang Mai. The
seminar was attended by over 600 monks, religious organizations, and culture
councils from all over the country.
Deputy House Speaker Suchart Tancharoen said that Thai
culture is the end result of its freedom for nearly 2,000 years, and is
conveyed through the form of language, speaking, action, and customs. The
results of the seminar will be sent to the Speaker of the House to find the
best ways of preserving Thai culture as a government policy.
Outside the seminar, there were cultural performances, exhibitions, and
demonstrations of Northern lifestyles.
Attendees at the
seminar prayed at Wat Suandok.
Northern style market
attracted the monks in Wat Suandok.
Lots of fun during Parents’ Day at the British Council
Marion Vogt
Getting an award is always a big thing. But getting an
award for pupils as young as 6 or 7 is even a bigger occasion.
Learning
in a fun environment at a young age ... and getting rid of some energy. The
British Council even organized a huge Rubber Elephant for the children to
jump in.
‘Fishing’
small gold fishes out of a pond was part of the pure fun. No doubt some of
the mothers were not so amused with all the plastic bags of goldfish being
brought home.
On Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February the British
Council Chiang Mai held its annual Parents’ Day and Certificate Awards
ceremony.
Parents had the opportunity to meet the teachers after
some of the students gave short performances, which they had been rehearsing
in the lead-up to the event. During these performances, the children were
given the opportunity to show what they achieved in their obviously quality
education in English.
To take the seriousness out of it, the event was held as
a big garden party. This year the event was based on an English fete with a
variety of games for the children to play, as well as entertainment provided
by a magician, a clown and Kodi, the British Council Young Learner mascot.
There was also catering provided by La Gondola
Restaurant. The happening was well attended on both days with children,
parents and British Council staff all having fun together.
Kodi,
the British Council Young Learner mascot is surrounded by some of the highly
motivated young teachers from the British Council (front from left) Laura
and Vicky, (back row from left) Jan, Johnny, Andy, Kodi the Mascot, David
Hopkinson, and Russell.
Chatuchai
Monirat, one of the proud fathers shows off his 3 beautiful daughters and
receives balloons from the clown. All 3 daughters, Prapawarie (6), Panisoda
(7) and Papawee (9), attend classes at the British Council.
Kodi’
the mascot takes a water break ... it sure was a hot day!
Teachers,
parents and children head for the shade...
It was also an opportunity for parents to re-register
their children for the new Young Learner semester starting on 17th May. In
May there will be a new young learner course on offer, in the evenings
during the week.
The KET and PET Preparation courses will prepare students
aged 14 - 16+ to sit for international English Language examinations offered
by the University of Cambridge.
Registration for new students for the next semester will take place
between 5th and 9th May. The British Council offers courses at weekends for
children between the ages of 5 and 15, and holiday intensive courses in
March and May. For further information visit the Chiang Mai pages at
www.britishcouncil.or.th
Symphony of Glass concert comes to Chiang Mai this month
Metinee Chaikuna
Zonta International Chiang Mai, in recognition of
International Women’s Day and Zonta International Rose Day is presenting a
Symphony of Glass concert to raise funds for Zonta International Chiangmai
projects - Grandma Cares, Student Fund and the Thursday Club support group.
Last
year, Weeraphong Thaweesak played glass harp in front of Bangkok Governor
Samak Sundaravej.
The Symphony of Glass consists of Weeraphong
Thaweesak’s glass harp show with a special performance from the Montfort
College Symphony Band. Weeraphong is the only Thai glass harpist and one of
10 glass harpists in the world.
The performance in Kad Theater, Kad Suan Kaew, will be
given on Saturday March 8, at 2 p.m. for students and again at 7 p.m. for
the public. Tickets are on sale at the ground floor of Kad shopping park, DK
Bookstore, Parker’s, Suriwongse Book Center, and Bookazine Chiang Inn
Plaza, for 1,000, 500, 300 and 100 baht.
The glass harp was introduced as a musical instrument in
China and Persia as early as the 14th century. Initially, the musician
tapped a glass bowl with sticks to produce music. Later on, Christoph
Willibald Gluck in 1746, helped popularize the glass harp making music by
using 26 glasses and giving a performance at London’s Haymarket Theatre.
Weeraphong
Thaweesak - one of 10 glass harpists in the world.
Weeraphong
Thaweesak performed his glass harp show on the popular TV program, Twilight
Light Show.
In Thailand, the starting point was 1997, after
Weeraphong had watched a TV documentary on glass harp music played by an
American musician, Jamey Turner. Weeraphong Thaweesak graduated in Music
Education, majoring in classical guitar, but took up the glass harp and is
totally self-taught. Now he has traveled the world with his instruments.
The Zonta International movement was established in the 1930s and now has
1,254 clubs in 69 countries. Each Zonta Club in the world creates service
projects that best fit the needs of their home community. The local Zonta
Club set up three projects, the Grandma Cares, Student Fund and the Thursday
Club support group. These projects are to help grandmothers and students who
are adversely affected from losing family members through AIDS. To find
funds for supporting these projects, Jiamjit Boonsom the president of Zonta
International Chiang Mai Club suggested the concert fundraiser.
Recycle to make merit brings in B.500,000
First day of project considered a success
Supatatt Dangkrueng
“Oh
lord, please accept this garbage as a token of my desire to save the
environment...”
Chiang Mai Municipality this past week launched the Tod
Pha Pa Recycle project (recycle to make merit) at Wat Chedi Luang and gained
cooperation from students and people in the 4 municipal districts of Nakorn
Ping, Sri Wichai, Meng Rai and Kawila.
From
garbage to “art”.
People
and students gathered with their recyclable garbage to make merit.
People from these districts gathered at Thapae Gate,
bringing with them their separated recyclable garbage to make merit. The
procession then started at Thapae Road, and moved along Ratchadamnoen Road,
to Phra Pokklao Road and headed to Wat Chedi Luang.
Chiang Mai Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn said that this was
the first day of the Tod Pha Pa Recycle project, and that the aim of the
project is to make Chiang Mai a clean and attractive city. This first day
was a successful event, with people bringing 275,000 kilograms of recyclable
waste, valued at approximately 500,000 baht.
68 communities and 52 organizations from the 4 municipal districts joined
in this program and Mayor Boonlert said he hopes this would bring Chiang Mai
people to continue to separate and recycle their garbage and to protect our
environment. He said a Tod Pha Pa Recycle day might be held again in the
near future, and he invites people to join in and cooperate with the
municipality for the next one.
People bring garbage to
make merit at Wat Chedi Luang.
Children are being
taught early the importance of saving the environment.
My! My! Pie Sabai
But never on Sundays
Miss Terry Diner
Next time you sit down at a local restaurant and enjoy a
slice of quiche, spare a thought for Mrs. Beaton and Audrey Dootson. Before
you say “Who?” or “Why?” Mrs. Beaton was the author of one of the
most famous cookery books in the world, a woman who enthused countless
generations of women to enjoy their kitchens. Audrey Dootson, on the other
hand, is one of those women who still has a copy of Mrs. Beaton in her
kitchen, and though Audrey’s recipes are, these days, her own - she will
still acknowledge Britain’s great cook, the formidable Mrs. Beaton. While
Mrs. B. never made it to Chiang Mai, however, Audrey has, and by a very
circuitous route too, through Malawi and Tanzania, southern Thailand and
finally here in the north eight years ago.
The
quiche you are eating was probably baked right here in Audrey Dootson’s
tiny kitchen, as she supplies more than 20 restaurants and guest houses, as
well as supermarkets in Chiang Mai.
And as to the “why?” - well, the quiche you are
eating was probably baked right here in Audrey’s tiny kitchen, as she
supplies more than 20 restaurants and guest houses, as well as supermarkets
in Chiang Mai.
Audrey has been a baker for 40 years, and there is no
doubting that she loves what she is doing. In her garden she is growing
tomatoes, for a new item in the bakery, one so secret she would not even
tell me! While she looks to use local products wherever possible, she does
have to import certain grains for some of the specialized breads. Other
fresh garden items are carefully tended, to probably end up in one of her
special quiches. In fact, after baguettes, quiches are one of her most
popular lines.
Her range is amazing, with more than a (baker’s) dozen
styles of breads, meat pies (including an Indian Chicken Curry pie made with
Audrey’s home made curry too), eight quiches, ten desserts and even a meat
or vegetarian lasagne and Scotch eggs and sausage rolls.
Audrey has a little coffee corner in front of her bakery,
next to Wat Umong, if you just want a cuppa and shortbread, and the bakery
is open from 8 each morning till 5 p.m. But never on Sundays, when she
closes for one day of rest.
Audrey, it was a pleasure being with you - and the shortbread was lovely!
Aunty Yon’s pork sausage
Now accepted as Chiang Mai’s souvenir sausage
Metinee Chaikuna
What is on the “must see and do” list when visiting
Chiang Mai, apart from going up Doi Suthep Mountain, the Wororos Market,
Huay Kaew Waterfall, and climbing Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in
Thailand? Well, tourists should also buy Naem Pa Yon, one of Chiang Mai’s
famous northern sausages, to take back home as a souvenir.
Aunty
Yon sausages are made in a sterile environment.
Ummm,
almost finished.
Ban Pa Yon (Aunty Yon) is considered the original
producer of Naem-style sausages, and the reputation and popularity of her
sausages in the north have increased for over 30 years. Because of the taste
and unique nature, Naem Pa Yon has become a symbol of Chiang Mai. People
from other parts of Thailand are reminded not to forget to bring Naem Pa Yon
back home after visiting the north.
Aunty Yon was a Thai-Mon who lived with her family around
the Thapae Gate area. Naem is a type of Thai-Mon local food, and Aunty Yon
had the recipe handed down to her from her family. In the early days of her
blossoming business, Aunty Yon would make local food to sell at San Pa Koi
Market every morning, and her business flourished until the advent of World
War II. During this time the economy was slow and Aunty Yon decided to sell
pork, for it was the most popular meat at the markets. These products from
pork meat sold so well that Aunty Yon’s family expanded the business and
moved to San Kamphaeng District.
“We
won’t put any chemical substance in our products at all. People can trust
us,” said Sushin Niratsayawanich.
Aunty
Yon uses only the best ingredients.
They moved back to Thapae Gate after the end of the war,
but Field Marshal Piboolsongkram’s government confined Thai-Chinese
people, for he suspected that they might be communist. Aunty Yon’s husband
was arrested and she had to keep the family going by selling her Naem
sausage.
The popularity of her Naem grew, and the business
expanded again. After 1957, Aunty Yon changed her Naem’s covering from
banana leaf to wax paper and then eventually plastic wrappers. People knew
of its reputation and Aunty Yon’s children asked her to use her name and
to make the brand copyright.
As she got older, Aunty Yon transferred the business to
her two sons, so nowadays there are two Naem Pa Yon producers. The only
difference between them are their logos; one has the image of Aunty Yon and
two children while the other has the image of Aunty Yon only. However, the
recipe and the quality are the same.
Sushin Niratsayawanich, one of the Naem Pa Yon’s
owners, said that the Naem Pa Yon brand guarantees its original quality. He
also said that another difference between Naem Pa Yon and other Naem
sausages is the natural ingredients. “We won’t put any chemical
substance in our products at all. People can trust us,” he said.
The company also still produces some sausages using the banana leaf
recipe, which they sell in the Walking Street every weekend.
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