|
No more insecticides
Pariyakorn Sartthatip, public relations manager at Chiang
Mai Orchid Hotel announced new cooking methods at the hotel. Chiang Mai
Orchid’s Food and Beverage Department is eager to use only vegetables
without insecticides, taken from Pakarsit garden, a project initiated by the
edict of Queen Sirikit.
 Pariyakorn
Sartthatip
This agricultural scheme is accomplished for the sake of protecting soils
and water resources from getting spoiled by the application of insecticide
and for the safety the consumers’ health. Some of the examples of the
special menus free of insecticides and available at the hotel are fried
Chinese vegetable in oyster sauce, fried vegetable, ‘chedi thong’
(golden pagoda in Thai) with shrimps, fried vegetable called ‘kao ha’ in
oyster sauce and plenty other menus of tasty dishes, waiting for customers
to savor on, every day at their Phu Ping Chinese restaurant.
Speedy treatment can reduce deaths says Chiang Mai Ram 2 Hospital
Launches Trauma Center with 24 hours Emergency Medical Team
Nopniwat Krailerg
Modern medical treatment can reduce trauma fatalities by
50 percent, but this needs specialized trauma centers, with staffing 24
hours a day, seven days a week. Realizing this need, especially with the
increasing road toll in Chiang Mai, the Chiang Mai Ram 2 Hospital, on the
Chiang Mai-Lampang Superhighway, recently opened its own 24 hour trauma
center.
Prinya
Panthong (2nd left), Chiang Mai deputy governor, presided over the opening
ceremony of the trauma center. He is shown here talking with a medical
doctor during the ceremony at the hospital.
To be able to utilize these facilities it was necessary
to put together an emergency medical team to go straight to the accident
site and institute life-saving treatment and then rush the injured to their
trauma center.
Dr. Saengroj Pradabkaew, the senior surgeon, said that
accidents are one of the main causes of death in the community. However,
since the trauma center has been put into action, in the past 3-4 months,
the survival rate for accident victims has increased by 50 percent.
More than 150 guests were present for the official opening of the trauma
center, with Prinya Panthong, Chiang Mai deputy governor, presiding over the
opening ceremony.
A little night Music - An Evening
Stroll through the Jungle
Jim
Messenger
One of the pleasures of crawling around Chiang Mai on an
evening is the discovery of a venue you’d known for years, but has gone
through some kind of metamorphosis and is now, in some ways, brand spanking
new. Just recently, one of my Chiang Mai favorite places has done just that.
 The
jamming band at the Sax Music Pub.
Sax Music Pub (aka SMP) is located on Moon Muang, near
Thapae Gate, owned and operated by the dynamic duo of the lovely Pim and her
co-professional Rudi. SMP is a regular sort of place with pool table, music
and cable TV doing competition for the bar’s customers. There’s a long
bar, from where Pim regally welcomes one and all. The front is open to the
passing crowd, with music blaring welcome and the usual group of well
wishers quaffing pale ale under a summer moon.
So what’s so unusual you ask? Well, feast your eyes on
the walls for one thing. There’s art on them. And what art! These are no
peaceful scenes of Northern Thai landscapes, or back-street views, nor hill
tribe vignettes. No, these are different. The painter is Rudi and he is on a
different wavelength. Look at the paintings now. What strange faces are
these? Denizens of another planet? Here, a horse-headed floating thing,
there, a faceless naked woman with trident floats serenely by. What is going
on? On the wall at the back a large grinning face, with swirls of energy all
around.
 One
of the art pieces - a woman of another planet
Rudi has been painting for years and has finally found a
level where the paintings begin to speak for themselves. Here are no empty
gestures, nor beautiful vague intent, but something that greets the viewer
with wonder and soft invitation. But wait, there’s more. There is of
course upstairs. This is completely new; the atmosphere the reverse of
below. It’s all midnight blue and silent twinkling. 3D glasses, by the
trombone lamp at the head of the stairs, invite the acolyte to don them and
view paintings in day-glow colors on the walls near the crocodile counter.
What? More madness! Yes, more whimsical pictures, fantasy creatures, but
none of them threatening at all. They seem to float a welcome invitation.
But hurry and sit. The band is beginning; the jazz-fusion combo, once
known as Jam Rock is about to play. There’s Rudi at the keyboards. He’s
the one with the bald head who looks like some kind of Chinese monk, or that
Kung-fu guy with a paunch. The musicians mill around, doing their things
with notes and wires. Then the music begins to gel. One instrument takes the
lead. A theme appears. The others take up the vibe. A wind instrument flies
ahead, banners high. Base guitar follows along, weighing anchor. Keyboards
sound the stars. Drums drive them on. The evening rides the music waves of
chance. Perchance a sitar meanders by, or a different music vortex comes in
to play. The music crescendos, - pauses, - transits. Another instrument
leads the charge, the others follow. The music swells and grows, like storm
waves cresting on a high sea, or dolphins at play. Once again the music
peaks, there is a growing fullness. Pressure’s great. What next?
Musicians’ eyes meet, a smile uncurls, a pause, a wink. Feel the vibe.
Hmm! A little night music in old Chiang Mai.
The River of Friendship
Mekong is the uniting influence
Marion Vogt
The official opening of the cultural fountain show
performance, the ‘River of Friendship’, was at the Ping riverbank in
front of the Chiang Mai Municipal office on April 2.
 The
colorful, spectacular and lively stage performance on the river. (Photo by
Michael Vogt)
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched the
performance as the largest event ever in the northern region in celebration
of the Thai New Year festivities (Songkran). Countries in the Greater Mekong
Sub-region (GMS) also celebrate Songkran and were included in the aquatic
show, including Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Yunnan in
Southern China.
To promote unity in the GMS, a borderless unity was shown on stage,
united by the Mekong, the River of Friendship. This spectacular show can be
seen nightly at the banks of the Ping river until April 15th at 8 p.m.
International Women’s Day
and Zonta Rose Day festivities
Cory
Croymans-Plaghki
The Zonta Rose Day activities were well patronized in
Chiang Mai, with over 40 participants (and not all of them were women). The
Zonta Rose Day festivities were held at the beginning of March this year and
included the candle lighting ceremony to honor women around the world in
their efforts to promote individual rights and fundamental freedom for women
and girls.
 Having
a ball while promoting women’s rights were (from left) Dr Carolina
Thompson, Dittaya Curtz, Margaret Bhadungzong Zonta Past President; Cory
Croymans-Plaghki Zonta Club Secretary, Somboon Suprasert Zonta charter
member and Past President. (Photo Dr. Lina Thompson)
Through the integration of the Zonta commitment to the United Nation’s
sponsored initiatives for women, it is their objective to strengthen the
work being done to advance the status of women throughout the world.
World Congress of Holistic Medicine
Marion Vogt
The convention hall at Chiang Mai University (CMU) will
be the venue for the first World Congress of Holistic Medicine in Thailand
from April 23-25. The Suchada Marwah Center and the International Academy of
Natural Science will host the event and bring together delegates from around
the world.
 Holistic
medicine has its emphasis on the person as a whole, including analysis of
physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, social, spiritual and
lifestyle values. Holistic medicine focuses on education and responsibility
for personal efforts to achieve balance and well being.
Topics of the congress go from ‘anti-aging’ to
‘yoga’ and the congress will not be restricted to delegates. Everybody
is invited to sit in on keynote speeches or take part in the workshops.
Other topics include the secrets of gem therapy, timeless wisdom for
today-Ayuverda; Herbs, the magic healers; Energetic healing, How to avoid
toxins in our daily lives and similar topics.
Some of the speakers and their sometimes controversial
topics are:
Natural treatments for cancer - Michael Culbert,
American, co-founder, president and chairman for ‘freedom of choice’ in
cancer therapy.
Children and Allergies - Dr. Sundardas, a researcher into
the mind-body-biochemical causes of chronic illness and wellness.
Aromatherapy - Dr. Jongkochporn Phinitaksorn, the
director of Aromathology at the Osmology School in Bangkok. She is
specialized in the field of aromatherapies, having extensive knowledge of
herbs, their selection and distillation process and the therapeutic use of
essential oils.
The art of sliming - Dr. Anchulee Yongarnukul, a medical
doctor, and bio-energy practitioner. She will focus on fast food and what
people can do to regain back their slim figure without the yo-yo effect.
Specialized topics will include another look at Diabetes,
Sport, Detoxification and Feng Shui the ancient Chinese method to align our
surroundings to attempt to have a more prosperous life.
The World Congress of Holistic Medicine is supported by
the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health as well as
other world institutions.
For more detailed information, contact Dr. Suchada Marwah or Dr. Rajiv
Marwah on Tel: 02 258 1671, Fax 02 258 1677 mobile: 01 319 7566 or e-mail,
info@iansinstitute.com
Spa services boom in Chiang Mai
Autsadaporn
Kamthai
The new branch of Siam Spa Health and Beauty opened last
week, under the management of the Ampai Institute of Hair Design and Beauty.
Operating from Hillside Plaza and Condotel 4 on Huay Kaew Road, Chiang Mai
it provides spa services and therapist courses for both Thai and foreign
therapists.
 Ampai
Sheehan, the managing director of Ampai Institute of Hair Design and Beauty
Spa.
Siam Spa offers various spa courses including oil
massage, traditional Thai massage, sensitive skin facial reflexology, hand
and feet treatment, aromatherapy spa pedicure, hair treatment, mineral spa
facial, eye lashes permed, and wax depilation of legs, underarms and bikini
line.
Apart from its comprehensive spa services, Siam Spa also
provides spa-training course to produce therapists to service the growth of
the local spa industry. This also includes a 200-240 hours spa supervisor
course. Siam Spa is offering a 10,000 baht discount on spa training courses
from now until May 31.
Concerned with the spa tourist industry in the province,
Ampai Sheehan, the managing director of Ampai Institute of Hair Design and
Beauty Spa, said that she has plans for a spa association and worked in
cooperation with public health officials to set the standards and
inspections of spa services in the city following the burgeoning of the
number of outlets.
“Many shops, which mainly provide massage or other forms of beauty
treatments incorporate the word “spa” even though they do not have any
real spa services,” said Ben Wongthong, assistant manager.
Spas in the North
Spas and health related issues
are playing an increasingly important role in the northern region. What used
to be only golf for the men and shopping for the ladies is now heavily
assisted by relaxation and the pampering of stressed bodies. It has nothing
to do with the phrase, “It’s in to be seen at a spa,” and has more to
do with people’s realization of the benefits of taking better care of
their bodies and minds. Spa owners are enjoying their new success, and are
also seeking out new venues to promote their services. Spas are even making
inroads into the OTOP market, as can be seen here by the Thai Lanna Spa
Association’s booth in the OTOP promotion at the 700 Year Anniversary
Sports Complex, which was visited by Dr. Jao Duan Dueng na Chiang Mai.
|
