|
Tienchai and Friends, Music and Passion at Central Airport Plaza
To Be No. 1 Concert at the Lanna Hall
Text by Marion Vogt
Photos by Michael Vogt and Gerard Krebs
“Some people wait a lifetime for moments like this.”
These were the words heard throughout the evening of ‘Tienchai and
friends’ at the Lanna Hall in Central Airport Plaza as each of the
performers finished their show.
 Grammy
artist Saeksan (Oh)
The many performers had followed the call of Chiang
Mai’s Tienchai Sooktiang when he asked his friends to perform with him in
a concert helping the fight against drugs in preparation for the ‘To Be
No. 1 Singer Contest, which will take place on August 28 at the same place.
 My
Way - not Frank Sinatra, but multi talented Yuttana Lorpanpaiboon who joined
Tienchai in another duet.
25 different acts, 25 soloists together with Ajarn
Tienchai and at least twice as many dancers and children were eager to go
out on stage to show the world that there is a life without drugs, a fun
life, a life without artificial stimulation but real work, with sweat and
enjoyment.
 We
believe Tienchai Sooktiang inherited his voice from his father who made it
his duty to be part of his son’s show and perform.
The A Capella 7 had the teenagers in the audience
screaming “I love you” which was well received by the five good looking
outstanding a capella musicians. A Capella 7 used to study with Ajarn
Tienchai and went to Payap University before becoming RS celebrities in
Bangkok.
 Over
the rainbow, a lullaby with a very talented student who brought her whole
fan club along!
The concert was full of special effects including a
“duet” between the old master Barry Manilow singing ‘Copa Cabana’ on
the huge screen and Ajarn Tienchai, on stage supported by dancers.
‘Jewh The Star’, very tiny, but with a powerful voice, is a person to
watch out for in the future!
Excited girls were screaming when Grammy Artist Saeksan
(Oh) came out with his guitar, which changed to laughter when multi talented
film director, actor and singer Yuttana Lorpanpaiboon joined Tienchai in
another duet. Koh Saxman whose new album ‘Sax Appeal’ was just released,
really spiced it up again and mixed his powerful saxophone playing with the
romantic songs he so beautifully interprets.
 Koh
Saxman - Power within yourself! Sax Appeal is the name of his latest album.
The three hours of non-stop music and entertainment went
by in a blink. Ballet, Rock, Ballads, Musicals, Love Songs, you name it; the
program had a versatility, which many in the audience had not seen in a long
time.
The audience included local celebrities HSH. Prince Bhisadej Rajani and
Dr. Jao Duan Na Chiang Mai.
A
beautiful love song, dramatically performed by a graceful ballerina. “The
choice lies within yourself, be it the choice of love or the choice to say
No to drugs”.
The five
young musicians from ‘A Capella 7’.
Pun Pun,
by now a celebrity in her own right from the ‘Kids Only’ Show.
The
Grand Finale featured most of the artists with Ajarn Bank and Tienchai
leading the show.
Enthusiasm
and excitement were there throughout three hours of music.
Disabled artists can produce beautiful paintings
Art promotes mental health
Nopniwat Krailerg and Saksit Meesubkwang
Fourteen disabled people from Nakhon Pathom province came
to Chiang Mai, where they showed their abilities at the university’s Arts
and Cultural Promotion Center, despite most being unable to use their hands.
 Using
his mouth to paint.
The 2003 National Artist of Visual Art, Ajarn Pichai
Nirand, and the Nakhon Pathom Disabled Club arranged the visit as part of
the “Independent Ideas of the Disabled” project.
All the disabled have received training in watercolor
paintings to help them relax at the disabled club in Nakhon Pathom. Ajarn
Thep Sukkasopha, a freelance artist in Chiang Mai, shared useful techniques
with them.
 One
of the disabled students’ paintings.
The “Independent Ideas of the Disabled” project was
initiated by Teerawat Sripratumsawad, president of Nakhon Pathom Disabled
Club. He enlisted the help of Ajarn Pichai who began teaching four disabled
people three years ago. Today the project has 14 disabled members, 10 of
whom paint by holding the brushes in their mouths.
 The
disabled painters at work.
None had any skills in painting before, but were taught
basic techniques, color blending, and theory in light and shade. Ajarn
Pichai has made his house available for them as their art school for many
years.
Since retiring, he has devoted his life to teach art to
disabled people. He previously worked in the Fine Arts Department and is a
former teacher of the Art College.
 Tips
from Ajarn Thep.
Some of the works of the disabled, depicting flowers,
fruits, birds and banana trees have been displayed overseas, including in
Japan, and have attracted much interest and attention. They have produced
about 100 paintings so far.
Pitak Sinprapa, who paints with the brush in his mouth, praised the
project which he said helps him relax and has improved his mental and
physical health. Before joining the project, he was helpless but now he can
feed and shave himself.
The enchanted forest of the ghost city beckons tourists
But you have to leave the gold behind
Phitsanu Thepthong
Many tourists to northern Thailand miss a visit to Pae
Muang Phi, a forest canyon steeped in ancient folklore.
Pae Muang Phi is located in tambon Nam Cham in Phrae’s
Muang district, and the forest park falls under the 13th Administration and
Conservation Area of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
Department in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
 A
souvenir seller with OTOP products at the site
In the past, a river ran through Pae Muang Phi that was a
sacred place for the villagers in tambon Tung Hong and the neighboring
tambons. The villagers passed on the story linked to this place from
generation to generation, regarding an old lady who went into the forest
looking for vegetables and food. Instead she found an excavation with gold
and silver which she gleefully scooped up into her baskets.
 The
spectacular sights and features of Pae Muang Phi
As she tried to make her way out of the forest, she got
lost because the spirits guarding the area did not want her to take the gold
and silver. The more she tried to make her way forward, the more it seemed
like someone was pulling her back.
The old lady then left the gold and silver in the forest
and told the other villagers to go and look for the treasure, but when they
did, the gold and silver were gone. Instead, they saw footprints in the
forest. They followed the footprints, which ended next to a coffin. There
were no other footprints.
After this, the villagers named the forest ‘Pae Muang Phi’, which in
the local dialect means ‘the forest of the ghost city’.
The ultimate altitude kick?
The bird’s eye view
Marion Vogt
Are you scared of heights? Get dizzy just being on top of
a ladder? Welcome to the club. So am, no, so was I.
Using AirAsia’s Macau promotion to get away for a
couple of days, it was also time for some excitement and it got as exciting
as it can get, at least for me. Asking around what people think was the
ultimate adventure in Macau, the answer came straight away, “If you have a
cool head and nerves of steel, go to Macau Tower and check it out
yourself.”
 Macau
Tower can be seen from almost every spot in the city.
Macau Tower at 338 meters is the world’s 10th tallest
freestanding tower and the eighth tallest in Asia, even taller than the
Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is the region’s most exciting MICE venue and
very quickly became a tourist attraction. Riding up with one of the high
speed, glass fronted elevators to the observation deck with its breathtaking
views of the city, the South China Sea and the nearby Pearl River Delta
region I felt my heart beat that extra bang when you suddenly have doubts.
Should I or should I not? All excuses in the world went to my head. I’m
too old, it’s too windy, I’m not fit enough, it’s too expensive, I’m
scared, I don’t have enough time, it’s getting cloudy - you would not
believe how many excuses you can invent once you stand in front of these
huge glass windows at that height of 233 meters going straight down. But
once arriving at the Skywalk deck you have also arrived at an adventure zone
operated by the A.J. Hackett bungy jumping group.
 The
new earthquake-safe bridge still under construction.
12 people as foolish as myself joined in and we soon
received jumpsuits, trainers, had to get rid of watches, necklaces and other
items which could hinder a fall and after some instruction we were hooked up
to an overhead rail.
 The
group from Bangkok and Chiang Mai went through their team building
adventure.
An unbelievable sight opened up after my mind cleared the
fear and I allowed the positive part of myself to take over and enjoy this
physical test, which is a softer option to bungy but also allowing people to
conquer their fears.
It surely worked for me. By the way, to proof that you did ‘it’,
everybody receives a Skywalk X Certificate that certifies that you
successfully ‘walked the walk’ around the outer rim of Macau Tower, 233
meters above the ground.
Very
brave now!
An
exhilarating stroll along the outer rim in 233 meters above ground.
The
guide from A.J. Hackett explains the breathtaking view which allows you to
enjoy Macau and look as far as China.
That is
as far as our small group went. On one foot 233 meters above the ground.
Now,
tell me - Who is afraid of height?
Vocational College addresses rural poverty
Nopniwat Krailerg
The Chiang Mai Vocational College has broadened its
activities by promoting careers to help address poverty in rural
communities.
Cooking
food for the public.
Chuleeporn Singhanetre, director of the college, said
they would promote more careers. These include printing business cards on
computer, flower arrangements with old banknotes, garden arrangements,
making krathongs from banana leaves, cooking, batik printing clothes, sweets
and biscuit making, printing, sewing, stitching, making trays and baskets
from stitched folded leaves or paper, and embroidery.
 Flower
arrangements done at the college.
The college also hosted a regional sewing competition.
The winner will take part at national level at the Central World Plaza in
Bangkok later this month. The regional contests are being organized by the
Textile Development Institute, Central Pattana PLC and the Taksila
Institute.
 The
vocational college students busily sewing.
The winning works will be displayed and later sold at the vocational
education fair held at Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi, from August 12-17, on
the occasion of the 72nd birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.
|
