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Le Fue JJ Fash on Fire opens
Nopniwat Krailerg
JJ Designer Market zone shops opened their Le Fue JJ Fash
on Fire on June 18, featuring a new designer center in Chiang Mai to be
known as Creative Fire. The opening ceremony was presided over by Prinya
Panthong, Chiang Mai vice governor and many guests attended. The highlight
was a fashion show presenting creative designs and boots.
Apiruedee Tontiwetkul, director of JJ Market project said that at the end
of the year, their JJ Good Taste Market would open to display Lanna
handicrafts, souvenirs and tasty food. JJ Market is located next to Lotus
Kamthieng, and open from 11 a.m. until night.
Fashion
show entitled Le Fue JJ Fash on Fire.
Apiruedee
Tontiwetkul (2nd from right), director of JJ Market project with Chiang Mai
vice governor Prinya Panthong (middle) and shop owners.
Activities
inside the Le Fue JJ Fash on Fire at JJ Designer Market.
4th of July Extravaganza at US Consulate
Foreign guests must submit names and IDs before July 1
All US passport holders and their guests are invited to
another year’s 4th of July party at the American Consulate General, 387
Witchayanond Rd. Chiang Mai from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
 “Elvisky”
shows that Elvis Presley is alive and well and through public demand he will
make an appearance on Independence Day.
This year’s extravaganza will include hot dogs and
other American treats, soft drinks and beer from the US and Thailand,
patriotic fun and crafts, the Bouncy Castle, prizes and entertainment on the
hour — with everything from “Elvis” to the Choral Society, the Dara
Band and closing fireworks.
Cell phones, cameras and big bags are discouraged, and
all individuals and their possessions will be searched. No parking is
available at the Consulate. Admission: 50 baht for adults, 20 baht for
children under 18. For more information, call 053-252-629, ext. 0 — or
email clochiangmai@state.gov.
The names and IDs of non-American guests must be given to the consulate
by email or telephone no later than noon on Friday, July 1. All party-goers
need official identification. Come celebrate the 229th birthday of the
United States.
TTM Plus dampens the hope for early recovery
Depressed mood during Thailand Travel Mart
Reinhard Hohler
On behalf of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), it
was the first time that the popular Thailand Travel Mart (TTM) Plus Amazing
Gateway to the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) was being co-located with the
International Travel Show (ITS) Thailand 2005. This year’s show at the
Impact Convention Center in Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok kick-started with a
Travel Trade Forum on June 15, followed by two days of business sessions
between 543 buyers from 46 countries and 418 sellers and ended with two
crowded consumer days on June 18-19.
The mood
was dampened as Jutamas Siriwan (second from left) was asked to set aside
all differences and internal politics and be an active part in getting Thai
tourism up and running again by arranging a ‘First Anniversary Ceremony’
for tsunami victims that will remain in the memory of the world and
therefore present and future tourists.
During the Travel Trade Forum with the topic set as
“Thailand: A Model for Sustainable Tourism” it became clear to the
attending delegates that Thailand’s recovery process after the horrific
tsunami on December 26, 2004 will take much more time than expected.
Especially the private sector believes that there will be no essential
rebound of tourist arrivals before October 2006.
Though TTM Plus was advertised as the biggest ever since
it started for the first time in 2001 and was especially important for small
and medium-sized enterprises, which do not have large marketing budgets, the
mood of the delegates was a depressed one.
At the press conference in front of the 95 invited
international media representatives on June 15, Juthamas Siriwan, TAT
governor, said that the main challenge facing Thailand and the GMS
countries, such as China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, is to stay
competitive. “We have to work hard to ensure that our products are up to
higher standards, deliver value for money and have the underlying
infrastructure support, such as the Suvarnabhumi Airport, which will be
ready in 2006,” she concluded.
The opening ceremony and dinner reception was conducted
in style at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall in Thonburi, just beside the
illuminated Temple of Dawn - Wat Arun, where the new appointed tourism
minister HE Somak Thepsutin gave a welcome speech and officially announced
the “Happiness on Earth” campaign.
TTM Plus has always been a popular platform to promote
Thailand and its neighboring countries along the Mekong River. Sub-regional
tourism is a key area with strong potential.
TTM Plus included incentives by supporting airlines and
hotels, pre and post-show tours, special packages and promotional deals that
were offered to the international buyers and media. Tourism within the GMS
offers a wealth of historical, cultural, and natural attractions, such as
Angkor in Cambodia, Luang Prabang in Laos, Sukhothai and Ayutthaya in
Thailand, Hue and Hoi An in Vietnam, Dali and Lijiang in Yunnan, Kweilin in
Guangxi, and Bagan in Myanmar. However, it is important that air link
networks become available, so that Thailand will serve and stay as a main
gateway to the Mekong region.
The highlight of the networking social functions was
without doubt the Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) late night party on June 16 at
the Lobby Bar of the new established Holiday Inn Bangkok Hotel on Ploenchit
Road, where HiSo and others could mingle freely. Princess Norodom Rattana
Devi, secretary of state, ministry of tourism, was a guest of honor and
represented the emerging tourism destination of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
I thank Sofitel Central Plaza Hotel for my complimentary accommodation
and Thai AirAsia for the convenient business night flight at 22.55 p.m. to
reach Bangkok shortly after midnight - on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
For further information, please contact Reinhard Hohler, GMS Media Travel
Consultant, by email: sara@ cmnet.co.th
Farewell parties for
community members
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Living abroad has advantages and disadvantages. One
advantage is the expanded horizon for the children who get to grow up in
different cultures and environments - a very positive attribute in today’s
globalized world. Disadvantages include the farewells which also come on a
regular basis, especially at the end of school terms which can be hard on
not only the children but also the adults.
 The
best Thai singer from the Royal Thai Air Force gave an extraordinary Goodbye
song for Steve Revels who will be moving with his wife and family to
Germany.
The American community had to say goodbye to four
families but made it a ‘fun event’ as every departure is also the start
of a new adventure for them.
The American compound rocked to “Beat Juice,”
composed of various Chiang Mai talents on vocals, guitar, bass and drum. The
departing staff members received the “Golden Triangle Award” after CG
Bea Camp recognized their contributions in Chiang Mai and wished them well
in their next postings.
The entertainment included karaoke sessions and some raw talents
enfolded. Even Rosa Revels, who will be moving to Germany, gave a last
performance of her famous ‘Mexican’ Flamenco dance, highly appreciated
by everybody.
Proud Ladies, Pink Skies, Contemporary art from Myanmar
Lasse Norgaard
The winner and runner-up from last year’s “Myanmar
Contemporary Art” competition are among the 12 artists exhibiting when La
Luna Gallery in Chiang Mai highlights from July 16 to August 14 the lesser
known abstract and contemporary art scene in Myanmar (Burma).
 “Red
Nude” by Hien Thit
Winning artist Zaw Win Pe uses a palette knife to paint
enormous landscapes in untraditional and almost luminous colors whereas the
runner-up Nyein Chan Su, known as NCS, uses simple strokes and curves to
create landscapes, which are both bold and poetic.
The Proud Ladies are presented by Hien Thit, who paints
on both canvas and paper to create the beautiful and seductive curves of the
female form. More traditional paintings of nuns and monks are also included
created by two of Myanmar’s young water-colour artists Myoe Win Aung and
Khin Maung Zaw, whereas Ba Khine uses temples, rivers and marketplaces as
backdrops from women working or chatting.
“Last year we focused on Vietnam in July, this year we
will highlight art from Myanmar, another of the five countries from which we
display art,” says Sommai Lumdual, the director of La Luna Gallery.
“Hills
to Eternity” by Zaw Win Pe (winner from 2004)
“Myanmar art is perhaps most famous for the great
masters creating oil paintings of nuns and monks collecting alms and going
about their daily tasks, but we want to present some of the lesser known and
emerging artists as well,” he said.
However, among the dozen artists are also the more
established such as Myint Soe and Bogie, re-inventing himself with some
brand new “collaints”, his own word to denote a mixture of collages and
paintings.
For further information, please contact: Sommai Lumdual, 0 9635 7667, La
Luna Gallery, 190 Charoenrajd Road, Chiang Mai. Exhibition July 16 –
August 14. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. except Monday. Phone 0 5330
6678.
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