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The Shangri-La
welcomes a new GM
“Chiang Mai”, the true meaning of Asian hospitality
The new General Manager, Elaine Yue-Wibisana,
with her reception staff.
The Shangri-La Hotel on Chang Klan road earlier this month welcomed a new
general manager, Elaine Yue-Wibisana. For two years prior to coming to
Chiang Mai, she was the general manager of the 400-room Traders Hotel in
Penang. Last week she told the Chiang Mai Mail of her expectations. In the
10 days since arriving in Chiang Mai, she has visited the tourist
‘must-sees’ on offer and was impressed by what she has seen and experienced
thus far. She was also surprised to see so many activities and sites
catering to people of all ages from all different walks of life. Her main
aim is to concentrate on the Shangri-La Hotel to make sure it represents the
‘brand name’ in the best possible way. She explained that one of her fortes
was ‘building teams’, along with strong customer relations skills.
When asked what could be done to improve Chiang Mai’s tourist potential, she
answered that the hotels and the local travel industry, local government and
the TAT need to work & speak together with ‘one voice’. In the short time
since she arrived, she has seen that the people of Chiang Mai embody the
true meaning of Asian hospitality. Add to this the wide range of local
attractions and great Northern Thai cuisine, and you have a winning formula,
which needs more publicity. The lack of awareness of Chiang Mai as a
destination needs to be addressed, as does the issue of direct flights, both
for tourists and business travellers.
Earth Day celebrations
at Kad Suan Kaew
Focus on environmental awareness
Saksit Meesubkwang
Kad Suan Kaew was the selected venue for the celebration of Earth Day,
April 22, arranged by 20 local governmental and non-governmental
organisations. The aim of the event was to promote environmental
awareness amongst the people of Chiang Mai and to make a long-term
commitment to protect the environment. Displays were set up which gave
advice and information on environmental topics such as the need to stop
illegal burning, the recycling and proper disposal of garbage, the
construction of houses using materials that do not involve
deforestation., and the recycling of reusable items. During the day a
“Global Warming” song contest was held, with many young people
participating. Techniques used to minimise the effects of global warming
were presented at a seminar given by the Chiang Mai Global Warming
Combat Club; knowledge was exchanged and long-term solutions were
discussed. In the evening a concert of traditional Lanna music was
presented, which included Hill Tribe musicians and Northern Thai folk
songs.
 A
ventriloquist with his dummy was part of the Kad Suan Kaew Earth Day
entertainment in the “green project” area.
The Director of the Environmental Office, Region 1, Apiwat Khunarak,
explained that Earth Day, first held in the year 1970 in the USA,
celebrates the natural gifts of our planet to its inhabitants, and
focuses attention on the essentials of protecting our world from the
threats it now faces. A symbolic switch-off of power at 7 pm for one
hour emphasised the need to save energy.
It was mentioned that Sueb Nakasatian, former chief of the Huai Kha
Kheang Wildlife Sanctuary in Udon Thani and a famous wildlife
specialist, had, in 1990, together with 16 academics, urged the Thai
people to realise the importance of protecting Thailand’s vast areas of
forest against logging and other intrusions. Tragically, due to his
concerns and correct practices, he was later killed by representatives
of influential commercial interests, thus becoming a martyr for the
cause of protecting the planet. A foundation was set up in Huay Kakeang
to continue his work, and a monument was erected in his memory, visited
annually by preservationists in order to pay their respects to a great
man who gave his life for his legitimate concerns.
Residents visiting Kad Suan Kaew’s Earth Day
celebrations view a display on using correct methods of recycling and
garbage disposal.
A band giving its all at the concert which
was held
as part of the Earth Day celebrations at Kad Suan Kaew.
Students and youth group members gathering
at the celebration held
to mark the Earth Day at Kad Suan Kaew shopping complex.
FERC Vice-Chairman and founding
member celebrates his 60th birthday
Frank Weicks - a lifetime spent caring and giving
CMM Reporters
Frank Weicks is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, and
says that he’s never had a party in which his family’s turkey and
Andouille sausage gumbo wasn’t served. His 60th birthday party was no
exception.
 Frank
Weicks, accompanied by his wife, Becky, and a friend, being presented
with a ‘Good Guy’ award on his birthday.
Frank grew up in a middle class family in a neighborhood filled with
lively families. His father worked two or three jobs to support the
young family, and his mother was active in organizing sports for the
kids and in building a neighborhood playground. He was nurtured by a big
extended family that was forever having birthday parties and picnics and
shrimp boils in the back yard. Frank completed elementary school,
helping with school bills by taking on a couple of newspaper delivery
routes. He and his pals played ball, fished and explored New Orleans on
the street car. They camped out; they even caught alligators. With the
completion of his elementary education, Frank went off to seminary,
intending to become a teaching monk. But he left after two years when
his infant brother died, and his mother suffered a severe depression. He
remembers his days as a seminarian fondly, and says he learned more
about himself during those years than any other period of his youth.
Back home, he helped his dad care for his mom and the younger kids,
worked at a grocery store, and eventually paid his way through college
with the grocery store salary and money earned at extra summer jobs in
an aluminum refinery.
Between all of the jobs that were necessary for his education, he found
time to volunteer at the Crippled Children’s Hospital in New Orleans
where he helped children who had suffered severe burns. Later, during
the flooded aftermath of Hurricane Betsy, he organized and delivered
baby food by boat to the shelters near his home. Frank graduated from
Louisiana State University, New Orleans, with a degree in diplomatic
history, but his college years were marked by juggling work schedules
and classroom assignments. The war in Vietnam weighed heavily on him,
and his number was literally coming up. He was due to be drafted, so he
chose instead to enlist in the U.S. Army. He went to basic training, was
assigned to be a company clerk and learned his famous two-finger typing
technique. He received orders to go to Vietnam, but his commanding
officer intervened and sent him home. His father, a radar man in the
U.S. Navy in World War II, was dying of brain cancer. So, Frank went
home and saw his family through another crisis. Military veterans were
coming back to New Orleans, and the local police department saw an
opportunity. Veterans, especially those with a college degree, were
welcomed. Frank walked into an accidental career, one that he loved and
in which he thrived, and spent the next twenty years working for the New
Orleans Police Department. He became a specialist in issues related to
child abuse and exploitation, and became a U.S. court-certified expert
in investigations related to children and the people who hurt them. He
authored child protection legislation and wrote articles for law
enforcement journals on investigations of child sexual predators. It was
tough work psychologically, and the time came when he felt it was better
to move on to another specialty. He transferred to drug investigations
and spent the remainder of his career in that division.
He retired on a Friday afternoon in 1991, and went to work in federal
law enforcement the following Monday morning. Again, he found an outlet
for volunteerism, supporting a program for severely disabled children.
Eventually he had an opportunity to move abroad. With the move to Chiang
Mai came renewed opportunities to volunteer on behalf of children, and
he became a founding member of the Foundation for the Education of Rural
Children (FERC). In 2003, he was presented the United States Secretary
of State’s Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad by then Secretary
of State Colin Powell in Washington, D.C. He presently serves as
Vice-Chairman of the FERC Board and as Chairman of the Scholarship
Committee. He is solidly committed to helping the children of Thailand.
He became President of Rotary Chiang Mai West in 2005, and his club was
responsible for Rotary International environmental, educational and
humanitarian grants of over 10 million baht. He particularly enjoyed
visiting the projects that the club supported in small rural schools.
Frank retired for the second time in 2004, and started a law enforcement
training business with a friend. He remains active in the field of child
abuse and exploitation, serving as a consultant to several international
committees and non-governmental organizations on human trafficking. He
and his wife, Becky, reside in Chiang Mai but travel to the United
States several times a year to visit their children and grandchildren.
‘Birthday Boy’ Frank Weicks, (centre on the
couch),
amongst his many special friends in Chiang Mai.
Santi Music School presents unusual classical concert
Tess Itura
Santi Saengtong, head of the well known and regarded Santi Music
School in Chiang Mai, and himself an accomplished pianist and teacher,
will present a most unusual concert of mainly 18th century classical
arias written for the counter-tenor voice. He will accompany Thai
counter-tenor Ong-ard Kanchaisak, who will be singing arias by Gluck,
Mozart, Händel, Vivaldi, Bach and the 19th century French composer
Gounod’s famous “Ave Maria”, which has been a standard at classical
concerts worldwide. Also presented will be the well known aria “Che faro
senza Euridice”, Orpheus’s lament at the loss of his beloved, from
Gluck’s opera, Orfeo et Euridice.
The concert will be held at Santi Music School, 22/3 Sirimangkhalajarn
Soi 5, (near Kad Suan Kaew shopping center), on May 3 and 4 at 7 pm.
Tickets are free, but seat are limited. For reservations and further
details, please call 053 224 344 or email to [email protected]
A celebration in concert
Gala evening in honour of Bernard Sumner
Ajarn Bernard Sumner, well-loved and accomplished Chiang Mai piano
teacher, composer, and accompanist, will be honoured by his fellow
musicians, students, and fans at a gala concert at Saisuree Chutikul
Music Hall, Payap University, on Wednesday, April 30 at 7:30 in the
evening. Bernard has lived in Thailand for over 20 years and has been
deeply involved with the musical scene - teaching, giving recitals, and
working with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra as pianist and arranger.
After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, London, he joined the
BBC as Staff Accompanist. Among his many accomplishments was his work as
an arranger and conductor for the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra. As an
official BBC concert soloist he performed with such illustrious
conductors as Sir Adrian Boult, Sir Colin Davis, and Sir Alexander
Gibson. In addition, he had his own TV show and recorded piano classics
and jazz for EMI. Since living in Thailand his work with the Bangkok
Symphony Orchestra has enabled him to perform several times for members
of the Royal Family.
In 1995 he appeared as solo pianist in two of the BSO concerts, “Bach to
the Beatles”, and a special concert which was an attempt to combine a
symphony orchestra with traditional Thai instruments. In the latter
concert, he played his Fantasia for Piano and Orchestra on ‘The Waves’
by HM King Rama the 7th, and, after the concert, was presented to HRH
Princess Galyani Vadhana, elder sister of HM the King. In the same year
a goodwill concert by the BSO in Cambodia included Bernard’s
arrangements of songs composed by the Kings of Cambodia and Thailand.
On April 30, 1996, the BSO was joined by 75 of the world’s finest
orchestral musicians to form the World Philharmonic Orchestra, which
gave a concert, in the presence of HM the Queen, in honour of HM the
King’s 50th year on the throne. The program included an overture written
by Bernard Sumner based on ‘The Soul of the Nation’ by Lady Sasima
Srivikorn. After the concert Bernard was presented to HM the Queen.
Subsequently in 1996, Chitralada School invited him to arrange and
record all of His Majesty’s songs, and in the same year the BSO produced
a CD of his concert arrangements of the songs.
Bernard Sumner is certainly a familiar presence in Chiang Mai music
circles, having performed with most of the leading musicians and
vocalists in the area, including several concerts with world-renowned
concert pianist, Bennett Lerner.
Most recently he has returned to a life-long love of jazz and popular
music, performing with jazz guitarist John Smith and vocalist Mark
Walder and their group, ‘Tangerine Blue’. His impish wit and brilliant
improvisations will be long remembered by his numerous fans privileged
to have heard this true master of the keyboard.
Chiang Mai music lovers are looking forward to a celebration of the life
and vast accomplishments of the highly respected and much adored Ajarn
Bernard Sumner.
Cookery with a Japanese flavour
Morning cook-in, lunchtime eat-in
This month’s cookery class goes Japanese, and welcomes Emi Osato, who
will be demonstrating her skills with a menu of Japanese-style curry,
(completely different from Indian or Thai curry), steamed rice and
tonkatsu, (a tasty deep fried pork cutlet), served with shredded
cabbage, tonkatsu sauce and that delicious and nourishing accompaniment
to every Japanese meal, miso soup. Everyone gets to cook, and the
results will be thoroughly enjoyed at lunch! The class will be held from
10 am on Saturday, May 3, at Carolyn Piet’s home in Bain Compound, 2/2
Naa Wat Kate Road, and will cost 150 baht for the ingredients. To sign
up or for direction and further info, please call 053 244 820 between
9-12 noon, or ring Janet Greenleaf on 087 180 8040. The class size is
limited to 15, so don’t delay!
Fitness, Health and Weight Loss
John Bailey
There is one book which is used as a standard reference for
professional fitness trainers at all levels - believe this or not, it’s
called “The Arnold Schwarzenegger Encyclopaedia of Body-Building”! Once
you’ve stopped laughing, I’ll explain. Whatever your theatrical or
political ambitions, you don’t become the world’s top body-builder 7
times in a row without knowing a lot more than a little about the
subject! So, you may ask, what the **** has that to do with little (or
larger) old me? Simple. Whether you are the Terminator or an overweight
and slightly older person, the same principles apply. The term is
“progressive resistance training”, and anyone can adapt it to their own
requirements. When you lift a weight, you utilise the appropriate muscle
fibre; when you repeat that action, the muscle fibre already used
becomes tired and more adjacent fibres are brought into play, which
results in an increased number of fibres being used. This is good. Two
factors are involved, the weight itself, and the number of lifts you
perform, known as “reps”. Depending on which of these two factors you
increase, you will progressively increase the strength, size and
efficiency of the muscles involved. What you want to achieve by this is
up to you, however, there are two huge benefits which come as part of
the package of improvements. Firstly, the fitter and stronger your
muscles are, the more calories you will burn regardless of which
activity you choose. Secondly, you will lesson the problem of the
dreaded excess skin folds, (particularly in the underarm area…) which
occur when subcutaneous fat disappears! This is very good to know…
Don’t be afraid of using either free weights or machines which use
weights, as there are many medical studies which affirm their benefits.
To quote “Arnie”, “Your muscles don’t know that you’re a woman, a muscle
is just a muscle, and a bench press is just a bench press!” Of course,
your programmed workout will be different from that of a man because you
have different goals, but the fundamentals remain the same. The correct
techniques have to be learned, but once they are learned they work well
and have many health benefits such as protection from osteoporosis.
In these days of “staying young”, a great many women use weights
regularly with great success as part of their exercise lifestyle.
Try this example of correct technique: Stand up very straight with a
“dumbbell” weight in each hand and your knuckles facing forward. Keeping
your arms and your back absolutely straight, raise your arms to the side
until they are at shoulder height, breathing out as you do this. Slowly
lower your arms, gently breathing in as you do so, pause, and repeat.
Once you have the rhythm of the exercise, find the heaviest weight you
can lift, e.g. 10 kilos, then reduce this by 25-30% - to, say 7.5 kilos.
Most women unused to weight training find that 2.5 kilos is quite enough
to show results in the beginning without doing damage. You should be
able to repeat the exercise using three sets of 8-12 reps - without
dropping the weight on your foot out of exhaustion! You can also add to
this by using the same weight but raising your arms in front of you,
again to shoulder height, remembering your rhythm of breathing and
maintaining your posture. You should be noticing a number of other
muscles coming into play to support your posture, particularly in the
areas of your abdomen and lower back. Hang on to this feeling, it’s good
and right! After you become used to this exercise, you may feel you
should increase the reps. Do this with care, and you will soon find
yourself doing three sets of 15-18 reps. Now is the right time to
increase the weight and return to 8-12 reps until you are comfortable
with the increased weight. More on weights and motivation next week!
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