Differ Pub celebrated its seventh anniversary with a party that honored Chanyuth Hengtrakul, CEO of Sophon Cable, and Chaovalit Saenuthai, Banglamung district officer. The Third Road entertainment venue provided free food and drinks at the night-long party.

Joining the environmental-mined staff was Peter Varmusa, Tesco Lotus commercial director, and retired General Surayud Chulanont.
The objective of the partnership is to plant 9 million trees in Thailand’s natural forest reserves in the next years to celebrate the 80th birthday of His Majesty the King, and to follow in His footsteps on environmental conservation initiatives. It is estimated that the  trees will help reduce 9 million tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over the next 40 years.
While at the National Park, 20 project participants–students from 10 universities–were awarded diplomas.

Itthiphol Kunplume, Pattaya mayor, celebrates his 38th birthday at home with a few close family members, monks, politicians and business people. Itthiphol, a graduate of Golden Gate University in San Francisco, was elected mayor in June 2008.

The United States and the UAE were the winners of this year’s international fireworks competition in Pattaya. Eleven countries participated in the colorful event which lighted Pattaya bay three nights running and could be seen for miles around. Guest of honor was General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, Thailand’s Minister of Defence.

Guests were welcomed at an outdoor meet-and-greet reception for entrepreneurs from the Eastern Seaboard. In addition to entertainment and unlimited drinks, a fireworks display led the red carpet walk to the Mirage Grand Ballroom where a cocktail buffet awaited guests.
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome was guest of honor. Shows were performed throughout the night, including Centara’s Brazilian dance show. Highlight this year was a charity auction in which Beatles memorabilia signed by all four members of the group raised the highest bid for the night. Proceeds were donated to the Lighthouse Club (LHC) Pattaya with its charity beneficiary Melissa Cosgrove Children’s Foundation (MCCF).

The resort provided each table of diners with a krathong to set free in the sea.
Making the experience even more memorable, the evening included the Festival of Lights, a show that featured a unique drum performance on the beach, a traditional Thai dance presentation, and a Nang Noppamas beauty contest.

Sirapassorn was clearly in an emotive state after being crowned by the 2010 winner from South Korea. She told the assembled press members that she knew by age six she was a girl trapped in a boy’s body and, after initial hostility, her family allowed her to develop as she wanted into a person radiating goodness and charm.
Other contestants also talked of their upbringing.  Miss Sri Lanka, Chamila, said it was important always to do the right thing and seek the backing of friends and family.  Miss Lebanon, Margaret, said she had been given up for adoption but still persevered to become a model and make it to the international pageant. She added that she had once met her real father but he was disappointed and asked what had happened to his erstwhile son.
Miss Nigeria, Sahhara, explained that, apart from her parents, her inspiration had been Shirley Bassey who had also suffered to get to the top of her profession. Sahhara, first runner-up in this year’s Tiffany’s competition, said she would not be telling her mother because “mum doesn’t like involvement in transwoman affairs.”
However, she noted that she wants to return to Nigeria as the country badly needs reeducation about transgender issues.  She currently lives in UK.

Photo (left to right), Tomonori Arai; Leon Koudelak; Kamala Sukosol, president, Siam Hotels & Resorts; MonchingCarpio; Father Peter Srivorakul, acting president, Father Ray Foundation, and Paul Cesarczyk.

In photo,  (left to right) are Boonthavee Klinesukon, director, Father Ray Day Care; Holger Groninger, resident manager, Siam Bayshore Resort & Spa; Father Peter Srivorakul, president, Father Ray Foundation; Neils Colov, CEO, Pattaya People; Leon Koudelak, representative of the Thailand Guitar Society, and Darren Healey, sales and marketing manager, Pattaya People.

The third annual Pattaya Classical Guitar Festival & Competition attracted more than 100 collectors, musicians, music lovers and students, including an impressive line-up of artists, luthiers and students from America, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, the Philippines and Thailand.
The only event of its kind in Thailand, showcasing many of the world’s top guitar makers and musicians, the festival at the Siam Bayshore Resort & Spa, Pattaya, featured a concert with virtuoso Hitoshi Miyashita and a master concert with Woratep Rattana-umpawan, Santi Kaewjai and the Wong-Kojorn Guitar Quarter. Following guitar competitions for adults and for juniors and a student concert by the Thailand Guitar Society, the event culminated with the expert strumming of Leon Koudelak, Monching Carpio, Tomonori Arai and Paul Cesarczyk.

First prize in the senior competition went to Chinnawat Themkumkwun. The Thai musician was awarded a guitar valued at $US3,500 made by the world renowned Indonesian luthier Hanief Palopo.
The 35,000 baht in proceeds from the event were donated to the Father Ray Foundation, which cares for more than 850 orphans, street children, blind children and young disabled adults.

Nitipol Rattanasakol (center) is the winner of the ‘Dine ‘n’ Fly with Hilton Pattaya’ contest, according to Harald Feurstein (right), general manager of the beachside hotel, seen here with Simon Bender (left) food and beverage manager. Nitipol’s prize includes return airfares for two to Bali, two nights at the Conrad Bali, and daily breakfast.