KEE@FSWMAG.COM
SINCE SO MANY OF MY DEAR READERS ARE AGOG WITH EXCITEMENT OVER THE NEWLY OPENED RENOMA CAFE GALLERY ON JALAN BUKIT BINTANG ENROUTE TO PAVILION, HERE IS MORE GOOD NEWS!
Renoma is now open for Breakfast & Brunch! Sadly, on Sundays and Public Holidays only but if demand picks up, I bet they will do it daily!
So see you there is Sunday! I am now in Bangcock, I mean Bang-a-cock I mean Bendcock I mean Bangkok and returning home tonight on Thai Airways' last flight at 7.20pm so I will be at Renoma this coming Sunday and probably every public holiday too!
KEE@FSWMAG.COM
LOI KRATHONG IS ONE OF THAILAND'S MOST FAMOUS FESTIVALS WITH SONGKRAN OR THE WATER SPLASHING FESTIVAL THE OTHER. THIS YEAR IT OFFICIALLY STARTS TODAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2012
Apple, Kee Hua Chee, the Governor of TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand), Vickie Yong, Ho Ai Ling and Danny Chong
Kee Hua Chee holding his first ever krathong in all his 38 years of living
Loi krathong is the floating of small vessels made of banana stems or leaves elaborately folded and filled with flowers, food, sweets, candle and joss sticks. These are set afloat during the full moon of the last month of the Thai New Year which usually falls in November and today 28 November is the actual day of Loi Krathong!
I am now in Nakorn Ratchasima or Korat in Thailand to celebrate Loi Krathong.
Kee Hua Chee holding his first krathong
Kee Hua Chee with 20 representatives from 20 nations waiting for the cue to float the krathong
And off they go! In the swimming pool of The Piano hotel since there were no nearby river, lake or drain!
Everyone helped the krathong's passage through the water by creating waves!
This was the furthest our krathong sailed but I hope my wish went further than this!
Kee Hua Chee saying a prayer for his krathong to carry to Buddha, Kuan Yin and Phra Mea Khongkha the Goddess of Water
Kee Hua Chee and Miss Loi Krathong
2 Miss Loi Krathongs!
Kee Hua Chee with 2 Thai beauties
3 beauties
The colourful and exotic krathongs waiting to be floated
Only the Thais could create such transient works of art!
There should be a Mr Loi Krathong too and Dullapah Jaroenjitt would surely win
Tommy aka Dullapah Jaroenjitt is the secretary to the Deputy Governor of TAT
'Loi' means to 'float' and 'krathong' refers to the vessels that originated during the Sukothai period of the 13th century. The wife of King Ramakhamheng the Great was the first to create a small vessel of banana leaves and to float it on a river by the palace. She told the King it was to
wash away the sins, ill deeds and bad things done during the last 11 months so as to start the new year on a clean slate. She added she saw this in her dream.
King Ramakhamheng was so charmed with this concept he decreed this should be adhered to every year henceforth.
By the time of the Ayathuyya period it became associated with Buddha and the Naga King who protected the Buddha from a violent storm by opening his hood and sheltering the then Gautama Siddartha who was on the verge of Enlightenment and Mara the Evil Incarnate was trying to prevent him. For once Gautama Siddartha became enlightened and a Buddha, Mara knew his days were numbered and his evil powers would be diminished.
Many Thais also associate Loi Krathong with the river goddess who controlled the life giving waters. So Loi Krathong is both a tribute to Buddha and Phra Mea Khongkha the Goddess of Water.
The lighting of the candle and letting it go symbolises the floating away of grudges, defilements, anger, frustrations and envy so as to start on a clean slate.
Some Thais even cut their finger nails or trimmed their hair and place them on the krathong so as to release the 'bad parts' of themselves, leaving behind their good, God-given parts!
At one stage in recent times, styrofoam was used as a base. Styrofoam is much cheaper than banana stems and leaves are are practically unsinkable...alas they are also unperishable! Styrofoam takes decades if not forever to disintegrate so now, only banana leaves or bread or anything organic are used. After a few days, they disintegrate and become food for the fish.
Of course beauty contests are a must and the winners are called Nopamat Queens in honour of Queen Nopamat who made the first krathong in the 13th century.
This is my first Loi Krathong festival and at The Piano Hotel last night, I was asked to represent Malaysia as I was the best dressed, best looking and best behaved.
So I was given a flower filled krathong which I held for the first time in all my 38 years of living. Together with 20 other representatives from 20 countries, we waited for the cue and floated our krathong simulatneously.
As The Piano Hotel is nowhere a river, canal, lake, stream, sea or even a large monsoon drain, we made do with the hotel's swimming pool! Our krathong managed to move away from us but we helped by pushing and stirring the water!
Since our krathong could never find their way to Menam Chao Phraya and on into the Gulf of Siam, I wonder if my wish would come true. Oh well, if it partially comes true, that is good enough. One must not be too greedy though I am told 'greed is good' or was it 'don't heed greed as you don't need the heat so beat it'!
The last I saw my krathong with its pink central flower, it was still floating aimlessly in the swimming pool.
The party at The Piano hotel was sponsored by TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) which also oganised the grand launch of Loi Krathong Festival on 24 November at Asiatique in Bangkok which I also attended as I arrived in the morning on Thai International at 9am.
It rained Persian pussies and French poodles as in cats and dogs these last few days but due to my prayers to Buddha, Kuan Yin and Phra Mea Khongkha, the rain never appeared in the evenings! All due to me and my petitions to Buddha!
In fact it was raining heavily around 6 pm when I tried taking a taxi to Asiatique. The first driver demanded 300 baht and the second also. Since I was in a hurry, I offered 200 baht and arrived just to see the last drops of rain vanishing. The rain stopped in time just as I finished dinner at Kodang Talay restaurant! Perfect timing due to my petitions to Buddha!
Asiatique is by the bank of Menam Chao Phraya so it was very authentic.
Tommy aka Dullapah Jaroenjitt and Kee Hua Chee giving the victory sign
Mr Handsome and Mr Gorgeous
Tommy, Kee Hua Chee and Chris from Down Under
Apple and directors of TAT
Cheers to TAT!
Thai traditional costumes at The Piano Hotel in Pak Chong in Korat or Nakon Ratchasima in northeast Thailand
BELOW ARE TAKEN AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF LOI KRATHONG FESTIVAL 2012 AT ASIATIQUE RIVERFRONT NIGHT BAZAAR IN BANGKOK
The Loi Krathong Festival launch at Asiatique in Bangkok
From right, Kee Hua Chee, Danny Chong, Vickie Yong, Ho Ai Ling and Apple
Kee Hua Chee and Apple aka Sudaporn Worapon
Kee Hua Chee and Sudaporn Worapon
Kee Hua Chee and Ho Ai Ling
KEE@FSWMAG.COM
Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Datin Angie Manam of Van Cleef & Arpels
Female power; Joyce Yap, Michelle Hee, Datin Angie Manam, Dato Sr Dr Ng Yen Yen Minister of Tourism, Jennifer Ong, Yenti Luo and Annette Chan
Still pretty and powerful!
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM DATO SRI DR NG YEN YEN AND TAN SRI FRANCIS YEOH OPENED THE 6TH EDITION OF 'A JOURNEY THOUGH TIME' AT STARHILL DURING THE STAR-STUDDED GALA AT SHOOK! RESTAURANT ON THURSDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2012.
In the midst of the evening, news reached the Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen that Kuala Lumpur has been declared by CNN to be the World's Best 4th Shopping City! Kuala Lumpur only lost to New York (first), Tokyo (second) and London (third), beating flat Hong Kong which came in 6th while Singapore was nowhere to be seen! Bet these two cities are vomiting blood and I hear Singapore has lapsed into an irreversible coma.
"CNN has just announced Kuala Lumpur is the World's 4th Best Shopping City!"
Cheers to the stunning good news that came in halfway through dinner!
Thumbs up to KL as the World's 4th Best Shopping City!
1Malaysia! And Malaysia Bolih!
Dato Yeoh Soo Ming and Minister of Tourism toasting to the good news issued by CNN
The World's Top 10 Best Shopping Cities are, in descending order, New York, Tokyo, London, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Dubai and Madrid. KL and HK are the only 2 cities from Asia!
This spectacular watch and jewellery exhibition is like a mini-Basel Fair. Entrance is free as you just walk into Starhill like every visitor and you can admire the latest and most innovative timepieces and bling. Enough to melt your platinum cards!
The Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen in her welcome speech said, "When the inaugural 'Journey Through Time' exhibition started in 2006, tourists spent RM 6.6 billion. Last year in 2011, tourists spent a staggering RM 17.6 billion on shopping! That's an increase of RM 11 billion in 10 years!
"But we are not content! BY 2020 we expect tourists to spend RM 60 billion on shopping! So events like tonight are very important in making Malaysia a top luxury shopping destination.
"In 1999 duties were lifted on watches and cameras. The Government has taken cognisance of the importance of tourist dollars and gone further last year when all duties were lifted on luxury goods! Starhill is now a major luxury centre because of this."
The Minister of Tourism attributes Malaysia's stunning tourism success story to what she calls the 5 P's.
Continued the dynamic Tourism Minister, "First 'P' is Public Policy by the Government which must support all initiatives taken by the Tourism Ministry and its agencies. I tell everyone on my overseas campaign trips there are 5 things you should not buy and bring home from Malaysia. These are cars which are expensive, crystalware, alcohol, cigarettes and chocolates! As a medical doctor, I know the last three are bad for health.
"The Second 'P' is Private Enterprise. We need people like Tan Sri Francis Yeoh who thinks in terms of decades and are not in for the short term. Starhill is a great example! By the way, he is going to be a grandfather soon to a grandaughter and Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay will be a great grandfather! Congratulations!
"The third 'P' is People. Without the Malaysian touch and our natural friendliness and ability to speak English and moderate, modern way of life, the nation would not have been so successful!
"The fourth 'P' is Products & Services. We have a drivesre range of tourist attractions second to none and are a hospitable race and we must maintain this reputation.
"The fifth and last 'P' is Promotion. We must always promote, publicise, push and promulgate and then press harder in print and multimedia! We cannot risk resting on our laurels and take things for granted."
She noted tourists spend 30% of their budget on shopping. Malaysia won Second Best Shopping City in the Globe Shoppers Index with a score of 65 whereas Hong Kong the winner of Best Shopping City romped home with a score of 68.5.
Third was Shanghai, followed by Beijing, Singapore, Sydney, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul and Delhi which make the Top 10 list followed by Manila, Taipei and Auckland.
In Istanbul recently, Malaysia won the United Nations award for Innovative Public Policy! This is something money cannot buy so make sure Barisan wins the next election!
The Minister of Tourism is hugely popular and this is also due to her natural charm and friendliness. Unlike most Ministers who sit immobile at their VIP seats, the Tourism Minister makes it a point to walk to nearby tables to say hello to friends! Most are stunned when she nonchalantlt strolls to their table to say hello and pose for photos!
Suddenly she rounded up her lieutenants and shepherded on stage as she had an announcement to make.
On stage with drink in hand, she said, "I have just been informed CNN has declared Kuala Lumpur as the World's 4th Best Shopping City in the world! This list is compiled by CNN for CNN Travel section and we only lost to New York, Tokyo and London! So we are in excellent company as a world city! I congratulate the Malaysian Government for always supporting the tourism industry and allocating us the budget and also the private sector and of course my staff at the Ministry of Tourism!"
Well, well, well, why am I not surprised? Congratulations to all!
Jennifer Ong and Kee Hua Chee
Jennifer Ong and Kee Hua Chee
The Minister of Tourism with the producers of Beijing Olympics 2008
With Kee Hua Chee, producer of this blog!
The Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen and the creators of the light and sound shows for the Beijing Olympics 2008.
Kee Hua Chee with the producers from Impression Wonders Arts Development Co from Beijing
Puan Sri Puteh, Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Tan Sri Dato Seri Panglima Azumi
Puan Sri Puteh, Tourism Minister and Tan Sri Azumi
Datuk Seri Ibrahim Saad, Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Dato Zainab Ibrahim
Top VIPs
News came in that CNN has announced Kuala Lumpur was placed World's 4th Best Shopping City and Hong Kong came in 6th! KL and HK are the ony 2 cities in Asia. The Top 10 Best Shopping Cities are New York, Tokyo, London, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Dubai and Madrid.
Cheers to KL!
Arianna Teoh, ex-wife of racing ace Alex Yoong
Still stunning; Arianna Teoh, Miss Malaysia World 1997
Stephanie Chia of Shiatzy Chen and Arianna Teoh
Stephanie Chua and Arianna Teoh
Malaysia's first and only male supermodel Wilson Tan
Malaysia's first and only certified male supermodel Wilson Tan
Wilson Tan leading the models wearing watches nominated for Journey Through Time awards
Francois and Lyndon Felix of IJM Corporation
Datin Angie Emam and Kee Hua Chee
Datin Angie Emam of Van Cleef & Arpels and Kee Hua Chee of keehuachee.blogspot.com
The Leading Men from Australia performed
The dishy Leading Men from Australia!
