Chairwoman s letter:
Dear Members,
It is holiday time again, so, as in previous years, to help our Editor, Ravit El-Bachar Daniel, and her assistants, Soofia Asad, Ann Patrick and Michele Elliot, enjoy a summer break too, we are combining the July and August editions of BAMBI News. The Committee will also take a break during August, as will most of our playgroups.
As for me, you may recall that I complained I would be in the city during July and August. However, it turns out that, as you are reading this magazine, I will be packing my suitcases with my daughter, Lilly, to return to my original home in Greece, the best place to spend 15 days of summer. Plus, one of my cousins is moving to Santorini — one of the most gorgeous islands from which to watch the sun set. I am so lucky that I’ll have the chance to hop on a boat to go and visit her for a long weekend.
As for our current home city, July’s full moon marks the start of the threemonth ‘Buddhist Rains Retreat’, also commonly known as Buddhist Lent. The July rainy season is a good time to observe the many ceremonies held
throughout Thailand which blend high-spirited festivities with deep religious feeling. And, of course, August means Mother’s Day in Thailand and Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday.
So, if you are going away, enjoy the family time and quiet moments. If you are staying here, enjoy the solitude of an almost empty city. And, if you are arriving in Thailand for the first time, I hope you find an easy way to blend in to the city. “A single gentle rain makes the grass many shades greener. So our prospects brighten on the influx of better thoughts.” HENRY DAVID THOREAU
Be well,Eleni Petraki
Editor s Corner:
Dear Readers,
By the time this magazine reaches your mailbox, I’ll already have left for my summer visit to my home country. As usual, I have a long, long list of friends and family members who I want to visit and so little time to do it, without even thinking about all the tasks I have to complete while I’m there too. It’s always been a race against
the clock, and this time won’t be any different. My original plan was to make this visit longer than usual, to be able to get all my tasks and visits done without rushing all the time, but it seems that my sister and her family are planning a big trip to Thailand during the summer too (as this is the only time of the year they can all take a holiday), and so I must be back at the beginning of August to host them and show them around. It will be their first visit to our place and we are all excited about it. So, I’m going to be kept very busy, whizzing around, this summer. Then, afterwards, I could use a holiday. A real one, for myself.
We’ve reached the time of the year when we announce our fun Summer Photo Contest. This year we have gathered an amazing list of prizes for you – worth a total of around 125,000 baht!!! We have so many great prizes to give away, you’d better participate! Go to pages 23-25 to find out how to compete and which prizes are waiting for you. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our prize sponsors, who have been so generous and cooperative.
This summer it’s also time for me to sadly say goodbye to many friends and acquaintances in Bangkok. They are leaving, not me. After four years here, I have already had to bid farewell to friends leaving Bangkok on numerous occasions. But even four years of this ‘experience’ is not enough to get used to it. I probably never will. This year it seems that more and more people are leaving. So many familiar faces won’t be seen around town any longer. One of them is Jackie Rado – BAMBI News Photo Editor Assistant and a talented photographer. Jackie, thank you so much for helping with BAMBI News. I’m sure you will have just as much success building your photography reputation in the UK, as you did here in Bangkok. And to all my other friends who are leaving this summer – be well and have a smooth move. Let’s hope that the internet and some spare time are on our side, to help us keep in touch.
And to you, our readers, have a nice holiday and see you again in September.
Ravit El-Bachar Daniel
editor@bambiweb.org