Photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
LEFT: Thalia Lyn and granddaughter, Annabella, pose with dancers at the Thai flower workshop held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on June 18.
RIGHT: Saint International model shows off one of the swimsuits designed by the creator of the suits worn in last year's Miss Universe contest.

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

In an effort to promote a greater awareness of, and appreciation for, the people and culture of the Royal Thai Kingdom, as well as a greater understanding of the many cross-cultural opportunities with Jamaica, Thailand's non-resident ambassador, Snanchart Devahastin, and Thailand's Jamaican Consul General, Thalia Lyn, hosted a charming and smart cocktail reception last Sunday at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, to officially launch the inaugural Thai Week.

Indeed, my daahlings, this was a week-long festival, promoting all things Thai - from that nation's rich horticultural traditions, including its celebrated culinary carvings, artistic traditions (from paintings by elephants to the stylised paintings of those quaint umbrellas), to its revered silk. All would be on display at the hotel for the festival's duration.

Understatement

Well my dears, to say that the festival is a welcome intervention, coming as it does at this particular juncture, could be easily the understatement of the season. But this was an exposition of the mega kind in its scope and potential, and never before attempted here. And in this respect, it represented a departure from the national pastime of just talking shop, to that of actually engaging in a concretised mode, as there are many lessons in just how Jamaica can maximise the use of its envoys in spreading the gospel of destination and brand Jamaica.

Anyway, my dears, last Sunday's official launch of Thai Week proved a very smart outing with the august gathering of specially invited guests. There were sneak previews of just what exactly the week would entail, including live umbrella painting demonstrations.

Dears, to anticipate the successful staging of the event, Ambassador Devahastin headed a 15-man delegation, skilled in the various art, craft, horticulture and culinary style and techniques that were apropos for the festival. The delegation included Sairoong Dhamacharoen, second secretary at the Royal Thai embassy, Ottawa; Phubast Chesdmethee, internationally acclaimed floral designer and decorator; Supatra Chesdmethee; Nattida Parkin, Thai masseuse and acclaimed garland artist; Phatchara Peng-Ai, umbrella and fan painter; Prasert Krachdnog, stage and set decorator and ice-carver extraordinaire, and Parichart Lohasiri, chef and fruit and vegetable carver.

Ample evidence

Suffice it to say, my dears, that members of the visiting delegation gave ample evidence of their artistry and talent on Sunday, as they fêted, wined, dined and entertained in Thai style, even showcasing the latest in Thai fashion.

The event that began atop the Pegasus' 18th floor was forced indoors to the famed Talk of the Town restaurant because of rain. The move, however, proved almost effortless, as guests and hosts all trooped out of wet's way and into the hallowed sanctum of the famed restaurant, the move facilitated by hotel staff and members of the visiting delegation, who took special care in moving their displays and stations.

Luvs, talk about grace under fire, well this was it! And it made for an absolutely sumptuous do. The affair represented new and exciting openings pregnant with possibilities for the entrepreneurial classes or those so minded to explore new ventures. And this is just what the doctor has ordered!

Guest list

Among the notables out were: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Ken and Vilma Baugh; Senate President, Senator Dr Oswald Harding and wife Marigold Harding; Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton and wife Neadene Tufton; Maurice and Valerie Facey; Director of Protocol Sandra Grant-Griffiths; Capt Michael Lyn; Canada's former first citizens here, retired High Commissioner Claudio Valle and his fabulous wife, Louise Valle, she looking positively stunning; British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell and companion, Dr Barbara Munske; Chinese Ambassador HE Jinghua Chen and wife Xiao Linhua; Russian Ambassador Victor Zotin; Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda; Belgian Ambassador Herman Portocarero and wife Myriam Portacarero; Canadian High Commissioner Denis Kingsley and Jo-Ann Kingsley.

Also out were Jamaica's Consul General in Miami Ricardo Alicock; Deputy Chief of Mission at the Japanese embassy Yoshiyuki Isoda; chargé d'affaires at the Republic of Korea Embassy Hosung Lee; Consul General at the US Embassy Ed Wehrli and his oh so charming wife Rose Wehrli; Consul of the Venezuelan Embassy Madai Hernandez and her husband Marcelo; UWI (Mona) vice-chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris; Honorary Consul of Iceland Robert MacMillan; Honorary Consul of Botswana Geoff Brown; Honorary Consul of Poland Irena Cousins; Honorary Consul of Nicaragua William Tavares-Finson and his tres elegant wife Sandy Tavares-Finson; Honorary Consul of Ghana Patrick Lynch; Bahamian Consul Keva Hylton; Deputy Thai Consul General Capt David McRae; Peter Rousseau; Joy Mahfood; Donovan and Andrea Lewis.

Charles Johnston and his lovely wife Lisa; Stephen Lyn Kee Chow; Yvonne Senior; Alston Douglas and his very charming wife, Judith Douglas; Dr Dhiru and Dr Laura Tanna; Diana McIntyre-Pike; Alvin and Hyacinth Curling, in from Toronto; Rajiv Bakshi and his companion Dorothea Gordon-Smith.

Howard and Linda Mitchell and their god-daughter Nicola; Jeanne Bell; Dr Nigel Clarke; Mr and Mrs Wilson Look-Kim; Anthony and Erin Chang; Robert Stephenson; Dennis and Chhaya Hawkins; the charming Candy DePass; Capt Michael and Anne-Marie Feanny; Ian Lyn; Kriengsak and Pranee Bunpuckdee; Wasana Crocker; Patrick Seebaran of St Lucia, who jetted in for the Thai Week celebrations; plus a number of others.

Now, we can only hope that Thai Week becomes an annual event, and that Jamaica will stage similar missions in that part of the globe!