Barcelona caps off a great Thai season
Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool football clubs were kind enough to visit Thailand this year, and any fans who still feel something is missing on the eve of the 2013-14 season in Europe next get to see Barcelona at play
The revered Spanish squad will take on Thailand’s national team at Rajamangala Stadium on Wednesday at 7pm. The term “exhibition match” takes on a new meaning when you’ve got stars like Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, David Villa, Gerard Piquet and the latest major transfer, Neymar from Brazil, coming to kick the ball around. Confirmation that superstars Messi and Neymar will be here automatically jacked up ticket sales.
A rumour is going around that there might not be enough tickets to meet demand, but if you can’t see the match in person, you can watch it live on Channel 3. Don’t groan. This time, Charlotte Donavanik of organiser ThaiBev Co promises, Channel 3 will handle the camera work itself. So there should be none of the idly roaming shots that infuriated fans watching the borrowed coverage of Liverpool-versus-Thailand.
Plus, 10,000 fans can also watch Barcelona practise at the stadium live tomorrow from 2 to 6pm. The admission fee is two bottlecaps from any ThaiBev product. The drinks maker has grand plans for match day, with activities starting at noon at the stadium. One of the highlights will be an appearance by singer Da Endorphine, though no one’s saying whether she’ll perform.
Needless to say (but we will), the real highlight would be Thailand scoring a goal or three against the Spanish and European champions. Needless to say (but we will again), that’s quite a mountain to climb. ThaiBev wishes it done, however, and has pledged Bt1 million to any of our boys who manages to pop one in.
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Kru Lilly goes minimal
Flamboyant Thai-language teacher Kijmanoch “Kru Lilly” Rojanasab earned headlines recently when she sold her 200-square-wah home near Rama IX Park. She said she no longer felt happy in the house of her late father and, besides, she needed to clear her Bt30-million debt for setting up a free-admission “dharma resort” in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima.
More importantly, Kru Lilly said she’s realised she doesn’t want so much in her life. She now lives in a studio apartment, a picture of which she posted on Instagram – a simple room with a bed.
All this was good publicity for both the practice of doing good deeds for society and for National Thai-language Day last week. Kru Lilly spent part of the day dispersing Bt200,000 – earnings from her book sales – at temples to make merit. This too was documented online, with the ajarn posting photos of the stack of money and inviting friends and admirers to bless her in her endeavours.
That they did, chiming in with best wishes for her longevity and happiness. She’s definitely a giver, not a taker.
