THAI ALL THE WAY: Thai members of ILPG along with other members and guests at the event.

International Ladies’ Potluck Group members in Doha, representing
35 countries, got together for Thai Day, a special occasion that
showcased the country’s culture, tradition and food. By Anand Holla

When Thailand’s tourism board urges travellers to “Discover Thainess”, it makes sense because “Thainess”, as any true traveller will attest, is a multi-faceted phenomenon that warrants discovering, not just passive exploring.
At the International Ladies’ Potluck Group (ILPG) meet on Monday, the women of Thai community in Qatar had organised a vibrant Thai Day at the Al Jazi Gardens Clubhouse in West Bay. Members and guests from 35 countries were present at the event that witnessed a gathering of great numbers.
The programme was flagged off with a welcome address by chief guest Sathatip Laismit, wife of Piroon Laismit, the ambassador of Thailand to Qatar. Wives of the ambassadors of Palestine, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hungary, Singapore, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Vietnam, Spain and the Republic of Korea were also present.
In her speech, Laismit noted how the event seeks to provide an overview of Thailand, particularly concerning the aspects of culture, tradition and food. “What’s more special today is the traditional Thai dance performed by the Thai female community in Qatar who are the backbones in helping maintain the traditional Thai culture in Qatar,” Laismit said.
“In addition, the authentic Thai foods are presented to you by Penny Delahunty, the founder of Thai Corner Restaurant and the main organiser of this event. She brings to you world-class famous dishes, such as hot and sour soup or Tom Yam Gung, Pad Thai, Som Tam and many more,” Laismit pointed out.
Laismit’s speech was followed by traditional dances such as Apsara dance and Tang Wai dance. The Apsara dance, for instance, is inspired from the mythological court of the gods and from its celestial dancers, the Apsaras, and this dance form is at the heart of classical Khmer dance, going back to the time of Suryavarman II (1113-1145), a Khmer king and the builder of Angkor Wat. Through the programme, the hall full of ladies was also told of the uniqueness of Thailand.
For those who don’t know, the size of Thailand is mostly close to that of Spain and 95% of Thais are Buddhists. With its rugged mountains in the north and unmatched tropical beaches in the south, the “Land of a Thousand Smiles” is a destination brimming with spectacular beauty and immense serenity. That explains the never-ending rush of tourists to Thailand.
Tourism Authority of Thailand says, “Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation to have never been colonised by European powers. It is a constitutional monarchy whose current head of state is His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej. A unified Thai kingdom has existed since the mid-14th century, and Thailand was known as Siam until 1939 when it officially became the Kingdom of Thailand.”
While much of Thailand’s culture is drawn from the ethnic Thai people, many of the traditions and beliefs of Thai people stem directly from Buddhist principles.  Hinduism, too, has made important contributions to Thai culture, and the close ties between Thailand and India can be spotted in art, literature, and in several Thai customs. Even the cultures of nearby Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and China have played a key role in shaping the traditions of Thailand.
ILPG heads conveyed special thanks to Parichat Phanrakdecha, First Secretary of the Thai Embassy, who co-ordinated with ILPG and was also the host of the event.
Shriani Burley, co-president of ILPG, said, “We also thanked those who donated prizes for the lucky draw – Linly Stijlles, Grand Hyatt, Radisson Blu, Hilton Hotel, Crowne Plaza, The Torch Hotel, Wyndham Grand and Sawasdee Spa. We had some excellent Thai food supplied by Thai Corner, Linly Stelljes and Maam. Best Thai cooks in town came together for this event.”
To satiate the womenfolk’s appetite for shopping, there were some cool authentic Thai products on display.
ILPG consists of 422 members from 65 countries. The group has been a torchbearer for expat ladies in Qatar, boasting of over 400 members from more than 65 countries. ILPG celebrated its 11th anniversary, earlier this year.