Angkana's birthday party at Basilico.

National Legislative Assembly

Rochana and I were able to get a flight to return to Bangkok on Oct. 22 by Thai International so I was able to make the first meeting of the NLA. We left Pat to take care of the tour group for the remainder of the planned USA trip.
I am National Legislative Assembly member #167 out of 242, and the seating is arranged alphabetically as are the numbers. After swearing-in ceremony, we elect Meechai Ruchuphan as Chairman of the Assembly. Khun Jaran and Khun Photjanee are elected Vice-Chairmen.

Sam Jacob was my very good friend from Bankers Trust during my TISCO years and Richard Dreyfuss was my classmate from high school days at Notre Dame International School in Rome, Italy.

Dinner at "Dona" Restaurant on 3rd Ave next to East 52nd Street with Isabella, Richard Dreyfuss, Lara and Sam Jacob. We all had excellent dinner of Meditereanian & Italian new cuisine hosted by Sam.

My Environmentally Friendly Clothes

The Thai students at RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) gather around Sivaporn. Gentleman in the black jacket is recepient of the TISCO scholarship for 2006.
The shirt that I wear was designed and made in Thailand. It is "Equinox" brand.It is made of hi-tech materials that provide for great breathability and comfort. It also uses the cold-seaming process for its lining to reduce seaming bulk. I wash the shirt at night and after hanging overnight it is dry and ready to wear. Washing is by water and regular soap. No need to use detergent which may be harmful to the environment. Energy consumption for drying and ironing is zero.
The design of this shirt is perfect for traveling since it has many and correct size and location of pockets. My passport, driver's license, my cigarettes, my various glasses, my stash of cash, my wallets, etc. are well stowed in the shirt. Sad to say for you engineers who try to design a perfect thing: Equinox no longer makes this model of shirt because once sold it lasts forever. Now they are offering more fashionable designs that are not very practical and useful but sales are good.
The pants I wear are made of leather which has been milled to look like denim. The Holstein leather comes from cows bred in Japan specifically for Kushitani, the japanese manufacturer of these pants. The leather is breathable and soft. It protects from both heat and cold. It is water proof to a certain extend and a very good wind stopper. Wahing is with water and mlld soap. Dries overnight and no ironing is allowed.
The tie I wear is yellow. Yellow is the color for those who are born on Monday. H.M.King Bhumibol was born on Monday and this year and next, most Thai people wear yellow to celebrate his 60th year of reign(2006) and his 80th birthday (2007). It is also appropriate for this event because my talk is "The Engineering King".
The motive on the tie is elephants, to represent the work that I do for the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation and to represent the 3,000 or so elephants remaining in Thailand. A truly endangered species.

"The Engineering King" is the speech presented by Sivaporn to the audience.
" 79 years ago, just about a three hours drive from here(Troy, NY), a boy was born to a Thai medical student at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was named "Bhumipol Adulyadej Mahidol. When he was 19 years old (just like a lot of you students here at RPI) and studying engineering in Switzerland, he was inform that he was to become the King of Thailand. What a shock it must have been. Imagine anyone of you engineering students having to change majors, to study something else other than what you desired. Well, destiny called and he had to change his major to Political Science........."

In addition to the Award Certificate, RPI gave me a gold Seiko watch with the incription:" 2006 RAA Fellow S. Dardarananda ' 68", on the back.

Sivaporn receives the RAA Fellows Alumni 2006 Award from John Harrington, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in Troy, New York.

Brag & Jan Schut hosts welcome dinner for the visiting group at Dimillo's Floating Restaurant in Portland, Maine. Brag was TISCO's third Managing Director.

Our family and Jan & Brag Schut.

Rochana, Aurora, Sandy Ford, Sivaporn and Suthas enjoy a good reunion over a chinese dinner in Boston, Massachusetts. Sandy was my roommate at Wharton School, University of Pennsylania.

One of the 242 new members of the National Legislative Assembly, which will act as Thailand's Parliament until a new elected government is installed.
Always liked the number 13. In Italy 13 is a lucky number. And yes this is Friday the 13th.

Mater Dei and Regina schools throw a birthday party for my aunt: Mother Bunprajak Dardarananda. She is the nun with the blue shash about to blow out the candles for her 94th birthday anniversary. She still teaches every week.

Puvanai's birthday cake ismade of layers of crepe filled with whipping cream which is very delicious.

"Mon" Puvanai celebrates his birthday at Coca Restaurant.

Sivaporn receives Baht 1 million donation from Siam Cement Foundation for the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation. 16 foundations received a total of Baht 23 million from Siam Cement Group today.

Privy Councillor General Surayud Chulanon and director of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation is appointed Thaland's 24th Prime Minister.