It's No Joke Says Ripley's As Laughing Contest Is

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya Mail Edition: June 27-July 3rd 2008

It’s no joke says Ripley’s as laughing contest is announced

First prize of 100,000 baht will make you smile

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not will hold a laughing contest at the Royal Garden Plaza on July 5, with the top prize being something to smile about at 100,000 baht.

The announcement was made on June 17 at the Arnoma Hotel in Bangkok by Somporn Naksuetrong, managing director of Ripley’s World of Entertainment Pattaya.

Somporn said that Ripley’s has been in Pattaya for 13 years and has become a renowned tourism attraction.

Ripley’s International Laughing Contest, which is being supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is expected to draw both Thai and foreign competitors, and Somporn believes it can become an annual event.

Laughing will be judged by its loudness, length, content, style, and infectious quality.

The winner will take home 100,000 baht, while the first runner up will raise a smile at the prize of 10,000 baht. Participants and the audience are invited to wear their national dress, and there will be a prize of 5,000 baht for the best national costume.

Anyone is invited to take part, and information can be had by calling 038 710294-8, or through www.ripleys thailand.com.

Sunday June 29 will see a selection round, and the finals will be held on July 5 at the Fountain activity area on the ground floor of Royal Garden Plaza.

Libya 115 says: See you there tomorrow, I've got a great laugh and that 100,000 baht will come in useful!

[Patsycat]

Did you win? What's your national costume?

[libya 115]

Did you win? What's your national costume?

Through to the finals on Saturday July 5th 2008. A Thai will probably win it....but it is the taking part that counts....

My 'National Costume' is British so; Union-Jack shorts, and a Chang vest, and a baseball-cap embroidered with 'Manchester City Junior Blues'.

[Patsycat]

Don't forget to put clean socks on.

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: July 7th 2008

FIRST LAUGHING CONTEST AT RIPLEY'S PATTAYA

The reason that Ripley's staged a Laughing Contest, yesterday, 6 July, 2008, at Royal Garden, was to attract more tourists to Pattaya, since laughing contests are a very popular activity around the world.

Normally, people only hear about Pattaya's bad reputation, crime, sex, suicides etc. but, for a pleasant change, Ripley's Believe It Or Not!" is keen to promote itself as another star tourist attraction in Pattaya.

Ripley's Laughing Contest at Royal Garden, the popular shopping mall location of the" Ripley's Believe It Or Not!" museum, is the first competition of its kind to be held in Thailand. The contest was opened by the following dignitaries: Mrs Buppa Rowproo, the tourism minister advisor, Mr. Ittipol Khunpleum, Pattaya City Mayor , Sub-Lieutenant Chaiwat Jaroensuk, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Central area, and Mr. Somporn Narkseutrong, General Manager of Ripley's Believe It Or Not!", Pattaya.

For quite some time, every year in July, Ripley's Believe It Or Not! has been holding this contest, elsewhere. This year, however, they held the contest in Pattaya, Thailand, and it attracted a great deal of attention and favourable publicity.

All the rules are the same as everywhere else the contest is held, the winner has to laugh the longest and the highest and also has to perform a humerous action to go with the laughing.

This Ripley's International Laughing Contest was opened for contestant applications from 17 June, 2008 onwards. There were 136 contestants, but after elimination there were only 23 finalists left. These were from 12 different countries; all contestants having different careers. They were from Thailand, Siberia, England, Sweden, the Chek Republic, Israel, France, Belgium, Ireland, America, Italy and Holland. The oldest contestant was 66-years-old and the youngest one was 9, from Thailand.

The winner was a female teacher, Mrs. Jittarat Wongsomboon, 55, (20) who laughed for the longest time: 12.26 minutes, with a decibel loudness rating of 110. She received Bt100,000, a gold certificate and many other prizes. The first runner up was Mr. Gowit Sripong, 32, (19), from Thailand, who laughed for 11.26 minutes, with a decibel loudness rating of 112.2. He received Bt10,000 and a free gold ticket to visit Ripley's. He also won the national costume contest with a Bt5,000 prize.

Editor's Comment:

It is indeed refreshing to be able to report happy events for a change. And remember, laughter releases endorphins, which prolong life. So let's all wish Ripley's all the best and keep laughing for life. Perhaps it also helps one's reincarnational chances; look at how happy the Dalai Lama is. He obviously knows the secret - he who laughs last, laughs best.

The Winner: Photograph courtesy of PDN