Alfresco welcome: Some of the cadets who attended the reception.Picture: Zamri Zainal
Thursday, April 10, 2008
TWO ships carrying the Royal Thai naval cadets, HTMS Naresuan and HTMS Saiburi arrived at the Muara Port yesterday for a five-day visit.
A dinner reception was held alfresco to welcome them on the deck of the larger of the two ships, HTMS Naresuan which measured 120m x 13m.
The evening started with the arrival of His Excellency Phithak Phrombubpha, the recently appointed Thai ambassador to Brunei. He was welcomed by the Rear Admiral Prasan Sukkaset, Commander of the Royal Thai Naval Cadet Training Unit 2008.
The Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major Dato Paduka Seri Hj Halbi Hj Md Yussof arrived as one of the chief guests of the evening.
Other invited guests include Brunei's senior ranking military officials and heads of diplomatic mission who were there with their families.
Guests were served Thai food and desserts accompanied by classical music from Thailand as well as the western classics played by the cadets.
There was also cultural entertainment in the form of Thai kickboxing as well as sword fighting scenes performed by the cadets.
There are 274 naval cadets on board both ships supervised by some 30 instructors from the Royal Thai Naval Academy as well as 24 officers on each ship, said Lt Jg Susatorn Phetgerd, communication officer for HTMS Naresuan.
According to RAdm Sukkaset, the voyage was part of the cadets overseas training which gives them a hands-on experience on seamanship, navigation work on the ship as well as broadening their international perspectives.
"It is also to enhance the relationship between Brunei and Thailand," said Sukkaset who added that "Thailand looks up to Brunei as a friend in Asean".
He said that a similar visit was conducted in 2005 with a much larger entourage with three ships.
Said Sukkaset who has been to Brunei before as a naval cadet officer 25 years ago: "When I was here before there were many wooden houses but now I don't see it anymore."
Brunei is the last country in the ships' itinerary having made previous port calls at Sasebo in Japan and Hongkong and Zhan Jiang, China.
The Brunei Times
A dinner reception was held alfresco to welcome them on the deck of the larger of the two ships, HTMS Naresuan which measured 120m x 13m.
The evening started with the arrival of His Excellency Phithak Phrombubpha, the recently appointed Thai ambassador to Brunei. He was welcomed by the Rear Admiral Prasan Sukkaset, Commander of the Royal Thai Naval Cadet Training Unit 2008.
The Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major Dato Paduka Seri Hj Halbi Hj Md Yussof arrived as one of the chief guests of the evening.
Other invited guests include Brunei's senior ranking military officials and heads of diplomatic mission who were there with their families.
Guests were served Thai food and desserts accompanied by classical music from Thailand as well as the western classics played by the cadets.
There was also cultural entertainment in the form of Thai kickboxing as well as sword fighting scenes performed by the cadets.
There are 274 naval cadets on board both ships supervised by some 30 instructors from the Royal Thai Naval Academy as well as 24 officers on each ship, said Lt Jg Susatorn Phetgerd, communication officer for HTMS Naresuan.
According to RAdm Sukkaset, the voyage was part of the cadets overseas training which gives them a hands-on experience on seamanship, navigation work on the ship as well as broadening their international perspectives.
"It is also to enhance the relationship between Brunei and Thailand," said Sukkaset who added that "Thailand looks up to Brunei as a friend in Asean".
He said that a similar visit was conducted in 2005 with a much larger entourage with three ships.
Said Sukkaset who has been to Brunei before as a naval cadet officer 25 years ago: "When I was here before there were many wooden houses but now I don't see it anymore."
Brunei is the last country in the ships' itinerary having made previous port calls at Sasebo in Japan and Hongkong and Zhan Jiang, China.
The Brunei Times