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Isar Grill Party
Thai-German Summer Picnic in Munich
 The cold and rainy weather in Munich the days before had made people who wanted to join the once-a-year Thai-German Picnic on Saturday July 21, worry quite a bit.
But luck was with the Thais of Munich and during the day the weather was constantly getting better and after midday it turned out to be a wonderful sunny summer day.
So food and beverage and barbecue materials were packed and many Thai-German families with lots of kids were heading to the Isar Auen, an idyllic and popular leisure time area at the river banks of Munich's river, the Isar.
The festival had already started at 11.00 o'clock and little by little people were arriving to the scene. Altogether maybe around 300 people joined this years picnic.
The Thai family Picnic is just a get-together, people are sitting together in groups, chatting, playing and sometimes singing, meeting friends, enjoying delicious Thai food and drinks on a pleasant summer day while the children were having fun playing on the river banks that are almost like a small beach for them.
Those who did not take along there own food did not have to worry. There was plenty of grilled and fried food, Isan food like Som Tam Kao Niew, and drinks and sweets.
The festival is organized every year by the Thai Arts and Culture Association led by its current president Khun Dara Spirgatis, an active small Thai women, who has many talents, among them Thai dance, fruit carving and cooking Thai food. Khun Dara has been teaching Thai cooking and vegetable and fruit carving at the VHS in Munich for eight years already (The VHS is a kind of open University for adults).
She said that she liked this kind of work because it gives her the opportunity to show and teach aspects of Thai arts and culture to her German students.
Seventeen years ago Khun Dara came from Yasothon, a province in Isan, to live in Germany with her German husband. "I was a primary school teacher in Thailand and when I came here I was only a housewife. But a housewife who always wanted to be very active. I like to work very much", she introduced herself to us.
 "I love my country Thailand. So as I happen to live here in Germany I would like to show our culture to the foreigners, show them our Thai way of life. People of Isan, when they have finished their work on the fields like to celebrate and have joy. Many of us Thais here in Germany come from Isan and we like to celebrate the Isan style and are proud to show our culture here. When we organize our events we don't think so much about making profits. The main thing for us is to join and have fun together." She told us about he origins of the Isar festival.
The Thai Art and Culture Association of Munich was founded by a group of Thais 18 years ago. Khun Dara later became the president. Among the first activities were the Loy Krathong celebration at the Wat Thai Munich which turned out to be a very successful event. Now, Loy Krathong, Songkhran, Wan Kao Pansah and the other major Buddhist celebrations are being organized every year. Also the Isar Family Picnic has already become a tradition of the Thai-German Community in Munich.
Even though the events the association organizes are quite popular, right now there are only 18 active members of the association. So new members and supporters are very much welcome.
The next festival will be Loy Krathong and will be celebrated in Munich on October 20, 2001.
For more information, please contact:
Thai Arts and Culture Association in Munich
Schoenstr. 65 b
81543 Muenchen
Tel. (089) 6518827 and (089) 6250964
Saisuda und John Pohl
© thailife.de
Photos: KhunJohn
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