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Chaophraya Opening:
The big day finally arrived, the opening of the new Thai Restaurant in Liverpool 1 by our new sponsors, Chaophraya. I think we were all excited to be included in such a prestigious event. All the team had been invited along with our guests, except Joan and I decided to be each other’s guests and even decided to make a full night of it by booking a hotel room at Albert Dock!!
All dressed in our very best, including new hair-do’s, we all met at the Watersports Centre so we could all go in as few cars as possible. John (Ali’s husband) kindly waited for me to park up, after several journeys up and down the dock road and we left his car at Police Headquarters, much to the amusement of the security men!
Once inside the restaurant, which was absolutely amazing, we were greeted with champagne and canapés. Next we were given a guided tour, including a private eating area where you took off your shoes, and sat at floor height with feet suspended below! Upstairs there was an amazing room with lovely chandeliers overlooking the bar, Palm Sugar. On we went and found the most unusual feature of Chaophraya . . . . the fish! They started in the bar, swam through to the restaurant and ended up in the toilets! Not literally, but the women on our team had a lot of fun going to the ladies where a glass wall, filled with fish, separated the ladies from the gents. I remember Marion saying “Aw do we have to go, I wanted to see which man comes in next!!”
Another main occupation of the evening was celebrity spotting, and I think Karen wins this hands down. She chatted for quite some time to Herbert the Hairdresser and even managed to get us mentioned on Radio Merseyside. I think I spotted an Everton footballer, but those strawberry cocktails may have blurred my vision!! There were many more celebs, but in an exclusive area of Palm Sugar, and a few of us tried very hard to blag our way to join them, but didn’t succeed!
Other highlights of the evening include Ali and John’s realisation that both had been drinking the lovely, but very strong cocktails, and neither could drive home. They spent ages wondering how they were to get home, when Carolyn and Brenda came to the rescue and offered them a lift. I bet that was a sight, all four squashed into a tiny Micra.
Most of us left around midnight having had a fantastic night, (well somebody had to go early for being a naughty girl and caught smoking in the toilets, but we wont say who!!) vowing to return to sample the menu!
More Photos...... Click to view
EYE DOTTING CEREMONY
Chinese Emperors of old called themselves 'Dragons'. Dragon boats have good spirits dedicated to providing enjoyment for the racers. The priest makes offerings to the Water Gods, these offerings appease the spirits of the water and calm them in preparation for the racing ahead. If that was not done, legend has it that the Water Gods would clash with the Dragon spirits of the boat, with disastrous consequences.
Kim and Tae performing the dotting of the eye ceremony at the Queens Dock Liverpool
HOPE now officially named. Good health and luck to all that paddle in her.
Chaophraya is a river in Thailand where the King paddles his Dragon boat regularly. Chaophraya are Pool of Life's latest sponsor. Chaophraya is a new restaurant opening in Liverpool One in June, we will be sponsored through specific drinks and dishes being promoted at certain times. Check it out.
Latest News
Well done to the girls who travelled to Italy to paddle in the Vogalonga a long paddle on the canals of Venice. See the News Page and click on Vogalonga.
Charity Paddle on the Canal 2009 check out the news page for a report and the Gallery for pictures of the event.
European Championships Sabaudia 2008
Previous news on news page[more info]
Dragon Quotes
"It doesn't matter what you are in body. If your heart is that of a dragon, then you truly are a dragon"
"The true gold of a dragon's hoard is wisdom"
"What you do for yourself dies with you; what you do for others forever remains immortal"
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart"
A Brief History of Dragon Boat Racing
The custom of dragon boating dates back more than 2,000 years. Its origin was a commemoration of the patriot poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mei Lo River after being exiled from his state. It is said the villagers, who loved Qu Yuan, feared the fish and water dragons would devour his body so they paddled around the river splashing their paddles and beating their drums to scare away the beasts. And to ensure that Qu Yuan never went hungry, or maybe to divert the fish from eating his body they wrapped rice in leaves and threw them into the river.
We train at the Water Sports Centre, Queens Dock, Liverpool.
Details of training days and times can be found on the Events page.
Contact numbers
Wendy De Corte 07731 442 986
Gail Tyrer 0151 280 2514
Directions to the Water Sports Centre
Map and Directions to the Water Sports Centre
