Waxing beautiful by the beach

The seaside resort of Pattaya is no longer just about beaches and bars. Since earlier this morning, it's also become home to world leaders, superstars from Hollywood and Asia, as well as other celebrities and leading sportsmen. US President Barack Obama is there with Vladimir Putin. And Chinese NBA basketball player Yao Ming is bouncing his ball alongside Thai tennis star Paradorn Srichaphan.

If the glitterati is more your thing, you can rub shoulders with superstar couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie or have your photo taken with David and Victoria Beckham. Just don't expect much in the way of conversation.

This feisty assembly is part of the 68 life-size figures in Louis Tussaud's Waxworks. Located in Royal Garden Plaza, the waxworks is the latest addition to Ripley's Believe It or Not museum, which is run by Minor International Co Pattaya. It's the fifth and latest addition to the Louis Tussaud Wax Museums, which are headquartered in Texas and have branches in Canada, the UK and India.

Bt100 million has been spent on the 750-square-metre venue, which is hoping to draw around one million visitors every year.

"We may be the fifth branch in the world but we're the first in  Southeast Asia. Through the concept "Up Close and Personal", we're offering something different, as we allow visitors to touch and take photos with the waxworks," says general manager Somporn Naksuetrong.

"We also provide some scents in the galleries to stimulate the emotions and the imagination. For example, in Harry Potter's Chamber of Secrets, you can smell the sweet aroma of chewing gum while in the dimly lit Horror Den, which is home to the figures of Frankenstein and Dracula, there's a fusty odour."

The designs are different from the usual wax galleries too, so visitors will see supermodel Methinee "Luk Ked" Kingpayome dressed in a tiny bikini, exactly how she appears in a popular cover shot from Image magazine. Tom Cruise is suspended from the ceiling like in the famous scene from "Mission Impossible" and actor Tony Jaa is perched on an elephant's tusks like in the hit movie "Ong-Bak".

"I'm delighted to be one of the Thai people chosen to be immortalised in wax," said Methinee during the opening ceremony last weekend.

"We are the first branch to use wax, silicone and fibreglass to produce waxworks. We have adopted the most advanced techniques, so you'll never find a fissure on wax figures even if they are wearing a see-through costume. And we have figures standing on one leg and suspended from the ceiling - that a major selling point." says Somporn,

The 40 international celebrities were sculpted by American artists using quality wax from America and England. Chinese sculptors created the collection of 20 Asian superstars from silicon. And local craftsmen produced the likenesses of the 10 Thai celebrities in fibreglass.

The most stunning of the waxworks, at least in terms of likeness, are Hitler, Vladimir Putin, Heath Ledger in his Batman role and the late abbot of Wat Suan Mokkh, Buddhadasa Bhikku. Less impressive are Korean superstar Rain, whose almond-eye seem to bulge a little too much, Britney Spears, who looks much more like Jessica Simpson than herself, and the late Princess Diana who appears positively hollow faced.

The collection of waxworks is displayed in themed sections and divided into nine galleries. The first room, "Thai Sunset Garden Party", mixes celebs from both home and abroad on a red carpet. The special guests include Will Smith, Eddy Murphy and the US swimmer Michael Phelps, Hong Kong actors Chow Yun Fat, Andy Lao and Lion Lie and Thai superstars as Theeradeth "Ken" Wonguapan, Ann Thongprasom and Tata Young.

Next door is the Sports gallery, home to actor Bruce Lee, Tiger Woods, Paradorn Srichaphan and famed boxer Sura Saekhum aka Khaosai Galaxy.

Teens will love the Hall of Pop Stars, where they can meet and greet such icons as Britney Spears, Jerry Yan of Taiwanese boy band F4, Rain and songs-for lifer Ad Carabao. The late Michael Jackson is due to join the show soon. 

Young wizard Harry Potter and Hermione Granger chase after Lord Voldemort in the Chamber of Secrets, while the British Royalty gallery is devoted to the memorial concert for Princess Diana, with Princes William and Harry in the spotlight too.

The Political and Humanitarian Leaders' meeting room features Ghandi, Lee Guan Yoo, Zhou En Lai, Deng Xiao Ping, Mother Teresa and Dalai Lama.

The dimly hit Horror Den is suitably frightening with Frankenstein, Dracula, Hitler, Freddie and Jason.

Heath Ledger in Joker finery greets visitors on their arrival at the House of Batman, which also features Michael Keaton as Batman, Danny Devito (Penguin) and Michelle Pfeiffer.

The voyage ends at the Celebrities in Character gallery, which has Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow, Shu Qi from the "So Close" movie and socialite Paris Hilton as herself.

Due to arrive soon is Hong Kong star Tony Leung and Japanese actor Takeshi Takeshiro.

On the way out, visitors can pop into the souvenir shop and check out the range of ceramic mugs and plates, telephones, sculptures and colourful glasses. The museum is also planning to hold demonstration of making, cleaning and repairing the waxworks in the near future.

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Louis Tussaud's Waxworks is on the third floor of Royal Garden Plaza in Pattaya City and open daily from 11am to 11pm. Tickets cost Bt300 for children, Bt400 for adults and Bt600 for foreigners. Ripley's World of Entertainment ticket holders get a 50-per-cent discount. Call (038) 710 294-8 extension 334 or visit www.RipleysThailand.com.