On 11th November 2026, the Austrian Ambassador, Katharina Wiese, bestowed the Decoration of the Silver Cross of Honour upon Nikolaus Prachensky, Austria’s Honorary Consul in Chiang Mai, at the scenic Bamboo Sala Meditation Cathedral in Mae Rim. The occasion also marked Prachensky’s 70th birthday.
Almost 40 distinguished guests, including members of the Consular Corps and close friends, gathered to celebrate the double occasion.
Ambassador Wiese delivered a warm speech, thanking Nikolaus for his years of service and describing him as, in her words, “the perfect man to represent Austria in the north of Thailand”.
Nikolaus gave a brief speech, expressing his delight and honour at receiving the award. He also spoke about his Cable Car Solutions CNX project, a popular initiative in which recently retired Honorary British Consul Ben Svasti plays an important role as project coordinator.
Guests enjoyed a selection of Austrian delicacies, including cheeses, traditional sausages and delicious pastries such as Apfelstrudel and Linzertorte, accompanied by fine Austrian wines and sparkling wine.
The convivial celebration continued late into the evening, with guests enjoying the fresh winter breeze, good company and lively conversation.
