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Ocean cruising on the Queen Elizabeth
MC Richard Silverberg
introduces long time PCEC member Roger Fox, to share with fellow members the
trip he and a few others made on the QE2, from Hong Kong to Singapore, with
stops in Vietnam and Malaysia.
Ocean cruising on the Queen Elizabeth was the topic at
the Sunday, May 4, meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC). Roger
Fox, Richard Smith, Roy Albiston, Richard Silverberg, Anne Smith, and Gary
Hacker shared their memories and photos with their fellow expats. They were
among a group of nine PCEC members who took the seven-day cruise from Hong
Kong to Singapore with port calls in Vietnam. This 7 day cruise was just one
leg of a much larger 122-day cruise.
The Queen Elizabeth, the Cunard Line’s newest luxury liner, came into
service in 2010. The ship weighs 92,000 tonnes and is capable of carrying
2,092 passengers. For more information on the Queen Elizabeth, visit
http://www.cunard.com/cruise-ships/queen-elizabeth/.
Social Media co-ordinator
Jerry introduces his team, John, Tom and Hawaii Bob.
The price of the seven-day cruise was less than $1,000
per person (based on double occupancy) for an outside cabin with a balcony
(usual prices are two or three times as much). Roger Fox is well known for
looking for - and finding - good cruises at bargain prices. He periodically
sends out information on these bargains by email; a number of PCEC members
are on his mailing list.
Roger explained that the Queen Elizabeth was built in Italy and assembled
piece by piece, similar to Lego building blocks. It took eight months to
build and six months to fit. Roger said that everything on the ship was very
traditional, from afternoon tea through to the captain’s crisp British
accent. Other words that Roger used to describe the Queen Elizabeth were
regal, proper, elegant and classical.
Not often we have someone 83
years young, let alone a former Chairman, so a small celebration was held &
we sang Happy Birthday Richard!
Roger said that he was not all that impressed by the way
the Queen Elizabeth looked from the outside, but that when he went aboard
and encountered a quartet playing Mozart, and then found champagne waiting
in his lovely cabin - well, by then he was enthralled.
All of the presenters said they enjoyed the live music aboard the ship,
which ranged from chamber music to jazz to rock and roll. Gary Hacker said
that he was particularly taken by an octet - a group of eight musicians from
the ship’s bands that joined together at the last minute to do two evenings
of impromptu Dixieland music in the Commodore Club - located on Deck 10 with
a panoramic view looking forward. Roger added that the Commodore Club was
usually a quiet place to sit, read, enjoy the view; but it seems the
musicians from two of the bands decided to get together there to “jam” with
a little Dixieland - like Gary, he said he was also taken with this
unexpected delight.
PCEC member Gary Hacker at the
“Peak” in Hong Kong.
There was plenty of art on the ship, all of it
commissioned for the Queen Elisabeth. Roger added that there was great
entertainment every night in the theatre. Roger said that the food, being
British, was good but not great. Not all the presenters agreed; Anne Smith
thought it was “just fine.” Afternoon tea was a three-course affair, with
sandwiches, cakes and scones. Passengers got their own small jar of jam to
use, which Roger thought was a nice touch.
Outside cabin with balcony on
the Queen Elizabeth.
Roy Albiston mentioned that there was 24-hour room
service, and that all the food was included in the price of the ticket.
Richard Smith narrated some photos from the two stops the cruise made in
Vietnam. Some of them arrived early in Hong Kong so they could visit the
city before boarding the cruise. Roy and Richard Silverberg presented some
photos of Hong Kong along with narration. Roy also showed some photos from
Singapore where they got off the ship. During the question and answer
period, Roger answered one question about how to keep from gaining weight;
he said his method is to always take the stairs instead of the elevator,
even if that means walking up seven flights. In response to availability of
Wi-Fi Internet service, Roger said that it was available but costly at 70
cents US per minute and slower speed because it was via satellite
connection.
Members of the Board and
others show off the club Polo shirt, featuring the new club logo.
After the presenters answered several questions from the
audience, Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg brought everyone up to
date on upcoming events and called on Roy Albiston to conduct the Open Forum
where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in Thailand,
especially Pattaya.
For more information on the many activities of the PCEC, visit their website
at www.pcecclub.org.
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Foodland’s party
rewards the faithful
Dr. Iain Corness (2nd left)
interviews for PMTV (L to R) Chairman Frank Lim, MD Edwin Lim, and Somsak
Teerapattanakul, CEO of Foodland Co., Ltd.
Dr. Iain Corness
Foodland Supermarket held its annual International Food and Beverage
party in the grounds of its car park - but no one was complaining! This event
has been a feature of Foodland’s operation for the past few years, and is not
only a thank you to the loyal customers, but is also an opportunity for them to
sample different international foods, cheeses and wines.
Foodland Supermarket’s Chairman Frank Lim and Managing Director Edwin Lim were
on hand to welcome guests and dignitaries.
In an exclusive interview with Pattaya Mail TV Frank Lim revealed that they will
be building two more Foodland outlets in Pattaya as they have confidence in
Pattaya’s growth and understand there will be a need for more of their iconic
supermarkets.
PILC enjoys Japanese lunch, Benihana style
PILC President Helle Rantsen
welcomes members to the May luncheon at Benihana.
Helle Rantsen
Old and new members of the Pattaya International Ladies Club enjoyed
conversation and sushi at the monthly PILC luncheon at Benihana.
Welcoming new expat ladies to Pattaya and making sure that they feel more at
home in their new surroundings is one of the main reasons PILC was created some
27 years ago and it was with great pride that PILC President Helle Rantsen was
able to extend a warm welcome to PILC member number 204.
The perfect way to get to know the ladies in PILC is by taking part on one of
the many trips organized by the trips and activities team. This month there were
choices of taking part in three different trips depending if you prefer a day on
the beach or more cultural trips to Bangkok.
PILC is much more than a social club having been involved in 10 different local
projects trying to support in the best way possible with manpower but also with
donation for food, scholarships, school uniforms, teachers salaries and more.
In order to continue the work, Rantsen announced two upcoming events, one on
June 14 from 3-9 p.m. at the Pinnacle Resort and another, the Holiday Bazaar, on
Nov. 23 at the Holiday Inn Pattaya.
The June event will see the PILC host a family pool and barbecue evening for
600-850 baht.
PILC members watch in amazement at
the chef’s skills.
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Father Ray Foundation president celebrates 25 years in priesthood
Rev. Peter Pattarapong Srivorakul (front row, 2nd
left), president of the Father Ray Foundation, taking a picture before the
church’s festivities.
Jetsada Homklin
The president of the Father Ray Foundation marked 25 years as a clergyman during
a ceremony in Bangkok.
Friends, colleagues and foundation students turned out at the Redemptorist
Church May 1 for the anniversary ceremony for Rev. Peter Pattarapong Srivorakul.
Rev. Peter Pattarapong Srivorakul poses with cousins
during the celebration.
Born in 1968 as the second of seven children, Srivorakul completed high school
at Assumption School Sriracha and earned bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and
theology from Saengtham College. He also earned another bachelor’s in education
from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. His master’s degrees were obtained
at Naresuan University and Emory University in the U.S.
He took his first vows on April 25, 1989 and a vow for life on May 3, 1992,
dedicating his life to do good for society and the disabled.
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A successful cleaning by Green Pattaya
Pantomime performers provide the night’s
entertainment.
Fone Green
Green Pattaya enjoyed another successful cleaning on the 3rd of May outside the
Royal Cliff Condo and the Sheraton Hotel. This was the 17th successful cleaning
in 13 months.
The ditches were full of garbage left behind from the vans and buses parking in
the area. A core team of Green Pattaya volunteers gathered 20 bags of plastic,
and prevented the garbage from reaching Pattaya’s beaches and eventually being
eaten by fish that tourist and residents in Pattaya consume. The area is now
clean from garbage, but for how long? This is the third time Green Pattaya has
cleaned this area.
Green Pattaya needs help from the Pattaya Community
The Kamala Green Club in Phuket had another successful meeting in
April, with two dozen hotel and other entrepreneurs meeting to help clean the
beaches on different dates and locations. They also have two full time cleaners
working the beaches and the tourist areas every day. Surely this is something
the many real estate, hotels and other tourist dependent companies could do in
Pattaya?
Green Pattaya needs the business community in Pattaya help to push the tide of
garbage back. In places like Rayong and Bang Saray, the beaches are full of
rubbish and if Pattaya does not act soon, this is the reality for Pattaya as
well.
With the constant construction of new hotels, properties, and tourist
attractions, the waste is growing ever quicker and soon the garbage will create
health risks to tourists and residents. Small private garbage dumps are growing
inside the city and are a direct threat to lives living around them. Can you
imagine trying to sell a property next to the garbage dump?
The major sponsors of Green Pattaya so far have been other charities, and a very
limited number of companies. However, each cleaning in Pattaya is covered by all
the English language media and some Russian media. Surely, the city of Pattaya
understands the importance of a green and clean Pattaya that will not cost them
almost anything.
Green Pattaya budget is around 1000 THB, collecting 2000 kg of rubbish each
month, with the help of volunteers and City Hall. With your help we can have a
team of dedicated cleaners helping the Pattaya City hall on a daily basis and it
will only cost you a few hundred baht a month.
Get your company human resources manager and public relations department to
contact Green Pattaya to book a date and place when your company wants to make
an impact in Pattaya. We can also can inform you about sponsor packages and how
your company can help Pattaya stay green. Green Pattaya welcomes private
sponsors as well and would love to see schools come and educate their children
about a green Pattaya.
The next cleaning day is 17 May at Wongamat Beach, Naklua Soi 18, 10.00-12.00.
Meet at the Seafood Restaurant on the beach.
Facebook Event https://www.facebook.com/events/257271751122667.
Next cleaning after that is 8 June, World Ocean Day. We want to invite companies
and individuals to take part in a massive cleaning around Pattaya. Pick one
beach and clean it.
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1402389146709036
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Ravindra Beach Resort & Spa
hosts 3rd Salsa Tropicana Vacation
Champagne Shower & Pool Party
Dancing the night away at Ravindra Beach Resort &
Spa.
Everyone was in full party mood for the 3rd Salsa Pattaya Tropicana Vacation
“Champagne Shower & Pool Party” at Ravindra Beach Resort & Spa’s stunning
infinity beach-front pool on April 18.
The fun-filled event was packed with live shows by international dancers from
Norway, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Philippines, India, Poland,
Russia and Romania. The beach palm trees swayed to music provided by DJs from
USA, Japan and France for the dancers of Salsa Bachata Workshop.
Guests were treated to a wide variety of delightful tapas dishes specially
selected by Ravindra chefs for this salsa event.
All guests were having fun at Ravindra’s infinity beach-front pool, while the
Salsa Bachata Workshop provided the spice with performances by Jarl Tore
Helmobakk from Norway and Ania Gorsha from Poland. The couple won 3rd Place at
the Bachata Pro of HKSF World Championship 2014.
It was a night filled with fun and joy for everyone and concluded with the
traditional Champagne Shower during the closing ceremony.
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