Tiffany’s celebrates the return of “Queen of the Universe”

Pattaya can proudly lay claim to the best looking katoey in the universe

The Pattaya Tiffany Show Ltd. celebrated the return of Mr. Bunleut Saechai, a.k.a. “Ms. Phatriya Siringamwong” on 18 September after he won the title of “Miss Queen of the Universe” on 5 September at the Wiltshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles. The contestants were all “women of the second category” at the five-star hotel’s enormous convention hall.

“Miss Queen of the Universe” received a grand parade along Pattaya Beach Road.

The Tiffany’s Show in Pattaya sponsored Bunleut to the Miss Queen of the Universe 1999 Contest to represent Thailand and compete with katoeys from over 40 countries. In addition to the Miss Queen of the Universe title, Bunleut also won the Best Evening Gown and the Best Native Costume awards.

The celebration in Pattaya began with a parade starting at Tiffany’s and proceeding down Pattaya 2 Road to the Dolphin Circle and continuing down Beach Road in North Pattaya.

The marching band from the Phosamphan Phitayakorn School in Naklua led the procession, as the “Miss Queen of the Universe”, dressed in an evening gown, sat in a white MG sports car cradling the large prestigious trophy. A large crowd of curious onlookers assembled along the roadside with a few resident experts commenting the Queen looked like the genuine thing. The two hour procession continued all the way to the end of the beach.

Returning to Tiffany’s, Pattaya’s Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat greeted the Miss Queen of the Universe, congratulating him on the achievement. It was only just recently that the mayor crowned Bunleut as “Miss Tiffany 1999”, starting his journey to world stardom.

Over 100 guests attended the reception, as Tiffany Consultant Dr. Seri Wongmontha impressively commented that it is not just a single sex that builds the country’s reputation, but is responsibility of all the sexes to represent Thailand.

Dr. Seri Wongmontha, one of fourteen judges in Los Angeles, also commented that it was a shame Bunleut’s shoe broke during the swimsuit finals, or he might have bagged the swimsuit award as well.

Managing Director of Tiffany’s Show, Sutham Phanthusak thanked everyone for supporting Miss Tiffany 1999 from the beginning all the way up to the final achievement of winning the “Miss Queen of the Universe” title. Mr. Bunleut thanked Mayor Pairat and the rest of the city for supporting his/her quest.

Samutprakan scouts visit Thai Heritage boxing camp

Nong Prue District Officer Mai Chayanit, otherwise known as Kamnan Piak, and famous Thai Boxing Coach Yodthoong Senanan invited representatives from the World Scout Organization and 100 young scouts from Samutprakan Province to the Yodthong-Phayak Arun Boxing Camp. The boxing camp is located in Soi Siam Country Club.

Coach Tui Yodthoong Senanan, the organizer and person in charge of the Yodthong-Phayak Arun Thai Boxing Camp, and Nong Prue District Officer Mai Chayanit invited scouts from the World Scout Organization to visit the Thai Heritage boxing camp.

The visit to the Yodthong boxing camp was arranged to allow the scouts to see the traditional art of Thai Boxing. This will be demonstrated during the 20th World Scout Assembly in 2003, which will be hosted by Thailand and held in Sattahip.

As part of the exhibition, students from the Ban Rong Po school demonstrated the pre-boxing ceremony that honors their boxing teacher. Also demonstrated were the various weapons used in the ancient art of Thai boxing, including the use of leg kicks, knees, elbows and fists.

Boxing pupils at the Yodthong Training Camp demonstrated training methods for the scouts, while experts provided information and historical facts about the ancient art. This gave the scouts an increased knowledge and understanding of the meanings of the various physical weapons used in Thai boxing.

The scouts were also given detailed information on the equipment used when wrapping fists, as well as the materials used in the construction of parts of the boxing ring. Natural items, such as coconut fiber, are used in the make-up of the equipment.

A few scouts were selected to challenge students from the Ban Rong Po school in the boxing ring, adding to the days adventure and education and providing a lot of entertainment for all. The boxers attacked each other in a non-serious manner but it was still enjoyed by the other students and scouts.

Foreign Film-making in Thailand generates over 400 million baht

Over the past 15 months, 212 foreign films have been shot on-location in Thailand. This includes documentaries, advertisements, and full-length feature films. As a result, foreign film corporations shooting on location in Thailand have contributed a total of 472 million baht in foreign exchange earnings to the national economy. All have been approved by the Film Board.

Glen Avenue Film, a US-based corporation, has also recently completed the filming of a documentary called “The Real Story of Anna and the King of Siam” which offers another version of the popular Broadway musical “The King and I”. The script was approved jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Script Approval Committee. The Film Board is currently in the process of reviewing the final cuts. Upon final approval, the documentary will be aired in the USA to 75 million viewers.

Still on the subject of films, the National Film Board will be hosting the Asia-Pacific Film Festival from November 22-26, 1999, as part of the celebrations held on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 6th Cycle or 72nd Birthday Anniversary. The festival, to be held in Bangkok, will feature top films from countries in the Asia-Pacific region competing for the title of ‘best film’. Thailand will submit its winner from the recent National Film Contest called “Rak Ok Bab Mai Dai” (Love cannot be designed).

Family Land arranges school lunches

Executives and staff of Pattaya’s nearly completed hill tribe theme park showed their benevolence last week by supplying school lunches for children at the Redemptorist School for the Blind.

Chairman of the Board of Pattaya Family Land, Chatrachai Dileut and Pattaya Family Land’s Korean Chairman, Song Sa Yong enlisted the help of their staff to prepare a nutritious lunch for the children at the school for the blind.

Children of the Redemptorist School for the Blind enjoy a nutritious lunch provided by management and staff of the Pattaya Family Land Company.

The Pattaya Family Land Company Ltd. established the project to assist the 185 handicapped children and others from underprivileged families who are unable to support their children in school.

Chatrachai Dileut said, “People must live together in all societies, (even though) there are many variations of existence. Many people are born into the world with physical limitations but have the same right to pursue life as those more fortunate. The Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind provides handicapped people with the basic learning skills required to have an opportunity to be a part of society, and trains them in a number of useful professions.”

The Pattaya Family Land Company intends to continue the project, providing support and educational assistance to the children at the Redemptorist School as a way to improve future society.

Tall Tails

by Ken Langbell

Much as Darwin was persuaded against his better judgment to publish his controversial theory on evolution before his death, I have decided reluctantly to make public my opinion on the nature of “Adam’s tail”. That man originally had a tail is accepted by nearly all world experts today. But what kind of tail?

I had the opportunity recently to interview the man who invented the expression “Adam’s tail”, Sir Rasil Bathbone, Chairman of the Cambridge Academy of Natural Science, who was in Thailand to study the famous Chonburi Jing Jok, renowned for the detachability of its tail.

Asked how he could be so certain the original residents of the Garden of Eden, the modern Iraq, had tails, Sir Rasil said, “It’s as obvious as the nose on your face. What did they have to do in the Garden of Eden?”

I admitted I had never given it any thought. They didn’t have television, movies, radios, discos, beer bars, books or the Pattaya Mail. I knew they picked fruit which made them as popular with Heaven as Saddam Hussein is with America which got them thrown out, Heaven being better at such things than the United States.

“They made love,” Sir Rasil said. “And what’s a polite term for making love?” I could think of several rude terms, none of which had any business appearing in a publication aimed at the entire family. “Getting a piece of tail,” Sir Rasil said.

Belatedly I remembered him saying that to Larry King. I asked him why we lost our tail. He asked me why the gibbon lost its tail. I said I didn’t know.

“We think our losing our tail had something to do with our coming down from the trees, so obviously there’s more to it than that.”

Sir Rasil confided his certainty it involved the phenomenon of detachability. “The realms of fauna can be subdivided into three groups: creatures with tails, creatures with detachable tails and creatures with no tails,” he said.

I asked if Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel and other residents of Eden had detachable or non-detachable tails.

“Definitely non-detachable,” he said. I asked how he could be so sure. “When Cain killed Abel, Abel would have been able to escape if his tail had been detachable,” Sir Rasil said.

I tried to picture an angry, frustrated Cain sitting under the apple tree with his brother’s wiggling tail in his hands and his tailless brother high-tailing, well low-tailing, make that no-tailing it to tell his dad what his brother had tried to do. “Where’s your tail?” Adam would have asked. Tearfully, Abel would have told him everything.

When I was a schoolboy, books depicted Neanderthal as walking hunched over and he spoke with grunts. Later it turned out the first Neanderthal skeleton was of an old lady with arthritis. And Neanderthal had a tongue, vocal cords and neck just right for talking. A third major mistake, according to Sir Rasil, was a lack of a tail.

“By then we had evolved into the category of creatures with detachable tails. Just as the vast majority of jing joks have tails to stabilize them as they dart about the walls and ceiling, so did the average Neanderthals still have a tail which he could use to rest on much as a kangaroo still plants his tail on the ground and leans back on it.”

The first relative of ours utterly sans tail, according to Sir Rasil, was the Cro-Magnon Man. He discounted the theory advanced in the movie “Quest For Fire” that Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon married and lived happily ever after.

“If Ted Danson had a tail, do you think Rae Dawn would have married him? I don’t think so,” Sir Rasil said. “I believe the brutality of man towards his fellow men, as seen in Nazi Germany and, more recently in Yugoslavia and the stands at English football matches, tells us what became of Neanderthal. Cro-Magnon pulled off Neanderthal’s tail and beat him to death with it in history’s first instance of ethnic cleansing.”

Well, Sir Rasil convinced me Adam’s tail was solidly attached to his posterior.

As for Sir Rasil, at last report he was in New South Wales investigating stories of a species of kangaroo with a detachable tail, which, hollowed out, would make a good golf bag.

The Bazaar is on this weekend!

The annual Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) Holiday Bazaar is on this Saturday October 2nd. Traditionally this has been the major Xmas shopping opportunity for the ladies of Pattaya, with all the different vendors under one roof.

This year, Chairwoman of the Bazaar committee, Arlette Cykman reports that there are over 75 vendors who will be displaying and selling their wares from the Siam Ballroom at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. Doors open at 9.30 a.m., but will close by 5.00 p.m., but be warned that many vendors close earlier as they have had all the bargains snapped up from their stall by the enthusiastic shoppers. Proceeds from the 100 Baht entry tickets at the door go to the deserving charities supported by PILC during the year. By the way, Cussons (Thailand) have donated Foamburst Shower Gel and Premier Liquid Handwash bottles for the first 200 customers, so they get more than their 100 Baht’s worth before they begin!

There will be a multitude of items on sale, as shown from the PILC Bazaar last year.

While we are mentioning charity, Kellogg (Thailand) have donated five large cases of assorted cornflakes to the Bazaar that will be given away to the street kids. Thank you Mr. Kellogg!

The bazaar prides itself on the fact that there are just so many different items to choose from. Try these on for size - silk jackets, Persian lamps (genies extra), dresses, designer jewellery, Thai Handicrafts from the Chitralada Her Majesty the Queen’s Project, hand painted place-mats and coffee mugs, Xmas candles, bon-bons (crackers), Korean furniture, cookbooks from the American Women’s Club, Sukhothai antiques, picture frames, hand-painted silks and batiks, marble fountains, Xmas cards and probably a hand painted kitchen sink! There are even French cheeses, flown in courtesy of Air France. Remember there are over 75 different outlets to experience!

No need to worry about having the kids in tow for this shop-a-thon, there is a colouring competition for the children to keep them amused. Three categories - ages 5-7, 8-10 and 11-13 - with prizes for first and second in each age group. There will also be batik painting classes with a competition for the best batik on the day. The categories here will cover the three children’s age groups, plus teenagers 14-19 and adults.

To add to the 756 good reasons to shop at the Holiday Bazaar there is also the Holiday Bazaar Millennium Raffle to be drawn at the Bazaar. Only 50 Baht per ticket, with again the profits going to the PILC charity fund. There are a myriad of prizes including a washing machine donated by Lotus Supercenter, a child’s bicycle from Big C, an electric hot water thermos from Friendship Supermarket, a return air ticket to Hong Kong from the Travel Clinic, a return air ticket to Singapore from All Seasons Travel, a carpet from Pandit’s, suites for two nights from the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, the Regent Resort Chiang Mai, the Riverside Marriott Bangkok, the Sukhothai Hotel Bangkok plus dinners for two from restaurants like Bruno’s, the Balcony and Pan-Pan. There are even more lucky prizes, and at 50 Baht per ticket a real bargain, with the needy and underprivileged being the real winners.

If you have any questions you can contact the Bazaar organisers directly: Chairwoman Arlette Cykman on 300 325, Ann-Laure Hill 716 624 or Ffion Mercer 225 359. See you at the PILC Holiday Bazaar!

Ploenchit Fair coming 20th November

The United Kingdom Committee for Thai Charities (UKCTC) has organised the annual fund-raising event, the Ploenchit Fair, since 1968 in the gardens of the British Embassy. UKCTC was formed to organise and distribute contributions to Thai charities by members of the British Community which reach back to the war years.

Earlier this year, Foundation status was approved by the Ministry of Interior and the British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (the successor to the UKCTC) was formed under the patronage of the British Ambassador, Sir James Hodge. This change ensures the Foundation is fully in line with Thai legislation and will strengthen their ability to continue United Kingdom support for the needy in Thailand.

This year, the Ploenchit Fair will again be held, on Saturday 20th November, and cannot take place without the help and assistance received from nearly all the British companies and friends, the over 2,000 volunteers who help and run the stalls and attractions on the day and the firms and organisations who help with publicity, equipment and goods and promotional materials for use in over 70 stalls. A full list of all contributors and donations are listed in the Official Programme given on entrance and published in Metro Magazine, together with a list of all charities who have benefited from assistance this year.

Last year over 22,000 people came along to the Fair and 5.6 million baht was raised and distributed to more than 30 wide-ranging Thai charities throughout Thailand. Ploenchit is a family fun day for all and has become, over the years, one of the highlights of the social calendar whilst helping the needy.

The B.C.T.F.N. do appreciate that given the difficult economic conditions all are experiencing, budgets have been trimmed, but do sincerely hope that you will be able to assist - their purchasing power to help the many needy causes has been severely diminished with rising costs these last years.

Contributions to this year’s Fair will be gratefully received. Storage facilities for goods have again been offered at the old Bangkok Nursing Home and donations can be delivered there (clearly marked Ploenchit Fair), Soi Chongrak Norasee (Soi 4 North Sathorn Road).

It would be appreciated if all goods sent could be confirmed first by fax or telephone to one of the Committee listed below or if collection is needed please also advise. Cash contributions should be forwarded to Mrs. Carolyn Tarrant President - BCTFN in Soi Tonglor 8. All contributions will be receipted, with very sincere appreciation.

Donations Committee: Mrs. Bea Grunwell, Organising Secretary, 259 9844 [email protected], Mrs. Fiona Ramsay, 258 1446 [email protected], Mrs. Sharon Carruthers, 712 8460 [email protected], Miss Edith Stewart, 671 3461, Mrs. Carolyn Tarrant, 390 0798 [email protected], Mrs. Penny Whalley, 258 9415, 662 4642 [email protected].

Pattaya’s St. Nicholas de Flue Church celebrates 32nd anniversary with a grand Parish-Fair

by Elfi

St. Nicholas de Flue - or Brother Klaus as his countrymen called him - was born over 500 years ago in a little Swiss village called Flueli. During his life he gained a reputation of sanctity and wisdom. He was able to negotiate a treaty between the two warring factions when a great civil war was about to break out in his country. Peace was established and ever since, Switzerland has had a tradition of peace. No wonder that St. Nicholas is revered as the father of his country.

Fellow believers attending the mass.

St. Nicholas Church received its name because Walter Meyer, a Swiss National, had a special devotion to St. Nicholas de Flue. In 1961 he constructed a small pavilion on his property in Pattaya to serve as a temporary place of worship, which was used for 6 years. This was a giant step forward for the establishment of a permanent parish in Pattaya. Before that, Redemptorists occasionally offered mass at the seaside cottage of Dr. Lert Srichantra in Banglamung. The beginnings of Christian Worship in Pattaya perhaps preceded the arrival of the Redemptorists in Thailand in 1948.

Bishop Laurence Thienchai Samanchit (2nd left) of Chantaburi Diocese together with Walter Meyer (center), the founder of St. Nicholas Church and Pastor Michael Picharn (right).

The Meyer family and many parishioners of the Holy Redeemer Parish were also anxious to establish a cemetery in Pattaya to provide a worthy resting place for their loved ones. This led to the founding of the Pattaya Cemetery Association. Six rai of property was purchased and permission was obtained to create the cemetery. Offerings for plots provided the sum of 200,000 Baht for the building of a parish church. The new church was then dedicated to St. Nicholas de Flue as its patron, and was blessed on November 26th, 1967 by Bishop Sanguan of the Chantaburi Diocese.

Bishop Laurence Thienchai Samanchit celebrates the mass.

This year, 32 years later, the occasion was again remembered during an annual Christian Feast and celebrated with a grand Parish Fair. Thousands of Christians from all over the country came to attend this feast and the mass. Bishop Laurence Thienchai Samanchit of Chantaburi Diocese celebrated the mass. He was assisted by Rev. Philip Banchong, the Vice Provincial of the Redemptorists in Thailand, Michael Picharn, Pastor of St. Nicholas Church, the legendary Father Ray Brennan, and many other priests from all around. Walter Meyer, the founder of St. Nicholas Church who now lives at the age of 84 in Bangkok, was amongst the worshipers.

Many honorable members of Pattaya’s Christian society, including Prempricha Dibbayawan, addressed the fellow-believers with interesting speeches. Father Michael also expressed his gratitude to all the visitors who, to everybody’s surprise, came in such great numbers.

After mass, the statue of St. Nicholas was carried in a big procession around the church, led by the Bishop and the clerics. Later, the statues of St. Nicholas de Flue and of Holy Mary were showered with flowers, candles and small gifts by the worshipers, who then enjoyed the provided lunch. Vendors had their stalls everywhere around the place to give the visitors the opportunity to buy small souvenirs, flowers, amulets and statues.

This day, the 26th of September, was not only a great day to remember the history of Pattaya’s Catholic Church St. Nicholas, but also a great experience to stay in the memory of all worshipers and fellow-believers.

An alternative way to treat those aches and pains

Magnet therapy soothes the body and treats various health ailments

In this modern day and age of science and technology, we are capable of communicating within a matter of seconds. We can push a button and have machinery move heavy objects, and we can use computers to produce and organize within minutes what used to take hours.

Khun Manit's Natural Health Center on Soi Diamond in South Pattaya.

One needs look no further than laser technology to see how medicine is progressing at the same rapid pace. But the human body still produces many ailments that modern technology just can’t treat. Therefore, many people are turning to alternate forms of treatment, including ancient remedies, herbal medicines and physical massage.

Magnetic therapy is another alternative form of treatment that is fast becoming a preferred method.

Pattaya Mail had the opportunity to meet with Manit Chularatanaphon who runs the magnetic therapy treatment at the “Natural Health Center” located at 96/3 Soi Diamond in South Pattaya. Khun Manit is a graduate from the Open International University of Complementary Medicine in Sri Lanka. It was there where he expanded his knowledge of the use of magnetic therapy beyond the usual uses found in radio and telephone equipment. At first he, too, was skeptical, not believing that magnetic therapy could help improve blood circulation, as well as have other health benefits.

The use of magnet therapy dates back 3,000 years and can be traced to cultures in Egypt, China and India. Currently, magnetic therapy is practiced in America, Canada, Germany, Australia, Japan and Korea.

Khun Manit said prior to opening the Health Center he was in poor health himself; always tired, constantly catching colds and fevers, and if he went out to eat his stomach would rebel. But after he learned how to use magnetic therapy his health changed completely and now he says he feels much stronger. Others have also experienced similar improvements in their health after using magnetic therapy.

Khun Manit providing magnetic therapy treatment.

Magnetic therapy creates a spiral effect that improves blood circulation by bringing in fresh oxygen and nutrients, as well as washing away toxins. Improved blood circulation gives the immune system a kick-start and sets up the healing process. It helps to prevent blocking of the arteries which results in better circulation. The nervous system also regains enhanced functions, and hormone production levels are brought back to normal. In brief, improved circulation helps to build healthy cells that can start functioning normally and in their full capacity.

Chairman of the Health Foundation and the International Health Association, Dr. Wijit Bunyahotra said that the use of magnetic therapy is currently being used in energy support therapy as an alternative medicine. Positive results have been recorded when used with other treatments, such as holistic, reflexology, acupressure and reiki. These alternative treatments are especially effective energy healing approaches in treating magnetic deficiency syndrome.

Many have benefited from this simple but effective therapy. You can too, and improve your quality of life. Unlike modern drugs it has no side affects and does not work on any one particular part of the body or ailment, but improves the general well being of the whole body.

An Admiral evening, Admiral!

The Admiral’s Pub at Soi White House, Jomtien Beach has been blessed with amazing acoustics. This was first noticed when the Danish Jazz band, Doc Houlind and the All Stars played there last year. The group were so pleased with the sound, they even cut a “live” CD at the Admiral’s Pub while on their Thailand tour.

Aussie guitarist Paul.

The latest group to try for the great sound was the Irish music quintet, No Fixed Abode. These musicians had been used by the Admiral’s Pub group when their second pub in Hua Hin was opened and after discussion with one of the owners, Bent Laasholdt, it was decided they should come to try the acoustics here.

The hardest part was getting the date. As their name suggests, No Fixed Abode has been literally everywhere - Malaysia, UK, Bangkok and Singapore, making them one of the more popular Irish music groups around.

4/5ths of No Fixed Abode / Paul, Frank, Angela and Grant.

Last weekend they came to the local Admiral’s Pub to a huge and very vocally enthusiastic group of patrons. It was certainly a “fun night” and even Frank’s Irish drum going soggy did not spoil it - Frank having to excuse himself and rush out to the kitchen to pop the drum in the pizza oven to rejuvenate it.

They played a great selection of Irish, Aussie and Scottish medleys (and even a New Zealand number called “Ba-a-arbara”), with “Danny Boy” producing the usual tear or two from the ladies present. Aussie David Smith sat with a bunch of Scottish lads and was seen tapping out the rhythms from the comfort of his high chair (or was it David who was high, memory was a little poor by then?)

Dietrich Sarx getting his pulse checked.

But it was not just the Brits and their derivatives in the audience who enjoyed the show. Even good old Americans like the ISE’s Terry Waters and his gorgeous blonde wife (are all American women blonde?) were crowding round close to the stage. Linden Phan Pho and other ISE people cheered on their own vocalist in the group - and a very sweet young Scottish lass she is too.

Scandinavian Stig Andersen (the Honorary Consul for the entire Northern hemisphere it seems) was also beaming broadly, and for a tall thin man that is difficult. Some of the Danish tour guides even attempted to sing along with the catchy tunes, but stopped, when people who could sing, hissed at them.

The Waters family.

Part owner of the Admiral’s Pub, the lovely Wanna was caught giggling while T’ai Chi master, Somkid Rasameetham, was seen swaying to the rhythms while adopting Horse Stance number three, while wife Barbara sat quietly, preferring the seated position.

No Fixed Abode even managed to drag the underwater men up to the surface, with Mermaid Maritime’s Mark Shepherd and Simon Turner seen blowing bubbles and chatting with a couple of mermaids of the terra firma variety.

The Admiral’s Pub crew kept filling up the smorgasbord BBQ tables so the food was plentiful, the evening was warm, the beer was cold, the music was good. When’s the next one, Admiral? (Spies tell me it will be next month - just check the Pattaya Mail for the date!)

Cyber has landed!

Progressive electronics and computer company Action Computer Technologies (ACT) has expanded, introducing Cyber, an up to the minute Graphics Department.

Cyber, as its name suggests, is “space age” in its capabilities and frankly incredible in its applications.

The visual effects that Cyber can produce range from holographic walks through yet-to-be-built shopping centers and houses, Science Fiction and space age effects, Hollywood style animations, fireworks, 3D effects, explosions, fireworks and spinning company logos. In movie terminology these are all SFX (Special Effects) and up till recently have been the province of the large budget movie manufacturers who have produced such amazing animations in films like Ants or Who Killed Roger Rabbit. 

Cyber can do these all right here in Pattaya and what is more, according to the MD of ACT, Richard Bunch, they can produce all these amazing graphics at half the cost of doing the project overseas. “We have the technology, the resources and the talented people necessary,” he said.

With Martin Henderson, a Member of the Graphic Arts Institute and other associates, some of whom have experience in the Hollywood movie industry, these people can produce all aspects of the Graphic Arts industry. These can range from full blooded, amazingly animated corporate video presentations, advertising themes and video conferencing, through to mundane items like menus, napkins and coasters. Martin emphasised that they were not just fiddling with PC effects, but were graphic designers using computer technology to produce the results their clients want. Having seen some of their international work, it is definitely not starbursts and shadows to attract the eye, but the whole spectrum of visual effects required to get the client’s message across to its target audience.

Richard prides himself that ACT is really a one-stop shop. “We have the hardware, the software, and the networking be it Wide Area Networks or LAN’s, e-commerce solutions with credit card processing via the ‘net, Webmastering and hosting, the entire graphics applications and we are the sole authorised distributor for Artisoft in Thailand,” he said proudly.

Cyber is not for everyone. Its work is not for the home PC user, but the capabilities of this new ACT department is for the commercial end of the market. Cyber should find itself as a most attractive option for companies wishing to improve their image, be it locally or internationally via the web. In this coming new age of Y2K and International Standards, it will be through image enhancement that companies will forge their way to the front. Corporate advertising through any medium, print, TV or Internet, needs more than clip-art designs from the office boy. To be world standard you need to use someone with world class facilities. That is what the Cyber option promises. It is affordable - and it’s right here in Pattaya!

Board of Investment (BOI) Raw Material Tracking System Y2K compliant

The Board of Investment’s Raw Material Tracking System (RMTS), which processes applications to import raw material into Thailand, has been certified fully Year 2000 compliant.

The RMTS is operated by the Investor Club Association, a non-profit organization within the BOI with a membership of more than 800 BOI-promoted companies.

The RMTS serves as an important vehicle for Investor Club members to import raw materials into Thailand duty free. Its advanced computer network, backed by a staff of more than 60 people, can process and approve applications for customs clearance within three hours.

“The certification will ensure the smooth flow of raw materials into Thailand into the next millennium. It will also reassure our members that everything has been done to ensure that they will be able to carry on with business as usual over the New Year’s period,” says Mr. Pairot Sompouti, Investment Advisor to the BOI.

He was speaking at a presentation ceremony at the Investor Club headquarters in Bangkok during which the Club received a plaque announcing Y2K compliance from Internet Knowledge Service Center Co., Ltd. (KSC).

KSC, a Bangkok-based company, served as a consultant to the Investor Club.

“We are pleased to announce that the hardware and the software - both commercial and development - of the Investor Club are fully compliant for Y2K,” KSC Chairman Professor Srisakdi Chamonman said.

“We found a few minor problems in the 114 computers we checked, and one small problem in one of the seven servers. These have now been fully corrected,” Professor Srisakdi said.

In addition to achieving compliance, the Investor Club is in the process of preparing a contingency plan for the end of the year, while staff will be on 24-hour duty.

“We will be ready for everything,” Pairot said.

“It’s not how much you make - it’s how little you lose”

Graham Bibby, the Managing Director of Richmond Asset Management put forward those wise words to the members of the Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary Club last week. At their weekly dinner meeting at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, he presented his ideas on how to play the stock market and expect returns of between 20-40% on your investment.

In a local climate where many ex-pats are now enjoying a 1% return on their money at the bank, this sounded like manna from heaven. However, he was quick to point out that there were two fundamental truths in financial asset management. The first was that no one can predict the markets and secondly, there will always be times of stock losses.

Graham Bibby

Graham Bibby’s company works on using market indicators to advise clients when to relinquish stock holdings early to minimise financial losses, and then look for further indicators to suggest the re-entry point into the marketplace again.

Whilst he was able to cite many companies that have performed incredibly, like Cisco, an internet technology supplier, with whom US$100,000 ten years ago would be $39 million today, it is very easy to be wise in hindsight (in which we all have 20/20 vision). One has to wonder at why financial advisors are still travelling the talk circuit and not just sitting back on their luxury yachts and enjoying the proceeds of their own advice!

Flippancy aside, his assessment of the local economy was positive, and he felt that Asian stocks were on the way up, and Thailand in particular should expect steady growth and return to the levels of the pre-1997 crash by 2001-2002.

For the small investor, still smarting at the reduction of bank interest, he did not have all that much good news to offer. Unfortunately, the investment packages run by his company start at US$100,000 and go in multiples from there. This writer is now looking for 99,999 other investors to put in equal shares and we can look forward to a 40 cent payoff by the end of Y2K. The queue forms at the Pattaya Mail office!

Copyright 1999 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Boonsiri Suansuk.