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  COLUMNS

HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:
 
Family Money: Thy Will Be Done (Part 1 of 2)
 
The Computer Doctor

Successfully Yours: Pojawan Supalarp
 
Snap Shots: Pro shoots the 100% Ulcer
   
Modern Medicine: Listen to yourself

Heart to Heart with Hillary
 
Grapevine

Dining Out: The Stockholm Inn - The Swedish Connection
 
Animal Crackers: Blood Hounds
 
Down The Iron Road: A Tale of Old Siam - The Wang Pong Engine
 
Woman’s World
 
Nightmarch

Family Money: Thy Will Be Done (Part 1 of 2)

By Leslie Wright

I recently received an enquiry from reader H.R. regarding his estate planning. Since it is well over two years since I last covered this topic, it is perhaps time we revisited it.

H.R. wants to know, “Is a foreign will valid in Thailand? If I make a new will here how can I be sure that my foreign assets will be distributed in accordance with my wishes?”

His first question is a very valid one for any expatriate living in Thailand.

While a will written in English is better than no will at all, only documents written in Thai have any validity in Thai courts.

Some readers may scoff at the thought of having to bow to the whims of the Thai courts in this matter. But imagine how a British (or French, or German) court would deal with a Russian’s will with respect to his assets held in the UK (or France or Germany) if it were written in Cyrillic? At the very least they would have to get a certified translation done, which would cause delay in releasing his assets and probably cost his estate (and thus his heirs) more than if he had done the prudent thing while he had the chance: get a separate will made, in English, covering those assets held in the UK (and another in French for France, and a third in German for Germany).

Similarly, it would be prudent planning to have a separate will, written in Thai, to cover your assets in Thailand, and at least one other one to cover your assets in the rest of the world.

And if you have assets in various regimes which quite possibly don’t all follow the same rules on inheritance, get separate wills made for each regime in which you hold assets.

Each such will must clearly state in the preamble (the bit of legalese at the beginning) that this will covers only those assets held in [Thailand /UK /USA /France /Spain /Germany /wherever].

For the will covering Thailand, it should specifically list those items held in your own name - you can’t bequest something held in another’s name, even if you paid for it! - such as bank accounts, cars, condominiums (or should that be ‘condominia’?), shares in companies you might hold (both publicly listed and the one you set up to own your house), jewellery, furniture & personal effects.

Full details should be given - i.e., name & address of the bank and the account number; chassis & engine number as per the log book of the car, etc. - in order that the lawyer appointed by your Executor (about whom more next week) can go into the Thai probate court with a sheet of paper listing all the assets on which the judge is being asked to make a decision, thereby making it easy for the judge to say, “Granted!” and have your assets swiftly and painlessly passed on to your designated heirs and beneficiaries.

Failing to list those assets specifically in your will can lead to delays and complications while discussions go back and forth as to what assets are involved - or subsequently at the bank in trying to demonstrate that the probated will is in fact for the same person whose account your Executor is trying to empty.

Where there’s a Will

But we’ve got ahead of ourselves.

There are quite a number of people in and around Pattaya who are convinced they are immortal - I know because I’ve met quite a few of them. These worthies know they’re never going to die, so have never bothered to make a will.

The chalk marks that appear every weekend on the roads around Pattaya ought to make them consider their mortality and their significant chances of getting squashed by an errant motorcyclist, baht-bus or truck.

But no. They sail through life blithely unconcerned at the potential problems they will leave their loved ones when they die intestate. (That means without a formal will, by the way - not, as some may think, what some of the performers at Alcazar and Tiffany’s have had done to themselves...)

Much as we may like to think that we’ll live forever, most of us are not immortal. It therefore makes eminent sense to ensure while we still can that our loved ones don’t have any additional burdens thrust upon them at what will undoubtedly be a very stressful time should we pass away unexpectedly.

A properly drawn-up will can ensure that the family and the family money are properly taken care of according to our wishes after we’ve gone.

What’s in a Will?

A will is simply a formalised set of instructions to be carried out upon your death. It should cover three principal areas:

1. Your wishes as to the disposal of your remains.

2. The appointment of an Executor (and perhaps a Guardian for young children.)

3. The disposal of your assets.

Lets look at each of these areas in more detail.

First, do you wish to be buried or cremated? Here or ‘back home’? (When deciding this, think of the costs involved) With or without religious ceremony, flowers, etc., etc.

Provision should preferably be made in your will to cover the estimated costs of your funeral (or an amount specified for this purpose), and to charge your Executor with making these arrangements if you haven’t already taken care of them.

Another point to consider including in your will is whether any of your body parts are to be available for transplant or left to science. (If so, a special donor card has to be obtained from a recognised hospital and carried with you at all times, to indicate these wishes should you be unfortunate enough to die unexpectedly or by accident. Otherwise, by the time contact has been made with your next of kin and proper permission obtained it may be too late for these parts to be useful for someone else.)

Who gets what?

The disposition of your assets may seem obvious, but it isn’t necessarily. In some countries there are laws which set fixed minimum percentages to which certain family members are entitled, no matter what your wishes may be to the contrary.

Known as “forced heirship”, this can lead to court wrangles that can drag on for years, and drain considerable amounts of your estate in legal costs.

In the meantime, all your assets - including bank accounts - are frozen, and your local ‘wife’ may be unable to access funds to support herself or the children.

If the local marriage was never properly formalised (which many are not), she may have no claim on your estate at all if you haven’t specifically made provision in your will for her.

If you happen to be British and die intestate, the State makes one for you. The UK rules of intestacy state simply that if you have no children, parents, siblings, nephews or nieces, your spouse inherits everything.

Simple, isn’t it? No!

That rule applies to the formalised legal spouse, not the partner with whom you have chosen to co-habit. Common-law marriages may be common, but would have to last for several years (typically five, but this varies from country to country) before they can be claimed as having any legality under the laws of inheritance, and even then, the continuity and intent have to be clearly proven. All your friends and neighbours may know your wife, but the courts in UK don’t.

If on the other hand there are children - say from a previous marriage - the spouse takes the personal chattels (car, furniture, clothing, etc.) and ฃ125,000 and the income only from half of the balance of the estate. The children would be entitled to half this residue when they’re 18 (or upon their marriage if earlier) plus the other half of the residue on the death of the surviving parent.

If there are no children but there are parents, siblings and other relatives, then the spouse takes the personal chattels plus ฃ200,000 plus half the residue. The other half of the residue is given in order to parents, or if they’re dead, to siblings, or if they’re also dead, to nephews & nieces.

If there is no surviving spouse, then the children get everything. (Or parents, siblings, nephews & nieces, grandparents, uncles & aunts, in that order - and if they’re all gone, then the Crown gets the lot.)

Protecting your loved ones

If there are children from a local common-law marriage as well as children from a former overseas marriage it can get very complicated indeed.

I have seen cases where children from a former marriage may be resentful of their father’s new Thai wife (who sometimes is younger than they are), and create all sorts of legal difficulties upon their father’s death to prevent his new wife (and her offspring) from getting her hands on his UK property, bank accounts and investments.

Without a clearly drawn-up will she is often almost powerless to fight this, even if she has the means to do so (which she may well not have, since the bank accounts - even in joint names - may be frozen immediately the bank learns of one signatory’s death.)

Specific bequests to relatives, friends, staff, etc., should be quite clear and unambiguous in order to prevent squabbles and resentment. This especially applies to items of jewellery and paintings, your stamp or coin collection, and the like. Most of us have seen how close relatives can transmogrify into screeching vultures as soon as a family member dies. And the arguments can go on for years and the resentment last for decades if someone who believes (rightly or otherwise) that he or she is entitled to something fails to get it in your will. Making your bequests and wishes crystal clear obviates the intra-familial arguments, and any resentment falls only upon you - and you’re beyond caring at that stage.

(to be continued next week)

Leslie Wright is Managing Director of Westminster Portfolio Services (Thailand) Ltd., a firm of independent financial advisors providing advice to expatriate residents of the Eastern Seaboard on personal financial planning and international investments. If you have any comments or queries on this article, or about other topics concerning investment matters, contact Leslie directly by fax on (038) 232522 or e-mail [email protected]. Further details and back articles can be accessed on his firm’s website on www.westminsterthailand.com.

Editor’s note: Leslie sometimes receives e-mails to which he is unable to respond due to the sender’s automatic return address being incorrect. If you have sent him an e-mail to which you have not received a reply, this may be why. To ensure his prompt response to your enquiry, please include your complete return e-mail address, or a contact phone/fax number.

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The Computer Doctor

by Richard Bunch

I am getting more and more questions regarding the installation and operation of Windows 2000. With this in mind, I will try to address some of the more frequently asked questions over the next few weeks. If you have a question about Windows 2000, please contact me and I will endeavour to include it.

Question: How do I know if Windows 2000 will work on my PC?

Computer Doctor’s Answer: You can test the hardware and software compatibility before purchasing the Windows 2000 CD. Connect to Microsoft’s website http://www.Microsoft.com and download the file CHKUPGRD.EXE then run this. It will produce a detailed summary of any known potential problems; generally speaking I have found this report to err to the side of caution. From the report, you can make a balanced judgement as to whether the installation is likely to be smooth or if any potential problems have been highlighted, whether these will be easily corrected or you can live with them until a solution is found. From experience, there are two main areas where problems can arise. These relate to communications, COM ports, modems, Internet, etc., and Twain devices like scanners and cameras.

Question: I have heard that there are many different versions of Windows 2000, how do I know which one is for me?

Computer Doctors Answer: Windows 2000 comes in these main flavours: Professional, Millennium (ME), Server, Advanced Server and Datacenter Server. For the purposes of this column, I will concentrate on those with a wider target audience, Professional and Millennium (ME).

Firstly, the original entrant into the market, Windows 2000 Professional. This was and still is targeted at business desktops, notebooks and I believe the home user. It is infinitely more robust than Windows 98, which it is meant to replace. One needs to remember that this ‘new’ Operating System is based on Windows NT, which has been around for many years and is already been proven in a variety of environments and runs some of the biggest networks and desktops in major international companies. To the average end-user, the operation will seem very similar to that of Windows 98. Admittedly there are differences but also there are many improvements. It is only when you dig deeper and start to configure a network properly and efficiently that you need to draw upon your NT experience.

Installation for a stand-alone PC or Notebook is normally a breeze. It uses the Windows Installer procedure and requires very little user input. If installing many PC’s then the Sysprep utility can be used; this requires quite an amount of initial thought and effort though, as Windows 2000 relies on Hardware Abstraction Layers and if a different HAL exists on the cloned machine and this has not been catered for then that famous blue screen of death will appear. That said, this would not affect the majority of users as they will be doing an installation on a specific machine.

Here are 5 of the advantages that I think many users will appreciate, another 5 next week:

1. I use a variety of image management applications, like ACDSee, LView Pro, and even good old Microsoft Paint. Sometimes I want to open a GIF in Paint, for example, so I can quickly edit it, but I’ve got that file type associated with ACDSee. In Windows 98 you have to select the icon of the image file, hold down the SHIFT key, right-click the icon, choose “Open With” and then select Paint from the list of applications in the dialog that appears. And this has to be done every single time you want to open an image in an application not otherwise associated. In Windows 2000, this process is considerably simpler. Firstly, the “Open With” option is a standard choice on the right-click menu, so you don’t have to go through the “hold down the SHIFT key first” scenario. You simply right-click the image file, choose “Open With” and then select Paint from the dialog box, as before. But Windows 2000 really shines here because it remembers and this choice is added to the right-click menu for that file type. The same is true for all file types, so if you like to use Word and WordPerfect, or whatever, Windows 2000 makes it easy.

2. CTRL+ALT+DEL. The reality is that applications crash. In Windows 2000, this is no problem, just hit CTRL+ALT+DEL and a window full of options appears. Instantly. In Windows 98, you never know what you’re going to get. Sometimes nothing, sometimes a list of tasks to stop that don’t usually work anyway. Sometimes your system just reboots.

3. A genuine Task Manager in Windows 2000, like NT 4.0 is a huge bonus over Windows 98. When an application has hung the system, hitting CTRL+ALT+DEL, select Task Manager and choose End Task. It ends the task! And it does it immediately, no muss, no fuss. In Windows 98, it would still often be necessary to reboot the system on many occasions.

4. The Scheduled Tasks icon, which appeared in the user tray notification area in Windows 98, with no way to turn it off, is no longer there. In Windows 2000, the Scheduled Tasks is handled as a front-end to the Task Scheduler and AT services. This makes the Windows 2000 user interface cleaner and scheduling simpler.

5. Applications like Notepad are much easier in Windows 2000. I use Notepad daily for a variety of tasks and the version in Windows 2000 actually lets you use keyboard shortcuts such as CTRL+S (“save”) and CTRL+P (“print”) that are unavailable in Windows 98.

Send your questions or comments to the Pattaya Mail at 370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, 20260 or Fax to 038 427 596 or E-mail to [email protected]. The views and comments expressed within this column are not necessarily those of the writer or Pattaya Mail Publishing.

Richard Bunch is Managing Director of Action Computer Technologies Co., Ltd. providing professional information technology and Internet services, which include custom database and application development; website design, promotion and hosting; domain name registration; turnkey e-commerce solutions; computer and peripheral sales service and repairs, networks (LAN & WAN) and IT consulting. For further information, please e-mail [email protected] or telephone/fax 038 716 816 or see our website www.act.co.th

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Successfully Yours: Pojawan Supalarp

By Mirin MacCarthy

Pojawan “Pam” Supalarp is one of many Thai women you can only stand in awe of; beautiful, youthful, efficient, hard working, successful career woman and mother who enjoys challenges and believes in giving back to the society.

Pam is a pharmacist and is head of the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital’s Pharmacy division and in addition is in charge of the hospital’s Quality Control team. Incidentally, Pam is also the representative for the 9002 Project for the hospital, which is separate from ISO and involved with hospital accreditation.

But back to the beginning - Pam, the oldest in the family was encouraged to study and work hard but was constantly forced to change schools because of her father’s career.

At school she excelled in languages, fine arts, singing and poetry. (Thai poetry is difficult and more formalized than English, with more rigid rules.) Pam was obviously intelligent and could have chosen any career, in fact she actually wanted to be a doctor so she could help people, but her father insisted she study pharmacy instead. “I didn’t like the idea to start with but now I love it,” she said.

Towards this end, Pam took her Pharmacy degree qualification at Chulalongkorn University. While she was there, she also sang alto in the university band during her four years of study.

After graduation Pam worked for Sua Chiew Hospital and Nursing School as a hospital pharmacist for eight months. Then she worked for UCB Pharmaceuticals (Thailand) as a Drug Representative for a year, which in turn gave her a working knowledge of generic drugs.

If the work were not enough, fourteen years ago she married her husband, who is a land consultant, and they have one son, Vitoo aged thirteen.

After the representative work, she then worked as a hospital pharmacist at the Vipavadee Hospital in Bangkok for four years, finally joining the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital in 1990, where she has been very happy for the past ten years.

Pam loves her work. “It is a challenge to me to keep on top of all the changing medicines and to make sure the patients get the best medicine at the lowest price. I wanted to be a Dr. before, so pharmacy is another way to achieve my goal of helping people.”

With 60% imported pharmaceuticals and 40% local or generic to keep current with, Pam is kept busy with a staff of twenty and one assistant supervisor. Her day is made up of half a day in the pharmacy and half a day in quality control. Because of her knowledge, Pam actually has quite a following and will order special medicines for farang patients from overseas.

If that is not enough to keep her busy, she enjoys cooking both Thai and European dishes. “I love to read a cook book and then experiment,” she said and smiled.

Pam still sings and plays tennis and swims with her family as leisure time pursuits.

Success to Pam is having a secure career with no debts, but quickly added to this the hope that her son will be successful in his school and career as well. Towards this end, the important values in life she would like to teach him are, “To learn to think before acting and to be mature enough to be prepared for a lot of different situations and meet the different challenges in life.”

For herself, her ideal future is quite surprising. “I would like to be an entrepreneur - not only because of the challenge of it, but to give something back to society, to create jobs, training, and generate income for people.” This in itself is quite the opposite of the reasons most would be (or actual) entrepreneurs would give.

Her advice to University graduates follows the traditional or “old school”. “I believe it is very important for the younger generation to respect their elders and learn from their experience. That is something that the young are growing away from today. When you make a selection of your career, love what you choose and be loyal to your employers.”

Somehow Pam, like Thai women everywhere, manages to combine the qualities of grace, beauty, intelligence, family and society values, and work ethic into one superwoman package. I still don’t know their secret. Perhaps you have to be Thai to start with!

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Snap Shots: Pro shoots the 100% Ulcer

by Harry Flashman

Many amateur photographers wonder what it is like to be a professional and be paid to travel all over the world and take photographs. What a wonderfully idyllic existence. Unfortunately, Harry must burst your bubble I’m afraid. Pro shooting is a sure-fire way to get stomach ulcers.

Let’s take the overseas trip to start with. Harry’s first was to the Solomon Islands to principally shoot some beachwear fashions. Air tickets paid for photographer and model, accommodation free and arranged in resorts all over the island groups - this was going to be one giant paid holiday. Well, it was - on paper!

Before going on an overseas shoot you have to very carefully choose your equipment. And take enough to cover all emergencies. For that trip I took two Hasselblad medium formats and a 35 mm camera. A whole bunch of lenses and a Polaroid back, some filters and many, many rolls of pro film, all kept under refrigeration and then stored in a special “cool” bag. A large flash and there was also a large Italian tripod. Nothing was left to chance. Nothing could go wrong - go wrong - go wrong ...!

Of course you have to record all the serial numbers of every piece of equipment and make several copies. One to give to customs as you leave, one to give to customs when you arrive at the tropical paradise and another when you return to your own country. Forget to do this little paperwork can see you paying import duty on your own equipment, because you are carrying much more than the ordinary person would be carrying. You are now into the “commercial quantities” bracket - especially with film stock.

The first problem we had was the special screw that fits in the tripod head and screws into the base of the camera just vanished. No-one keeps a spare of those - and certainly no-one had a genuine large Italian one in a one pelican coastal town in the outer Solomon Islands. Fortunately, the model could speak Pidgin English and between us we managed to get a screw of the right size and pitch and made a replacement.

Hasselblads are the best cameras in the world in Harry’s opinion and they never break down - break down - break down ...! Oh yes they do! Both of them suffered a malfunction and by three quarters of the way through the idyllic week Harry was quickly losing hair! Fortunately we had brought the 35 mm camera along - but the refrigerated pro film was medium format - not 35 mm. Fortunately again we managed to find the only pro photographer resident in the Solomon Islands, an underwater guy, but he had 35 mm pro film. Happily Harry paid whatever the guy wanted - top dollar naturally!

Of course, when you are shooting fashion overseas you take the garments with you and they just tumble out of the suitcase freshly pressed and immaculate. No, you have to take an electric iron with you, but some of the locations were so far from civilisation that there was no electricity. Ever wondered why you see so many tropical beach shots where the model has obviously waded out to sea in her good gear and is standing there in wet clothes? It’s because they couldn’t iron the creases out!

By the end of one week, you the ace pro photographer are totally exhausted. You have got up early for seven days to get that magic morning light. You have spent the major part of the day trudging through tropical paradise undergrowth, loaded down with photo gear to the next location, in time to set up for the magic late afternoon light. You then spend the evening getting everything ready for the next day - including ironing fashion clothes, some of which the model will drop in the mud the next day.

Who’d want to be a Pro? Mind you, all that drudgery didn’t stop Harry when he was asked to go to Fiji and shoot a travelogue the next year! Who wouldn’t want to be paid to take photographs in a tropical paradise?

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Modern Medicine: Listen to yourself

by Dr Iain Corness

One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given as a young doctor was to “Listen to the patient. Eventually they will tell you exactly what is wrong with them.” This does not mean that patients are lousy historians, it just means that almost instinctively everybody knows what part of them is ailing. The trick, however, is to be able to sift out that important data from the not so important stuff.

This prompting the patient to give you the diagnosis is particularly important with kids, who are known as perfectly lousy historians, especially when in pain. The question “Show me where it hurts?” is one of the simplest, yet most informative pieces of information you can get from young children. Initially they will vaguely wave hands around, but with persistence will eventually pin-point the pain producing area (even internal) with amazing accuracy.

This getting in touch, or in tune, with your own body is important in the overall school of life and living. We all suffer from aches and pains from time to time, but by “listening” to your own body you can actually work out whether you have a major internal problem or a minor mechanical (musculo-skeletal) ailment.

Your body also actually knows what it needs when a deficiency situation arises. The simplest, of course, is hunger. Your body tells you to go and eat, not your watch. Your body also knows when it is getting dehydrated and tells you to go and have a drink of water. Have you ever suddenly had a huge need for a Mars Bar or similar? That was not subliminal advertising by Mr. Cadbury, but your body telling you it needed some quick sugar. What about after a bout of diarrhoea when all you wanted was dry toast and a chicken noodle soup? Your body was indicating it needed some electrolytes and something to slow down the passage of food. Amazing!

Have you ever been offered a food and your body just rebelled? In that instance, your body knew it did not need some chemical in that dish and subconsciously rejected it. All without your knowing the exact chemical involved. Clever thing, your body. You should look after it better!

Looking after it better is something we all should do (me included). In this society it is all too easy to have too much to drink, too much to eat and too many late nights. After a while, if you listen to your body, you will find that you are not able to drink as much alcohol, you are losing your appetite and going off your food and you get tired easily. This is not a disease - it is just your body telling you what has to be done to get itself back in top shape again.

Just remember that your body can tell you these things. Just stop for a minute and listen to it - and do what it tells you. It’s for your own good!

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Dear Hillary,

I seem to get a “gippy” tummy every time I go down the street and eat Thai food, but it doesn’t happen when I get taken out to dinner by my farang boyfriend and I eat farang food. This happens every time, even if I give it a break for a few weeks and then try again. What can you suggest, because I really do like Thai food?

Foodie

Dear Foodie,

It’s probably an allergy to paying for your own food. Hillary doesn’t like paying either. Perhaps get a Thai boyfriend to take you out and see if you still have the same problem.

My Dear Hillary

I feel very shy writing to you but what the heck. I have a crush on you my lovely and if your good looks and nice personality were to be only half of that wit charm and intelligence which you so often show in your very own column, then it would still be a great honour to be in your presence. I would love just you and I to go out to dinner, maybe Bruno’s perhaps or the Montien. As I have a permanent suite there, the Royal Cliff, perfect as it is, tends to get a bit tedious. Could we too dance to a band, slowly cheek to cheek and then later perhaps when I have wined and dined you (and told you how I made my fortune) and spoilt you rotten, we could walk through the grounds and if the moon was bright enough I would like to pick you a beautiful orchid flower - something to remind you of our evening together when you wake with a smile on your face. I am clean shaven, 6ft tall of athletic build and drive an Italian sports car. Also I speak fluent French and Italian. ‘Manners Maketh Man’ nanny used to say so I certainly do not like loud brash or aggressive types - or football or snooker for that matter. Believe me 5 years in the Army and then the Navy soon separated the men from the boys. So Hillary when can I pick you up? Let me guess your first name... No it can’t be Edmund ha ha. Oh most importantly I don’t like men who wear ear rings (sorry if I’ve disappointed you) but My Sweet, I do like black moustaches and men who wear Donny Osmond caps. See you Later Alligator!

J

Dear J,

My oh my, isn’t Hillary the lucky one. It’s not every day Hillary gets invited out by someone with such impeccable manners, impeccable breeding, multi lingual, Adonis-like looks, pots of money, Italian sports car and incredibly self opinionated as well. Modesty is definitely your thing, isn’t it, J, my petal. Sorry to disappoint you, but Hillary likes football and plays snooker and would never be seen dead in drag in a Donny Osmond cap! Are you kidding? If that is what you want in your dream evening’s partner, I would be worried you might appear in one of Marie Osmond’s pink dresses. And if you think I do all the horizontal folk dancing thing on the first date, to wake with a smile on my face, think again. (With you, not even on the last date!) Sorry to throw a dampener on the whole concept, but really, Hillary is loud, brash and aggressive as well. It would never work. I’m not your kind of girl. However, is it a Lamborghini Diablo?

Dear Hillary,

My husband and I have been invited to a Thai wedding up country and we are a little unsure of what to do, or even more importantly, what not to do. Are there any special things we should watch out for? We enjoy your advice column and appreciate your help.

Janet

Dear Janet,

At last, someone without a size 12 ego and no Italian sports car to write about! Just be guided by your hosts, they will indicate what happens next. As regards, “what to do”, just have some money in an envelope to give to the happy couple at the appropriate time - you will see everyone doing this, so you will know when. As regards “what not to do”, since this will be a full ceremony with the monks sitting in pride of place, do avoid falling asleep during the chanting. Just remember that Thais are very tolerant and understand that you will not know what to do. Just go with the flow and you will have a most enjoyable time. Try eating everything at the feast - just don’t ask what each item is!

Dear Hillary,

We girls feel that Pattaya is far too much geared up for the males in this society. Why is there nothing for us? Do you agree, or are you one of “them” too?

The Girls

Dear Girls,

Honestly my heart goes out to you all. How terrible it must be to be totally blind, deaf and dumb and forced to live here. Just what in tarnation is it that you girls want to do? The male dominated areas are usually go-go driven, but there are places for us too. The bars too male? Women have been drinking in bars since Emily Pankhurst. The beaches? You can get more attention there than any man. So, sorry, Hillary does not agree with you, nor do I really understand what you mean by your phrase, one of “them”. I am not one of “them” - I am Hillary!

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GRAPEVINE

Flashy dresser
A farang was arrested this week after walking out of Big ‘C’ superstore wearing a top hat surrounded with dangling bread rolls. He was also wearing a Rule Britannia sweatshirt and carrying a lady’s handbag full of golf balls. When stopped by a security guard, he agreed he was oddly attired but claimed that he was trying make people talk to him as he was very lonely. He had apparently decided to come to Pattaya as a tourist after reading in a newspaper that all types were welcome here. However, he had not so far managed to strike up an interesting conversation with anyone. His luck changed when police charged with him stealing items from the clothing, sports and food department and told him that Pattaya court would be interested to hear what he had to say.

Accidental sex
A Pattaya resident is trying to sue somebody or other after blaming the resort’s busy traffic for causing his daughter’s loss of virginity. Gunter Rauscher, 56, claims that a broken down bus on Sukhumvit Highway caused such a queue of traffic that his twenty three year old daughter in the back seat of the family van became bored with waiting and had carnal relations with her boyfriend. “I thought it was suspicious that the back windows were all steamed up even though it was a cool evening,” Mr Rauscher explained. He added he had been to a lawyer who had advised that the bus company might deny responsibility for a blown gasket which had caused the problem. However, the lawyer said he could find out for sure for a fee of 5,000 baht. Plus expenses of course.

King of burgers
Jigsaw Restaurant, on the main Pattaya - Jomtien road just as you swing right and the sea comes into full view, is now open for business again after a temporary hitch. It’s American style and the huge, open sandwiches and prize winning burgers are certainly to be recommended. GEOC (Grapevine Eating Out Collective) gave full marks for the yummy dessert with six different types of chocolate. A good place to eat brunch or lunch if you are in the area. Expect to wait a little for the food to arrive, but each dish is individually prepared. Given the generous portions, the cost won’t burn a hole in your pocket. Incidentally, there are more vegetarian choices on the menu than you usually see in Pattaya restaurants.

Readers’ queries
TR asks where in Pattaya you can get proper black puddings like in UK. Well, Palmer’s Bar in Pattayaland Soi Two is advertising this delicacy at 40 baht a throw... JK wants to know more about the sea cruises which also allow you to renew your Thai visa. Check this out at the big travel agent at the corner of Second Road and South Road traffic lights... AQ queries whether a business displaying the scales of justice logo is necessarily a qualified lawyer’s office. No, some offices are staffed by intermediaries (who may or may not know what they are talking about) who front for a lawyer who appears as and when necessary... GS demands to know how it is possible for the police to throw you in jail without informing you of your rights. Under Thai law, the police can hold a suspect for 48 hours before letting him go or producing him in court. However, the place of incarceration will be a local police station cell and not a prison. Applies to ladies as well.

Banking on it
For those still worried about the long running farang bank account saga in the kingdom, Thai Farmer’s Bank branches for some weeks have had a sign in English. It says that, for new accounts, a foreigner must produce three pieces of evidence. Your passport is the first. The second is your foreigner’s ID. If you come from a country which doesn’t issue IDs, an official document such as your home country driving license will suffice. The third bit of paper is proof of your current Thai address. If in difficulty with this one, ask the immigration police to provide you with a letter. According to the helpful girl at the foreign exchange desk, these are the new definitive regulations of the Bank of Thailand for farangs without a work permit or residency book. Now you know it all, although it is still up to individual banks whether they want your business or not.

International news
A third of British young men would shun a night at the pub in favor of a trip to the beautician. A growing number of Brits buy their own skin care products and treat themselves to facials. 84% admit to spending more than the equivalent of 2000 baht a month on skin care, and less on beer... A Frenchman has just patented the world’s first washproof dildo which can even be boiled without damaging it. The publicity blurb encourages you to hit the tool head-on with a hammer and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. But presumably not, we assume, if it’s in use at the time... An international travel magazine is encouraging pleasure seekers to go to Beirut for lavish entertainment, astonishing nightclubs and free for all parties. It claims, “Beirut is the new Pattaya!” Bet they don’t have as many Thai restaurants as us though.

Overheard
First farang, “I’m not going in that Mosquito Bar again, chuck.” Second farang, “Why not, chuck? I mean the lasses are smashing and the beer is cold enough to freeze a monkey.” First farang, “Naw, once bitten twice shy, chuck.”

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Dining Out: The Stockholm Inn - The Swedish Connection

by Miss Terry Diner

Open for only four weeks, the Stockholm Inn, Bar and Restaurant’s Eddie Jacobson asked the Pattaya Mail’s Dining Out Team to call and try the fare in their Swedish restaurant. Since there are not too many eateries proclaiming to be “Swedish” we were looking forward to the event.

The restaurant (and bar and hotel) is opposite the OD Bowl in South Pattaya and there is ample parking just around the corner as the road swings left to Jomtien. Look for the sign on the left. However, there were no Volvo’s to be seen!

The restaurant is in two parts - the exterior section also houses a snooker table as well as a couple of dining table settings. This courtyard is set with blue and yellow tiles - a portent of what was to come!

The inside section is the air-conditioned restaurant proper, with black glass topped tables and cushioned rattan furniture. When you look up and see a large photograph of King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, in pride of place alongside a similar one of our own King Bhumibol Adulyadej, you begin to see the blue and yellow connection - the national colours of Sweden.

The other photographs on the walls are mainly old panoramic shots of Stockholm, but one wall is devoted to some 1970’s racing cars, with one autographed by its driver, Eddie Jacobson. The same Eddie Jacobson who had invited the Team to dinner!

The menu commences with various breakfasts ranging from Thai at 45 baht through to Swedish at 95 baht with Kalles Kaviar Smorgas (whatever that may be)!

Next is a choice of five soups at 55 baht, then six salads (B55-85), followed by nine sandwiches, again between 55-85 baht.

The Mains are up next, with eleven choices. Again inexpensive between 110 baht for the Spaghetti Bolognaise through to 195 baht for the fillet steak with home fries and salad and a choice of mushroom sauce, pepper sauce or garlic. One item that immediately took our eye was “Pyttipanna” which turned out to be an end of the week Swedish special, made from all sorts of leftovers by traditional Swedish Mums, mixed together and fried together with beetroot. Unfortunately, as we went mid-week it was not possible to try it.

The mains are followed by a page of Thai favourites all under 80 baht. Again inexpensive. Beverages next, with local beers at 55 baht (but no Singha Gold!) and imported around 60 baht. There is also Heineken draft available on tap.

The atmosphere is one of homeliness, heightened by the happy raconteur Eddie Jacobson himself, who was joined by so many acquaintances and friends we decided to put a few tables together and make a fun night of it. “I like it when we have 20 people and 18 come from different countries,” said Eddie.

We began with a peppery cream of mushroom soup - very creamy and very full of succulent button mushrooms. We followed that with the mixed salad, with an excellent dressing that Eddie’s wife, who is the cook, refused to divulge, saying it was her secret. That was followed by a chicken fillet covered with a great creamy sauce and mashed potatoes alongside. Very filling and again the sauce was excellent.

By this stage we were decidedly full, but Eddie insisted we try the blueberry cheesecake - and we did not regret it! Beautiful.

The Stockholm Inn, Restaurant and Bar does not attempt to be thought of as haute cuisine, but presents good solid portions of good “home-cooked” food, at very, very reasonable prices. With the homely ambience and the gregarious nature of Eddie, you should enjoy your evening with the Swedish connection. We did. Just go with the flow and you will be very quickly accepted as part of “the family”.

In fact, we viewed the Stockholm Restaurant as a good place to take your own family and friends for an inexpensive night out. It’s almost like “eating at home”!

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Animal Crackers: Blood Hounds

by Mirin MacCarthy

Hounds to the Rescue

Sherlock Holmes is always remembered for his pipe and his bloodhound. Bloodhounds with their friendly good nature and a distinctive black and tan folded coat one size too large, and huge soulful eyes and floppy ears, have instant appeal to many. Indeed they make good family pets but one that needs a lot of room.

They are large hounds, standing 66 cm at the shoulder and it is only their appearance that deters intruders. Bloodhounds are good with children, non-aggressive and rather sensitive, responding to quiet careful training.

With these characteristics they do not sound likely candidates for police work; however, bloodhounds are favoured by police for their special tracking ability and they have frequently been used by rescue workers to find lost children. Their noses are 1000 times more sensitive than ours and they are blessed with the sniffing ability that can identify the scent trails of a human as distinctively as a fingerprint. What’s more they have better motivation than other dogs to follow a quarry. After 25ks on a trail they are still keen to keep on going nose to ground. They and their trainers must be keen on distance running. Bloodhounds are also not considered to be properly trained until they can work equally efficiently in day and night and find people buried under snow and track them through confused trails of city streets.

The breed originated in Belgium 1,200 years ago. Today they are sometimes used in the U.K in substitute foxhunts when they chase a man. A runner is given a fair start and then it’s the hounds and horseback riders to the chase. Not with the aim of ripping their quarry apart at the finish mind, but rather with hugs and licks all round. This sport has developed of late because it is no longer safe for riders to chase foxes across fields in urbanized England rather than thoughts of cruelty to foxes!

Inoculations for Dogs

The most essential protection and preventative medicine you can give your pooches are vaccination against diseases, especially here in a tropical country. The heat, humidity, dust and many roaming strays all incubate disease. Puppies should be vaccinated against distemper, infectious hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and rabies. Also injections of ivomectin are effective against the mange parasite and the heartworm cycle it causes. Puppies should be vaccinated at 6 to eight weeks of age, a booster dose must be given a month later, and thereafter the dogs are re-vaccinated annually. Consult your vet who will give you a vaccination card with reminder dates, also tags for the collar. Dogs need de-worming also; whether or not there are worms visible in their excreta they will be there.

Vaccinations for Cats, Rabbits, Squirrels and Rats

Again hot, tropical, humid countries like Thailand with many unprotected passing stray animals just breed disease. Do the best for your cats and kittens by taking them to a vet for preventative vaccinations. The first injections against infectious feline enteritis and cat flu should be given at nine weeks of age; the second at twelve weeks with a yearly booster. Cats need de-worming medicine too. Yearly Rabies shots are essential here for all mammals, including cats, dogs, rabbits, squirrels, rats, monkeys, cattle, goats and horses.

Give it you best shot and give the pets you care for the best shots too.

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Down The Iron Road: A Tale of Old Siam - The Wang Pong Engine

by John D. Blyth

I would warmly recommend the book The Railways of Thailand by R. Raemer, to readers of this series. Published in 1994 by White Lotus Co., of Bangkok, it is in stock at DK Books in Soi Post Office in Pattaya for a modest 775 baht. Among the many illustrations is one of a small, crude little steam locomotive, numbered ‘1’ in Thai script; the picture is not suitable for copying, hence my sketch in substitution; there have plainly been some makeshift modifications at some time. The caption says it was built by W.G. Bagnall of Stafford, U.K. in 1913 and on a track gauge of 600mm, it worked on the ‘firewood railways’ which ran southward from Sung Noen on the State Railway’s line to the North East. Helped by colleagues in the U.K., I set out to identify this engine positively, and even taking second-hand locomotives into account, I drew a total blank.

I wrote in this series about the ‘firewood railways’ in Pattaya Mail for the 12th May issue and mentioning the curious re-numbering of two of the original seven engines which started as 1 and 2, and soon became 8 and 9. I suggested that as no ‘new’ 1 and 2 have ever been identified, they probably never existed - yet here is ‘No.1’! I do not blame Mr Raemer for being, as he was, misled by the State Railway records, which, in a list of metre gauge locomotives, show one 4-wheeled example, said to be by Bagnall in 1913. Nothing, then, to do with the Sung Noen line. By a lucky chance I was put in touch with someone who knew all about it - and yes, it was built by the Bagnall Company!

One of six built in the 1890s for work on the metre gauge lines in and around the British Naval Dockyard in Gibraltar, this and a sister locomotive were at some time transferred to work for a contractor, Topham, Jones & Railton (‘TJ&R’) who was progressing extensions to the dockyard; they took the number 31 and 32 in TJ&R stock, and in 1909 both were transferred to the Naval Dockyard in Singapore, where the same company was extending a graving dock. I have independent evidence of this from a friend who is compiling a book on the railways of Malaya; both my informants state that No.31 was transferred to Siam in 1913 and put to work on the building of the line from Bangkok (Thonburi) to the Malay border. The first section, to Petchburi, had been built with German labour and capital, but politics and finance prevented them from going further, and after some delay it was arranged that the rest of the line should be built by the British. Despite British involvement in a major war far away, good progress was made and Songkhla was reached in 1917, a junction where Hat Yai now stands allowing an extension to Padang Besar to be completed in 1918. The supply of locomotives dried up due to the war in 1915 and no more came forward until 1919; the German section no doubt had enough to operate their own section, but few, if any to spare. In 1913 all that had been built of the southern line was brought under a single management; thus the German locomotives were allowed to enter the British section. The locomotives were numbered into one series, the little Bagnall becoming No.20, almost on arrival. In 1917 a further step was taken to bring all State lines, regardless of gauge, under a single management; again all the locomotives were renumbered, and astonishingly, the small Bagnall became the first of them all, as ‘No.1’!

‘But what about Wang Pong?’ you will ask. Well, it is the venue for the photograph I used for my sketch. It is a known picture, taken in September 1929 by an unknown (but probably British) photographer inside the locomotive shed, whose foundations, and those of the turntable pit, could be seen quite recently. It is just 20 km south of Hua Hin, now a famous resort, of course, and 3 km further south is the small town of Pranburi. At Wang Pong itself it seems there is little more than a small colony of rail workers – not even a shop, supplies coming from Pranburi, these days, I wager, by pick-up truck. Trains can cross there – little more.

On one of his many post-war journeys in Thailand, Japanese railway engineer Takao Takada discovered what Wang Pong was all about, and recorded it in his book ‘Steam of Thailand’. All steam locomotives used wood fuel, on which, at best, they could run about 150 km on one loading, so the length of the journey to the south meant re-fuelling several times. Usually this was done at an extended stop at a main station, but Wang Pong was possibly unique in being a ‘specialist’ fuelling point, for that purpose only. In the 30 minutes allowed, the engine would be uncoupled and run some distance to the fuel stack, where a gang of men would throw the logs up to two more on the tender top, who would stack the fuel with care so that the most could be taken on. The 30-minute standing time is confirmed by the 1954 Sate Railways public timetable; at that time there were three steam trains in either direction calling at Wang Pong, and each was allowed just the half-hour recorded by Takao Takad. A fourth train each way is also shown – this is the thrice-weekly ‘International’, Bangkok to Prai (for Penang) and return; just dieselised, it made a 2-minute courtesy stop only.

There would be steam-hauled freight trains, too, wanting fuel at Wang Pong, and they would be the means whereby wood was supplied to the centre. One or two would bring in loaded vans, and another would take them away again empty to the source of the fuel. With all this it is not hard to imagine a nice little job for the veteran Bagnall, taking the loaded vans to a place near the stacking ground and placing the empties conveniently for taking away. Takao Takada makes no mention of the engine and no doubt it had been worn-out ere this time; it is not hard to find ‘Marginal time’ for its not very onerous duties. It would be interesting to know the date of its withdrawal.

One last snippet… In 1954 one of the steam trains came through from Thonburi but the end of its journey was at Pranburi at about 8.00 p.m. Yet it was allowed the full 30 minutes for fuelling, with just 3 km to run – and when it left in the early morning, it was again allowed 30 minutes at Wang Pong, having again travelled just 3 km. Compilers of timetables do not always know the reasons for the time intervals at stations, and this looks like one of them!

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Woman’s World: Let it Shine Girls!

by Lesley Warner

While we all know that we can use make-up, color our hair, or buy expensive clothing, it’s useless unless our “inner selves” are feeling good. Without that “inner glow,” no amount of make-up can make us beautiful. While we can’t all be born physically perfect, we can become beautiful by developing self-esteem and taking care of ourselves. That gives one the kind of beauty you just can’t buy in a bottle.

Tips for Developing the “Inner You”

Exercise regularly, even just a daily walk or a swim, it doesn’t have to be an aerobic workout.

Eat well. This means lots of fruits and veggies and plenty of water.

Get plenty of rest - you feel better when you’re getting enough sleep.

Think good thoughts. To think or act badly against others reflects in yourself and your inner self will not glow for you if you are concentrating all your energy on bad thoughts.

Focus on the things you like about yourself. Got great eyes? Play them up! Beautiful hands? Keep them well manicured.

Develop your interests and hobbies. Have you always wanted to paint? Take an art class. Are you a good dancer? Try lessons. A great athlete? Join a team.

Take some time and think about what it is you’d like to accomplish. Then take a step every day towards your goal. For example: You want to be a writer? Write down the steps you will need to take:

Make the time to write. Schedule it.

Take a class to help you brush up on your skills.

Subscribe to newsletters or journals that encourage and keep you motivated.

Talk with experts and listen to their advice and show your work!

Take time for others. Nothing makes us feel better about ourselves than lending a helping hand. Be a big sister, or volunteer at an animal shelter or orphanage or one of the many worthy causes in Pattaya they are always looking for more help.

Keep a journal. Write down your daily thoughts and feelings. You will learn so much about yourself just by noticing what’s going on in your life. Careful that you don’t leave it lying around so that everyone learns more about you!

Listen to your body. Everyone has a different internal “schedule.” Eat when you’re hungry; sleep when you’re tired. I’ve spoken to a few ladies like myself that find living in the heat they don’t really get hungry - the body is just not sending eating messages. In that case we have to remind it when food would be a good idea. There’s nothing so unattractive as ‘an older lady’ being too skinny. Have you noticed that the skin tends to hang on the bones in loose folds? Is it better to be a bit chubby and fill those folds, because it’s far more attractive?

What better place to live to get a good all round diet. Look at the choice of fruit and vegetables that we have to choose from and you can always supplement your food with a good multivitamin.

Smile and mean it! People are attracted to those who are happy!

I thought that I would put in a daily thought to make you smile. This was sent to me by a friend when I was feeling down I think it’s great.

Work as if you don’t need the money

Love as if you’ve never been hurt.

Dance as if no one is watching.

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Nightmarch

In recent month’s Pattaya has been the subject of a couple of damning articles published in glossy magazines in the United States, Germany and Australia. The two that I have seen represent amongst the worst reporting I have ever read on Pattaya, full of half-truths, innuendoes and downright salacious lies.

Journalism for some publications has become a very subjective rather than informative medium with the average reporter no longer interested in the vagaries and complexities of a place like Pattaya. It’s become a medium of sound bites and snippets, reflecting the general public’s desire to be given a black and white case in a few sentences and paragraphs. Unfortunately for Thailand in general, and Pattaya in particular, the place is far too enveloped in shades of grey for the average journo interested in the reality of the joint to sift through and come out with something that resembles the truth.

The problem is that these pathetic members of the fourth estate come here on an all-expenses paid two-week slap up holiday with the headline for their story already in their tiny minds and spend that fortnight trying to make the paradigm fit the headline. They don’t want information as such, just some way of making the piece they’re penning sensational enough to satisfy their editors and the magazine’s readership. No wonder so many of these hacks are treated with suspicion, contempt and even open hostility by many of the people who have set up shop here, be it in the boozing, ogling or noshery trade.

Parties: Tonight (Friday) Kiwi Peter will be celebrating his birthday at Freelancer Bar (past the big tree on Walking Street), starting at 8:00pm and going on into the wee small hours. The usual free nosh (yes, another poor pig has met its maker) as well as giveaways (I’m not sure if this includes the odd female; odd as in a couple or three, not odd as in weird). Peter’s better looking other half Anne said she’ll be cutting the birthday cake at about 12.30am. With a party, a live band and beer bar prices, freelancer should be heaving. Probably so will Peter some time in the wee small hours.

Worst Kept Secret In Town: On September 28 that Pattaya institution, Delaney’s, will be changing its cognomen to Shenanigans, an Irish slang word that the dictionary says means frolicking, playing tricks, etc. Kim, mine host at Delaney’s, will still be on board as publican despite the fact he was against the new name for the simplest of reasons: how the hell does the average Thai pronounce Shenanigans. I can barely write the word let alone pronounce it and after a few tumblers of the amber fluid, I’d venture to suggest most other people would have the same problem. A committee (similar to the one that designed the camel) must surely have arrived at the name Shenanigans after a hard night consuming unusual substances. There are those around town who reckon they will still refer to the place by its original handle, a bit like Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City.

Seen Around Town: The world famous Hard Rock Cafe is set to open a bigger-than-Ben-Hur franchise here in the not too distant future following the closure of the Merlin Hotel. So get ready for yet another over-priced Yankee burger and chips shop to hang out a shingle on Beach Road.

Bon Voyage (almost): Popular Belgian restaurateur and Hash House Harrier Patrick is leaving Pattaya for a two-month stint in a Muay Thai boxing training camp in Chiang Mai. In recent years all that good Pattaya living has caught up with the nuggety one and he has decided that the best way to lose weight and get back in trim is to retreat to the wilds of Northern Thailand and stay off the booze. When he returns, sometime around November, he hopes to then go off with his boxers for a series of bouts in Europe, in the ring that is, not the bars.

My e-mail address is: [email protected]

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