Surfin’ The Land of the Bald Eagle

by the Urban Peasant

The Urban Peasant strikes again. This time she goes all the way across the Pacific Ocean, soul searching in The Land of Liberty and Eagles with Scalp Deficiency. From West to East, South to North, by plane, train and car, she treads the path where no man has ‘never’ been and files her report.

Part V Hollywood or Bust!

I chose United Airlines to be my carrier from San Jose to LA because of their motto: “Our sincere promise to our customers is that we will strive to provide them with the respect, courtesy, fairness, and honesty that they expect and deserve.”

Dockweiler Beach

Actually it was because Tom arranged to get me the cheapest ticket in the least given time, so we got the United Airlines shuttle. Mind you, I thought the service was great; we were even served Starbucks Coffee and seven and a half pretzels on board.

Brad was late. I roamed from the entry gate to the baggage claim and went back upstairs again. When he finally made it he was like a bear with a sore head. “This morning I was feeling great and now I’m feeling grouchy,” he said.

“Thanks for the welcome, Brad.” I gave him a green look.

“Not you, I meant it’s because of the traffic.”

Brad complained all the way home, calling people names that their parents didn’t give them. He sort of christened and baptized each driver that cut and swerved in front of him. By the time we got to his home, which was next to the runway, I was exhausted.

A part of LAX International Airport – they are giving away round trip tickets on these planes

Brad Bradford is a happy smoker. His beautiful, messy, cozy and ashtray-friendly apartment was next to the LA International airport, so it could never be accused of being quiet and lonely.

A retired technical writer for Boeing for 12 years, before that Brad worked for Continental Airlines for 24 years (so we don’t want to guess his age). After a good nap on the sofa while Brad fixed coffee and sandwiches, I dragged him to Dockweiler Beach, a long stretch of white sand on the Pacific coast about 2 miles from his home. Cool air soon swept away my tired feelings.

Hollywood, where the wagon rises above the ground

The following day we went on a Brad tour. I wanted to see all the stuff tourists go for: Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles’ high-rise buildings, beaches, over priced shops, stars, etc. “Are you kidding me?” Brad shrieked. “You can’t imagine how bad the traffic is in the city and we won’t be able to cover it all.”

“Awww, you’re no fun. Ok, we’ll go to a couple: Hollywood, Beverly Hills, beaches, high rise buildings, stars.”

Beverly Hills – where stars hide behind their fences

Brad scratched his head, but reckoned he would only have this maniac for a few days. “Ok, just a couple.”

Yessssssss!

We set off on his 19' something beige Cadillac. Passing the CNN building and I asked him to stop there so I can go and apply for a job, but he didn’t. He said they wouldn’t hire me. “Yea right, you just don’t want to pay for the parking there,” I said.

We passed the Hollywood sign on the hill from afar and I took a picture. No, you could hardly see it, but been there, done that. Next!

The CNN building in LA

Sunset Boulevard was a cute place along the way to Beverly Hills. Up and up we went along the tree-lined roads. I’m sure we passed many stars’ houses, but there were no signs or names. I swear if I had seen Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt on the street there, I would have ditched my Brad. But don’t tell him that. We headed west and soon came to the beautiful Santa Monica Beach. Along the coast we drove down and passed (notice I say passed) Venice, Manhattan, and many more beaches. “Brad stop here, I want to go for a walk, pleeeeaaasssee.”

“Are you kidding? There’s no parking around here. We are just looking at the beach from the car, not stopping.” See what I mean?

Well, it was too nice out there to frown, so I kept singing.

“If everybody’s got an ocean, across the USA, then everybody’ll be surfin’ California... You’ll catch ‘em surfing at Delmar, Ventura county line. Santa Cruz and Trestles, Australia’s Narabine... you’ll see them wearing their baggies, hurachi sandals too... a bushy bushy blond hairdo... surfin’ USA... yeaaaaa.”

Computer and ashtray make Brad a very happy man

Brad finally stopped at a famous beach so we could get out and stretch a bit. Also, he was going nuts with my singing. The pier was overcrowded. Brad said soon Pattaya is going to be like that. Those darn business people will use up all the places that used to be natural and set up shops and stalls and make it all commercial. He said he was sick of all those money minded people who destroy the originality of the scene and beauty and the life that used to be. “Life there is not the same anymore,” he grumbled.

When we got home, poor Brad was tired but I was still singing, so he went down and bought some donuts to shut me up.

Talk about food, he’s a great cook. He’s got loads and loads of canned foods. Well, he’s a bachelor, so he doesn’t keep fresh junk foods. He cooked us a nice Mexican bean omelet with cheese and salsa for breakfast one morning. It was so great he could not make it the same the second time. “Do you need any help, Brad?” I hollered from the computer room.

“If I needed help, I would not cook at all. Just go on writing emails to your boyfriends,” he snapped.

When the time for me to part drew near, we went out to buy stuff to take home, and of course chocolate was in order. We went to See’s store and tasted just about everything they displayed before buying boxes and boxes of them. Yes, See’s the best. Though Brad was not allowed to take sugar, he sneaked some pecan chocolates when I was not looking. I punished him by taking him out for another walk on the beach.

After the few days of bugging him, it was time for me to head back home. I had my other missions in life too, you know, not just tour around and drive people crazy. The matter of the fact is I was going broke. It was time for a reality check and to get back to work. That is, if there was work waiting.

The night before I left I could not sleep. Jet lagged before the flight. And since I slept in the huge bed that Brad sacrificed for me, while he slept on the couch all the while I was there, it was no wonder he was happy I was leaving.

“No, I’m not happy you’re leaving. I’ll miss you,” he assured me.

“Yea right, you don’t look convincing.”

“But I’ll be happy to be alone again so I won’t have to worry if I’m naked or not,” he admitted.

Coming back I took EVA Air. Why, you must wonder, since this trip was purely Uncle Sam’s Tour, didn’t I take US aircraft for international flight? The reason is simple. EVA Air has a special section called Deluxe Economy. With that comes a wider seat, with a leg rest and all the works like business class; less, but a bit more. Of course you pay a bit more, but much less than what you would pay for business class. Wait till I get rich, I’ll fly that crooked nosed plane one day. Concorde that is. By that time the pilots would be told to carry with them a screwdriver to fix what ever will go wrong.

It was a very pleasant flight indeed. We were in the good hands of pilot Tom Nicholson. I had the opportunity to go into the cockpit to see the operation and talk to them...of course when the plane had landed. If they had let me in flight deck while airborne, I’d only have distracted their work with my charm...ahem!

The trip was a success. Successful because I came back and was not fired yet.

I’d like to thank all the lovely people for making this a very pleasant and educational trip. First of all, gratitude to the US Embassy for being so understanding and assisting in granting my super fast visa. I’d like to thank Catherine, Jonathan, Ben, B-Jim and Miffy in Texas. Thank you conductor Phil Baker of Amtrak and his crew and all the passengers who enlightened me of the history of the US train. Thanks to Nessa, Kevin and Caitlin for not taking me up to the Sears Tower because they hated the traffic. Nevertheless Wisconsin made up for it beautifully. You are forgiven. True appreciation to Tom and his family for the hospitality and support. As for Brad, what can I say? I owe my sanity to him. Mind you, he still has to bring me my socks that I forgot in the laundry. So I’ll thank him when he brings them here for me. He said he would bring them in person as shipping them would cost him too much. He said he had lost sleep just trying to take good care of them until they are here. He still writes me now and then, updating me on my socks. I would also like to thank my producer, director, and all that made this possible, without whom I would not be standing on this stage with this Oscar.

Oooooops...wrong stage.

Finally I would like to thank my boss for being too busy to fire me when I got back. Should I thank him in advance for the next trip I’m going to bug him for?

Fun and fund raising by Rotarians

Local charities benefit from admirable effort

The Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya held another of its now famous Fellowship evenings at the O-La-La Entertainment Complex on Soi 7 last week. These events are designed to allow Rotarians the chance to meet each other in a relaxed situation, bring along spouses and friends, and just enjoy each other’s company.

President Erika’s highest bid earned her this valuable wall clock commemorating 70 years of Rotary in Thailand.

This Fellowship was organized by a group of Rotarians who are affectionately known as “The Gang of Six”, which includes past presidents Peter Malhotra, Kees Peperkamp and John Richards, and Rotarians Jan Olav Aamlid, Peter Cummins and Dr. Iain Corness. They decided that this Fellowship should be one to remember, so Peter approached Bob Lee, the manager of the O-La-La complex, and between them the Fellowship took shape.

Jan outbids everyone this time for the same ticket presented by DG Premprecha Dibbayawan (right). The Doc’s in the middle as if you didn’t know.

It was decided that O-La-La would handle the catering, while the Gang of Six would cover the costs. The Gang of Six also felt that this was an ideal opportunity for the Rotary Club to do what it does best - raise funds for charity - and who more deserving than the Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Pattaya and the Camillian AIDS Centre in Rayong?

Past President Peter contacted the good-hearted business people around town, and suddenly there were prizes to be won, including dinners for two at O-La-La, the Montien International Buffet, the Captain’s Corner BBQ, dinners at Caf้ New Orleans, Siam Bayshore Hotel, Paradise Cafe, several mystery prizes from the Royal Cliff Beach Resort and the Woodlands Resort, bottles of wine from the Thai Garden Resort, and even two Rotary clocks and an air ticket from Scandinavian Airlines Systems to be auctioned. It was beginning to look like an “Event”!

Pres. Erika (right) presents Steiner Hansen (center) the owner of O La La who outbid everyone for the SAS ticket in the first auction. Steiner donates the ticket back for a second auction. The chap on the left is unidentified.

The organizers were expecting 50 people, but the word was out - and 60 squeezed through the doors. But Bob Lee and the staff of O-La-La conjured up more tables and chairs from nowhere, and the parade of food began, including the wonderful smoked gammon cooked to perfection by Bob Lee’s wife Almarie.

MC’s Peter and Dr. Iain kept the raffle prizes going, including the very large teddy bear donated by President Erika Keller, which went to volunteer worker Sophie from the AIDS Centre who took it back to the afflicted children at Rayong.

Rotarian Terry Waters (center) of the ISE wins the first prize: dinner with President Erika at the O-La-La.

Peter and Dr. Iain then became auctioneers to bring in some more money for the needy charities. The Rotary clocks both went and then it was time for the BIG prize - the SAS air ticket. Bidding was very spirited, with Bob Lee and Jan Olav inching the bids upwards towards 10,000 baht, when suddenly Steiner, the Norwegian owner of O-La-La stepped in and donated 10,000 baht for the ticket - on the condition that it was then auctioned again!

The room was quite taken aback by such a generous offer from the host of the evening, but Peter and Dr. Iain seized the opportunity and the bidding started again in fine style, with Jan Olav finally purchasing the ticket for 9,999 baht - a very auspicious number!

Numbers were the name of the game, with Kees Peperkamp indicating that between ticket sales at the door, raffles and the auctions, the Gang of Six had brought in 54,469 Baht for the nominated charities. Not a bad result for one little Rotary Club Fellowship, showing just what a little enthusiasm and a lot of effort could produce. District Governor Prempreecha Dibbayawan closed the evening by saying how very appreciative he was of the Jomtien-Pattaya Club, in their showing how Rotary can really help when everyone puts in the effort.

The Gang of Six have agreed to do it again next year!

Drug Addiction: The Community To The Rescue

Sri Lankan Ambassador leads benevolent mission to Pattaya

Story and Photos
by Peter Cummins

Everyone was a winner last Sunday at the Ban Poonsri Oupatham Drug Rehabilitation Centre on Soi Potisan in Naklua. H.E. Karunathilaka Amunugama, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand, and Gamini Abeysekera, UNICEF representative for Thailand, joined forces with Pattaya community leaders who included Supot Laowansiri, deputy governor of Chonburi Province, Sopin Thappajug, associate judge of the Chonburi Juvenile Court and, of course, Pol. Col. Jirat Pitchitpai, director of the Drug Rehabilitation Centre, in this venture.

H.E. the Sri Lankan Ambassador pays tribute to the Princess Mother.

An opening tribute was made to the Princess Mother by HE the Sri Lankan Ambassador and other dignitaries present.

The Ambassador had heard of the plight of the many unfortunate children who had become victims of the drugs that were so readily available, and decided to assist as much as possible, through the embassy.

Then, with the co-operation of Pattaya Mail managing director, Pratheep (Peter) Malhotra, a vast number of reformed drug addicts, housed by and cared for at the centre, became the focus of an outpouring of benevolence, sympathy, guidance and not the least, charity.

The Sri Lankan Ambassador presents funds for the Centre maintenance to Col. Pol. Jirat.

Whether they had come to the centre’s shelter through substance abuse - “ya ba”, glue sniffing, smoking or addiction to harder drugs – was immaterial. They WERE there and they WERE being rehabilitated.

It was a most rewarding experience for the large crowd gathered at the centre, many of whom (including this correspondent) had never before had contact with a segment of society that, as youths, had turned to drugs - of whatever kind - to escape a life of futility, emptiness and disaffection. In fact, I found the whole exercise so compelling, that I cut short a media assignment at the Sydney Paralympics 2000 to return to Pattaya. It was a decision I shall never regret.

A young member of the Sri Lankan delegation presents a UNICEF T-shirt to one of the ‘patients’

The marvellous group of young men we met at the centre, under the guidance, perseverance, kindness and dedication of Pol. Col. Jirat, had been saved from a life, inevitably played out on the streets, that only leads to despair, hopelessness, sickness and, ultimately, premature death, by whatever means.

The Sri Lankan community plied the centre with much-needed amenities such as drinking water purifiers, foodstuff and toiletries. Equally important, the ambassador pledged to underwrite the cost of much-welcomed insulation under the tin roof. It was mighty hot there for the few hours we sat in the auditorium adjoining the inmates’ dormitory.

Dignitaries listen to Pol. Col. Jirat’s address.

Member of Parliament Santsak Ngampiches provided comforting blankets for the young people and UNICEF, with its strong bias towards helping children world-wide, distributed tee-shirts, with the admonition from Khun Gamini, “to wear this shirt means you will not use drugs again”. The presentation of the shirts involved the whole assembly and created a bond between the centre’s residents and the community-at-large.

But, as much as the material support was vital, the profession of moral and social help was the keynote to the day. “They are free to leave, anytime they wish,” pointed out Pol. Col. Jirat, “as long as they are no longer victims of this dreadful scourge.” But, he added, “none of our inmates seem to want to return to the ‘outside’. They are basically happy here.”

Pratheep Malhotra translates for Pol. Col. Jirat. Photo Brendan Richards

To a question about his feelings, vis-a-vis his total dedication to the cause of rehabilitation, Pol. Col. Jirat answered simply, “When I see the state of degradation that drug addiction brings - especially to youngsters who should have their lives before them and not behind them - I could fill lakes with my tears.”

The deputy governor noted that responsibility for rehabilitation was a community effort and, although the provincial authorities maintained several centres, budgetary constraints placed more reliance on such institutions as “Father Jirat’s”, which has the full support of the authorities.

H.E. Kurunathilaka emphasized the Sri Lankan community’s ardent wish to be a part of the host country’s social fabric, noting that the drug menace also pervaded the rest of the world. “We all make errors,” he said, “especially as young people; now we need to try to reverse the problems.

Presentation to the Centre. (l-r) UNICEF Representative Gamini Abeysekera, Khun Ratanachai Suthidechanan representing MP Santsak Ngampiches, Pol. Col. Jirat Pichitpai and H.E. and Mrs. Karunathilaka Amunugama, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand.

“We are most happy to contribute to this centre’s development and ideals,” the ambassador continued, “especially on the occasion of the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of the beloved Princess Mother.”

Khun Gamini reiterated the goals of the United Nations International Children’s Fund, noting that we all need “a children-friendly” attitude. He also pointed out that the initiative of the Pattaya Mail was much appreciated by UNICEF as a means of helping the children of Thailand - and further a field, the very essence of the UNICEF mandate.

Khun Gamini informed the gathering of the juvenile drug problems he had encountered on a recent visit to Vietnam and, again, repeated the message of the necessity to have a “child-friendly environment” - world-wide - as one means of combating the drug-abuse problem.

Peter Malhotra, meantime, worked even harder than usual, translating the lengthy statements from Thai to English and English to Thai.

Peter, through the pages of the Pattaya Mail - and his own philosophy - was, undoubtedly, the catalyst in this marvellous combined effort that brought together diverse elements of Thai society for the sole purpose of bringing hope, direction and support for the centre, its work and its residents.

At the end of the programme we adjourned for lunch, prepared by community volunteers and hosted by the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya. Of course, it was followed by a delicious cup of Dilmah Ceylon tea.

The cyclebowl: A pavilion of cycles

The Dual System Pavilion at EXPO 2000 features technical world innovations

By Marion Vogt

The “cyclebowl” – a pavilion of cycles – brings art & technology into harmony with its design and environment-friendly mode of construction. The principle, history and perspective of the closed-cycle economy are the focal point of the exhibition, which covers about 1,200 square metres. The cyclebowl is located at the Western entrance of the EXPO site between the pavilions of the nations.

The pavilion from the outside: through a maze of beech hedges with integrated video screens, visitors enter the Dual System’s cyclebowl. The Green Dot presents itself in the Blue Box, the area that is made of blue glass.

The 25-metres high cyclebowl stands for the sustainable handling of natural resources. Constructed from recyclable materials, it features a natural climate system. The pavilion is designed in such a way that it can be dismantled at the end of the world exposition and rebuilt at a different location for further use.

The climate system of the cyclebowl is based on natural principles. In fact, it is modelled on the water-cooling system of a leaf. Water circulates through the entire building in small capillary pipes in order to create a pleasant atmosphere. The building’s very lightweight construction compensates for the lack of storage mass.

In the “Nature” exhibition area of the cyclebowl, infusion bags filled with blue or clear water have been hung up. On the one hand, they symbolise the water reservoirs and on the other hand, the water consumption world-wide. The visitors can learn from the individual bags where water is available or consumed and in what quantities.

The pavilion is also ventilated naturally. Slatted openings at the top and bottom of the building guarantee adequate air circulation. The slats are controlled by sensors that measure the carbon dioxide content, room temperature and humidity. In order to reduce the effects of strong sunshine, a pneumatically controlled shading system is installed.

The key topics of the exhibition – cycles and sustainability- are presented in three circuits inside the cyclebowl. Visitors view the exhibition from a slightly ascending, spiral-shaped ramp.

Each circuit represents a different age in time: the past, the present and the future. All circuits are structured in the same way and take account of the EXPO motto: “Humankind – Nature – Technology”. Visitors “experience” how things have changed from the untouched landscape of the past right up to the coming millennium. An experimental laboratory, mirror corridors and computer animated exhibits all capture the visitor’s attention. The play of light inside and outside the pavilion gives the exhibition a dramatic touch and makes the cyclebowl particularly spectacular at night.

Maze helps to pass the time

The experience starts even before visitors enter the cyclebowl. They approach the pavilion through a rising maze of beech hedges. Their path takes them along a bed of blue glass. About 30 monitors are integrated in the hedges. Their purpose is to catch the visitor’s interest with films and other information. In addition, they present estimated waiting times (up to 4 hours until you reach the entrance and people wait in thousands!) and announce events being held in the cyclebowl.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who conserves resources of them all?

Man, his influence on the environment and his individual responsibility – these are the core topics of three so-called mirror boxes. In each of the 3 exhibition rounds, the visitor faces himself in a quite unusual way. The first stop is devoted to man en mass: by means of innumerable reflections in the mirrors the observer is given the illusion of a huge crowd of people. There are statistics pointing out the dramatic population growth and the respective increase in raw material and energy consumption. Why does every single person benefit from assuming responsibility for the environment? A gallery with moving mirrors offers possible answers to this question.

International breakfast table

In the “Technology” exhibition area of the cyclebowl, 24 nations from all continents have been “seated” at an international breakfast table. Here, cast in artificial resin, breakfasts typical of the individual countries are displayed together with their original recipes. Information on the packaging material produced in each case documents the consumer habits in these countries.

What do people in Turkey or Australia have for breakfast? What does the first meal look like in Costa Rica or Madagascar? At a large table, 24 nations have been “seated” presenting their breakfasts together with original recipes. And what is more, we also learn the number of used packages left over after each breakfast. This makes it clear how the different circumstances and traditions have an influence on the environment. The British, for example, use 37.95 grams of packaging at breakfast every day, while the Germans consume an amount of 26.6 grams. The Massais, however, do not produce any packaging at all, for they drink goat’s milk – directly from the animal.

Experiencing the ingenuity of nature

Nature offers a vast range of exemplary solutions. And “packaging” is no exception. Optimal solutions are the banana, the coconut and the egg. In the cyclebowl, man observes nature in order to learn from it. Natural forms of packaging are displayed and explained, piece by piece, and layer by layer.

Experimental laboratory: packaging sorting reaching its limits

Laboratory tables, light tables, hanging lamps and overhead projections – all at once we were in an experimental laboratory. In this fascinating world we could test it for ourselves. We had the chance to sort packaging in a special machine – while doing this, we were given background information on physical principles that play a role in sorting packaging.

Copied from nature – the lotus effect

On the third level of the exhibition area, iced monitors can be found. Here, the climate system of the cyclebowl and its common features with natural water circulation can be experienced in a playful manner.

An outstanding example of the fascinating fusion of biology and technology is the so-called lotus effect. A botanist from Germany found out why leaves of the lotus plant, once considered sacred, stay clean and dry at all times. Billions of tiny wax-covered nubs on the surface ensure that dirt particles cannot cling to them and are simply washed away by drops of water dripping down the leaf. The technical imitation of this nature phenomenon means a revolution to our everyday lives. Building facades, painted with special paint, require minimum further care; cars washed with clear water are instantly clean again.

A tornado causes a sensation

A tornado staged inside the cyclebowl of the Dual System - Duales System Deutschland AG is presenting a world premiere at the EXPO 2000: a 22-metre high whirlwind inside the “cyclebowl”. The hourly tornado is just one more highlight of the presentation in the EXPO pavilion of the Green Dot. It demonstrates the fierce force of nature and symbolises the dynamic movement of cycles that live on by continuous flow and change.

One tornado an hour: in the pavilion of Duales System Deutschland AG you can experience a 22-metre high tornado every hour.

Every 60 minutes, the inside of the cyclebowl is darkened and 38 small ventilators start running. In addition, a main ventilator with a diameter of almost 3 metres, which is located in the roof of the building, goes into operation. Accompanied with background music, a film projection on the floor of the cyclebowl impressively brings the tornado show to life. At times in slow, tranquil scenes and others in wild, headlong sequences, the film illustrates the power and speed of ideas and the development of creative processes with all the ups and downs.

During the film show, fog rises from the floor and is sucked up by the main ventilator in the roof. In addition the small ventilators start this air moving and the fog becomes a rising, whirling column of wind. With the creation of the tornado, the two-dimensional floor projection becomes a three-dimensional spectacle accompanied with music and light effects, which impressively illustrates the cycle principle.

We left the cyclebowl right after the tornado had died down and for the next at least 15 minutes, neither of us wanted to speak, since we were most impressed with the “Show” we had just experienced.

Happy Halloween witches and black cats

All Hallow’s Eve is on October 31st and has become known all over the world as Halloween. The origins of this festival date back to the pre-Christian era and successive societies have adopted the celebration with different names, from the Roman’s Pomona Day, to the Celtic festival of Samhain, to the Christian holidays of All Saints and All Souls Days.

However, for most of us, Halloween is the night for witches and broomsticks, fire and black cats. Legend has it that witches would arrive on their broomsticks to celebrate the event, casting spells on unsuspecting people, transform themselves into different forms and causing other magical mischief.

They say to meet a witch is easy - you put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards on Halloween night. At midnight you will see your witch (if your psychiatrist hasn’t seen you first).

Your average witch was also the possessor of a companion - the evil black cat. Many superstitions have evolved about these, including a belief that witches could change into cats, or that cats were the spirits of the dead. These superstitions about the poor old black cat even include the fact that if a black cat were to cross your path, you would have to turn around and go back because many people believe if you continued on, bad luck would strike you down. The millions of owners of black cats all over the world would deny this as ill-founded rumour!

Pattaya, like most cities in the world, celebrates Halloween in the fun way, with many hotels and bars using the opportunity to spice up their lives a little and that of their patrons. Amongst those that have an annual Halloween party are Henry J Beans Bar and Grill, who are celebrating theirs on the 28th and 29th, the Royal Garden Resort are having a big night at Benihana on the 31st and on the other end of the scale is the KR Bar at Jomtien, where you will find your drinks and free food being served by witches under candle-light.

We hope you enjoy your Halloween - and watch out for black cats!

Another step forward for Thailand and Germany

by Lesley Warner

On October 2, the Thai German Institute (TGI) had the inauguration ceremony of a technical cooperation program between Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (VDI) and its local counterpart, the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT).

H.E. Wuthichai Sa-Nguanwongchai, Deputy Minister of Industry, and H.E. Hermann Erath, the German Ambassador to Thailand cut the ribbon to officially open a new era of technical cooperation between Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (VDI) and its local counterpart, the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT).

After a few short speeches the inauguration ceremony was presided over by H.E. Wuthichai Sa-Nguanwongchai, Deputy Minister of Industry, and H.E. Hermann Erath, the German Ambassador to Thailand. Also witnessing the event was Prof. Dr.-Ing Klaus Henning, Chairperson of the Advisory Board of VDI, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kraiwood Kiatikomol, Chairman of the EIT, Khun Narong Rattana, Thai Director of TGI and Mr. Walter Kretschmar, German Director of TGI.

The TGI are active partners in the Thai Government’s ‘Industrial Restructuring Plan’ and ‘Miyazawa Plan’, aimed at boosting Thailand’s economic development.

After just one and a half years in business the TGI has become the most advanced independent training center for manufacturing and process-control technologies in Thailand – or indeed in South East Asia!

With German-backed quality training and state-of-the-art equipment, they can offer a real opportunity for Thailand’s technicians and engineers to improve their existing skills and keep up-to-date with the most advanced techniques.

A new exhibition set up in TGI’s entrance hall highlights the products and services offered by a range of high technology companies operating in Thailand. Anyone is welcome to drop in to TGI to view the exhibition, which will continue through to the end of January 2001.

Our local choir, the Seaboard Sound, featuring the voices of Monika, John, Pat, Sue, Carl, Colin and Nick provided the entertainment for the day. Through the superb luncheon catered by the Ambassador Jomtien, Monika and John (Mojo) played cabaret music.

As we danced the night away to more great food and plenty of free beer, we were entertained by great music of the East Coast Band, Hans, Elder, Ramil and Janette.

I found the entire day to be extremely well organized and thoroughly enjoyable.

Andrew J Wood (left), General Manager of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort and Stephane Fagez, General Manager of Novotel Coralia Rim Phae, Rayong contributed to another successful Skal meeting.

Skal International-Pattaya Club held another successful meeting last week, hosted by the Woodlands Resort, and GM Stephane Bringer. With the ever-increasing attendance, Skal is sprouting new life into the industry. Skal will meet again on November 16 at Caf้ New Orleans. See Clubs in Pattaya on page 26 for details.

Friday November 17, 2000 (7pm)

All FCCT members, including associate members, are invited to an extraordinary general meeting at the clubhouse at 7.30 p.m. on Friday November 17. It should be everyone’s interest to attend this special meeting because it has been called to set the club’s future course. As you must all be aware by now, the FCCT is looking for new means of generating revenue and cutting expenses are urgently needed.

So please try to attend. This is crunch time for the FCCT.

Amazing Life Membership Special Offer: Join the FCCT or upgrade your membership between now and December 2000 for only 40,000 baht. This is your chance to not only help the club but also make a positive impact on your social life (and it looks great on a biodata sheet as well).

The Rotary Club
of Jomtien-Pattaya

Skal International

Pattaya Fun City
By The Sea