Around Town: A fishy tale

by Lesley Warner

A friend (Monika) suggested a trip to Sriracha; I had only driven through the town previously on my way to Bangkok and was unaware that there was much to see. Monika proved me wrong; we started off in the complex Pacific Walk that housed a variety of interesting stalls and shops, including Robinson’s Department Store.

“Lady, I’m having a bad day. Which fish do you want? The dog ate your first choice!”

For Xmas presents for those difficult people that have everything, I can recommend it. There are small stalls worth searching through, and I found compasses, pens, manicure sets, binoculars in all shapes and sizes and a variety of strange and interesting ‘knick knacks’ all at incredibly cheap prices. It’s a huge place with several restaurants, snooker and a bowling alley, and it’s very easy to use up a day there.

Everything you could wish for on several floors

I found a great pet shop so stopped to buy some fish. I chose the 3 that took my fancy and the poor ‘catcher’ did his best to accommodate me. To be honest they all looked the same but the guy obviously felt he ought to oblige and get the fish I chose. I mentioned to him that I had some distance to go, so he obligingly put gas in the plastic bag of fish, but the bag broke and the fish went bouncing around all over the floor. The cute little Maltese terrier curled up in the corner immediately became a carnivore and started to devour as many fish as he could while the two-shop assistants tried to save them. At this point, the journalist in me tentatively asked if I could take a photo, to say this came as a surprise to the two guys would be an understatement. Monika immediately made a hasty exit back to the car and I said, “Could I have some new fish please?” A net was put in my hand and I was told to help myself, or something equivalent in Thai! I did eventually get home with my bag of fish.

Walking along the back streets of Sriracha

If you prefer outside entertainment there is Si Chang Island; it’s easy to find: as you enter Sriracha on the Sukhumvit Road, take the 2nd road left (Surasak 3rd) pass the clock tower. Keep to your right and turn left on Soi Jermjompol. There are regular boats available to take you across to the island and it takes about 40 minutes. The Chinese Temple is very beautiful and has a replica of the Buddha’s footprint, but be prepared for a steep climb. Also not far away is the Sriracha Tiger Zoo that has some great shows.

The usually staunch German Thai Chamber of Commerce let down their hair and loosened their neckties for the GTCC ‘Stammtisch’ networking evening held at Henry J Beans lat weekend.

Education was the buzzword for the evening, with ex-director Dr Viphandh Roengpithya stopping by to discuss education and business with GTCC members in attendance. Once such attendee, Dr. Michael S. Catalanello, also a lecturer at the Asian University, reminisced about the good old days with Eupaporn Seniwong Na Ayuthaya, chief of the division for special projects, GTCC, after finding out they both had attended the same university in New Orleans.

Michael Vogt, GM of the Amari Orchid Resort (left), Dr Viphandh Roengpithya, founder and chancellor of the Asian University of Science and Technology (centre) and Dr. Paul Strunk, executive director of the GTCC.

Dr. Vipandh is also the founder and president of the Asian University of Science and Technology, which is affiliated with the Imperial College in Britain.

In an interview with Peter Malhotra for Pattaya Mail, Dr. Vipandh was asked why he had chosen the Eastern Seaboard as a site for the university. “We are a university of science and technology students and lecturers need to be close to activities because the Eastern Seaboard is the key industrial development in Thailand, that’s the first thing. Also because the lecturers and students need to communicate in English and as we are an international university, English is widely used in business and tourism in Pattaya.”

On the industrial side Dr. Vipandh also mentioned that the Eastern Seaboard is growing at the appropriate time and with the opening and expansion of China, Thailand is a good selection for second sourcing. The automotive industry is second to none in the ASEAN region and businesses in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate supply many of their products to neighboring countries. The multinational automakers also bring in a wide range of support factories, where skilled and talented people are required.

Currently the university supplies students to some of the auto giants for internship, providing valuable on the job experience and training. Dr Vipandh also sees the importance of people and businesses increasing their value to society by becoming good members of the community.

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