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The ‘Big Aussies’ Wine Dinner at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort
Miss Terry Diner
The Australian Winemaker’s Gala Dinner at the Royal
Cliff Beach Resort was another of assistant GM Ranjith Chandrasiri’s
‘tours de force’ with everyone in the packed ballroom leaving satiated,
educated and some slightly inebriated!
 Spot
the Aussies! Ranjith and HE Miles Kupa are the only Aussies in the pic.
The featured wine group was Evans and Tate, represented
by a very large Aussie, Sean Bell. The Evans and Tate wines are handled in
Thailand by another large Aussie, Sean Iles, while the even taller
Australian Ambassador, HE Miles Kupa was also there to make sure both the
Sean’s behaved. (It was noted that apparently Tasmanians, such as Wine
Club member Peter Cummins, do not fit into the ‘Big Aussie’ framework.)
This wine dinner was also groundbreaking in that the
Evans and Tate group supplied the same varietal wines from two vastly
different geographical areas in Australia. By this expedient the wine club
members could appreciate the differences that soil and climate can have on
the grape and the resultant wine. Two Sauvignons Blanc, two Chardonnays, two
Shiraz and two Cabernet Sauvignons were presented, and the remarkable
influence that food can have on wine was also well demonstrated. For
example, the Yarra Valley Sauvignon Blanc was an almost ‘quaffable’
wine, while their Western Australian Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc was a
crisp acidic wine that went wonderfully with the heavy lentil soup with
Balsamic infused whipped cream.
The venue was set up in Aussie style, with Kenny the
butter koala in front of all the diners, but mine fell out of its tree by
half way through the evening! As always, Walter Thenisch, the very talented
executive chef from the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, came up with another menu
to complement the different wines, with such Australian items as Hervey Bay
scallops, Australian beef tenderloin with a shiraz/macadamia nut glaze and a
selection of Australian cheeses. With Walter Thenisch being away on
vacation, the cooking was left to executive sous-chef Mana, and he led a
very capable team to produce the excellent six course repast.
Those who would like more information on the wine club should contact
Ranjith Chandrasiri, email [email protected]
Jurgen Koppelin guest speaker at the DSU-Treff
Humorous member of Bundestag and serious cabaret artist
Elfi Seitz
Jurgen Koppelin, a member of the Bundestag and FDP
parliamentary chairman is also a renowned cabaret artist in Germany.
Walter Kretschmar of TGI, with the help of Dr. Herrmann of the Freidrich
Naumann Stiftung, invited him to be the first DSU-Treff (German language
business meeting) guest speaker since the club changed their name. The
event took place at the Benjarong Restaurant in the Royal Wing of the
Royal Cliff Beach Resort. Koppelin was enlisted in the German Air Force
for 4 years and worked after that for 10 years with Philips, before
changing to Polygram, a recording company. It was there he met many big
stars, amongst them Elton John, and at the same time found out that he has
a great talent as a cabaret artist and TV show presenter.
He found his way into politics more or less by
accident, as he said, but once started he made fast progress. He has been
the speaker of his party in the German Bundestag since 1994, in addition
to a lot of other duties.
During his lively speech, Koppelin talked about his
duties, and discussed internal politics in Germany, its economy and its
foreign policy.
A question and answer session and a discussion followed his speech and
at the end, the attending guests went home with the feeling of having
participated in a very interesting evening. .
Happy gardening at Sheri’s
After being chained to the hospital bed for two weeks, Sheri Ferguson
returned home to her lonely dog, a messy home and a weedy garden.
Not having enough energy and being strictly ordered by
her doctor to rest and avoid exertion, dust and pollen, Sheri became
depressed at being able to look after her huge garden.
 Samantha
(right) and Eva (left) beat around the bush with the weed eater that Eva’s
dad, Bill came by and fixed.
Pat and Sandra, her Bay Watchers, took the matter in
their hands, literally, and gathered a bunch of teenage kids and not a so
teenage kid, Sue, for a clean up day at Sheri’s. Sue, perhaps a bit
overtaxes by the effort, was heard to say, “Where are the Cobra Gold
sailors when you need them?”
After a hard day’s work of trimming, cutting, raking
and breaking, all sat down for a nice meal prepared by Sheri and her maid,
Um, who made dishes out of string beans they discovered among the weeds. All
the work was worth it just to have Sheri back home again.
Next time when the US sailors come to Pattaya, we invite them to stop by
for gardening at Sheri’s after they finish painting school fences. Sheri
will happily be there with her friends to serve them lemonade.
Dok Klai Lakeside Resort marks opening with fun party
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
For those looking for a quiet break away from the hustle
and bustle of Bangkok or Pattaya, then the Dok Klai Lakeside Resort just
might be the place you’re looking for. As the name suggests, the resort,
located in Pluak Daeng, Rayong lies on the shores of Lake Dok Klai.
The
hosts Linda (5th from left) and John Collingbourne (6th from left) gather
with some of their best friends for posterity during the opening party at
Dok Klai Lakeside Resort.
The resort recently held an opening party, complete with
an international style buffet and a live band, for guests and corporate
customers. Resort managers John and Linda Collingbourne created the intimate
party style atmosphere as their way of welcoming guests.
Set in natural surroundings, the resort has all the
facilities for a corporate retreat or just time out, complete with
Thai-European restaurant, function and seminar rooms, and comfortable
accommodations. During the day there is a host of activities - guests can
play a round of golf at any one of the nearby golf courses, go fishing or
learn how to fly an ultra-light plane.
For those wishing to visit the resort, it is located on Route 36 in the
Pluak Daeng district of Rayong. Call 038 618 559-62, 09 832 1613, 06 838
7841 for details.
Bangkok Pattaya Hospital opens Women’s Health Center
Suchada Tupchai
The Bangkok Pattaya Hospital has taken another step
forward with the recent opening of its new Women’s Center.
The new center, located on the second floor, has five
full time medical practitioners and caters to the physical and psychological
needs of women in the region.
Dr.
Phichit Kangwolkit, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital director, shows Samoekhae
Ketphasook, president of the Chonburi Red Cross Society around the new
women’s health center.
Dr. Phichit Kangwolkit, hospital director, and Samoekhae
Ketphasook, president of the Chonburi Red Cross Society presided over the
opening ceremonies.
Dr. Kangwolkit revealed that the new center offers a
number of specialties in addition to the multitude of disciplines available
at the hospital. The new center specializes in the fields of skin care,
vascular and nutritional advice, and has gynecological specialists who can
treat women suffering from fertility problems, and on to pre and postnatal
care.
“The needs of women at various ages differ greatly ...
adolescence, pregnancy, post natal care and menopause, cervical and breast
cancer, and beauty care (are all covered at the center). Most of our
patients are aged between 35 and 60 and we can provide for them all,” said
Dr. Kangwolkit.
“The Bangkok Pattaya Hospital also focuses on preventative care and
promoting good health for the future. We are currently building a new
15-story wing that will house services and facilities equal to the biggest
hospitals in the country, and we aim to be the primary medical center in the
eastern region,” added Dr. Phichit.
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