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“PC” the order of the day at Pattaya City Expats Club
The Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) meeting on
Sunday March 13 had “PC” as its common theme. Pratheep (Peter) Malhotra
was the guest speaker explaining, briefly, something of the history of the
PC Classic 2005 to take place this year on March 26.
 PM
and PC having a fun time inviting the PCEC members to the Pattaya Mail PC
Classic Royal Cliff Beach Resort International Regatta to be held at the
Royal Varuna Yacht Club on march 26.
He also mentioned the various charities, including the
tsunami appeal for help in Phuket, that had been funded through the
Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary Club, who are among the many sponsors of the race. He
also had the pleasure of introducing PC (Peter Cummins) himself to the
members of the PCEC.
Thor Halland, the MC for the day then handed over to the
second speaker, Richard Silverberg, who is a board member of the PCEC.
Richard gave an excellent Power Point presentation of the many possible ways
of gaining internet connection to one’s PC or laptop.
 Roger
Fox conducts the weekly open forum.
In his presentation he compared and gave useful
information on the advantages and disadvantages of the various
possibilities. This was much appreciated by the members who have over the
months experienced difficulties with their internet connections.
Pattaya City Expats Club meets every Sunday at Henry J. Bean’s in the
grounds of the Amari Orchid Resort at 10.30, buffet breakfast available from
9.30. Everyone welcome.
Richard
Silverberg gave an excellent talk on Internet Access in Pattaya.
Gentle Norwegians celebrate birthday under the stars
Brita Valle Holst, from Gjovik, Norway, celebrated her 60th birthday on the
22nd of February. Her husband Helge and friends, some of whom flew in especially
for the event all the way from Norway, came together at the Sea Falcon
Restaurant to shower her with good wishes, making this a most memorable day for
the birthday girl.
 Brita
cuts her birthday cake.
Brita and Helge have been coming to Pattaya for the past 25
years and say they love Thailand and the people very much. So much so that three
years ago they decided to buy an apartment on Jomtien. As both still feel that
they are too young to retire, they decided to spend six months of the year in
Pattaya and go back to Norway for the remaining six months.
Helge and Brita are too restless to stay in one place, so
they spend their time travelling around Thailand in their Toyota Sportrider.
“We especially love the Isan (northeast) region of Thailand and our favourite
is Nakhorn Phanom and the surrounding region,” says Brita.
Helge is a past president of the Rotary Club of Hunn/Gjovik
in Norway, so it is in his nature that wherever he goes, he will get involved
with the people and is always looking for ways of helping the needy. He has thus
far initiated a Matching Grant Project between Rotary Clubs in Norway and in
Isan. The project is for the benefit of the poor children in the northeast of
Thailand.
Brita (2nd
right) beams cheerfully as Helge (right) and friends (l-r) Paul Thune, Kristin
Visnes, Arnes Nesdal and Tippawan (Paa) Erp-im enjoy her birthday party.
Tippawan was one of the girls that Brita and Helge sponsored to attend the
Rotary Handicamp in Norway.
This gentle couple has twice sponsored and accompanied two
physically challenged Thai nationals to attend the Rotary Handicamp in Norway.
This bi-annual jamboree brings handicapped people from all over the world to
enjoy fellowship with each other. “The next Rotary Handicamp will be held in
2006 and we really hope to be able to sponsor two physically challenged Thais to
the event again,” said Helge.
Helge’s passion to help the handicapped was proven when he
brought wheelchairs that were donated by his Rotary Club in Norway to Thailand
to be distributed to disabled and unfortunate young people who needed them.
Brita was visibly moved by the love and friendship from her friends at the
party. She thanked Khun Wanna, her partners and the team at the Sea Falcon
Restaurant who were there to satisfy her every whim, making this an
unforgettable night under the stars on Jomtien Beach.
EDITORIAL: Looming water crisis
By Suchada Tupchai
After suffering the worst natural disaster in Thai history,
which claimed the lives of tens of thousands in the country - Thailand faces yet
another potential disaster in 2005. Water – or lack of it. With many of the
nation’s reservoirs running dangerously low and negligible rainfall since
November, the valuable resource that gives life to so many is now at the risk of
running dry.
On the advice of HM the King, the newly reinstated Thaksin
government has taken the lack of water as its first major task. Surveys and
studies of humid areas have revealed enough rain clouds are available, and
seeding is set to be carried out as soon as possible.
Other areas are already drought stricken, so the prime
minister has instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to prepare
for the shortages and act quickly. Over 4,000 bore water wells in drought
stricken areas will be drilled to provide temporary relief.
However, the drought has already greatly affected the
country. The important resource affects every aspect of life and its shortage
influences market prices, specifically in the agricultural sectors. Over 60
provinces are now experiencing water shortages and in 50 of them farmers have
suffered heavy losses. All this, without taking into account the climate changes
as we face the oncoming hot season, which also affects the agricultural sector.
The initial government activities were merely superficial,
until the full extent of the water shortage problem was clear. Water pumps were
sent for wells. Water trucks for residents and farmers in desperate need, were
sent to affected areas as community leaders and farmers began planning along
with the government to attack the issue. The Water Resource Department has now
received a budget allocation of 823.98 million baht from the Cabinet to help
urgently solve the problem, as well as urge cooperation from the masses.
At this minute, as we watch the newly installed government,
eyes will be on Sudarat Keyaraphan, who is now the agriculture and cooperatives
minister. Can the newly appointed minister help solve the problems of the
people? Can he follow through, not bow to pressure and continue chiding the
people into conservation and taking necessary measures as the country faces it
worst water shortage ever? This test will prove if the new government is worth
its lofty position.
The Artists
by Ian Frame
Have you noticed the number of art studios and galleries
which have sprung up around town? I counted nine galleries in South Pattaya. If
that net was thrown wider to also include Thappraya Road, then this number would
increase to fifteen.
 Pattaya
must be one of the best places in the world to purchase art.
Pattaya must be one of the best places in the world to
purchase art. It has become a magnet for Thai artistic talent. Many local
galleries export their works all over the world. Some advertise via their own
Internet web pages.
One shop at the bottom of Pratamnak Road even offers to teach
you how to paint your very own masterpieces.
Pattaya art shops can produce copies of the great masters,
cartoons, paintings from your photographs (e.g. people, aliens, superheroes,
animals, scenes, boats, trains, planes & cars), or even original art works
based on your own fantasy ideas. Take a stroll round their gallery areas to
appreciate the quality and wide range of subjects tackled.
 If
you live in Pattaya, then you have no excuse for having a bare wall in your
home.
I recently received help from the talented and ever cheerful
Apu, of the Artist Shop in Walking Street, to create twelve cartoons. I made a
few preliminary chicken scratchings, and then discussed my ideas with him.
Within a few days he had produced twelve A4 size pen and ink cartoons which were
better than I could ever have imagined.
I have a great urge to buy lots of paintings, but
unfortunately I ran out of wall space during my Chinese period a few years back.
As a result, I now have paintings stacked up in all corners of my condo.
If you live in Pattaya, then you have no excuse for having a bare wall in
your home. Perhaps you would be inspired to even greater heights if you had a
Thai Picasso, Monet or Gauguin hanging on your wall. Why not buy your very own
Mona Lisa, or commission a Thai artist to paint a mural in your living room?
Bigger is better
by Ian Frame
Pattaya has an abundance of big bikes. These days even 6
cylinder machines (e.g. Honda Valkerie) can be seen around town. I must confess
that I have never owned a motorcycle, nor had any desire to own one, but I do
admit to being fascinated by them. The biker’s attire of bandana, leather
jacket, jeans and boots just doesn’t do it for me either. Perhaps part of my
motorcycle fascination came from watching Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda drive
across America in the movie Easy Rider - to the music of Jimi Hendrix and The
Byrds.
 Most
owners of big bikes take a great pride in keeping them spotless and well
polished (they even polish the spokes!). The engines on these machines are works
of art, things of beauty. The larger the engine size the more captivated I am.
Many of these engines are of a capacity comparable to that found in a small to
medium sized car, but in my opinion the motorcycle packaging is much superior.
I must admit that Pattaya has a great climate for
motorcycling. I remember once being a pillion passenger during a Scottish
winter. When it came time to dismount I could not straighten my legs. I would
have complained, but my face muscles were so cold that my mouth could not move
sufficiently to speak.
This newspaper recently advertised a bike which could reach
280 km/hr. Can you imagine sitting on a motorcycle and hurtling along at
anything like that speed? Anyone contemplating such a thing should watch the
opening scene of the movie Lawrence of Arabia. However, I am sure that the joys
of owning such machines owe little to the top speeds which they are able to
attain.
So, the next time you see a shiny big bike parked in town, take a few minutes
to walk round it - paying particular attention to the engine. I think that you
will agree that the design is a work of art.
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