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HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Money matters

Snap Shots

Modern Medicine

Learn to Live to Learn

Heart to Heart with Hillary

Psychological Perspectives

What’s Hot and What’s Not in F&B

Money matters: Thailand property boom or bust?

Graham Macdonald
MBMG International Ltd.

One of the hottest property investment markets in Asia is Thailand. Growing numbers of expatriates living in Asia as well as retiring Europeans have set their sights on Thailand because of its quality of life, low cost of living, affordability in buying a property, and the opportunity to have a base in Asia from which to work in the region.

Bangkok, Pattaya and Koh Samui are some of the main destinations attracting foreign investors. Naturally, people will also want to return to Southern Thailand – especially Phuket and Krabi – although the markets there are still overshadowed by memories of the tragic tsunami. Other destinations include Chiang Mai and Hua Hin, which are also growing.

Compared to the prices for city property in other Asian countries, it is easy to see why Bangkok has become so popular. Residential condo prices are the most affordable and some of the lowest in Asia when compared to Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney.

High-end condos in the Sukhumvit/Silom areas are selling in the THB 90-100,000 per square metre range (US$2,300-2,600/sqm) compared to Hong Kong (US$9,000/sqm), Singapore (US$6,000/sqm), Tokyo (US$7,500/sqm) and Sydney (US$7,000/sqm) making Bangkok condos a relatively cheap investment option in dollar terms, which is one of the factors attracting overseas investors.

However, over the next two-three years there will be quite a few new high end residential condo projects in the Silom and Sukhumvit areas coming onto the market, many of which will be hard to sell quickly in the current over-supplied market. Coupled with high oil prices (which translates in to higher building costs for developers), a slowing US economy, rising interest rates and falling rental yields, sales targets will be hard to reach, especially in the buy-to-let investment market.

The good news for investors is that developers facing rising costs, slower sales and more competition and will be forced to offer more incentives in order to sell their projects. So if you are thinking of a second home or a permanent residence in Bangkok wait for a while as 2006-7 should be a good time to look for the best deals – although in the second hand sector there are such variations in price that there are bargains out there all the time, although finding them can take time.

For those thinking of lifestyle opportunities, Phuket has been a major destination for years. Even post-tsunami it will continue to be dominated and driven by foreign investors looking for investment property or a permanent address for residence. With excellent infrastructure, direct flights to most cities in the region and a range of resort style projects to choose from, starting from 8 million baht up to 40 million baht or so, demand is expected to remain strong.

For those looking for something a little more idyllic, investment orientated and more affordable, Koh Samui is a gold mine of opportunity for investors and home owners. With property values growing at something like 20 percent a year driven by tourism and property development, and land values still 40-50 percent lower than similar plots in Phuket, there is still a lot of growth in the market.

However, compared to Phuket the number of good boutique projects currently available offering professional management is still small and buyers need to do their homework before buying. But over the next five years local real estate agents foresee an increasing number of new quality developments on offer that will bring greater investment dollars into the Samui market and, with it, higher prices.

Coupled with the launch of more five star hotel developments (Four Seasons and the Marriott) and new tourism projects such as the development of a second golf course and a planned new marina, larger numbers of investors and tourists to the island will follow.

In summary, the Thai market is one of the most affordable and sought after in Asia, and it will continue to attract strong private and corporate investors into Bangkok and established resort areas.

As those of you who know me will attest to, I have been eulogising the benefits of the Eastern Seaboard for many years now. Business now seems to have fully recovered from the doldrums incurred since 1997. More and more investment, both local and foreign, is pouring into the region and the large industrial estates such as Hemaraj and Amata are having to buy more land to build on just to keep pace.

International hotels are now either already building in Pattaya or are looking to start in the near future. International developers are doing the same. As the infrastructure to the region improves and the new international airport is up and running more and more people will be coming to Pattaya to live. There is even the chance of it turning into a commuter town for Bangkok within the next ten years.

How long will this last? Nobody knows. However, one thing is for certain, whilst prices remain as they are throughout South East Asia, Thailand offers some of the best deals to be had anywhere in the region.

The above data and research was compiled from sources believed to be reliable. However, neither MBMG International Ltd nor its officers can accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the above article nor bear any responsibility for any losses achieved as a result of any actions taken or not taken as a consequence of reading the above article. For more information please contact Graham Macdonald on [email protected]


Snap Shots: Shooting neon made simple

by Harry Flashman

If you are ever in Pattaya, head up Soi Pattayaland 2 one night and just look upwards. The street is a veritable illuminated forest of neon. There must be more neon tubes per cubic metre than anywhere else in the world. Even visitors from Las Vegas stand and stare. In other cities you will also find meters of coloured neon lighting, especially in the nightlife areas. Neon is universal, and unfortunately universally misunderstood by most photographers.

These are the tourists who have the camera slung round their necks and out it is whipped to record this neon wonderland for the folks back home. With a spitting flash, the auto-focus camera grinds away, but when the traveller gets his prints back, he or she is going to be very disappointed. That huge neon glow comes out as a thin thready coloured tube and nothing like what they saw that night. Why? Did the photo-processor get it wrong? Was it done on the wrong sort of film? Did the camera get it wrong?

Simple answer is no, none of the above. The failure to record neon lighting was because the photographer believed the auto camera’s suggestion that since it was night, flash must be used. In fact, most auto cameras these days will automatically get the flash ready by sundown. This, unfortunately, is where the modern cameras are just too smart for themselves. A flash is the last thing you need when taking neon lights. The reason for this is quite simple - the strong white flash burst totally overpowers the weaker neon illumination and washes out all the pretty colours (the reason you wanted to take the shot in the first place!).

The first item you need to research in the auto camera’s manual is how to turn the flash OFF. The reason for this is again simple - when you photograph neon, you must make the neon tubes themselves the light source. Not the flash.

So what shutter speed and aperture settings should you use? If you have an auto setting on the camera, or you are using a fully automatic point and shooter then you are already set up. No fancy calculations are required. The camera’s meter will do it all for you. For once, I am happy to let the electronic brain do its thing (but without the flash).

However, since you are dealing with a low light situation the shutter speeds will be fairly slow, often down around 1/15th to 1/8th of a second. At these sorts of speeds you will not hand-hold and get ultimate sharpness in your prints. This is the time to use a tripod or hold the camera firmly on the roof of a parked car to stop blurring. Or even one of those dinky little table-top tripods.

If you want to get technical and do it all manually, then meter from the neon glow itself and then shoot not only at that setting, but also from one stop below and one stop above. This the pros call “bracketing” and it just simply increases your chances of getting a good shot. In the photography bizz, a pro must come back with the goods - no excuses are acceptable! Not even torrential rain, or polar bears out without a leash.

Now, to really go to town with the neon sign effects, get out your filters. If you have a soft focus one, then put it on for a couple of shots. Another interesting variant is to tightly stretch a nylon stocking over the lens. The result here will be a “halo” around the neon and can make for a very attractive photograph. Try putting a “starburst” or a rainbow filter on too. Just to get something different.

And looking for something really different? Another great visual effect is to put the camera on the tripod and use a zoom lens. Select a shutter speed of around ten seconds and slowly “zoom” in or away from the neon light while the shutter is open. You will get something very different with this technique. Something like a 3D movement effect.

Try some neon shots this weekend - just remember to turn the flash off!


Modern Medicine: Can you die from diarrhoea?

by Dr. Iain Corness, Consultant

Yes you can die from diarrhoea (also spelled as “diarrhea, if you come from the left hand side of the Atlantic Ocean). Diarrhoea is that fun condition where all of a sudden you get that urgency to go to the toilet which cannot be denied! The last time I had this, after visiting the loo three times in the first hour, being the well prepared doctor that I am, I went to the medicine chest to grab some Imodium or Lomotil, those magic medications that are the next best thing to a cork. Needless to say there were none as I had not replaced the last lot! Consequently, that same urgency lasted all night, with regular half hourly ensuite journeys.

The scenario, as painted above, is typical of a food poisoning case. The body knows it has a problem and does its level best to expel the problem. Noisily! (And with malodour!)

There are those that say you benefit from a good “cleanout” but I am not so sure. Whilst I am certainly now sparkling clean from the back of my tonsils to my back side it has left me feeling weak and exhausted and decidedly not thinking that this episode has been beneficial. As for those who front up regularly for a colonic washout - Gentlemen, include me out, as Sam Goldwyn once said.

So what is this diarrhoea disease? Well, the first thing is that it is not a disease - it is a symptom. Diarrhoea, that certain looseness of the bowels can be caused by a virus, a bacterium, stress, antibiotics and a host of other conditions, including cancer. However, the vast majority of cases of acute diarrhoea are a simple infection and self limiting - in other words, you will get over it (just as I did). An exception should be stated here, as acute diarrhoea in young children should not be ignored as it can be fatal. The reason is that children have a much smaller circulating blood volume and can go into ‘shock’ or circulatory collapse very quickly.

Chronic diarrhoea is a different matter. Recurrent chronic diarrhoea should never be ignored as this can be caused by much more important, and dangerous conditions. Blood with the diarrhoea makes it even more imperative that you seek advice, diagnosis and treatment and not just swallow a handful of pills every couple of days. The causes here may include alcohol, thyroid problems, pancreatic problems, celiac disease, colonic cancer, parasitic infections etc, etc, etc. Again, not the conditions you would want to choose for yourself and definitely not cured by Imodium!

The investigations necessary to diagnose the cause of chronic diarrhoea are as varied as the causes themselves. It will be necessary to do complete blood testing, covering liver, pancreas and thyroid, as well as the standard full blood count. Examination of the stool is also required, both through the microscope and attempting to culture (grow) any bugs. This is also not just one stool specimen, but generally one a day for three days. It will also be likely that we will have to pass the “black snake” up your bottom, more properly called a flexible sigmoidoscope and probably snip a couple of pieces of tissue as well as biopsy material to be examined under the microscope.

The treatment of chronic diarrhoea depends upon the cause, though the simple symptomatic treatment (Imodium/Lomotil) can be used while awaiting the results of the further testing, but I cannot stress enough that all cases of chronic diarrhoea must be thoroughly investigated. All cases! And never neglect diarrhoea in the little ones. It can be fatal.


Learn to Live to Learn: The Road Not Taken

with Andrew Watson

The path from the mystical poetry of Khalil Gibran’s “Prophet” to Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken” is a beautiful one, lined with imagery and metaphor. Frost’s poem celebrates taking the path ‘less trodden’ in life, which might be easily written but is less easily achieved, when much of what we learn through education and experience appears to be channelled towards conformity.

A great deal of what we are taught and sometimes learn, seems designed to maintain social, economic and political equilibrium. It is natural to want to feel part of a group, where shared beliefs and rituals reinforce our sense of well-being.

Equally, whilst new situations, new places and new experiences can create a sense of expectation and excitement, they can also be the source of anxiety, disorientation and fear.

Similarly, being asked to reconsider what we once held to be true can be disconcerting, disturbing, and disruptive. Revelation can be enlightening, but also discordant. Many resent having their belief systems questioned, yet who amongst us can say that we regularly examine our own motives, behaviour and actions? Our thoughts, words and deeds?

Charles Handy (1993) writes that “New organisations (International Schools fit into this category) need to run in new ways,” which requires us to “learn new ways and new habits, to live with more uncertainty but more trust, less control but more creativity. To those reared in another language (such as conformity), it can be a strange and frightening language, but I think that we have to recognise that it is the right language.”

Some may feel that introspection is unnecessary, for others it is a natural part of living. I think you need some courage to undertake the former, for there is necessarily the probability that at times you will feel lost, alone, afraid. You will make mistakes, find yourself at fault and worse still, unhappy. To which I respond, don’t be afraid of mistakes - make more of them - and don’t be unhappy about it! (But try not to make the same ones repeatedly!)

If we are to arrive at the favourable condition which Gibran refers to as “The threshold of your own mind”, then it appears to me that taking the less trodden path will allow you to reach this point, hopefully happy, wise and in good health. Sometimes, it is only through the darkness that we can see the light.

Burnes (1996) suggests that too shared a culture, such as one of conformity, can lead to stagnation and stifle individuality and “be so powerful as to resist change”. Within a school, this is dangerous indeed and as Burnes maintains, is a feature of failing schools.

This is a culture where teachers are “afraid of sharing their successes for fear of being perceived as blowing their own horns” (Fullan & Hargreaves, 1998). Such a situation limits growth and improvement quite fundamentally, because access to ideas and practices that might offer better ways of doing things is limited. This institutionalizes conservatism and creates cultures of mediocrity.

So what is to be done when taking the path ‘less trodden’ is discouraged? Take it nonetheless, I say! Fullan & Hargreaves (1998) would agree. They advocate finding the time, the courage and the commitment to “reach into our own inner selves; to locate, develop and articulate our voice”. Or as Hamlet has it, “To thine own self be true.” (Act 1, Scene 3, l 68)

Robert Frost was an American poet who was much admired for his realistic verse portraying ordinary people in everyday situations. He recognises that our everyday decisions have a huge impact on our lives and alludes in no small way to the idea that it is our choices in life that determine the content of our character. He is also a generous and compassionate poet who implicitly acknowledges that the less travelled road is not for all.

“The Road Not Taken”
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

It is the privilege of teachers to be able to bring students to the point where their roads diverge. If teachers can trust themselves enough to trust their students and are ready to give of their faith and their lovingness, then in the end, I believe that a student can be trusted to take the path which is right for them.

A student’s success and happiness is after all, the end to which all teachers should surely be aspiring. Sometimes, as Handy declares, “It can take a lifetime to realize that true fulfilment is vicarious.” We get our deepest satisfaction from the fulfilment and growth and happiness of others and knowing this, can make all the difference.

[email protected]
Next week: Reports


Heart to Heart with Hillary

Dear Hillary,
“Chocs and bubbly, lovely jubbly!” So says Derek Trotter of Trotter’s Independent Traders (Bangkok and Koh Peckham) who has just discovered a stash in his lock-up. Delchai will be on his way as soon as he has found the dipstick for the van.
Mistersingha

Dear Mistersingha,
I didn’t know you drove a van.
Dear Hillary,
Why is it that song taew drivers all over Thailand are so rude and ignorant? Is it part of their training course to be so surly? Don’t they realize they are part of the tourism experience for many visitors. They should be put to work sweeping the roads, not driving on them.
Vic the frequent Visitor

Dear Visitor Vic,
And what, pray tell, makes you think that road sweepers are rude and ignorant, so much so that the song taew drivers would fit in immediately? Where would the song taew drivers carry their five baht pieces? And they would waste all that horn training too. Have you ever seen the size of their left thumbs? Huge! No, Vic, let’s keep the street sweepers as the friendly and happy folk that they all are. What has to be done is to get rid of the song taews, a feat that successive city mayors have found to be too difficult.
Dear Hillary,
Every day when I open up my email account it is full of offensive emails from people I have never met and I find it annoying, to say the least. Is there nothing we ordinary folk can do to stop this kind of thing? 90 percent of them seem to be sites with pornographic material and yet when you try to send an email to them to stop further messages from these people, you can’t get through. What do you suggest, Hillary? I’m sure your email letterbox must get stuffed full too.
Tired of it all

Dear Tired of it all,
One certain thing is my letterbox is certainly not full of chocolates and champers from that Mistersingha, my Petal! If you have an email account that you open every day, you should also know that you can block much of this spam before you download. You can also just bring down the headers and trash the ones that are obviously rubbish before opening. Most servers have a ‘block sender’ facility where you can stop that particular pest or porn purveyor from ever reaching your in box again.
Dear Hillary,
I am very attracted to my mate’s wife. She is Thai and very beautiful and she has been making it obvious that the feeling is mutual. I know she has been seeing other guys while her husband is offshore. Should I follow my heart? Should I tell my mate about her and me, or should I not bother with her and tell him about the flings she has while he’s away?
Mate’s mate

Dear Mate’s mate,
With friends like you, who needs enemies? You should not write about following your heart, you haven’t got one. One minute you are ready to run off with your mate’s wife, or perhaps you’ll spill the beans about her supposed infidelities. But if you do have a heart, it’s “jai dam”, something you should not be proud of. I hope your mate finds you and teaches you a couple of physical lessons. You deserve it. If your mate is not of the physical type, tell him to contact me. I know of a couple of underemployed Muay Thai exponents who’d love to help him.
Dear Hillary,
My maid drives me completely insane. She speaks little English and I am not fluent in Thai; however, we usually get by with a few words and mime. She horrifies me by putting all the dishes and glasses and pans together in the sink and attempting to wash them with cold running water. Or she will wipe the floor with a dishcloth. I patiently explain and demonstrate the way I want it done, and it is fine for a while then she will go back to the old ways. Most times she will put ironed clothes away in right place but sometimes for no apparent reason will leave them on the lounge room chair or dresser. Most of the time she does an average to below average job infuriatingly slowly, though sometimes she will do something bizarre such as leaving drying washing in kitchen. If I want something in particular done which should just be routine surely, like dusting the furniture or defrosting the fridge, I have to ask her every single time. I truly do not know how to make her more efficient. I already pay her 4,000 baht a month. Do you have any suggestions?
Jemima

Dear Jemima,
For a start you may have to lower your standards, which are probably set a little too high for the local situation. To preserve your sanity simply do not watch her doing the housework. Go out have fun, change your focus and adopt a “mai pen rai” attitude. If you cannot simply learn to put up and shut up, then pay more, approximately double, and hire an English speaking trained housemaid. The other alternative is to do it all yourself. The choice is yours.


Psychological Perspectives:  Psychological Perspectives reflects on one year anniversary

by Michael Catalanello, Ph.D.

The first installment of Psychological Perspectives appeared in the Pattaya Mail on July 2, 2004. This being the one-year anniversary of the column, I thought it appropriate to review a few of the stories covered in this series, and reflect upon my personal experience in writing on psychology for the Pattaya community.

Psychology in 2005 is a vibrant and vital social science. Over the past 100 or so years, researchers and theorists in psychology have generated an impressive body of knowledge and insights that are, in my view, uniquely relevant to understanding many of the events and issues that confront us in today’s world. Unfortunately, most of this information is published exclusively within the pages of professional journals, and is often obscured by technical jargon. For most in our society, the fruits of psychological research remain largely intangible, and consequently, irrelevant to the formation of public opinion and policies.

My intention in writing Psychological Perspectives has been to make a portion of this rich store of information in psychology available to readers of the Pattaya Mail, while demonstrating its applicability to the issues of topical and local interest to those of us fortunate enough to be a part of this interestingly diverse Pattaya community.

Over the past year there has been an abundance of local and regional issues and news events available to examine from a psychological perspective. The XV International AIDS Conference that was held last year in Bangkok prompted a consideration of the psychological issues raised by the deadly epidemic. In connection with World AIDS Day in December, Asian University followed up by hosting an AIDS Film Festival, free to the Pattaya community.

Another event that greatly affected the Pattaya community was the tsunami that rolled across the Andaman Sea in December, ravaging our neighborhood seaside communities. This regional tragedy formed the background for a number of pieces on the psychological aspects of dealing with the trauma produced by exposure to natural disaster and its aftermath.

Pattaya’s reputation as a haven for a thriving commercial sex industry prompted examination of a number of psychological issues raised by the existence of this controversial local enterprise. Related or, as some might argue, unrelated to the commercial sex industry, are topics pertaining to love and affairs of the heart. Some interesting psychological theories about the nature of love were examined here in connection with Valentine’s Day celebrations. The Miss Universe Pageant held last month in Bangkok also inspired a piece on psychological investigations pertaining to human beauty and attractiveness.

International events, too, provided the occasion for reviewing a number of relevant classic psychological studies from the dusty archives. For example, the apparent failure of the mainstream news media to properly assess the veracity of claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction prior to the U.S. led invasion, prompted a review of psychologist Irving Janis’s notion of “groupthink.”

When incidents of prisoner abuse were uncovered at Abu Ghraib, the U.S. run prison in Iraq, some U.S. politicians blamed it upon a few “bad apples.” Review of some landmark experiments by Stanley Milgram from the 1970s, however, illustrated the unpleasant fact that even “good apples,” like you and me, can be induced by situations to perform some very bad acts against our fellow man. Moreover, the decision of cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church to appoint an ultra-conservative theologian to replace John Paul II was revealed as predictable from the standpoint of social psychological theory.

New and emerging research findings from psychology have also been reported on this page. An example is the innovative research project that is being carried out with people living with HIV in Northern Thailand, to increase patient adherence to vital anti-retroviral treatments. Also reported here was the conclusion reached by the American Psychological Association, following a review of over 15 years of prevention research, that comprehensive sex education is effective in reducing the risk of HIV infection among young people. And let’s not forget the findings reported here two weeks ago that the basis of the female orgasm lies within the human gene.

I have personally found it both challenging and gratifying to examine and write about current events and topics of local interest from a perspective provided by psychological theory and research. I am always happy to receive comments on my stories, both favorable and unfavorable, from my readers. I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who meet me here each week to explore topics in the news, and issues of interest to our unique Pattaya community.

Dr. Catalanello is a licensed psychologist in his home State of Louisiana, USA, and a member of the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Asian University, Chonburi. You may address questions and comments to him at [email protected], or post on his weblog at http://asianupsych.blogspot.com

What’s Hot and What’s Not in F&B:  What are the key ingredients that make a dining experience complete?

Dylan Counsel
F&B Manager,
Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa

In my job, I often find myself assessing and reassessing what are the key ingredients that make a dining experience complete. High quality food and creative simplistic recipes are important. A good wine list with an interesting cocktail selection is also important, together with a good restaurant ambiance and atmosphere. There are many other small factors that combine to make or break your dining experience. However, I am convinced that the one important factor that will either urge you to spread positive or negative word of mouth about your experience is waiter service, service, service. This week’s edition of What’s Hot and What’s Not is dedicated to the many waiters and waitresses who have provided us with some of the most memorable dining experiences for both good and bad reasons.

The thing about service is that every customer is different. Some like to be left alone, some like to talk, some like to order from the menu, some like to take the waiter’s recommendation. Some customers are impatient; some customers have all the time in the world. Some like to tip, some don’t, some are willing to try new foods, some like comfort foods. The point is that all customers are different and need to be treated differently. To ensure guest satisfaction, a modern day waiter needs a diverse range of skills over and above taking an order and serving food. A modern day waiter if doing their job properly, needs to be a diplomat, an entertainer, a financial controller, a psychologist, an artist, a food and wine guru, a comedian and an expert on current news.

What separates good waiters from great waiters? Some waiters may say the good to great difference is measured by tips. Some waiters may say punishing customers who don’t speak their language is important, other waiters may say proving they know more than the customer about food and wine is important. Others may say rushing the customer through a three-course meal in less than 30 minutes so they can go and have a cigarette is a measure of success. I believe the real measure of good to great for a waiter is far more personal and is closely related to primary motivation and passion.

Having been a waiter for many years myself and having worked with many outstanding waiters, some common characteristics of truly professional waiters are as follows:

* A great waiter works with passion for service, food and wine.

* A great waiter understands the value of putting a smile on the customer’s face.

* A great waiter spends the first 15 - 30 minutes of their day reading the paper and getting up to date on current issues, news and politics. You never know what the customer will want to talk about.

* A great waiter knows when to shut up and leave the customer alone.
* A great waiter never lets the chef say ‘No’. ‘If a customer wants it we can do it’.
* A great waiter feels as if they are the owner of the restaurant.
* A great waiter understands that service of food and wine is a performance not a delivery.
* Great waiting is a profession and art form, not a means until the end of the month.

* A waiter knows the story behind every ingredient backwards. What sea was the sea bass caught in, what are the origins of the olives in the olive oil, what part of the world are the grapes grown for the wine, what kind of soil are the grapes grown in and how old are the vines.

* Great waiters can tell a story behind each dish on the menu.

* A great waiter uses and remembers the customer’s name and what they ate previously.

* A great waiter often eats in other restaurants, for ideas and to keep up to date with the competition.

* A great waiter never makes the customer look foolish. If the customer says their dish is snapper, when it is really sea bass - then the dish is snapper.

* A great waiter sells many coffees. Customers stay for coffee if they have had an enjoyable dining experience.

* A great waiter understands the importance of a fond farewell at the end of the customer’s breakfast, lunch and dinner.

As valued customers of restaurants in Pattaya and as a valued reader of this column, I would like to encourage you to write in or email the Pattaya Mail with details of your most memorable, tragic or professional dining experience. A food voucher for two at one of Pattaya’s quality restaurants will be given for the most entertaining story.

For now Good Health, Great Food and Best Regards,
Dylan