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Master diver addresses Pattaya City Expats Club
Carl Dorf from CJ’s Dive Shop and Guesthouse located in
Soi Regent Marina (Soi Zero) off Beach Road was the guest speaker recently
at the Pattaya City Expats Sunday meeting at Henry J. Bean’s Restaurant.
 Carl
Dorf from CJ’s Dive Shop and Guesthouse demonstrates a piece of equipment
used in underwater photography.
Carl is a master of scuba diving trainers and is an
expert in underwater photography. He began his presentation by establishing
that he was not there to make a sales pitch but was going to show a side of
Pattaya that most have not seen. He explained that there was much wonderful
diving just off the coast but with the islands so close they suffered a
little from too much run-off from the land that it clouds the water.
Carl showed a video from Adventure Video Productions
which gave a very interesting introduction to some of the fascinating sea
creatures living so close to Pattaya and Sattahip. Carl then went on to show
some of the equipment that had been used to make the videos filmed over the
last 3 months.
He also showed some of the protective casings for digital
cameras to make still photographs. He explained that if one got a digital
camera wet then you would be buying another digital camera! He also stressed
that diving down to 120 feet was deep enough for recreational diving and one
could experience a whole world of wonderful colors and shapes of marine
life.
Carl made an important point about how one shouldn’t
“pet” the crustaceans and baby sharks - divers should instead be
environmentally friendly. If one wanted to go “wreck diving”, Carl said
this was also available in the vicinity, but there is no “recreational”
wreck diving, as one has to be an accredited diver because that type of
diving is rather more specialized.
In answer to some of the questions from the members Carl mentioned that
our coral is not the best but it does attract a number of fine creatures.
One of the wrecks will be too dangerous to dive within a couple of years and
the Thai Navy is thinking about sinking another ship, but it needs
preparing, as all doors, portholes and moving parts must be removed. It is
not yet known where it will be located. Of the fine fish that can be seen
there are baby barracuda, big snapper, moray eels, rays and squid.
Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa and Rotary Clubs hold event for kids
Suchada Tupchai
Lunch was on the school curriculum when Pattaya Marriott
Resort and Spa and five Rotary Clubs gathered to present donations to Mabprachan
School and to view progress of ongoing projects they are supporting.
Pattaya
Marriott Resort and Spa and five Rotary Clubs gathered to present donations to
Mabprachan School.
Marriott general manager Somsak Tanruengsri organized lunch
for the children and visitors, and the children, led by school director Wattana
Chankul, gave their guests a rousing welcome.
The Marriott, along with Rotary Club Jomtien-Pattaya, Rotary
Club Taksin-Pattaya, Rotary Club Pattaya, Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard and
Rotary Club Marina, have decided to lend their combined support to Mabprachan
School as the building and its facilities are in urgent need of repair,
upgrading and extension.
Other organizations including the YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center
are also lending their firm support.
Amongst the donations received during the visit, Rotary Club Taksin-Pattaya
donated 205,000 baht, Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard donated 55,000 baht, and
Pattaya Optical donated 5,000 baht.
Happiness Camp prepares kids for life’s essentials
Narisa Nitikarn
Happiness Camp, a project designed to instill self-discipline
and respect into children while at the same time letting them have fun, was
opened last month with a ceremony in the Nantha conference room at Nong Nooch
Garden.
(From left)
Jintana Wechchot, head of the Religion and Culture Department, Tawatchai
Rattanyoo, director of the Education Department in Pattaya City, Lewis
Underwood, president of the Jester Care for Kids, Kasemsook Bhamornsatit,
advisor to the education development department, and past president of the
Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary Club Alvi Sinthuvanik.
The camp project, held over two days with the support of the
Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary Club, represented by its former president Alvi
Sinthuvanik, and Jester Care for Kids, led by its president Lewis Underwood, was
opened by Pattaya City director of education Tawatchai Rattanyoo.
Attending the project were 90 secondary school students from
Pattaya School 10 (Ban Koh Lan), under the guidance of Kasemsook Bhamornsatit,
advisor to the education development department.
Much of the training was in everyday essentials, such as packing luggage,
folding clothes, and making beds, which nonetheless form the basics of
self-discipline that the children will carry with them into adult life.
Teaching the teachers the finer points of traditional Thai courtesy
Suchada Tupchai
A teaching session for teachers, in which the educators
learned the finer points of traditional Thai courtesy used for addressing
gatherings and dignitaries, and in religious services, was recently held at
three temples throughout the province.
Thai
courtesy training at Wat Chaiyamongkhol.
The intention is that the teachers will pass this knowledge,
part of the Thai cultural heritage, on to their students.
Under the auspices of Wat Chaiyamongkhol abbot, Prakhru
Pisanjariyapiwat, the session was organized by Chonburi Education Department and
attended by around 200 teachers and other education personnel.
Three groups were formed for the training session. Teachers from Zone 1
attended Intharam Temple, in Chonburi Muang district, Zone 2 gathered at Nern
Langtao Temple, in Panat Nikhom district, and Zone 3 at Chaiyamongkhol Temple,
in South Pattaya.
Local artists and
TAT to promote Pattaya
Dr. Iain Corness
A new group with a common interest, calling themselves Art
Raising Thoughts Collective (A.R.T. Collective) has been formed to promote the
evolution of the artistic community in Pattaya.
Cloud by
Pongsak Pechmang
It has been recognized for some time that there is more to
local art than copying old masters for tourists to take home. Quite the
contrary, there is much original work out there being produced by both the local
and expat artists, but up till now they have lacked a combined voice. The A.R.T.
Collective hopes to change all that, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
has jumped in to assist the fledgling artistic community.
At a promotional lunch hosted by the TAT director, Chattan
Kunjara Na Ayudhya, and addressed by local expat artists Alan Kirkland-Roath and
Caroline Brown, the concept was unveiled, and an art competition to be called
Pattaya Art 2005 announced.
The competition is to portray Pattaya as the artist sees it.
The winning art pieces will go on tour throughout Thailand, finally being
displayed in the Royal Garden Plaza. Great interest has already been shown by
‘name’ artists, but the competition is open to anyone producing their own
(original) art. With six expats and 43 Thai artists already part of the A.R.T.
Collective, there should be a very varied entry (painting, drawing or collage)
for this artistic opportunity.
Entries must be in by the end of September, and further
details and entry forms are available from TAT, 609 M 10, Pratamnak Road South
Pattaya, or Khun Jessada Kongsommart, Eastern Center or Art and Culture, Burapha
University, telephone 01 499 0985; or Khun Jieng at Gubai Art Gallery, 315/134 M
12, Thepprasit Road, telephone 09 754 9527.
This is a real step forwards for the artistic community in Pattaya, and those
who would like to know more about the A.R.T. Collective should contact Alan
Kirkland-Roath at Gallery Opium, 315/26 M 12, Thepprasit Road, telephone 05 084
7947, email [email protected] (English speaking) or Khun Jessada
Kongsommart, telephone 01 499 0985.
Tesco Lotus North Pattaya donates to the Charity Club of Pattaya
Khun Samart,
the North Pattaya branch manager of Tesco Lotus, and his staff donated a
29" colour TV to Malcolm Boden of the Charity Club of Pattaya to be used in
the club’s upcoming charity auction.
Khun Samart, the North Pattaya branch manager of Tesco Lotus,
and his staff greeted Malcolm and Christina Boden of the Charity Club of Pattaya
with a very welcome donation to the auction of a 29" colour TV.
This is the 2nd year that Tesco Lotus has donated to the
Charity Club auction.
The TV will be auctioned along with 2 carved teak monks
donated by Deva and a signed Man Utd shirt donated by Alan Hodges in the U.K.
Bids for the shirt will be accepted at charityclubof [email protected] from
September 1 until the evening of the dinner on Saturday October 1, at the Dusit
Resort Pattaya.
Model night at Scoobies
Another night of fun and festivities was held at Scoobies Bar
in Jomtien Complex recently when Gary and his partner Jimmy held a “Welcome
First Time to Thailand” party for Jimmy and wife Rita’s family.
 Samantha
King was the highlight of the “Welcome First Time to Thailand” party at
Scoobies Bar in Jomtien. (Photo by Brendan Richards)
One of their children is Samantha King, an international
glamour model, and she agreed to pose in front of the cameras so that the
customers and friends could see how a professional photo shoot took place.
Jimmy and Rita wish to thank their friends and customers for
giving their family such a warm welcome to the Land of Smiles.
Gourmet seafood outlet and luxury condo enjoy joint opening
Narisa Nitikarn
Moom Aroi Gourmet Seafood opened its second branch on August
9, with an outlet at Naklua Soi 4. Project owner Surathep Topanit manages the
brand name under the Moom Aroi (Tasty Corner) Group, with a running capital of
20 million baht.
Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn (center right) and Chanyuth Hengtrakul (center left), MP for
Chonburi Zone 6, cut the ribbon for the Ananya Beachfront Condominium’s
official opening
At the same ceremony the official opening of the luxury
Ananya Beachfront Condominium was also conducted, presided over by Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn.
Amongst those present were Chonburi Zone 6 MP Chanyuth
Hengtrakul, Chonburi executive president Pinyo Tanwiset, deputy president Rewat
Polluk-In, and Police Colonel Waratchai Srirattanawutthi.
The first Moom Aroi is located on Pattaya Third Road. The new
outlet overlooks Naklua Bay and seats about 600 people with the option of
air-conditioned indoor seating or outside with the sea breezes.
Moom Aroi Gourmet Seafood (Naklua) is open from 11 a.m. to midnight. For
further information regarding the condominium call 038-233777 or visit
www.ananyacondo.com
Fire fighters train Diana Group staff in safety drill
Suchada Tupchai
Fire training was given to Diana Group staff at Diana Garden
Resort in North Pattaya, with experts on hand from the Pattaya Fire and Rescue
Department to brief personnel on theory and practice.
 The
employees trained to escape with a sling rope in the event of fleeing from a
high building.
Fifty employees from Diana Inn, Diana Dragon, Diana
Millennium, Diana Garden Lodge and the Driving Range took part in this annual
program, designed to ensure staff are in a continual state of readiness to
protect the lives and assets of guests should a fire break out.
By law all enterprises have to train their staff in fire
drill. Hotels need to submit a training report on the attending staff to the
local Labor Protection Welfare Department, and the report will be used for next
year’s hotel license application.
Fire protection officer Sergeant Anucha Luangmuang and his team presented the
theory and practical training sessions.
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