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Come and join us at Eastern Star
‘Come and join us’ was the message from former Prime
Minister and UNICEF Ambassador H.E. Anand Panyarachun, when Mike Franklin
recently interviewed him in his Bangkok office.
Anand
Panyarachun (right) talks with Mike Franklin (left) about the upcoming 5th
Khun Anand Panyarachun Charity Golf Invitational for UNICEF Thailand.
The invitation was for companies and organizations to
sponsor and participate in the 5th Khun Anand Panyarachun Charity Golf
Invitational for UNICEF Thailand, at Eastern Star Country Club & Resort
on Saturday, February 18, 2006.
Not only is a ‘Team Scramble’ fun day of golf on
offer, competing for the Khun Anand-UNICEF Cup, but also the opportunity to
attend a private reception and party on the evening of Friday the 17th at
Khun Anand’s residence by the 14th Green.
Together with his friends, distinguished guests and
celebrities, sponsors are personally welcomed by Khun Anand to enjoy a
sumptuous buffet dinner on the pool deck and study some of his interesting
memorabilia in the sitting rooms and around the walls.
Live music and karaoke provides the entertainment with
fine performances by former ambassadors and cabinet ministers and, not
least, by Khun Anand himself.
That makes the 5th Khun Anand Panyarachun Charity Golf Invitational a
double occasion and fund-raiser for a very good cause, as all proceeds will
support UNICEF’s HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care program in Thailand and on
the Eastern Seaboard.
Panga Vathanakul becomes lifetime member of PILC
Elfi Seitz
 PILC
President Sharon Tibbitts (left) presents Royal Cliff MD Panga Vathanakul with
her lifetime membership to the PILC.
The ladies of PILC (Pattaya International Ladies Club)
surprised Panga Vathanakul, the managing director of the Royal Cliff Beach
Resort, at the PILC Christmas lunch held in the hotel. Panga was appointed a
lifetime member of PILC because of her contributions, through words and action,
to the PILC.
Special mention was made of the annual ball, the holiday
bazaar, and the lunches that take place in the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, which
are always delightful and looked after with great care by Panga.
The entertainment of the day was provided by the International School Eastern
Seaboard’s children’s choir who performed wonderful Christmas songs, which
delighted the ladies.
Royal Garden Plaza celebrates 12th anniversary with
diamonds and platinum
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The 12th anniversary of Royal Garden Plaza was celebrated on
December 1 with a gathering at the water fountain led by MP for Chonburi Region
6 Chanyuth Hengtrakul and Plaza general manager, Amorn Amornkul.
Chanyuth
Hengtrakul (third from right), Member of Parliament Chonburi Region 6, Supadit
Maneeratjarusri (second from left), senior director of Minor International
Group, Ronakit Ekasingh (far left), deputy mayor of Pattaya City and Amorn
Amornkul (far right), general manager of the Royal Garden Plaza cut the large
12th year anniversary cake.
Amorn said that Royal Garden Plaza maintains its competitive
edge by providing fashion, entertainment and food, and that in this way it has
become recognized as one of the leading leisure centers of the Eastern region.
Celebrations included a lucky draw for six platinum necklaces with a diamond
pendant with a total value of more than 600,000 baht.
Wheelchair appeal raises 130,008 baht
Then doubled by BUPA U.K. to 260,016 baht
The Queen Victoria Inn on Friday December 9 was the setting
for the Charity Club of Pattaya’s charity event to raise funds for the
disabled in Issan who were in desperate need of wheelchairs and walking aids.
The event was also held to celebrate that the Charity Club of Pattaya now has an
official home.
 Tony
Banfield and his wife Dolic from Saren’s Asia donated the entire cost for 2
wheelchairs to Malcolm Boden of the Charity Club of Pattaya.
Even though the attendance was down due to all the pre
Christmas events, this didn’t deter those who did attend to drink the barrel
dry that John Smith’s had donated, and try and clear the Queen Victoria’s
Gin and Tiger cans!
The sponsors who were in attendance on the evening were Kevin
Fisher of Cranes and Equipment Asia Co Ltd, Tony Banfield G.M. for Sarens Asia
Co Ltd, Donna Pollard BUPA Thailand representing BUPA U.K., Rob Murray from
Fluid Asia Pacific and Vic King of the Queen Victoria Inn. Unfortunately, due to
work commitments, Terry Schofield of North Shore Real Estate couldn’t make the
evening and was sorely missed.
 Kevin
Fisher of Cranes & Equipment Asia donated the entire cost for 2 wheelchairs
to Malcolm and Christina Boden of the Charity Club of Pattaya.
Rotary Club Krasang-Buriram President Peter Rottmann also
attended, as he was the one that had approached Malcolm and Christina Boden
about the plight of these unfortunate children and young adults.
The children are the Charity Club’s main priority, but it
looks like with the amount raised some of the adults can also be helped.
The club has had an amazing response to this, their latest
appeal. Terry Schofield from North Shore Real Estate Jomtien and BUPA Thailand
each donated the entire cost of a wheelchair.
Kevin Fisher from Cranes and Equipment Asia Co. Ltd, Tony
Banfield, G.M. of Sarens Asia Co, Ltd and Middy Campbell each donated the entire
cost for 2 wheelchairs.
 Bertrum
Bear helped the Charity Club of Pattaya raise over 130,000 baht, which was then
doubled by BUPA U.K.
The generosity didn’t stop there, as Donna Pollard, who
works for BUPA here in Pattaya, contacted community connections at BUPA in the
U.K. who quickly donated the money for a specialist three wheeled bicycle and
then agreed to match the money raised baht for baht!
Of course, Bertrum Bear, the club’s well loved mascot was
in attendance, proudly dressed in his John Smith T-shirt, keeping the singer
company and overseeing the raffle, now re-named the John Seymour Collection!
The Charity Club of Pattaya would like to thank all sponsors,
all who donated money for the wheelchairs and to all those who attended and
supported the Charity Club yet again.
The fantastic sum of 130,008 baht was raised and thanks to
BUPA U.K. this has been bumped up to a grand total of 260,016 baht.
Meanwhile, club members have been doing the accounts with Vic
and suddenly realised that due to the fantastic amount raised on Friday December
9, the Charity Club of Pattaya is immensely proud to announce to supporters,
sponsors and friends that since the club was formed (on July 1, 2004), the club
has just crashed through the million baht marker. We are so proud that we have
so many committed supporters and friends of the Charity Club of Pattaya.
Friends and supporters should all be congratulated on this
achievement as the Charity Club of Pattaya couldn’t have done any of this
without their valued support.
The charities that have benefited from the money raised money
are: The School for the Deaf, the Street Kids, Wat Pong School, the Mason’s
Tsunami Appeal, the Camillian Centre, Scholarships for Underprivileged Children,
and the Children of Issan’s Wheelchair & Walking Aids Appeal.
The Charity Club of Pattaya’s motto will always remain the
same: “What we raise is what they get.”
Malcolm and Christina Boden as co-founders and Vic King of
the Queen Victoria Inn as treasurer of the club would like to thank everyone who
has and still does support the Charity Club of Pattaya.
charityclubofpattaya@ yahoo.com
Helping Hands
Handicapped
and deaf children thoroughly enjoyed the show.
By the kind and anonymous generosity of a member of the
Pattaya City Expats Club some 250 students from the Redemptorist Handicapped
Center and the Deaf School were able to enjoy the thrills of the Royal London
Circus recently.
They were first treated to lunch before going down to the Big Top Tent now
situated near Pattaya Park in Jomtien. An enjoyable afternoon out and one which
also gave pleasure to the donor knowing that the students thoroughly enjoyed
themselves.
YWCA wraps up the year and reviews activities
Suchada Tupchai
YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya, led by Nittaya Patimasongkroh, held its
monthly board meeting on December 13 to wrap up the agenda for 2005. Many
members attended the meeting, which was held at Diana Inn on Pattaya Second
Road.
YWCA
Bangkok-Pattaya, led by Nittaya Patimasongkroh (center), held its monthly board
meeting on December 13.
Activities held by YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya during the month were
reviewed. These included Warm Family Day at Mike Department Store, a major event
held annually to present education grants to children under the care of the
association. This year’s event was supported by many organizations including
Pattaya Sports Club, Pattaya Rotary Clubs and public and private sector
organizations. The association awarded 500 scholarships in 2005.
Nittaya reviewed other activities that were held over the
year, such as the lunches that were provided for the children of Pattaya 10
School on Koh Larn).
Additional discussions were held for the charity parade that was held on
December 23, starring top models from around the world.
Magic moments
from PCEC Meetings
The Pattaya City Expats Club governing board, under the
general guidance of Richard E. Smith, has throughout 2005 maintained a
wonderfully varied programme of speakers encompassing informative, educational
and entertaining topics.
 Christopher
G. Moore talked about some of the background for his new book “Gambling on
Magic”.
More recently since the circus came to town the club has been
privileged - especially as on a Sunday the performers have three shows and have
to warm up from 1 p.m. - to receive and watch some of their fantastic feats. Mid
December, after the circus had a break in which to move to their new site at
Pattaya Park, the club was privileged, once again, to have the pleasure of
seeing one of the performers from the Royal London Circus. This time it was one
of Russia’s most respected illusionists, Alexei Panarine.
Alexei amazed the members with some close-up magic tricks and
Abdoul was on hand with tickets for future shows up to January 8. When people
meet him they are not aware that until very recently he was the trainer of the
Mixed Lion and Tiger act at the circus… So looking after the performers must
now seem like a real luxury!
Christopher G. Moore was also a recent speaker, introducing
his new book “Gambling on Magic”. MC Roger Fox described him as reflective,
and as someone who knew when to talk, and when to listen. Christopher began by
reminding everyone about the problems of language, and recalled some
particularly interesting translations in Thai government internal documents
intended to be read by foreigners.
He also talked about the humorous (to westerners) aspects of
Chinese Feng Shui as it affects the building of houses and commercial buildings,
with its requirements for exact positioning of hallways, rooms, front doors,
etc., in relation to the wind, the compass direction and even the view. He also
commented on the current craze for Blogs - which he described as online diaries,
many of them read only by the writer.
 Alexei
amazed the members with some close-up magic tricks
He talked about creativity, referring specifically to the
Writers Group in the PCEC, noting with pleasure that John Lynham is nurturing,
in his group, the talents of several creative writers. He also made a number of
references to the creative wisdom of a 5-year-old, and the loss of that
creativity that the problems of daily life intrude on, and suffocate that
valuable talent. He talked about his years of writing, his life in Thailand, and
some of the background for his new book “Gambling on Magic”. His well-known
detective, Vicent Calvino, is active again in the book he is currently writing,
the 8th in a series built around the tough detective in Bangkok.
He mentioned that he was intrigued, when learning Thai, with
the number of Thai words that included the word “jai” (heart), and his
interest resulted in a book, published in 1992, listing and explaining the two
hundred fifty various word combinations he had found using “jai”, and which
named “Heart Talk”. A second edition followed several years later with
another one hundred and fifty additional “jai” words, to be followed next
year with many more word combinations using “jai”. Chris’s website at
http://www.cgmoore.com has more information on this interesting, bright and very
personable author.
More information about the Pattaya City Expats Club Sunday
meetings at Henry J. Bean’s and mid-week activities can be found on www.
pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
The meeting on New Year’s Day will have Jennifer MacKenzie, the noted
medium and spiritualist, to help us start the year on a good note.
Rudolf Hofer appointed
Austrian consulate
Elfi Seitz
Ambassador Arno Riedl visited Pattaya to be part of the
inauguration of Austria’s first consulate in Thailand.
The venue was the elegant Camillo Restaurant at the Siam
Bayshore Hotel, where Pattaya society gathered to celebrate. New consul Rudolf
Hofer greeted all 60 or so guests personally and received lots of flowers and
congratulations, while Pattaya’s best-known pianist, Ben Hansen, entertained
with discreet background music.
 Austrian
Ambassador to Thailand Arno Riedl (Left) and new Austrian Consul Rudolf Hofer.
Several members of the Austrian Embassy were present, too,
and along with His Excellency the Ambassador came the head of the Austrian
chamber of commerce, Oskar Andesner, and his wife Daniela Kienzle.
An envoy from the German Embassy, led by First Consul Karsten
Tiez, arrived to congratulate Rudolf Hofer, who, after all, does unofficially
look after German citizens in and around Pattaya. New colleagues of Hofer were
present as well, in the form of the consul for Denmark and Norway, Stig Vagt
Anderson.
A special gift was presented by Martin Brands, charter
president of Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard, who awarded Rotary International’s
highest honor, the Paul Harris Fellowship Medal, to Hofer for his constant
effort for the Cambodian girl Woaw, who has a terribly disfigured face through
severe burns. Hofer helped this girl with donation appeals and will continue to
support her.
The pleasant evening concluded at Casa Pascal Restaurant, where the
ambassador retreated to be with close friends after the main party.
Advent concert features outstanding musicians from Thailand and overseas
Elfi Seitz
After spoiling visitors of the Siam City Hotel with Austrian
sounds and sweets for a week, Ambassador Arno Riedl had a grand idea for
pleasing fellow Austrians and friends: an Advent concert at his residence.
 Ambassador
Arno Riedl with wife Loretta and artists (sitting; from left) Dietmar Ball,
Monika Gaessler, Patrick Holming and Christof Keine.
Naturally he invited several Austrian artists as well who,
along with their Thai counterparts, communicated beautiful sounds to an
attentive audience.
His Excellency said in his opening speech that he is very
pleased to introduce Austrian music even if there might be already more than
just a few Thais acquainted with this pleasure. He was especially delighted by
the fact that the artists playing during the Austrian week in Siam City Hotel
agreed to come to this special occasion in the embassy. “Thailand and Austria
have been close friends for many years and we will do everything to further
strengthen this bond,” said the ambassador, before Ulrike Nguen announced the
singers and musicians.
Soprano Monika Gaessler, a very attractive young lady of a
mere 26 years and with a very mature voice, received standing ovations for her
interpretation of “Ave Maria” and “Quiet Night”.
Other performers included Dietmar Ball, accompanying Monika
on the piano; soloist Christof Keine, a virtuoso on the tuba; Patrick Holming
performed exquisitely on the piano; and two Thai artists, Kalaya Phongsathorn
and Naraporn Kalaya na Soontorn, played beautiful pieces on their flutes.
After the concert there was sufficient time for a buffet with
delicacies from Austria, prepared by the chef of Dusit Thani Hotel Bangkok,
along with good Austrian wines.
It was an exceptionally beautiful and successful event that brought everyone
there into the right mood for the most beautiful time of the year - Christmas.
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