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Laughter and happiness as presents
René Pisters (center), Thai
Garden Resort general manager, and his Toys for Joy crew present gifts to
children at Sutthawas School.
Bright eyes and thankful smiles were dominating the
ambience when people from the Thai Garden Resort visited the Sutthawas
School in January.
As every year, the hotel had collected goods and money for children in need
within the “Toys for Joy” charity project. During Christmas time hotel
guests placed all kinds of books, toys and clothes under the Christmas tree
in the lobby.
The guests’ generosity was also apparent in the adjacent donation box which
was filled with “big and small notes”. This collected amount was added up by
the Thai Garden Resort management to a round sum. Then the money was
invested in school uniforms, shoes and writing materials - all important
things to support the education of poor children. Of course the Thai Garden
Resort team also bought cuddly toys and sweets.
René Pisters, general manager, didn’t miss the chance of attending the
handing over of all the donations. So at the end everyone has to offer
laughter and happiness!
Amari charity bears fund gifts for children of Ban Phusrai School
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Employees from the Amari Orchid Resort and Tower brought more than 100 gifts to
distribute to impoverished children at Ban Phusrai School on January 22.
 Dominik
Stamm, general manager of the Amari Orchid Resort and Tower and his team present
toys to children at Ban Phusrai School.
The gifts were the result of the hotel’s fund-raising drive that saw charity
bears being sold for 699 baht each to raise money for the school. Kindhearted
people bought about 300 of the bears over the preceding few weeks.
Dominik Stamm, general manager of the Amari Orchid Resort and Tower led a team
of employees in presenting the gifts to the children at Ban Phusrai School, with
school director Pakawat Chankul welcoming the visitors.
Ban Phusrai teaches classes from kindergarten class 1 to primary school class 6.
There are 126 students and seven teachers at present, and as Pakawat said, more
teachers are desperately needed.
Along with the gifts, hotel staff have been supplying other items that the
children need. Most of the students said they needed colored pencils for drawing
and school supplies. Some of them need school uniforms to replace the old ones
they have. Some need bicycles to ride to class, because their residences are
quite far away from school.
Amari staff also provided a lunch for the students, with ice cream to finish.
Bright smiles at PCEC meeting
The Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) meeting on Sunday
January 20th at Henry J. Bean’s continued in the series of full weekly
programmes.
This week’s MC, Richard Silverberg started the proceedings by inviting any
members who consider that they have a topic of interest to volunteer as a
speaker. In the meantime the PCEC was pleased to welcome this week’s main
speaker Dr. Kanokrat Chanthadansuwan from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s Dental
Centre. The PCEC always welcomes the BHP’s monthly specialist and today was
no exception.
 Dr
Kanokrat of BHP Dental Department advises PCEC members of the advantages of
their new teeth whitening process.
The topic of Dr Kanokrat’s talk was Brite Smile Teeth Whitening which is
available at BPH. Dr Kanokrat explained that whilst laser teeth whitening
was available at most dentists, the Brite Smile process has differences.
The technology has been developed by a former NASA scientist team plus
specialist researchers in dental healthcare products. The Blue Light, at the
core of Brite Smile’s technology is not UV, heat or a laser but a gentle
light which works together with the whitening gel to accelerate the
whitening process. The properties of the gel is 15% hydrogen peroxide
neutral PH.
The treatment takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete and causes far less,
if any, sensitivity to the gums. The effect can last for up to 2 years.
However, coffee, smoking, tea and red wine should be avoided to prolong the
effect of the treatment.
Dr Kanokrat described how the patient is prepared and the process which is
carried out. Patients do not need to continue the process with a take home
whitening tray. The final result is on average 8-9 shades brighter as shown
on the recognised Vitapan classical shade scale.
Dr Kanokrat answered numerous questions regarding Brite Smile and made
available discount coupons for the process and dentistry services in general
including a free dental examination.
The meeting continued with Chairman Richard Smith making the announcement
that a presentation was scheduled to take place by the Banglamung District
Cross Culture Volunteer Group on January 22 at the Mike Resort Hotel in
appreciation of all those who had provided tuition to improve English
speaking skills.
Richard also confirmed that the much anticipated visit to the GM Chevrolet
manufacturing plant will be taking place on February 8th. Also the
Photography Club met again on January 21 at 1pm at the Markland Condo.
Sig Sigworth announced the concept of the Silent Auction. This is a simple
process where an item is listed on a form and bids for it are recorded. Sig
confirmed that these transactions would be between individual buyers and
sellers.
The regular conductors of the Open Forum, Bob L’Etoile and his partner Sig
Sigworth took a break from their regular spot which was filled by Darrel
Vaught. As always it provided an opportunity for questions about living in
Thailand with an emphasis on Pattaya to be asked. The Open Forum again
proved to be the usual lively and entertaining session. For more information
regarding, not only PCEC Sunday meetings but also the varied mid week
activities, please see the Community Happenings section of Pattaya Mail
or, for more details, visit the Club’s website at pattayacityexpatsclub.com
Swedish star Christina Schollin in town
Pramote Channgam
Christina Schollin, the actress from the award-winning movie Fanny
and Alexander who has been staying in Pattaya on vacation, called into
Phyathai Hospital in Sriracha during the evening of January 19 where she
underwent some dental treatment.
 (From
left) Kingkan Tantiwetchakul, Phyathai Hospital’s business development
officer, Christina Schollin, Gavin Waddel from the Phyathai Hospital
International Department, and Christina’s husband Hans Wahlgren.
Christina was welcomed to the hospital by Gavin Waddel of the international
department.
Fanny and Alexander was produced by Ingmar Bergman and won a Swedish Oscar
in 1982. It was subsequently named Best Foreign Language film at the Academy
Awards, winning its Hollywood Oscar the same year.
Since leaving the entertainment field, Christina and her husband Hans
Wahlgren have devoted a large part of their time to charity work supporting
underprivileged children and women in society.
Gavin welcomed Christina and Hans with a bouquet of flowers and a memento.
The couple are on a tour of Thailand, and have been staying in Pattaya for a
while. Christina said she personally knows and respects the Phyathai
Hospital Group’s services, and consequently she had contacted the Dental
Clinic at Phyathai Hospital for dental work.
Christina added that she has enjoyed her Thai tour very much. Thai people
are lucky to have such lovely beaches, she said. She also appreciates Thai
food, and personally likes pad Thai kai.
Charity Club says thank you
Tom and Noi of C.S.P.
Construction, Vic of the Queen Vic, Malcolm representing Martin Chappell of
Expatriot Financial Services and Kevin and Som Fisher of Cranes and
Equipment Asia receive their certificates of appreciation.
Christina Boden
The Charity Club held a sponsors’ “Thank You Party” at the Queen Vic
on Wednesday 16th January. Marlowe of Massic Travel took time out of his
busy schedule to pop in, as he was kind enough to sponsor the buffet, and
with the wine left over from the gala dinner it enabled the Charity Club
members to enjoy the afternoon free of charge.
The event did go on into the evening, with most of the guests having a well
earned lie-in the next day to nurse their hangovers!
Tom and Noi of C.S.P. Construction, Vic of the Queen Vic, Malcolm
representing Martin Chappell of Expatriot Financial Services and Kevin and
Som Fisher of Cranes and Equipment Asia were in attendance to receive their
certificates of appreciation.
The event was small, but Malcolm and Christina we were happy with that as it
gave them the opportunity to mingle and chat with the guests, something they
don’t always get the chance to do!
The remaining sponsors Antony Chapman of Blue Wave Watersports, John
Richardson of UTS, Alan Bolton of Alan Bolton Property Consultants, John
Seymour of Northern Thai Realty, Martin Chappell of Expatriot Financial
Services and Roger Mynott of Thai Décor will each receive their certificates
at a later date.
The Charity Club would like to thank those who took time out of their busy
schedules and managed to attend, also to Vic, Jane and the staff at the
Queen Vic.
Americans go to the polls in Thailand
For the first time in American political history,
Americans living overseas will be able to cast ballots in the U.S.
Presidential Primary at polling stations in Thailand, as well as other
countries around the world, the week of February 5-12.
“This is not just another opportunity to ‘Think globally and act locally’,”
said Phil Robertson, chair of Democrats Abroad Thailand. “This is a chance
for Americans living abroad to be treated as if they live in the U.S. and go
to a polling station like millions of other Americans on Super Tuesday.”
Super Tuesday will be on February 5, when primary elections occur in 22 of
the 50 States, meaning that millions of Americans will vote that day for
their party contender for the presidential race. Previously, overseas
Americans who wanted to vote in a primary had to obtain an absentee ballot
and then post it back to the US.
Six Democrat polling stations, across Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nongkai and Udon
Thani will be open throughout the week beginning on February 5. Voters who
come to a Dems Abroad polling station with a U.S. passport showing they are
of voting age will be permitted to register on the spot and vote.
Alternately, Americans can sign up to vote on the internet in this
first-ever global primary, or vote by fax. Registration at
http://www.democratsabroad.org/join is free of charge, but must be completed
by Wednesday, January 30 for those wanting to use either of these two
methods. Robertson says the registration form takes just a few minutes to
complete.
It’s estimated that millions of Americans live overseas. Democrats Abroad is
the official overseas branch of the U.S. Democratic Party comprised of
American citizens living temporarily or permanently in more than 100
countries around the globe.
“Some people may not appreciate how exciting this is,” said Elizabeth
Boname, vice-chair of Democrats Abroad Thailand. “There is no clear front
runner in the Democratic contest. It’s entirely possible that the Democratic
nominee will be determined by voters outside the U.S., and that the division
of Democrats Abroad’s 22 delegates will decide which candidate is chosen by
the Democratic Party. Those deciding votes could be cast in Thailand.”
In Bangkok, Democrats can vote Tuesday, February 5 at the Foreign
Correspondents Club in the Maneeya Center Building near Chitlom BTS station
from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Saturday, February 9 at the Roadhouse BBQ in
Silom from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information about the scheduled times and dates at various
locations in Thailand, please see www.democrat sabroadthailand.blogspot.com
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