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Traffic police receive 120 laminated
safety vests from private sector
Pol Col Noppadon Wongnom
receives reflective vests
from representatives of local companies.
Theerarak Suthatiwong
Two private companies have presented 120 laminated safety vests to
traffic officers at Pattaya Police Station.
The presentation took place during the morning of March 3, when Chen Suyu,
senior manager of Maxis International (Thailand) Co Ltd, Kevin Chang,
national marketing manager, and Preecha Nutapiban, executive officer of
Super Kart Racing Co Ltd handed the vests over to Pol Col Noppadon Wongnom,
superintendent of Pattaya Police Station, and traffic inspector Pol Maj
Pitakpong Krongchon.
Preecha said the vests would help protect the traffic police working at
night, but also during the day as their bright and reflective design ensures
they are clearly visible on the highway.
Pattaya Police Station received 120 of the laminated vests, and next month
will see a similar presentation to traffic officers at Banglamung Police
Station.
Pol Col Noppadon said that at present there are 77 traffic officers along
with military personnel working on joint patrols, and that even this number
is not enough to deal with all the problems within the precincts of Pattaya
Police Station. He said that the safety vests would be very important for
officers on highway patrol, and that the participation of the private sector
indicated the close working relationship the police have with the community.
YWCA branches work
to strategic plan
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Head of the YWCA in Bangkok Dr Jareed Ongsuwan visited Pattaya on February 26
for a meeting with Miss Dujduan Ruangwettiwong, chairwoman of the YWCA
Bangkok-Pattaya Center to discuss future policy.
 Head
of the YWCA in Bangkok Dr Jareed Ongsuwan discusses future policy with members
of the YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center (not shown).
The meeting took place at the Diana Garden Resort Hotel, where Dr Jareed said a
strategic plan had been drawn up for the period 2008-2012 and that it was
necessary to ensure convergence between the various YWCA branches in Thailand.
This plan is in fact being used for YWCA operations all over the world to ensure
a consistency in procedures and objectives.
Amongst the high profile activities of the YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center has been
the Warm Family Project, which aids children who have fewer opportunities by
providing scholarships. Another has been the provision of lunch to schools
located in remote areas.
YWCA branches in Thailand, which include the Pra Pradaeng Center, Pakred Center,
Chiang Mai Center and Pattaya Center are now preparing for the elections that
will appoint new chairwomen and committees. The term, under the YWCA
constitution, is two years. Elections take place this month.
PCEC finds their way with GPS
The Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) meeting on Sunday
March 2 at Henry J. Bean’s saw another packed house. With this in mind
Chairman Richard Smith announced that the management of Henry J. Bean’s had
responded by adding additional seating but a plan was in place for the
accommodation of more people if the numbers continued to increase.
 Art
Thansrikiat, proprietor of Gadgetrend in Bangkok, shares recent exciting
developments in the GPS field with PCEC members, especially PND or Personal
Navigation Devices, at very reasonable prices.
This week’s main speaker was Art Thansrikiat of Gadgetrend, a major supplier
of Global Positioning navigation systems (GPS). Art was introduced by Gary
Hacker who stated that three years ago he had purchased a Garvin GPS Street
Pilot device to use when driving in Bangkok. Gary had found the original
Street Pilot to be indispensable. Following recent enhancements to the
devices and the steady reduction in prices he had invited Art to the PCEC
give an update.
GPS was described as a navigation system using 24 satellites which are
operated by the US Department of Defence. There are no subscription charges
to use the system which enables a user’s position anywhere in the world to
be determined.
The benefits of using a GPS system are time saving, increased fuel economy,
trouble free journeys, home routing from anywhere in the country,
destinations held in memory if a repeat journey is needed to be made, and
the device can be used anywhere in the world with compatible maps. A
detailed map of Thailand, covering the entire country is now available. The
devices are available in 3.5 and 4.3 inch screens having been deliberately
restricted in size in order to not become a distraction whilst driving. It
is also a simple procedure to remove a device from one car and transfer it
to another, for example, when a rental car is used. An example was given
when on a visit to Borneo with its entirely unfamiliar road system and with
the correct map installed, the GPS worked perfectly.
The latest GPS models have impressive features available. These include
“Turn by Turn” where the user is told the number of meters to the next
directional change plus a voice prompted direction guide. If a misturn
occurs a recalculation takes place within ten seconds and directions are
reissued. During a journey the device will display an estimated time of
arrival at the designated destination.
Art demonstrated a GPS unit using a well known Jomtien restaurant as the
destination. He commented that there were currently 50 thousand phone
numbers of restaurants and places of attraction incorporated into the system
which would enable, via a Bluetooth connection, a phone call to be made
using a mobile phone to make a reservation or enquiry.
Chairman Richard Smith returned to announce that a photography expert,
Sayam, would be attending the next Photography Club meeting. It is hoped
that Sayam would be available at a PCEC meeting and that a club visit to the
Nikon camera factory can be arranged. Richard also made the reminder that
Dave Anderson was coordinating the collection of unwanted glasses which the
US personnel of the forthcoming Cobra Gold exercise were undertaking. The
glasses would be donated to needy Thai people.
Darrel Vaught announced that the club day trip to Bang Saen on March 19 had
been well supported and that 41 people had signed up to go. Michel de
Goumois announced that the always popular next club dinner was scheduled to
take place on Wednesday March 12 at the Sea Falcon restaurant in Jomtien
and, as always, an attractively priced menu would be available.
The regular Open Forum was then underway led by Sig Sigworth in his own
inimitable style. Assisted by Bob L’Etoile who whilst for this week had been
demoted to microphone runner, still managed to inject some comedic moments
at Sig’s expense. 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.
Renowned monk on visit to raise funds for Southern hospital
Luang Por Suadam blesses with
holy water people
that have come to help him raise funds for a hospital in the South.
Patcharapol Panrak
Luang Por Suadam, a renowned monk from Srinual Thammawimol in
Bangkok visited Sattahip on February 29 during a fund-raising drive to build
a hospital in Southern Thailand.
He was received by Mrs Ubon Wasuwanit, a Sattahip-based exporter of
salt-water fish, squid and anchovies, who arranged lunch at her home in Soi
Madee that was attended by Pol Col Supathee Bunkrong, superintendent at
Sattahip Police Station along with senior personnel from the Royal Thai Navy
and from other organizations in the area.
Ubon said that Abbot Suadam, also known as Taweesak Chuntintharo is raising
funds to build the Luang Por Taweesak Hospital, and to provide medical
equipment including a kidney dialysis machine. The hospital will serve the
three troubled provinces of the South. She said that the lunch was organized
so that followers could listen to Abbot Suadam’s plans and to make donations
to the project.
Luang Por Suadam is well known for reciting incantations over sacred
objects, including holy water.
Charity Club of Pattaya donates 20 wheelchairs to Able
the Disabled Foundation
On March 3, the ever active and hardworking members and
supporters of the Charity Club of Pattaya met at their HQ. the Queen
Victoria Inn to donate 20 wheelchairs to Able the Disabled Foundation.
Proceeds raised at the Charity Club of Pattaya Gala Dinner 2007 made the
purchase of the wheelchairs possible.
 Members
of the Charity Club of Pattaya donate 20 wheelchairs to Able the Disabled
Foundation.
“Able The Disabled Foundation” is the proactive vision of two unique women,
Cherie Srifuengfung and Sally Jones, who grew up in separate parts of the
world in different circumstances, but who share a common passion. Their
passion evolved into a reality as they became close friends, through
combining riding and helping those less fortunate within Thailand, and they
created the “Able the Disabled Foundation”.
For thousands of physically and mentally disabled children and young adults
throughout the world, riding horses and ponies has become their first step
away from the protective shelter of home, or special school, to the hustle
and bustle of the outside world. This has led to new occupations, careers,
friendships and a more full and useful life in the community.
Many children with disabilities benefit from riding, some from the
relaxation it gives, others by actually learning to ride. The benefits can
be enormous and wide-ranging. They include improvement of balance,
coordination, muscle tone, concentration, cooperation and behavior. A
feeling of independence and “I can do it!” is achieved. For many disabled
riders their visit to the stables is the thing that they look forward to
most in their week and, in some cases, it might be their only opportunity to
meet others.
“Able the Disabled Foundation” currently helps 52 disabled young riders who
come from very poor families, who have benefited greatly. If you would like
to find out more information, offer your services or see how you can make a
difference by making a donation, please call ++66 (0) 38 248 026 or contact:
[email protected]
More at More from the Dorados
Elfi Seitz
The More Pub at Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa was the venue of a
performance by the well-known Swiss band Dorados on February 16.
 Andy
L and Bruno in action.
Two members of the original band came to Thailand to play two shows at the
Swiss House, followed by another one at More Pub.
As in all their performances, both veterans from the 70s Lucerne cult band
rocked the house. Singer Andy L Lütolf with his remarkable timbre and
drummer Bruno Schwarz as the witty jester presented the mostly Swiss guests
with entertainment at its best. “Mary ven conmigo”, “Una donna per amare”
and “Solo per te” were among the songs that enthralled the audience.
Ning Wenger thanked the duo with a bundle of flowers. In return, the Dorados
played several songs for the encore.
The Last Rock ‘n’ Roll
Band in Pattaya
Paul Strachan
Hot on the heels of releasing their latest album ‘The Last Rock ‘n’
Roll Band’, musical veterans Honest John Plain and Casino Steel decided it
was time for some R&R (that’s Rest and Recuperation – not Rock ‘n’ Roll) and
what better place to come than fun city itself, Pattaya.
 Honest
John Plain (right) gives a copy of his new CD ‘The Last Rock ‘n’ Roll Band’
to PMTV’s roving reporter Paul Strachan (left).
The landlord of Jameson’s the ever-jovial Kim Fletcher was apparently so
shocked at seeing his heroes in his bar that he nearly bought a round.
Honest John & Casino turned out to be just as you would expect – two
down-to-earth guys who just live and breathe music. Their new album is a
testament to that with some great self-penned numbers such as ‘Banged up in
Bangkok’- ‘Baby’s in a Burkha’ and a couple of classic covers thrown in for
good measure, namely the Who’s ‘Substitute’ and surprisingly the Johnny Cash
number ‘Folsom Prison Blues’
 Casino
Steel shares some anecdotes about the life of a rock ‘n’ roll star.
I was able to wrench the boys away from the bar for a quick interview for
PMTV and I asked them about the diversity of their music.
Casino was first to tell me that “it’s the music that matters – 3 chords –
some words and you’re away … it don’t matter if its Rock n Roll or even
Country, its all about the music.”
Honest John also said that it was the music that drove him, he admitted they
have never really made any money out of it, so they kept striving to be
better and better and who knows one day the money might start coming in.
I asked Honest where he got his nickname and he said that once upon a time,
way back, he was fronting a band and they had their money from the tickets
sold which came to about 800 quid. However the hire of the hall and the
equipment came to about a grand, so John thought the best thing to do was to
make up the 200 quid by betting all of the 800 pounds on a horse – needless
to say the horse didn’t come in and as a result John became Honest John and
has been ever since.
Kim treated the boys to a drink or two, with red wine being their desired
choice so they tucked into some red from the ‘World of Wines’ range and
shared a few anecdotes, which unfortunately are unprintable here.
The new CD also features guitarist Petter Baarli who was in the Backstreet
Girls, Ratcats, Slips, Johnny Thunders Band, drummer Robbie Rushton who
played with Whizz Kids, Captain Sensible, The Crybabys, Honest John Plain &
The Amigos and on Bass Mat Sargent from:Chelsea, Sham 69, Honest John Plain
& The Amigos, & Splodge
So if classic Rock ‘n’ Roll is your thing check out the new album online at
www.my space.com/thelastrocknrollband
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