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Music while you wait
for Sirikit Hospital patients
Playing music in the waiting
room helps to reduce tension
and puts a smile on patients’ faces.
Patcharapol Panrak
A female captain in the Thai Royal Navy has discovered that the
playing of Chinese hammered dulcimer to patients at the Queen Sirikit
Hospital in Sattahip is helping to reduce tension and depression concerning
their medical condition.
 Captain
Ampai Suriyamongkol plays the hammered dulcimer in the hospital waiting
room.
Captain Ampai Suriyamongkol said that she has been playing the hammered
dulcimer in the waiting room for patients who were waiting for treatment or
who were there to pick up medication. She says she has received applause,
because no one expects to visit hospital to be entertained and that this has
helped relieve people of stress.
Captain Ampai said her idea is part of the Music to Create New Life Project,
of which she is president. Rear Admiral Nikorn Petcharaweerakul, director of
Queen Sirikit Hospital, Rear Admiral Sukjai Chaiyanapong, and other
high-ranking officers are the advisors for the project, which began on March
3. Khun In Tosanga, a well-known musician played for patients on the opening
day.
Rear Admiral Nikorn said there is a large number of external patients,
officers and their families coming to the hospital for treatment, which
often means they have to wait for attention. This results in tension.
However, the playing of music helps to reduce this, and puts a smile on
their faces.
The hospital has set up a Thai music club for officials and employees who
have a talent for making music, and instruments are being supplied for them
so that they can play for the patients.
Organizations combine for presentation to blind children
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Blind students at the Redemptorist School were served lunch on March 13
by the YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center in cooperation with Pattaya Sports Club, the
Association of Filipinos in Thailand Eastern Region Chapter, and the Thai
Retired Musicians Club of Chonburi.
 Members
of the Thai Retired Musicians Club of Chonburi entertain the guests.
A freezer worth more than 20,000 baht was donated to the school, and members of
the Thai Retired Musicians Club led by club president Prof Pranee Chiangthong
played for the students.
Sopin Thappajug, associate judge of the Juvenile and Family Court of Chonburi
said that the various organizations had joined together on this occasion as an
act of merit making for Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani, who passed away on
January 2.
Income presented from the Diana Gold charity golf tournament had been presented
to the Sai Yai Rak project fund, and a large freezer valued at 23,000 baht was
presented to the Redemptorist School.
The occasion was also used to bestow blessings and congratulations on three YWCA
committee members whose birthdays fall in March, namely Sopin Thappajug,
Waraphan Sukhonthasit and Malinee Suwansaenee.
The blind children enjoy their
delicious lunch.
Members of the benevolent
organizations present a large freezer
to the Pattaya Redemptorist School for Blind Children.
Singaporean wins Mom Tri’s Boathouse
Second Annual Short Fiction Contest 2008
Boathouse holds Writer’s Night with Jake Needham
Jake Needham poses with
Honourable Mentions of the Boathouse 2008 Writing Contest, March 12 at the
Boathouse ‘Writer’s Night’. L-R: Frank Visakay, Jake Needham, Lisa Sol,
Barry Daniel and Liz Westgate (for Alexander Maycock).
Part I of Mom Tri’s Boathouse Short Fiction Contest 2008
generated a large and enthusiastic response from writers as far as the USA,
Scotland and Australia. From the many-varied entries an impressive number of
eighteen were short-listed as contenders for the first, second and third
prize.
This year’s winners were again hand-picked by Jake Needham, Asia’s most
stylish and atmospheric writer of such bestsellers as ‘The Big Mango’,
‘Laundry Man’ and ‘Killing Plato’ - a Jack Shepherd crime fiction story set
in Phuket and starting in the Boathouse’s own Galley Bar.
“It was a tough decision,” said Jake this week during his stay at Mom Tri’s
Boathouse with his wife Aey, “as the quality of so many entries was
surprisingly high.” Jake decided on the following stories as the three very
best:
Winner: The Gift by Eric Rosenkranz (Singapore); Second Prize: Unpacking by
Barbara Fagen (USA); Third Prize: The Bridge by Dr. Michael Moreton
(Bangkok).
Honourable mentions go to: Alexander Maycock (Phuket) for 6-2-6-4-6; Barry
Daniel (Phuket) for Letta ‘Ome; and Frank Visakay (Phuket) for The Perfect
Vacation.
Greater Phuket Magazine sponsored the competition and will place the winning
stories in its pages during 2008. Winning stories can also be found on www.
boathousephuket.com
The two Writing Workshops March 11 and 12 at QSI and BCIS were a success and
will be repeated again next year, judging by the enthusiasm of the rapt
student audience. The more than 100 students who attended the workshops were
awed by meeting and listening to a real ‘live’ writer. “A book never runs
out of batteries, is great value for money with hours of entertainment for a
couple of hundred baht, fits in any bag and stimulates your own imagination.
Go out to a bookshop, browse around and you will find a book that will
appeal to you,” Jake enthused and his passion for reading and writing didn’t
seem to be lost on the students.
The second part of the writing competition, open to young school age writers
15 to 18 years, closes April 10. To get the students going, the beginning of
a short Jack Shepherd story is posted on
www.boathouse.com/short_fiction_contest.htm. Students are asked to finish
the story using between 800 and 1,200 words.
Boathouse Writer’s Night with Jake Needham
On March 12 expats and visitors to Phuket joined an entertaining Writer’s
Night at Mom Tri’s Boathouse with Jake Needham. Jake spoke about his work,
what it entails to be a novelist and gave valuable tips to would-be writers.
His presentation brought one of the audience to exclaim his thanks to Jake
towards the end of the evening, as he felt thoroughly inspired to finally
follow through with his writing aspirations.
The evening was led in inimitable style by Bruce Stanley and the event, the
first in a series of Boathouse Writer’s Nights, was much appreciated by a
spirited audience, many of whom are avid fans of past evenings of the Chao
Praya Literary Society at the Boathouse.
Sam Wilson receives free 60,000 baht hairdo from Johnny Live
(left) Sam Wilson before the
hairdo. (right) Johnny Live, expert hair stylist
and renowned color specialist was engaged to create a style for Sam.
Mike Franklin
I should hastily qualify the headline by saying that Johnny Lives’
hairdos are not that expensive - in fact he is quite competitive. But this
was, after all, a rather special hair session for a rather special and brave
lady.
Sam Wilson, suffering from alopecia, decided that if she was going to lose
all her hair she might as well turn it into a charity event and raise money
for the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive by having a sponsored
head-shave in Jameson’s the Irish Pub. This rather brave decision to be
‘Joan-of-Arc’d in public immediately received a positive response and the
sponsorships, orchestrated by landlord Kim, poured in. Expert hair stylist
and renowned color specialist, Johnny Live, was engaged to create a style
for Sam that did not draw on any of his Vidal Sassoon training and, more to
the point, totally ruled out the chance of any repeat business.
 Lewis
‘Woody’ Underwood presents Sam Wilson with a certificate of appreciation for
her bravery.
The sponsors came, Woody and the Jesters came, the Care for Kids committee
came, Ingrid Cunliffe was there for the honorary Jesters and PILC with many
of the PILC ladies in evidence, and Muffy Kerr rounded up a few last minute
sponsors. As it was March 17 and in Jameson’s, a few Irish mutterings were
heard around the bar - one imbiber actually asking how much it would cost to
have his wife done too, and could it be a benefit night for him. But then it
was St. Patrick’s Day!
Sam was valiant throughout, kept an increasingly cool head and was brave to
the last. For such an act, words and photos are not enough, so the PMTV crew
filmed all the action and that can be seen on PMTV Saturday March 22 on all
five networks. This was the first Jesters Care for Kids’ fund raising
activity for 2008 and undoubtedly one of the most original, thanks to
courageous Sam Wilson and the skills of Johnny Live with the clippers.
All said and done, 60,000 baht raised made Sam Wilson a Gold sponsor, with
still more to come from a PILC Ladies Coffee Morning due the next day.
Great stuff in the true spirit of the 11th Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity
Drive.
See it all happen - Saturday March 22nd on Pattaya Mail TV.
Caveat Emptor
The main speaker at the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC)
meeting on Sunday March 9th at Henry J. Bean’s presented a topic not
previously discussed at the PCEC.
 Peter
Marsh, of Black Star Jewellery, plays ‘Trick or Treat’ with PCEC members;
are these rubies the real thing, or synthetic, or fake?
The morning got underway with this week’s MC Richard Silverberg welcoming
Peter Marsh of Black Star Jewellery. The theme of Peter’s talk was Gem
Fraud. The Oxford English Dictionary defines fraud as ‘criminal deception,
dishonest artifice or trick’. The talk was restricted to sapphires, rubies
and emeralds which share a common mineral type, that of Corundum. Peter
emphasized that if there was proper disclosure of all the details about the
gem by the seller, then there was no case for fraud. But the buyer must
always be wary. Caveat Emptor absolutely!
During the course of his talk, to illustrate the potential for fraud, Peter
distributed four bowls containing cubic zirconia, white topaz, white
sapphires and diamonds. As a competition Peter asked the attendees to
attempt to identify them. A prize was awarded to the winner who had
correctly, through sheer skill, identified them! The prize was a beautiful
large ruby, of very uncertain parentage, which was properly disclosed, and
very appropriate!
Peter described the key points to look for when purchasing gems. Among these
was an awareness of misnomers which were used by sellers. Descriptions such
as Montana Ruby, which is Garnet, are a mild deceit that can cause
confusion.
Hints to avoid the ever present gems scam were given. Deceptive practises
will include situations when a stone, even though it is genuine, could be
claimed to be of higher quality and sold as such. Foil backings and coatings
are used to improve the appearance.
Imitation gems can be distinguished from the real thing sometimes if the
price is too low, or if the suspect gem is of perfect clarity with no
inclusions, as flawless gems are extremely expensive and are not bargain
buys found in night markets. Peter described the crossed Polaroid test which
can be performed with an old pair of sunglasses if necessary. Various
imitation and synthetic and enhanced gems were shown and the equipment which
is used to identify them was demonstrated.
The purchase of synthetic gems, grown under laboratory conditions, should
not be considered fraudulent if they are disclosed as such by the seller.
These gems are often used for industrial purposes and in watch faces and
optics. Further tests to identify synthetic gems were described.
For further details Peter can be contacted on 087 062 9672. The website
address of Black Star Jewellery is www. blackstarjewellery.com
PCEC Chairman Richard Smith then reported on the very recent club trip to
Cambodia. Richard remarked that there were some marked differences between
Thailand and Cambodia but the trip had nevertheless been extremely enjoyable
and informative. He also announced that a special guest would be making an
appearance at the Photography Club on March 10 at the Markland Hotel, that
of Sayan, senior specialist at Nikon Camera Thailand. Sayan commented that
he hopes to provide suggestions for better photo composition.
Last week’s speaker, Art Thansrikiat of Gadgetrend has offered to provide a
free GPS workshop to those who are interested in learning about the full
potential of GPS devices, on a date to be announced.
Further announcements included board member Michel De Goumois who provided
the reminder that the next club dinner was scheduled for March 12 at the Sea
Falcon restaurant on Dong Tan Beach, Jomtien. As usual a very attractively
priced menu had been arranged.
Board member Sig Sigworth announced that the next Investors Club meeting
would take place, again at the Markland Hotel, on March 21 with the theme
‘the potential price of gold’.
The regular Open Forum was then underway when Sig Sigworth returned,
fortunately without strange hat this week, assisted by Bob L’Etoile. 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.
Better drivers make for cheaper insurance
The driver education day at the Bira Circuit for
policyholders, held by AA Insurance Brokers, was hailed as a success by all
those who attended. An ‘invitation only’ event, it consisted of lectures in
the morning given by Automania’s Dr. Iain, a very well experienced
international motor racer, assisted by Thomas Raldorf, lead driver in the
local Pizza Company Racing Team.
 Thomas
Raldorf taking novices for the ride of their lives.
The next part of the session was where groups of the drivers were taken
around the Bira circuit by the two instructors, to demonstrate the correct
lines to be taken through corners, and how to drive quickly and smoothly.
This was probably the most difficult concept to understand by the ‘students’
that in fact going quickly did not necessarily mean savage acceleration and
braking. Quickest and safest point A to B times can be done without the
passengers being hurled around inside the car.
The other fact that the drivers began to see when their cars were in the
hands of the instructors, was that the safety and stability factors inbuilt
into the modern motor car far exceeded the normal drivers appreciation (and
capabilities). Both Dr. Iain and Thomas could make family sedans and SUVs
seem like race cars, through their ability to understand the car and its
limits, and then drive consistently within those upper limits.
After the hands-on demonstrations, the instructors took over the passenger
seats and the drivers were given one-on-one instruction on technique
including how to correctly adjust the seating to suit their personal
characteristics, the best position to hold the wheel and tips on braking and
accelerating smoothly.
All drivers felt they had benefited from the experience, and the ability to
practice driving technique on the race circuit was very much appreciated by
all the drivers.
As an additional ‘treat’ Thomas had brought one of the Pizza Company race
cars and those that wished were treated to the ride of a lifetime in the
passenger seat, with the car driven by the instructors at near racing
speeds, so the students could experience just a little of what motor racing
is all about.
However, the thrust of the day was to encourage safe driving, and hopefully
allow the entrants keep their no-claim bonuses for as long as possible!
Chancery for Royal Danish Consulate
& Royal Norwegian Consulate,
Pattaya move to new location
Stig Vagt-Andersen
Consul
The chancery for the Royal Danish Consulate & Royal Norwegian Consulate,
Pattaya will be relocated to better and larger facilities in order to serve
the Danish, Norwegian and Thai nationals in the provinces of Chonburi,
Chantaburi, Rayong and Trat. The new consulate is located at 384/22 Moo 12,
Jomtien Garden #52 Soi 11, Jomtien Beach Road. It will be open April 4, 2008
and thus the last opening day at the old location is Tuesday April 1, 2008.
The new chancery will have larger facilities and offer better access for
handicapped citizens. The opening hours are unchanged as follows:
Monday 09.00 to 11.30 & 14.00 – 17.00
Tuesday & Friday 09.00 to 11.30 (otherwise only by appointment)
Tel: 0-3823-1630; fax: 0-3823-2227; email: consul@ consulatepattaya.dk - web
page: www.consulatepattaya.dk
Certificates and legalization would normally be made from working day to
working day whereas new passports are centrally processed and will take
about 4 weeks to deliver in Thailand. Unfortunately the consulates are not
able to offer visa application services to Thai nationals which only can be
submitted at the respective embassies in Bangkok.
Danish and Norwegian nationals living in Thailand who have not yet
registered their addresses with the consulate are kindly requested to assist
in providing the consulate with the updated information at the first
opportunity.
The joint consulates of Denmark and Norway have seen a strong growth in
activities reflecting the increased number of Danish and Norwegian nationals
living in the consulate districts. It might please you to learn that from
the latest summary of Danish and Norwegian nationals living in these
districts on a Thai one year retirement visa, combined they bring about 881
million THB per year into Thailand in retirement transfers.
The consulates are operated as honorary consulates with the following
limited resources. The consulate managed with the good cooperation and
understanding of the Danish and Norwegian nationals over 2,000 service
expeditions in 2007, which is a 498 percent increase compared to the
activity recorded in the first year of operation 1999.
Best seller back on the shelves
The all-time best selling book in Pattaya, ‘Farang,
Thailand through the eyes of an ex-pat’ and written by the Pattaya Mail’s
Dr. Iain Corness is back on the shelves after a four week shortage.
The book, which had been the number 1 local top seller for 16 weeks
straight, caught the suppliers short-stocked and with the book having been
published in the UK, there were inevitable delays in getting more stock to
Thailand.
It was then found that the initial print run had also been already
distributed, so a second printing had to be hurriedly arranged through the
UK printers. At one stage it looked as if the second print run would be done
in Thailand to cut down freight time and travel costs, but in the end it
made more financial sense to continue with the British printers.
‘Farang, Thailand through the eyes of an ex-pat’ is now available once more
and Dr. Iain advises that he is always happy to autograph your copy.
Tequila Reef Cantina celebrates 7th anniversary with Margarita Shake Off
Friends get together to
celebrate the winner of Tequila Reef’s Margarita Shake contest. Left to
right: winner Pun Wongvien, Bob E’toille, Gay Buriwan, Harry Sigworth, Judy
Hoppe, Bee Laiaudee, Piyawan Phillips and Bruce Hoppe.
Tequila Reef celebrated their 7th year in business on
Saturday, March 8 with a Mexican buffet and a Margarita “Shake” contest.
There was also a drawing with prizes ranging from 500 baht gift certificates
to pitchers of margaritas.
Located on Soi 7 and Beach Road in Pattaya, the restaurant offered a Mexican
buffet along with the Margarita Shake Off, the latter of which included ten
of their pretty hostesses. Pun Wongvien won the contest.
AustCham finds
a haven for all seasons
From left Montien Leeburapa
(EAM All Seasons),
Sasithorn Poolsawatdi (sales mgr All Seasons), Ann Wangvirayaphan
(International Marketing Bangkok Hospital Pattaya), Jittikarn Thongmalai,
(sales representative Waste Management Siam).
Dr Iain Corness
The latest Seaboard Sundowners networking evening was held at the
All Seasons Hotel, and for many members of the chamber, this was a
completely new venue (for those who have never been, it is on Pattaya Second
Road Soi 5).
The event was held around the pool on the third floor and the All Seasons
kitchen staff did their employer proud with everything on offer including
some roast lamb (next time, some mint sauce as well?), chicken satays, tud
mun pla by the plateful and even fresh oysters in the shell. Magnificent.
The other sponsor was Ticon Industrial, with GM Business Development Ian
Hamilton on hand and who gave a short address reminding all the AustCham
members that if they needed a short notice address, then he had bespoke
factories ready to go, just bring your toothbrush.
Before coming down to Pattaya, the Bangkok members had a site visit to the
Ticon Logistics Park at Bangna-Trad Road. Ticon was established in 1990 to
bridge the gap between the property services provided by Thai industrial
estate developers - land with utilities and infrastructure on which the
manufacturer was required to build its own factory - and the turnkey
standard factory required by a growing number of modern manufacturers coming
to Thailand.
Shane Torr, the new president of AustCham was introduced and he gave great
praise for Gary Woollacott of Opus, the outgoing president. Gary was present
at the networking event, and was wearing a broad grin saying, “This is my
first event not being president for the last three years.”
The local members and guests turned out in good numbers with the crane man
big Kevin Fisher, the tooth man Stuart Saunders and the insurance men Peter
Smith and Malcolm Scorer of AA Insurance Brokers all earnestly networking.
Systems engineers Dave Teirlynck and Andre Geertsma from ZI Argus were
newcomers to Pattaya, as well as Bangkok-based Jesper Pedersen from Security
Services Asia.
As always, Martin Kyle was beaming down from his elevated perch, making sure
that everyone enjoyed the function. They did, Martin. They did. The next
Seaboard Sundowners will be publicized beforehand in the Pattaya Mail.
Khun In plays to soothe the soul for Navy hospital patients
Patcharapol Panrak
Narongrit Tosa-Nga, better known as Khun In, the famous alto
xylophone player in the movie Homrong, visited Somdej Phranangchaosirikit
Hospital at the Naval Medical Department on March 5 to provide a little
therapeutic music for the patients there.
 Khun
In plays music to soothe the soul at Somdej Phranangchaosirikit Hospital.
Hospital director Rear Admiral Nikorn Petweerakul opened the performance,
which was also attended by deputy director Capt Wittaya Pornkijprasarn,
Chonburi Member of Parliament Maitree Soiluang, and Capt Ampai
Suriyamongkon, chairwoman of the Music Club at the hospital.
Khun In played a selection from his new album Off the Beat for the patients
and the officers, saying that he firmly believes music soothes the body and
the soul, and that the uplift in morale helps sick people to heal. Music,
too, is a great friend, he said, so that those who may be feeling lonely or
depressed can listen and feel uplifted.
 Khun
In signs autographs for his fans, young and old.
Khun In’s love of the xylophone comes from his father Supoj Tos-Nga. He
first played the alto xylophone at the age of five years, and studied
musical instruments with the xylophone as his major at Dramatic Arts
College. Subsequently he has been an instructor at Huayjorakaewittayakom
School in Nakhorn Pathom Province, and at the Royal Police Cadet Academy in
Sampran.
Khun In has done much to make the alto xylophone and the bass xylophone
famous, and he received the King’s Cup during the Saengtip Program.
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