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Avon celebrates 30th anniversary with promotional show
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Avon celebrated the anniversary of its 30 years in Thailand by
launching a number of new facial products at special discount prices.
 (L
to R) Man-Garin (star and emcee), Penchom Boontaweekit (marketing manager of
Avon Cosmetics (Thailand) Co., Ltd.), Sarun Tuntijumnun (shopping center
general manager, Central Pattaya Public Company Limited, Pattaya), and
Wonwisa Kamfang (assistant sales manager of Central Festival Center in
Pattaya) help celebrate Avon’s 30 years in Thailand. Ding dong, Avon
calling…
A promotional event was held on May 25 at Central Festival, hosted by
general manager of the venue Sarun Tuntijumnun and Penchom Boontaweekit,
marketing manager of Avon Cosmetics (Thailand) Co Ltd, with Man Garin as
emcee.
Avon facial and skin cream products were displayed, and there was a 30
percent discount available on certain items. Other products had a
buy-one-get-one-free offer. Customers were able to buy an Avon Cooler Bag
for only 39 baht when making an overall purchase of 399 baht, and there was
a free gift when purchasing 1,000 baht worth of products.
Games were organized with Avon products for prizes, and there was a special
makeup area with beauticians to advise customers on the best products for
their skin type.
Avon has its own beauty boutique in South Pattaya, telephone 038 373143.
PCEC learns about Money Exchange
The main speaker at the Pattaya City Expats Club meeting at
Henry J. Beans on Sunday May 25 was Jao from Yenjit Money Exchange. As ever, the
subject of money drew a large crowd eager to know how and where they could make
their pensions stretch to provide that extra luxury.
 UK
Consul Barry Kenyon keeps PCEC members informed of the current situation at the
Immigration Office, and how to stay on the right side of the Immigration
Officers!
Yenjit Money Exchange was started by Jao’s mother and was the first money
exchange business on what was to become Walking Street.
Jao emphasised that she believed that her money changing facilities give the
best deals in Pattaya. Now, apart from the Walking Street premises, virtually
opposite Tony’s she now has premises near Immigration in Soi 5 at Jomtien next
to where the British Consular Offices will be, and on the 2nd Floor of Tops
Supermarket in Pattaya Klang.
Whether one is a tourist or long-stay resident one is always looking for that
extra baht when bringing in hard currency from abroad. For some, even an extra
50 satang per pound on an exchange of 500 pounds means a lot.
The legalities of “how much” one is allowed to change at any one time seems to
be a grey area that Jao glossed over but in one’s own best interest if one is
bringing a large amount into the country it might be best telegraphed through
one’s bank account and get a tor tor sam to prove one had brought it in. Then
one can, if need be, get it out again. Anything through the exchange is not seen
as “brought in from outside the country”.
 Jao
of Yenjit Money Exchange on Walking Street explains the intricacies of money
exchange and how Yenjit offers the best rates, to eager PCEC members.
There was not really a lot to say about Money Exchanges, they are on almost
every street corner. If they are open they offer very much the same services no
matter what bank they represent. The only difference with Jao is that it is a
private operation and therefore she is able to slightly raise the exchange rate
in the customers’ favour, so if you need to buy foreign currency or exchange
your pounds and dollars then look for her premises.
Jao also emphasised some of the “reasons” behind the government’s monetary
policies and distributed an article in support of this. It was mainly bolstering
the baht against the major currencies, sadly not in favour of the American
dollar which came out bottom of the table with the yen, British pound, Aussie
dollar and the euro faring much better.
Those who seek a foreign currency account can have one, but one has to have a
reason for doing so and then it is still difficult. The banks always win, as
they are not in the business to make losses!
As a final comment Jao declared that she does also have a travel business and
she will be pleased to help with travel and monetary enquires as she can give
the best deals for currencies to be purchased in this country before travelling.
Barry Kenyon, the Honorary British Consul then provided some updates of the
Immigration and Visa scene with a few interesting and amusing anecdotes. He
reminded people that things have in fact gotten easier despite all the negative
wingies on certain discussion forums. The need for credit card information has
been dropped as have the medical notes/certificates, except for medical
extensions when it should be stressed that the doctor states how long there is a
need for the extension of stay. If one is terminally ill then there is no need
to worry! Again Barry stressed that the official legal position for stay in
Thailand is not more than 90 days in any period of 6 months and people should
get the relevant visas before arriving if they want to be able to stay longer.
For those over 50 it is easy to get a retirement visa, for those under 50 not so
easy but can have work permits or married to a Thai National status. Same-sex
relations are not a possibility at the moment as this is not recognised for
Thais. Overstays are not recommended but can be redeemed by payment of 20,000 at
point of departure.
The meeting then went into the usual, lively, humorous and at times informative
Open Forum.
Anyone wishing for further information of PCEC events should log onto www.
pattayacityexpatsclub.com or subscribe to the weekly newsletter. Better still
though, come to the meetings every Sunday 10.30 breakfast available from 9.30 at
Henry J. Bean’s Bar and Grill at the Amari Orchid Resort and Tower, North
Pattaya Beach Road.
Mass Media Club members vote for change to association status
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Members of Pattaya Mass Media Club have voted for the club to change its
status and become an association.
 Club
Chairman Chaiyot Phupatanapong (center) says he is “ready to lead all members
for progress.”
The voting took place at a meeting on May 21, held at the Diana Garden Resort in
North Pattaya and presided over by club chairman Chaiyot Phupatanapong.
Pattaya City counselor-elect Farooq Wongborisuthi, in his role as consultant to
the club, was also present.
The main aim of the meeting was to seek a resolution from the 41 club members to
change the club status to that of an association. Chaiyot said that after 14
months the administration had raised enough funding for security capital, and
that research and discussions had taken another three months.
Amongst the benefits would be that as an association there would be greater
access to government organizations and individuals, and that there would be an
increased readiness on the part of the private sector to deal with an
association as a valid legal body.
Members voted unanimously for the change to association status, and once
registration is completed the name will be changed to the Pattaya Mass Media
Association.
Redemptorist School holds rally for new special-needs children’s center
Special needs children and parents
at the walking rally to raise funds for Pattaya Redemptorist School’s new center
for special-needs children.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya Redemptorist School held a walking rally to raise funds for its
new center for special-needs children on May 24, with Father Worawut Saraphan
performing the opening ceremony.
Chatmongkol Sriborisut has been appointed head of the center, which is designed
to help children suffering from conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism,
Down’s Syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Parents who take
their children to the center are provided with specialist advice and support,
and there are facilities to help the children to develop.
Fifty special needs children and their parents took part in the walking rally,
which included games for the children that allowed them to test their
observation and powers of visual and physical coordination.
The day’s activities were devised and supported by the Garunyawet Home for the
Disabled and students from Burapha University.
Chatmongkol said that the center has about 100 members, which is a large number,
especially as the center has been open for such a short time and was only just
celebrating its official opening. Discussions with parents had revealed that
many of them had problems in bringing their children to the center, either
because of the traveling time or because they had to work. Arrangements were
therefore being made to visit those children who were not able to attend the
center regularly.
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