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Full house at PCEC meeting
Many members and guests were on hand at the Pattaya City
Expats Club (PCEC) meeting on Sunday June 22nd at Henry J. Bean’s Restaurant
on Beach Road. MC Roger Fox reminded everyone that the July 6 meeting will
be the Annual General Meeting wherein the Chairman and Treasurer would give
their annual reports. He then called on Al Serrato, Electoral Officer, to
update the membership on the nominations for the six vacancies on the
Governing Board. Al announced that there were six approved nominations for
the six vacancies. Thus, under the Club’s by-laws, there would be no need
for an election at the Annual General Meeting. MC Roger then announced that
a “living will” format developed by Dr. Iain Corness, the speaker last week,
was available for those that might be interested.
 Jerry
Hopkins (left), former journalist for Rolling Stone magazine, talks to PCEC
members as famous magician, Doc Penguin assists.
MC Roger then introduced the guest speaker, Jerry Hopkins, a well known and
prolific author of many books. Jerry started by giving a brief history of
his background and noted that he had currently authored 36 books. Jerry said
that in his early days, he was a reporter for the Rolling Stone magazine in
the USA, which gave him the opportunity to meet many celebrities. He has
written several celebrity biographies that were published in the USA and
other countries. One of his most well known and still popular books is No
One Here Gets Out Alive, a number one on the New York Times best seller list
in 1980. This biography of Jim Morrison of the Doors jumped back into the
number two spot in 1991 when it was a primary source for Oliver Stone’s film
about the Doors.
He has also written about the lives of other celebrities, including Elvis
Presley, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, and Yoko Ono. The Morrison book remains
in print and both it and the Hendrix book were expanded for new editions in
1995 and 1996. His two biographies of Elvis, long out of print, were updated
and republished in one volume in 2003. His other books cover a wide range of
subjects including music, history, the environment, humor, journalism, food,
and Polynesian culture.
These, he said, were his successes. But, he wanted to talk about his
failures - that is, books he wrote that did not get published. The first was
a book about the history of condoms with pictures. He said condoms were
invented by the Italian Fallopius to prevent disease, primarily the “French
Pox,” in the 1400’s. Jerry said he traveled around the country visiting
various condom factories as part of his research. His original publisher
quit the business before he completed the book. In the 1970’s, the condom
was the subject of many smutty jokes, so it made other publishers less than
enthusiastic about publishing the book. When AIDS became a world problem,
the condom was treated in more favorable light. Even so, after submitting it
to three succeeding publishers, it still has not been published.
Another book that he devoted a lot of time to, but did not get published,
was an “authorized” biography of Raquel Welch. He had full access to
information and to her personally. He even went to Rio de Janeiro where she
was doing a show. At that time, she had recently experienced a break up with
her boyfriend. Jerry had also just become unattached. So, he became her
escort (date) while in Rio. Jerry noted that when he writes a biography,
authorized or not, he puts in the good and the bad. He said that he
interviewed someone that was a classmate of Raquel that had an interesting
story about Raquel and her well known “equipment,” which was not too
flattering. He said he submitted a rough draft of the book to Raquel and
that she had the option of removing any portions she didn’t agree with or
didn’t want published. However, he never heard back from Raquel, but did
hear from her lawyers. Jerry lamented that he had only an oral agreement for
the book. So in addition to it not being published, he did not recover about
$7,000 US in expenses he had incurred.
Jerry concluded his talk by mentioning his book and research on
aphrodisiacs, including his interesting experience in shopping for them in
Shanghai. Jerry announced that some of his books were available in the back
alcove for purchase and he would be happy to autograph them.
PCEC Chairman Richard Smith announced that Jerry would be available for
further conversation that evening at a planned dinner for him at the Aloha
Restaurant on 2nd Road. PCEC board member Michel de Goumois announced that
the next monthly dinner would take place on Wednesday, July 2nd at the
Wandee House located on Naklua Soi 16. Richard Silverberg, the Club’s
computer guru, then informed members about his website of the week. This
website was Thai-blog.com, created by an English Expat in Bangkok. He said
the most interesting section was on Thai food including a description,
ingredients, and preparation.
The regular Open Forum then got underway with Bob L’Etoile leading the
proceedings with his regular sparring partner “Sig” Sigworth. The Open Forum
continued, providing an opportunity for questions about living in Thailand
with an emphasis on Pattaya. For more information regarding PCEC activities
at their regular Sunday meeting and during the week, please see the
Community Happenings section of Pattaya Mail or, for more details, visit the
Club’s website at pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
Skills training for Diana Group senior personnel
Sopin Thappajug, managing
director of the Diana Group leads the training.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Training to develop the skills of service staff at the supervisor and captain
level was held for Diana Group employees at the Diana Garden Resort, starting on
June 17.
Diana Group managing director Sopin Thappajug opened the session, along with
general manager Komsan Seesam, with more than 60 employees taking part.
Sopin said the training was to enhance the latent skills of senior employees,
increasing their knowledge of the hotel business so that they in turn can help
to improve the skills and consequently the career potential of other members of
staff.
Training included Priest Pra Maha Klongtham giving a talk on morality, a subject
that Sopin said affected business systems in addition to the personal life of
individuals.
Rice delivered to boxing camp under YWCA program
The YWCA donates rice and medicine
to Yodthong Sriwaraluk
for the young boxing protégés at his camp.
Pramote Channgam
YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center presented supplies of rice along with
medicine to Sit Yodthong Boxing Camp on June 19 as part of its Lunch Project,
which helps to support youngsters from underprivileged families.
The supplies, which were donated in a joint cooperation with Pattaya Sports
Club, the Pattaya Post newspaper, and Pattaya City Volunteer Police officers,
totaled 100 sacks of rice, each weighing 5 kg, together with medical supplies.
Dr Yodthong Sriwaraluk, the well-known boxing coach, received the supplies.
Nittaya Patimasongkroh, chairwoman of the YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center said that
the association supported the good work of Teacher Yodthong at Sit Yodthong
Boxing Camp, and was happy to include the camp within the Lunch Project program.
Dr Yodthong said that the number of boxers training at the camp was growing, and
that there were also more than 30 children under the care of the camp.
These, he said, are aged 10 years and upwards, and many are from other
provinces, coming to the camp because their parents are impoverished and unable
to support their education. The camp gives them a place to live, food, and an
opportunity to learn Thai boxing with a boxing teacher at the camp.
The children also receive educational support by being sent to learn at
Watsuthawas School, said Dr Yodthong.
Fish catches man;
customers hooked
by Pee Taen’s sales line
Theerarak Suthatiwong
You cannot miss Pee Taen’s mobile food stall, from which he sells grilled
fish wrapped in leaves.
 Taen
(right) cooks up a hearty fish meal at his mobile Frankenfish food stand.
A hardworking Pattaya Mail news reporter, who was out amongst the beer bars
looking for news stories (so he told the editor) noticed a motorcycle-sidecar
combination approaching, with a large and vicious fish mounted on the roof.
Realizing he could have an interesting story here, and if not that, at least a
decent meal, the reporter flagged the vehicle down.
The vendor said that his name was Boonyarit Thaiboonta, or Pee Taen, and he was
from Mae Sod district in Tak Province. He had arrived in Pattaya almost six
years ago, and at first had been a cook in a small restaurant. Then he opened
his own restaurant, serving steak, but it had not been successful. So a few
months ago he switched to selling grilled fish. Business was also not good, as
there was nothing special to attract customers.
Then one day, said Pee Taen, he had been watching a display of killer fish. This
gave him the idea of making a large fish for placing on the sidecar. He took a
large cardboard box and started to turn it into a fish shape, and then his
imagination ran away with him…
The fish seemed to acquire a life of its own, as Pee Taen added shark-like
teeth, golden scales that he made from aluminum sheet sprayed gold, and light-up
eyes formed from old cans. He named his creation Frankenfish.
From then on, Pee Taen’s grilled fish wrapped in leaves has been selling like
hot cakes. He is based at Naklua New Market, where he can be found every night.
And yes, the fish is delicious, as our investigative reporter confirms.
PSC announce major project
B. Tuppin, Charity Chairman PSC
At the Annual General Meeting of the Pattaya Sports Club held recently
at the Town in Town Hotel on the 21st of June Charity Chairman Bernie Tuppin put
forward an ambitious proposal to the elective committee. The suggestion was to
embark on their largest single endeavour since inception of the PSC and their
commitment to local charity. The proposal was to upgrade the facilities at the
Aged Persons Home in Banglamung.
 Surveying
the scene.
While most residents in this facility enjoy a decent lifestyle there is one
particular area of the complex that has fallen behind. As the demand for
accommodation has increased so has the need for an area to care for residents
that require closer supervision and those that are unable to care for
themselves. These residents are housed in accommodation that is currently
overcrowded and lacks basic facilities for some of the more feeble patients and
in particular those unfortunates suffering from dementia.
The proposal then was to construct a building that would not only ease the
overcrowding but contain a dedicated area for the dementia patients with self
contained toilet facilities. The funds required would be B1,500,000 and the
proposal was passed with a show of hands.
 How
much did you say?
Charity Chairman Bernie was delighted with the result as he and several of the
exec committee had been shuffling plans and numbers around since last August to
come up with a plan that would satisfy the needs of the Aged Persons Home and
fall within the PSC’s budget. Several plans were drawn and discarded and the
builder showed remarkable patience to come up with a result that left all
parties happy.
The final result will be an additional space to accommodate 12 beds and an
upgraded area for the dementia patients. This will double the existing capacity
of the men’s section. The builder Kamlon, the director of the Aged Persons Home
Somjedt and my right hand Nittaya have been most cooperative in getting the
project to the starting line and now with contracts signed the real work can
begin.
Progress reports will be supplied as work continues.
Tooth Fairy helps North Star librarian
Ingrid Cunliffe
On Monday June 16, I received a call from Wan, a resident from the
Redemptorist Center and librarian at the North Star Library. She had a tooth
complaint and thought to ring me due to me being the Tooth Fairy for the
children at the Fountain Of Life Centre.
A call to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital led to an appointment with Dr Porndee, who
quickly realised that Wan needed a root canal and crown to stop the aching pain.
 Wan
(center) prepares for one of her dental treatments.
So, over the next week and after three visits Wan now has a dazzling smile, as
the tooth was a front exposed tooth. The crown is an exact match and she is one
very happy patient.
We would like to thank Dr Tassanee, the dental director and Dr Porndee for the
excellent service provided by the dental team and for the generosity in the
assistance in paying the fees.
As I visit the dental department on a regular basis, with the FOL kids and
sometimes with my own children being in the hot white seat, I would just like to
say thanks on behalf of the Fountain Of Life for the wonderful service we
receive.
Sometimes it’s not easy bringing the kids from the center but the great staff at
the reception always make it as easy for me as possible with their helping hands
and smiles.
We also recently had a visit from the dental team to the center to check all of
the children and this was a great day with no tears from any child.
RC Taksin-Pattaya donates computers, medical equipment and toys
The Rotary Club Taksin-Pattaya
hands over computer equipment to the Royal Thai Marines for children in the
south.
On Wednesday June 25, Rotary Club Taksin-Pattaya (RCOTP)
President John Botting, Foundation Director Peter Thorand and PR Director
Michael Butler and members from the Rotary Club Chantanmit attended a hand over
ceremony at the Royal Thai Marines base at Sattahip Naval Base.
The RCOTP donated 3 computer systems to a school in the deep south of Thailand.
Along with this donation, the US Navy kindly donated medical supplies and an
un-named person donated toys and English books. The total value exceeded 100,000
baht.
The Royal Thai Marines have kindly agreed to fly these items into the south and
deliver them to the school on behalf of our Rotary Club, free of charge.
Before the official donation was made the Royal Thai marines laid on a nice
lunch for the visiting Rotarians and officers of the Royal Thai Marines.
RCOTP would like to thank the Royal Thai Marines for their continued and kind
support for our “Southern Initiative Project” in the insurgency area of South
Thailand. Winning hearts and minds is a sure way to beat the terrorist!
A dear friend remembered
Gerald Norman Bryant II was born on the 4th of July 1953 to
Harold and Marcella Bryant, one month and one day after his uncle Gerald Norman
Bryant was killed in the service of the US Army during the Korean War.
 Jerry
‘Hot-dog’ Bryant
As he grew up, each year the United States celebrated its birthday on the 4th of
July with fireworks and festivities. Jerry was in awe as he felt the world was
celebrating his own birthday. When he grew older he realized the difference
between the two, but in his entire life, he would say he never met a person whom
he didn’t like, because every one had helped him celebrate his birthday.
On November 23rd 1973 he arrived in Thailand to live with his dad who was
employed by the United States Army at camp Samae Sarn. Loving the country, the
people and his many friends, he decided that Thailand was to be his home - so
when his dad went home in 1976 he decided to stay.
He worked for the U.S. Government for a short time, but, as the American
presence in Thailand was being fazed out, Jerry too lost his job. Not wanting to
go back to the States, he and his wife Dang opened “Dang’s Hot Dog” on a
shoe-string budget right under the big tree in South Pattaya. Wanting to make it
on his own, he worked as a diver for Bill Book and later on for Dave Doll. He
later established the “Saloon Bar” making one of the tastiest Pizzas in town.
Then tragedy struck. For on one fateful night, as he was driving home with his
wife, through some terrible accident, he was shot three times in the stomach.
That would have been the end of most people, for he was clinically dead at least
twice in the hospital. But his will to live kept him going. With the kind and
loving care of his family and friends he was able to pull through.
He was a member of the Pattaya Sports Club and took part in all its sports
activities, be it bowling, darts, softball or just plain hanging around and
living it up. Jerry was a pioneer in Pattaya. He was tough and never once let
anyone take away anything that was rightly his. But he was also a man with a big
heart. How many of us knew him as generous to the point of foolishness. He just
grinned and said that, “If I am so stupid to give it away, then may he who took
it enjoy it.” Jerry was the father of two children, Jerry “Noi” and little
Michel.
In March 1992 Jerry was taken seriously ill only a few days after his return to
Thailand from a journey to India to enroll little Jerry in a school there. He
succumbed and passed away.
As we remember his birthday anniversary this 4th of July, we would just like to
say, “Dear Jerry, old friend, you will always be with us. Your spirit lives in
the Big Tree and you will always be in the annals of Pattaya, for it took men
like you to create Pattaya and show what it takes to endure and become what it
is today.”
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