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Pattaya’s tallest tower learns the ropes as abseiling team moves in to clean the glass
Preparing the ropes for
the initial descent.
Promote Channgam and Nanthini Doowa
A company that specializes in cleaning tall buildings by using abseiling
techniques developed in mountain climbing has been contracted to clean
the windows of Pattaya’s highest building, the 55-story Pattaya Park
Tower.
 You
missed a spot…
Property Care Service Ltd (PCS) has 20 years of experience in this type
of work, and is using its own team of climbing and cleaning specialists
to clean the vast amount of vertical glass on the tower.
During previous cleaning operations, the tower’s management has used
their own staff with a conventional cradle system.
Operations director for PCS Sebastian Power said that commercial
abseiling, known as commercial abs in the business, has become a
successful way of cleaning Thailand’s tall towers in recent years.
Power, who joined PCS from the UK-based OCS Group in 1994, is
responsible for managing all the PCS branches throughout Thailand and
developing the company’s business expansion along the Eastern Seaboard.
He said that abseiling is the use of ropes to gain access to perform all
sorts of maintenance and cleaning activities. Traditionally, the
techniques were used in mountain climbing and have been adapted from
that for commercial purposes.
 It’s
a big job cleaning those windows…
Safety is paramount, said Power, and usually two people go down the
ropes together. Given the heat in Thailand and the reflected heat from
the glass wall of the building, it is possible that a climber could get
into trouble, in which case his companion would help to bring him down.
The ropes are anchored at two different locations and the system is
solid and secure, he said. All the equipment is imported from Europe,
and the chemicals are internationally recognized brand names, although
manufactured in Thailand.
Power said it takes two to three minutes to clean the smaller windows on
the tower, which measure less than a meter square, and that because of
the heat the chemicals dry more quickly than they would normally do in
Europe.
 Sebastian
Power (right) explains to Tony Malhotra (left) how safety is paramount.
Training employees takes about four days and ranges from at least six
methods of tying knots, through to rescue techniques and estimating how
long a length of rope needs to be to reach a certain point. A rope of up
to 300 meters could generally be used on a building of 45 to 50 stories,
but if more rope is needed the abseilers are trained to add extensions.
PCS, which has been in Thailand for 14 years, provides cleaning services
as the core of its business but also includes security and other
services.
The main tenant of Pattaya Park Tower is the Pattaya Park 5-star hotel.
The tower’s viewpoint, located on the 52nd floor, is a popular Pattaya
tourist attraction and there is also a restaurant at this level.
A view from the outside
looking up.
The view of Pattaya from
the roof is spectacular.
Don’t mind them, they’re
just cleaning the windows…
Filipino community celebrates
110 years of independence
The Association of Filipinos in Thailand - Eastern Region
Chapter (AFT-ERC) came together at the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya to celebrate
the 110th anniversary of their nation’s declaration of independence from
Spain.
 Guest
of honor Philippines Ambassador to Thailand Antonio Rodriguez addresses the
gathering.
Guests of honor included Philippines Ambassador to Thailand Antonio
Rodriguez and his wife Mary Anne, and Dianne and Fred Doell, founders of the
Mercy Center, one of the main beneficiaries of this evening.
The Philippine and Thai anthems were followed by a brief welcome speech by
AFT President Malinee Suwansaenee, who introduced Ambassador Rodriguez. The
ambassador thanked the AFT for inviting him and said that members of the AFT
see their task in helping fellow countrymen in need: “In Thailand as well as
in our mother country.” With the consequences of Typhoon Fengshen in the
minds of everyone present, no further details had to be mentioned.
That night, however, the guests had gathered to celebrate, and Ambassador
Rodriguez asked everybody to do just that. After all, it would be in
complete character for the Pinoys and Pinays around the world to revel in
their Independence Day.
 AFT
President Malinee Suwansaenee welcomes the guests to the party.
The buffet offered plenty of delicacies to choose from, and the list of
beverages included fine wines, plenty of San Miguel beer, and free soft
drinks.
Singers entertained, and a highlight of the night was a dance performance by
children from the Mercy Center. At the end of the performance, Mrs Doell
introduced each child individually to the applauding audience. Later on,
members of the Steps & Rhythm Dance Academy presented a dazzling show.
Currently, the Mercy Center hosts 23 children. There is a plan to extend the
facilities as soon as possible, so the center will be able to accommodate up
to 80 children. In addition, Dianne and Fred Doell have other aid projects
running, including supporting inmates at the women’s prison. “Our goal is to
give hope to the poor in our community and to let terminally ill people die
in dignity,” Dianne said.
The remainder of the night was marked by raffles and music, which kept the
guests on their feet until late.
Dianne and Fred Doell, Mercy
Center children
and their friends enjoy the celebration, too.
Scouts and Guides mark 98th anniversary
of the movement in Thailand
Saksiri Uraiworn
More than 1,000 Scouts and Girl Guides took part in celebrations
marking the anniversary of the foundation of Scouting in Thailand on July 1.
 Mayor
Ittipol Khunplome salutes all the Scouts and Guides as they parade by the
main stage.
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome officiated at the parade held at Pattaya Central
School in Ban Nongpangkae on National Scout Day, which saw a gathering of
Scouts and Girl Guides from the 10 schools under Pattaya City jurisdiction.
King Rama VI first introduced Scouting in Thailand on July 1, 1911, and the
movement has flourished here. Thailand was the third country in the world to
introduce Scouting.
The purpose of Scouting is to help young individuals attain physical
fitness, develop initiative and a good moral mentality, and for them to help
others through voluntary participation in community services.
Itthipol said that on the occasion of the 98th anniversary of Scouting in
Thailand, it was appropriate to consider that the fundamentals of the
movement are as important and unchanging as they were back in 1911. Through
individual adherence to physical fitness and sound moral behavior, society
is strengthened and the lives are enhanced.
His Majesty the King is Chief Scout in Thailand, while the Girl Guides
Association is under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen.
Girl Guides parade past the
main stage.
More than 1,000 Scouts and
Girl Guides took part in celebrations marking
the anniversary of the foundation of Scouting in Thailand.
Squaddies and other veterans
celebrate at Tropical Bert’s
Bert Elson
The UK government last year decided that they should nominate a day
to be called Veterans’ Day to honour all who have served in HM Forces, no
matter what rank or service they were in.
 Beefy
gets his award.
June 27 was the date decided and around the world wherever groups of UK
ex-servicemen and women gathered some form of event took place.
Pattaya was no exception and on June 27 at 7pm in Tropical Bert’s, “Troops
Night” started. It was to be a fun night and that it certainly was with
songs provided by Steve and Robin, a cold buffet and plenty of drinks
flowing. We even had a surprise guest drop in when one of the cast of the
movie A Bridge Too Far called in for a pint.
There was a serious part to the night when Friends of the Legion
certificates were presented to Graham of the British Chamber of Commerce
Thailand and Beefy of KPK Foods, both of whom have supported the British
Legion since Day One and continue to do so.
 Bob
drops in!
As the night wore on the singing got louder and the war stories bolder,
mainly from the army contingent, or Squaddies, as they are known. What is a
Squaddy? Well, he can be found anywhere: in love, in bars, in trouble and
always in debt. Girls love them, towns tolerate them, hotels hide them and
governments support them. His interests are girls, females, women and
members of the opposite sex. His likes are beer, booze, plonk, alcohol and
ale, leave passes and an “excused-all-duties” chit. No one else could cram
into one pocket food for 24 hours, a pack of crushed cigarettes, a box of
matches, a picture of his girl, receipts for lost equipment, a deck of cards
and an old leave pass.
However, above all else he has a desire for people to be free. Should you
wish to meet a Squaddy then please call into Tropical Bert’s any Sunday from
2pm where you will be more than welcome. And please remember you do not have
to have served in the armed forces to join the Royal British Legion.
Graham gets his award.
Pack up your troubles.
Some Squaddies enjoy a pint on
Veteran’s Day at Tropical Bert’s.
Survival of the smartest
Royal Thai Marines teach the ins and outs of jungle survival to their U.S. counterparts
Story and photos by Lance Cpl. Andrew S. Avitt,
U.S. Marines
Royal Thai Marines from Marine Division 1st Infantry Battalion
presented a 2-hour class on jungle survival to the U.S. Marines as a part of
Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training.
During the course the U.S. Marines were encouraged to take Darwin’s theory -
“survival of the fittest” - and take it to a higher level of “survival of
the smartest” by learning to prioritize the amount of effort expended, as
well as finding fresh water and food, and the course’s main event, how to
handle cobras.
 An
exhibit of traps and snares set up by Royal Thai Marines showed U.S. Marines
a variety of ways to capture birds and small game to survive in the jungle,
primarily using bamboo and twine. Most of the energy giving the traps power
was stored in highly flexible bamboo bent to release just when its prey was
most vulnerable to be captured or killed.
The instructors introduced how to act and think survival in the hot humid
conditions of Southeast Asia’s vast jungles. The marines learned how to
assess their situation by prioritizing their needs, such as food and water,
chances of discovery, as well as navigation, in order to conserve energy in
the unforgiving climates of the jungle.
“Don’t get too excited, energy is precious in the jungle,” said Royal Thai
Marine Chief Petty Officer 1 Weerachai Chaisuparb who translated the
training into English for the class.
 Cpl.
Daniel Lester, an amphibious assault vehicle crewman, with combat assault
company beheads a chicken using a technique he learned from the Royal Thai
Marines during the jungle survival training.
After the overall situation of the individual is evaluated and needs
prioritized, the first thing to obtain in most cases is water and food,
especially water, said Chaisuparb. The average human can only live about
three days without water and is likely to have less than three days in the
hot conditions of the jungle, he said.
The instructor described obvious places to find water, such as oceans,
lakes, and rivers. However, these obvious sources are not always safe
because of pollution, bacteria, or salt in the water. He explained how to
make uncertain types of water safe through distillation. Distillation is a
method based on boiling water to kill bacteria and filter out salt and
pollution. The clean water vapor rises to the top of the cool pot where it
condenses and drips out into a cup.
 Capt.
Christopher A. Kim, the commanding officer of Hawaii’s 3 Marines combat
assault company, explains to the class how the process of distilling works
during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercises with his Thai
counterparts.
The Thai marines also explained how to find water when no obvious sources
are available.
“I learned to get water from places I never expected, like cutting apart a
banana tree, I never would have done that,” said Cpl. Timothy Adamovage, a
combat engineer with combat assault company.
The Thai Marines cut vines to produce water and explained that many other
wild plants contain a large amount of water as well. The task is to extract
it, said Chaisuparb. Using a plastic bag filled with leaves the Thai Marines
were able to produce a little less than a cup of water by shaking the
foliage, collecting the water at the bottom of the bag.
“There is a lot of water in the jungle vegetation,” Chaisuparb said, while
he uncovered a 12 foot long table of edible leaves, roots, stems, fruit and
other jungle plants he had collected.
For about 20 minutes the two groups of marines sat in a semi circle around
the buffet of vegetation, laughing at one another as if someone had just got
the coconut flavor in a box of chocolates.
 Cpl.
Andrew Carlson, an amphibious assault vehicle crewman with combat assault
company, holds the cobra upside down by its tail while another marine keeps
it head down with a stick. He sneaked up on the cobra from behind to grab it
by the tail while it was distracted.
“I want to experience each country,” said Cpl. Robert B. Montgomery, a
rifleman with CAC. “I was all about trying all the vegetation, some of it
was disgusting, some of it was pretty alright, and they just kept handing us
stuff left and right.”
But educating the Marines on edible greens alone would not provide a
balanced diet. Thai Marines also showed how to catch and kill wild game by
using snares and various other traps made from bamboo and twine.
The next question, then, was how to make fire to cook the game? This was a
question that the Thai Marines were quick to answer. They demonstrated
several different ways to start a fire using flint, a bow and stick, a
battery, various chemicals and even a time fuse in one McGuyver like
example, using an M16 to start the time fuse.
 The
royal Thai Marines taught the U.S. Marines a number of different ways to
make fire suing flint and steel, chemicals, bow and stick, and igniting a
time fuse.
After the Thai Marines thoroughly explained the different processes of
making fire, the group of marines went outside to crowd around two small
wooden crates in anticipation of the long-awaited main event.
Two Thai Marines made their way through the crowd towards the boxes. They
pulled out one cobra and set it down in the middle of the crowd. It quickly
coiled and became very still focusing all its attention on the snake handler
who was now in a crouching posture slowly tapping his foot to keep the
snakes attention away from his hand slowly reaching to the back of the
cobras head. He quickly grabbed it and held it off the ground from just
behind the jawbone. The U.S. marines also learned how to come up from behind
and grab it slowly by the tail dangling the snake in mid air, a technique
done so that the snake will not wrap around a handler’s arm or bite him.
A few U.S. Marines had a chance to try the stunt. “It was a thrill, getting
to experience a little bit of snake handling,” said Cpl. Andrew Carlson, an
amphibious assault vehicle crewman with CAC.
After the demonstration the Marines were taught how to skin and gut the
snake, and even got to try a new tasty beverage: snake’s blood. After
severing the head, the blood was squeezed out of the body in a manner
similar to squeezing toothpaste and drained into a plastic container filled
with grain alcohol in order to kill parasites in the blood. In a tradition
unique to Thai culture, the person who drinks the blood is believed to
inherit the snake’s characteristics and qualities of virility and strength,
Chaisuparb said.
The U.S. Marines without hesitation arose to the challenge, drinking the
cobra’s blood straight from the snake, a somewhat messy process if you ask
Carlson.
“The blood tasted like blood,” said Montgomery, one of the first to grab the
beheaded snake to take a drink. A memory, he said, he won’t soon forget.
Cobra handling wrapped up the Thai survival training, leaving both groups of
Marines laughing and smiling. As some reviewed the pictures on their digital
cameras, which will later be sent home to horrified mothers, others thanked
their Thai brothers for the tips of survival and their enjoyment of the
training.
The Thai jungle survival training was conducted as part of Cooperation
Afloat Readiness And Training (CARAT), an annual series of bilateral
maritime training exercises between the United States and Southeast Asia
nations designed to build relationships and enhance the operational
readiness of the participating forces.
By intimidating the cobra
standing just out of striking distance
a Royal Thai Marine grabs the cobra by the neck, showing the U.S. Marines
how to handle one if such a situation should occur in the jungle.
A Royal Thai Marine passes
out wild vegetation to a crowd of curious and daring U.S. Marines during the
jungle survival course presented by the Royal Thai Marines as a part of
CARAT.
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