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PILC prepares for annual Black & White Ball
 Adene
Paykel
PILC Special events
The time has come to celebrate a wonderful year for the Pattaya
International Ladies Club, a time to relax and enjoy the hard work we have
all put in, in 2008. It’s also a time to ring in the New Year so what better
way to do this than at this year’s annual Black and White ball on Saturday
November 15 at the Dusit Thani Resort. Tickets are 3,500 baht, and as you
all know it is the PILC’s most fruitful fundraiser!
The evening is shaping up to be a fun and sophisticated event, starting at
6.30pm with canapés & cocktails as we watch the sun go down.
Of course there will be fabulous entertainment and plenty of dancing, with
music to cater for all. And don’t forget the very important part of the
night, our auction; we have some exciting items up for grabs, including
services of a private chef, an antique cutlery setting and a beautiful
Florence Broadhurst inspired piece of art. So please make your reservations
soon, we don’t want you, our members, to miss out!
Evening menu: graved laks with dill mustard sauce; chicken consommé with
pancakes; poached scallops & spring onion on puff pastry; Grand Marnier
flavoured orange sherbet; grilled pork steak with ratatouille & herbed onion
potatoes or pan-fried red snapper fillet with sun-dried tomato and olive
sauce or beef tender loin in olive sauce with pepperoni stew; and a
delicious desert buffet. Fine Australian red & white wine will accompany
your meal & a choice of Heineken or Singha.
Please note there is a vegetarian option.
Reserve your tickets from Adene Paykel tel. 086 149 1771.
Fly Over - A sense of place
Canadian Artists on display in Pattaya
(L to R) Artist Jim Ulrich, along
with co-owner of Narai Gallery Paul McGarry, H.E the Canadian Ambassador to
Thailand David Sproul, Violinist Bing and co-owner of Narai Gallery Lek pose in
front of Jim Ulrich’s art work.
Paul Strachan
It was an impressive turnout on Saturday October 18 at Narai Gallery to see the
latest work from Canadian born artist Jim Ulrich.
Jim is a man with a wealth of experience as an artist as well as a lecturer,
with over 35 years working in this field. His latest work embodies maturity,
boldness and perspective.
Jim’s inspiration and development stems from a myriad of sources and his
interest in natural phenomena and extensive travel has engaged him in projects
near and far, including Northern Australia, California and here in Thailand.
 A
pair of art lovers inspect one of the works on display.
His multi-layered works are primarily in acrylic on canvas and Jim’s current
works exploit new industrial pigments and synthetic colours that extend colour
perception and experience.
The intricate dialogue, rhythms and visual conversation in his new work engage
the viewer’s imagination as never before.
His work on display at Narai Gallery consists of 23 paintings, 3 of which were
immense in scale and brave in their use of colour.
Jim’s work is almost tactile and when I interviewed him for PMTV he encouraged
me to trace my fingers across the canvas, which was like scanning a map of a
beautiful and uncharted landscape. He explained that he prepares the canvas by
soaking, folding, and manipulating it, so that it forms contours and then he
gets to work with the various elements at his disposal.
Even with such long-standing career in the arts Jim was modest enough to admit
that many works were not on display - but that that was merely part of the
creative process.
The three large works could easily adorn corporate offices, and might even be
suitable for the home.
Co-owner of Narai art gallery Paul McGarry could hardly contain his excitement
of not only the exhibition but also to the fact that he had purchased one of the
large works for his own private collection.
Another art fan at the opening of this exhibition was the Canadian Ambassador to
Thailand His Excellency David Sproule, who officially opened the exhibition and
was keen to point out that he was a keen lover or art. Prior to this event he
thought that the best work was only available in Bangkok, but he went on to say
that he was delighted to see the work of his fellow Canadian on show here in
Pattaya. He hopes this exhibition will help promote Pattaya for other visiting
artists and art enthusiasts.
The event was well conceived, and featured a buffet, Thai dancing and plenty of
wine on hand.
The exhibition entitled: Fly Over - A sense of place is on show at the Narai Art
Gallery on Soi 5 Pratamnak Hill for the next seven weeks.
Rotary Guv visits Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard
(L to R) President Toy Ryser
presents a bouquet of flowers to Vasinee Malhotra as Pratheep Malhotra receives
a vintage bottle from Stefan Ryser.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Hard-working governor of Rotary District 3340, Pratheep Malhotra has clocked up
many car kilometers on his visiting rounds to Rotary Clubs in his district since
being elected to the top job three months ago.
 Pratheep
Malhotra (left) presents a Paul Harris Fellow award to Marliese Fritz, vice
president of the club.
On October 3 Pratheep visited members of the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard in
Pattaya at the Marriott Resort and Spa where he was welcomed by Toy Ryser,
president of the club.
As usual it was not all a social visit as the governor was on hand to listen to
reports of progress and any problems that may need his support for the Rotary
Club’s continuing work for children and the disadvantaged in the community.
Each Rotary Club carries out a wide range of activities of social benefit
including just offering basic facilities such as a clean bathroom and a
community library.
But the governor’s visit is also always an opportunity for good friends to meet
over lunch.
Electric atmosphere at PCEC meeting
After the usual announcements at the regular Sunday meeting
of the Pattaya City Expats Club at the Amari’s Henry J. Beans on Sunday, October
12, MC Richard Silverberg introduced Barry Kenyon, Honorary British Counsel, to
provide the latest information from Thai Immigration.
 Able
Roberts takes PCEC members for a spin in the ‘eJeep’.
Barry stated that there are about 12,000 foreigners in Pattaya with one-year
visas based on retirement or other criteria. Further, approximately one-third of
those renewing their visas for another year fail on the first attempt; usually
from not having all the necessary documents.
Based on the volume of renewals and to preclude last minute hassles, Thai
Immigration is requesting that holders of one-year visas renew them at least
one-week before they expire. Barry reminded everyone that the Pattaya
Immigration Office will renew one-year visas up to 90 days before they expire
and the extension will be for a full year from the normal expiration date.
 Barry
Stone discusses the finer points of EV manufacture with fellow EV manufacturer,
Paul Markham.
Barry also informed the audience that the Pattaya Immigration Office may not
always ask for documentation to prove your address when doing your 90 day report
as it is discretionary with the Immigration Officer. He suggests that when
making the 90 day address report, you should have such documentation available
to prevent a return trip in the event Immigration asks for it.
MC Richard then introduced the day’s guest speakers from Electric Boats
(Thailand) Co. Ltd. located in Hua Hin. Barry Stone is the managing director and
Able Roberts is the production/marketing director.
Barry said that about four years ago he started a business to provide boat
excursions, and discovered that the winds and waves during December and January
(busiest part of high season) were such that the boat could not be used about 60
percent of the time. This got him to thinking about river tours and he sort of
had a vision of a floating “golf cart” that could be used on the river. This led
to designing and building a long tailed boat powered with an electric motor and
forming Electric Boats (Thailand) Co. Ltd.
They believe that their electric long tailed boat is the only one in existence.
This boat carries up to 10 passengers at a speed of about 5 knots and it can be
operated for about 7 hours before recharging. The boat is very economical to
operate as it costs only about 30 baht to recharge the batteries. They have
carried about 1,500 passengers using this boat with no malfunction, except once,
which was caused by human error rather than equipment failure.
In addition to being economical and environmentally friendly, there are other
advantages to electric powered boats, such as being able to approach wildlife
without disturbing them as well as no noxious fumes, vibrations, or loud noises
to disturb the tranquility of the trip.
With experience and improved technology, they have developed a better boat that
travels at about 7 knots. This boat is powered by an Agni electric motor that is
driven by magnets. It provides high torque and is lighter than other electric
motors, weighing about 11 kilos. This motor is built in India, is highly
efficient, and was used to cross the ocean using solar power alone.
Barry said that because of the cost of solar panels, solar powered boats are not
currently economically viable, but they are building one for themselves as a
challenge. Also, in addition some of the boats will have glass bottoms so
passengers can see the underwater life.
Barry went on to say that this interest in battery powered electric motors led
them to develop an E-Jeep that was made from a golf cart chassis. Unlike golf
carts, the E-Jeep can do 60 kilometres per hour. Barry said they had brought one
with them to the meeting and invited everyone to take a ride in it when the
meeting concluded.
He mentioned that this E-Jeep would sell for around 375,000 baht compared to the
typical golf cart, which sells for 450,000 baht.
Besides the E-Jeep, they acquired a Diahatsu Minivan and converted it to
electrical power. They also are developing an electric powered Tuk Tuk,
acquiring the Tuk Tuk chassis, etc., from a manufacturer located in Chonburi.
Additionally, the manufacturer is also working on a 4 wheel chassis. This will
allow them to make it into an E-Jeep or, like the Diahatsu, into a pick up truck
or enclosed van.
For these vehicles, they will be using the Agni motor powered with lithium
instead of lead acid batteries. Lithium batteries are about half the weight and
can be recharged quickly. Each of the land vehicles will be equipped with an
on-board charger. Thus to recharge, one only needs an electrical outlet.
Further, these vehicles will have about a 90 kilometre range before needing a
recharge.
The land vehicles are considered to be personal urban vehicles offering
economical transportation (from 50 to 70 baht per recharge) at reasonable speed
for urban areas (60 to 80 kilometres per hour). Barry said they will also
continue to manufacture the 30 foot electric boat, which will sell for about 1.5
million baht.
As expected, there were many questions from the audience and many seeking rides
in the E-Jeep after the meeting concluded.
The meeting concluded as usual with MC Richard updating the audience on upcoming
events and special interest group activities before calling on “Hawaii Bob”
Sutterfield to conduct the Open Forum. As always, the often humorous Open Forum
provided answers to questions from the members and guests about living here in
Thailand - following the Club’s motto of Expats helping expats.
The worlds first electric long
tail boat, built by Barry and Able, is now touring the estuaries of Prachuap
Khiri Kan, near Hua Hin. This very quiet boat does not disturb the wildlife, as
an ‘internal combustion’ motor would.
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