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Better access for disabled urged
Vimolrat Singnikorn
A professor from Chulalongkorn University advised Pattaya City to do
more to improve access to buildings and travel ways for the young, disabled
and elderly to improve their quality of life in the city and to be more
welcoming as a tourist destination.
 Asst.
Prof. Trairat Jarutas from the Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn
University.
Asst. Prof. Trairat Jarutas from the Faculty of Architecture and head of the
Pattaya Environmental Adjustment for Quality of Life and Tourism project,
discussed details of the project with Apichart Puetpan, deputy city manager,
and representatives from the Pattaya Redemptorist Vocational School for the
Disabled on November 5 at city hall.
Trairat proposed the division of the city into three different zones for the
purpose of catering for the three groups concerned.
The Accessible Zone for disabled and elderly people must have 75-100% free
access with correct facilities for these groups in public and private
buildings. This covers much-visited areas such as North Pattaya area, along
Pattaya Beach Roads 1 and 2 and along Jomtien Beach Road.
The Accessibility and Assisted Zone must have an area that disabled and
elderly people can access with aid. Some portion of this area can be used by
these special groups who can not freely use the entire area. These areas
include Thepprasit Road, Pattaya 3rd Road and Pattaya-Naklua Road.
The Restricted Zone has limited areas for elderly and disabled people to
access. But because of steep terrain such as Pratamnak Hill, it is more
difficult to provide good access to the groups.
A long-term development plan should be in place to make the entire central
Pattaya area accessible to the elderly and the disabled. At least 100 meters
on either side of major roads into lanes and sois should be accessible to
these special groups.
Asst. Prof. Trairat also recommended better bus and mini-bus parking areas
to avoid passenger congestion blocking traffic and to control the time that
drivers wait to tout passengers. Taxi motorcyclists should also park in
lanes instead of on the main roads.
Apichart agreed that these recommendations would help the develop quality of
life and tourism in the city and he will submit them for further
consideration by the city administration.
Chachoengsao
in festive mood
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
It was a festive time once again in Chachoengsao as the annual “Sothorn”
Buddha image worship ceremony and Red Cross Fair were held at the same time,
from November 4-13, coinciding with the Loy Krathong festival.
 Worshippers
pay respect to the Sothorn Buddha at the parade.
Some 50,000 residents and tourists attended the fair at HRH Srinakarin Park over
the 10 nights for the food, fun, browsing and shopping in stalls set up by
government and private businesses, and of course the much-anticipated drawing of
prizes at the Red Cross booths.
It was a hive of activity also on the water with races by traditional boats,
long-tailed boats and even the little remote-controlled boats.
The festival raises money for charities in the province every year.
The annual “Sothorn” Buddha image worship ceremony is held three times a year.
 The
procession makes its way through town.
The first time is at the Chinese New Year festival, organized by the Chinese
Club, for five days and nights from the first to the fifth night of the waxing
moon.
The second time is at the fifth lunar month when the festival runs from the 15th
night of the waxing moon to the second night of the waning moon, for three days
and nights. The purpose of this is to celebrate the Sothorn Buddha image being
invited from the water and installed in its temple.
The third time is at the 12th lunar month from the 12th night of the waxing moon
to the first night of the waning moon.
The worship festival dates back to 1880 when smallpox spread throughout the
area. The villagers therefore prayed to the Sothorn Buddha to successfully help
to cleanse them of the plague and the celebrations had been held every year
since then.
Lights, samosas and dancing
Divali Night at GIS
Alice Razon
On the last day of school before students were on their first half-term
break, a group of students from IB1 (Year 12) decided to bring to GIS their
traditional celebration: ‘Divali’. The Divali Night at school starts off with an
array of Indian food followed by performances by all age groups. The evening was
brightened with dances going from traditional to modern, solo to medley. To top
the greatness of the night, a singer, Fouzina Kamar from Bollywood, came to sing
for us live!
The welcoming ‘Namastes’ and colours in the performing hall were accompanied by
a feel fully energized with animation, excitement and thrill. As the mass
entered, families and friends were crowding to get the best view of the stage.
The stage in itself was a work of art; it was attractively decorated with
candles and flowers, and traditional mosaics.
To start off the ceremony, the manager and principal of the school were asked to
light a candle stand; officially marking the start of the evening. This was
followed by a presentation by secondary students explaining the origins of
Divali, along with many moving dances and beautiful singing.
Applauding hands and smiles grew ceaselessly as the event continued. Spectators
were awed by the allure of the cultural dances. Even small children felt the
need to run around and jump with the dancers performing on the stage. In a way,
the evening was a drive of adrenaline which no one escaped experiencing. The
energy was highly contagious which combined all generations to move along to the
rhythm of the sound of Indian music.
Everyone who participated was satisfied, although disappointed when the night
came to an end, yearning for the evening to continue. The culture will continue
to live through light or darkness and so we are just waiting for another night
like this. It was an exceptional night. A night you do not regret watching; a
night which leaves a tinge of excitement in your memory.
PCS shares market insight at Milan Crosse networking dinner
(Left to right) Cameron Stirling,
account manager and creative director for Milan Crosse Partners; Klaus Kinzleman
from BMW Thailand; John Wyss, Pattaya branch manager of PCS; Sebastian Power,
general manager Eastern Seaboard for PCS; and Jim Howard, consultant with Milan
Crosse Creative Ltd.
Despite the heavy storm there was still a full house at the
October Milan Crosse Networking Dinner that took place on Thursday October 30 at
the Orangery by the Sea restaurant in The Avenue Complex on Pattaya 2nd Road.
Due to the inclement weather the attendees were denied the use of the outside
terrace; however, they were warmly welcomed inside to the juice bar for
pre-dinner cocktails by Cameron Stirling and Jim Howard of Milan Crosse. It was
good to get out of the rain and everybody was looking forward to the evening’s
presentation from one of the top 5 largest private sector employers in Thailand.
Once again those attending represented some of the major industries on the
Eastern Seaboard. Of course there was a lot of animated discussion centering
around the current economic crisis and its effects on business in Thailand in
general and on the Eastern Seaboard in particular.
Russell Jay was back and he assured us all that Southshore FM 88.5 would soon be
on the air. Also among the crowd were Peter Diurson from Sunrise Beach Resort,
Rick Tyo of Siamsys Co. Ltd., Jiroj Rojpanichkul from Thai Starch Co. Ltd.,
David Cotterell of Shedden Uhde and Alain Deurwaerder from Katoen Natie
Thailand.
In the absence of Joe Grunwell the post prandial charge into the night and an
attempt to learn some of the “secrets” of Pattaya was led by Roger Yee and Peter
Mewes.
Following drinks an excellent dinner was then served in the private dining room
and featured some novel items from the newly available Russian cuisine, the
Borscht soup being particularly tasty. The superb spread was complemented by
some fine Australian wines, which also helped to promote more animated
discussion.
Then it was time for the presentation from Sebastian Power, representing
Property Care Services (PCS), which from modest beginnings as a pest control
operator more than 40 years ago has unsurprisingly grown to become one of the 5
largest employers in the private sector in Thailand. The success of PCS is proof
of the old English adage that, “where there’s muck there’s brass.”
With a staff now in excess of 24,000 nationwide PCS has evolved into a total
solution provider for property support services. Who has not noticed the
ubiquitous ladies in their distinctive yellow uniforms and the security
personnel in their smart khaki uniforms? The company now provides an across the
board facilities management service and is expanding beyond this into hygiene
and catering and specialized cleaning for hospitals, clean rooms and other
production facilities where specific methods are required. As Sebastian said in
conclusion, “If the customer wants something we will provide it.”
With only 1 week to go the good food, good wine and a superb presentation
stimulated some keen discussion on the outcome of the forthcoming US
presidential election and that was with only one American present!
The evening was hosted by Jim Howard on behalf of Milan Crosse accompanied by
Cameron Stirling, the creative director of Milan Crosse Creative Co., Ltd.
You’re feeling very sleepy...
The first order of business at the regular Sunday meeting of
the Pattaya City Expats Club at the Amari’s Henry J. Bean’s Restaurant on
Sunday, November 9 was to advise everyone that Gavin Waddell, International
Relations Department, Phyathai Hospital Sriracha, had brought a nurse to
administer the flu vaccine to those that wanted it.
 Canadian
Hypnotist Bruce Quinby jokes with PCEC members as he discusses the uses of
hypnotism for medical purposes, (hypnotherapy) as well as for self improvement
and for entertainment.
The second was to clarify that the E-Jeep (pictured in the October 24 issue of
Pattaya Mail) was manufactured by Jim Fortune of Fortune Golf Car Part
Co. of Na Jomtien and that Barry Stone and Able Roberts with Electric Boats
Thailand, Ltd. brought it to the October 12 meeting when they gave their
presentation, which included their description of converting this type vehicle
to use high efficiency motors and lithium cell batteries for improved
performance and longer range.
MC Richard Silverberg then introduced Bruce Quinby, the club’s speaker for the
week, whose topic was hypnosis. Bruce started by sucking on a lemon. He then
asked the audience how many salivated when observing this. Those who did, he
said, were very susceptible to suggestion and would be good candidates for
hypnosis. Bruce, a native of Canada who now resides in Pattaya, said he has been
a hypnotist for 26 years (he has received his accreditation from the
International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association). He said he would
discuss some of the beginnings of modern hypnotism, its primary uses, and would
conclude by offering a suggested technique that each person in the audience can
use to improve themselves.
He went on to say that hypnosis is as old as humanity, but some more recent
historical figures involved in using hypnosis were Franz Mesmer, an eighteenth
century doctor, who experimented with using magnets and was the source of the
theory of animal magnetism, which was later questioned. Sigmund Freud, a well
known psychiatrist, initially tried hypnotism, but gave it up. Bruce believes
that he gave it up because rather than being a bad therapy, Freud was just a bad
hypnotist. Bruce went on to describe the works of Milton Erickson, a doctor that
used self hypnosis to overcome his paralysis from polio and became a leader in
the field of hypnotherapy - using hypnosis to cure
Bruce read a brief passage related to fusion induction hypnosis, which involves
associating a fear with a pleasurable experience through hypnosis as a means to
overcome a fear or phobia. In inducing hypnosis, the conscious mind is “away”
while the subconscious mind is “aware.” He mentioned that most people can be
hypnotized, with the biggest obstacle being people who resist because they
“fear” they may not recover from the trance, which he said, is not true.
Bruce then described three uses for hypnosis. The first, being in his opinion
the best, is hypnotherapy, which is especially good for phobias. It is usually
fast. He cited one example of curing a phobia about spiders in one session,
whereas other things, such as anxiety or stuttering can often have positive
results with only 3 to 6 sessions needed. In hypnotherapy, one uses regression
by taking the subject back to their first experience of the fear and working
from there.
Another use is performance enhancement. Bruce mentioned a pole vaulter that
attributed his improved performance to hypnosis. Other examples of performance
enhancement include the student that uses hypnosis to improve recall, the artist
that uses it to increase their artistic ability, or a businessman that uses it
to reduce stress.
The third use, Bruce said, was stage hypnosis, which is used for entertainment.
Bruce said that although his main practice of hypnosis is for therapy, he finds
he also enjoys using it to entertain, primarily when it benefits charity. He
stated that stage hypnosis works because in a group of say one hundred, there
will be at least 20 that are very susceptible to hypnosis. Further, the trained
hypnotist can, through certain questions and actions, identify the best
candidates. He recommended that if anyone in the audience has the opportunity to
see a stage hypnotist at work, they should do so.
In conclusion, he wanted to mention a tool that all can use. Just before
dropping off to sleep, you can use the time to program your subconscious by
giving yourself a positive message, for example, “I will be attracted to healthy
food.” He emphasized that the message should be positive, not negative. This
time can also be used to visualize your goals. This bit of self hypnosis is
powerful and he said that one should not underestimate it. The audience’s
interest in the subject was obvious based on the many questions asked.
MC Richard Silverberg then updated everyone on upcoming events and Hawaii Bob
Sutterfield with the aid of his brother Jim, conducted the always informative
and sometimes humorous Open Forum where information is shared on living in
Pattaya and Thailand.
Rotarians provide schools with clean drinking water
Rotarians and students pose at Ban
Amphur School.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Five Rotary Clubs gave two water filtration systems worth 160,000 baht,
English-language instruction CDs and sporting equipment to students in need in
two schools in Sattahip District.
Receiving the charitable help were Ban Amphur School, which has some 300
students from kindergarten to primary school class 6, and Chumchon Ban Bangsarae
School, which has 900 students studying from kindergarten to secondary school
class 3.
The students from both schools are mostly from low-income families with parents
working as laborers or in the fisheries. Most students have moved here from
elsewhere, mainly from the Northeast, following their parents who came here to
find work.
Toy Ryser, president of the Eastern Seaboard Rotary Club in Pattaya, Stefan
Ryser, former president and Capt. Sanit Bunphuan, president of the Rotary Club
in Sattahip, together with Rotarians from District 3340 visited the two schools
to present their gifts on November 10.
Piyachat Wareechon, principal of Ban Amphur School, Bunyen Harisombat, basic
education committee at Chumchon Ban Bangsarae School and principal Wuttichai
Weerawat received the gifts with grateful thanks.
Stefan Ryser said that International Rotary wishes to see the children healthy
and it is important then for them to have clean drinking water.
Children are the nation’s future but many children die each day from diseases
due to their not having clean water to drink, he said.
Rotarians from Nootdorp-Pijnacker District 1600, the Rotary Club Eastern
Seaboard, Rotary Club Jomtien-Pattaya, Rotary Club Taksin-Pattaya and Rotary
Club Sattahip, District 3340 all raised money for the donations.
Each school received 10 English-language CDs to help children increase their
English language skills. They also received sport equipment such as footballs
and volleyballs.
All lunched together and students from both schools performed a Lopburi dance,
Angkalung music and the “Tom-Tom show” for the visitors.
ThaiCraft is coming to ISE
The ever-popular ThaiCraft Fair will be coming to the Eastern
Seaboard at the end of November. ThaiCraft, a Fair Trade organization that
partners with village craft producers in all regions of Thailand, has organized
these fairs in Bangkok every month since 1992.
This year on Sunday, November 30, the International School of Eastern Seaboard
(next to Burapha Golf) has kindly invited ThaiCraft to hold one of their fairs
at the school for the benefit of the whole Eastern Seaboard community - of all
nationalities.
The story of ThaiCraft
Established in August 1992 as an independent development and ethical
marketing organization, ThaiCraft was the successor to the “Hilltribe Sales”
(volunteer-run events organized by the International Church of Bangkok at
International School Bangkok’s former downtown campus from 1975-1992). By
retaining a small share of sales revenue, ThaiCraft is a financially
self-sufficient organization dedicated to serving community needs.
Artisan groups and capacity building development
In the beginning, ThaiCraft partnered with 25 artisan groups from
villages in Central, North and Northeast Thailand. Groups from the South later
joined in 1995. Over the years, more than 100 groups have been involved, from
remote hilltribe minorities in the North to Muslim fishing communities in the
deep South; from city slum dwellers to rice-paddy farmers far off the beaten
track. Income from fairs has helped strengthen producer capacity in villages and
surpluses are used for training opportunities. Today, ThaiCraft’s 70 partner
groups come from all regions of Thailand. Their representatives interact with
ThaiCraft staff and volunteers and, just as importantly, each other at monthly
ThaiCraft Fairs as well as sharing experiences and learning at periodic
workshops and seminars.
ThaiCraft Sales - Now called “ThaiCraft Fairs”
While retaining a local full-time administrative staff, ThaiCraft
also recruits volunteers from local and international communities in Bangkok to
help run the events. Originally called Sales, this unique craft marketplace has
been held in different locations, including the Queen Sirikit National
Convention Center and the Landmark Hotel on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok.
The ThaiCraft Sale - which was renamed the “ThaiCraft Fair” in April 2006 - has
been held at the Ambassador Hotel since 2003, with at least one fair being held
in each calendar month. A major reason why the fairs have remained popular as a
shopping experience is the way customers can learn more about the crafts and
those who make them through craft demonstrations, story tags, information
banners and even through customer visits to craft villages. The fairs always
continue to develop and evolve and, in that way, remain a “must go” event on
many people’s calendar.
In order to present the products to a wider audience, smaller fairs are held
from time to time at other venues. Two of these places are International School
Bangkok (ISB) in Nonthaburi (a Bangkok northern suburb) and at Bumrungrad
Hospital in Sukhumvit Road, also in Bangkok. In seeking other venue
possibilities, ThaiCraft has decided to bring the fair and the artisans to
Chonburi at the invitation of the International School of Eastern Seaboard.
The ‘ThaiCraft Fair’ will take place on Sunday, November 30, 10.00-15.00, at the
ISE School campus. Centrally located next to Burapha Golf Course, it is easily
reached from Chonburi, Sriracha, Laem Chabang, Pattaya, Sattahip and Rayong.
This is a rare chance to select from a tempting variety of high quality
traditional and contemporary Thai handicrafts, including exquisite and unusual
seasonal products and gift items, all in one convenient location. Combined with
ISE’s Family Fun Day, there will also be activities and food for all the family.
Find out more:
Website: www.thaicraft.org email: domestic@thaicraft .org tel: (02) 676
0636-8 ext 231
International School Eastern Seaboard: website: www. ise.ac.th email:
[email protected]. th tel: (038) 345 556 - 9.
Central staff brighten temple
Saksiri Uraiworn
Bright-spark staffers of the Central Department Center in Pattaya (CPN)
took time off their retail work to do their bit for energy conservation and make
merit at the same time at Wat Mai Thasamran on Larn Island.
 Saran
Tantichannan, general manager of the Central Department Center in Pattaya, leads
employees in presenting offerings to monks at Wat Mai Thasamran on Koh Larn.
Saran Tantichannan, general manager of the department store, led some 40
employees to the island to make merit for the fifth CPN world conservation
project, named “Phapa for power”, with members of the mass media in tow on
November 8.
Armed with energy-saving light bulbs that they had previously chipped in to buy,
CPN volunteers changed bulbs, repaired electrical appliances and put a new coat
of paint on parts of the temple.
Among the staff volunteers were employees who won the building team and work
system in-house employee competitions at Central. Their project aims to provide
more efficient lighting to many parts of the country.
Abbot Wimon Phasukit blessed the volunteers for their work and no doubt saw them
back home with an energy-efficient inner glow from a job well done.
CPN employees prepare temple
offerings.
CPN employees gather to present
electrical equipment to Abbot Wimon Phasukit.
Local officials continue the
unbroken chain as Royal flag
walk-run passes through Pattaya
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Following the arrival of the royal flags into Pattaya, Mayor Ittiphol
Khunplome along with 150 officials and residents participated in the national
walk-run on November 8-11 to honor the His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the
Queen to celebrate the 116 days between the royal birthdays this year.
 Mayor
Itthipol Khunplome receives the symbolic flags from Pairat Traisupachok, Mayor
of the Huayyai Municipality.
In the morning of November 8, a ceremony was held for Pattaya city to receive
the symbolic flags from Huayyai Municipality at the Indoor Stadium on Soi
Chaiyapruk 2.
Then the Pattaya leg of the national walk-run parade traveled from the stadium
to Silk Road, passing in front of Big C in South Pattaya and then along
Sukhumvit Road to Wat Chaimongkol Temple then Pattaya 2 Road past Pradul Market
towards city hall.
On November 10, a morning ceremony at a podium in front of the Great King Taksin
monument officially welcomed the royal flags to Pattaya. Mayor Itthipol led
celebrants to pay respect to the portrait of Their Majesties, accompanied by
dances performed by local students.
 Nongprue
Mayor Mai Chaiyanit receives the symbolic flags from Pattaya Mayor Itthipol
Khunplome.
The mayor then headed the parade starting from North Pattaya Road in front of
city hall towards Sukhumvit Road, Siam Country Club Road and Railway Road,
meeting up with Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit and his team of officials in front
of the Pattaya Railway Station.
The combined parade then proceeded on to pass on the flags to Pong Sub-district
officials on November 11, sending the flags off on the rest of their journey
around the country.
The royal birthday flags started their journey around the country at a
celebration held to honor Her Majesty the Queen’s anniversary on August 12 at
the Dusit Palace.
The Office of the Prime Minister organized the “116 Days from Mother’s Day to
Father’s Day”, referring to the birthdays of the mother and father of the
country, to create unity with the national walk-runs involving all 76 provinces.
Three routes were taken by the royal flags, being handed on from province to
province: the first route in the North with 26 provinces starting from Chiang
Rai. The second route in the South with 24 provinces starting from Narathiwat,
and the third route in Northeast and Central Thailand with 26 provinces starting
from Nong kais, and includes Chonburi.
The flags will return to Bangkok in time for HM the King’s birthday in December.
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome leads
city administrators and officials in the walk-run.
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