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The sky smiles on Pattaya
Currently the three brightest
objects in the night sky, Jupiter, Venus and the crescent moon, lined up
perfectly just after dusk on Monday, December 1. The rare alignment, which
experts say won’t happen again for another 44 years, created an image of a
happy face in the sky. We hope you were able to look up and catch a glimpse
of this quite unique spectacle, shown here smiling down on the Hard Rock
Hotel Pattaya. (Pattaya Mail photo by Boonsiri Suansuk)
Bangkok Bank management addresses PCEC meeting
Pravit Pukasem, manager of the
Bangkok Bank 2nd Rd branch, along with Karen Campbell and other Bangkok Bank
executives pose with Michel De Goumis, chairman of Pattaya City Expats Club.
The Pattaya City Expats Club enjoyed an entourage of guests
from Bangkok Bank at their meeting on Sunday, November 23 at the Amari’s Henry
J. Bean’s Restaurant.
Pravit Pukasem, vice president and manager of the 2nd Road branch, was
accompanied by two officers from the main bank in Bangkok, Karen Campbell,
executive vice president of the Product and Distribution Department, and
Benjawan Vichitthanaruk, vice president with the Internet Banking Section.
Pravit also was accompanied by the manager of the bank’s Foreign Relations
Department, the regional manager for this region, and several of his staff
members from the 2nd Road branch.
Karen, a native of New Zealand, introduced Benjawan who would first talk about
Bangkok Bank’s Internet Banking service called Bualuang iBanking. After which,
she would tell everyone about some of the bank’s investment opportunities.
One of the main benefits with iBanking, Benjawan said, is it saves you time by
not having to make trips to the bank. When going online, the customer can view
all their accounts on one page. They can also review all transactions in the
accounts for the previous 3 months. Although only 3 months are available online,
a customer can get a longer history by visiting a bank branch. Bangkok Bank
offers iBanking to foreign customers provided they have a work permit or can
show they are in Thailand on a long stay visa, such as a retirement visa. Also,
the customer must have an email address, which is needed for receiving their
logon information. Additionally, a mobile telephone number is necessary for use
of the SMS message features.
Once signed into iBanking, the customer can set up vendors such as CAT or TOT
for direct payment from their account or top up their mobile phone (AIS or DTAC
for example). These payments may or may not involve a fee.
A major feature is the ability for the customer to transfer funds to third party
bank accounts within Bangkok Bank or at 7 other banks in Thailand. Transfers can
be recurring or scheduled for a specific date in the future. Another feature is
using iBanking to make international wire transfers. However, the initial set up
of this feature requires one trip to your bank branch. This is necessary as the
Bank of Thailand requires all Thai banks to obtain and have on file
documentation to show that the transfer is for a permitted purpose. Benjawan
said that Thai citizens can transfer funds out of Thailand to support family
members living abroad or for education costs in another country. A foreigner
working in Thailand can transfer funds they have earned outside of Thailand for
the purpose of savings.
Another feature, for American customers, is they can direct deposit their
pension checks or make domestic wire transfers to their Bangkok Bank account in
Thailand. This is done by using Bangkok Bank’s New York Branch, which is part of
the USA Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. The funds are “routed” to the
account by using the New York Branch’s ACH number and the customer’s Bangkok
Bank account number in Thailand. This provides a cost savings as most banks in
USA charge a higher fee for international wire transfers as opposed to domestic.
Similarly, Bangkok Bank charges higher fees for the deposit of a pension check
in lieu of a direct deposit through the New York Branch. Additionally, the
customer will also benefit from getting the better exchange rate as the funds
are converted from US dollars to baht in Thailand using the bank’s exchange
rate.
In addition to iBanking, Bangkok Bank also offers Western Union service for
sending or receiving money. This method is beneficial in cases where funds need
to be available quickly as they can be available for pick up in about 15
minutes. This service is available whether you do or do not have a Bangkok Bank
Account. If you are sending funds outside of Thailand, as with wire transfers,
documentation must be provided to show the transfer falls within the Bank of
Thailand’s restrictions for such transfers. The fee for transfers varies
depending on the amount and where the funds are going. However, there is no fee
to the recipient for receiving the funds.
Bangkok Bank provides another service that most foreign customers will
appreciate. A customer can set up an automatic SMS notification when funds are
transferred into their account. The SMS message shows the amount in foreign
currency, the exchange rate, the bank’s fee, and the amount of baht deposited.
This service is available between 8am and 10pm on normal banking days.
Karen Campbell then informed the audience about some of the investment
opportunities offered by Bangkok Bank or its affiliates, such as mutual fund or
retirement fund investment. For those that wish to have investment earnings, but
also remain liquid, they have another type of investment in government
securities that allow for a daily investment and return. Karen said that
currently most of these investment opportunities are publicized in Thai, but
that she and her staff are diligently working on getting this information
translated into English. In conclusion, Karen invited everyone to contact her if
they had any questions, about investments or any other banking issues.
MC Richard Silverberg then updated everyone on upcoming events. Again filling in
for Hawaii Bob Sutterfield, Lawrie Mcloughlin conducted the always informative
and sometimes humorous Open Forum where information is shared on living in
Pattaya and Thailand.
Caddy Shack Money
buys food for Isaan
Club receives eighth Platinum Sponsor
Keith, Koy and friends from
the Caddy Shack donate 35,000 baht to Malcolm and Christina Boden of the
Charity Club of Pattaya.
Earlier this year the Caddy Shack donated 35,000 baht to
Malcolm and Christina Boden of the Charity Club of Pattaya to be used for
one of their ongoing projects in Isaan.
Many of the rice farmers are having problems feeding their families due to
the high price of rice. Many are living on rice mixed with water, so with
the money from Keith and Koy, the club has purchased food and instant drinks
which has been sent with the Charity Club’s representative, Rotarian Peter
Rottmann for distribution. The food parcels include items such as noodles,
tinned fish, rice and instant hot drinks, which will be welcomed with open
arms now that the weather has turned so cold.
 Christina
Boden (left) accepts the club’s eighth Platinum Sponsorship from Steve
Puttock (right).
This will be the fourth truck load of food, warm clothing, rice and drinks
that the club has sent to the Isaan area for distribution.
Along with the food they also sent a much needed wheelchair for 37 year old
Udom in the village of Ban Prasat.
The Charity Club would like to extend its thanks again to Keith & Koy at the
Caddy Shack for their valued support.
In December Malcolm and Christina will be travelling to Isaan for 4-5 days
to visit the projects they have running in the various villages.
Also, Christina Boden of the Charity Club of Pattaya was more than happy to
welcome Steve Puttock to her home when he visited to become Platinum Sponsor
number eight! Steve has made numerous donations to the various projects that
the club has done in Isaan, and when he is free from work he supports the
many functions that the Charity Club host throughout the year. This will be
the first year that Steve has become a Platinum Sponsor.
Asian University’s Dr. Mario hosts monthly discussion group
Dr Mario (left) and Dr Stuart
McFarlane discuss a point.
Susan Joyce
For the past few months, Dr. Giuseppe Mario Saccone, a lecturer at Asian
University, has been hosting a lecture and discussion group at the North Star
library on Sukhumvit Road, Pattaya.
The lecture topics have included; What is Philosophy? Politics and Political
Science, Philosophy and the problem of the relation between Mind and Body, and
in November was the Role of Politics for Augustine and Aquinas.
Dr Mario, an Italian, has a degree in Philosophy and History from Genova
University, and earned his PhD in Politics at Exeter University. He also has a
Master of Philosophy from the Faculty of Arts and a Master of Buddhist Studies
from the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Social Sciences. Dr. Mario
lectures and teaches in the Humanities Department of the Faculty of Liberal Arts
at Asian University, to students from all the faculties. He is offering these
public talks as part of the university’s community service programme. Asian
University is located on Highway 331, about 20km from Pattaya and Jomtien.
November’s meeting was the last for 2008, but they will start again on the last
Thursday in January (29 January 2009, 15.00 - 16.30) with a talk and discussion
on “What is Philosophy of Science”. The talks are free to any interested
parties, and each month a small, but lively group get together for a very open
discussion. Members of the group include retired lecturers and teachers as well
as people who are interested in philosophy, politics and history.
Italian buffet at the Bay - A fresh approach to Italian dining
Sue K
Dusit Thani Pattaya brings in a fresh approach to Italian dining with an all
Italian buffet dinner every Wednesday evening at the Bay Restaurant, Bar &
Terrace.
With its sumptuous Italian dishes and one of the best views of Pattaya Bay, it
has been included in Thailand Tattler’s guidebook “Thailand’s Best Restaurants”
consecutively in 2006 and 2007.
 A
large selection to choose from at The Bay.
Chef Claudio Mendini, a native of Trento, Italy, has more than 10 years of
culinary experience and has worked for celebrated Italian restaurants in and
around Italy as well as in Asia.
Sumptuous Italian dishes await you at The Bay including must-try specialties
that are laid out in an extensive array every Wednesday night. Appetizers, salad
bar, huge selection of warm dishes, pasta and pizza, soups and finally the mouth
watering desserts. All for only 796 baht net.
Chef Claudio invites you to, “Please come and try our authentic Italian
creations with a modern twist, as well as some of my signature dishes added to
the basic a la carte menu every month to let you into some of his best culinary
flair.”
“At the Bay We guarantee a fresh change from the usual dishes and of course the
fine dining with the relaxing beachfront atmosphere as well as the breathtaking
view of Pattaya Bay,” says Chef Claudio.
The Bay is open every day for lunch and dinner and the special Italian buffet is
on every Wednesday from 7 - 10 p.m. For reservations, please call 0 3842 5611-7
ext. 2270.
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