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Marines, Lions,
Rotary plant mangroves
RADM Sakchai Ubondetpracharak
(back row, left), Deputy Commander of Royal Thai Marine Corps Command, and
Pratheep Malhotra (back row, right), district governor of Rotary
International District 3340, lead the Rotarians and military personnel in
the planting of a mangrove forest.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
The Royal Thai Marine Corps, Rotary and Lions clubs together planted
600 mangrove seedlings at Thungpong Beach to create a forest to honor His
Majesty the King for the “116 Days from Mothers’ Day to Fathers’ Day”
project.
Officers and their families, students and others muddied their hands for the
sake of the environment, planting mangroves and pra-sakdaeng seedlings at a
shore area of approximately 1,000 rai, consisting of 250 rai of coral and 30
rai of mangroves.
The area is under the responsibility of the Infantry Battalion of the Royal
Thai Marine Corps Division to look after.
 Rotarian,
Lions and military personnel plant a mangrove forest at Thungpong Beach.
Rear-Admiral Sakchai Ubondetpracharak, Deputy Commander of Royal Thai Marine
Corps Command, chaired the planting with Pratheep Malhotra, district
governor of Rotary International District 3340 and Capt. Sanit Bunphuan,
chairman of the Rotary Club in Sattahip, military officers and other green
thumbs on November 19.
He said this regeneration of the mangrove area follows the advice Her
Majesty the Queen gave on the protection of nature and the environment. It
also allows people to show their love and desire to cherish our natural
resources in a practical way.
Lorenzo Home: a new project for Pattaya International Ladies Club
Ingrid Cunliffe,
Welfare Chair, PILC
The Pattaya International Ladies Club welfare team would like to you know of a
new project that we have discovered. We are always looking for ways to
distribute the funds that we raise and especially happy when we find needy
projects that are in need of funding.
 PILC
Welfare chair, Ingrid Cunliffe (left) presents donated money to the Sisters at
Lorenzo Home in Phanatnikhom.
Lorenzo Home in Phanatnikhom, Chonburi, is a home that takes care of abandoned
AIDS infected orphans, of ages between 18 months to 15 years.
This home is run and managed by the Camillian Sisters (ministers to the sick).
Their job is to create a happy family atmosphere, take good care of the children
and protect them from sickness. The children are home schooled at the center and
learn basic housekeeping duties to run the home in an orderly manner.
When I first visited this centre with a Thai friend, I was amazed at the
calmness of the area, and felt at ease the moment I stepped from the car.
The Sisters were very welcoming and shared many stories of the centre since its
opening in 1996. Many stories had sad endings, and I was truly amazed at the
fact that many Thai families chose to abandon their child once they find the
child is HIV positive! Luckily there are places like this centre where the
children are well cared for and have access to medicines that they require.
We found on our visit that the flooring in the dorms, games room and canteen
were in quite bad condition. So, the PILC donated 43,000 baht to put towards the
costs of having the floor re-tiled, much to the Sisters’ delight!
The Welfare team paid a visit there this week and saw first hand the new
flooring, which was very impressive and makes a real difference.
On talking with the Sisters, the next need is a water purifying system for the
large pond they have, so they can use the water from this source.
If you are able to assist in this, please give me a call and I would be more
than happy to show you this wonderful project. Ingrid, PILC Welfare Chair,
087-063-1807.
Charity Club of Pattaya
receives 9th Platinum Sponsor
Christina Boden
The Charity Club of Pattaya’s Platinum Sponsor number nine came in
the guise of Vic King of the Queen Victoria Inn. The sponsors are now coming
in thick and fast for the Charity Club’s Charity Gala Dinner. The money was
then taken back by Vic as he is the treasurer for the Charity Club!
 Vic
King (right) of the Queen Victoria Inn presents his sponsorship money to
Malcolm Boden of the Charity Club of Pattaya.
The Queen Victoria Inn on Soi 6 is also the Charity Club’s adopted home,
where the members meet most Sundays. This will be the third year that the
Queen Victoria Inn has been a Platinum Sponsor.
The Queen Victoria Inn now joins the other Platinum Sponsors: Northern Thai
Realty - Alan Bolton Property Consultants - Cranes & Equipment Asia - UTS -
David Isitt - Tryba - Blue Wave Watersports - C.S.P. Construction - Steve
Puttock & The World of Wine.
Charity Xmas Bazaar
bigger than ever
Dr. Iain Corness
The Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s Xmas Charity Bazaar is now well
entrenched in Pattaya’s annual charity calendar, with even more stalls this year
offering some great last-minute gifts for the thrifty shoppers.
 The
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s Xmas Charity Bazaar promises to be bigger and better
than ever this year.
Hospital spokeswoman Ann Wangviriyaphan from the International Marketing
Department said that many clubs and associations, such as Rotary International
and Lions have joined with the charitable organizations which includes the
Pattaya International Ladies Club, Mercy Center, Rayong Bakery and the Father
Ray Foundation to provide some very interesting Xmas items.
With over 30 organizations taking part this year, as well as representations
from some of Pattaya’s leading hotels, the lobby of the hospital’s E Building
will be buzzing. The program starts at 9 a.m. and includes Thai Classical
dancing by the children from the Rayong English Program school plus choral
singers, but even more importantly, Santa Claus and some very appealing elves
will be rewarding all the good children with candies and other assorted yummies
from around 10.30 a.m. and they will then be touring the pediatric wards after
lunch to visit the children who are temporarily stuck between the covers. The
helipad on the roof of E Building has had special intravenous lines fitted for
the reindeer, while they are waiting for Santa to finish.
Saturday morning, December 13, at the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya on Sukhumvit Road
looks like a happy occasion to brighten up the lives of all children, especially
those who may be underprivileged in any way.
Story telling time at PCEC weekly meeting
It was story telling time this week at the regular Sunday
meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club at Henry J. Bean’s Restaurant on Sunday,
November 30.
After giving the usual announcements, emcee John Fishback explained that the
day’s program was to be a departure from the usual format of having a guest
speaker. He then invited members and guests to share their stories about
visiting or living in Thailand. The stories varied and ranged from experiences
in 1948 up to the present. Some were amusing, some were cautionary, and some
were adventures. The most interesting and amusing dealt with Thai logic, which
for those experienced in living in Thailand know does not necessarily equate to
what a westerner might consider to be common sense. To relate every story would
take too much space, but here are some of the highlights.
Club Secretary David Meador’s story reminded one of Moses, who wandered through
the wilderness for 40 years before finding the Promised Land. David said for the
first 20 years he came to Thailand, he had no interest in visiting Pattaya.
Further, he actually had to be “dragged” here by a business acquaintance. As
with Moses, David discovered that for 20 years he had been wandering through
Thailand and now lo and behold, he had found the Promised Land.
There were several stories that fall into the “This is Thailand” category.
Another member mentioned that in 1967 he was working as a contractor in Vietnam
and came to Thailand for rest and relaxation. He said he met a lady here in
Pattaya that he invited to go on a boat trip to one of the nearby islands;
however, she first wanted to go to her residence to get a swim suit. Although he
had a nice day and evening, the next day he discovered that there was $60
missing from his wallet. The police’s initial reaction was not encouraging until
he informed the officer that he knew where the lady lived. Well, that got things
going and the officer accompanied him to her house. The policeman entered and
after 20 minutes returned and gave him $20. When he inquired about the other
$40, the policeman reasonably explained that the lady kept US$20 and, he the
policeman, of course, kept the other US$20.
Also in this category, another member mentioned that he initially got a taste of
Thai logic on his first trip to Thailand. He and his friends were dining at the
Mango Tree Restaurant in Bangkok. He said he ordered a blended fruit drink and
when they got the “check bin” he questioned the wait staff on why he was charged
60 baht for the drink when the menu showed the price to be 50 baht. The wait
staff logically explained that their blender was broke, so they had to get his
drink from the establishment next door, and their price was 60 baht.
This member also related another story about a good friend who lived in Bangkok
and made a visit to Krabi, but decided to cut the visit short because of bad
weather. His hotel concierge told him that although there were no flights
available from Krabi, he could catch a bus to Phuket and get a flight from
there. Upon inquiry with the bus station, his friend was told there was a 2pm
bus to Phuket. He then checked out and went to the bus station, only to learn
that the 2pm bus was full and had no seats available. Obviously, the silly
farang should not have anticipated that his inquiry about a bus would also have
elicited the information that there were no seats available.
In the “That was then” category, a member mentioned that over twenty years ago,
he regularly visited Pattaya as a getaway from Saudi Arabia. He usually stayed
in the same hotel in what was then a much smaller Pattaya. He said he had with
him a very expensive pair of Christian Dior sunglasses. Upon departure, he
realized he had left them behind. Lamenting his loss for some time, he was
surprised upon his return visit when the receptionist at his usual hotel said he
had forgot something on his last visit and, yes, produced the missing
sunglasses.
In this same category, another member also mentioned the early years in visiting
Pattaya. He said he always booked the same room at a hotel on South Pattaya Road
for his visits. On one visit, he got the idea of loosening a ceiling panel and
hiding his toiletries there so he could avoid having to pack them each time.
Upon his return 3 months later, sure enough, they were still there. So, he
continued to “store” his items between visits with the same results. However, on
one visit, he discovered the room had been repainted. Upon checking, he also
discovered his cache of toiletries were no longer there. Much to his surprise,
30 minutes after his arrival, the maid knocked on the door and smilingly handed
him his bag of toiletries.
One of the more humorous stories was about a toilet. It seems that this
individual had instructed his Thai partner, in his absence, to ensure that a
western style toilet was installed in their house, something perfectly
understandable to us westerners. Upon his return, as expected, his partner had
followed his instructions. However, much to his surprise, his western toilet had
been installed with the toilet rim level with the bathroom floor. Oh well, as is
often said, “This is Thailand.”
MC John Fishback then updated everyone on upcoming events and welcomed back
Hawaii Bob to conduct the always informative and sometimes humorous Open Forum
where information is shared on living in Pattaya and Thailand.
Hospital discounts New Year health checks
Hospital management promotes the
event.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Wishing yourself a healthier new year?
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s “Good health welcomes the new year” offers discounts
of 50-70% on health checkups of adults and children every Saturday covering over
50 different examinations from now until the New Year.
Launched on November 29, health checkups at the hospital start at 2,900 baht
which includes physical examination, blood count and electrocardiogram.
Discounts are also made on other 17 checks such as for cancer, HIV, hepatitis,
heart, intestinal, urinal and many other examinations.
In the Children’s Clinic, lungs examination costs 800 baht and hearing test for
infant to six years of age 700 baht.
Psychological tests including “smart kids studies well” for ages 6-17,
psychological development test for ages 2-5, memory test for ages 16 years and
above are available at 1,600 baht each on a buy-one-get-one-free basis.
Brain, skin and beauty and dental departments also offer attractive discounts.
From November 29 until December 20, the hospital also offers 11 free
examinations of blood pressure, under skin fat measurements, skin health,
balance, lung function, electrocardiogram, and a diabetes check, available every
Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya launches
the
“good health welcomes the new year” promotion.
New beer garden pours new beer
Former-Minister for Tourism and
Sports Sontaya Khunplome (5th from right), makes a donation to Nikom Modrakee,
director of a school within the Aksorn Group.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Soot Tang Rak on Jomtien Beach has launched a new Federbrau beer garden
to welcome the winter breeze with a promotion of free beer from 6-9 pm, raising
50,000 baht for charity from opening celebrations.
On hand on November 25 to see that the beer taps were working well were
celebrity performers the “Sinjaroen Brothers”, VIPs Former Minister for Tourism
and Sports Sontaya Khunplome, who hosted the opening, Chonburi PAO Chairman
Wittaya Khunplome, Pattaya Mayor Itthipol Khunplome, Niran Wattanasartsathorn,
advisor to mayor of Pattaya, and representative of Thai Beverages Company.
Bundit Siritanyong, another advisor to Pattaya’s mayor and owner of Soot Tang
Rak, explained that Federbrau beer is brewed by Chang beer but targets a
different market.
The atmosphere of the garden is very relaxing on the beach to the sounds of
acoustic bands playing every night. The new beer will flow freely from 6-9 p.m.
to attract customers. For reservations please contact 038-232222, 085-0660666.
On opening day on November 30, Soot Tang Rak also raised funds for charity for
HM the King’s Birthday celebrations at Jittapawan Wittayalai Temple.
The Sinjaroen Brothers perform at
the opening event.
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s
dental team visits Street
Kids Independent Living Centre
Ingrid Cunliffe,
Welfare Chair, PILC
On Saturday November 29, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s dental team, headed by Gay,
visited the Street Kids Independent Living Centre to check the 26 children who
currently live there.
 Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya’s dental team visited the Street Kids Independent Living Centre
to check the 26 children who currently live there.
Being the Tooth Fairy for the children at the Fountain of Life Center for the
last 4 years, I thought it time I spread my wings!
I approached Dr Tassanee, director of the dental center at the hospital and she
was delighted to be able to assist these children with their oral hygiene
education and free checks on the day we visited.
Dr Utuporn Rangsisiripaiboon was the visiting dentist, and she did a great job
with all the children.
Most of the children had many cavities, as is common when we get these
programmes started!
 On
completion, a toy balloon, toothbrush, tooth paste and cookies were given to the
children.
No tears were shed, not even from the youngest boy who was only 4.
On completion, a toy balloon, toothbrush, tooth paste and cookies were received
much to the delight of the children, provided by the Pattaya International
Ladies Club (PILC).
This home is a new project that PILC has been funding for the last few months.
Jar is the director and he and his very capable staff are doing a great job with
the kids. On a recent visit by some PILC members, we were delighted to see the
boys had started a gardening project, with bountiful produce ready to be used
for the meals, which the kids all prepare themselves.
The idea is to get the kids as independent as possible. Home schooling is
provided for those who cannot attend government schools, and again PILC funds
have helped with books and teaching aids.
We are very thankful to Dr Tassanee and the team for their dedication, kindness
and the professionalism that they always show.
We will start to get the children into the hospital to commence any treatment
needed this month.
So, if you see the fairy and her helpers with 3 or 4 kids in the waiting room at
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, please come and say hi.
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