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Korean Rotarians join the New Year fun in Pattaya
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Members of the Cheong Pyeong Rotary Club from South Korea visited
Pattaya Rotarians to join the New Year festivities. Whilst here they kindly
donated money to buy computers for Pattaya schools.
 Gerard
Porcon (left), president of the Rotary Club of Pattaya, receives a souvenir
from Lee Nam Yeul (right), president of the Cheong Pyeong Rotary Club in
District 3600 Korea.
On January 19 at the Town in Town Hotel, Pattaya Rotary Clubs celebrated the
“Fellowship Night New Year Party 2009” and welcomed the Rotarians from South
Korea.
Led by Lee Nam Yeul, president of the Cheong Pyeong Rotary Club District
3600 Korea, nine Korean members came to get to know Pattaya Rotarians.
Gerard Porcon, president of the Rotary Club of Pattaya for 2008-2009, and
members warmly welcomed their guests.
 PDG
Premprecha Dibbayawan pins a Rotary brooch on new member Jin Naebnian.
At the party Jin Naebnian was also welcomed as a new Rotarian after joining
two months ago.
The Rotary Clubs of Chonburi, Pattaya Marina, Sattahip and Sriracha enjoyed
dinner together, singing songs and taking part in a raffle with 30 prizes
for lucky members.
During the evening, Chalor Paranan from the Rotary Club of Pattaya said his
club is on its second project to donate computers to schools that lacked
them. He said a survey will be taken to find out what schools are in need of
computer equipment. He estimates that 25 computers will be distributed to
five schools in the area using a budget of 700,000 baht.
Dr Benny talks about depression
at PCEC weekly meeting
Dr. Benyapha Chinwetchakitwanit, M.D. was the guest speaker
at the regular Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club at the Amari’s
Henry J. Bean’s Restaurant on Sunday, January 18.
 The
club’s internet guru, Richard Silverberg, tells members to make sure their
antivirus software is up to date.
Dr. Benyapha is with the Psychiatric Center at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya. She
received her medical degree from Chiang Mai University and is a Diplomat of the
Thai Board of Psychiatry. She previously practiced at Bangkok Chantaburi
Hospital and Phyathai Sriracha Hospital. She started by putting everyone at ease
by telling them to please call her “Benny.”
Her topic, while about depression, was not depressing but rather an interesting
and informative talk on the subject of Depressive Disorder. Dr. Benny explained
how to identify the symptoms, which are major depression, anxiety, and/or panic.
While depression usually affects everyone at one time or another, it normally is
not a lasting episode. However, if it continues over an extended period of time,
it could well be depressive disorder.
 Dr
Benny explains Depressive Disorder.
She noted that depressive disorder affects women more often than men and usually
occurs between the ages of 25 and 45. She said that when the disorder is caused
by a hormonal imbalance, it is easier to treat women than men. Also, those with
hypertension or diabetes are more at risk of having a depressive disorder.
A person suffering from a depressive disorder usually shows a low mood pervading
all aspects of their life and an inability to experience pleasure in previously
enjoyable activities. They may also be preoccupied with thoughts or feelings of
guilt, worthlessness, regret, hopelessness, or helplessness. They may also have
poor concentration and memory as well as withdraw from social activities.
Biological factors that result in depressive disorder come from various hormonal
imbalances. Biological causes are treatable because the imbalance can be cured.
Depressive disorder can also be the result of a genetic factor. If a person’s
mother or father or both have suffered from severe depression, there is a good
chance that that person will also experience the same disorder.
 Emcee
Roger Fox updates members on upcoming events.
Psychological factors can also cause the disorder such as life events, personal
environment, and/or stress, especially family stress. There are also pre-morbid
(before the onset of symptoms) factors that can lead to depressive disorder such
as obsessive/compulsive behavior or hysteria.
Dr. Benny mentioned four types of treatment. Pharmacotherapy can be used to
treat the hormonal imbalance, which involves the use of antidepressants. She
described typical imbalances and the ability of the newer medications on the
market today to correct them.
Another treatment is psychosocial therapy evolving from the earlier works in
psychotherapy developed by Dr. Sigmund Freud. She said it is usually done in
conjunction with medication.
Cognitive therapy can be used to help the patient overcome difficulties by
identifying and changing dysfunctional thinking, behavior, and emotional
responses.
The last treatment is hospitalization of the patient.
Dr. Benny says that most often a combination of the therapies is best. In
conclusion, she said her primary message was to let everyone know that
depressive disorder can be cured. She then opened the floor to questions, of
which there were many.
Emcee Roger Fox then called on the club’s internet guru, Richard Silverberg, for
any words of wisdom. Richard read an article to the group dealing with one of
the latest and more significant worms to infect the Microsoft operating system.
This particular worm does not specifically harm your computer, but it makes your
computer a host for sending out thousands of spam messages, often unbeknownst to
you. His recommendation was to be sure to update your operating system and other
application software often. Further, to use one or more good antivirus software.
He also cautioned that you should be sure of the source of any software
applications you load onto your computer as they are the most common source of
worms and viruses.
Emcee Roger Fox then updated everyone on upcoming events and called on Hawaii
Bob to conduct the always informative and sometimes humorous Open Forum where
information is shared on living in Pattaya and Thailand.
Joining hands for charity
Hotel staff members prepare to
donate blood after registering with Red Cross personnel in Dusit 1, the
venue for the charitable project.
The management and staff of Dusit Thani Pattaya have
participated in a blood donation project in cooperation with the Red Cross
Pattaya Chapter and the Queen Sawang Wattana Memorial Hospital in Sriracha
district, Chonburi province.
Red Cross staff and nurses spent a day at the hotel to accommodate those who
volunteered to donate blood.
The activity is carried out twice a year as part of the hotel’s projects for
the community.
Blind masseuses staff spa
Blind masseuses tend to customers
at the new Sim Herbal Spa and Fitness Center in Naklua.
Pramote Channgam
A Pattaya businessman has invested 20 million baht to open the Sim
Herbal Spa and Fitness Center which will employ blind masseuses.
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome opened the spa in Naklua on January 15, joined by city
officials and councilors, along with Penn Phromjakku representing the spa’s
management.
In a thoughtful and innovative combination of business and social service, the
spa collaborated with the Blind Club of Pattaya to employ blind staff talented
in massage to help with their income and who will make up the spa’s entire
massage staff.
Penn said the spa was built on four acres of land with construction begun in
2007.
With a staff of 44, the spa offers different types of massages from traditional
to oil and foot massage.
The fact that all the masseuses are blind as well as gifted in massaging should
be a draw card to attract tourists and other customers, encouraging them to stop
by for a relaxing massage.
The Sim Herbal Spa and Fitness Center is located on Soi 20 in Naklua, about 200
meters down from the main Pattaya-Naklua Road. It is situated behind The Beach
Hotel. Opening hours are from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Tel. 038-415-374.
Bangkok friends donate much needed funds
Ingrid Cunliffe
Last week I had a call from Dr Tassanee, the dental director at Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya. Every year she has a group of friends from Bangkok donate
funds for distribution in Pattaya.
 Sister
Joan (center) and children from the Fountain of Life gratefully accept a
donation from Dr Tassanee and friends from the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
Due to Dr Tassanee working long hours, she approached me to help decide the best
use for the funds, knowing the work we do with the Pattaya International Ladies
Club (PILC) and all the welfare projects we have going.
We decided to give half the funds to the Fountain Of Life Centre, who cater for
140 children from the slum areas who do not have birth registry to attend public
school. Here the children receive schooling and 3 meals a day and the Sisters
try and track down birth mothers and areas so papers can be obtained.
The other charity that received the remaining funds was the Street Kids
Independent Living Centre, where currently 26 children from ages 2 to 19 are
living, as opposed to living on the streets.
Both centers were extremely thankful to Dr Tassanee and her wonderfully generous
friends.
This is a much needed, and much
welcome donation
being received at the Street Kids Home.
Dentists are coming
to a location near you
Saksiri Uraiworn
If Pattaya residents have been avoiding going to the dentists, the
dentists are now coming to you.
The Pattaya Public Health and Environment Office is working with dentists from
the Princess Mother’s Medical Volunteers (PMMV) to organize a series of public
dental visits to community centers.
There you can have free oral health service, tooth extractions, fillings and
removal of plaque, right at your doorstep.
The visits will be: from January 19-20 at the Pattaya Public Health Center,
January 21 at the Krathinglai Community and on January 22 at Pattaya School #7.
On January 19 at the Pattaya Public Health Center, Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay
chaired the opening of the Pattaya Dentistry Campaign, together with Wannaporn
Chamchamrat, director of the Public Health and Environment Bureau, and dentists
from the PMMV.
These volunteers operate mobile dental vehicles which travel around the
community to urge people pay attention to dental hygiene for themselves and
their families, according to the wishes of the late HRH the Princess Mother.
Deputy Mayor Verawat said public dental service is free, designed to improve
oral health in Pattaya and suited also to migratory workers coming from
elsewhere in the country.
Dozens of residents turned up for
the free dental service.
Winter blooms at zoo
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Tulips and other cold-weather flowers are blooming in all their glory at
the Khao Kheow Zoo’s winter flower show.
 Enjoying
winter flowers at Khao Kheow Zoo.
As the northern and eastern regions of the country became very cold, many people
gathered to admire the beauty of flowers of the cool season at the zoo on
January 12.
It was the third annual flower show there which beautifully filled the 30,000
sq. meters of land at the zoo.
Winter has truly arrived in the north with temperatures dropping to 16-18
degrees Celsius, which can deter tourists traveling all the way up to Chiang Mai
to see the winter blooms.
Some tourists said that after hearing that flowers being displayed at Khao Kheow
Zoo, the whole family came to admire the varieties of colorful flowers filling
the park.
They said that they have never been up to see these flowers in Chiang Mai but
with all the flora being right here at Khao Kheow, it may be unnecessary to
travel north.
Navies test guided missiles
The Royal Thai Navy and the
Singapore Navy fired off two Fire-Harpoon guided missiles to destroy targets 33
kilometers away at sea.
Patcharapol Panrak
In a joint naval exercise, the Royal Thai Navy and the Singapore Navy
fired off two Fire-Harpoon guided missiles to destroy targets 33 kilometers away
at sea.
The Royal Thai Navy’s ship HTMS Chakri Naruebet acted as the command ship for
training and observation and the HTMS Naraesuan and the RSS Victory with the
Singapore Navy joined in to show of fire power at sea on January 13.
Among the naval top brass observing were Admiral Rapol Kamklai, navy chief of
staff, Adm Supakorn Buranadilok, commander in chief of the Royal Thai Fleet,
Rear-Adm Chaiyot Sunthornnak, commander in chief of Frigate Squadron, and
Captain Timothy Lo of the Singapore Navy.
They monitored the missile firing exercise from ships at sea and saw the weapons
accurately hitting their targets far away.
Admiral Supakorn said this firing of the guided missiles was the first joint
exercise by both navies to verify the quality of the weapon.
The first Fire-Harpoon was brought into Thailand in 1986 and set up on the
missile corvette ship HTMS Rattanakosin.
Later several Royal Thai Navy battleships in operation, such as two
Naraesuan-type frigates and two Buddhayodfa Chulalok-type frigates, had the
Fire-Harpoon missiles installed as their main defensive weapons.
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