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PCEC learns to Relax
After the usual announcements, emcee Roger Fox began the
Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club on August 2 at the Amari’s
Henry J. Bean’s Restaurant by introducing guest speaker Dr. Salam A.
Hoshang, PhD, Associate Dean and Head of the MIS Department for the Faculty
of Business at Asian University.
 Dr.
Salam A. Hoshang, PhD, Associate Dean and Head of the MIS Department for the
Faculty of Business, tells PCEC members of the history of Asian University.
Dr. Hoshang is a Kuwait born German citizen. He received his Master of
Computer Science in Medicine from the University of Heidelberg and his PhD
in Economics and Computer Science from the University of Stettin. He has
over 20 years of international business and consulting expertise including
15 years of lecturing experience in Germany and Thailand.
Dr Hoshang worked as an international information technology consultant at
the renowned technology firm T-Systems in Darmstadt, Germany, and was
involved in international consulting and development projects with major
companies in Europe and the Middle East. He also is the prime person behind
a project to publish a quality lifestyle journal that gives the reader
useful information about the region and about quality venues here in Pattaya
and Thailand.
Dr. Hoshang began by giving a brief description of his background. He has
been in Thailand since 2005. His idea to create the journal Relax
came about during his subsequent trips to the Mideast and to Germany.
Primarily, he said that when he mentioned to friends and acquaintances that
he was living in Pattaya, they questioned why he would want to live there.
He quickly perceived that Pattaya’s less savory reputation of bars and
nightlife was all anyone really knew about it. He felt that something needed
to be done to let the world know that Pattaya was much more.
 Member
Roger Fox (left) emceed the meeting, whist honorary PCEC member Sermsak
(right) advises members of the arrangements for the celebration of the
birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.
He said he approached the Tourism Authority of Thailand for their backing of
his idea for a project to create a Journal (magazine) to provide articles
and information showing the good things about Pattaya. Thus, the Relax
journal came into being.
The vision of Relax is to create another image of Pattaya by showing
its other face. The mission of Relax is to: (1) attract high quality
tourists from overseas and to inform them and expats about different and top
quality venues in Pattaya; (2) motivate tourists to visit Pattaya and expats
to make it their home; (3) promote Pattaya as a destination for health and
recreation; and (4) encourage visitors to inform friends and family about
Pattaya.
Also, another aim of Relax is to attract people to Pattaya,
especially from the Mideast, by providing information about property and
investment opportunities here.
Dr. Hoshang mentioned that the journal is multi-lingual. Although its base
language is English, there are summaries of the articles in German, Russian,
and Thai. If a non-English speaking person finds the summary interesting,
they can ask someone to translate the entire article for them.
He said the Journal is provided to many of the foreign embassies in Bangkok.
It is also given out at various exhibitions being conducted in other
countries. Dr. Hoshang noted that because the purpose is to change Pattaya’s
image, Relax does not accept advertisement from the beer bars,
discos, and other nightlife places.
Dr. Hoshang also explained that another purpose of Relax is to inform
and educate the Pattaya community on different things. He cited a recent
article about the H1N1 swine flu virus and what one can do to protect
themselves. He said the journal is also intended to provide answers to
questions one may have about Pattaya and to advise the community about
various charitable organizations and their activities. He encouraged members
of the audience to be journalists by writing articles for publication in
Relax.
Dr. Hoshang concluded his presentation by talking about Asian University. He
said it was started by Dr. Viphandh eleven years ago as a means of providing
a quality education to Thai students without them having to go overseas to
study. The curriculum is taught in English. The faculty is made up of 30%
Thai and 70% non-Thai. Currently they have about 200 students and offer
degrees at the bachelor and master level.
Asian University’s vision is to stand out as one of the best universities in
Asia. He mentioned that Asian University is only about 25 minutes from
Pattaya and he said that they would like to have qualified expats as guest
lecturers. More information about Asian University can be read on their
website at www.asianust.ac.th and more information on Relax can be
read on www.mcs-int.com. He then answered several questions from the
audience.
Emcee Roger thanked Dr. Hoshang for his presentation, then updated everyone
on upcoming events in and around Pattaya and called on Harry (Sig) Sigworth
to conduct the Open Forum. The forum affords everyone with the opportunity
to ask questions or make observations about living here in Thailand,
recommend a good restaurant or movie, or even pass on a few jokes.
718th Swiss National Day
Fredi Schaub (standing, right)
welcomes his Swiss friends and many others
to their Swiss National Day celebration.
Dr. Iain Corness
The Swiss tend to be a proud nation, and with 718 Swiss National Days to
celebrate, it was no surprise that Swiss chefs Fredi Schaub and Patrick
Zellweger at Bruno’s Restaurant and Wine Bar should concoct a special Swiss menu
to celebrate.
The full house of diners enjoyed many Swiss items, including a boiled beef
salad, a Swiss barley soup, and a braised beef ending with an apple tart with
cinnamon ice cream.
Father Ray Foundation receives prestigious recognition
Jatupat Bhuthongngoen
The prestigious award ceremony of the Bureau for Promotion and
Protection for the Disadvantaged took place in Bangkok on July 27. The Father
Ray Foundation was honored at the ceremony, held at Chaophaya Park Hotel, and
received trophies from HRH Princess Soamsawalee at Suak Kularb Residential Hall.
 Fr.
Lawrence Patin, president of the Fr. Ray Foundation receives a bouquet from
Isara Somchai, Minister of MSDHS.
There are four categories of awards and the Fr. Ray Foundation was recognized in
three of these categories.
The Fr. Ray Foundation was honored and awarded for being one of the outstanding
Thai organizations that helps disadvantaged people and those with special needs.
In the second category, awards for media that promote the needs of disabled
people, the Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities (part of Fr.
Ray Foundation) won an award for the TV Programme ‘Talui Sip Tid’ which it
produces.
 Fr.
Worawut Saraphan, vice-chairman of the Redemptorist Foundation for the Disabled
receives a bouquet from Isara Somchai, Minister of MSDHS
The next award category is for disabled people who live their lives as a role
model and example of what disabled people can achieve. Mr. Ong-art Kaenthong,
who is on the Board of the Redemptorist Independent Living Center for People
with Disabilities (part of Fr. Ray Foundation), was awarded.
All the winners received bouquets from Isara Somchai, the Minister of Social
Development and Human Security (MSDHS) at a session in the morning before moving
to Suan Kularb Residential Hall where the winners received trophies in the
afternoon from HRH Princess Soamsawalee.
Pattaya can be very proud of the achievement of its disabled people and the
organizations who support them.
Ong-art Kaenthong, member of the
Board of the Redemptorist Independent
Living Center for the Disabled receives a bouquet from Isara Somchai,
Minister of MSDHS.
Marines re-enact 1970 cliff climb
Patcharapol Panrak
Nearly 30 years ago, HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn watched from a
beach near Sattahip as Royal Thai Marines repelled down a towering cliff that
was eventually named for him. To mark the Prince’s 57th birthday, they did it
again.
 Marines
Commander Vice Adm. Suwit Thararoob salutes HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
on his birthday.
Military and public officials, local residents, teachers and students assembled
July 28 on Toey Ngarm beach to watch as elite marine climbers from Luang
Chumporn Camp repelled down Vajiralongkorn Cliff. The event was followed by an
air and sea combat exhibition and lessons in military history and the Prince’s
military life.
Marines Commander Vice Adm. Suwit Thararoob noted it was HRH the Crown Prince
who forwarded the concept of the Marines Command as a rock-climbing unit. After
a demonstration in 1970, the cliff was named for HRH the Crown Prince.
On his 50th birthday in 2002, HRH the Crown Prince marked the opening of housing
developments on the cliff built in his honor.
Royal Thai Marines repel down
Vajiralongkorn Cliff.
500 join to beautify Sattahip Park to honor HRH Crown Prince’s birthday
Patcharapol Panrak
More than 500 Sattahip residents and Royal Thai Navy authorities joined
together to clean up Krom Luang Chumporn Park to mark the birthday of HRH Crown
Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
 A
few of the 500 people that cleaned up Krom Luang Chumporn Public Park in
Sattahip to mark the birthday of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Sattahip Naval Base Commander Vice Adm. Sriwisut Rataroon organized the clean
sweep of the Nong Takian neighborhood July 28. Volunteers picked up trash,
trimmed trees and tended the public garden to honor HRH the Crown Prince through
a series of good deeds.
Born in the Ambarara Villa of the Dusit Palace in Bangkok July 28, 1952, HRH the
Crown Prince was educated at the Chitralada School in Bangkok then at Millfield
School in Somerset, England and Australia’s King’s School in Sydney. HRH the
Crown Prince undertook military training at the Royal Military College at
Duntroon in Canberra, Australia and completed an arts degree at Sukhothai
Thammatirat University in Bangkok.
In 1972 HM the King gave him the title “Somdech Phra Boroma Orasadhiraj Chao Fah
Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayam Makutrajakuman,” making him the Crown Prince and heir
to the throne.
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