HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

US Ambassador’s home jazzes up as His Excellency and Benny Golson join in a jam session

What’s that you say, PCEC meeting?

AIPA meetings end with a night of culture and music at Dusit Thani Pattaya

TAT, divers group release fish into sea off Samae San

US Ambassador’s home jazzes up as His Excellency and Benny Golson join in a jam session

Sue K
US Ambassador Eric G. John and his wife Sophia hosted a private reception for the American jazz legend Benny Golson at their home n Bangkok on Sunday, August 30, attended by over 100 guests.

Benny Golson performs with his band at US Ambassador Eric John’s residence in Bangkok.
The main hall on the second floor of their classic 80 some-years-old wooden white house became crowded with family, friends and colleagues from far and wide to attend this special function.
After what seemed to be the usual cocktails and mingling for a while, the evening suddenly was jazzed up by the world renowned award-winning saxophonist Benny Golson.
Following a few sessions by the band, a surprise performance was given by His Excellency himself, when Ambassador John, an avid jazz fan and accomplished musician in his own right got up and joined Benny on the trombone. The spectacular show drew great applause from the audience.

US Ambassador Eric John joins the fun whilst playing his trombone with Benny Golson and his band.
For those who saw the movie “The Terminal”, you will remember that that Tom Hanks’ character traveled to the USA to fulfill his father’s dream, and after being stuck in the airport for so long, he finally accomplished his mission when he left the airport to get Benny Golson’s autograph.
At the age of 80, Benny Golson, the living and breathing jazz legend is as energetic as ever.
He has just released his new album, while his standard compositions include Killer Joe, I Remember Clifford, Along Came Betty, Stablemates, Whisper Not, Blues March, Five Spot After Dark, Are You Real?
Golson’s musical odyssey has taken him around the world. In 1987, the U.S. State Department sponsored his tour of Southeast Asia, which included stops in Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, and Singapore. Golson was later sent on assignment to Bangkok by Philip Morris International where he wrote music for the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra.
Benny Golson is the only living jazz artist who composed standard jazz tracks on as many as 8 tracks, and recorded more than 30 albums. He has composed more than 300 songs so far.
The evening at the home of the US Ambassador proved to be a memorable one for all, especially for their special friends, guests and embassy staff who shared in their appreciation of this phenomenal American jazz legend.

What’s that you say, PCEC meeting?

The regular Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club got underway on August 30 at the Amari’s Henry J. Bean’s Restaurant after Master of Ceremonies (emcee) Judith Edmond made the usual introductory announcements and introduced guest speaker, Professor Dr. Suchitra Prasansuk, MD, from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.
Dr. Suchitra received her medical degree from Mahidol University in 1964 and has subsequently studied in Austria, London, and the USA. She also has many years of experience in diagnosing and treating hearing loss, vertigo, and tinnitus (ringing in the ear).

Professor Sujitra’s presentation includes the mechanism of hearing and balance, and the problems that can arise.
Dr. Suchitra gave a very informative and interesting talk, which she illustrated with many diagrams of the myriad functions of the ear that relates not only to hearing, but just as important, to balance. She explained that the ear is a very important organ. Hearing loss causes problems with both loudness and sound distortion and hampers the ability to communicate. The ear also is an organ that helps us stay erect when standing, know where we are in relation to gravity, and helps us walk, run, and move without falling.
Although hearing loss and dizziness can be symptoms of inner ear disorders, Dr. Suchitra said that many times it can be caused by other disorders, such as high blood pressure, hyper cholesterolemia, anemia, reaction to some drugs, and other problems like noise. Since there are so many different causes of hearing loss, diagnosis is not simple and may require several different tests to identify the cause. She also said that hearing problems in children can be very damaging because they do not get the full benefit of the language learning experiences.

Sermsak advises progress of the Pattaya International Photography Club. They will hold a model photo shoot instructed by Sayam, of Nikon Camera, and with Norm, HM the King’s photographer, at a famous restaurant in Rayong on September 20.
She explained that vertigo is the sudden sensation you are unsteady or that your surroundings are moving. You may feel like you are spinning around on a merry-go-round or that your head is spinning inside. In the first case, the sufferer feels that their body or the environment is spinning. Dizziness characterized by weakness and dull headedness is commonly caused by low blood sugar or low blood pressure. One of the most common disorders is dizziness, which is experienced by sudden movements of the head. Because there are so many different causes, diagnosis has to take many factors into account including the patient’s history of vertigo - the types, onset, and duration and the results of a physical examination.
Dr. Suchitra described the special diagnostic methods and equipment available. A hearing evaluation takes into consideration audiometry (for hearing ability), tympanometry and acoustic reflex for middle ear function, and Bekesy automatic audiometry. A vestibular evaluation uses posturograhy, caloric test, positioning test, and VNG (eye movement) test. Another test is the physiology test using a brainstem electrical response audiometer.
Dr. Suchitra also commented on hearing loss caused by too much noise noting the different range of decibels that can be sustained for a period of time without damage. For the younger generation she emphasized that using an I-pod and other similar devices in loud areas is dangerous because increasing the volume above 85 decibels the listener will end up damaging the ear and result in serious hearing problems.
Dr. Suchitra concluded her talk by answering many questions from the audience. Emcee Judith thanked Dr. Suchitra and told everyone that there were vouchers available from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya to obtain an audiogram and consultation for the special price of 1,000 baht.
Emcee Judith then brought everyone up to date on upcoming events and called on Hawaii Bob Sutterfield to conduct the always informative, interesting, and sometimes humorous Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about living in Thailand and Pattaya in particular.

AIPA meetings end with a night of culture and music at Dusit Thani Pattaya

The event wraps up with a special cultural
presentation from one of the ASEAN delegations.

The success of the 30th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) has been attributed largely to the generally peaceful atmosphere in and around the convention venue in Pattaya City during its schedule from August 2-8 as well as the joint endeavor for a closer cooperation among ASEAN member countries by 2015.
On August 5, Thailand’s Senate President H.E. Prof. Prasobsook Boondech and Madame Tanyavadee Boondech hosted dinner in honor of the AIPA delegates at the extensive Napalai Convention Hall of Dusit Thani Pattaya. The occasion was attended by more than 500 guests including 300 parliamentarians from ASEAN countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam; special guest observers from 12 countries and other VIPs including AIPA President and Thai National Assembly President Chai Chidchob.
Highlights of the event included Thai cultural performances as well as dance and music presentations from the ASEAN delegates and guest observers from China, Russia and Australia.
Some delegations presented their music, others performed their respective cultural dances and the Thai parliamentarians rendered a classical Thai song to the delight of the audience.

TAT, divers group release fish into sea off Samae San

Divers prepare to release 100 clown fish into the wild.

Patcharapol Panrak
Scuba divers will tell you, if there are no fish, diving is no fun.
With that in mind, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Pattaya office worked with the Royal Thai Navy and Preservation Divers Association to release 100 clown fish into the sea near Samae San Island to encourage more Thais and tourists to explore the undersea world.
The Aug. 25 outing, led by TAT local director Niti Kongkrut, evolved from an ecological survey of Sattahip Bay by the Naval Special Warfare Group, which oversees administration of the islands, along with the Plant Genetic Conservation Project that found the undersea environment north of the island was not rich enough. Releasing fish like those in Walt Disney’s “Finding Nemo” would help the coral reef grow and prosper, as they serve as guardians of sea anemones and help keep clean nearby coral.
“This ‘home for fish” project not only enriches the undersea environment, but benefits human life thanks to creating a fruitful food chain,” Niti said. “The event also tightened the relationships between the organizations, volunteers and divers, and encourages local residents to become aware of the significance of Sattahip’s sea as well.”

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