PILC Holds its First Fundraiser of the Year

The team from the Father Ray Foundation took first prize.

Ann Winfield

The Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) holds three major fundraisers a year, the first of which is the Annual Quiz Night. On March 31, the club held the Quiz Night at the Amari Nova Suites’ Afternoon Tea Room. Seventy-eight people attended and were divided into twelve teams of six. As the room held only 72 people, PILC was very happy with the turnout and everyone was accommodated.

Quiz Master, Gillian Thom.

The hotel provided a delicious dinner buffet for guests and the Afternoon Tea Room was beautifully detailed with velvet and chintz armchairs and sofas. Teams included a group from JVK (the evening’s corporate sponsors), the Father Ray Foundation, Foster Wheeler, the Regent’s International School, two teams from the Jesters, a number of people from the Pattaya City Expats Club, and a strong showing from PILC members, husbands, and friends. Each attendee received a t-shirt, and all ladies received two gifts each - a beautiful silk purse and beauty products - provided by Central Festival.

The evening was opened by PILC president Ann Winfield, who thanked JVK International Movers for their generous sponsorship of the event. She then handed the microphone over to PILC member Gillian Thom, the Quiz Master and emcee for the evening. Great fun was had by everyone as they vied to answer the most questions correctly, and Gillian made sure that no arguments broke out over different interpretations of the questions and answers. Everyone had a great time, and all agreed it was a really successful event.

PILC members with husbands and friends enjoying the evening.

The Father Ray Foundation’s team were first place winners, receiving a bottle of wine and gift certificates from Shenanigan’s Pub in Justine; second place winners were the JVK team and they received gift certificates for the Sunday Carvery from the Sportsman Pub on Soi 13 in Pattaya; the Mighty Anzacs (one of the Jester’s teams) came in third and received gift certificates from Casa Pascal on Second Road, and the “A for Effort” prize went to the Pattaya Diamonds who received certificates for Afternoon Tea at the Amari Nova Suites.

The fund-raising raffle went well, and a member of the Jesters won the first prize of a gift certificate to Gian’s Restaurant on Thappraya. Other prizes included crystal wine glasses, a bottle of apricot brandy, wine, jewelry, and many more items.

At the close of the quiz, the PILC president again took the microphone to present JVK representatives Paul Wilkinson and Craig Somerville with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the ladies club. Ann also went on to thank all of the restaurants and organizations that had provided prizes for team winners and for the raffle. It was due to all of the donors, large and small, she emphasized, that the evening was such a success.

For information about PILC, please email infopilc@ gmail.com.

Corporate Sponsor’s JVK International Movers’ Paul Wilkinson and Craig Somerville with PILC President Ann Winfield and Special Events Chair Ananya Welland.

Hilton’s Eforea spa launches membership program

(L to R) Michel Scheffers, director of operations, Hilton Pattaya; Ning Saraichatt and Boat Jamorn Jirapaet, Bangkok celebrity-couple; Harald Feurstein, general manager, Hilton Pattaya, and Sakulrat Jintaseranee, Eforea spa manager.

Warunya Thongrod

The Hilton Pattaya’s popular Eforea spa launched two new membership programs, offering discounts and free gifts and services to members willing to purchase six or 12-month packages.

Hilton General Manager Harald Feurstein unveiled the Ulysses and Monarch membership packages at the hotel’s Seaboard Ballroom April 6 with the help of Thai starlets Ning Saraichatt and Boat Jamorn Jirapaet, who were named honorary “ambassadors” for the spa.

Previewing the spa’s “martinis and manicure” offering, Feurstein interviewed the two celebrities as well as Eforea Manager Sakulrat Jintaseranee, who gave the two stars free one-year Monarch memberships worth 9,000 baht.

The six-month Ulysses membership, at 6,000 baht, offers vouchers for one treatment, Thai massage, manicure and pedicure, hair wash and blow dry, and massage upgrade.

The Monarch package includes one treatment, cleansing facial, sports massage, Thai massage, manicure and pedicure, hair wash and blow dry, high tea at the Drift lounge, 50 percent discount on one spa treatment and a massage upgrade.

All memberships includes free product samples, 15 percent discounts on spa treatments and 10 percent discounts on LI’TYA, Kerstin Florian and VitaMan products.

For more information, call 038-253-000 or online at eforeaspa.com.

Guests try out the services offered at Eforea spa.

Yesterday once more at Royal Garden Plaza

Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome tries out a rickshaw with Royal Garden Plaza and Royal Garden Entertainment vice president, Somporn Naksuetrong in the cab.

Warunya Thongrod

Thailand of the 1970s came to life again as Royal Garden Plaza prepared for Songkran with an Old Timers Thai Festival.

The food, drinks and desserts of 1970s Thailand were featured in the April 5-12 celebration. Mall visitors got to sample savory dishes, play games and enjoy performances by Nong Um Boon, the smart buffalo.

Cultural shows featured traditional dances, Sabatchai drums of the Lanna tribe of northern Thailand and Khon performances of Mekla and Ramasura Thai folk stories.

Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome congratulated mall management for authentically replicating the food and shows of the time, noting many of the cultural performances are rarely seen these days.

Royal Garden Assistant Director Somporn Naksuetrong said plaza management wanted to welcome in the Thai New Year by going back to yesteryear with shows few see any more.

Hey kids, this is what a rickshaw is. You don’t see many around nowadays.

Exotic food and drinks attract a large crowd.

The Khon Ramakien performance receives thunderous applause from citizens and tourists.

Seize the decade

Seize the decade was the message from Ren Lexander at the Sunday April 8 meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club. Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg introduced Ren, whose topic was about “The Rest of Our Lives.”

This week’s speaker, Australian author Ren Lexander, addresses the common issue of the misperception of time; how we always overestimate how much we can get done in a day or a week, but underestimate how much we can get done in a decade.

Ren at his birth was named Garry Ross Sargeant. He was born on a small farm in Toongabbie, to the west of Sydney, Australia. His mother managed the farm. His father was a truck driver. His only sibling, his elder brother, Bruce, had cerebral palsy with epilepsy. By the age of 26, Ren had a PhD in philosophy with a thesis topic of ‘Objectivity’. At the same age, he embarked on a quest to understand the meaning of life. That quest took him through a study of experiential psychology, philosophy and Gnostic spirituality. He is the author of several books and has various levels of qualifications in Jungian sandplay, hypnotherapy, dreamwork and breathwork. He also has a black belt in Aikido.

Ren started his presentation by noting that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a day, a month, or even a year; but they invariably underestimate what they can accomplish in a decade. The reason, he believes, is because of one’s perception of time. When we are young, time moves slowly, but as we grow older, it moves more quickly. Of course that is not correct, time is a constant; what changed was our perception of it. As an example, Ren explained that to a small child, a 10 baht coin is large, but not so to an adult. The coin is the same size; it is the perception of it that differs.

Open Forum MC Al Serrato prepares to hand the mike to Frugal Freddy CEO, ‘Hawaii’ Bob Sutterfield, for this week’s drawing of gift certificates from some of Pattaya’s better value restaurants.

He then displayed some charts on longevity showing anticipated life expectancy based on when you were born. But, he pointed out that the longer you live; your life expectancy will go up. For example, if you live to age 60, your life expectancy will be to age 84. If you live to age 80, it will have increased to age 89. However, this is based on having a good lifestyle; if not then at age 60 your life expectancy will be 73.

What is a good lifestyle for achieving a longer life? Ren said he follows the four “W’s” - Walking, Weights, Water, and Waist. Ren cited a study of 70 year olds. It showed there was a noticeable difference on living longer for those that exercised by routinely walking at a pace of 5km per hour for at least 30 minutes. The use of weights is also very beneficial according to Ren. He called this the lazy man’s exercise. It doesn’t have to be done in a gym or on a daily basis. The primary goal is to increase the number of repetitions each time (or increase the amount of weights used). He also emphasized the importance of hydration saying that in a climate such as Thailand, you should consume at least 2 liters of water by lunch time to maintain proper hydration.

The fourth “W” was for the waist. He said you should control your weight and eat healthy. He gave several examples including eating nuts for breakfast as they provide excellent nutrition. He did point out that peanuts are not really nuts. Peanuts are a legume. Also, he pointed out that dark chocolate can help curb your appetite.

Ren said it takes the brain 20 minutes after the body is full to get the message and stop wanting more food. He suggested eating a small quantity of dark chocolate as the taste remains with you for those 20 minutes; thus the body thinks it is still eating during this period waiting for the brain to catch up. He also gave several other pointers that have a bearing on proper nutrition including don’t bring bread or sugar into your home, the advantages of selenium and how human growth hormones affect your body.

In conclusion, Ren said that you should not follow the motto, Carpe Diem (seize the day); but rather follow the motto “Seize the Decade.”

After Ren answered several questions, Richard Silverberg called on Al Serrato to conduct the always informative and sometime humorous Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about expat living in Thailand, Pattaya in particular.

The Pattaya City Expats Club meets every Sunday at the Amari Orchid’s Tavern by the Sea Restaurant. Read more about the Club’s activities on their website at www. pattayacityexpatsclub.com.

Songkran mayhem hits new low with April 9 start

Commentary by Phasakorn Channgam

It seems to start earlier every year.

Pattaya’s water wars, better known as Songkran, traditionally began in earnest on April 13, running non-stop until the final offensive on the area’s official “wan lai” day, April 19. But each year, the water guns seem to come out earlier.

This year, foreigners and bar workers began drenching themselves and unsuspecting passersby on April 9, marking a new low for traditionalists and residents who have to go shopping, conduct business or other normal activities that require dry clothes.

It’s getting earlier every year when people just trying to get to work or go shopping with dry clothes are forced to face the indignity of hooligans not knowing the definition of the word “no”.

As recently as 2006, you could pretty much set your watch that Songkran would begin on the 13th. By 2008, it had slipped to the 11th.

One factor behind the early splashing was the weather, which has been hot and humid since March and hit temperatures of 36 degrees just before Thai New Year week began.

The anarchy is done for another year, but city officials urged those who live in Pattaya or plan to come here for next year’s aquatic showdown to remember that most people out-and-about before April 13 do not expect to get wet when they go shopping or out to dinner.

Floating Market puts unique spin on Songkran celebration

Floating Market management donates a washing machine to the Banglamung Home for the Elderly.

Theerarat Suthathiwong

The Pattaya Floating Market put its own stamp on Thai New Year celebrations, organizing merit-making and other Songkran activities … in boats.

Market General Manager Itsanan Sriviroj led the April 13 event, which began with both monks and alms givers in boats making merit.

Senior citizens from the Banglamung Home for the Elderly also were invited. They toured the market before having water sprinkled on them in a traditional manner for Songkran blessings.

Floating Market management donated 15 fans, a washing machine and other items to the home.

The day concluded with sea boxing and a Little Miss Songkran pageant, making the Floating Market an island of traditional celebration in a sea of otherwise manic water fighting.

Dusit Thani Pattaya employees give blood

Dusit Thani Pattaya Director of Administration Waran Chalermrithichai encourages employees to donate blood.

Warunya Thongrod

About 80 Dusit Thani Pattaya Hotel employees rolled up their sleeves to give blood for the Chonburi Red Cross.

Hotel Director of Administration Waran Chalermrithichai and Red Cross National Blood Center 3 chief Prapaporn Udomwinijsilp oversaw the April 9 drive at the hotel.

About 98 units of blood were collected and added to reserves to be used in Thailand’s embattled southern provinces.