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What is that you say?
What is that you say? As we get older, our hearing is
often not what it used to be. However, the message to the Pattaya City
Expats Club meeting on September 16 was that there have been vast
improvements in the technology to overcome hearing loss.
 Wallapha
(Tan) Vessanont, manager with DMED Hearing Center’s Pattaya Office announces
promotions being offered to PCEC members.
Dr. Mukda Pattana-anek, audiologist and executive manager of DMED Hearing
Centers Co, Ltd. explained that hearing aids have not only improved
significantly, but for those wanting a more economical solution, now offers
a hearing aid with choices you want for your specific hearing loss and
lifestyle.
Before introducing Dr. Mukda, Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg
announced that in addition to making arrangements for her talk, Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya (BHP) had arranged for attendees to have free blood
pressure checks and free hearing tests in a booth set up for that purpose.
MC Richard noted that Dr. Mukda has worked with the BHP Hearing Center for
several years. In addition she is also an associate judge with the
Administrative Office of the Labor Court, Region II and is an associate
member of the National Council of Women of Thailand and with the Audiology
and Communication Disorder Society of Thailand. Dr. Mukda has a PhD in
Education Management as well as two Master Degrees.
 Dr.
Mukda Pattana-anek, Audiologist and Executive Manager of DMED Hearing
Centers Co, discusses with PCEC members a unique hearing aid from a Danish
company that offers those with hearing loss a platform that can be
customized for specific features.
Dr. Mukda began by mentioning that today, she wanted to acquaint everyone
with a recently introduced hearing aid from Widex (a Danish company) that is
unique in that if offers those with hearing loss a platform that can then be
customized for specific features they need instead of buying a more
expensive hearing aid whose features may be more than they need.
Consequently, it is called a Menu hearing aid since there are many items you
can choose. These hearing aids offer flexibility in choosing the hearing aid
you need based on your type of hearing loss and your lifestyle. Within the
Menu package is a very fast chip, noise reduction, high level compression,
state-of-the-art feedback cancellation and more.
 A
fortunate PCEC member has his hearing tested in the soundproof booth
specially set up for Dr Mukdas’ presentation.
The basic Menu is an affordable hearing aid that comes in 3 channels but can
be upgraded to 5 and 10 channels to add more features. You choose the
features and pay only for those you need. In addition to the choices offered
by the channels, there are some enhancements that can be added for better
speech understanding, extended range of audible sounds and extra programs
and accessories. She pointed out that it’s a hearing aid that can be used
for many years with various additional features and upgrading that can be
made throughout the years.
For those that do need a high tech hearing aid, there is available the Widex
Clear model hearing aids. Although more expensive than the Menu hearing
aids, the Clear technology is wireless and gives end users hearing closest
to natural hearing possible. With new technology like InterEar and
WidexLink, Clear hearing aids communicate seamlessly with each other just
like two ears do. Features like InterEar TruSound compression, Digital Pinna
and InterEar Speech Enhancer helps the user to locate and focus on the
dominant speaker in challenging situations. Fitting of the Clear hearing aid
is made convenient as it is done wirelessly. There is no more hassle of
fixing the correct programming shoe and ensuring a working programming
interface before they can proceed. There are different Clear models
available with the Clear440 having the latest technology and most features.
 Sgt
Plod (Bob Smith) of the Pattaya Players gives members a brief excerpt from
the Players upcoming presentation, ‘The Perfekt Crime’. More details are
available at www. pattayaplayers.org
Both the Menu and Clear hearing aids also come with some accessories. The
Dex wireless accessories can make hearing easier in difficult listening
situations. T-Dex is a device that connects your hearing aid with mobile
phones. At the push of a button, end users can have a mobile phone
conversation directly in their hearing aids without worries about
environmental noise and feedback issues. There is also an accessory that
connects to your TV to improve your ability to hear it as well as remote
control devices that let you select the “programs” provided by your hearing
aid.
After Dr. Mukda answered several questions, MC Richard called on Chris
Parsons with the Pattaya Players who spoke briefly about their upcoming
production - Chris had set up a table outside for those that wanted tickets.
He called on Bob Smith who plays Sergeant Plod in the production to provide
a brief monologue from the play as a preview.
MC Richard then provided an update on upcoming events and called on Roy
Albiston to conduct the Open Forum where questions are asked and answered
about Expat living in Thailand, Pattaya in particular. Visit the Club’s
website at www.pattayacityex patsclub.com to learn more about their meetings
and activities.
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Beauty, musical acumen comes together at Miss Hard Rock 2011
Contestants are judged on their
Rock ‘n Roll ensemble.
Phasakorn Channgam
Judges at Pattaya Hard Rock Hotel’s were looking for beauty and a deep
understanding of music history and style when they chose the hotel’s “Miss Hard
Rock 2011” at the beachfront hotel.
Different from most beauty pageants, the Sept. 8-15 Miss Hard Rock contest
valued rocker-style clothing over swimsuits and talent in identifying song
titles and performers over singing and dancing.
 Contestants
are also judged in swimsuits designed by themselves.
Eleven women vied for the title in a bid to become the hotel’s public relations
ambassador for the next year and represent Thailand at the Southeast Asia Miss
Hard Rock pageant in Malaysia. After three days of competing, 22-year-old
Vichuda (Noon) Keetanitinun from Samut Prakarn took the sash and 145,700 baht in
prizes.
Cattaleeya Schulze took first runner up (114,200 baht in prizes), followed by
Khmika Pattanavaraporn (101,700 baht in prizes). Rattanaporn Klinkulabhiran won
the “Miss Rock Friendly” prize (62,700 baht in prizes).
(L to R) Second runner up Khmika
(Praew) Pattanavaraporn, first runner up Cattaleeya (Cat) Schulze, winner
Vichuda (Noon) Keetanitinun, and Miss Rock Friendly Rattanaporn (Mim)
Klinkulabhiran, winners one and all.
The contest followed few of the rules of traditional pageants with the first day
having contestants quizzed by judges on their musical knowledge. They also gave
background on their favorite performing artists and had to name the title and
artist of various song clips. They also put on a fashion show of rock-styled
clothing around the pool. The day wrapped with a chance for hopefuls to talk
about the Hard Rock Pattaya in public.
The second day saw contestants get back into a more-traditional mode, slipping
into swimsuits for the judges approval. They also worked more on showing off
their spokes-womanly skills.
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AmCham melts the ice
Cees Cuijpers (left) and Damien
Kerneis (right) enjoy the networking evening.
Dr. Iain Corness
The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) held their networking event in Pattaya
Friday, Sept. 21, at the Amari Tower’s Ice Bar. They invited the British Chamber
of Commerce (BCCT) and the Australian Chamber (AustCham) to the event, which was
certainly well attended, with one of the ice statues deciding to try jumping for
cover, but was unsuccessful!
Executive Director of AmCham, the vivacious Judy Benn, spoke on Pattaya Mail TV
of a couple of the latest initiatives for the chamber, including organizing
American business industries as a group in Laos, and a similar group in Myanmar.
Whether the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC 2015) is successful or otherwise,
AmCham has seen an opening for the American Business groups in both countries
and is filling that niche.
David Nardone, the President and CEO of Hemaraj Land and Development, spoke on
the positive growth for his company, emphasizing the auto parts manufacturers in
his industrial estates who are exporting their products.
To emphasize the American aspect, the beers which were available included two
American beers, as well as the red and white wines, plus tables of finger food
overseen by the Amari’s new executive chef, Aussie Leonard Faust.
One famous American company, Caterpiller, was represented by Mike Cai who was
seen chatting to Alan Verstein from Siam Gazette. Alan had a piece of string
wrapped around his index finger to remind him of a medical check-up he has with
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya next month.
Paul Wilkinson from AustCham was seen drumming up support for the AustCham
backed golf tournament being run by the Women With a Mission, with Rosanne
Diamente and Bronwyn Carey on hand to provide details. With Women With a Mission
currently looking after 500 children in Mae Sot, fundraisers are important.
Another Aussie was Scott Finsten, the Harbor Master at Ocean Marina, and the
resident tooth fairy Stuart Saunders was also in attendance.
From the BCCT, Chairman Simon Landy and Executive Director Greg Watkins both
were present, and as always both were enjoying themselves. Regulars included
Pattaya resident ‘dog man’ Joe Cox, running the Defense International Security
Services, John Hamilton (Waste Management Siam), Simon Matthews (Manpower) and
Peter Mewes from Phnom Penh HBS Law.
The Amari also used the event to introduce three of their beautiful sales staff
Sirikorn, Patcharin and “JoJo”.
It was a most convivial meeting, and everyone who attended felt that they had
made important business and social contacts.
The next meeting will be publicized in the Pattaya Mail.
(L to R) Simon Landy (Executive
Chairman C.I.T. Property Consultants Co., Ltd.), Mark Butters (Director RSM
Thailand), and Peter Mewes (Senior Legal Advisor HBS Law), each with a different
taste in liquids.
(L to R) Paul Marks
(Communications Director The American School of Bangkok), Ramesh Ramanathan
(Visteon (Thailand) Limited), and Vincent Pourre (Corporate Account Manager
Efficient English Services Ltd.) automatically communicate efficiently in
English.
(L to R) Bronwyn Carey, Paul
Stoddost, Joe Peotto, and Rosanne Diamente (Women with a Mission) discuss the
upcoming charity golf tournament.
Karnsinee Lertrattanasan and Irena
De Ribas brighten the night with their smiles.
Judy Benn (Executive Director of
AmCham) and David R. Nardone (president & CEO of Hemaraj Land and Development
PCL) take a little respite from the rat race.
Tony Malhotra (Deputy MD Pattaya
Mail) and Richard Margo (RM Amari Orchid Pattaya) discuss the taste of the
American Coors Light beer.
(L to R) Paul Strachan, Pratheep
(Peter) Malhotra (MD of the Pattaya Mail Media Group), Tony Malhotra (Deputy
Managing Director Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd.), and Richard Margo
(Resident Manager Amari Orchid Pattaya) all look quite dapper.
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Locally made goods on sale at city hall every Friday
Customers look over products on
sale outside Pattaya City Hall.
Vittaya Yoondorn
Locally made goods are being sold at a fair showcasing toxin-free products
outside Pattaya City Hall every Friday.
A group of Banglamung toxin-free agricultural and “sufficiency economy” products
manufacturers show off their wares from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The goods are also on sale at Banglamung City Hall on Mondays and Tuesdays from
8 a.m. - 4 p.m., and on Thursdays at the Land Office in Soi 8, also from 8 a.m.
- 4 p.m.
Items available include toiletries, clam necklaces, key chains, vases,
interlaced wallets, and cucumber hand washing gel. Food will also be prepared,
including sticky rice with grilled pork, coconut water, longan water and fruit.
The produce comes from farms adhering to HM the King’s “sufficiency economy”
principals, which call for Thai communities to produce anything they need
themselves without government help.
50 senior citizens receive free glasses
Elderly folks are given a
follow-up eye check before being given their glasses.
Warunya Thongrod
More than 50 senior citizens appeared delighted to receive new
eyeglasses following free eye exams sponsored by city hall in July.
Kanda Nawong, chief of health support at the Pattaya Public Health and
Environment Department, handed out the spectacles to the seniors Sept. 14 at
city hall.
All the recipients had received exams from doctors at Queen Sirikit Medical
Center in mid-July. Most of the 150 examined that day received their glasses
last month, but about 50 required special prescriptions that took longer.
Kanda said the project is one of many by the city aiming to improve the life of
the elderly.
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