Approach MAGAZINE THAILAND
Approach Magazine Thailand Issue 37 : February 2016
ISSUE 37 : FEBRUARY 2016
Kids Paradise in Bangkok
EASTERN Gulf Islands FOODS of THAILAND TRUE ARENA -
The Ultimate Sports Centre in Hua Hin
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Address : Soi 112,Hua Hin Opening 09:00 AM - 09:00 PM Closed on Wednesdays Recommended by : TripAdvisor & The international Traveller
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EDITOR’S FOREWORD
APPROACH PUBLISHING CO.,LTD.
Editor in Chief Gerard Mosselman Office Manager Pimwee P. (Kob) Graphic Office Thaiso Media ™
Vive 2016, It can only get better! As Pope Francis said:” it is time to end indifference, false neutrality, regarding the injustice, persecution, wars and misery in the world. The arrogance of the powerful and money hungry countries, continues to demean the weak, relegating them to the most squalid outskirts of our world.". Nothing is more true than this. I also wonder how long human evil will keep sowing violence and hatred. Getting out of town on a weekend to BKK? Going to Bangkok by car and driving in Bangkok has really become a day adventure and night mare. If you want to be clever and take a shortcut by going down highway No. 9 in the direction of Suvarnabhumi and Mega Mall, you will be unpleasantly surprised by the congested highway. Trucks & Trucks on their way to Bang Na and further South. Once in Bangkok, practically all of the malls, offer so much for kids.... more details in Kids & Education on page 54 in this issue. Do park your car somewhere at an endstation of the BTS and enjoy panoramic rides around BKK whilst avoiding heavy traffic. There are plenty affordable hotels and serviced apartments where a family can stay, preferably a bit at the city border not far away from the BTS. Driving from Hua Hin and Cha Am is best on a Friday noon time and back on Sunday afternoon. If you don't want to drive, there is the VIP bus to the airport (3.5 hours) and the skytrain into town or a train to Chinatown (5 hours). Have a safe trip.
Yours Truly GMoss
Address: 136/351 Soi 102 Nong Kae, Hua Hin Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110 Tel: 080 350 1416 Email: info@thaisomedia.com www.thaisomedia.com Distribution: 5,000 Copies Address: 70/144 Soi 112 Hua Na, Hua Hin Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand Tel: (0) 32 900 477 Company Registration: 0775552001773 www.approach-thailand.com www.facebook.com/ApproachHuaHin Cover photo February 2016 Chinese New Year Lion
All APPROACH articles are published in good faith and based on bonafide information available to us at publication through international media and free lance contributors. No responsibility is accepted other than that stipulated by law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the Publisher. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing. Approach publishing Co. Ltd buy all rights to contributions, text and images, unless previously agreed to in writing.
February 2016 APPROACH
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Contents
FEBRUARY 2016 | ISSUE 37 |
60
12
16 12
Hua Hin & Beyond
16
Music
20
Travel in Thailand
22
Ambiance Asie
26
Foods of Thailand
31
Events & Festivals
32
Social & Hotel News
38
20 38
Thai Nature
54
Kids & Education
42
Money Affairs
56
Fashion
44
Thai Legal
60
Motoring
46
Real Estate
65
Coolest Gadgets
49
Young Entrepreneurs
66
Sport
50
Health & Wellness
70
Entertainment
26
50 8
APPROACH February 2016
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:
Dusit Thani Hua Hin 1349 Petchkasem Road, Cha-Am, Petchburi 76120, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 3252 0009 Email: dthhrsvn@dusit.com
HUA HIN & BEYOND
James Graham
Surrealist Artist par Excellence
J
ames Graham is a surrealist painter born in Thailand and mainly raised in the United Kingdom.
Jamie as he is called by his friends is a skilled draftsman, best known for the striking and bizarre images in his surrealist work. His painterly skills are often attributed to the influence of everything that is gilded, excessive and abstract with a deep spiritual meaning in depth. Jamie is highly imaginative, and also enjoys indulging in the unusual and grandiose. His eccentric manner and attention-grabbing pen drawings are expressed in his many drawings. After his elementary and secondary education, James enrolled into the college of theatre to study acting but soon discovered his love for visual arts and indulged in a more creative direction.
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APPROACH February 2016
HUA HIN & BEYOND
Jamie returned to Thailand when he was about 21 and joined the restaurant business of his family. Ever since, Jamie has been in food & beverage but always continuing with his creative talents. He studied Buddhism for several months but found more peace in drawing and creating abstract meaningful surrealisms. On his many visits to Hua Hin, Jamie tried his luck at his
own restaurant in town until his mother one days decided to open her own restaurant at the newly built Villa Market complex. Deya Deli in Hua Hin is a Mediterranean Cuisine Restaurant, run by a dynamic mother and son (bilingual Thai-English) duo who have brought flair and originality to a restaurant format that takes its inspiration from the sunny climes of the Mediterranean with illustrations of Jamie on the walls.
February 2016 APPROACH
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MUSIC
In Memory of Two Unforgettable Performers
Natalie Cole (1950 - 2015)
N
atalie Maria Cole was an American singer, songwriter, and actress.
The daughter of Nat King Cole, she rose to musical success in the mid–1970s as an R&B artist with the hits “This Will Be” (1975), “Inseparable” (1975), and “Our Love” (1977). After a period of failing sales and performances , Cole reemerged as a pop artist with the 1987 album Everlasting and her cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac”. In the 1990s, she re-recorded standards by her father, resulting in her biggest success, Unforgettable... with Love, which sold over seven million copies and also won Cole numerous Grammy Awards. She was equally celebrated for overcoming adversity and carving out her own identity and style apart from her legendary father, jazz singer Nat King Cole. She sold over 30 million records worldwide. On December 31, 2015, Cole died at the age of 65 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, due to congestive heart failure. “Natalie had one extra pressure that she was faced with every day of her life,” said singer Lionel Richie. “She was a little girl who wanted to be a superstar in a family that already had a superstar. That’s what make her prize of winning so unforgettable.”
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APPROACH February 2016
David Bowie (1947 - 2016)
D
avid Robert Jones, known as David Bowie was an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, arranger, painter and actor. He was a figure in popular music for over five decades, and was considered by critics and other musicians as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s. His androgynous image, cultivated principally in the 1970s and 1980s, was a factor in his success. Bowie stopped concert touring after 2004, and last performed live at a charity event in 2006. In 2013, he returned from a decade-long recording hiatus, remaining musically active until his death. The essence of Bowie’s contribution to popular music can be found in his outstanding ability to analyse and select ideas from outside the mainstream - from art, literature, theatre and film - and to bring them inside, so that the currency of pop is constantly being changed.” Just one person took glam rock to new rarefied heights and invented character-playing in pop, marrying theatre and popular music in one seamless, powerful whole.” Sir Paul McCartney described him as a “great star” who “played a very strong part in British musical history”.The artist’s hits include Let’s Dance, Changes, Space Oddity, Starman, Modern Love, Heroes, Under Pressure, Rebel Rebel and Life on Mars.
Authentic italian restaur ant in hua hin That brings the real taste of Italy to Thailand You will taste the influence of Carlo’s Sicilian heritage with every beautiful dish and perfect wine selection. Carlo is an outstanding host by nature, and a great entertainer aswell, which is not a secret in Hua Hin. If you catch the right evening, Carlo will surprise you with his opera songs and bring you the real feel of Italy. Carlo’s Ristorante Italiano is the perfect place for fine Italian dining and to drink the best Italian wines. Carlo will warmly welcome you. Buon appetito e salute ! - Carlo Vitanza
Address: 174/1 Soi. Naresdamri, Hua-Hin, Prachuabkirikhun 77110 Thailand Phone: +66 (0)32 511 348 Mobile: +66 (0)81 197 4360 Email: info@carlo-huahin.com Website: www.carlo-huahin.com
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Live Music
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TRAVEL IN THAILAND
The Eastern Gulf Islands The nature diversity of Thailand is almost endless. From clear blue waters to mountain ranges, Jungles , beautiful beaches and dozens of islands with incredible Fauna and Sauna. There are different ways to get to the Islands, we chose to drive and then take a boat. We drove the motorway out of Bangkok until you see Highway 344. Stay on the 344, join Highway 3 again near Klaeng and then, about 23km outside Trat, follow the signpost to Laem Ngop where you will find the Koh Chang ferry. The ferry goes every 45 minutes. The crossing takes about 30 minutes and costed 80 Baht for adults and 120 Baht for our car.
Koh Chang -
is a large island covering an area of approximately 18 sq. km located 20 km from downtown Ranong and 4 km from Koh Phayam. The island is inhabited by some 80 households whose main occupations are cashew nut–one of the country’s best varieties–para rubber plantations, and coastal fishery. With steep, jungle-covered peaks, picturesque Ko Chang (Elephant Island) retains its remote and rugged spirit. Beautiful practically empty sandy beaches and bays are sprinkled along the west coast; most have super-fine sand, some have pebbles. What it lacks in sand it makes up for in an unlikely combination: Accessible wilderness with a thriving party scene. We stayed at the Mercure Hideaway Resort, directly located on Bai Lan Bay. It has modern Thai-style rooms, a private beach and pampering spa treatments. We relaxed by the beautiful outdoor 20
APPROACH February 2016
pool or just a stroll away on the beach. Because of its relative remoteness, it is only in the past decade or so that tourists have arrived. The resorts are now busy with Chinese package tourists, Cambodian-bound backpackers and beach-hopping couples funnelling through to more remote islands in the Mu Ko Chang National Marine Park. Along the populous west coast are virtual mini-towns with a standard of living that has outpaced the island’s infrastructure. For a taste of the old-school Chang, we headed to the south-eastern villages and mangrove forests of Ban Salak Phet and Ban Salak Kok. Two days later we headed for Koh Mak on a Lealawadee speed boat. The trip took 45 minutes and 550 Baht for adults. The car had to stay in Koh Chang.
TRAVEL IN THAILAND
Koh Mak - This large island is blessed with several beautiful bays, beaches and untouched colourful coral reefs. Located on the south of Koh Chang, soak up the local people’s lifestyle through their rubber and coconut trees grown for living. What a stunning place to relax.
There is plenty to see on Koh Mak with it’s 10,000 palm trees, a Buddhist temple, tree fishing villages, a health centre, a primary school, over 20 resorts, a few shops and restaurants. We had not booked a hotel or guesthouse but was recommended the Makathanee Resort with comfortable rooms and access to the beautiful Ao Kratueng beach. However there is a reasonable variety of smaller resorts and guesthouses. Once you are on Koh Mak, you do not really want to move about. Koh Mak has been attracting filmmakers who are looking for a beautiful and unspoiled tropical location and was also added to the top ten beaches in the world list of the British newspaper the Sunday Times. From Koh Mak where we spend 2 days, we moved on to Koh Kut with the Koh Kood ferry. The crossing operates up to 7 times each week with sailing durations from around 30 minutes.
Koh Kut -
is 25 km long, 12 km wide and approximately 105 square km featuring the beauty of its nature including mountains, great plains, and many beautiful streams running from many wonderful waterfalls. There are many popular beaches tourists fall in love with such as the crystal clear sea at Taphao Beach. We chose accommodation at the Shantaa Resort which set us back at 4,500 baht per night but then again, the Soneva Resort would cost about 20 times as much!
clear seawater. On the inside is fertile area with lots of coconuts and rubber tree plantation.
The island is much more flat land than Koh Chang with the highest mountain being the Khao Phaenth at 315 meters but beach lovers can enjoy several stunning beaches with the crystal
After a well-deserved holiday, we took a speedboat back to Koh Chang and finally the ferry to bring us back to the main land for our drive to Bangkok. A great journey with unforgettable beaches, coral reefs and seafood!
Besides from the great lazy day on the beach, we went snorkelling over the beautiful coral reefs and star gazing at night. Visit the village Aow Salad located near the Salad Bar for their biggest fishing village on the island with the freshest seafood alive from the sea every day.
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APPROACH February 2016
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FOODS OF THAILAND
In our January issue, we presented the different types of Rice & Noodles. This issue is about Rice and Noodle dishes.
Rice Dishes Rice dishes are popular the world over, not just in Thailand. However, within Thailand it is one of the only three basic filer foods.
Khao Mun Gai, one of the most common street foods in Thailand, is in
short a mutation, albeit controlled of Hainanese chicken and rice. Slices of steamed or boiled capon meat are placed over a mound of rice. Cucumber slices and fresh cilantro leaves serve as a quintessential garnish. Sometimes, a few slices of cooked congealed chicken blood (it’s not that bad …) is also added to the mix. The chicken-rice plate is then accompanied by a bowl of piping hot chicken consommé with a few pieces of Chinese winter gourd.
Khao Kha Moo is not only a favourite of Thailand's Prime Minister, it's
also one of those ubiquitous dishes served by street vendors throughout Thailand. This is a very, very fattening dish, as you can guess. The fat underneath the pig skin isn’t going to have less calories even after you cook it for a long time, I can guarantee you that much. However, I can also guarantee that you won’t be disappointed with the flavour of the dish, too.
Khao Mok Gai (chicken cooked in yellow rice) - This is the Thai version of chicken biryani. This is one of the more popular Muslim dishes found in most areas of Thailand. The chicken, spices and all are cooked in one pot. It consists of yellow fragrant rice sprinkled with crispy fried shallots and served with a piece of chicken that seems to be baked (but isn’t). The authentic Thai won’t serve this dish completely by itself, of course. It would be accompanied with cucumber, tomato and the most important part, Nam Jim. The dipping sauce for this dish is very specific. Khao Pad (with Chicken , Pork or Shrimp) - Thai fried rice is a variety of
fried rice typical of central Thai cuisine. In Thai, khao means "rice" and phat means "of or relating to being stir-fried". This dish differs from Chinese fried rice in that it is prepared with Thai jasmine rice instead of regular long-grain rice. It normally contains meat (chicken, shrimp, and crab are all common), egg, onions, garlic and sometimes tomatoes.
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FOODS OF THAILAND
Noodle Dishes
Pad Thai is a global ambassador for the glories of Thai food; these simple
stir-fried rice noodles are almost certainly one of the best-known examples of Thai cuisine worldwide. Expats claim to use it as a bellwether for the quality of a restaurant: if the kitchen gets the Pad Thai right, they probably know how to cook.
Rad Na isn’t as popular among the foreigners compared to Pad See Ew
or Pad Kee Mao, even though the ingredients for Rad Na and Pad See Ew are quite similar. You might not have any idea what I’m talking about. It’s a dish mostly prepared with big, fat rice noodles, Sen Yai (see the description in my “all about noodles” post) and has a thick brown gravy with meat— either chicken, pork, beef or shrimp— and Chinese broccoli, called Gai Lan or Kai Lan, poured all over.
Pad Kee Mao (or “drunken noodles”) is a classic Thai dish. Though the origin
of the name is contested, one theory states that the noodles were typically paired with rice wine in local restaurants. A stir-fry of vegetables, a spicy, savoury sauce and broad, tender rice noodles, it’s hearty and deliciously textured. In our version, we’re poaching chicken, then shredding it before finishing it in the stir-fry with the noodles and sauce. And to complete the dish’s flavour profile, we’re drizzling fresh lime juice over top, and garnishing the pad kee mao with anise-like Thai basil.
Kanom Jeen - Noodles with fish curry sauce or kanom jeen nam ya is a
dish of many flavors. This dish can taste totally different depending on the variety of the accompanying vegetables. The vegetables can be served fresh or boiled. Recycle your baked, broiled or steamed fish into this dish. If you are avoiding red meats, this is a wonderful dish with lots of vegetables.
February 2016 APPROACH
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EVENTS & FESTIVALS
Events & Festivals Chinese New Year 8th February, 2016 Chinese New Year is celebrated in many parts of Thailand where there are Chinese communities. This festival always takes place on the first day of the first lunar month so it changes every year according to the Western calendar.
Where: Throughout the country
Makha Bucha Day 22nd February, 2016 An important Buddhist lunar festival and public holiday, observed nation-wide. During the full moon evening, Thai people join candle-lit processions around temples, to celebrate the time when the Lord Buddha gave a sermon to 1,250 enlightened devotees. Foreign visitors are welcome to participate.
Where: Throughout the country
Ultra & Trail Unseen - Koh Chang (Trat) 27th February, 2016 The adventure race will take place in the southeast of Koh Chang on routes laid out around the Salakphet area. This is a quiet area, very little traffic plus plenty of dirt roads. The running distances are separate as 10 Km, 35 Km, and 66 Km. if you are looking for fun experiences, do not miss our race.
Where: Koh Chang, Trat
King Narai Festival 13th to 21st February, 2016 The annual festival in Lopburi is named after King Narai, one of the great kings of Ayuthaya, who made Lopburi the second capital of Thailand about 350 years ago. The festival is held in his old palace, Phra Narai Ratchanivet Palace. The local people dress up in old costumes, displaying old crafts like fruit carving and weaving, demonstrating traditional sports with swords and sticks, selling traditional food and snacks and playing children’s games and theatre. A good way to get to know the traditional ways of Thailand.!!
Where: Lopburi
Trang Underwater Wedding Festival 12th to 14th February, 2016 Trang Underwater Wedding Festival is held on 14 February of each year. Every year hundreds of brides and grooms from many countries come to south Thailand for this unique event, with traditional Thai wedding ceremonies, lavish processions and beach parties, plus an underwater declaration of marriage vows at Koh Kradan.
Where: Kantang, Trang February 2016 APPROACH
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SOCIAL & HOTEL NEWS
Social & Hotel News
A farewell to 2015 and Khun Victor Sukseree, here with the Swedish Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Staffan Herrstrom and wife. The countdown party at Dusit Thani Hua Hin marked a significant changing of the guard. The famous New Year countdown party at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin reached the end of an era with its recent “The Ultimate Countdown 2015”. Hosted by the hotel’s general manager and impresario, Victor Sukseree, the party was billed as the last under his management since he opened the hotel about 25 years ago, after which he will make way for a new manager. A special video presentation with voice over by Mr Victor served as a personal farewell to the guests, many of whom had returned time and time again from all over the world and were considered more as friends than guests. Dusit Thani invites for a “Love You” – Valentine’s Date on February 14 : Love is in the Air. A 5-Course Set Dinner at the romantic beachfront ambience of Rim Talay Bar & Grill or at the San Marco Italian Restaurant.
Banyan The Resort Hua Hin Hosted Christmas and New Year´s Eve with a Christmas Eve Wine Dinner Event at the Splash Pool Bar and an outstanding year ending evening with Thai and International seafood buffet hosted under theme of "Sea Breeze" at the Lawn in front of Coral Restaurant & Bar which provided a marine ambiance. Banyan The Resort Hua Hin also invites you to celebrate the “Chinese New Year of the Monkey” on February 6th, 2016. They are pleased to present traditional Chinese dishes and welcome the year of luck at the resort lawn from 6.30 pm onwards. Be entertained by The Voice family performing Chinese music plus the traditional Lion dance. Experience a romantic Valentine’s Day celebration with your loved one at Coral Restaurant, Banyan The Resort Hua Hin on Sunday 14th February 2016 from 7.00 pm onwards. Enjoy a gourmet night with an exquisite Marine set menu in the ultimate dining style with romantic live entertainment from professional violinist and guitarist. 32
APPROACH February 2016
SOCIAL & HOTEL NEWS
Social & Hotel News
On January 30, Banyan will have hosted a famous Irish band playing popular Irish music including an Irish Cuisine Buffet. Kelly´s Heroes will perform from 7pm onward at the Pool Lawn.
Amari Hua Hin,recently welcomed Praew Kanitkul Netbute, a Thai radio DJ, actress and solo artist to relax at the hotel after filming a TV programme on Channel 5 about the King’s project in Prachuab Khiri Khan. From left: Khun Poonsak Chodpeerapat, Praew Kanitkul Netbute, and Khun Areerat Sangnak
Mrs Sandra Beckham (3rd from the left) and Ms. Joanne Beckham (3rd from the right) the mother and sister of living footballing legend David Beckham, spent a week-long Christmas break at Dusit Thani Hua Hin. The two ladies were warmly welcomed with floral bouquets upon arrival by Victor Sukseree, General Manager of Dusit Thani Hua Hin (far right).
The general manager of Amari Hua Hin, Mr. Christoph Leonhard (seventh from left) honourably welcomed travel agents, and media and TAT representatives from Singapore during an educational trip to Hua Hin and Bangkok.
Jazz in Hua Hin. Baan Silapin Invites to Jazz evenings. Every Sunday from 7 pm onward with Nissa Nyberget and Ensemble. BBQ buffet and much more. Baan Silapin is on the road to Pala U just over the hill on the right side “ Artist Village”
February 2016 APPROACH
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THAI NATURE
The
Pineapple
(Ananas comosus - Pineapple sativus)
By Dr. George F. Grossniklaus
The pineapple (Ananas comosus Pineapple sativus, respectively) is a plant of the family Bromeliaceae (Bromeliaceae). She is originally native to the Americas and is cultivated worldwide in tropical regions as a fruit plant. It forms fleshy fruit stalls, which are eaten fresh or made into preserves and juice.
T
he word Ananas comes from the name NanĂĄ for the term fruit in the GuaranĂ language, mainly spoken in Paraguay. The pineapple was already cultivated in pre-Columbian times and spread over large parts of South America and as far north as Mexico. The fruit was used as food, medicine and winemaking. She was discovered for Europe by Christopher Columbus on November 4, 1493 during his second trip to Guadeloupe. Pineapples were a welcome gift of the indigenous people for him. It is an herbaceous plant and grows terrestrially, rooted in the ground. The club-shaped stem of the pineapple is up to 35 cm long and a small part is sunk in the soil. On the whole stem the leaves sit rosette like, usually about 30 to 40. The leaves are narrow lanceolate, up to 120 cm long and 3-7 cm wide and sit in a spiral on the trunk, the phyllotaxis is 5/13 is a name for the rule of arrangement of the leaves of plants. That means, after five revolutions of a leaf layer it is again exactly above an underlying, and this is the thirteenth. The leaf sheath surrounding the stem to about two-thirds. The leaf edges are bent upward, so that the blade crosssection is crescent shaped. This increases the bending strength of the leaf. The leaf edge is serrated Sting like shape which may be absent in some varieties. The blade tip is sharpened thorny. 38
APPROACH February 2016
The roots are adventitious, originating at the lower nodes of the stem. They form a dense network of roots, which penetrates about a meter deep into the ground and laterally extends one to two meters. From the growing point of the stem every year a 30 cm long inflorescence stem develops. At the coneshaped inflorescence sit over 100 individual flowers in eight spirals. At the top end there are leaf-like bracts that form a tuft. As the petals leave only a very small opening, pollination can be done only by very small insects. In South America, pollination is also done by some species of hummingbirds. The flowers are self-sterile. The fruiting occurs, however, even without fertilization (Parthenocarpy), then the fruits have no seeds. The pineapple fruit is rich in vitamins especially vitamin C, and minerals enzymes. The nutritional value of 100 grams is 232 kJ, or 56 kcal. There are 12.4 g carbohydrates, 0.5 g protein, 0.2 g fat and 84.7 g of water. Pineapple contains no cholesterol.
THAI NATURE
There are a large number of local varieties. However, relatively few varieties are significant of importance for commercial cultivation. They are grouped into five groups of varieties; The Cayenne group with Smooth Cayenne, Kew, Hilo, Baron Rothschild:
Queen-group with Natal Queen, Victoria, Alexandra, MacGregor, Z. Queen, Ripley and Queen The fruits weight up to four kilograms, Fairy Queen: are cylindrical, yellow and orange and have less fibers. The flesh is pale yellow and fragrant. The Smooth Cayenne was replaced by the MD2 as commercially significant varieties and is characterized by a higher sweetness and low acidity, and a long shelf life of one (chilled) or two (cooled) months.
They are smaller in habitus as Cayenne. The leaves are narrow and short, and have curved spines edge. The fruits weighting up to 1.3 kg. The pulp is often bright yellow. The fruits are fragrant, sweet, have little fiber and are mostly grown for fresh consumption.
Spanish group with Singapore Spanish, Spanish Red: The leaves are long, narrow, usually prickly. The fruits have white flesh, are reddish-yellow, round and quite rich in fibers at up to 2.3 kg.
For a worldwide distribution, particularly the Portuguese were predestinated, who already brought the pineapple shortly after 1502 to Saint Helena, and around 1550 to India. Before the end of the 16th century it was cultivated in most tropical areas. The climatically favorable growing areas are in the tropics between 25 ° north as southern latitude. The temperature optimum is between 24 ° C and 30 ° C. Rainfall is required at least 800-900 mm per year the optimum is between 1000 mm and 1500 mm. The cultivation cycle seldom lasts more than four years. After planting, the
Pernambuco group with Pernambuco, Sugarloaf, Abacaxi, Paulista: The leaves are long and narrow with small, straight spines and a wide red stripe. The fruits are pyramidal, green yellow with white to yellowish flesh without fibers. They are grown especially in Brazil and Venezuela for local consumption.
Perolera group with Milagreña, Perolera, Tachirense, Maipuran: The leaves are wide, long and light green at the base. The fruits are reddish yellow with a more intense yellow flesh.
time until the first harvest in the equatorial regions is 14 to 16 months in cooler areas 18 to 20 months. The second and third crop is then carried out at shorter intervals, but the yield is lowered continuously in comparison with the first harvest. The second harvest yields in cooler areas 60 to 100 percent of the first harvest, in hot humid areas, only 40 percent. Thailand heads the harvest volumes with 2.650.000 tonnes and dominates the world trade followed by Costa Rica,& Brasil. The worldwide production is estimated at 23 million tonnes.
February 2016 APPROACH
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HUA HIN
PATTAYA
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In the center of Hua Hin, opposite La Brasserie de Paris Address | 32/2 Naresdumri Road, Hua Hin 77110, Prachuab Khirikhan Thailand Tel | +66 (0)3 253 0043 Fax | +66 (0)3 290 0119 Email | huahin@companyvauban.com
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MONEY AFFAIRS
Golden Rules of
INVESTING By Jerry Mcmenamin
At times when I troll the internet I’m looking for information which can be useful to investors. The four golden rules of investing below make a lot of sense and I like their simplicity.
Look at these first. Rule Number 1: Diversify. Since some investments zig when others zag, divvy your money across several investment categories, from stocks to bonds to real estate. Also diversify within categories. Diversification spreads risk and guards against a catastrophic decline in any one investment. Rule Number 2: Rebalance. Review your portfolio yearly to make sure your mix of investments hasn’t strayed from your original goals. If it has, sell investments that have performed well and use the proceeds to invest in underperformers to regain balance. Rule Number 3: Dollar-cost average. Fear can cause investors to miss buying opportunities when prices are low. Euphoria can cause them to buy high. By investing the same amount in the same investments on a regular basis, dollar-cost averaging takes emotion out of the equation. Rule Number 4: Keep costs down. You can’t control how much your investments earn, but you can control how much you pay to invest in them. All well and good but it has been my experience that investors in Hua Hin who are mostly retired don’t ever seem to have the time to take the advice above. A game of golf in the morning and a trip to Market village in the afternoon. If the portfolio did well last year then why change it? I guess it’s a bit like New Year resolutions. Many will start out in January and stop smoking ease on the drinking start going to the gym but by March they are back to most of their old habits.
Personally I think for most investors it’s important to appoint a professional fund manager. Many people think that just because they have a broker who arranged their family trusts their complex investment strategies and the first port of call when they want withdrawals etc. that their broker should be an expert fund manager. Of course most good brokers have an extensive knowledge of the market as a good medical doctor has an extensive knowledge of ill people. But let me ask you-would you not want a heart specialist if you had a heart attack? Your broker will recommend a good fund manager if you ask. thailandexpatfinance@yahoo.com
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Website: arbims.com
Tel: 081-378-2333
2 Hua Hin Stores ARB-IMS 1
2nd Floor In front of Home Pro Market Village
ARB-IMS 2
On Phetkasem Road Opposite to the Hua Hin Temple
THAI LEGAL
Thailand is often called the “land of smiles”, and the Thai people are known to be some of the most welcoming and hospitable people in the world. However, that does not mean that you shouldn’t be versed in some of the local customs and proper etiquette before visiting. There are a number of things NOT to do in Thailand to avoid disrespecting the local culture. Getting into problems with the Thai law may result in hefty fines or even time behind “bars”.
1. Don’t Hug Monks Monks are highly respected in Thailand and therefore it is forbidden to stand over or be positioned higher than a monk. Monks aren’t not even allowed to touch women. If a monk comes in contact with a woman, he often won’t even hand her something. Rather, he’ll place the item down for the woman to pick up for herself. Even on the bus monks are not allowed to sit directly next to a women. So, if you’re a female and see a seat open next to a monk, do not sit down and force him to stand. Men, however, are allowed to come in contact with monks, but most will still keep a respectful distance.
2. Don’t Disrespect the Royal Family The King and the Royal family are highly regarded in Thai society. You will see many pictures commemorating the Royals throughout the country. Therefore, it is very disrespectful to say anything or act in any way negatively towards Royal family. Even stomping on a Thai coin as it rolls away it considered impolite as coins display images of members of the Royal family and past relatives. Remember, Thais find it insulting to be touched by your feet. Verbal insults or disrespect to the royal family are called Les Majeste and could put you behind bars for a couple of years.
3. Don’t Keep Your Shoes On It is very disrespectful to keep your shoes on while entering homes, temples, shops and even some restaurants in Thailand. So it’s no wonder why lightweight sandals are so popular, as they can be easily removed. If you notice a big pile of sandals by the door, we’d recommend removing your own.
4. Don’t Lose Your Temper Thais have a philosophy of keeping their cool and not losing their temper, also known as jai yen (cool heart). Most Thais avoid confrontation and see raising one’s voice as not a good form. Staying calm and smiling often goes a long way in Thailand. It does not mean that you won’t encounter one angry person on your trip, but Thais are generally very hospitable, welcoming and tolerant. Don’t get frustrated, “mai pen rai” as the locals say. Defamation or bad mouthing is punished sensitively by Thai law with fines and compensations to the “victim”. 44
APPROACH February 2016
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REAL ESTATE
Real Estate in Hua Hin R
eal estate can not be lost or stolen, nor can it be carried away. Purchased with common sense, paid for in full, and managed with reasonable care, it is about the safest investment in the world! “Franklin.D. Roosevelt 32nd President of the USA Hua Hin, as a second home or permanent residency destination has grown considerably over the past few years. Although there has been a boom in the property market in other resorts in Hua Hin has grown at an astonishing rate. Expat Hua Hin´s Website quotes: “Hua Hin can no longer be considered a small town, its rapidly expanding urban sprawl covers around an 8 kilometre radius around the city centre. Many new developments are appearing every month, most of which are further and further away from Hua Hin centre. Other areas are starting to develop also including Khao Takiab, Cha-am, Pranburi, Khao Tao and Khao Kalok. You need to find somewhere that suits your lifestyle and consider the following in terms of different location” However, after a wonderful vacation in amazing Thailand, you are so elated by its astounding beaches, smiley people and culinary delights that you decided to buy a piece of it and call it your own little place in tropical paradise.
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APPROACH February 2016
Generally, foreigners are not allowed to directly purchase land in Thailand. Simply put, Thai laws do not allow foreigners from owning land in their own name. This notwithstanding, there are alternatives available to foreigners for successful land acquisition. The most common option is to set up your own Thai Limited Company to own the land on your behalf. Another option is to enter into a long term leasehold with the Land owner. It is a commonly unknown fact that although a foreigner cannot own land in Thailand, he can own the house or structure built thereon. There are countless real estate agents in Hua Hin with more appearing every week. There are also plenty of houses for sale to choose from so knowing what you want and what to avoid is essential. New developments are cropping up at an alarming rate so you really are spoilt for choice if you’re looking to buy a house in Hua Hin. Reputable Real Estate agent will be able to inform you in detail about your do´s and don´t and give you sound advice about your investments. In APPROACH you will find a good number of reputable, reliable Real Estate agents. Consult any of them before investing in property in and around Hua Hin.
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Live Music - 300 Dishes - Reasonable Prices Cha Am Beach Road Tel: 093 929 5257 | 089 260 3133 www.maxrestaurantchaam.com
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Open Mon - Sat 8.00am - 8pm Close Sunday Tel 085 174 9229 (Karl Otto) 085 327 5322 (Punpinee) Fax 032 520 075 Email K.O.K.hua-hin@hotmail.com Branch 1 Soi Hua Hin 29
T H E YO U N G
ENTREPRENEURS OF HUA HIN Fabrice Zuber, the owner of Touch of Life Furniture and TOL Swiss Management Service came to Hua Hin an odd 10 years ago with nothing else on his mind than a sandy beach , Tennis and Golf. With 24 years of age this was a normal thought. However as time went by, Fabrice contemplated in opening his own business. Touch of Life on Petschkasem road right In front of the Condo Chain apartment buildings. Fabrice sells antique Asian furniture which he finds on his numerous trips to Tibet, Nepal, India and Indonesia. His business could more simple be named a One Stop Business Centre where you can walk in if you are planning to build a house in Hua Hin. Fabrice can plan, build furnish it and maintain your property, through his second company under his professional guidance and the usual Swiss thoroughness and finesse. Fabrice plans to remain in Thailand and enjoys life, now mainly on the golf course where business connections are made under the Motto: “Bring me problems, I will find solutions!� APPROACH wishes Fabrice all the best in his bright future
February 2016 APPROACH
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Friendly Bacteria
By Dr. Michael Moreton
I
n1928 Alexander Fleming made a mistake which led to a fantastic discovery. He left his lab for the weekend and omitted to place covers on some culture plates of staphylococcus bacteria. Over the weekend mould from the ceiling of his damp musty London lab fell into the plates and on returning to his lab on Monday Fleming looked at the plates and found that in the areas in which the mould had fallen the bacteria had died. He identified the mould as penicillium and from that chance discovery and brilliant work follow-up in Oxford and the USA the antibiotic was isolated and manufactured; the anti-biotic age had begun. When he received his Nobel Prize in 1945, he addressed the Swedish Academy and warned that inappropriate use of his discovery could lead to the development of resistant strains and make things worse rather than better. I guess nobody was listening.
In 1942 when it was first used in Oxford, there were NO penicillin resistant staph bacteria. In 1959, 40% of staph. were resistant and by 1980 it was up to 80%. Treatment was switched to new synthetic penicillin, Methicillin. Two years later the first Methicillin resistant staph (MRSA) cases were reported. Give a course of antibiotics and the ‘easy to kill bugs’ die quickly but the tough-guy ones persist. Do this several thousand times and you inevitably finish with super-bugs who eat antibiotics for breakfast. They then multiply and became the microbe-de jour. Discard the idea that all bacteria are bad guys out to harm us. Abandon the ‘cockroach approach’ to bacteria—there is a bug, bugs are bad, let’s kill it.
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APPROACH February 2016
Most of them are looking for the same thing as you and me, a nice warm, safe place to live and raise a family. To bacteria your body looks like a condo on the beach. You may not remember sending out the invitations but your body is acting as host to a massive party of bacteria. Most of them are in the digestive system, where they play an essential role in digestion breaking down food into more absorbable forms. They also attack and protect us from other harmful bacteria that may invade the gut. Your digestive system is a real zoo, it is full of many types of bacteria, most of them working in your favour. When broad spectrum antibiotics enter the gut it is like carpet-bombing, they kill both good and bad-guy bacteria shaking up the whole environment leading to attacks of the dreaded runs.
HEALTH & WELLNESS butchered and it is passed on to the consumer. Several horrific outbreaks of E. Coli food poisoning have occurred with tragic loss of life. The meat industry doesn’t publicize its use of antibiotics and accurate information on the amount of antibiotics given to food animals is hard to come by. It is estimated that millions pounds of antibiotics are used in the United States each year. Over 80% of antibiotics used are being given to animals. Antibiotics are, of course, given to sick animals for therapeutic reasons. That use isn’t controversial as few argue that sick animals should not be treated. The controversy centres’ around antibiotics routinely given to well animals.
Antibiotics are used carelessly in medicine. There can be a knee-jerk reaction—a patient is feeling ill and has a fever—“It must be an infection---let’s give the patient a broad–spectrum antibiotic and kill the bugs”. It’s like using a grenade to kill a fly There is, however, an even more serious abuse of antibiotics. Animals that are being raised for food are routinely given antibiotics in their feed. This is ‘necessary’ as they are raised in squalid unhygienic conditions. There are very few situations in human medicine where antibiotics are given continuously for long periods of time to any one patient, but in the agricultural world it is routine. These are not sick animals; the drugs are being given to disease free animals. Farmers have been feeding antibiotics to animals since they discovered decades ago that small doses of antibiotics administered daily would make most animals gain as much as 3 percent more weight than they otherwise would. In an industry where profits are measured in pennies such a weight gain was very attractive.
In these conditions the super-bugs can and do develop. It is inevitable that once developed that then they will be carried out on the clothes and bodies of the workers, on the farms and working in the slaughterhouses. The bacteria on the carcasses can easily contaminate the meat as it is
Concern about the growing level of drug-resistant bacteria has led to the banning of sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics in animals in many countries in the European Union and in Canada. In the United States such use is still legal and the US Food and Drug administration is being less than aggressive in addressing the problem. The World Health Organization is concerned enough about antibiotic resistance to suggest significantly curbing the practice of giving antibiotics to animals that we eat. In a recent report, the WHO declared its intention to “reduce the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in food animals.” Specifically, the WHO recommended that prescriptions be required for all antibiotics used to treat sick food animals, and urged efforts to “terminate or rapidly phase out antimicrobials for growth promotion” One form of meat is especially subject to infection, ground meat used in hamburgers. These patties are often cooked directly from the frozen state. With high heat grilling there is a chance that the outside will be well cooked and safe but the deeper parts of the patty are still pink and not sterilized by the heat. Take care! Animals raised ‘organically’ are not given these drugs. I have not seen this meat available in Thailand but is worth looking for.
Courtesy of: Dr Michael Moreton, a Hua Hin resident, worked in the USA, Canada and China in his specialty of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. February 2016 APPROACH
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Office Opening Times Monday - Friday 09:00 am - 06:00 pm Wheelchair Accessible Call For Appointment & Home Visits 147 First Floor Moo.14 T.Hin Lek Fai Prachuabkirikhan, A.Hua Hin 77110
DENNIS GOLDBACH Hearing Healthcare www.worldofhearing.net worldofhearing@icloud.com +66 (0) 9-2434-7184 World of Hearing Hua Hin
KIDS & EDUCATION
Kid´s Paradise Education in Bangkok Fun &
Bangkok is a paradise for every child, bookworms, games arcade aficionados or just the playful fun loving games juniors. There is much fun and adventure for the little loved ones and the possibilities are endless. From exploring fascinating underwater life, ice skating away or throwing snow balls to fascinating exciting games and challenges, to roller skating, climbing and designing, last but not least, educational values are high.
Here is a run through some of the ma in att rac tion s. The Siam Ocean World - Paragon Mall on Sukhumvit
This underground aquarium, one of the largest in Southeast Asia, will dazzle you with innovative world-class exhibits and over 30,000 curious looking creatures from various depths and aquatic regions across the globe. For kids, a few hours spent at the Siam Ocean World will be as educational as it is exhilarating and memorable. Learn how sea animals survive in the ‘Living Ocean’, and take a hike in the ‘Rain Forest’ where ancient African lungfish, blind cave fish, giant water rats and otters are on display. Observe life on the edge in the ‘Rocky Shore’ zone, where penguins and other marine mammals learn to survive under constant change in the unpredictable environment. Location : Siam Paragon - BTS: Siam Station
Imaginia Playland - Emporium Mall at Phrom Phong
Imaginia is not only about having fun. The two-floor space aims to educate as well as entertain, with the concept of ‘learning through playing’. The impressive range of activities take on art, music, literature, technology and strategic thinking, suitable for tiny tots all the way up to young teens below 15-years-old. There are 19 different zones in total spread across some 1,400sqm of the newly refurbished Emporium Mall. Among the highlights is the ‘Dream Jungle’ (a set of bouncy and colourful nets for the kids jump jump/crawl across), an inflatable mountain to climb and the ‘Time Tube Slider’ transporting you from the second floor two to the first floor. Imaginia is more than just a good place for the kids to blow off some steam for a few hours. It’s a vibrant, stimulating centre that provides a hands-on learning experience for all kids. Location: Emporium Mall - BTS: Phrom Phong station
Kidzania - 5th floor of Siam Paragon
Kidzania is the very latest and, without a doubt, most innovative addition to the ‘edutainment’ scene in Bangkok. This is unlike anything we have seen before and the level of fun has been raised to a brand new level. At first this appears to be another cute mini-town with pretty European style houses below painted skies - which it is. But beyond the extremely well executed craftsmanship, a much deeper level of education is brought to the kids. Each and every one of the shops and buildings in Kidzania town is a learning experience for children from four to 15 years old. The most appealing aspect of Kidzania is the concept of ‘how-do-they-do-it’. It’s certainly all fun and games but kids really do learn something. Location: Siam Paragon - BTS: Siam Station 54
APPROACH February 2016
KIDS & EDUCATION
Siam City Park Bangkok - A Bangkok Water and Amusement Park
A large area dedicated to a water park with exhilarating slides, and a separate amusement park with some fantastic rides for both small and big kids. Kids are sure to enjoy a day out here, and with a great value entry price and cheap food options available it’s a fantastic treat for the kids on a family day out. Location: 203 Suan Siam Rd., Kannayao, Bangkok 10230 – Best by Taxi.
Safari World Zoo and Park - An Amazing Open Safari Park and Marine Park
near Bangkok Safari World is a zoo for those who don’t like zoos... of course like any animal parks it has some good and some not so good sides but here animals certainly do have huge amount of space to roam free. Opened since 1988, Safari World is divided in two distinct areas: The open space of Safari Park where you can drive through in your car or in the park bus represents 480 acres for its open zoo and 180 acres for its bird park, then the Marine Park which is more of a traditional zoo mixed with many shows, lots of food stalls and plenty of souvenir shops. Location: 99 Panyaintra Road, Samwatawantok, Klongsamwa.
Snow Town Bangkok at Gateway Ekkamai - Themed
Snow Village in Bangkok Snow Town Bangkok is an indoor themed village and play area with 30-40 cm of artificial snow. Inside the air conditioned hall there is a Main Street with Japanese restaurants, shops and a playground. There is also a modest slope with sleighs and skis for rent so you can recreate the sensation of being high up in the mountains of Hokkaido. There is always an artificial snow machine pumping out fresh snow and forming little mounds which children love to climb up and slide down. Location: Fifth Floor, Gateway Ekkamai, Sukhumvit Road - BTS: Ekkamai
Ice Skating
- Several Rinks Ice Planet - Ice Planet features a standard Olympic sized rink that can easily host a game of ice hockey or a figure skating choreography competition. There’s also a skating school (for ice hockey and figure skating). Location: 7th floor of the Siam Discovery Center. BTS: Siam. Imperial World Ice Skating - Imperial World Ice Skating is the one and only Olympic-size rink complete with skating facilities like first aid, training room, changing room, and Pro Shop. Location: 999 Sukhumvit Road, Samrong Nua, Samutprakarn (take BTS to On Nut station and grab a taxi from there). The Rink - The Rink sits in an open atrium on the first floor of CentralWorld shopping complex. The space occupies what used to be the exhibition area, surrounded by brand name clothing shops and B2S retail store. The Rink is a delightful alternative to the otherwise nondescript rinks elsewhere. Location: CentralWorld (Forum zone) Sub Zero Ice Skate Club - A brand new rink to grace The Big Mango, Sub Zero Ice Skate Club defies the
city’s relentless heat with a unique ice skating experience that combines a rink with a night club and karaoke in a sub zero environment. Once the sun goes down, Sub Zero Ice Skate Club will transform itself into a swanky club with strobe lights, live DJs, and blades-strapped ‘Angel Dancers’. Light snacks and drinks are also served on the ‘ice bars’ - bars made from real ice. Location: Esplanade, Ratchada Road (MRT Thailand Cultural Centre Station).
February 2016 APPROACH
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FASHION
Valentines D ay What to wear on your romantic Valentines date
Valentine gift ideas
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APPROACH February 2016
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MOTORING MOTORING
The Three Wheelers & Electric Drive are here to stay
Tripl - The Motor Scooter that thinks it is a Van Denmark’s Tripl electric motorbike has more cargo space than a Mercedes E-Class estate. The design not just better for cities, it’s better for citizens. Running boards on either side of the back wheel, coupled with an adjustable seat, allow the driver to simply step up on to the saddle. There’s no need to throw a leg over a bar, and throw out a back in the process, which should make the delivery guys from Butler pretty happy, the next time you demand some dim sum from Butler in our Hua Hin on-demand economy. Tripl also appears to be easy to manoeuvre, not to mention its speed that tops at 28 mph (45 km/h). Prices have not been revealed yet.
Bruno Forcella - Suisse Bruno Forcella, a former electrical engineer from Switzerland, has created an electric chopper called the SineCycle. Built on a hardtail frame called “The Heist” by US-based Cleveland Cyclewerks, the bike is a customizer’s dream project, with low-slung handlebars, a 21-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear, a handmade saddle, modified fenders and a beautiful — if completely unnecessary — faux fuel tank, painted Mercedes silver. It’s driven by a 2.8kWh permanent magnet motor. The top speed is 75mph, but a range of only 35 miles (120kmh) makes for a very short joyride. It’s also very, very cool. No price tag.
Honda Neowing - J The Honda Neowing, uses a horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, but it augments internal combustion power with electric motors that “generate plentiful torque for powerful acceleration.” It is difficult to imagine Honda replacing the two-wheeled Goldwing -of which the company has sold close to 650,000 in four decades of production - with a three-wheeler, but the Neowing does make a strong case for itself. Unfortunately there are no precise specs to date but APROACH will update them as soon as they hit the press. An estimation is around Thb 450,000 60
APPROACH February 2016
MOTORING
The 4MC Four Wheeled Motorcycle by Nick Shotter – UK This odd-looking creation could be the start of something massive – it’s the first prototype of an entirely new design of leaning four-wheeled bike which not only offers a massive increase in safety but, should it reach production, will be legal for anyone holding a car driving licence to use without taking an extra test – all while keeping the cheap road tax, good fuel economy and exemption from congestion charging that goes hand in hand with bike ownership. Neither a bike nor a car, the 4MC is currently only a prototype designed to prove the concept of Nick Shotter’s leaning suspension ideas. It is designed around a Yamaha YP 400 engine and transmission.
Yamaha’s OR2T – J - Prototype Powered by the 847 cc inline triple-cylinder engine of the MT-09 (FZ-09), this concept was designed as a large sport touring LMW – one might also say it’s a direct response to Honda’s Neowing concept.
Yamaha Tricity - J The Tricity is powered by a simple 125 cc scooter motor. It features a tilting parallelogram front suspension geometry not unlike the Piaggio platform, and a unified braking system not unlike what Honda rolls out on its larger sports tourers. The Yamaha Tricity is powered by a 125cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 2-valve SOHC, 4-stroke engine. Yamaha claims that the 125cc engine gives you a bit less than 11 horsepower (10.86 HP) at 9,000rpm and a good torque of 10.4Nm at 5,500rpm. The engine is equipped with a electronic fuel injection and the final drive is by V-Belt. Selling Price in Thailand approx. Thb 80,000.
Ca Am Spyder - USA The 790-pound spyder shares its powertrain with the Aprilia RSV motorcycle, including its 998cc Rotax V-twin engine. The spyder makes 106 horsepower and 77 pound-feet of torque, trading horsepower for a less-frantic delivery and a lower torque peak. Also, the spyder loses one of the Aprilia’s six forward gear ratios to enable reverse. The top speed is 98 mph / 160 kmh. N.A. in Thailand February 2016 APPROACH
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at T H ha i g h W i il a l y n n nd Co er Pr mm s of 20 ope en 15 rt de yA d w ar d s
Expand your horizons ... High quality Aluminium Door & Window Systems Folding Doors 路 Sliding Doors 路 Slide & Turn Doors 路 Windows
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SUNFLEX Asia Ltd. | 52/12 Moo 3, T. Bophut, A. Koh Samui | Suratthani 84320 Thailand Tel.: +66 (0) 77 414 412 | Fax: +66 (0) 77 414 413 | Mobile: +66 (0) 84 783 6668 | m.buser@sunflexasia.com www.sunflexasia.com | info@sunflexasia.com
Learn to Swim babies & toddlers children & adults private semi-private or group lessons
Internationally Accredited Swimming Teachers for bookings and enquiries contact Matt
082 591 1250 or 086 530 7955 swimhuahin@gmail.com www.swimhuahin.com
Desjoyaux (Huahin) Co.ltd. Location Near Airport Huahin 100 m Website : www.desjoyauxthailand.com. E–mail : desjoyaux_huahin@yahoo.com Tel. 032-522900-1
Hua Hin Golf Villa located close to Klaikangwol Palace, just over a kilometer to down town and 100 meters walk to the beach on Soi 41. Our rooms seamlessly blend the traditional and the contemporary. Tasteful teak furniture and wooden flooring is complimented by free wireless internet service and satellite TV. Hua Hin Golf Villa: 11/185 Soi 41, Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin, Prachuabkirikhan 77110. Tel: (032) 531392-6 Fax: (032) 512085 info@huahingolfvilla.com and reservation@huahingolfvilla.com www.huahingolfvilla.com
Hua Hin Golf Tours is Thailand’s first registered golf tour company. Established in 1992 with headquarter located in Hua Hin, we have served over 25,000 satisfied golfers. Our Services • Golf Packages: Hua-Hin/Cha-am, Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai, Riverkwai-Kanchanaburi, etc. • Golf Reservations • Hotel Reservations • Transportations • Golf Excursions • Golf Lesson & Clinic • Tours & Sightseeing • Etc. • Golf School Hua Hin Golf Tours Co, Ltd.: 2/136 Naebkahards Road, Hua Hin, Prachuabkirikhan 77110 Tel: (032) 530119, 530476-8 Fax: (032) 512085 info@huahingolf.com and hhgolf@huahingolf.com www.huahingolf.com
COOLEST GADGETS
COOL GADGETS for “PUSHBIKERS” The bicycle’s invention has had an enormous effect on society, both in terms of culture and of advancing modern industrial methods. Several components that eventually played a key role in the development of the automobile were initially invented for use in the bicycle, including ball bearings, pneumatic tires, chain-driven sprockets, and tensionspoked wheels. Cycling gets short shrift under the tree, probably because few cyclists are properly equipped to head out into ankle deep slush on a neighborhood jaunt. But if you’d like to give a gift to some enterprising entrepreneur, there are lots of Kickstarter campaigns with some exceptional cycling ideas. If they’re timed right (and fully funded), you just might get a gift of gear just as the daffodils and derailleurs bloom next spring.
Lumenus is an app-optimized clothing
The Mandy Fender is a custom fender made of endlessly renewable bamboo veneer (It’s grass, people!). Layered between the bamboo is a “memory film,” which enables you to simply strap the Mandy to any size tire, heat it with a hair dryer for a few minutes, and then remove a perfectly fitting bentwood fender like all the cool kids have. Stainless steel and chrome parts mount it to the bike. Price: 3,500฿ amazon.com
Grasp bicycle lock. You’re used
Alpini Minivelo. You don’t expect
line. Specifically, it’s rechargeable LEDenhanced bikewear that signals turns, flashes brake lights, indicates pace, and lights you up like a Macy’s holiday window as you approach dangerous intersections — all using your phone’s mapping, GPS, and accelerometer. Prices ranging from 3,600฿ to 15,000฿ through amazon.com.
to unlocking your phone with your thumb. Now you can unlock your bike the same way. The Grasp bicycle lock is a caliper-shaped lock that simply snaps around frame and rack in a fraction of a second — so long as your thumb (or another approved digit, yours or other’s) is on the biometric sensor. It looks to be the easiest bike lock ever created, and is clamed to be unpickable and virtually unbreakable. Price: 5,700฿ amazon.com
to find a new bike in your stocking, but it’s almost possible with the Alpini minivelo. It’s a small bicycle solution that avoids all the folding and collapsing by actually being small. An adult-sized frame is proportioned to handle 20inch wheels, making it maneuverable carried up a tight staircase as well as in traffic. It’s under 20 pounds, but it’s heavy on style. Starting Price at amazon.uk or Kickstarter.com Price: 7,500฿
Bike light batteries die. Rechargeable lights are never charged when they need to be. And old friction-powered lights added enough drag that a trip to the grocer feels like an hour of SoulCycle. But soon, there will be NEO, lights that mount on front and rear forks and captures Eddy Currents created by your spinning aluminum wheels. Magnets in the NEO spin in the current to power a dynamo which powers LEDs to light you up. At least, that’s how we understand it. Price: 2,400฿ through amazon.com
Bicycle wrap skirt. Biking in a skirt
can be challenging, embarrassing, and (when hem meets chain) downright dangerous. It’s a cotton skirt with hidden fasteners to prevent fly-up, deep pockets for valuables, and straps that keep the edges of the skirt out of the back tire. It’s not just a cleverly disguised pair of shorts, so biking is still beautifully breezy. Price: 3,000฿ to 4,500฿ depending on design at Discerning Cyclist UK. February 2016 APPROACH
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SPORTS
ARENA
The Ultimate Sport Centre
In Hua Hin
H
ua Hin is now definitely on the map of the ATP & WTA tennis associations with a fantastic complex of tennis courts, fitness centre and anything a sports friend would dream of having within his reach. In addition two FIA standard football fields, meant to host premier league clubs fields crown the facility. True Arena is definitely Asia’s premier tennis, sports and recreational centre, located in the heart of Thailand’s seaside resort on 39.73 rai (20 acres) of land, True Arena Hua Hin is a one of a kind, state of the art sports facility. The main Hotels and Spas are all within one kilometre of the property with the beach a 5 minute walk away. Center Court, a tennis stadium with a capacity of 5,088 seats is ideal for tournaments of ATP & WTA calibre. Inspired by the Australian Open’s Rod Laver Arena, its sunken court design is one of a kind in Southeast Asia. Also featured are ten 36.58 m x 18.24 m plexicushion tennis courts, an acrylic-based hard court tennis surface and one
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of the surface types used on the professional Association of Tennis Professionals and Women’s Tennis Association tour for tournaments and members. A number of tournament events have been scheduled throughout the year.
SPORTS
True Arena Hua Hin is set to become Asia’s premier sports destination. The club also features two FIFA regulation sized football fields, with smooth paspalum grass, Seashore paspalum is a very salt tolerant warm-season grass with desirable turf grass characteristics. This specialty grass is sometimes used in warm-season areas where either the soil or irrigation water has a high salt content. It does well near the ocean where it is subject to saltwater and also ideal for sporting events and team building exercises. A multi-purposed gymnasium for basketball, volleyball, badminton and futsal is located on site as well. True Arena Hua Hin features a 4-story clubhouse of which The“Maria” restaurant, a sports bar, and a pro shop are located on the 1st floor. On the 3rd and 4th floor, a fitness centre with state-of-theart exercise equipment and a team of fitness experts are available for members and guests.
Borisuthipong, Patcharapol Kawin and Nawakarn Khunjan, they all attended a Thai cooking class where they made Tom Yum Kung and Pad Thai. They then went on a shopping spree at Hua Hin Batik where they bought several souvenirs. I am very happy and proud to be a hitting partner for Kerber,” said Pattanapong. “She’s got very good and strong groundstrokes, and plays with so much consistency. “This is a very good experience for me. I will take the things I’ve learned today and improve my own game.” At the exhibition matches over the New Year, Patcharapol and Nawakarn, who were hitting partners for seven-time Grand Slam winner Williams, echoed Pattanapong’s sentiments: “We are happy to be chosen as hitting partners for Venus. She hardly made any unforced errors. Every shot is very accurate. She was very professional even during training.”
Private member facilities such as showers, lockers and steam rooms, are separate from those of the players. Personal training, sports coaching, bike spinning, and a variety of classes such as aerobics, yoga, and dancing can be offered to members for additional fees. Other features of the clubhouse include a 25-meter rooftop leisure swimming pool featuring first class poolside service, which is also suitable for elegant gatherings and a one kilometre outdoor jogging track encircling the premises. At the WTA tournament in December 2015, Thai junior players had a chance to practice with the high ranking ladies. After short practice sessions, in which the players left a big impression on their hitting partners, including Pattanapong February 2016 APPROACH
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ADVERTISE
in
APPROACH Magazine is a regional monthly magazine focussed on Luxury & Lifestyle, Fashion, Sport, Food, Health & Wellness, Kids & Education, Events and Social life in and around Hua Hin, Cha Am and Pranburi , promoting our top tourist destination. APPROACH is distributed at all the major Business Centres, Hotels, Resorts, Restaurants, Clinics, frequently visited Cafes and Shopping Centres in Hua Hin. Presently we are allocating 1000 copies to Airways Business Class Lounges, Restaurants and Recreational areas in Bangkok to draw interest of tourists and Bangkok residents to Hua Hin. APPROACH is put in the rooms of several 5 star hotels in Hua Hin.
Advertising : Khun Gob 092 273 9905 - Email: advertapproach@gmail.com Management : Contents - Editor : editorapproach@gmail.com
WWW. APPROACHďšşTHAILAND.COM
MIL POOL VILLAS Phase 2 Close to The Beach Town Center Market Village Blu Port Resort Mall Night Market Vana Nava
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ENTERTAINMENT
Concer ts and Live shows in Bangkok FEBRUARY : Diana Krall – Wallflower World Tour
(REMINDER)
Venue: Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon 5th Floor One of the many great things about Diana, is that she’s truly an outstanding pop singer. Her ability to cross over into pop was a fabulous discovery for me. Diana tends to be way ahead of the rest of us.”
When : February 19th, 2016 Ticket Price: 5,500 / 4,500 / 3,500 / 2,500 / 2,000 / 1,500 Baht
FEBRUARY : Santana Luminosity Tour 2016 Venue: Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani Over the past 40 years and as many albums, Santana has sold more than 100 million records and performed for more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. Santana has won 10 Grammy® Awards. Among many honours, he received the Billboard Latin Music Awards’ 2009 Lifetime Achievement honour, and was bestowed Billboard’s Century Award in 1996. Santana was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Rolling Stone magazine also named him #15 on the magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”
When : February 29th, 2016 | Ticket Price : 5,000 / 4,000 / 3,000 / 2,000 Baht
FEBRUARY : DRACULA - Blood Is Life Venue : SIAM PIC-GANESHA Theatre, 7th Floor Siam Square One The show features breath-taking physical theatre performers directed by Simeon John-Wake, renowned actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company, mind-boggling illusions created by Magic Circle Magician John Bulleid, spine-tingling sound design by Thai sound designer Tada Mitrevej, Knight of Illumination Award winning lighting designer, Ben Cracknell, all encompassed by the most ingenious stage set by Sean Cavanagh and under-pinned by Tony and Drama Desk Award nominee Kevan Frost's bone-chilling music score.
When: February 12th to 28th, 2016 | Ticket Price : 3,800 / 3,200 / 2,400 / 1,800 / 1,200 Baht
MARCH : Death Cab for Cutie live in Bangkok Venue : Moonstar Studio (Studio 1) Ladprao Soi 80, Bangkok One of the most beloved live acts of the modern era, Death Cab for Cutie will be presenting their much anticipated eight album: Kintsugi which was recorded in LA with Rich Cosey (Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Interpol). In case you didn’t know, Kintsugi takes its title from the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramic with precious metals like gold, silver and platinum, highlighting cracks rather than hiding them. As such, KINTSUGI represents a compassionate aesthetic philosophy in which damage and wear are embraced as part of an object’s history.
When: March 3rd, 2016 | Ticket Price : 1,800 Baht
For more info & booking visit: www.thaiticketmajor.com 70
APPROACH January 2016
Palm Avenue luxury Villas
Ask for the best and peaceful location, a bit of walk to Restaurants and Shops, relax by Mountain Views and enjoy the result of high quality Standards in a energy saving concept.
Palm Avenue is a new serviced Development of luxury Poolvillas located in Hin Lek Fai, 5 km from Downtown. Villas from 4.35 Mio. Baht to 9.5 Mio. Baht. For Side viewing, example House and more Details call 081-253-1443 (deu/eng) or 088-477-7976 (thai).
Rosse Immobilien Co., Ltd. www.thailand-immobilien.ch