Bangkok Trader – Volume 7, Issue 2 – January 2013

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Volume 7, Issue No. 2

January 2013

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A Land of Beer and Fried Tea

By Reid Nixon

S

un dapples stab randomly through fields of luscious fruits, hardy vegetables, golden grains, and verdant fields of tea, making for a slow, sleepy day that lulls you into looking around furtively for a hammock that you know just has to be strung up somewhere nearby. It is seriously time for a nap.

But then a pack of dripping, dirty, grunting mountain bikers whip by to remind you that this isn’t all just about you taking it easy. If one is so inclined, you’re gonna sweat hard, and you’re gonna love it.

Yes, while it sounds as if we might be in Europe or Australia, we are still quite in Thailand, just outside of Chiang Rai as a matter of fact, at the latest tourism venture brought to you by a beverage heavyweight. This is Boon Rawd Farm, developed by Singha Beer. Taking a cue from Thailand’s wine valley in Khao Yai and Asiatique the Riverfront from the Chang Beer magnate, Singha has created an 8,000+ rai eco-centric expanse with two speeds, depending on your mood.

There’s ‘slow’ for those that want to ride around in one of those cute trams that you might see at some Disney park, with a pre-recorded audio tour (in Thai only) over loudspeakers and stops along at various crops of fruits, such as strawberries, star fruit, jujubes (like a date), and others; vegetables, including corn; and grains like the always ubiquitous rice and barley to experiment with for brewing. Then there are the sunflowers, other colorful flowers, and oolong tea. Photo opportunities abound.

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While these are interesting enough (the farm is a self-sustaining venture for the farmers that tend the various plantings), it’s the tea that stands out as a highlight viewing, with groups of women in big hats almost lost in the tall plants as they pick just the top few leaves of each stalk, and they laugh playfully as tourists snap away. Not far from these fields is a large processing building that dries out and processes 400 tons a year of leaves in a complicated, fascinating method (one could almost say ‘enhanced interrogation’ techniques performed on tea leaves) sending them along their way towards bagging, selling both on-site and exported within-country and out, drinking, and eating.

Wait, eating tea? More on that later. Now let’s talk about the ‘fast’ setting.

As biking enthusiasts know, it can be a love/hate affair to pedal in Thailand.

Certainly, Bangkok won’t be making Top 10 lists for cycling any time soon, and most riders get itchy waiting for a chance on the weekend to get out of the city and actually do real quality time on their bikes. The Singha folks had these people in mind in developing Boon Rawd Farm, carving out kilometers of trails that zigzag through all the various produce to be harvested. A lot of sharp curves along dirt roads through the fields, many hills to power up and to plummet down, bamboo thickets, wooden bridges over water reservoirs (which are occasionally used to help drought-stricken farmers beyond Boon Rawd Farm) – all of these make for good times for those looking to bring their bikes to just go and go and go for a whole day, and still sharing the same scenery that most were content with taking in just at setting #1.

But whatever speed you choose, everyone seems to converge upon what is probably the most enjoyable (and the busiest) feature of Boon Rawd Farm, which is a nicely built, large open-air restaurant perched on top of a hill with one side looking out over one of the serene lakes and rows of the oolong tea crops in the background, while the other side gives a grand view of a large and tranquil valley with other smooth hills to frame what is yet another photo point. Some nice outdoor furniture waits conveniently nearby the restaurant to plonk down and just chill.

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But it’s the restaurant, not the comfy furniture, that gets the real attention around here. The food, a hodgepodge of Northern cuisine and from other Thai regions, is light and delectable. And now this is where the ‘eating’ of tea makes it’s returns to our story. Turns out that oolong tea is an excellent snack, battered and fried, served along with cashew nuts, and having a similar sensory experience as eating potato chips (crisps) but with a slightly sweet aftertaste. Truly a unique, natural, and nice alternative to Lays.

And of course, seeing as this vast tourist destination is brought to you by the largest brewery in Thailand, there is the beer – and plenty of it! – on tap with just two choices, Singha and Leo – and there are some delicious fruit juices available too, including some tasty passion fruit and mulberry options. There is no rush here (even if you have chosen setting #2), so large families, gangs of cyclists, old and young, all seem to take a long and unhurried time just grazing and quaffing while gazing out at the nature below.

The farm is definitely new and definitely a work-in-progress in building up to be a fullly commited tourist destination. As of now, there aren’t any overnight accommodations, as there are at Farm Chokchai in Khao Yai, but that’s in the cards some time the next year or two. Only last month marked the debut of an annual bicycle and farm festival (replete with a farmers’ market and a night-time BBQ on hay bales, as well as a concert of some famous Thai singers and bands). Tent camping facilities, including toilets, were provided for a lot of cyclists, and Boon Rawd says that they are finishing up right now to provide permanent facilities for tent camping.

But getting out to the farm isn’t difficult, as it’s only about a 20-minute car or van ride if staying in Chiang Rai town, and there are decent accommodations at various price points, ranging from guesthouse to boutique and high-end hotels. Chiang Rai isn’t on the train routes, but does have a small airport serviced by flights from a handful of carriers. There isn’t a whole lot to see in the city proper, with the exception of a very picturesque – and bizarre – all-white temple, but there are definitely things to do outside of the town in all directions. Rental cars or motorcycles are readily available, and driving is quite manageable for those that might be wary; the pace is definitely not as it is in Bangkok. Another nice and convenient way to get about, especially if traveling in a mid to larger group, is to hire a van with a driver to shuttle you around to see the sights and get to meals or shopping.

There’s a lot of ground to cover if you see all the sites over a couple of days, so why not leave the ‘work’ of it all to someone else? The drivers are very accommodating to your itinerary for the day and night.

A penultimate note: For the ‘fast’-ers, I could say that it’ll be a full day or so out at the farm and in the areas around it. For the ‘slow’-ers, I recommend only a half-day and lunch at this point in time (maybe down the road there will be more to-dos there to warrant a full day), and I suggest a stop on the way back at the must-see Wat Rong Khun (the above-mentioned white temple straight from the Twilight Zone). And while another article is deserved to give more detail on things to do when visiting the Chiang Rai area, I’ll quickly recommend here to take a second day for Doi Tung Development Project and the Royal Villa that was the home to H.M. the King’s And if you’re there for the physical option, it’s very doable to ride your bike mother the other direction from town towards the border to Myanmar. from Chiang Rai to the farm and a nice experience in itself. Whatever mode one takes to gets there, all will arrive to be greeted a huge, gleaming Singha And finally, it’s worth noting that beyond whatever you lay out on lunch and lion statue (cue your first photo-op of the day!) nearby a fashionable café beverages, entrance to the vast Boon Rawd Farm, including the tram tour, is to start off with a coffee, oolong tea, or mulberry frappe before heading a whopping free. out in the tour tram. On the way out back home, there’s also the obligatory souvenir shop to pick up gifts for friends and family – and yourself – that Boon Rawd Farm – 99 Moo 1, Mae Korn, Chiang Rai. are based on what actually comes from the farm: dried fruits, jams, teas, www.boonrawdfarm.com or www.facebook.com/boonrawdfarm and various sorts of quaint country-style kitchen doodads.

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10 bangkok trader JANUARY 2013

Ethiopian Treats

By Dave Stamboulis

I

first encountered Ethiopian food on a visit to its homeland some ten years ago. In a land famed for having never been colonized (Africa’s Thailand!) and with its own completely unrelated and unique language, writing, and religion, the food was just as distinctive, unlike anything I had ever eaten anywhere in the world before. I soon put it up there with Thai and Japanese as one of the planet’s most delectable cuisines.

When I first moved to Bangkok, there were a couple of Ethiopian restaurants where I could get my fix of injera bread and wot curries, but shortly after I settled in here, they closed down. While Bangkok has an incredible array of cuisine, ranging from Japanese to Nepalese to Italian, there wasn’t any Ethiopian to make things perfect. However, the recent reopening of Habesha has changed all that, and now one can add this outstanding dining experience to a night out on the town.

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Here in Bangkok, all of this wonderful tradition is available at Habesha, a cozy Ethiopian café and bar situated on Sukhumvit 3, just up the street from the Nana Square shopping center and on the same side of the street as Bumrungrad Hospital, past the tiny sub-soi full of African bars. The food at Habesha is about as close to the real deal as you will find, and the helpful staff and owners will go out of their way to explain the various dishes… and about Ethiopian food to you, in general. Habesha also does coffee ceremonies or will just make a single cup of delicious Ethiopian joe for your tasting.

If you really want to look as if you’re in the know, see if you can get them to get you some tej, which is a homemade honey mead wine popular in Ethiopia – sweet, flavorful, with a nice kick to it, and a perfect end to a fine meal.

Habesha Ethiopian Bar and Restaurant 1/26 Sukhumvit Soi 3, Nana. Tel. 085 902 2241. www.ethiopianrestaurantbangkok.com For those unfamiliar with it, Ethiopian food is, well, pretty much unlike any other cuisine out there. First off, there are neither plates nor cutlery in Ethiopian cooking and dining. Spiced vegetables, pulses, and meat are served as curries known as wot, and are doled out on top of injera, a fermented flatbread made from a grain called teff, which grows only in the highlands of Ethiopia. The teff is fermented like sourdough, and after some days, the flour is rolled out like a large pancake and baked. Despite many jokes about it, such as that it resembles the rubber mat on the floor of a car, injera has a spongy texture and is slightly sour, making it somewhat of an acquired taste. But it isn’t strong and is the perfect medium for soaking up the curries that go on top of it. Ethiopians tear off the injera (the plate) as they go, scooping up the meats and veggies with their fingers, so no spoons or forks are needed either.

The Ethiopian curries are made with lots of berbere, a combo of spices that include chilies, garlic, ginger, dried basil, korarima (a wild Ethiopian spice) and several others, giving them a bit of heat, but nowhere near at the levels of Thai or, say, Mexican. Chicken, beef, and lamb are all used in abundance, as are lentils and split peas, along with chard, potatoes, and other vegetables.

While major religious holidays and an entire month of Lent are celebrated with no meat available in the country, this isn’t too much of an issue since the ‘fasting food,’ as it is known, is wonderfully delicious, and I am often at odds when I eat Ethiopian as to whether or not I want to eat only the vegetable curries or have the red chili-based chicken or other meats. One unusual dish on any Ethiopian menu is kitfo, which is raw beef marinated in spicy chili powder. Most foreign diners shy away from it, fearing all sorts of bugs and disease, but it is one of my personal favorites, and I’ve never suffered any maladies from partaking.

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Just as wonderful as the food in Ethiopia is the coffee. Some of the best brew in the world is grown in the highlands, and in addition to already having the beans, the Italian occupation in World War II left the Ethiopians with the art of brewing, and doppiato and macchiato shops are still found on every corner of the capital Addis. Even better is the traditional coffee ceremony, which is a norm when guests visit someone’s home (and now done in Ethiopian restaurants around the world). First the beans are roasted in an open pan and the aromatic smoke wafted around for everyone to inhale.

Then the beans are pulverized in a mortar and pestle and boiled in a special urn called a jebena before being served, usually with sugar, strong and sweet like a Turkish or Greek coffee.

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Uncovering Evil

By Voicu Mihnea Simandan.

Photos by Regin Reyno

T

he release from house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese democracy leader in November 2010, the release of some Burmese political prisoners by the government in 2011, and last year’s nominal ceasefire agreement between the Karen National Union and the Burmese military, Suu Kyi’s win of a seat in the Parliament, and Barack Obama’s historical visit to Myanmar has positively raised Myanmar’s profile in the eyes of the international community.

But Myanmar still has a long way to go before its people are really free and maybe even longer before the leaders of the former military junta are brought to justice for the atrocities they have committed against their own people and the minority groups they have embattled for decades. One of these groups, the Karen, has been in conflict with the Burmese government since 1942 and aimed for an independent state until 1976, when its demands changed to requesting greater autonomy under a federal system of government.

However, their dream remains that one day, Kawthoolei, their traditional homeland (corresponding to present-day Kayin State, a mountainous area in the east of Myanmar, on the border with Thailand’s Mae Hong Son, Tak, and Kanchanaburi provinces), will be given the right to self-determination.

‘Kawthoolei’ literally means ‘the land without evil,’ and in his book, Evil in the Land Without, Colin Cotterill plays with that meaning in the hope of raising public awareness to the evil the Karen have suffered at the hands of a ruthless Burmese army.

For decades, the Burmese waged a war of terror and intimidation on the civilian Karen population, raping, pillaging, and burning their villages in the hope of discouraging the Karen fighters. The scenes in Sylvester Stallone’s last installment of Rambo (2008) gave us just a glimpse, even if it was fictional, of what the Karen have had to suffer for so long. With a ‘live for nothing, die for everything’ mentality, the Karen fighters still hope for a chance to free their seven million people from the chains of the Burmese oppression.

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Colin Cotterill opens Evil in the Land Without (Asia Books, 2003) with a note left by the Burmese army on the hut of a Karen village: “You are to leave this place. If you are found here when we return in seven days, you will be considered enemies of the state and destroyed.” Thus, six-year-old Sherri, her family, and the rest of the villagers abandon their houses and go in search of a new home. But they are intercepted by a Burmese patrol and “when the bloodletting was over, only five villagers remained alive.” Sherri is one of them. But for her, death would have been a fairer fate.

Fast-forward more than two decades to the year 2000, and the reader is introduced to John Jessel, an English detective who works for the Child Protection Unit in Surrey. Overweight and with a serious drinking problem, Jessel’s mission in life is to rid the world of pedophiles. After bringing down a ‘pederast ring,’ he is targeted by a mysterious adversary who signs his threat letters as ‘The Paw.’ Soon enough, the threats become reality, and the people Jessel cares for most find their end at the hand of a ruthless assassin.

No one around him is safe anymore, and John’s only hope at catching the murderer is to dig deep in the history of his own family and find the secrets his Hungarian-born mother and his estranged father brought with them to their graves.

The narrative of Evil in the Land Without takes the readers on a rollercoaster of a journey from Burma to England and from Kenya to Thailand, where John Jessel is welcomed by more bodies at the hand of The Paw. In the meantime, Dr. Shirley Heigh returns to Burma as a U.S. citizen, but she is none other than ‘little Sherri.’ Her mission is revenge, and when Jessel crosses paths with her, they join forces to bring down the evil in ‘the land without evil.’

Things get complicated when the British Secret Service gets involved, the identity of a Burmese diplomat is proven to be related to the disappearance of Jessel’s father, and for the detective’s sister and nephew, time is ticking, with Jessel uncovering more deep and dark secrets underneath all that has happened.

The underlying message of Colin Cotterill’s Evil in the Land Without is a cry of anger against all the hurt that children suffer worldwide. All major characters in his novel still have skeletons in the closet from their childhood.

From child sex slaves in Burma to abused children in Kenya, from murdered children in communist Hungary to neglected and abandoned English kids, the author raises difficult issues in the format of an excellent mystery novel.

It is not a coincidence, as London-born Colin Cotterill has been involved with NGOs in Southeast Asia for many years, working for child protection from prostitution and pornography. His first novel, The Night Bastard (2000), was inspired by his work with trafficked children.

Colin Cotterill is also the award-winning author of the Dr. Siri mystery series set in Laos, comprising eight novels so far. More recently, Cotterill has published a new series of crime novels set in southern Thailand where he

resides. The ‘Dr. Jimm Juree’ series began with Killed at the Whim of a Hat (2011) and was followed by Grandad, There’s a Head on the Beach (2012).

The author is also an excellent cartoonist with many contributions in the Thai mass media. Find out more about his work on his official website at www.colincotterill.com.

You can purchase Evil in the Land Without online from Chiang Mai’s excellent Gecko Books (www.geckobooks.net) who offer cheap delivery by mail throughout Thailand. Other books from Colin Cotterill can be found in bookstores and in Kindle e-book format from Amazon.

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The Art of Bathing

By Dave Stamboulis

I

f I learned anything during my tenure in Japan, it was how to take and appreciate a bath. In a country where people work hard and have little free time, a good hot soak is a sacred ritual, something to slow down, appreciate, and share with others. Hot springs and bathhouses abound in Japan, and while the country is blessed with an abundant supply of hot mineral water, it is also a culture that has made the bathhouse a place worthy of worship. So it was a bit of wonderful news to my ears when a friend told me that a Japanese onsen (hot spring) had opened in Bangkok.

Yunomori Onsen, snuggled into the back of the A Square community mall on Sukhumvit 26, has brought a Japanese institution to Bangkok and even gone a step further, combining it with the Thai love of massage, thus making it about as great a method of spending a few free hours getting pampered as this town has to offer. Smith Mekaroonkamol, the owner of Yunomori, has gone to great lengths to try to recreate a bit of Japan for the 80,000-odd Japanese expats calling Bangkok home, as well as for Thais and foreigners seeking a haven in which to de-stress and relax.

Yunomori pretty much resembles the real deal that you find in the Land of the Rising Sun, with plenty of bamboo and finished wood surrounding the

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large onsen pools. The large bathing areas (separated by gender) contain a washing area with stools, buckets, toiletries, and showers, as soap and dirt are not allowed in the public bath, so one cleans off here first. Next to this are three large pools, a jet whirlpool bath, and another one containing a carbonated soda water generator from Japan that mixes soda with the water and promotes circulation and rejuvenation. This is the ‘cool’ pool at a nice 38ºC, but for the real lovers of hot springing, the best bath is next to this, a 43ºC sizzler with 3,000 liters of hot spring water brought up from the famed Raksawarin hot springs in Ranong, whose water is extremely clear and without any sulfurous odor. If this gets too hot, there is also a 17º cold pool to hop into, and there are also some warm teak tubs and another pool out in the garden to bathe in. To top it all off are a steam room and sauna, insuring that every pore gets to sweat, clean, and revitalize.

Nudity is the order of the day at Japanese baths, which sometimes surprises visitors. One is given a pair of towels, large and small, along with a yukata (a Japanese robe) upon entry to the locker room, but only the small towel is allowed into the bathing area. In a Japanese bath, people are expected to be modest, using the small towel to cover their privates while standing up and walking around, but other than this, everyone is completely unencumbered.

In Japan, a society that is often shrouded in privacy and often painstakingly reserved, there is a belief that relaxing without clothes breaks down barriers, and there is even a term for this in Japanese called hadaka no tsukiai or ‘naked communion.’ There was initially some trepidation at Yunomori that Thais would be a bit shy about the bathing etiquette, and for the first few weeks, the side of the women’s bath gave out disposable underwear to those ladies who wanted them, but evidently this was uncalled for, and the less-isbetter approach to bathing won the day.

well-trained therapists offering aromatherapy, reflexology, and traditional Thai massage. In fact, the majority of the visitors thus far choose Yunomori’s package treatment, which combines spa and bath, and with deals under 1,000 baht for both (entry to the onsen baths only is 450 baht), it’s an affordably fantastic way to get pampered. There is also a Japanese izakaya restaurant and the Gastronome bakery and café on premises, meaning one can spend the entire day and evening at Yunomori without having to go anywhere else.

Sitting in the hot spring bath, enveloped in mist and steam, I listened to two old Japanese men next to me grunt in satisfaction over the hot water, closed my eyes, and for a few minutes, even forgot I was in Bangkok, emerging a few hours later certainly feeling a lot better than I had when I walked in.

In addition to the onsen, Mekaroonkamol said he wanted to combine the Japanese love of bathing with the Thai art and culture of massage, and so the Yunomori Onsen and Spa – www.yunomorionsen.com – A Square, Sukhumupstairs of Yunomori is a large spa treatment center with private rooms and vit Soi 26. Tel: 02 259 5778. Open daily, 10:30 a.m.-midnight.

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Ready, Get Set, Go… Karting!

By Voicu Mihnea Simandan with photos by Neil Heron

I

n the past few years, Thailand has become increasingly popular with motorsport enthusiasts. Just last month we had the Race of Champions at Rajamangala Stadium, and there are even talks of the possibility of staging the first Formula One race in Bangkok in November 2014 along Ratchadamnoen Avenue or Muang Thong Thani.

If you realize that go-karting’s something you enjoy a lot, then you can join the races organized at the RCA track. They range from authentic F1-racing formats, with warm-ups, qualifying rounds, and finals, to endurance formats, team events, and non-stop races. The layout of the track is changed every two months and a list of Top 10 ‘Pilots of the Month’ is electronically kept for men, women, and children. And, every Tuesday at 8 p.m., you can benefit Until then, both drivers and spectators can enjoy a score of other excellent from free driver training from professional racers. events, such as Bangsaen Thailand Speed Festival, Honda Racing Fest, Pro Racing Series Thailand Championship, and Toyota Motorsport. There are If you want to drive a kart outdoors, then Motorsports Land (www.motoralso plenty of cross-country and off-road rallies, as well as motorcycle, drift, sportsland.net) is the place to go. It is located on Phahanyothin Road and and drag shows. can be easily reached via underground or Skytrain. It’s just a 10-minute walk from Phahanyothin MRT station or a 10-minute bus ride from Mo Chit BTS But, let’s face it, although we all have a need for speed, we either aren’t tal- station. Prices are cheaper here at only 200 baht for 10 minutes for children ented enough to be able to race at 300-kph, or we don’t have the monetary and 350 baht for adults. If you plan on frequenting Motorsports Land often, and technical support needed to maintain such an exclusive hobby. Yet, then it is a good idea to apply for membership. For only 500 baht/year, you there’s another option: go-karting. Thailand abounds in go-karting tracks, can get a discount of 50 baht each time you ride with them. Individual, famiand both Thais and Westerners alike have the possibility of racing around lies, companies, and large groups are welcome. The grounds are sometimes various circuits at the wheel of a kart with an engine size of their choice. used for concerts, festivals, fairs, and sporting events.

One of the most popular go-karting circuits in Bangkok is run by Easy Kart (www.easykart.net), a company that also boasts the biggest indoor go-kart track in Asia. Since 2004, Easy Kart has operated a 7,000-square-meter facility in RCA Plaza above a TOPS supermarket (and below the House RCA art-house movie theatre), on Rama 9 Road, Soi Soonvijai. It provides night lighting, a computer timing system, a big-screen TV to follow the races, plus a bar and restaurant with a panoramic vista of the circuit.

One race is equal to 8 minutes and you are given three choices of karts. For children of ages between 7 and 13, the kart engine size is only 100cc and can reach up to 25 kph. Adults and children above 13 years old can choose between karts of 160cc and 270cc that can reach 40 and 60 kph respectively. Prices are pretty steep for go-karting at 390 baht for an 8-minute race for children’s karts and 420 baht for adult’s karts. Easy Kart RCA also has special rates for corporate visits by groups from 10 to 200 guests. The venue is open every day from 1 p.m. to midnight.

Easy Kart also operates an excellent outdoor track in Pattaya. It boasts a two-track system and is the biggest in Asia apparently. Easy Kart Pattaya is located opposite Bali Hai Pier, just 200 meters from Walking Street. It basically shares the benefits of the facilities available at the Bangkok RCA track, with the added bonus that you can driver faster here. You can push the 270cc karts all the way up to 80 kph, an increase due the larger track area.

There are two separate tracks: the Monza Track, which is 350 meters in lengths and where you can ride 100cc and 160cc karts; and the Monaco Track, where you can test your driving skills on a 800-meter-long circuit specially built for the 270cc karts. Prices and race times are the same, but the place opens earlier and closes later than in Bangkok (10 a.m.-1 a.m.). Easy Kart Pattaya can accommodate up to 500 guests at a time!

Another good place in Pattaya where you can tune your karting skills is Pattaya Kart Speedway (www.kart.thai.li), a German-managed venue that has

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20 bangkok trader JANUARY 2013

an 800-meter track for advanced riders and a 400-meter track for beginners.

Alternatively, in case you’re not comfortable with driving on asphalt, then you can try the off-road karts on a special off-road track. And if you’re still looking for more excitement, they also offer bungee jumping and paintball activities. You can find Pattaya Kart Speedway at Thepprasit Road, halfway between Jomtien Beach Road and Sukhumvit Road.

Go-Kart Hua Hin is located among beautiful scenery on the north side of the town. You can get there by driving north on Petchkasem Road, toward Cha-Am. The venue is located one kilometer north of the PTT petrol station near Soi 6, or 400 meters after the police kiosk, and directly across from the entrance to the Hua Hin Airport. Coming from Cha-Am, you simply make the first U-turn after going through the airport-runway tunnel.

On the beginner’s track, your family can ride a standard kart (250 baht), a two-seater kart (300 baht), or a baby kart (150 baht). On the 800-meter professional track, you can get behind the wheel of a 2-stoke 100cc kart (500 baht), a special 2-stoke 100cc kart (300 baht), or just a standard cart with a 4-stroke 200cc engine. On the off-road track, you can rent a big or small kart at 600 baht and 300 baht respectively.

There are other places in Thailand where you can drive a go-kart, such as Saraburi (www.saraburicircuit.com) and Chiang Mai (www.chiangmai-xcentre.com) northwards or Phuket (www.gokartthailand.com) and Krabi (www. krabikart.com) down south. Whichever you choose, you’re set to have a great time!

If you’re already into karting, then visit www.superkartthailand.com for kartIf you feel like escaping the madness of Bangkok and Pattaya, then the Brit- related products and accessories. Also, stay in touch with the latest racing ish-owned and managed Go-Kart Hua Hin (www.gokarthuahin.com) is the news in Thailand at www.motorsportlives.com (Thai only) and in the Asian place to go. It has a 750-meter course that will challenge even the experi- region at www.kartingasia.com. enced drivers, but also provides the beginners a chance to improve their driving skills. The karts in Hua Hin are all ‘closed-wheel karts’ with a circular steel bumper offering increased safety, making it impossible for the kart to flip over, even at high speeds. On top of that, prior throttle adjustment limits the speed drivers can push the karts to.

The place is open year-round from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and it caters to a large range of customers, from families to large groups, from young to old, from disabled to professional drivers. Go-Kart Hua Hin has four different classes of vehicles available: the 6.5-hp junior kart for children and first-time drivers; the 6.5-hp and 9-hp twin-seater karts with dual controls for family rides and young drivers; and the 13-hp senior karts that can maintain an average track speed of 70 kph.

Apart from their ‘arrive and drive’ policy, Go-Kart Hua Hin also organizes fullmoon races, team endurance events, night racing, and Formula One-style grid line-ups. Ten minutes of racing costs between 400 and 500 baht, depending on which kart you choose, but you can get more for your money with the ‘26-minute deal’ for 900-100 baht. It’s also cool that you can get a printout with the details of your average lap speed, best lap time, and even times for each lap.

STRIKERS sports pub

bangkok trader JANUARY 2013 21

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FREELANCE TRANSLATOR - English/Thai and Thai/English. All types of translations (except official legal documents) pls contact 081-2875293 or nitjawant@yahoo.ca (L) DO YOU HAVE A GARDEN? Flowers at home or in your condo? Try our Vermicompost. What is Vermicompost? It adds nutrients into the soil and soil structure. Plants just love it! Call us at 0877941183 Aldo (English) or 0896694852 Yui (Thai). Check our Facebook page @ Dirt Digger

by To Be Earth Care. We sell 1/2 kilo bags, 1 kilo and 25 kilo bags as well. We can also deliver. (L) CASA CITY TOWN HOUSE – 23 wah corner unit. 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, kitchen, 2 living rooms, and 2 parking with aircon in every rooms.

Ramkhamhaeng 76 main road, close to Big C supermarket and HomePro. Sale 6.3 Million.

Tel. Naree 086-537-2557 (L) OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT located in a multistorey office building on Sukhumwit 50 close to On Nut station. Total area is 336 sq. metres at rental price of 300THB per metre per month. Includes water charges, but excludes other utilities. Prefer to rent as one unit, but consideration to splitting into smaller units. Car parking space available for 3 vehicles. Contact Anchalee Khamkeaw on 02 7362700 Ext: 2706 or 089 496 0049 (outside office hours) (L) FOR RENT OR SALE – 129 sqm 3br condo in Sukhumvit 23, 3 years old. Walking distance Asoke MTR/BTS. Balconies, 3 bthr, plus all usual amenities. Luxury western style kitchen. Viewing anytime and special terms for the lucky tenant / owner. Contact Daojai 0819-277614 (Thai) or Steve 0817-010686 (English) (L)

NEW 45SQM STUDIO – Located Cozy Beach, Pratumnak Hill in the prestigious area of Pattaya.

200m to Beach, close to shops, bars, restuarants.

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Sale 2.8m baht or 14,000b mth. Contact Nick Green 0800 959 002 (Pattaya). Email: nickgreen3 @hotmail.com (L) SANDEE THAI LANGUAGE SCHOOL teaches Thai language and culture to foreigners. Now with 3 branches - Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai. With our continuous growth we need energetic, versatile full / part time teacher/s to join our dynamic team. Requirements: Thai national speaks fluent Thai & English, work full / part time teach Thai to foreigners, work in Bangkok, Pattaya / Chiang Mai branch, BA/MA not necessary but welcome to apply, classroom teaching experience required. Call Leanne 084388-2832 (L) IN DOMUS 18, a three bedroom, (2 plus study) 167m/sq fully furnished, modern condominium for rent at 95,000 baht per month. Featured is a large balcony which over looks a lovely swimming pool, a kitchen with stainless steel oven, large master with impressive en-suite, open plan living with L-shape sofa and a big LCD flat screen TV. Excellent location, with Terminal 21 & Asoke station conveniently nearby. If of genuine interest PH 08 7812 6893 (L)

TOWN HOUSE or home office – 3 stories, 3 bathrooms, PART TIME JOB possibility to earn 10 000 to 50 2 carparks Ramkhamhaeng Soi 24/3 Huamark Bangkapi. Lease hold 17 years. Sale 1.7 Million. Tel. 000 THB/month www.job4betterlife.com (L) Naree 086-537-2557. Close to Ramkhamhaeng A F/F 118 SQM apt in Sukhumvit soi 11 for rent. University and ABAC University (L) 2 bedrooms +1 study room, 2 bathroom, living room and open kitchen. 42” TV and DVD player. HOUSE FOR RENT - Thonglor area; 120,000 Monthly rental fee: 31,000 baht/month. Contact: baht per month. It is in a quiet location, has an Lee 081-3070618 (L) out house in addition to the main building, lots

NEED A VISA? VISA ISSUES? Do you need a long-term or short-term Visa to stay in Thailand? Do you need to extend or transform your current Visa? Do you have an overstay or blacklist problem? We solve ANY immigration problem you might have. “ANY” means ANY! We provide fast services at a reasonable price.

We require minimal or NO documentation.

We do everything: completely hasslefree for you! Call 089-149-9200 or email to info@instantthaivisa.com (L) TOWNHOUSE FOR RENT – Sukhumvit Soi 15 in secure quiet gated sub-soi directly opposite NIST main entrance. End of terrace with side entrance.

Fully modernized with 5 bed 5 bath (3 en-suite).

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Lady Ann is a 45 feet yacht, we can accommodate up to 15 guests for a day trip. We provide an all included packages ranging from a full-day trip, half-day trip and sunset trip. Lady Ann to make your moment the greatest. Visit us at www. ladyannyachting.com (L) THE BIG LUGGAGE (Gioglacia) for trip to abroad or in country, 100% condition used only one time, sell only 600 baht, 089-2135240 (L) BUSINESS AUDIT & accounting services: We are offering the services of business audit and accounting for SMEs established in Thailand. The services will be provided by the Certified Public Accountant who has gained experience from certain international audit firms in Thailand.

Please feel free to let us know your need of the services at slungthong@samart.co.th. (L)

NEW ROOM AT GOOD LOCATION for rent. Price is 35k Baht/month. Room Type is one bedroom one bathroom, 48.33m2 Fully Furnished&Good View, include TV LED 42” (3D) & 32”, True Visions, Blue-ray Player (3D), Build-in Kitchen with Hood&Hobs, Home appliance, Fridge 10.5Q, Thailand. We can arrange to ship a 20’ container, Washing Machine. My room is located at 772/560 40’ container and also less than a container load. EXPAT OFFERS SIGHTSEEING tours and hot at 4th Floor Noble Remix Tower B (a minute by Please contact Global Forwarding Freight LLC at night life tours of Bangkok! bangkoktours@ skywalk from BTS Thonglor). 081 846 8019, 089 hotmail.com (L) 0909324853 or e-mail: atmarulli@msn.com (L) 969 0687 apiwat1001@yahoo.com (L) of garden and land plus is in a quiet yet central 20TH CENTURY HISTORY books and location. There are four bedrooms, maids area, boigraphies for sale reasonably priced. Contact Western & Thai kitchens, lots of storage and room nigelinseychelles@gmail.com (L) for parking. Available from December. Phone LOGISTICS – Great ocean rates from the USA to 08 7812 6893 (L)

22 bangkok trader JANUARY 2013 TAI CHI FOR HEALING – Two 12-lesson intensive foundation courses in ancient Laojia 9 form all basics of tai chi. Starting early January: one at weekends, one on weekday mornings.

Book in advance – places are limited. Course will be certificated. Peter Jenkinson is member of 20th Generation Chen Tai Chi Master Liu Yong International Association. Lessons held at Yoga Elements, 29 Vanissa Building 23rd Floor, Soi Chidlom 02 655 5671 or call Peter 086 0144050. www.chentaichithailand.com (A) TEACHCHA CENTER. Teaching English, Thai, Chinese (Basic, advances, business, IELTS , TOEFL, TWE, TOEIC, Chinese for Academic and business, Thai for business, academic etc.) and Mathematics by experienced and qualified teachers and native speakers. In person at our Center, your offices or online. Well organized curriculum. Suit individual needs. Free programs and worksheets Contact: Tisha 0870853455 tisha.tutor@gmail.com www.teachcha.com youtube: weloveteachcha (A) CENTER-CONDOTEL IN SOUTH PATTAYA, 14th floor, Tukcom-View, 50 sqm, fully furnished, ready to move in, price: 2.350.000 baht. Phone: 0896020642. Email: manfredgauff@yahoo.com (A) FURNISHED ROOM with free HS Internet (Ploenchit Townhouse) for rent - Bht 6,800-8,800.

Located in the heart of city. Size 23/35 sqm - 5 mins walking from BTS skytrain station & close to embassies & expressway, easy to go anywhere you wish in Bangkok near all famous shopping malls / supermarkets / fitness. To view room, call to make an appointment first. Penny: Tel 089 499 8356, 081 926 9198. e-mail to: pashaporns@ yahoo.com or benz_ps@hotmail.com (A) OFFICE FOR RENT AT PAYATHAI PLAZA, at Payathai BTS station & Airport Rail Link. Near Victory Monument transport & entertainment node. Finished office ready to move-in, 161.40 sq.m., Baht 220 / sqm / mo. Call Jazz 02-2710987-88 Ext. 333 or email to secretary1@thaichoice.com (A) FULL TIME SALES MANAGER required to sell advertising for publisher of Thailand’s No 1 English golf magazine and regional golf guides.

Based in Bangkok. Basic salary plus generous commission. Thai and English speaking is essential. e.mail mikebridgeceo@gmail.com or telephone +66(0) 831 986700. (A) 73 SQM TWO BEDROOMS plus i single bed at sukhumvit soi 18 very nice road for rent 25000 bath a month please call 0878009370 (A) 74 SQM AT THE MARKLAND pattaya soi 1 for rent nice studio sea view 20000 bath a month please call 087 800 9370 (A) FREE ENGLISH CLASSES in PraKhanong. Come learn American history, entertainment and geography from an American. I teach grammar and conversation as well. Wednesday and Thursday nights 6:30pm-8:30pm. Located at “The Potter’s House Christian Church” (3rd floor) 181/1 Sukhumvit 71, next to Embassy of Nepal.

Across the street from Jusco and Kfc. Call 084450-3011 or visit webpage for more info. http:// prakhanongchurch.jimdo.com/ (K) EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL GRAPHIC and book/magazine designer for print and web.

I can create a professional looking identity, look, or brand for your business needs. Contact AU. (‘oo’) at au.laphat.rada@gmail.com or call 089 229 4416. (I)

THAI DANCERS WANTED for long-term contract. Everything included: good salary, work visa, air ticket, very nice accommodation, drinks commission, free dance lessons and more advantages. 0832509952 0803190767 atomiq@ mail.ru (K)

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GOLF PUTTERS – Brand New Prokennex golf putters – Left or right handed, ex promotional items, never used, retail at Central for approximately Bt3,800.

For sale at Bt750 each. Photographs available.

Contact Andy: 0808149080 or email to anhyde@gmail.com ♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ (I)

SUSHI COOK WANTED. Good salary, friendly team, great career perspectives. 0803190767, HAIR & BEAUTY SALON FOR SALE South 0832509952 atomiq@mail.ru (K) Pattaya. Great Location in City Walk Pattaya (Next to Royal Garden plaza) on beach front. 7 GOLF TRAVEL MATE BAG. Fitleist Excellent Work Stations, 2 Massage Tables, Good clientele condition black in colour with yellow strip. Nice base. Two 5 star Hotels nearby. Free parking. and light to handle with hand grip and shoulder No Licence required. No Key money. Profitable strap. Zip pouch for golf balls. Great way to carry Business. Accounts available. 30,000 baht/month you clubs to the driving range or golf course. 500 rent. Only 1.2M Baht. Relocating hence sale price. baht ph 0828128226 (A) Call 080-0959002 (L) BUSINESS / FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS, estate planners, will writers & paralegals are required to join our organization. Full / Part-Time vacancies are available. (If you don’t have the qualifications, then you may attend our seminars and be certified). Franchises / Agencies are available. For further information and to send your resume / CV to: legalalliance777@gmail.com (L)

NEW WHEELCHAIR for sale 3500 bath. Mobile 0800474534 (A) SAFE DEPOSIT BOX Bangkok – High security safe deposit box rental service safes available in 3 sizes open 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Full information at www.safedepositboxbangkok.com for English 080-459 3841 For Thai call 026 355455 (K)

HABITAT LUXURY CONDO sale Thonglor area; See pics at www.chosenmarketing.com/habitat – 257sqm 3brs, 4 ba, 1 maid’s room, 1 kitchen, 3 balconies, 2 entrance doors on 18th floor. 2 units per floor. Unblocked view F/F with electric appliances. Nice decoration and good condition.

Well maintenance condo. Full facilities.

TWO BEDROOM FF 75M/SQ condo for rent Good neighbours. Peaceful area. Please call with asking 35,000 baht per month. It is light and 0891062240 2purelife@gmail.com Price 19.35 bright and there are open green views from the MB negotiable! By owner must see! (K) medium size balcony. Location is conveniently near the BTS as well as a tennis club. On the roof NEED A WEBSITE? – We at tobe-website. top is a swimming pool, deck chairs, change com offer different ranges of pricing for all rooms and a small workout room. To view please your website needs. We consist of a group of freelancers who have your business needs in phone 08 0061 1054 (L) our best interest. Inform us if you need content writing, printing services, content design.

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Sukhumvit 71 – Fully furnished unit, 115 sqm, 2 e-mail:yui@tobewebsite.com or (0896694852) bedrooms / 2 bathrooms, living, dining, kitchen (fitted), 2 balconies. Includes electrical appliances Thai / (0877941183) English. (K) WANTED ANYONE invoved in leather / plastic walets - handbag - bag ect also flipflops casual footware plus ladies gent kids clothing all sizes and at competative qrices for export to the uk any amounts concidered call 081 490 6275 (L)

and TV, 3 air conditioners, water heaters. Unit is on the 6th floor of an 8-storey building. Rooftop pool, jacuzzi, fitness room, garden. Close to several international schools, banks, supermarkets.

Thonglor and Ekamai just 10 minutes away.

Nearest BTS is Phrakhanong. Contact kittima@ brandnow.asia for details. (L)

OFFICE RENT – Between OnNuch soi 55-57 on main road, Nirvana Suwannaphum Office Crust 4 floor bldg., 4 rooms, 5 bathroom, 2 car parking, 8 air, wallpaper, tel & lane lines, ready to move in flood free, safe area. Very convenient location and traffic: 5 min to Ring Road and highways, 10 min to Suwannaphum airport and 20 min to downtown. Ideal place for office, home or both. Rent: B60,000/mo + 2mo security deposit.

Contact: 081-916-4726 (K) ENJOY PLAYING the piano! Black American with twelve years experience teaching students how to have fun on the piano. Looking for people who love to play but don’t know what to play. Learn pop, rock, jazz, etc. in the comfort of your home.

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SHIPPING CONTAINERS going to the U.K MarchApril 2013. Have room for anything legal call as soon as possible for info. 0814906275. John. (K) SPANISH TRANSLATIONS and interpretation – Spanish native speaker offers translation and interpretation services. Websites, contracts, official letters, manuals etc. Both for private companies and official institutions. Thai translations and Accounting also offered. Call 0870470590 or email: Spanish_Consultant@ yahoo.es (J) VIP CONDO CHAIN PATTAYA Fully furnished seaview studio 40 sqm. 10th Fl. Room A1009 Large swimming pool, 2 tennis court, jogging lane and private beach front. Sale 1.65 Million Rent 9,000 bath per month.1 year contract.

Naree Mobile 086-537-2557 (K) YOU NEED TO LEARN ENGLISH? You need a good teacher! I am a native English speaker with a perfectly clear Midwestern American accent. I have a BA in Education and 35 years of teaching experience, much of it in Bangkok. My areas of expertise are ESL, Economics, Social Studies, World History, Psychology, Sociology, and examination preparation. Please write: pollydolly88@yahoo. com or call: 08-921-018-08. (L)