N ONTHABURI N EIGHBORHOOD R EACH
Thani Talk
S EPTEMBER 2015
Serving the Nonthaburi community and supporting local charities since 1994
Now online at: www.issuu.com/nnrthanitalk
Welcome Back! Cover Story: International Clubs Page 8-16
Travel: Australia by Campervan Feature: Nonthaburi Needlers Page 46
New: Asian Culture 101 Page 39
Sai’s Malai & Flowers, Yelp.com
Page 42
Thani TalkTalk-September 2015
About NNR & Thani Talk
NNR (Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach) is a not-for-profit organization of volunteers dedicated to serving the Nonthaburi community and supporting local charities since 1994. We achieve this by publishing Thani Talk, a free monthly magazine that has a distribution of 1,400 copies, as well as hosting an annual charity bazaar. We host monthly socials and organize monthly tours. There are no membership dues, and anyone living in Nonthaburi is already a member. Connect with NNR NNR Guide
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DISCLAIMER: The placement of advertisements and articles in this newsletter does not constitute or imply endorsement by the NNR of any product or service. The NNR accepts no responsibility for any claims made in any advertisement and the opinions expressed in any articles are not necessarily the views of the NNR committee.
NNR BOARD 2014-2015 Chairperson
Mare Harvey
billandmare@mac.com
Vice Chairperson
Henrietta Bullinger
Hbullinger@gmail.com
Treasurer
Livonia Winkles
livoniawinkles@cox.net
Activity/Tour Coordinator
Jesmin Tarana Susanne Rodrigues
084-388-4457
tarana.jesmin@gmail.com
NNR Socials
Denise Warta
090-013-8490
cdwarta@yahoo.com
Charity Socials and Jennifer Skobel Volunteer Coordinator Wanda Grove
jcskobel@gmail.com wandagrove14@gmail.com
Advertisements
Laura Sadowski
089-924-5306
nnradverts@yahoo.com
Thani Talk Editors
Liz Lu (Editor) Laura Sadowski (Proofreader)
086-784-7171
nnrnewsletter@yahoo.com
Distribution Coordinator
Shana DeHaven
083-293-2169
sdehaventhai@hotmail.com
Bazaar Committee: Barb Lewis (Coordinator), (Raffle Prizes), Mare Harvey (Sponsors), Tipwan Smagpong and Kris Smuts (Vendors), Natalie Lollback (Volunteers) 2
Thani Talk— Talk—September 2015
Letter from the NNR President Hi everyone, welcome to Nichada or welcome back from your vacation. It is the start of another school year and a new year for the NNR, your community association. NNR stands for Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach, and we are here to help you get connected into your community! We host a social and a tour every month, and we raise money for the local charities in our area. Everyone in Nichada and close surrounds are members automatically. Our first event is our Welcome Coffee on September 11. Shana Dehaven will be hosting at
her home at 771 Baan Rim Lake, from 10amnoon. Please stop by and bring someone new. TOPS and Segafredo coffee are sponsoring the event so there will be wonderful coffees and pastries. The NNR is now online more than ever. Check us out on Facebook to see our Guide which is full of great information, our calendar for upcoming events, and our newsletter, Thani Talk. The calendar is a new feature, and we will post any event going on in Nichada. Just email us to have your event added. Get one of our cards from any board member and stay connected! Mare Harvey
Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach Serving the Nonthaburi community and supporting local charities since 1994
Inside This Issue Social: Welcome Back Coffee
NNR & Community Events 4
NNR Tour: National Museum Bangkok 5
Sept. 5
Secret Garden at new Nichada shopping complex
Sept. 8
AWC Diamond Anniversary Luncheon
Sept. 9
Encouraging Women Bible Study at Chaengwattana Community Church
Cover Story: International Groups
8-16
Community Fitness & Activities
18
Charity News
21
Grapevine Tips
24
Sept. 11
NNR Welcome Back Coffee
Highlights: May Farewell Coffee
29
Sept. 15
Around Nonthaburi & Beyond
34
NNR Tour to National Museum Bangkok
Highlights: May NNR Tour
37
Sept. 19
Living in Bangkok Fair at Bumrungrad Hospital
Asian Culture 101
39
Sept. 25-26
Travel: Australia by Campervan
42
Feature: Nonthaburi Needlers
46
Visiting author at Chaengwattana Community Church
Restaurant Review
49
Sept. 29
National Museum Bangkok Reception at Dusit Thani Hotel
Sept. 30
Breast Cancer Lecture at Anantara Bangkok Hotel 3
NNR Social
Thani Talk— Talk—September 2015
September 11 NNR Welcome Back Coffee Morning Date: Friday, September 11, 2015 Time: 10:00 am-12:00 pm Venue: The home of Shana DeHaven 771 Baan Rim Lake "Welcome" to all our new Nonthaburi residents and "Welcome Back" to all those returning from summer holidays, either locally or around the globe. We always begin the new school year with a "Welcome Back" Coffee Morning, so please come and meet some new people and/or catch up with old friends.
Let’s Catch Up !
There will be representatives from many of the organizations and clubs from around the area that you may be interested in. Tops Supermarket is providing pastries and Segafredo is providing the coffee. Please bring a small plate of baked goods or fruit to share. For more information please contact: Denise Warta at cdwarta@yahoo.com or 09 0013 8490.
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NNR Tour
Thani Talk— Talk—September 2015
NNR Tour: National Museum Bangkok September 15
With major collections of historic artifacts and Buddhist art, National Museum of Bangkok is the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia. Opened in 1928, the museum houses beautiful and diverse exhibits including elephant howdahs, royal furnishings, weapons, porcelain, musical instruments, spectacular funeral chariots, and murals depicting the life of Buddha. The two-hour NNR tour will be in English. The museum also offers tours in German, French and Japanese. Let us know if you prefer to join a tour in a different language. Wear comfortable shoes and bring some water. Not all rooms are air-conditioned, so wear light clothing but be respectful of the culture, as we are entering one of the most important temples in the country (for ladies, no exposed shoulders and please cover your knees). Susanne Rodrigues & Jesmin Tarana NNR Tour Coordinators Date: Tuesday, September 15 Time: 7:30 am Meet in front of ISB’s Chevron Theater. Bus leaves at 8 am sharp and returns about 2 pm. Cost: 200 baht museum entry fee. Bus cost to be shared. To Sign Up: Please Email: tarana.jesmin@gmail.com Please include your full name and cell phone number. 5
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Cover Story: International Clubs
Thani Talk ~September 2015
International Clubs Help Build Friendships With expatriates from all over the world living and working in Thailand, there’s a myriad of international groups offering social activities and support. In this month’s cover story, Thani Talk highlights some of the major women’s groups in Bangkok. Some, such as Club Canada Thailand, which in 2003 changed its name from Canadian Women’s Group in order to include male members, do not limit membership to women. Other clubs welcome members of all nationalities. For a comprehensive list of international clubs, check the Bangkok Guide, published by the Australian New Zealand Women’s Group and available at Villa Supermarket and major book stores, for additional nationality groups. In addition to the clubs we highlight in this issue, more informal nationality social groups can also be found through ISB and other schools. For example, ISB’s PTA has 20 different country
For Archive Copies of Thani Talk, Click: www.issuu.com/nnrthanitalk Check out tips for newcomers in these issues: September 2012 September 2013 September 2014
Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach 8
representatives offering activities for, among others, parents from Africa, Holland, Scandinavia, Indonesia, India, Israel, Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, and Japan. There are also groups based on linguistics rather than national borders, such as groups for Chinese speakers, German speakers, and French speakers. Professional groups also abound, including chambers of commerce for more than a dozen countries. In addition, for our readers here in the Nonthaburi community, there’s our neighborhood volunteer group, Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach, that welcomes all. (see NNR President’s letter on page 3) If you’re new to the community, touch base with the groups that interest you. It’s a great way to make new friends! Liz Lu
Cover Story: International Clubs
Thani Talk ~September 2015
AWC American Women’s Club In 1955 The American Women’s Club was co-founded by Freda Lyman, and the dynamic beginning of American women’s philanthropic endeavors in Thailand was formed. From supporting humanitarian efforts, to organizing lectures on Thai culture and local crafts, the AWC assimilated as a AWC member with scholarship students strong community of expatriate members from a base of that time of about 1,200 total Americans in Thailand. The group has continued to embrace all nationalities in its organization, carrying forward relief efforts for the needs of Thailand’s people, and enveloping Thai culture as part of their own to this day. Be a part of history and join us as we commemorate our Diamond Anniversary with our “Shine Bright Like a Diamond” gala celebration! (See p. 8) We would like to also invite you to our biggest function of the year, An American Halloween Fundraiser, October 10th! (See p. 26) Members enjoy Mahjong. We look forward to meeting you very soon and welcome you to our community. Year Founded: 1955 Phyllis Ansusinha Number of members: 133 President, American Women’s Club of Thailand Annual membership fee: 3,000 baht Who is eligible to join: Membership is open to any woman living in Thailand, any nationality. Address of club house: 72/1 Sukhumvit 38 Bangkok 10110 Thailand Regular club activities offered: Casual Connections (weekly coffee), golf, tennis, mahjong, knitting, movie club, excursions, luncheons, fitness, ladies night out. Focus of club's charity work: Scholarships for girls. AWC puts 40% of the fundraising efforts in to our Scholarship program, providing education to more than 400 girls in poverty stricken areas. We also sponsor English Camp and outreach projects in Thailand that serve orphanages, disabled, disenchanted, and emergency needs. Website address: awc@awcthailand.org Making friends through golf. 9
Cover Story: International Clubs
Thani Talk ~September 2015
BWG British Women’s Group Bangkok
The BWG was established over 45 years ago as a social group for expat ladies living in Bangkok. Historically, the wife of the serving British Ambassador is our patron. The British Women’s Group welcomes all newcomers to Bangkok. As a support group for newcomers and long standing residents we can provide organised means of meeting other women, information on living in Bangkok, social events, and opportunities to take part in fund raising events. We have a voluntary committee, which is elected annually and meets monthly to organise a calendar of events. We have two categories of membership: Full Member - if you or your husband /partner hold a valid British Passport. Associate Member- BWG welcomes all international members, however those without a valid British passport, or husband/partner with one cannot be a voting member. Thursday is a BWG day! 1st Thursday is our committee meeting 2nd Thursday there is a coffee morning 3rd Thursday there is a Lunch 4th Thursday there is an Activity On the first Wednesday of the month we Year Founded: 1969 Number of members: Approx. 265 Annual membership fees: Full member: 1,500 baht (1,000 baht renewal) Associate member: 2,000 baht (1,500 baht renewal) Who is eligible to join: Anyone who holds a British passport or their partner does can be a full voting member. Associate members without a British passportare non-voting members . 10
hold a Newcomers Coffee. In addition, there are special events during the year including, Welcome Back Drinks, H.M. Queen’s Birthday and Christmas drinks. The BWG has an extensive range of welfare projects to help underprivileged and disadvantaged people in Thailand. Gina Christie President, British Women’s Group
Regular club activities offered: Coffee morning every 2nd Thursday, Lunch every 3rd Thursday, Activity every 4th Thursday. Major fundraisers: A major fund raiser at least one or twice a year. Focus of club's charity work: Women and children. Website address: www.bwgbangkok.org
Thani Talk ~September 2015
Cover Story: International Clubs
ANZWG: Australian New Zealand Women’s Group The Australian-New Zealand Women's Group Bangkok (ANZWG) has for more than 50 years played a major part in the lives of many expatriate women who have been lucky enough to reside in this fascinating yet sometimes challenging city. ANZWG's main role is to promote friendship and support amongst its members during their stay here in Thailand. We organise a yearly calendar of events and activities, act as liaison for several sports, games, and craft. The highlight every year is the Melbourne Cup Charity Luncheon held on the first Tuesday in November and considered Bangkok's social event of the year. ANZWG is also well known for its community service work, its fundraising and its impressive publication - Bangkok Guide which is now in its 19th edition. We are successful because of our members, both past and present - women who come from different backgrounds, are of varying ages and have many differing interests. Women whose enthusiasm and commitment to our group have ensured its continued success. Marylou Rainsford, ANZWG President
Year Founded: 1983 Number of members: Approx. 130 Annual membership fee: 800 baht Who is eligible to join: All Australian and New Zealand women; women married to or partners with an Australian or New Zealander; women who are closely associated with either Australia or New Zealand may be considered for membership by the Executive Committee Regular club activities offered: Mahjong, tennis, craft, Kiwalas (children’s playgroup) and social and exploring activities around Bangkok, monthly morning tea. Major fundraisers: Bangkok Guide book sales and Melbourne Cup Charity Luncheon Focus of club's charity work: Women and children of Thailand. Website address: www.anzwg-bangok.org
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Thani Talk ~September 2015
Cover Story: International Clubs
BAMBI Bangkok Mothers & Babies International BAMBI stands for: Bangkok Mothers & Babies International, a project of the Childbirth and Breastfeeding Foundation of Thailand (CBFT). We are a non-profit social group run by volunteer mums & dads. Our aim is to provide support and companionship for expecting parents and parents of young children of all nationalities in Bangkok and Pattaya. BAMBI supports all mums whatever their birth and baby feeding choices may be. At the same time we promote what is considered by UNICEF, the WHO and the Thai government as 'best practice' to promote and support healthy mums and babies.
Photo by Azusa Uchida
Among our activities we offer prenatal and postnatal support (Bumps & Babies sessions and library), regular playgroups for babies and toddlers, parties for the whole family, yard sales events and dinners for working mums. We are issuing a wonderful monthly magazine about the early years of parenting. We have a link to varied support groups in town, an informative website with busy classifieds section, an active Facebook page and much, much more. BAMBI is not a charity organization. However we do feel we need to contribute to the Thai community we live in. Therefore surplus funds raised through membership, donations and activities are donated to local charities which 12
reflect BAMBI's concerns and priorities. Our charities team is committed to helping a number of local charities that are focused on children and/or mothers. Besides monetary donations and visits to the local charities, BAMBI charities team collects necessary items to donate, organizes fundraising activities and raises awareness of BAMBI members to the organizations we support. Ravit El-Bachar Daniel Chairwoman, BAMBI Year club was founded: 1982 Number of current members: 800 Annual membership fee: 1,100 baht for new members; 1,000 baht renewal of membership Who is eligible to join: Membership is open to any individual interested in pursuing the objectives of B.A.M.B.I. Address of club house: No clubhouse, but activities are hosted by international schools and other venues in Bangkok & Pattaya. Regular club activities offered: Playgroups, Bumps & Babies: Prenatal and Postnatal sessions, W.O.M.B.L.E.S - Dinners for working mums, various holiday events, Yard Sales, Annual Bazaar, New Members Coffee mornings Major fundraisers: Yard Sales (3 times a year) and surplus from other ongoing activities. Focus of club's charity work: BAMBI Is not charity organisation, however we do dedicate part of our work to charity and our Charities team is busy planning and executing charity activities all year round. Website: www.bambiweb.org, www.facebook.com/BAMBIBangkok
Photo by Azusa Uchida
Photo by Ebonny Blakey
Thani Talk ~September 2015
Cover Story: International Clubs
SI: Soroptimist International Club of Bangkok
Soroptimist International Club of Bangkok is part of a global organisation with around 80.000 members worldwide. Our mission is to transform the lives of women and girls. Our members are from Thailand, India, Japan, USA, Singapore, Holland). We meet monthly at the Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok. This year’s fundraiser, “Dance to the Beat” will be held November 7th at the Dusit Thani Hotel. Come join us! Frances Luns President, SI Club of Bangkok
Year Founded: 1977 Number of members: 24 (from Thailand, India, Japan, USA, Singapore, Holland). Annual membership fee: 4,000 baht Who is eligible to join: The club is for professional women, so members should be working in a profession or business or in an occupation of comparable status or responsibility. Or they can be retired from their professions or just starting their career. Regular club activities offered: Fundraising for charity. Major fundraisers: Annual gala dinner. This year’s gala, “Dance to the Beat” will be held Nov. 7th at the Dusit Thani Hotel. Focus of club's charity work: Ongoing projects include: building toilets and dormitories at rural schools, scholarships, supporting a nanny at the Pakkred Orphanage, giving vocational workshops in the women prison and providing palliative care for sick children. Web site address: www.sibangkok.org (under construction)
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Cover Story: Interantional Groups
Thani Talk ~September 2015
Latin Community in Thailand (Communidad Latina en Tailandia)
In 1992, a group of Thai, Spanish and other Latin residents in Thailand decided to create a formal club to expand Spanish language and also organize social activities, including an annual Latin Ball. The club was known as the Thai-Hispanic Association. Today, the group is called “Latin Community in Thailand”. We try to follow in the footsteps of our predecessor the Thai-Hispanic Association. We continue to work with the same spirit and with the same purpose in mind, but as a group of volunteers organizing different activities during the year such as the Latin Ball, lunches, the bingo bazaar, etc. Our board members include Anita, Alejandra, Adriana, Gabriela, Melina and Sergio. I would also like to mention Rosalina who is the Latin Representative at ISB’s PTA. She organizes a lunch every month and keeps the Latin community updated with events and school information. Gabriela Alvarez Fourcade
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Year founded: The Thai Hispanic Association was founded around 1992. Since 2012, we have been working as a volunteer group under the name Communidad Latina en Tailandia. Number of current members: More than 200 in our formal list and even more people who join our activities. Annual membership fee: Free. Being a group of volunteers, we only charge a fee according to the activity we organize. Who is eligible to join: Our main language is Spanish, and we welcome all nationalities that want to join and practice our language and also enjoy our activities, but this is not a limitation. Address of club: We don't have a specific space because volunteers offer their houses or addresses for meetings and also activities. Regular club activities: Our main event is the Latin Ball in March, one Bingo event, one or two bazaars, charity activities, toddler and small children group, tours, cooking meetings, painting groups and other activities according to our members interests. Major fundraisers: Our Latin Ball which helps us support our main charities: Pakkret orphanages, scholarships and local projects for children and women in need. Main organizations we have supported: Christian Children with Disabilities, Colabora Brimania and Nightlight. Contact Info: Reach us at: latcommthai@gmail.com, and latinball2015@gmail.com.
Cover Story: International Clubs
Thani Talk ~September 2015
CCT Club Canada Thailand CCT is a non-profit social organization based in Bangkok. We welcome Canadians and friends of Canada. CCT was created to promote friendship amongst our members and good relations with our Thai neighbors. We offer members a variety of recreational and cultural activities. We host tennis and mahjong games, as well as a very popular monthly book club group called Fiddleheads. We also have monthly lunches where we visit different restaurants around Bangkok. We try to have one planned activity a month for our members, for example a painting workshop or a trip to a museum. We also do “pop up events” that are spur of the moment activities that everyone in the club is invited to attend. This past March, we brought back our “Snowball” gala. It was a great success, raising over 350,000 baht for charity. Our welfare team will be distributing these funds to needy organizations in Bangkok. We will be planning another “Snowball” for 2016. Members receive a quarterly newsletter and are invited to join our Facebook page where they can ask for recommendations or advice from our members. Some of our members have lived here for decades, others just a few months. We would like to encourage anyone interested in the club to contact us! For inquires, please contact: clubcanadamembership@gmail.com.
Year Founded: Late 1980s Number of members: 73 Annual membership fee: 600 baht Who is eligible to join: Canadian nationals and anyone interested in Canadian culture. Address of club house, if any: None Regular club activities offered: Fiddleheads book club, Lunch Bunch, Mahjong, tennis, crafts, field trips, Pop Up events. Major fundraiser: Snowball Gala Focus of club's charity work: Education, Health Web site address: www.clubcanadathailand.com
Sarah Lesko President, Club Canada Thailand
(Left) CCT Book club members share love of reading. (Top) Lunch Bunch dines their way through Bangkok . (Bottom) Tennis lovers stay in shape. 15
Cover Story: International Clubs
Thani Talk ~September 2015
IWC International Women’s Club
The International Women’s Club of Thailand (IWC) was founded in 1964, with the main objective of fostering friendship and understanding between women of all nationalities and promoting the causes of women worldwide. The Club’s members consist of women from 70 plus countries and membership is open to all nationalities. For those who are new to Bangkok, this club offers many meaningful opportunities to broaden their circle of friends. June Khazi, President, International Women’s Club
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Year Founded: 1964 Number of current members: 450 Annual membership fee: 2,000 baht (1,000 baht non – refundable ) Who is eligible to join: All nationalities Address of club house: 16 Sukhumvit Soi 34 Klongtoey Nua Watanna Bangkok 10110 Regular club activities: Luncheons, tours, “Getting to Know You” (GTKY) meetings with the diplomatic community to learn about different customs and cultures, and small group activities (hobbies, crafts, other leisure activities). Major fundraisers: Annual fund raiser normally held in September. Focus of club's charity work: Proceeds from annual fundraiser help finance scholarships for disadvantaged Thai girls, as well as to aid other charities that help children. Website address: www.iwcthailand.org
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Community Fitness and Activities
Thani Talk ~September 2015
The Community Fitness and Activities page lists local classes/groups that meet regularly. Some have fees associated with them, while others are free. Please contact each group leader for more information. If you would like to list your group here, please submit your announcement by the 15th of each month to nnradverts@yahoo.com.
Yoga & Meditation MEDITATION COURSES -Individual or Group Learn TM (Transcendental Medita on). Relieves stress and anxiety. Improves health, academic, athle c, and professional performance. Anyone can learn. Expert instruc on by a 35-year teacher of medita on. Contact Ellie Edelhoff for more informa!on www.TM.org, www.tmeduca!on.org,www.DavidLynchFounda!o n.org
IYENGAR YOGA Iyengar yoga classes at the Regent, from Beginners to Advanced Asanas. Every weekday (Monday to Friday) from 08:00 am. to 09:30 am. Contact: 0812853050, Juan Bodan, Iyengar and Ashtanga yoga Cer!fied. For more informa!on about Juan please visit h@p://kripa-yoga.com/
Sports BIKING Weekend bike rides, leaving from back gate at 7am, 50+km on mtn bikes. Contact Chris: chris.oglesby@mubadalapetroleum.com Weekday rides leave the back gate at 7:30am. Distance and terrain varies with groups for both road bikes and mountain/hybrid bikes. Contact Meg: megfarrellsine@gmail.com 084908-9388
MASTERS SWIMMING Nichada Pool, Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:30-8:30. Every swimmer is welcome. Contact Kevin: ksypolt@gmail.com or Kers!n: kers!n.bangkok@gmail.com 086-372-9750 18
KUNDALINI YOGA-Flexible Yoga for Mind and Body Beginners to advanced welcome! Tuesdays 9am10:30am or Fridays 8-9:30am Danicha Condo 39/289. Private classes available. Contact Kers!n Wild kers!n.bangkok@gmail.com 086-372-9750
YOGA WITH NAPISA Monday, 8:45-10:15 am: All levels, Energize and Restora ve Yoga. Wednesday 7:30-9am: Level 2, Wednesday 5:30-6:45 pm: Level 1-2, Friday 7:308:45 am: Level 1- 2 @ Nichada Fitness Studio above Starbucks. Contact Napisa C. Pant, 086-975-7187, napisapant.yoga@gmail.com, FB: YogaWithNapisa
RANGER BOOTCAMP: Come have fun and get fit at Ranger Bootcamp! All fitness levels are welcome! Class Times: 7:30am, Monday - Friday + addi onal day/night classes per demand Loca on: Varies depending on class and me Fees: varies Contact: Jack at rangerbootcamp@hotmail.com or 087-552-6007
Community Fitness and Activities
Dance Classes SPIRIT DANCE Join the party in a dance fitness/wellness class. Swing and sway in a carefree and fun filled environment, to great music from virtually every genre. Spirit Dance incorporates various dance arts as well as movement from mar al and healing arts, and it embodies a holis c approach: Strength, mobility and flexibility for your body, with bliss, delight and ela on for your mind. Let your hair down. Let your SPIRIT soar. Let your life DANCE. Classes are at a drop-in basis. Fridays, 9.30-10.30am, at Dance Studio above Starbucks For further info, contact Irit: 0860044840 iritmike@gmail.com
Thani Talk ~September 2015
BOLLYWOOD DANCE Bollywood dance is an exci ng and upbeat fusion of Western and Eastern dances with tradi onal classical Indian dance styles. It’s funky, it’s sexy, it’s fun... and it’s a great workout! If you love to dance – this is for you! Morning classes: Wednesdays or Thursdays 9:3010:30am Evening classes: Mondays 5-6pm All classes held in Nichada. For loca!ons and further informa!on, contact Irit: 0860044840 iritmike@gmail.com
Tutorials PIANO LESSONS FOR ALL AGES and ALL LEVELS By experienced professional with a Masters from University of Ariz. in Piano Performance and experience teaching at Westover School in Connec cut. Place: 39/891 Regent Price: 1000 baht per 30 minutes Contact Info: capricio310@gmail.com Tel: 091-878-6283
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Charity
Thani Talk ~September 2015
NNR Supports Local Charities, Welcomes Volunteers Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach (NNR) gives back to the community by supporting a variety of service organizations and charities in Nonthaburi. NNR’s charity work begins with fundraising, including its major annual fundraiser, the popular NNR Charity Bazaar each November. All proceeds from Thani Talk advertising also goes to supporting local charities. Proceeds have helped care for abandoned
babies, assist disabled children, clothe and train disadvantaged young adults, feed the elderly and the homeless, buy books and school supplies, sponsor Thai children at the Para-Olympics, treat children of construction workers and orphanages to holiday parties and field trips. The list goes on. If you’re interested in volunteering for a local charity, please contact NNR Welfare Committee co-chairs: Jennifer Skobel (jcskobel@gmail.com) or Wanda Grove (wandagrove14@gmail.com). And on November 5th, please support NNR charities by shopping at the NNR Charity Bazaar! **********
Thai Schools Welcome Donations of Sports Equipment, Home for Disabled Thanks NNR for Nutritional Supplements NNR donated 12,000 baht of powdered Nutrini, a food supplement, to Rachawadee Ying, a local home for disabled girls. Many thanks for helping the nursing staff there meet the nutritional needs of the children on the sick ward, children with cerebral palsy who have difficulty swallowing, and even a couple of gals with complex needs who are cared for by foster families. Recently a local government school, the Chonlaprathaan Song Khrao School, sent some children with special needs to join the Special Olympics in Nakhorn Phathom province. When I sent the teams off, I became aware of the school’s need for sports equipment. They had two tennis tables for about 700 children from grades 4 to 9. For the Special Olympics competition, four teams competed in table tennis (ping pong), and they won a gold medal. Their soccer team placed 4th out of 14 teams. Just after the competition, a mildly used tennis table was donated by someone leaving Nichada. The assistant principal was delighted, as were the physical education teachers. If anyone has sports equipment that they are not using, please consider passing it on to the Chonlaprathaan Song Khrao School or other government schools, or the social welfare homes.
To donate, please contact Dorothy Klynstra at: dorothyk67@hotmail.com. Dorothy Klynstra
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Heard It Through The Grapevine
Thani Talk ~September 2015
Heard It Through the GRAPEVINE This column offers a chance to share all those good finds and tips that are helpful to others. If you have tips to share, please send them to Liz at nnrnewsletter@yahoo.com.
Each September, Thani Talk wants to make sure that newcomers know about some Grapevine Favorites, such as the milk delivery and dry cleaning servics listed below. We are also pleased to publish new finds and other great tips. So, send yours in!
Door-to-Door Milk Delivery Just wanted to put a recommendation up for Khun Meow and her husband who deliver milk, eggs, juice, yogurt, yogurt drinks and soda water to your door three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) . You just pick stuff out of the coolers on their truck! They were super helpful for me, because my kids drink so much milk, and we didn't have a golf cart when we first arrived in Nichada. Their phone number is 081-774-4989, call them if you want them to stop at your house during rounds. Marea Hawes
Door-to-Door Drycleaning Service This is a golden tip passed down by Rufie Harr before she left Thailand. I have since used Ishiya Dry Cleaning and Laundry Service on a regular basis and absolutely love the prompt pick-up and delivery service to my home. Khun Winai, a manager at Ishiya, said the company has been in business for 30 years. Another manager, Mr. Hishayoshi Kumata, personally picks up and drops off orders in the Nichada area on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The prices are reasonable, and the quality of cleaning is excellent. Simply phone the Bangkok shop at 02-6634745, or Mr. Kumata at 081-814-3128. Liz Lu 24
Heard It Through The Grapevine
Thani Talk ~September 2015
Facials and Waxing at The Waxing Queen
Thailand’s hot weather plays havoc with my skin and a good facial can be hard to come by. Khun Aom and Khun Noi first came to my rescue 5 years ago with deep cleansing facials that were just like what I would get back home but at a much better price, and with a relaxing massage included! Experienced and trained in Australia, Khun Aom and Khun Noi have recently opened up
their own salon offering waxing, face/body massages and body scrubs too. You’ll find them on the ground floor of Royal Condo Tower (Soi 28 Chaengwattana Road) right by Central Chaengwattana. You can call or message them at 089-499-4248 (10am8pm). A local business well-worth supporting! Christine Vila
Passion Delivery: Online Grocer Delivers to Your Home
If you are looking for top quality, gourmet food items, look no further than Passion Delivery. Passion delivery is a food delivery service that sources some of the best artisan foods in the Bangkok area and brings them right to your doorstep. They recently started delivery to Nichada Thani. You place your order on Thursday for delivery the following Tuesday. The online
gourmet grocer offers an extensive selection of meats, cheeses, sausages, breads, desserts, yogurts and dips to name a few items. I have always been pleased with the products I have ordered. Many of the items come from artisan foodies that produce their own goods so they can maintain the high quality of their products. Many of these vendors can be found at the Bangkok Farmer’s market but it’s not always easy to get to the market. Passion delivery brings them together in one convenient place for delivery. You may find the delivery service at http:// www.passiondelivery.com/. Phone orders: (English) 096-354-4624. (Thai) 096-354-1924. Jennifer Marinos 25
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Social Highlights: Farewell Coffee
Thani Talk ~September 2015
Friends Say Goodbye at May Farewell Coffee Morning
The last NNR coffee for the 2014-2015 school year was hosted by Aisling King at her Natakorn home on Friday, May 8. There was a great turnout with a lot of new faces as well as friends and neighbors who stopped by say goodbye before packing and leaving Thailand. Good luck to all those moving on. NNR Coffee Mornings take place once a month during the school year. If you are interested in hosting a coffee gathering, please contact Denise at cdwarta@yahoo.com. All you are required to do is open up your home for 10-25 guests, and provide drinks and host for a few hours. Everyone brings goodies to share. It's a good time to see old friends and meet new ones. Thank you, Aisling, for a wonderful coffee! Denise Warta
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Around Nonthaburi and Beyond
Thani Talk ~September 2015
Concerts: www.ThaiTicketMajor.com
Worship Venues:
Int’l Festival of Dance and Music Sept. 11-12 (7:30pm), 13 (2:30pm) Thailand Cultural Center THE BUTTERFLY LOVERS, Chinese Opera, Zhejiang Yue Opera Troupe
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 50/33 Moo 4 Chaengwattana Road Sunday Worship Service--9 am.(in English) Family History Research Group--Mondays, 9-12 p.m. Book Group--2nd Wed./month, 11 a.m. “Foodie” Group--1st Tues./month,10 a.m. Youth Group—Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. Contact Marie Lewis (092-581-9606)
Maroon 5 World Tour Live in Bangkok September 21, 22 (8:30 pm) Impact Arena, Nonthaburi
Chaengwattana Community Church Adult Sunday School—8:30am Sunday Service—9:30am Encouraging Women—Wed., 9am Men’s Meeting—Thurs., 5am Community Prayer—Tuesdays 7:30-8:30am Youth Alpha Group (high school) Sunday 6pm Youth Group (middle school) Thursdays 6:30pm http://www.cccthailand.org (02-911-6700) Catholic Mass in Nonthaburi Our Lady of Mercy Church 69/13 Moo 1, Tiwanon Rd. Ban Mai, Pakkred. English Mass: Sundays at 5:15pm Contact us at: ourladyofmercyparish@gmail.com Discover the Rosary, contact Chris at hushh@hotmail.com
Muse Live in Bangkok September 23 (8:30pm) Impact Arena, Nonthaburi
Synagogue Beth Elisheva Synagogue, Mikveh & Jewish Center 121 Soi SaiNamThip 2, Sukhumvit Road, Soi 22 Tel: 02-663-0244; Fax: 663-0245 Mosque Soi Prasert Issaram Mosque 8 Moo 3 Soi Prasert Issaram, Pakkred, Nonthaburi Neighborhood mosque near Nichada Thani. Buddhist Temple Wat Bua Khwan (วัดบัวขวัญ) 1 Moo 9 Ngamwongwan Road, Muang, Nonthaburi 02-952-8062; Watbuakhwan.com Popular local temple offering merit-making, prayer, blessings and funeral services. 15 minutes from Nichada. Go via Samakkee Road, on shortcut soi just before the expressway on-ramp near Ngamwongwan.
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Highlights: NNR’s May Tour
Thani Talk ~September 2015
Amazing Aranyik: A Village of Steel Forges Attending NNR’s tour of a stainless steel factory in Ayutthaya Aranyik village was an eye opening experience. Village craftsmen take the highest quality steel and forge it into various platters, bowls, and silverware. Their process is rudimentary, but it works. Workers are highly skilled and take pride in their work. I will gladly pay higher prices for their hammered steel knowing that I will receive the highest craftsmanship and quality. Lisa Widmer On 11 May, the NNR arranged a tour to a rural village in Ayutthaya Province that creates the beautiful stainless steel silverware and table accessories sold at the NNR fall bazaar and Thai Craft shows. The tour included a brief history of steel forges in the area and then a visit to the Ban Aranyik workshop, where we watched the process of making silverware and a handcrafted, high luster, steel dimpled bowl. We learned about the difference in quality between Ban Aranyik produced items and others that don’t use the same high standards. We also drove to an actual village where we watched an artisan crafting the signature loop on many of the Aranyik tableware products. The members of the production group were delighted to have NNR visit and were appreciative of our support, good ideas and, of course, our shopping! Most of the participants purchased products for their homes or for gifts this summer while traveling back to the states Lee Derr
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Thani Talk ~September 2015
Asian Culture
Asian Culture 101 Erawan Shrine: Where Buddhists Worship a Hindu God
(Above): A statue of the Hindu God Brahma, Lord of Creations, sits damaged after the Aug. 17 bomb blast at Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine. The 4-faced deity suffered a chipped chin but miraculously survived the attack.
Amari.com
Worshippers, especially tourists, flock to the Erawan Shrine to pray for good fortune.
Photo by Philip Sherwell
The devastating Aug. 17 bomb blast that shocked the kingdom briefly closed the Erawan Shrine, one of Thailand’s most famous landmarks. But days after the tragedy, the shrine reopened, and worshippers flocked back to pay their respects and pray for the victims. Built in 1956, the Erawan Shrine was constructed after a series of fatal accidents beset the construction of the Erawan Hotel, (rebuilt in 1987 as the Grand Hyatt Erawan). Upon completion of the shrine, problems disappeared, and locals heightened their belief in the power of the Hindu God Brahma, Lord of Creations, who presides at the shrine. At the Rajprasong intersection where the shrine is located, you will see, without fail, Thai Buddhists waiing Brahma as they walk past the corner. As buses pass the shrine, drivers often take their hands off the steering wheel to wai.
Photo by Richard Barrow
The Erawan Shrine is also sacred to Chinese and other Buddhist tourists, who make sure to visit and pray, offer garlands, or pay for dancers to perform in honor of Brahma. The adoption of Hindu gods by Buddhists is not unusual, as can be seen by the abundance of images of Hindu gods, especially Ganesha, with his elephant head, who is seen all over Thailand. Through the years, the Erawan Shrine has seen its share of history, due to its location at the
Garland sellers, who typically have Mondays off due to street cleaning, escaped the Aug. 17 blast. (Above) They returned to work days later. heart of the city, and therefore political street protests. Undoubtedly, the shrine will be a witness to future national events, but hopefully, it will be spared more violence. Liz Lu 39
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When Life Feels Overwhelming Reach Out for Help‌ For more than 30 years, Carl Janowitz has provided therapy for adults, couples, adolescents and families. Carl spent most of his life in the US where he earned his Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and completed his internship before working in both residential settings and private practice. In 2003, he was offered a full time position as the only Western Psychologist at Bumrungrad Hospital where he spent five years in clinic before going into private practice. Now with offices in both Bangkok and Pattaya, Carl specializes in clients dealing with life changes, relationship conflict, depression, anxiety and stress and also focuses on both adolescents and adults with self esteem issues. For a confidential appointment please call 089 680 3503 or counselor_cj@bangkokhappy.com www.bangkoktherapy.com
Carl Janowitz Marriage and Family Therapist Circle One Building 1674 Petchaburi Rd. (Near Bumrungrad) 41
Travel: Western Australia
Thani Talk ~September 2015
Campervan Trip Up the Coast of Western Australia
During the summer break our family went to Perth, Western Australian. Perth is an easy 7-hour direct flight from Bangkok, with only a 1-hour time difference. If you haven’t done a campervan trip, give it a try. Our road trip by campervan up the coast of Western Australia provided a great family friendly holiday, with the freedom to stop whenever and wherever we wanted! First, we spent 5 days enjoying beautiful Perth, including: the amazing beaches a short hop from the city centre, a fun day at the Cultural Centre taking in the art gallery, museum and SCI Tech (a child friendly interactive science museum and planetarium), wandering the streets of Freeman (or Freo as the locals call it) and stopping frequently at some of the great cafes, restaurants and micro-breweries. Another great day trip is to Rottnest Island, where you can hire bikes to explore. 42
We then hired a campervan for 10 days and drove 3,000 km from Perth to Exmouth and back. We hired the camper from Perth, where there are many companies to choose from, and they offer a variety of packages and size/style campers. It is worth checking up on Australian car seat regulations if you are travelling with kids. As it was Australian school holidays and therefore peak time, we decided (wisely in hind-sight) to prebook all of our campervan sites. If you were to do the trip in off-peak, I reckon you could get away without making bookings. There are also a few “rest areas”, along the way where you can free camp but they tend to be just off the main road and so not always particularly nice places to stay. After filling up with food and fuel we began our road trip heading north. Along the way we stopped at The Pinnacles, in Cervantes. These are made up of thousands of natural limestone “pillars” poking out of the sandy desert.
Travel: Western Australia
Thani Talk ~September 2015
The next night we stopped in the beautiful town of Kalbarri which is situated right on the mouth of Murchison River. An hour up the road from Kalbarri is the national park with the spectacular “Nature’s Window”. Shark Bay World Heritage region is home to the famous Monkey Mia dolphins, a small pod of which have been coming to be fed there every morning for the last 40+ years. We carried on up to Coral Bay, which was our favourite place on the trip. It is a tiny town with a couple of camp sites right on the beach. From there we went up to Exmouth, which in itself isn’t much, but it is the gateway to the Ningaloo Marine Reef. Exmouth is a great place for diving, snorkeling and fishing.
Unfortunately for us, the day of our visit turned out to be the first day of the whole season that no whale sharks were spotted! We did however see many pods of dolphins, huge turtles, sting rays and some beautiful hump back whales swimming along with very young calves! For our family, the campervan trip was a FANTASTIC experience. I highly recommend it. Cathy Sackett
This amazing area is home to many beautiful marine creatures, including Whale Sharks. We spent a beautiful day out on a boat as part of a tour in which you can swim with the Whale Sharks – the main season for this is April to July.
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Thani Talk ~September 2015
Hobby Groups
Nonthaburi Needlers: Textile Group for All Types of Handicrafts The Nonthaburi Needlers started out as a quilt group founded in 1998 by former Nichada resident Doris Gregory. After Doris left Thailand in 2002, her friends continued the group and named it “Bangkok Quilt Group.” It has since expanded to include all types of needle artists, meeting under the new name, Nonthaburi Needlers. We meet every Tuesday morning at 10am to work on our individual projects. Members take turns hosting the meeting and providing snacks.
is Sampeng Lane in Chinatown were we hunt for cotton fabric, crystals, buttons, batting, embroidery supplies, knitting wool, silk thread, etc. We usually finish with an air-conditioned stop and a cold drink at China World (which has many fabric stores) or Old Siam Shopping Center, which has beautiful fabric including a wide selection of silk, as well as an indoor ‘street food’ court that has terrific mango and sticky rice and other delights.
Needlers have 55 alumni members worldwide who follow its private Facebook page. Locally, more than half a dozen members meet up each week.
Needlers observed an experienced weaver at the Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre.
Jan Van Ekeren donating her hand-made quilt to latch-key senior Khun Sunantha. Beginners are welcome. If one of us is familiar with your craft, we can help you over the rough spots that often haunt a first time project. Some of our members make charity quilts for local orphanages and the elderly, hilltribe villagers, and Habitat for Humanity. We have supplies available for those quilts if you’d like to sew one to donate. Completed quilt tops are sandwiched with batting and quickly tied to make a cozy quilt. If you aren’t already a quilter, tying the sandwich together is an easy way to participate. On occasion, we organize field trips to visit local artists or shopping venues. A favorite destination 46
Another source of inspiration is the Queen Sirikit SUPPORT foundation. We especially enjoy the SUPPORT showroom and watching the artists at the Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre. We also organize small groups to attend classes and workshops by traveling artists. These classes are sponsored by sewing machine companies in Bangkok, so we look for ones that are offered in English. If you would like to join the Nonthaburi Needlers, or would like more information, please send an email to karejohnston@gmail.com. Karen Johnston
Hobby Groups
Thani Talk ~September 2015
(Above) Mary Schneider showing her Halloween quilt.
(Above left and middle) Hilltribe mothers in northern Thailand receive quilts donated and made by Nonthaburi Needlers and delivered to their villages by the Singpore-Thai Chamber of Commerce.
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Restaurant Review
Thani Talk ~September 2015
Greyhound Café: Chic & Fun Asian Fusion Dining Greyhound Café is a familiar sight around many of the upscale shopping centers around Bangkok. You’ll find them in 10 different locations including Central Lad Prao, Central World, EmQuartier, and Siam Centre. What is so special about a chain of Asian-fusion restaurants? A few things actually. First the menu. There is a diverse menu of Thai, Asian, and Western cuisine. Some of my favorite dishes include Salmon with a chili-lime, garlic, and dill dipping sauce– a great example of fusion cuisine.
Another great one is the grilled vegetable lasagna. It’s a lovely tower of mushrooms, olives, eggplant, zucchini, tomato sauce and cheese. Another great one is the DIY nachos. To paraphrase Cosmo Kramer from the American TV show Seinfeld: you get your tortilla, you add the sauce, you add the chicken, you add the cheese with a dab of sour cream, and then throw it into your mouth. These are only some of my favorites but there is a huge selection of reasonably priced appetizers and entrees available. Room for dessert? Good. There is a diverse array of cakes, crepes, sundaes, and other treats available. My independent research into the
subject reveals that the most delicious is the Bonoffee in a jar. It’s a brownie, banana, caramel, cookie and other sinful bites, stuffed into a jar. Can you get all the ingredients on a single spoonful? Then there are the drinks. There is a variety of coffees, shakes, cocktails and mocktails to choose from. There is also a wine list. You’re about to learn why I’m such a big fan of this place. Every night from 7pm until 9pm is Happy Hour. That means buy one and get two. Be warned, this is not consistent across all the Greyhound cafes. However the one at Crystal Park has this Happy Hour offer, and it includes bottles of wine. It’s true. Buy one bottle of wine and get two. I’m not sure there is anyplace else in Bangkok where you can get two bottles of decent Chilean or Australian wine for about 1,200 baht. Can’t drink it all? No problem, take it home. So, from the great food, decadent desserts, cool atmosphere, shocking deals on wine, and silly t-shirts on the wait staff (“Life is not all about Khaopad” “You’re my real boss, not him in the black suit”), Greyhound Café is a great option for a fun, relaxed meal. With the price of appetizers around THB 150, and entrees in the THB 200300 range, even a dinner for the whole family is easy on the wallet. More information can be found at: http:// www.greyhoundcafe.co.th/greyhoundcafe/
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Providing highquality quality custom custom tailoring forfor more Providing high tailoring more than 45 years, Raja’s Fashions has been featured in than 45 years, Men's Vogue Magazine, Interna onal Living, Worth Raja’s Fashions has been featured in Men's Vogue Magazine, Esquire, Fortune, Bangkok Guide, Lonely Magazine, Planet, Frommer’s Guide, Fodor’s Guide, The Interna onal Living, Worth Magazine, Washington Post, Vivre A Bangkok, CondeEsquire, Nast Fortune, Magazine and many other travel magazines. Bangkok Guide, Lonely Planet, Frommer’s Guide,
DRESS SHARP. LOOK SHARP. FEEL SHARP.
Delivery Restaurant Baan Kimchi Korean BBQ/Thai Cuisine BBQ Sandwich King Bukhara (Afghan/Indian) Burger King/Pizza Company Food Loft Hot Spot Restaurant and Bar (Indian and Chinese Food) KFC and Pizza Hut Le Bouchon Food Delivery McDonald’s Milano’s @ Pro Club Mr. Enzo’s New York Diner Que Pasa
Phone 02-952-0031 086-773-4140 082-443-1398 1112 02-831-5588 084-671-8318 1150 02-960-3011 1711 02-582-1555 02-960-0412 081-624-2099 02-960-3821
Sapna (Indian and Afghan food delivery)
02-960-3141
Scoozi Subway Sudhathai Slider Shack
02-715-8555 02-960-3232 02-583-2694 086-773-4140
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Local Business Bamboo Spa Bank Krungsri Blue Sky Café Bumrungrad Family Clinic Clark Hatch Fitness Center Crystal Holiday Travel Hair By Jib Happy Teeth Dental Clinic Great Massage ISB Le Studio Hair Nichada Customer Relations Pandit Carpets Panipa Pum’s Salon Rex Pharmaplus Rose Marie Academy Shawn Carpets Starbucks Twist Villa Market Wash-N-Dry 4 Legs Pet Shop Grooming
Phone 02-583-9871 02-582-2669 081-811-8455 02-960-4216 02-960-4326 / 27 02-960-4469 02-960-3783 02-960-3988 02-960-3691 02-963-5800 084-022-9928 02-960-4300 081-828-2562 02-960-3934 02-583-7117 081 834 1306 02-960-3663 090-564-8927 02-967-9686 02-911-6839 02 -584-5444 085-945-4132 02-960-4189
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