September 2018
N o w o n l i n e a t : w w w. i s s u u . c o m / n n r t h a n i t a l k
Thani Talk NONTHABURI NEIGHBORHOOD REACH
Serving the Nonthaburi community and supporting local charities since 1994
Cover Story:
Travel:
Feature:
Feature:
Mega Edition: Heard It Through the Grapevine
New! Day Trips:
Discovering Craft Beer in Thailand
Training for Triathlons
Pages 12-19
Nearby Lotus Lake
Page 24
Thani Talk is generously sponsored by:
September 2018
Pages 34-35
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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 by hosting the NNR Annual Charity Bazaar. Additionally, NNR hosts monthly socials and organizes monthly tours. There are no membership dues, and anyone living in Nonthaburi is already a member.
Connect with NNR
facebook.com/nnrthailand
issuu.com/nnrthanitalk
Unofficialnichada.com
Thani Talk Ad Rates 1 page
19x28 cm.
3600 baht
1/2 page
19x14 cm.
2160 baht
1/4 page
9x14 cm.
1200 baht
• • • •
Rates per issue; discount for 8 and 4 month contracts Based on space availability Deadline for all ads is the 10th of each month Contact nnradverts@gmail.com for more information
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 2018-2019 Chairperson
Henrietta Bullinger
NNRThaiChair@gmail.com
Vice Chairperson
Sally Elliott
sallyelliott@me.com
Treasurer
Sandra Wilson
nnrthaitreasurer@gmail.com
Activity/Tour Coordinators
Pascale Kervyn Maida Muslic-Kovar
nnrtour@gmail.com
NNR Socials
Chantal Bremner
nnrsocial@gmail.com
Charity & Volunteer Coordinators
Liz Garrigan Imogen Lee
nnrcharity@gmail.com
Advertising Director
Ginny Condra
Thani Talk News Team
Liz Lu (Editor) See below for Thani Talk Team
Distribution Coordinators
Birgit Sund
Communications Director
Kiki O’Connor
095-247-5692 nnradverts@gmail.com nnrnews@gmail.com
nnrcommunications@gmail. com
Thani Talk Team: Advertising Director and Proofreader (Ginny Condra), Graphics Consultant (Bill Fear), Restaurant Reviewers (John Marinos, Vara Sumetanon, Barb Lewis), Grapevine Tips Coordinator (Susan Yates), 2 September 2018 Distribution Coordinator ( Birgit Sund). T h a n i Ta l k
Letter from the NNR Chairperson Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach (NNR): Volunteer Group Serves All Sawasdee kha. Welcome to Nichada if you are a new arrival, welcome home if you are returning after the summer. Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach (NNR) is here to get you connected; we are a volunteer group dedicated to serving our community and supporting the needy of Pakkret. Everyone who lives in Nichada, as well as those immediately outside, is automatically a member of NNR; there are no membership dues. We offer regular socials and monthly tours to strengthen the bond in our community. Our tour team consists of Pascale Kervyn and Maida Muslic-Kovar. Please check Thani Talk for details. Our first event is a Welcome Coffee on Friday, September 7 at 769 Baan Rim Lake from 10 am to 12 noon. Light refreshments will be served; please come and bring a friend. Several local eateries will be offering light snacks thanks to the organizational skills of the NNR social coordinator, Chantal Bremner. We also support local charities by raising money through our annual bazaar as well as by harnessing the good will and passion of our community through inkind donations and volunteer activities. Liz Garrigan
and Imogen Claire Lee head up our charity work. Please do not hesitate to contact them if you are interested in helping out or just finding our more about what we do. This is the first of eight issues of our Thani Talk this year. The monthly magazine is delivered free of charge to everyone who lives in Nichada and usually arrives in the first few days of the month. You can also access Thani Talk online. Our TT team include our amazing editor Liz Lu; Ginny Condra, who is responsible for advertising; Bill Fear, graphics consultant; Susan Yates, Grapevine Tips Coordinator; and Birgit Sund, our distribution coordinator who makes sure that we all receive our copies hot off the press. Thanks to Sara Tighe, Susan Yates and our NNR communications coordinator Kiki O’Conner, we have an amazing website www.UnofficialNichada.com which is loaded with useful info for our community members. You can also find information about events of interest on the NNR Facebook page. Sally Elliott is the NNR vice chair and our fabulous bazaar coordinator - the November Bazaar is NNR’s main annual fundraiser. Our treasurer Sandra Wilson, who keeps track of all financial aspects, is the backbone that allows us all to keep giving to our community and to the underprivileged of Nonthaburi.
Inside This Issue
Calendar of Events
Letter from the NNR Chairperson NNR Social NNR Tour Meet the Thani Talk Team Letter From the Editor Heard it Through the Grapevine Fitness & Activities Nonthaburi & Beyond Travel: Day Trips Travel: Phuket Community News Feature: Craft Beer Feature: Triathlons Charity News Restaurant Review
3 4 5 10 10 12 22 23 24 28 32 34 38 41 49
Henrietta Bullinger NNR Chairperson
Sept. 3: No Plastic Bag Day at Central, p. 33 Sept. 7: NNR Social - Welcome Back Coffee - p. 4 Sept. 8: Secret Garden Welcome Back Party, p. 7 Sept. 14: NNR Tour - National Museum, p. 5 Sept. 20-29: Bangkok Community Theatre, p. 33 Sept. 30: Comedy Den, p. 20
Cover photo by drone camera Submitted by Chantal Bremner Photo taken at Red Lotus Lake Bang Len, Thailand
Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach September 2018
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NNR Social
NNR Welcome Back Coffee Morning: Sept. 7
Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach Welcome to all new and returning Nichada neighbors! Please join us at our Welcome Coffee to meet community representatives from various organizations and clubs in the area. For additional information, please contact Chantal Bremner, NNR Social Coordinator, nnrsocial@gmail.com or 092-929-1470.
*** NNR Welcome Coffee *** Friday, September 7, 2018 10:00 am - 12:00 pm 769 Baan Rim Lake
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NNR Tour
NNR Tour: September 14 National Museum Bangkok The National Museum Bangkok is located near the Grand Palace in the historical royal district known as Rattanakosin Island. The museum is on the site of the former deputy king’s palace known as Wang-Na and is the largest museum of its kind in Southeast Asia. Opened in 1928, the National Museum Bangkok hosts beautiful and diverse exhibits including sculptural treasures from Southeast Asia and Thailand, elephant howdahs, royal furnishings, weapons, porcelain, musical instruments and spectacular funerary chariots as well as a consecrated chapel with beautiful antique paintings of the life of Buddha. A visit to the museum is a must to understand Thailand’s unique art and history! Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. Not all the rooms are airconditioned, so please wear light clothing. We also ask that you be respectful of local culture and cover your shoulders as well as your knees. The 2-hour guided tour will be in English. Following the tour and depending on available time, we will stroll to a nearby amulet market and have a light lunch in a neighboring cafe (self pay). We will be back before 2:20 p.m. Pascale Kervyn and Maida Muslik-Kovar, NNR Tour Coordinators
Date: Friday, September 14 Time: Meet at 7:30 am Where: ISB in front of the Chevron Theater Cost: 600 baht (includes transport, museum entrance, and guided tour) To confirm your participation send an email to nnrtour@gmail.com Hurry - Space is limited to 12 participants!
Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach September 2018
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Buy 1 Suit Get 1 Complimentary Shirt
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Letter From the Editor
Meet the Thani Talk Team Welcome to Thani Talk, a monthly magazine published by our community’s nonprofit volunteer group, Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach (NNR). NNR and Thani Talk are NOT part of the Nichada Thani company; we are an independent organization and publication. In this issue, I am pleased to introduce the wonderful members of the Thani Talk team. Their hard work behind the scenes makes it possible for NNR to bring you this magazine.
On the production team, in addition to Ginny Condra, Bill Fear, and Susan Yates, we welcome new member Birgit Sund, who as distribution coordinator makes sure this free monthly magazine reaches you with the help of her amazing network of neighborhood volunteer distributors. Our restaurant review team is back, ready to tell you all about the best local eateries. I’m the last member of the Thani Talk team. I’m an American and former newspaper journalist. I serve on the board of NNR and am the founder of Bumble Bee Free Library. It’s a privilege to create a magazine that brings our community together. Liz Lu Editor, Thani Talk
Production Team Ginny Condra, Advertising Director and Proofreader My family moved to Thailand 3 years ago after 9 years in Vietnam. We are from the United States and our two boys, Will (17) and George (16), attend ISB. I joined the Thani Talk team 2 years ago and really enjoy working on a publication that shares news about NNR’s charity projects, the passionate dedication of the volunteers and community resources. Bill Fear, Graphics Consultant I moved to Thailand 13 years ago. I am from the beautiful city of Bath in the UK. I have worked for Rose Marie Academy in Nichada for 5 years as an ICT Teacher/Specialist. I had the pleasure of meeting Liz and Ginny through Thani Talk. I was so impressed by their dedication and hard work producing Thani Talk that it prompted me to assist them with the technical aspects of desktop publication design software and at the same time contribute to the community. 10
Birgit Sund, Distribution Coordinator My name is Birgit Sund; I´m from Denmark. My family and I are here on our first overseas assignment. So far we have been here almost 5 years. For the last 2 years, among other things, I have been delivering Thani Talk in my neighborhood and have taken over the job as Distribution Coordinator. I love this community and the fact that, even a small personal contribution, can make a big difference to the whole community. Susan Yates, Grapevine Tips Coordinator I’m an American and have moved all over -- Michigan, Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas and Athens, Greece. My background is in art, advertising and public relations. My girls are 5, 9 and 12 and we’re here with the US Embassy. In addition to contributing to Thani Talk’s “Heard It Through the Grapevine” section, I help with UnofficialNichada. com and various Facebook groups and pages in our community.
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Thani Talk’s Restaurant Reviewers John Marinos: I’m a US citizen from New York City, and I have been living in Thailand and Nichada for 9 years. I have two boys, ages 10 and 12, and I work at the United Nations supporting humanitarian response throughout Asia. I’ve written for Thani Talk for nearly 4 years. I enjoy reviewing restaurants for Thani Talk because it makes me feel as if my enormous appetite can finally be put towards a good cause! *Check out page 49 for this month’s restaurant review of a lakeside restaurant at nearby IMPACT Arena.
Vara Sumetanon: My family is Thai-American. I have three children in grades 12, 6, and 5. I moved back to Thailand about 8 years ago after spending over 16 years in the USA; mostly living in Troy, Michigan. I started contributing to Thani Talk (the restaurant review section) about a year and a half ago after getting to know Liz from volunteering with the Bumble Bee Free Library project. I love contributing to Thani Talk mainly because I enjoy reading it so much. It’s always nice to get feedback from people who have tried and loved the restaurants I recommend.
Barbara Lewis: I’ve been in Bangkok for a little over three years. I volunteered for the NNR and was the Bazaar Coordinator for two years. I also volunteer to visit foreign prisoners held in Thai jails. I also volunteer at White Elephant charity shop and keep busy with yoga, tennis, drawing, painting, and walking my beloved dogs. I have two grown children who live in Canada where I am from. I like to write and thought that Thani Talk would be a great place to write restaurant reviews. I also write for Expat Life.
Archive Issues are Online at: issuu.com/nnrthanitalk Archive issues of Thani Talk dating back to 2012 can be accessed online at: issuu.com/ nnrthanitalk. Here is a partial index of what is available: Cover Stories -- Editor’s Picks: 2014 April: Meet Our Muslim Neighbors 2014 December: 10th Anniversary of 2004 Southeast Asian Tsunami 2014 September: 20th Anniversary of Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach (NNR) 2015 December: Meet Our Diverse Community: Worshipping and Living Side by Side in Harmony 2017 October: In Memory of His Majesty King Rama IX.
September 2018
Cover Stories: Roundups of Different Clubs, Services, Topics 2015 September: International Clubs 2015 November: Sports Roundup 2016 March: Libraries of Bangkok 2016 April: Massages 2016 December: Former Expats Share Life After Thailand 2018 April: Trailing Spouses who are Men Annual Travel Issue: February issues in 2017, 2015, 2014 Annual Farewell Issue: May issues in 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 * Info in some archive issues may be out of date.
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Heard it Through the Grapevine
Expanded Edition: Heard It Through the Grapevine Popular with readers ever since it was introduced in 2012, the “Heard It Through the Grapevine” column offers a chance for everyone to share good finds and tips with neighbors. Whether you are searching for a good dentist, bike shop, or a new restaurant, friends and neighbors can point you in the right direction. “Heard It Through the Grapevine” is usually a 2-page column, but for the benefit of newcomers the September issue offers a mega edition of Grapevine tips. We are very fortunate that Susan Yates has joined the Thani Talk team to gather all manner of terrific Grapevine
tips to share. In addition, I’ve added what I call the “Golden Oldies” (on pp. 18-19) which are tips so timeless and useful that I republish them each year, mainly for the benefit of all the newcomers. Hope you find this special edition of “Heard It Through the Grapevine” helpful. If you run across any great product, service, or company that you would like to share with others, please feel free to email your personal recommendation to nnrnews@gmail.com. Liz Lu Editor, Thani Talk
Social Media Resources Connect Neighbors The international community of more than 1,400 households inside and outside Nichada Thani has built a strong support network via social media tools such as Facebook groups and pages, texting apps such as Line, Whatsapp and WeChat, and community websites. Here’s a quick tour of the many internet resources available at your fingertips. WEBSITE
Unofficialnichada.com UnofficialNichada, a website packed with a wealth of information and useful links, was launched in August 2017. It was designed through a joint effort by volunteers Susan Yates, Sara Tighe and Kiki O’Connor. Susan spearheaded the website project because she said when she first arrived in Nichada, she found it difficult to find easily searchable information in one location. So she put her art, design and computer skills to use and working closely with Sara and Kiki, soon created and launched the website UnofficialNichada.com. The name “UnofficialNichada” underscores the independent voice of the website since it’s run by 12
volunteers and supports community and charity. By happy accident, the UN also reflects the varied backgrounds of our community members. With more than 50 nationalities represented, our neighborhood is as diverse as the United Nations. UnofficialNichada has helpful tabs covering categories such as household management, community resources, local restaurants, relocation and movers, services and repairs, and health, sports and fitness. It offers convenient links to many resources, including links to Thani Talk magazine. “There are no dumb questions here,” Susan posted about the website, but she also encourages visitors to search the UnofficialNichada database of answers first, with the gentle reminder: Search Before You Ask.
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FACEBOOK GROUPS:
Expats of Nichada (Closed group. 1,508 members) If you need advice on any and everything about life in Thailand and especially our Nonthaburi neighborhood, be it questions about handymen, doctors, restaurants, bikes and golf carts, join and check out this supportive Facebook group of neighbors. Just how responsive and helpful are people in the community? Responses often pour in within minutes of a posted question, even when they may be long-shot queries.
Nichada Expats Yard Sale (Closed group. 1,570 members) From vegetables and cheeses to new and used clothing, to furniture, appliances and golf carts, this is the local group where you should post your sales notices. The number of posts increase especially before moving seasons in December and May.
Nichada Newbies 2018-2019 (Closed group. 116 members) This Facebook group was created by Susan Yates to help newcomers. Similar to university freshman classes, this FB group had precursors named Nichada Newbies 2016 and Nichada Newbies 2017. The Admins - including the After The Boxes team - invite Nichada veterans to the group to help answer questions from newbies. September 2018
Nichada Travel - Life Outside the Bubble (Closed group. 452 members) Founded by Sharon Wang and Tali Benzvi, this group shares travel tips and photos of adventures members have enjoyed. Great group to check out in preparation for trips not only in Asia but worldwide as well.
Nichada Fitness Connect (Public group. 243 members) From yoga to aerobics to cross-fit training and more, this public Facebook group is the one-stop shop where local trainers and athletes share information about fitness classes and workshops. FACEBOOK PAGE:
Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach (NNR) This page is produced by NNR, our local non-profit volunteer organization. With more than 578 followers, it is updated by NNR Communications Director, Kiki O’Connor. Kiki keeps you posted about events in Nonthaburi and beyond, including NNR gatherings and trips, as well as other community activities of interest.
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Lazada: The Amazon of Thailand
The Payment Gateway
If you need a toaster, hard to find light bulb, bean bag refills, diapers or a new TV and don’t want to leave the house to find them - Lazada is your new best friend! It’s similar to Amazon. Products in just about every category imaginable at competitive prices on offer - you’ll just want to pay attention to the country it’s shipping from. Most items in the Bangkok area arrive within a day or two, out-of-country items can take weeks. Credit cards accepted but there’s also a Cash On Delivery option and Lazada will send you a message when your parcel is out for delivery via motorbike or truck depending on the package size. www.lazada.co.th/ Susan Yates
Roller Dome Thailand Roller Dome Thailand is an inexpensive way to get the kids out of the house and exercising. Roller Dome has two locations, one at Emporium Mall (downtown Bangkok) and one in Ladprod. This summer we took a trip out to Ladprod to give that location a try. On a good traffic day, this can be as close as 30 minutes away. If you and yours are experienced roller bladers, or don’t mind falling, this is well worth the trip. For 150 baht you can skate all day with provided equipment (skates, knee, elbow, wrist guards and helmet) or you can bring your own equipment and skate all day for 100 baht. Make sure to wear long socks but if you forget, you can purchase socks for 50 baht. A few of the attendants spoke some English and our kids received a 15-minute lesson. The facilities are basic (little or no air conditioning) but there is a food and drink stand and free wi-fi. Off the street parking is limited so I suggest getting there early or taking a taxi. www.facebook.com/rollerdome/ Stacey Byrne 14
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New Group for Stay-at-Home Dads The Nichada Justice League of Dads and Dudes Nichada is home to all kinds of rare snakes and other creatures. But little attention has been given to the rarest of all Nichada natives—domum viri, or more commonly known as “stay-at home dads” and “guys who work from home.” I am one of them. Our female counterparts are far more organized, with a vast array of events, but we have at last set up a new Facebook group called Nichada Justice League of Dads and Dudes to start coordinating activities, starting with axe throwing and craft beer. We are already twenty strong and growing. If you are domum viri and looking to get together with others, sign up for our Facebook group or contact me at quintanwik@gmail.com. Quintan Wiktorowicz
Ramayana Water Park Need an escape? You’ll find a small oasis about 2-1/2 hours from Nichada at the Ramayana Water Park near Pattaya. Purchasing tickets is a breeze online: www. ramayanawaterpark.com/. Don’t forget to select the Thai resident rates for the best deal. The park has water slides for everyone in the family - from slow moving tube rides to death defying drops for only the daring. You can relax in the lazy river or jump the waves in the large wave pool. Younger kids will enjoy the water playground at the front of the park with slides, water guns and a giant bucket that dumps water over excitedly waiting swimmers every few minutes. Ramayana offers a wide variety of food, both Thai and Western, at vendors around the park. You can rent lockers to store your valuables and cabanas to relax in shaded from the sun. The wave pool has a stage with live performances during the day and there’s even a massage hut if you want to relax while the kids play. Diana Roeting September 2018
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Teerabow Archery at Chatuchak Are you looking to learn a new skill? Preparing for the zombie apocalypse? Then Teerabow Archery in Chatuchak is the place for you. We took our children (12, 9 and 8 years old) to visit and they had a great time. Their instructor is the aquatics director at ISB, spoke excellent English, and was very excited to see ISB students coming to learn archery. After some instruction on safety and mechanics, the children were able to shoot on stationary bullseye targets and later progressed to shooting animal shaped, three dimensional statues. Overall, this was an excellent outing! https://teerabow-archery.business.site/ By Stacey Byrne
Sunthorn Thai Restaurant Looking for authentic Thai food, friendly staff and reasonable prices? Try Sunthorn (also known in Nichada as “The Brown Roof Restaurant” or “Mango Sticky Rice Lady”. It’s popular with the local lunchtime crowd. You’ll often see it full of staff from nearby World Medical Center. Our favorites are Pad See Ew (wide rice noodle with pork and kale), Tom Kha Gai (chicken and mushroom coconut soup) and cashew chicken. Limited English spoken but they’ve recently added English menus with numbers and photos for easy ordering. Directions: Heading down Sichaithong, toward Chaengwattana, across from CP Fresh Mart. Look for a brown roof, open fire woks and (when in season) mangos just waiting for purchase along with your sticky rice. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ BYCHEPNOP/ By Stacey Byrne 16
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Fishing Hole 3 Minutes from Nichada Love to fish? Don’t want to have to travel far? There’s great little fishing spot off of Soi Samakee 20. It’s called Chok Anun Fishing Park. Turn right onto Samakee and then take the first left. It’s a lovely place to rent rods and buy bait, fish and get a roofed seating area. Thai food and drink are available. Open daily 10 am to 10 pm. Tel: 089-452-1737 By Kiki O’Connor
Mon Voyage: A Concept Store Inside Nichada No need to waste time traveling beyond Nichada to shop for unique accents for your home, wardrobe or special gift needs as Mon Voyage has a diverse arrangement for anyone from jewelry, linens, china, apparel, accessories and distinctive home accents. Every item is a true conversation piece. As you enter the shop, you are greeted by the artist, one of Nichada’s local designers, Gunjan Mullick, and captivated by the diverse displays along with personal attention that is warm and welcoming. Should you have the time, she will explain the inspiration and you just may share a connection to the items that are of interest. Brigitte Hudson Mon Voyage 39/665, Bayview, Nichada Thani Nonthaburi, Pakkred 11120 Appointment only : +66 983065892 Curator : Gunjan Mullick September 2018
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Sombat Buri Market for Garden Needs Sombat Buri Market is a plant market located about 30 minutes drive west of Nichada. It has everything you need to brighten up and personalise your garden, including a great and inexpensive selection of plants, plant pots and other pottery, garden decorations, furniture and water features. Map: https://goo.gl/maps/NPGriy3Xo492 Imogen Lee
Recycling and Disposal Options RECYCLING Some neighborhoods have recycling bins for metal, glass, cardboard, plastic. For those that don’t, the rubbish pick up trucks generally sort through discarded items to sift for reusables/recyclables. Some residents collect the recyclables and place them next to their waste bins for easier retrieval by sanitation workers. ISB’s Green Panther program also collects batteries, CDs, E-waste, clothing, shoes, games and toys via bins in the MS/HS cafeteria next to the bank machines. DISPOSAL Aren’t sure whether something you have is worth donating? Odds are good that by placing an item on the curb in a safe (i.e. not in a walkway) spot near your household waste collection bins will result in a pickup by a resourceful worker/nearby resident. There isn’t a medication disposal program in Thailand currently, so the best way to get rid of unneeded/expired medication is to take it with you to a country with such a program in place. Susan Yates
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Grapevine Golden Oldies: Door-to-Door Service! Milkman What a luxury it is to have fresh milk, eggs, juice, yogurt and even water delivered to your door. That’s what we all get to enjoy here in our neighborhood, because Khun Sa-Oat and his wife Khun Maew roll through Nichada three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) in their pickup truck to deliver these essential items. They are super friendly and always greet customers with a smile. If you would like K. Sa-Oat to stop by at your home, simply call him to add your home to his route. You’ll need to ask a Thai speaker to make the call. Liz Lu
Khun Sa-Oat 081-774-4989
Drycleaner I’ve tried many drycleaners in the past, from little shops in nearby neighborhoods to bigger stores in shopping malls. It was a hassle to lug my clothes to the shops, and occasionally I’d lose my receipt or altogether forget to pick up an order. (My husband’s winter coat is still missing in action). Then I discovered Mr. Kumata of Ishiya Drycleaning. Although located downtown, Ishiya offers an absolutely superb door-to-door pickup and delivery service here in the Nichada area twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Simply give a quick call to Mr Kumata at 081-8143128 before Wednesday or Saturday, and he will show up with his assistant to pick up your order. He speaks English so communication is no problem. They can also handle orders in Japanese and Thai. We send him orders for drycleaning as well as laundering of dress shirts, and the workmanship is excellent. I highly recommend his service. Liz Lu September 2018
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Ishiya Drycleaning Mr. Kumata (above right) 081-814-3128 19
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SERVING CHILDREN AGES
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Fitness & Activities Nichada Neighborhood Neighborhood Nichada Community Fitness & Activities Listings Community Fitness & Activities Listings Yoga & Fitness Classes
Ashtanga Yoga with PanZen PanZen, 097-227-6999 panzenyoga@hotmail.com http://panzenyoga.wix.com/panzen
Alignment Based Yoga with Napisa Napisa Pant, 086-975-7187 napisapant.yoga@gmail.com FB: yogawithnapisa
Power Vinyasa Yoga Kelly Poret, 061-872-7534 yogaporet@gmail.com FB: kellyporetyoga
Underdog Wellness Fitness Classes (UW) Yoga, Booty Barre, Mat & Reformer Pilates Stacy Klob, scklobhome@icloud.com FB: Underdog Wellness
Monday
Weekly Schedule Wednesday
Tuesday
Iyengar Yoga Iyengar Yoga 7:50-9:20 7:50-9:20 Napisa Restorative Kundalini Yoga Beginners 8:45-10:15 Mixed level 9:30-11:00 Napisa Evening Yoga Underdog Wellness 5:00-6:15 pm 9:30 Booty Barre 10:30 Yoga Ashtanga Yoga PanZen 3:45-4:45
Kundalini Yoga All Levels 7:45-9:15 6:30-8:00 pm Napisa Alignment Flow 7:45-9:15 Level 2 Iyengar Yoga 7:50-9:20 Underdog Wellness 9:30 Yin Yoga Ashtanga Yoga PanZen 3:45-4:45
Iyengar Yoga 7:50-9:15 Underdog Wellness 9:30 Mat Pilates Ashtanga Yoga PanZen 3:45-4:45 Napisa Teen Yoga 5:00-6:00 pm
Friday Kundalini Yoga All Levels 7:45-9:15 Napisa Alignment Flow 7:45-9:00 Beg-Level 1 Iyengar Yoga 7:50-9:20
Meditation
Das PowerHaus Pilates Mat Mon-Friday - See link on FaceBook to register online Joanna Brittingham, 089846-6610 Joanna.brittingham@gmail.com FB: DasPowerHaus Nichada
Learn TM (Transcendental Meditation) Expert instruction by a 35-year teacher of meditation. Â Contact Ellie: eedelhoff@hotmail.com www.TM.org www.DavidLynchFoundation.org
Dance
Zumba Chaengwattana Community Church Mon, Wed & Friday FB: Zumba Nichada Thani Class fee donated to charity!
Iyengar Yoga Juan Bodan, 081-285-3050
Thursday
Pilates
Bollywood Dance Suitable for all levels! Wed & Thurs 9:30-10:30 Afternoon Classes: Tues or Wed 5:00-6:00 Contact Irit: 086-004-4840 iritmike@gmail.com
Kundalini Yoga Kerstin Wilde, 086-372-9750 kerstin.bangkok@gmail.com www.yoga-of-awareness.com Private classes available
Sport Masters Swimming - Nichada Pool, Tues & Thurs 7:30-8:30. Contact: Kerstin Wilde, kerstin.bangkok@gmail.com Biking - Meet at Sichaitong gate! Weekday rides Mon & Wed at 7:30 am. Contact: Henrietta Bullinger, hbullinger@gmail.com. Weekends at 7:00 am. Contact: Chris Oglesby, coglesby@hotmail.com Tennis with Coach Sagi - Nichada tennis courts. Contact: Sagi Luft, 092-271-2110, sagiluft@hotmail.com
Tutorials World English - Oral English & composition instruction, 30 yrs exp Deborah Funthorn, BA, MFA, TESL, 083-055-9785, debhata@yahoo.com Piano Lessons - Exp. professional from Westover School in Connecticut capricio310@gmail.com, 091-878-6283
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Nonthaburi & Beyond
Nonthaburi & Beyond Bangkok Furniture Fair
Bangkok Furniture Fair Exhibition featuring Furniture, Home & DĂŠcor, Electronics & IT, Gardening, Pet, Fashion, Wedding, Health & Beauty, SPA, Kid & Toys, Food Date: September 1, 2018 - September 9, 2018 Time: 11 am - 9 pm Venue: Impact, Muang Thong Thani, Hall 1-4
Date: Sept. 20-23; 26-29 Time: 7:30 pm Venue: Bangkok Nursing Home Auditorium, Soi Convent, Bangkok Tickets: 500 baht Contact: info@bangkokcommunitytheatre.com
Writers & Photographers Wanted
Call Khun Jum to make a booking for your next holiday!
Located in Nichada Secret Garden
Got a flair for writing? Good with a camera? Great at meeting deadlines? Contact Liz at nnrnews@gmail.com September 2018
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Travel: Day Trips
New! Day Trips Near Bangkok Red Lotus Floating Market in Bang Len
most colorful aerial family shots you can imagine. The location also has shops selling food both sweet and savory and a quaint little cafe called Red Lotus Cafe with an outdoor seating area where you can sit and birdwatch a little more. While there are many English signs, most of the employees only speak Thai. Also there are virtually no menu items written in English making it a little hard to order food. The specialty dish Miang Bua, a variation of the traditional Miang Kham snack, where you take an edible pink lotus petals and fill it up with shallots, peanuts, chili, ginger, lime, dried shrimp, roasted coconut and a tangy sauce is a must try! For more information call 089-258-9264 or visit their page on Facebook. While the Red Lotus Sea in Northeast Thailand (26 square miles of floating lotus flowers) located in Udon Thani province is a site to see, you actually do not need to go that far if you don’t have an abundance of time! A simple 55 kilometer drive from Nonthaburi to the Red Lotus Floating Market located in the Bang Len district is a hidden gem of a day trip. Red Lotus Floating Market has a 9-acre pond filled with these beautiful lotus flowers and plants. For a 100 baht fee at the pier (make sure you also rent colorful umbrellas at 10 bath each or fun hats at 5 baht each), visitors take a boat ride tour in the large pond and get up close with the vibrant water plants and visiting birds. You can also opt for a drone service that will take aerial photos for 40 baht per picture or 300 baht for as many as they take - my lot included 107 high quality photos! A real must -- you will come away with the 24
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September 2018
ISB International School Bangkok
Events you don’t want to miss... A list of upcoming sports, music, cultural and educational events at ISB that are open to the public.
200 students from 10 schools, perform under the guidance of Gary Gillett. ISB Chevron Theater Free Admissions
www.isb.ac.th
SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2018
ISB University Fair Rajendra Hall | 19 Sep | 2pm - 4pm
Over 110 colleges and universities from 17 countries will visit ISB to meet with families to discuss their offerings.
Panther Run #2 Nichada | 08 Sep | 6.30am registration
Stay active and support a good cause by joining the Panther Run series!
ISB Spirit Night Field and Gyms | 28 Sep
ISB International School Bangkok
The culmination of Spirit Week at ISB with a host of sports on the go, tons of vendors and large crowds. ISB Spirit Night has an awesome atmosphere and is a great night out for families!
International Strings Festival Concert Cultural Center Theater | 29 Sep
An exceptional performance by students representing a host of schools and featuring some fantastic music.
OCTOBER 2018
Panther Run 3 Nichada | 06 Oct
Stay active and support a good cause by joining the Panther Run series!
International Choir Festival Concert Chevron Center Theater | 6 Oct
Some of the most talented student performers from around the region perform in the choir festival gala concert.
www.isb.ac.th
Travel: Phuket
Weekend Beach Getaway Phuket, Thailand
The breathtaking view outside our bungalow. In my opinion, one of the best perks of living in Thailand is quick access to its world-renowned beaches. For example, nearby beaches such as Pattaya, Hua Hin, and Koh Samet are all within a short driving distance from Bangkok. However, the real beauty of Thailand is found down south, especially beaches in Khao Lak and Phuket. From Nichada you can catch Bangkok-Phuket flights from either Don Muang Airport on budget airlines such as Air Asia, Nok Air or Smile Airline, or from Suvarnabhumi airport on Thai Airways. The flight is less than an hour, but Thai Airways manages to feed you a light meal (another perk of traveling in Asia! -- exceptional service.) Also, a wide array of stunning resorts all come at a reasonable price in Thailand. When my family recently visited Phuket for the long Thailand Mother’s Day weekend, the first thing we did upon landing was rent a car (from Avis, although there are many other rental companies available). I highly recommend renting a car for your beach vacation. While it’s fantastic to lie on the sand for a few days gazing at azure seas, fine white sand and sipping on 28
coconuts, it’s good to explore outside your destination resort because Phuket has so much more to offer beyond your resort’s walls. We found many fantastic, cheap restaurants and shopping plazas by driving out each night to look around. A car gives you the best freedom to explore, though there are certainly other options available such as hotel shuttles, taxis, small song teow trucks, and motorcycles. When we got to our hotel, we were dazzled by the ocean view outside our bungalow. Many resorts offer these small, cozy huts by the beach in addition to traditional rooms - I highly recommend staying in a bungalow if the option is available, simply for the view. We quickly dropped our bags and walked down to the sand. The sky was clear and the beach was not crowded due to it being the low season (June-September is the low tourist season in Thailand because it’s the rainy season). Although the sea water churned during high tide due to wind and rain, the advantage of traveling during low season is that hotel room rates were all discounted. We discovered that by mid-afternoon, the
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Travel
Adorable baby sea turtles rescued and cared for at the Thai Navy Turtle Conservation Center.
phuketjettour.com
water was calm enough for swimming if you don’t venture too far out. Our resort had lifeguards on duty, and they did not hesitate to blow their whistles at guests who swam out too far. My family was happy with dipping our toes in the ocean and jumping waves in shallow water, but if you opt for the low season, you should consider the tradeoff of no crowds versus swimming when planning your trip. After relaxing by the beach and sipping refreshing coconuts for the first two days, we decided to take a small road trip to the Sea Turtle Conservation Center near the Phang Nga Naval Base. This center is a one and a half hour drive north of Phuket, but it was the highlight of my visit and well worth the drive. Admission is only 60 baht for tourists and free for Thai citizens. The center has giant tanks for different ages of sea turtles, ranging from tiny 10-day olds to 20- year old turtles that looked heavier than me. It was a unique experience, and I was happy to support a center that helps release 8,000 baby sea turtles each year (they care for them until the babies are three months old and have a better chance of survival in the wild.) We also visited an elephant camp while in Phuket and paid 100 baht to feed bananas to the elephants. I should note here that there is a lot of controversy on elephant tourism in Thailand, and Phuket is no exception. There is a very popular local attraction called Phuket FantaSea where elephants perform tricks; however, critics say that this is stressful to the animals. The same criticism applies to venues that allow you to ride the elephants. However, on the other hand, some argue that tourism is the only thing allowing owners to afford keeping their animal. For readers who agree with the latter, there are many places in Phuket where you can ride elephants and see them perform. For readers who agree with the former, there is the option of visiting the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary where retired elephants wander a 30-acre property. Visitors at the sanctuary can bathe and feed the elephants but are not allowed to ride them. The sanctuary is considerably more expensive to visit, but the option is certainly available for more discerning visitors. All in all, my family had a fabulous time during our visit to Phuket. It has some of the most phenomenal beaches in the world, and the activities discussed above only scratch the surface of the many things to do there. I highly recommend making the short trip down south to relax, sightsee, and appreciate all that Thailand has to offer so close to Bangkok. Amber Barnett September 2018
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Community News
Farewell Social & Mini Bazaar in May NNR would like to thank Nichada Thani for sponsoring our May social by providing us with a home in Nichada Veranda for our location and delicious food from Vapor. Incredible Edibles also generously provided nibbles to share. Neighbors stopped in to pick up last minute gifts from vendors which included: Carry On, Pure Harmony Spa Products, Sian Seamer, Sala Stainless Steel, Thomas K Just B, who all generously donated funds in support of NNR charities. Vendors also included some NNR charities, which offered weighted blankets, beautiful Thai skirts & trousers and wonderful fabric bags. The charities (I-Care Boys & Girls and Home for the Destitute) joined us to showcase their homemade goods for purchase. Thank you to all who attended and supported this event. Chantal Bremner
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Community News
After the Boxes Support Group Offers Orientation for Newcomers
“After the Boxes� (ATB) a newcomers support group offered by Chaengwattana Community Church, welcomed neighbors to an orientation on Aug. 20 to introduce them to resources and other services in the community. ATB provides its orientation and tour program twice a year in August and January when newcomers arrive. For more information, contact Casey Segura and Christine Hunter at: atb@cccthailand.org
Kasikorn Bank at Oasis Moved to Prachachuan On August 22, bulldozers tore down the Kasikorn bank branch office at the Oasis Shopping Center located on Samakkee Road, a 5-minute drive from Nichada. The branch has been moved to merge with the K-Bank branch at Urban Square on Prachachuan Road, Soi 12. The closest Kasikorn Bank branch to our neighborhood is now at 72/251-252 Samakkee Road. Another option is the Kasikorn Bank on the 4th floor of Central Chanegwattana. September 2018
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Feature: Craft Beer
Craving Craft Beer in Bangkok ? An Expert Beer Judge Shows You the Way The next day, we made three stops. The first was the Bangkok outpost of Denmark's famed brewery, Mikkeller (26 Ekkamai Rd. Soi 10, Lane 2) which features not only their own world-famous beers, but also those of their Danish brewing friends. The beer is excellent, though the space is somewhat sterile, as is the service. Notably, the clientele is almost entirely farangs.
I recently stayed in Nichada Thani on a visit to Bangkok. I have known Mare and Bill Harvey, who hosted me in Nichada just before they moved from Bangkok to Jarkarta, for over twenty years. They have watched (in shock, presumably) as I have traveled the world, tasting over 20,000 different beers. Of course, like elsewhere in the world, craft beer has exploded in Thailand. The dictionary definition of craft beer is “beer made in a traditional or non-mechanized way by a small brewery.” The Harveys, beer lovers themselves, were happy to show me all the beers Bangkok has to offer. Starting with what is close to Nichada, we went to Turtle Bar (19 Chaengwattana Rd. Soi 33), a small, quaint beer bar housed in a shipping container. Twelve draft lines feature mostly Thai craft beers, though on the night we visited, Scotland's famed BrewDog beer was also available.
Next, we headed to aBeer (89 Chaengwattana Rd.) aBeer also has 12 draft lines and its beer fridge offers many additional bottles and cans for on-premise consumption. aBeer emphasizes world-renowned imports over local fare. You're guaranteed to have more than one at aBeer. 34
Next, we visited Golden Coins (3 Ekkamai Rd. Soi 10), a brewpub featuring six beers brewed on the premises… only one of which was drinkable. Flipping a coin would give you better odds than drinking here. In stark contrast to Golden Coins, our last stop of the evening was the Harveys' personal favourite: Wishbeer (Sukhumvit Rd. Soi 67). Wishbeer has a very deep list of beers, with draft and packaged offerings from all over the world, including many we saw at none of our other stops. Any visit to this bar will have you wishing you had more time to drink here.
The next day, we made only one beer stop, but it was my favourite of the entire trip. Located on Nonthaburi’s Koh Kret island a short boat ride from Nichada, Chit Beer makes beers 20 litres at a time (the same size as a standard homebrew). What Chit Beer lacks in fancy décor, it makes up for with creativity and passion. Sitting at the bar, you are likely to meet the brewer who will serve you his beer with great pride. And the pride is wellearned; the beer is excellent. On your next Bangkok beer tour, make sure Chit happens. After a brief stint away from Bangkok to visit Krabi
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Feature: Craft Beer
(no good beer to be found anywhere), our next Bangkok beer stop was CRAFT (16 Sukhumvit Rd. Soi 23). Featuring 40 beers on tap and several more in bottles, CRAFT claims to have Bangkok's largest selection of craft beer. The best part is that CRAFT is entirely outdoors. It started as a pop-up bar in the parking lot of the restaurants that still serve food to CRAFT's patrons. CRAFT has permanence now, thanks to awnings, fake grass and complete furniture, but it maintains its al fresco style. The Craftbeer Land (Soi Lianmuang 1, Bang Phut, Pakkred, Nonthaburi) was our next stop. In addition to having 12 taps of good beer, including Belgian and
the numbers of the beers we wanted on a piece of paper. Notwithstanding this, the staff was absolutely delightful and Craftbeer Land was one of my favourite stops. Our last beer stop was, ironically, the closest to Nichada. Tawandang German Brewery (188 Moo 4, Liang Muang Road, Pakkred), as the name implies, is loosely based on a traditional German beer hall. It is a cavernous building serving four German-style beers brewed on premise, has a food menu that is a book (covering all manner of international cuisine) and a large stage with live Thai entertainment. Staff are EVERYWHERE and service is exceptional. It's a surreal experience and certainly not one to be missed. Thanks for reading! Follow my global beer adventures: Twitter/Instagram @TheDonOfBeer and Facebook @ thebeerdon. Don Tse, International Beer Judge
German imports, it was notable for two things. First, it has a very open feeling which is highly advantageous since it's situated next to a lake. Second, not a single member of the staff spoke a word of English, not even numbers. We ended up ordering our beers by writing September 2018
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S A L E 5 0 % E n t i r e S t o c k Big Sale from 1st September 2018
Feature: Triathlons
Those of you that have been in Nichada for a while will have seen people swimming, running and cycling around Nichada. What you may not realize is that some are doing all three of those things as training for a “Triathlon” – named for a race consisting of those three sports, in continuation back to back. It always starts with a swim leg, followed by a bike leg, and finishing with a run, (ie: Swim-Bike-Run) with the changeover parts in between called “transitions”. There is also a variation called “Duathlon” for those that don’t swim, consisting typically of a run, bike, and a longer run (ie: Run-Bike-Run). Triathlons for adults can be of varying distances, from the shorter “Sprint” races (750m swim, 20km bike, and 5km run), right through to the aptly named “IronMan” distance of 3.8km swim, 180km bike, and 42km marathon distance run to finish (you) off. Yes, you read that right! There are also sometimes kids’ races, which are much shorter depending on age. Often organizers offer races of differing distances at the same event so that families and friends can take part in Duathlon or Triathlons of their choice at the same time. Although a triathlon is traditionally an “Individual Sport”, there are also “Relay” divisions where you can enter as a team of two or three competitors and divide 38
up the ‘legs’ to do it with family or friends and share the pain! Athletes race in Men or Women ‘Age-Group’ divisions of similar ages, so you are really racing only against those in your age group to challenge yourself against your peers.
People of all ages, shapes, and sizes, do triathlon for multiple reasons! Some just to prove they can, some ‘just for fun’, some with family, some to try to beat their PR (Personal Record), some to try to win their Age Group, or to qualify for World Championship races. I’ve found it’s a sport with “community”, meaning a sense of kinship where people really help each other, and there’s no ‘rank’ or hierarchy. Triathletes welcome all participants, and respect and admire anyone just
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Sally Elliott
Tri, Tri, and Tri again………. Nichada a Hot Bed for Triathletes Training for Worldwide Races
youtube.com
Feature: Triathlons
taking part – the greatest standing ovation I’ve witnessed was for a 77-year old who just scraped in to finish before the time-limit in a Half-Ironman race in Vietnam. We love to encourage people to try it out and to help novices. We’ve all been there in fear and trepidation, and even experienced athletes still get butterflies at the start of most races! You’d probably be surprised to hear that Nichada is a bit of a ‘hot-bed’ for triathletes. About 30 adults and multiple kids participated in local triathlons last year, ranging from complete beginners to almost “Pro” level. Currently three of our local athletes are going to the IronMan World Championships in Hawaii in October -- the pinnacle of the Triathlon world and extremely difficult to qualify for entry. Andy Vaughan, Dan Bentley, and Dale Jamieson all qualified in the last few months, and you’ll see them around Nichada right now as they build to the biggest race of their lives. Equally, by the time you read this, I’ll be in South Africa at the Half-IronMan World Championships on 2nd September. But there are plenty of people taking it less seriously and having lots of fun. It’s a great way to get and stay fit while enjoying some variety in your activities along with some competition thrown in for a challenge if that fires you up! So where and how could you try it out? There are actually ideal local races called the “Tri-Dash” series aimed at novices! Held about an hour’s drive away at BangPoo Golf Resort, these feature a 400m pool swim, 20km bike and 5km run. They are great fun, and take place every couple of months – check out www.tridashthailand.com. Or, for more Triathlon information regarding these or other races, send me an email at grahamelliott@me.com. Graham Elliott Have a go, it’s fun!!! September 2018 Than
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Charity News
NNR’s Charity Team Leaders
Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach Liz Garrigan (above lt.) and Imogen Lee (above rt.) are the hard-working duo in charge of NNR’s charity committee. As co-chairs, they multi-task a myriad of duties: * Matching volunteers with charities in need of help. * Sourcing, picking up and delivering in-kind donations * Organizing visits to charities by ISB teachers on
professional training day. * Publicizing charity projects and reaching out to the community about volunteer opportunities * Doing due diligence by visiting every NNRsupported charity to understand their needs and to make sure your donations are put to good use. For more information, please contact Liz and Imogen at: nnrcharity@gmail.com
Declutter & Donate
Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach
by donating their sales proceeds. You can also support local charities by shopping at the White Elephant store on the 2nd floor of the Oasis Shopping Center on Samakee Road, on the left just past McDonald’s. Various other organizations - classrooms, teachers, student groups collect specific items throughout the year and will post in the Expats of Nichada Facebook group with requests. In addition to the Nichada Yard Sale group, there are other area FB sales groups. Anyone can have a yard sale at their residence any time they choose, but there’s generally one communitywide Saturday yard sale in October and one in May.
Volunteer group NNR and White Elephant (a local thrift shop) work cooperatively to support local charities. NNR welcomes donations of larger furniture items, electronics, towels and linens, cleaning supplies and toiletries and these are typically donated directly to charities for use. NNR Charity Co-Coordinators Liz Garrigan and Imogen Lee are happy to match donations with charity recipients. NNR can help arrange delivery to local charities or can put donors in touch with charities that are able to pick up donations. Reach out to NNR at nnrcharity@gmail.com. NNR recommends donating clothes, sporting goods, and smaller housewares to White Elephant, which supports many of the same charities as NNR September 2018
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Charity News
Volunteering Opportunities
NNR Helps You Find the Right Fit Home for Hope is a residential facility for up to 90 children who have no parents or whose parents are unable to care for them. The Home is managed by Father Paolo of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church. Volunteer Opportunity: Supporting activities such as games sports, crafts, music, and English classes. Assisting with home improvements/yard work . WHEN: Various times (including weekends) WHERE: Home for Hope is a 20-minute drive from Nichada. Offers of transportation are appreciated.
from both government homes as well as from the community. Goals include teaching social and life skills, working with families of disabled children, assisting and preparing older youth for employment opportunities. Volunteer Opportunity: Supporting activities such as games, sports, crafts, music, etc. WHEN: Various days and times WHERE: CCD is a 20-minute drive from Nichada. Any volunteers who have a car/driver and who are willing to provide rides are appreciated. Photo from Google Reviews
Home for Hope
Home for the Destitute
1 Step, 2 Step
Home for the Destitute is a government-run facility in Pakkred housing up to 400 homeless adults. The shelter also has a detention centre for Cambodian women and children awaiting court proceedings. Volunteer Opportunity: Assist with fruit preparation and service, play with Cambodian children, interact and assist with shelter residents. WHEN: Every Thursday - 10 am to 12 pm WHERE: Volunteers meet at Nichada’s main gate for rides to Home for the Destitute, a 10-minute drive from Nichada.
Christian Care Foundation for Children with Disabilities (CCD) CCD is a Thai NGO that began in 1997 and currently has multiple programs that work with disabled children 42
The 1 Step, 2 Step program works in partnership with Ban Feung Fa, a residential facility for boys and girls with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. The program offers excursions plus visits to play and interact with the children. Volunteer Opportunity: Assist with excursions and visits at the Home. WHEN: Monthly excursions. Various times for visits. WHERE: Facility is a 10- minute drive from Nichada.
I-Care Foundation (Ban Poomwaet Boys Home) (Ban Kredtrakarn Girls Home) I-Care Foundation supports Ban Poomwaet (government home for boys rescued from human trafficking) and Ban Kredtrakan (government home for girls rescued from human trafficking. The residents
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Charity News
icarethailand.com
receive educational and/or vocational training to support their re-integration back into society. Volunteer Opportunity: Supporting I-Care with English classes for the residents. Assisting with monthly Sports/Fun Day. WHEN: Thursday mornings (9 am – 11 am) to assist with English classes. Last Sunday of each month to assist with Sports/Fun Day. WHERE: Ban Poomwaet is a 10-minute drive from Nichada. Ban Kredtrakkarn is located on Koh Kret Island (From Nichada, it’s a 15-minute drive to the river, followed by a 10-minute boat ride.)
Thanksgiving Home Thanksgiving Home, a home for about 25 children and youth with various forms of disabilities, provides rehabilitation and development of life skills. The Home also supports neighbors living in nearby slums. Volunteer Opportunity: Assisting with English learning activities, crafts, music and other programs. WHEN: Various times (including weekends) WHERE: Thanksgiving Home is a 10-minute drive from Nichada.
Bumble Bee Free Library (BBFL)
BBFL provides free library services to all. In addition to offering Story Time for toddlers, free English classes for children and adults of all nationalities, Birthday Book Club and school scholarships to Thai children, the libray also operates a satellite “Reading Corner” at the Home for the Destitute (a government homeless shelter) Volunteer opportunity: Help staff the libray, teach children and adults at Sunday English classes, chaperone field trips. WHEN: Tuesdays and Thursdays for Story Time. Sunday afternoons for English classes. Various times for library duties. WHERE: BBFL is just outside the front gate of Nichada (left at the T-intersection and down approximately 500 meters, on the right).
Pakkred Babies Home
SaiLom Project SaiLom Project works with physically and intellectually disabled boys and young men living in a government facility (Rachawadee Home) to assist in developing life skills and provide job training so the young men can integrate into the workforce. Volunteer Opportunity: Help with monthly excursions. Offers of transportation for excursions are appreciated. Assist with day programs. WHEN: Last Saturday of each month for excursions (9 am to 2 pm). Assist at SaiLom Centre (various times). WHERE: Sailom is about a 15-minute drive from Nichada. September 2018
Pakkred Babies Home is a government residential facility for orphaned and abandoned babies and young children. Volunteer Opportunity: Visiting the home and assisting with the care of the babies and children WHEN: Various days/times - The current Nichada volunteers have been going on Thursdays, but volunteers can visit as often as they like. WHERE: The residential facility is a 10-minute drive from Nichada.
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Charity News
NNR’s Summer Yard Sale Raised Record-Breaking Donation to CCD
By offering marketing advice, free publicity and tons of volunteers, NNR in May helped a local charity TRIPLE earnings from their annual yard sale. NNR’s Charity Team recommended that the sale be moved from July to May, to capitlaize on donation of goods from expats leaving Thailand. The strategy was a huge success, enabling the Christian Care Foundation
for Children with Disabilities (CCD) to raise more than 128,000 baht, all of which will go towards funding the group’s community projects for the underpriviledged. Thank you to the dedicated volunteers who organized and publicized the fundraiser, transported a mountain of household goods donated by generous neighbors, and worked tirelessly to sort and price the items for a successful sale. Liz Lu
NNR & Library Interviewed About Work at Homeless Shelter The local homeless shelter, Nonthaburi Reception Home for the Destitute, is supported by both NNR (cash, supplies, medicine and volunteers) and Bumble Bee Free Library (Reading Corner). On Aug. 1, NNR Charity Co-Chair Liz Garrigan and BBFL vice-president Kelley Weg were interviewed about the services each group provides at the shelter.
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Charity News
32 Animals Sterilized on First-Ever Nichada Spay Day Anyone running or walking down “Banana Road” near the Nichada Security compound July 19 might have thought they were seeing a bunch of dead animals. Instead, the lifeless-looking four-leggeds were simply sedated and awaiting surgery. During the first of what we hope will be a series of spay/neuter days for animals in the neighborhoods that surround us, Furget Me Not Thailand’s “Mama Soot” and her team sterilized 32 dogs and cats. It was a significant accomplishment in an area that, like all of Thailand, is teeming with street animals. One young female dog who was spayed that day had already had four litters of puppies. They will be her last. The all-day July 19 project took significant planning and coordination. Then-resident Mary Jordan and International Nursery Center’s Nat Mildiner surveyed our neighbors outside the gate to collect names and contact information—and numbers and descriptions— of the (mostly) dogs to be sterilized. Mary then arranged for Soot Liang Woo, who runs Furget Me Not animal sanctuary, to bring in a veterinary team for the surgeries and a darter to drug and help capture the unsocial dogs. Volunteers helped to pick up and return dogs to and from the security office, where Nichada graciously provided tents and drinks. (Special thanks to Khun Jum of 4Legs Grooming, Nichada Customer Relations Head Scott Roman, ISB student Ian Murphy, and especially Nat and Mary.) We will be conducting another survey and hosting the spay/neuter team again soon. Those of you who have generously contributed toward what we generally refer to as the “soi dog project” are supporting not just these efforts but also feeding, deworming, and vaccinating dogs living right under our noses—not to mention what has grown to be a healthy community dog-walking project. To help with any or all of these efforts or to foster an animal, please contact me at lizgarrigan@gmail. com. Liz Garrigan
September 2018
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Alignment Flow Yoga, Strength and Peace from Inside Out. Monday
Wednesday Thursday
Restorative Yoga: Mixed levels
Alignment flow: Level 2
Friday
8:45-10:15 am. 7:45-9:15 am 5:00-6:00 pm. 7:45-9:00 am. 5:00-6:15 pm
Yoga For Teens
Alignment flow: (Grade 5-Grade 12) Beginner- Level 1
Alignment flow: Mixed Levels Napisa C. Pant, experienced, fully trained yoga teacher, serving community since 2000. napisapant.yoga@gmail.com 086-975-7187 www.Facebook.com/yogawithnapisa @Nichada Studio Above Starbucks September 2018
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Restaurant Review
Breeze Café and Bar: By the Lake at IMPACT
lisaguru.com
amp.mgronline.com
EDTguide
This is a lovely spot and so close by to Nichada Thani via the Expressway. It doesn’t look like much as you enter. In fact, you think that you are entering a car detailing area and a go-cart speedway with a parking lot rather than a pleasant restaurant area. There is a man-made lake at the end of the parking area surrounded by several restaurants, one of which is Breeze Café and Bar. Also on site are Isam Jim Joom, a seafood restaurant, and Uwajiwa, a Japanese Yakatori restaurant. Thus far we had only tried the Breeze Café at lunch time, but it looked like it would be a wonderful serene place to have a lovely evening meal as well, which we tried out one evening. There were two live Thai singers and we sat outside close to the water. It was very pleasant. Although there wasn’t a natural breeze there were large fans giving a nice breeze around the tables. When we were there for lunch they had a display of BMW cars with all the latest models. Breeze Café has a large variety of food, including soup, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, cooked meats with sides, plus a variety of Thai food and desserts. They also have all kinds of drinks: teas, coffees, non alcoholic and alcoholic cocktails, beer, wine and sodas. They have all of the Paulaner’s beers available. With the other restaurants there and the atmosphere, there is such a wide variety of choices for lunch or dinner. It’s an ideal place to grab a meal as a couple, or to enjoy tasty food with family or friends. It is close by to Nichada and a welcome break from the everyday. Barbara Lewis
Impact Arena
Breeze Café & Bar Lakeside, IMPACT Arena Popular Rd, Pakkred, Nonthaburi Hours: Daily, 11am to 12 midnight. Phone: 02-033-1851 September 2018
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Delivery Restaurant
Phone
Local Business
Phone
Baan Kimchi Korean BBQ/Thai Cuisine
02-952-0031
Bamboo Spa
02-583-9871
Burger King/Pizza Company
1112
Bank Krungsri
02-582-2669
Cafe Kabul (Indian & Afgan)
02-960-3368
BeWitch Salon
087-099-4569
Cherry’s Cakes
080-070-0180
Blue Sky Cafe
081-811-8455
KFC & Pizza Hut
1150
Clark Hatch Fitness Center
02-960-4326/27
Le Bouchon Food Delivery
02-038-3020
Foot Heaven
061-541-6353
The London Pie Shop
02-381-5818
4 Legs Pet Shop Grooming
084-424-6545
Hair by Jib
085-115-3093
McDonald’s
1711
Happy Teeth Dental Clinic
02-960-3988
Mr. Enzo’s
02-960-0412
Great Massage
02-960-3691
New York Diner
081-624-2099
ISB
02-963-5800
Pinocchio’s
02-573-5646
Le Studio Hair
084-022-9928
Que Pasa
02-960-3821
Nichada Customer Relations
02-960-4300
Pandit Carpets
081-828-2562
Salad Factory
02-001-5659
Panipa
02-960-3934
Scoozi
02-715-8555
Rex Pharmaplus
081-834-1306
Subway
02-960-3232
Rose Marie Academy
02-960-3663
Sudhathai
02-583-2694
Shawn Carpets
090-564-8927
Slider Shack
086-773-4140
Starbucks
02-967-9686
Villa Market
02-960-3585
Vapor Restaurant
02-832-0055
Wash-N-Dry
085-945-4132
Xuan 5 0 Mai Restaurant
087-077-0605
T h a n i Ta l k
September 2018
September 2018
T h a n i Ta l k
51
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T h a n i Ta l k
September 2018