N ONTHABURI N EIGHBORHOOD R EACH
S EPTEMBER 2013
Thani Talk Serving the Nonthaburi community and supporting local charities since 1994
Sawadhikha! Sawadhikhrap! Welcome Back to the Land of Smiles
Bonus 52-Page Issue Thani Talk’s biggest issue ever is packed with tips and articles to make your life easier. Nearly 50 local businesses introduce themselves to you in this season’s premier issue. Events at a Glance: Floral Museum Tour: Sept. 10 Welcome Coffee: Sept. 13 Charity Coffee: Oct. 17 (Details p. 12)
Contents: Highlights Tour: Floral Museum p.3 Grapevine: p.30-31 Social: Welcome Coffee p.3 Recipes: p.45 Cover Story: Stay Healthy p.4-7 Restaurant: p.49 Charity Spotlight: p.12-13 Nichada News: p.40 Travel: Dive in Philippines p.24
Thani Talk is generously sponsored by
Thani Talk ~September 2013
Board Information
Letter from Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach (NNR) President Hello everyone, and welcome to Nichada and Thani Talk. My name is Mare Harvey, and I am the new Chairperson of Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach (NNR). My husband Bill works for Chevron. We are from Calgary, Canada, and lived in Perth, Australia, before Bangkok. We have two boys going into grades 11 and 8. Some of you are returning to Nichada, and some are brand new. I have been asked, "Who is eligible to belong to NNR?” NNR stands for Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach, a volunteer group dedicated to serving our community and supporting charities. If you live in or just outside Nichada, you automatically belong to our group. Membership is free, and everyone is welcome. We’d love to have you join in our activities. Over the course of the school year we will publish eight Thani Talk magazines that will be full of important and relevant information for you. Thani Talk is a free publication that will be delivered to your home within the first few days of the month. Our main missions in the NNR are to help foster a sense of community and to raise money for local charities. We are a volunteer organization, and there are many different ways to get involved. I look forward to meeting you and sharing this grand adventure together. The first NNR Coffee Morning will be at my house on Friday, September 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Whether you are new or returning after the break, please drop by 625 Baan Rim Lake to meet your Nonthaburi neighbors. Mare Harvey, NNR Chair
NNR BOARD 2013-2014 Chairperson
Mare Harvey
081-274-8012
Vice Chairperson
Charlotte Sanders
084-875-7655
Treasurer
Val Mowat
081-849-1466
Activities/Tours
Alexandra Ries
084-388-4457
NNR Socials
Sarah Glaze
081-793-0806
Charity Coffees
Linda Feltham
091-095-0457
Advertisements
Laura Sadowski
089-924-5306
nnrads@yahoo.com
Newsletter Editor
Liz Lu (Co-editor) Monique Langer (Co-editor) Jennifer Bradley (Proofreader)
086-784-7171
nnrnewsletter@yahoo.com
Distribution Coordinator Heather Powell
083-293-2169
Charity Volunteer Coordinator
080-043-2735
Susan Curtis
nnrtours@yahoo.com
Bazaar Committee: Carla Zeitune (Coordinator), Charlotte Sanders (Raffle Prizes), Mare Harvey (Sponsors), Tipwan Smagpong (Vendors).
Ad Rates
1 page
26.5 x 19 cm.
2,500 baht
1/2 page
13 x 19 cm.
1,500 baht
1/4 page
13x 9 cm.
800 baht
• • • •
Rates per issue, discount for annual ad Please submit ads in jpg. Deadline for all ads is the 15th of each month. Ads must be paid in full prior to publishing.
NNR 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 a free monthly magazine that has a distribution of 1,200 copies. We host 2 monthly coffee mornings, an annual charity bazaar and organize monthly tours. There are no membership dues.
Thani Talk ~September 2013
NNR Tour and Socials
September 13 NNR Welcome Back Coffee and Mimosas! Date: Friday, September 13, 2013 Time: 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Venue: The home of Mare Harvey 625 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 along and meet some new people and/or catch up with old friends. This month our new Chairperson, Mare Harvey, has kindly offered to host our Coffee Morning at her home, and this year we will be adding a sparkle to the morning with Mimosas! If you can, please bring a plate of baked goods or fruit to share. For more information, please call Sarah Glaze at 081-793-0806.
September 10 NNR Tour: Museum of Floral Culture
Created especially for lovers of flowers, nature and those with an interest in Thai art and Thai floral culture, the Museum of Floral Culture, located in Bangkok's Dusit District, is an important part of the Thai way of life. The museum also features unique exhibits of important floral cultures from civilizations across Asia such as India, China, Japan, Laos and Burma. We will receive a guided tour in English (45 to 75 minutes). Afterwards we can share our experiences over a great cup of tea at the Dok Mai Thai Salon du The salon. The salon offers an enchanting repertoire of fragrant specialty teas. For a fascinating tour and the chance to meet new friends, sign up and join NNR's first tour of the season. Date & Time: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 8:30 a.m. Cost: 800 to 1,000 baht, depending on attendees. Includes transportation, guided tour, and fancy tea. Where: Meet in front of the ISB Chevron Theatre
For more information, and for reservations, please contact: Alexandra Ries at Berlin.bangkok@hotmail.com. 3
Cover Story: Medical Resources
Thani Talk ~September 2013
Medical Resources As expatriates in Thailand, we are all extremely fortunate to have access to some of the best medical care in the world. In fact, Thailand is known for its growing medical tourism industry, which according to the World Health Organization, attracts an estimated 450,000 foreign patients a year from around the world. As local residents, we get to enjoy what others travel thousands of miles to be able to have: state of the art technology, multi-lingual doctors, cutting-edge medicine, practically no waiting lines, and professional nursing service, at a fraction of the cost elsewhere. Here in Nonthaburi province, suburban Pakkred is bustling with massive infrastructure development as major government offices and retailers move into the area. Not only is the BTS Sky Train system expanding its network into Nonthaburi with a new Purple Line now under construction, but major Bangkok hospitals have either opened satellite clinics in our community, or, as in the case of World Medical Center, opened a completely new high-rise hospital down the street. In this issue, we take a look at medical and emergency resources, with a special report from Linda Feltham on her recent visit to the brand new World Medical Center that opened earlier this year on Chaengwattana Road, only 10 to 15 minutes from Nichada. For newcomers interested in more medical resource tips, I’d like to invite you to visit Thani Talk’s online archive (issuu.com/nnrthanitalk). It provides a treasure trove of community information, especially our September 2012 Welcome Back issue featuring medical and other tips for newly-arrived families. For even more medical resources, be sure to pick up a copy of the latest edition of Bangkok Guide, published by the Australian-New Zealand Women’s Group. It is the magic compass to living in Thailand. Copies are available at Villa supermarket and major book stores. Liz Lu, Thani Talk Co-Editor
Thani Talk Archives at issuu.com/nnrthanitalk New to Thailand? Be sure to check out last year’s September 2012 issue, which featured helpful tips on “Getting Settled.” It covered everything from finding domestic help, to transportation, to cultural do’s and don’ts, to local tipping etiquette. It’s a useful compass to help you navigate our host country. 4
Cover Story: World Medical Center
Thani Talk ~September 2013
Focus: New Hospital in Nonthaburi Linda Feltham Reports on Her Visit to World Medical Center The World Medical Center had its grand opening on April 19, 2013, following a soft opening in January 2013. It is a brand new hospital in the hospital group of Bangkok Chain Hospital, a publicly listed company on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Situated on Chaengwattena Road very near Seechaitong Road, it is in a great location for Nichada residents (that was their plan of course!). There is ample parking and they are currently working on people being able to bring and park their golf carts there. So, of course, what everyone wants to know is, what do they do there and do they do it well? They currently have 324 hospital beds, 29 of which are Intensive Care beds including one Neonatal Intensive Care bed. There is an endoscopy unit, kidney dialysis unit, Emergency Room (ER) with six standard emergency care units and two critical units. Reassuringly, they do have a helipad on the rooftop. There is a cardiologist there 24/7 and a cardiac catheterization lab which can be used at any time. Currently there is no neurosurgeon at night; they would have to call one in. Hopefully this will change as I think an ER really needs a neurosurgeon 24/7 (the nurse in me talking!). There are 15 specialty clinics including Cardiometabolic Center, Spine Center, Women’s Health Center, Oncology Center, Dental Clinic, etc. From what I have read, everything is state of the art. My question is, who are the specialists on site and what are their credentials? As yet I have not been able to find this out. I do know that there are pediatric clinics and pediatric specialties, I was able to find the names of 15 pediatricians. The website for WMC (www.theworldmedicalcenter.com) is up and running. There is a tab under “Medical Services” for researching and finding doctors. In the name of research I went there for a physical in June. Getting an appointment was easy. The Advanced Wellness Clinic is open seven days a week including holidays, 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. My appointment was at 9 a.m. and after a quick
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Cover Story: World Medical Center
Thani Talk ~September 2013
registration I was taken up to the fourth floor and soon taken into the office of a young Thai lady doctor who spoke very good English. The physical was very thorough. I had labs drawn, saw the GYN doctor, had an exercise stress test (a cardiologist was in attendance for this. It wasn’t a standard test, but I have a family history) . By the time all this was done most of my lab work was back so I was able to discuss the results with the doctor. She gave me good nutrition advice and an appointment to have my labs repeated in three months. If I had needed a mammogram and eye exam that could have been done that day. I could probably have fit in a dental cleaning too but I was too hungry from fasting (note to self, take snack next time!). I would certainly not hesitate in going back there for a physical. It took almost 3.5 hours, but I did have a lot of things done and at least I was back home in 10 minutes! They currently have contracts with a few insurance companies and are working on others, including Cigna. I paid up front and will claim it back. The hospital administration is hoping for Joint Commission International (JCI) and Hospital Accreditation Thailand, which will certainly be great credentials. They are hoping to hold classes in the future such as CPR training, First Aid, Child and Teen Growth and Development Class. One important thing to note, they DO HAVE ANTI VENOM -- I believe 4,000 different strains. Another important note is that there is a World Food hall but I did not have time to try it out. I will have to go back in the name of research, of course! To sum up, in my opinion, World Medical Center has the potential to be a great hospital; everything is there and state of the art. What I am not sure about yet is the medical staff. I look forward to the website being up and running so I can research them more. (The Director of Marketing, in a talk at ISB in May, assured us that they are employing people who are the best in their field.) We were assured that there will always be an English-speaking staff member available at reception. The World Medical Center 44 Moo 4 Chaengwattana Road It will be good to check back in a few months to see Pakkred, Nonthaburi how far they have come. I certainly will feel happier Thailand 11120 not having to battle Bangkok traffic to get downtown to have my aches and pains taken care of! Tel +662-836-9999 (General info & Ambulance) Fax: +662-836-9911 By Linda Feltham www.theworldmedicalcenter.com For questions, complaints or compliments, please contact: Ezree Ebrahim (ezree.eb@theworldmedicalcenter.com) 6
Thani Talk ~September 2013
Cover Story: Medical Resources
Emergency Contact Information in Thailand
191 General Police Emergency
199 Fire Brigade Ambulances
For ambulance service, call the hospital you want to use and ask for an ambulance to be sent. Although many expatriates favor major hospitals in downtown Bangkok, due to heavy traffic at times and depending on the nature of the emergency, it may be better to opt for local hospitals here in Nonthaburi. Nonthaburi Area Hospitals: Nonthavej Hospital 30/8 Ngamwongwan Rd. 02 596 7888 Monkutwattana Hospital 34/40 Chaengwatthana Road 02 574 4856 World Medical Center 44 Moo 4, Chaengwattana Road 02-836-9999 (Mobile ICU)
Tourist Police
1155
Downtown Bangkok Hospitals: Bumrungrad Hospital 33 Sukhmvit Road, Soi 3 Ambulance: 02-667-2999 Samitivej Hospital, Sukhumvit branch 133, Sukhumvit Road, Soi 49 02-712-7007. Ask for emergency department Bangkok Nursing Home (BNH) Hospital 9/1 Convent Road 02-632-1000, or 02-686-2700. Ask for emergency department Bangkok Hospital 2 Soi Soonvijai 7, New Petchburi Road Ambulance: 1719, or 02-310-3000
Local Clinics Some major hospitals have satellite clinics near the Nichada area: Bumrungrad Clinic in Nichada Thani, located near the Villa supermarket. Doctors on duty offer general medical care. They also provide physical exams for domestic staff, if you need a potential hire to undergo a medical screening because they will be responsible for child care or food preparation. Samitivej Clinic, located at the Oasis shopping complex on Samakkee Road just outside of Nichada Thani. It is located on the 2nd floor and offers general walk-in medical care. 7
Thank You
Thani Talk ~September 2013
May Coffee Morning Thank You On Tuesday, May 7, we held our annual “School’s Out” coffee morning at Patricia Kenrick’s house in Nichada Park. It was a lovely, friendly occasion - very relaxed and informal in beautiful surroundings with the usual spread of homemade, mouth-watering goodies. This was Patricia’s last coffee morning as she is heading back home to Austin, Texas. Patricia was the NNR Chairperson for the last three years and, certainly since I have been organizing the NNR Coffees and Socials, she has always been a wonderful and generous hostess. I have lost count of how many times she has invited the NNR community to her home, and she has stepped in and helped out on a number of occasions to provide a venue. Thank you for always being so welcoming, Patricia. We shall all miss you and your lovely smile and your welcoming, open and generous kind nature. Good luck and we hope to see you again soon. Sarah Glaze, NNR Social Chair
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Socials: July Coffee
Thani Talk ~September 2013
NNR’s Inaugural Summer Social July Get-Together Bridges the Summer Break The first-ever NNR Summer Social was hosted by incoming NNR vice-chairperson Charlotte Sanders at her beautiful home on July 18. Incoming NNR chairperson Mare Harvey introduced the inaugural Summer Social as a way for the “summer stayers” and summer newcomers to connect over the long break. There were many new faces in attendance, as well as long-time residents and everyone in between. Mare welcomed all to the event, and had warm words for the newcomers just arriving to Thailand. The social was well-attended – with about 25 ladies and one photogenic little boy joining in the fun – and there was plenty of lively conversation. Long-time residents shared tidbits with eager newcomers, play dates were planned, and questions were answered. By the end of the morning, former strangers had quickly become new friends. There were also plenty of delicious appetizers to be tasted, with this photographer sampling everything (twice). Thank you Charlotte and Mare for a great event. We look forward to seeing more friendly faces at the next coffee morning! Monique Langer
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Charity Spotlight: NNR Charities
Thani Talk ~September 2013
Helping Others: What NNR is All About What is the NNR (Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach) about? Well, as a non-profit volunteer group, we have coffee mornings, tours, happy hours and a huge annual charity bazaar with the best vendors in the area, but that is only part of our purpose. What we are really about is reaching out and helping women and children in Nonthaburi. That's what all our charities (see the list on page 13) have in common. The money that the NNR regularly donates helps women learn a trade at the vocational center; feeds homeless women and children at the home for the destitute; helps disabled orphans at Baan Feung Fah, Baan Rachawadee Girls and Boys homes; just to name a few projects. That is our business--to help our neighbors, and it is not just the money that helps (but boy, does the money help!). Every volunteer, who gives an hour a week to visit a woman in prison, or goes on a day trip with an orphanage, or feeds a disabled child her lunch because she can't do it herself, helps. Last year, the money the NNR donated went to help our neighbors in a number of ways. Baan Feung Fah used our donations to buy an adaptable tricycle for the disabled children there. Baan Rachawadee Boys Home bought food supplements and held a cooking class for boys who needed to learn real life skills, and the girls home received a new washing machine. The award for best use of funds this year though, I believe, goes to Rainbow House. They used their donation to have blood-type testing performed on each of the children at the home. They decided on this after almost losing one of their boys who was taken to the hospital in need of a blood transfusion. Because the home didn't know the boy's blood type in advance, it took much longer for the transfusion to begin, risking the boy's life. With NNR's donation, that will not be an issue in the future. I don't know about you, but that makes me feel good. On the inside cover of this issue, you will find the names of the NNR board. Two of those, mine and Linda Feltham's concern our charities. Our jobs are to help you find a way to help others. Keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities throughout the school year in the Thani Talk and at our Volunteer Coffees. Time, money, donated clothing or diapers are all greatly appreciated by our local charities. If you have any of these things you would like to give away to help your neighbors, let us know and we can show you how! Susan Curtis, Charity Volunteer Coordinator
ent v E y t i m un m o C w Ne Charity Coffee - October 17
Interested in volunteering but not sure what to do? Come along to a coffee morning and find out from current volunteers about the many opportunities there are to give back. When: Thursday, October 17, 10 a.m.-Noon Where: Home of Becky McLeod 39/691 Lake Point 2, Nichada Please bring some sweets or savories to share. Any questions, contact Linda Feltham at lindafeltham@gmail.com. 12
Thani Talk ~September 2013
Charity Spotlight: NNR Charities Make a difference right here in Nonthaburi. NNR supports many local charities, but the real support comes from the volunteers who donate their time, energy and love to those less fortunate. Here are some of the charities NNR supports. For more information about how you can be part of this group of volunteers or to volunteer at any of the charities we sponsor, contact: Charity Volunteer Coordinator Susan Curtis at 080 043 2735.
Baan Feung Faa Address: Mission:
Needs:
Contact: E-mail:
Tiwanon, Soi 1, Pakkret A government orphanage for mentally and/ or physically handicapped children. It houses over 500 children from birth to 10. Volunteers to play with, and stimulate the children, as well as drive children to medical appointments. Also needed are toys, clothes, musical instruments Louise Weavers weavers.5@gmail.com
Baan Rachawadee (Boys) Project OGAT Telephone: 02 583 8426 Ext 116 Address: 78/6 Tiwanon, Soi 1, Pakkret Mission: A rehabilitation home for mentally & physically handicapped boys ages 7 - 18. Needs: Money, art supplies, etc.; volunteers to provide compassion & to help with games, music, art & walks Contact: Dorothy Klynstra 085 3204523 Email: ogatpakkred@hotmail.com
Baan Rachawadee (Girls) Website: Address: Mission:
Needs:
Contact:
www.rachawadeeying.com 78/15 Tiwanon, Soi 1, Pakkret Provide residential care and rehabilitation services for mentally handicapped girls whose ages are between 7 - 18 years old. Sports equipment, money, art supplies, etc.; volunteers to provide compassion & to help with games, music, art & walks. Khun Pimban 02 583 6731 Ext 888
Lad Yai Prison (Women’s Correctional Center) Address: Mission: Contact: Phone:
Nonthaburi Reception Home for the Destitute Telephone: Address: Mission: Needs: Website: Contact:
Contact: Website: Telephone: Address: Mission:
Needs:
K.Piyada, Deputy Director www.vtcw.org 02 961 1882 / 02 583 8350 Tiwanon, Soi 1, Pakkret Provide vocational training for disadvantaged women enabling them to earn income to support their families. Money, fabric, computers, clothes, etc. .
02 583 0044 / 02 582 0771 78/12 Moo 1, Tiwanon, Soi 1, Pakkret This organization offers food, shelter, medicine, & training to homeless adults. Adult diapers, Dettol disinfectant, clothes, toiletries & money www.thai.net/raiteepueng_non Liz Lu 086-784-7171
Rainbow House Rehabilitation Center Contact: Website: Telephone: Mission:
K. Chariya Saenwian, Managing Director www.ccdthailand.org 02 503 1270 / 081 985-5517 A daycare facility run by Christian Care Foundation for children with disabilities. Caregivers & teachers prepare the children for normal home life & school.
Sang Tawan Children's Home Telephone: Address: Mission:
Needs: Contact:
Khun Tat, Director 02 521-1744, 081 402- 7795 3/710 Phahonyotin Soi 48, Bangkok 10220 A home for abandoned children, providing a permanent residence for 10 children under 10 years old. Donations are needed to meet their monthly living expenses. Tiffany Hebard 02 960 3730
Sparrow Home for Babies of Prisoners Telephone:
Central Welfare & Vocational Training for Women
33/2 Ngamwongwan, Chatuchak To visit and encourage foreign prisoners Johara Nour 086 061 6608
Address: Mission: Needs: Contact:
K. Noi, Supervisor 02-503-5144/089 685 9974 20/1 Soi 63 Samakee, Pakkret The home is for children of female prisoners waiting to be reunited with their mothers. Volunteers are needed to play, feed & bathe the children. Claudia Stone 02 583 0550
YMCA of Pakkret Contact: Khun Saisom Komalasevin, Exec. Director Telephone: 02 583 0998 Address: 99/19 Chaengwattana, Pakkret 13
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Tour Tales: Oriental Hotel
Thani Talk ~September 2013
May Tour Tales: Boat Ride to Historical Oriental Hotel The last NNR tour of the 2012-2013 season, held on May 3, and the last for me as an NNR representative, took us to the world famous Mandarin Oriental Hotel. About12 ladies took a shuttle boat from Nonthaburi pier and headed towards downtown via Pier Number 1, the Oriental Hotel pier. The boat journey took around one hour and was a very nice way of sightseeing between Nonthaburi and Bangkok. It was a sunny trip where you could watch the daily life in Thailand. When we arrived at the Oriental Hotel, we received a guided tour of the hotel. We were shown the different kinds of rooms that the Oriental offer their guests. I can tell you, all were very nice. We also visited the afternoon tea room in the famous Author’s Lounge, as well as the restaurants, where we enjoyed a very nice lunch. After lunch we walked around the nearby neighborhood and visited the silver shops. I think we all found something nice to purchase there. Well, back at the Oriental we had our bus waiting to take us back to Nichada. Thank you ladies for joining the excursion, and thank you Alexandra for being such an excellent co- leader for NNR Tours the last two years. I will miss you and the tours, also the NNR board. Birgitta Damgard, Former NNR Tour Co-Leader
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Community Bulletin Board
Thani Talk ~ September2013
The purpose of the Community Bulletin Board is to provide information about local organizations and activities which are available for a fee. If you would like to advertise your business here, please submit your announcement by the 15th of each month to nnrnewsletter@yahoo.com. Cost per announcement is 400 baht. Vinyasa Yoga Develop strength, flexibility, balance, focus and awareness coordinating movement and breath. Thursdays 8.15-9.45 am: Clark Hatch Gym above Starbucks. All levels welcome. Contact: Ellie Edelhoff 087-000-2464 or 02-987-9677 Email: eedelhoff@hotmail.com Meditation Courses (Individual or group) Learn to meditate-TM style. Relieves stress and anxiety. Improves health, academic, athletic, and professional performance. Easy natural, anyone can learn. Expert instruction by a 30-year teacher of meditation. Contact Ellie Edelhoff for more information. www.TM.org, www. tmeducation.org, www.DavidLynchFoundation.org Yoga Class with Napisa Monday10:00-11:30 am. Therapy and Restorative Yoga Wed, 7:45-9:15am. Level II Wed, 7:45-9:00 pm. Open Level and Restorative Friday 8:45-10:15am. Level I @Studio Above Starbuck's Napisa C. Pant 086-975-7187 napisapant.yoga@gmail.com Marie’s Ultimate Fitness and Bootcamp READY TO GET FIT? LETS GET STARTED! All Fitness Levels Welcome. Start off the year with a total body workout. Focus on cardio, core strength, and balance. Classes: EVERYDAY 7:30am poolside Premier 2/3 Contact Marie for more information. 083-302-1876 or marie.moussakarrat@gmail.com CrossFit Kaeng Graeng An official affiliate of CrossFit. Located in Phoenix Muay Thai Gym just outside Nichada Thani's front gate. What is CrossFit? Check out www.crossfit.com Weekdays, M-F - 7:30-8:30am Tuesdays and Thursdays - 7:00-8:00pm Contact Marilu to sign up and for more info 087-486-0252 or marilu.emery@gmail.com Kundalini Yoga Do kriyas to strengthen your body! Chant mantras and let’s meditate to enlarge our consciousness. That is what we do in Kundalini Yoga. The Yoga of Awareness! All levels are welcome. Only experience is going into the heart! Have a try! Start: Tuesdays, except school-holidays 9.00-10.30am Clark Hatch Gym above Starbucks Instructor: Kerstin Wild–Kamalpreet Kaur 08 6372 9750 kerstin-georg-wild@online.de Please contact me for more information! 22
Pilates Group Classes Pilates is a balanced blend of strength and flexibility training that improves posture, reduces stress, and creates long, lean muscles. Pilates engages the mind and conditions the entire body, with a particular emphasis on the core (abdomen, back and pelvic girdle). Group classes are held at the Nichada aerobics room above Starbucks. Mon: 8:45am Pilates Mix Matwork Mon: 4pm Matwork Thurs: 4pm Matwork Fri: 7:30am Pilates on the Swiss ball. Contact: Tiffany 081-860-9593 Bollywood Dance Class Bollywood dance is a fusion of Western, Eastern and Latin dance with traditional classical Indian dance styles. It’s funky, it’s sexy, it’s fun... and it’s a great workout! Classes every: Monday OR Wednesday OR Friday 9:30-10:30am Regent Dance studio, Nichada Thani. For further information, contact Irit: 0860044840 or iritmike@gmail.com
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Travel: The Philippines
Thani Talk ~September 2013
SCUBA DIVING IN THE PHILIIPPINES An Adventure for the Whole Family Living in Asia provides endless opportunities for visiting amazing, exotic places and trying out new activities. During Songkran this past April, my husband, teenage son and I decided to learn scuba diving – or at least complete our initial PADI open water certification – we are far from experts yet! We signed up for our pool sessions and theory classes with Dive Me Crazy here at the Nichada Thani community pool. On my part, I have to admit that this was done with some fear and trepidation. I couldn’t even enjoy snorkeling before this trip! I had, however, been reassured by friends that I would find scuba diving easier than snorkeling. So, I agreed to sign up too! Khun Ay taught us well and at a pace which allowed me to overcome my anxieties, including giving me a free, 1-to-1, pre-dive session in the pool to try out the breathing equipment. Kuhn Por worked hard to find time in all of our diaries when we could complete our pool sessions! Thinking the dive resorts in Thailand would be busy with Songkran holiday-makers, we decided to head to Sabang Beach, Puerto Galera on the Philippine island of Mindoro. We learned that the underwater world around the Philippines Islands is one of the most bio-diverse marine regions on Earth, and the Philippine seas are home to over 450 species of hard corals, and 2,500 fish species. There are several dive shops/schools in the Puerto Galera area that provide access to dive sites that feature a large variety of small sea life with the occasional shark or turtle. Several sites are drift dives and often turn into (strong) current dives with the best diving (for coral and small life) being at 20m or 60 feet. Almost all of the dive sites are within a 10 minute boat ride of Sabang which allows you to spend your surface interval between dives on the shore and it also allows most shops to offer as many as four dive trips (single tank) each day. Prices for a single dive are around $26~$32 for a single tank dive, including equipment rental, boat and dive guide, with discounts for more dives and if you have your own equipment (Ref: Wikitravel). Asia Divers dive school (www.asiadivers.com) had been recommended to us by a work colleague, and we have to say we were very well looked after during our four open water dives that would allow us to qualify as PADI-certified Open Water Divers. Once again, the “scaredy-wifie” (me!) was coaxed and encouraged through each of the dives, and the various technical skills & safety procedures that have to be performed underwater. On shore, we lunched at El Galleon Resort and Restaurant. At night, we stayed at the Utopia Resort & Spa, located between Sabang Beach and the town of Puerto Galera. We enjoyed being able to return to this peaceful spot at the end of each day, via the resort’s free shuttle service, particularly as we were there a full week. En route to Mindoro Island, we spent two nights in Manila city, allowing us a stopover day in Manila, where we took in a tour of the original walled city of Intramuros, the oldest district and historic core of Manila, the seat of the Spanish government during the Spanish colonial period. In the evening, we ate in one of the many harbor front restaurants. 24
Travel: Continued
Thani Talk ~September 2013
Wanting to take in as much as possible on our first visit to the Philippines, in addition to the diving, we also asked the Utopia staff to arrange a visit to Taal Volcano, which was more or less on the journey from Manila to Mindoro. The main crater of this volcano holds a sulfuric lake and is famous for having “an island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island in the Pacific Ocean”! The hotel reserved a private van for our journey as well as a banca (a type of outrigger boat native to the Philippines) to take us across the lake and the horses to take us up the steep sides of the volcano. By Val Mowat QUICK TIPS! Dive Season: You can dive year-round in the Philippines but the dry season from November to June brings the warmest water and the best visibility. When booking your flights, take care to note which airport you are flying to. Flying in to Clark International Airport will add an extra 1.5 hours to your journey, if you are going anywhere to the south of Manila! Prices: The local currency is the Peso and we found the price of accommodation and meals to be higher than in Thailand, but still very affordable for the ex-pat traveler. In smaller towns, ATMs are not easy to find or, if you do find one, are often out of order, so it’s a good idea to exchange plenty of US dollars or UK pounds on arrival at the airport. VISA credit cards are accepted but in the larger resorts and hotels only. Check with your dive school before you go to find out whether or not they will take payment by credit card.
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Thani Talk ~September 2013
Heard It Through The Grapevine
Heard It Through the GRAPEVINE This is a column that we hope everyone will appreciate. It’s a chance to share all those good finds and tips so that others can benefit. If you have tips to share, please send them to the editor at nnrnewsletter@yahoo.com.
Painting Class at Himapan Gallery A group of friends and I recently visited the Himapan Gallery in downtown Bangkok for a painting class. We were there for the gallery’s lotus leaves painting workshop, which was 2,500 baht per person. Fortunately, no prior art experience is necessary, as the delightful French Sino Lao couple, Catherine and Teck, will talk you through the color and style choice. Our group of eight – the maximum number this class can accommodate – had a fun, relaxing morning in their beautiful gallery. The best part is you come home with a beautiful painting for your wall! Visit Himapan Gallery’s website for more information: http://www.himapangallery.com. Cathy Sackett
Writers Rock – Your Community Authorship Support Group Are you an author, writer, or an aspiring writer? Our group can help! Writers Rock of Nichada Thani is a small but passionate group of writers dedicated to helping each other achieve our personal writing goals. No matter where you are in your writing or your literary goals, Writers Rock is for you. Our members include published authors, novelists trying to finish their first manuscript, poets and those writing for fun or self-fulfillment. Come one, come all! We’re here to encourage you to pursue your writing as you see fit. Writers Rock is a forum for exchanging ideas and information related to writing, publishing, and book marketing. Have a question about how to publish, set up an author’s website, or polish a manuscript? Need a writing review or critique, or simply inspiration to finish that first draft? You’ve come to the right place. We’re here to help. We’re writers helping each other. Currently, the Writers Rock group meets biweekly on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Blue Sky Café. It’s located outside the back gate of the International School of Bangkok (just behind the old tennis courts). Come join us for a coffee and some great literary conversation. Interested? Questions? Contact Mike at me@mgedwards.com or 089-895-8470. Mike Edwards 30
Heard It Through The Grapevine
Thani Talk ~September 2013
Free Two-Hour “Survival Thai” Class Khun Jentana Ngamkhiaw of Jentana & Associates Thai Language School is conducting a FREE twohour survival Thai course at her school near Nichada. During the class, you will learn some valuable Thai phrases to help with greetings, shopping, giving directions, ordering food, and more. Classes are limited to groups of 10, but several dates and times will be available (weekdays only). Coffee and light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact K. Jentana directly at jentana@loxinfo.co.th (email is preferred) or call her office at 02-260-6138.
Facebook Group for Moms of Young Children in Nichada If you are a mother of young children in Nichada and have questions about activities for your not-quite-schoolage children, there is a Facebook page devoted specifically to you. Created by longtime Nichada resident Miriam Sheldon, the group is a “closed” group on Facebook to ensure the privacy of its members, but it is open to anyone in and around Nichada interested in activities and information for young children. Typical posts include baby items for sale, playgroups, where to find baby products, and much more useful information. To join, search for “Nichada Moms – Tots, Babies & Bumps” on Facebook and send a request. Monique Langer
“The Wizard of Oz” Presented by the Bangkok Community Theatre The Bangkok Community Theatre presents a movie musical interactive event at The British Club on Silom Soi 18 Friday and Saturday, September 27 and 28, 2013. The cost is 500 baht per person and includes pre-show supper and goody bag for this audience participation event! There are costume prizes to be won and a no-host bar will be available. Pre-show starts at 6:30 p.m.; movie commences at approximately 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 081-741-0703 or 087-517-2666 between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., or by emailing treasurer@bct-th.org. Tickets may also be purchased in person in advance at The British Club on Silom Soi 18 For further information, please visit www.bct-th.org, email bct@sala.net or call 081-892-5052. Spaces are limited so book early! 31
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When Life gets Overwhelming Reach Out for Help‌ For 30 years, Carl Janowitz has provided counseling for adults, adolescents and families. Educated and trained in the United States, he also had a private clinic at Bumrungrad Hospital for five years. Now with two locations downtown and also in Pattaya, Carl specializes in clients dealing with life changes, relationship conflict, stress management, school problems, substance abuse and 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 First Tower Sukhumvit 1/1 (Behind Bumrungrad)
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Thani Talk ~September 2013
Around Nonthaburi and Beyond
Events: Shopping
Clubs: Sports
Impact Arena—www.impact.co.th 52nd Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair 2013 Sept. 6-10, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Challenger Hall Showcasing handcrafted, traditional, urban jewelry, precious and semi-precious stones.
Adult Volleyball League: Wednesdays at 6:30 PM (and some Mondays) playing friendly matches in ISB’s Rajendra Hall. Contact Pat Sethbhakdi: psethbhakdi@hotmail.com
Events: Shows & Concerts
Men’s Softball League: Slo-pitch men’s softball. League runs from November to May. Contact: Troy Regis at troyr@isb.ac.th
Thaiticketmajor—-www.thaiticketmajor.com An Evening with Tony Bennett Nichada Tennis Leagues September 15, 8 p.m. Tuesday-Intermediate League Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Royal Ballroom Mary McCarty— mrymccrty@yahoo.com Friday - Intermediate/Advanced League Barbie Live on Stage 2013 Julie Collins - pjcollins13@hotmail.com September 19-22 Impact Arena
Worship Venues
Justin Bieber - Believe Tour Live in Bangkok September 26, 7:30 p.m. Chaengwattana Community Church Impact Arena Sunday Service- 9:30am Tues/Wed evenings: Life Groups- Encouraging WedClubs: International Wed 9:30am: Encouraging Women Youth Group (high school) Sunday 11:30am CCT - Club Canada Thailand Youth Group (middle school) Thursdays 6:30pm Open to all nationalities. Monthly tours, book http://www.cccthailand.org group, Lunch Bunch, and other social events. www.clubcanadathailand.com Catholic Mass in Nonthaburi Our Lady of Mercy Church BWG - British Women's Group Monthly Luncheon, Activities, Coffee Mornings. 69/13 Moo 1, Tiwanon Rd. Ban Mai, Pakkred. English Mass: Sundays at 5:15pm Open to all nationalities. Faith Formation Religious Ed/CCD) Classes Contact: Sarah Glaze 081-793 0806 OurLadyofMercyParish@gmail.com www.bwgbangkok.com; info@bwgbangkok.com Synagogue Beth Elisheva Synagogue, Mikveh & Jewish Center ANZWG -Australia/New Zealand Women’s 121 Soi SaiNamThip 2, Sukhumvit Road, Soi 22 Group Tel: 02-663-0244; Fax: 663-0245 Monthly Coffee Mornings, Tours, Newsletter & Activities Mosque www.anzwg-bangkok.org Soi Prasert Issaram Mosque 8 Moo 3 Soi Prasert Issaram, Pakkred, Nonthaburi AWC—American Women’s Club of Thailand Neighborhood mosque just outside of Nichada Thani. Monthly Luncheon, Activities and Coffee Morning. Contact: 02-712-3380/1 Buddhist Temple awc@awcthailand.org; www.awcthailand.org Wat Bua Khwan ( ) 1 Moo 9 Ngamwongwan Road, Muang, Nonthaburi Clubs: Hobbies 02-952-8062; Watbuakhwan.com Popular local temple offering merit-making, prayer, Nonthaburi Needlers: Meets Wednesday mornings. Open to quilters, needlers, knitters and blessings and funeral services. 15 minutes from Nichada. Go via Samakkee Road, on all who love needle art. shortcut soi just before the expressway on-ramp near Contact Charlotte Sanders at: Ngamwongwan. NonthaburiNeedlers@gmail.com 37
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Community News
Thani Talk ~ September 20123
A Welcome Message From Nichada Thani The following is a message from Scott Roman, Customer Relations Manager for Nichada Thani:
On behalf of Nichada Thani, I would like to welcome you to Nichada if you are new, and welcome you back if you have been on holiday. There have been lots of exciting new things happening around Nichada. New sub-communities are being formed, and we are getting ready to open our new administration and retail building called Nichada Plaza. All of the Nichada Thani administration team has been consolidated into one building. Key emails are listed on the following page. Some have been changed with the move. In Nichada Plaza you can look forward to seeing businesses such as Villa Market. Other retail businesses will not be confirmed until after the deadline of this newsletter, so please stop by and check out the new space. I would encourage you to read the Nichada Thani Resident and Homeowners Guide for important information about living in Nichada. If your property is owned or managed by Nichada, then please contact the Customer Relations office for assistance, or to give feedback. If your home is privately managed, please contact the representative for your sub-community. If you do not know who your representative is, Customer Relations can let you know. The Resident and Homeowners Guide also includes information regarding emergencies in your home and our community. Please familiarize yourself with the information and be prepared in advance. It would be advisable to have emergency numbers close by, and to discuss a plan with your family. Our community is growing, and with that comes increased traffic. Our administration team takes this issue very seriously, and is looking at different options to help keep our community safe. If you see an area of major concern please email the Customer Relations office. I look forward to working with the Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach Board. Regards, Scott Roman Customer Relations Department Manager - Nichada Thani Scott.r@nichada.com (new email address) 40
Community News
Thani Talk ~ September 20123
Nichada Offices at a Glance Sales & Rental Office - Located at the new Nichada Plaza. The Sales & Rental Office handles all sales and rental issues related to terms of contracts and payment. Customer Relations Office - Located at the new Nichada Plaza. The Customer Relations Office issues Nichada Thani ID cards, domestic staff ID cards (for properties managed by Nichada), and vehicle ID stickers. The CR Office also handles all the customer contact with those living in Nichada-managed properties, such as scheduling repair service. Those communities which are privately managed have appointed representatives who will process the requests for IDs and vehicle stickers and then liaise with the CR office. Key Email Addresses *Indicates a new email address Customer Relations – customerrelations@nichada.com * Customer Service – customerservice@nichada.com * Rental Office – rental@nichada.com Sales and Rental Manager – khansithon.t@nichada.com * Security – security@nichada.com CR Regent Office – regent@nichada.com Sales Office – sales@nichada.com *
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Recipe Corner
Thani Talk ~ September 20123
Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars One of the biggest adjustments for my family when relocating to Thailand was the lack of go-to snack options for the kids. I found this easy and delicious recipe for granola bars online, and the whole family loves them. The best part – all the ingredients can be found here! Another great thing about this recipe is that you can experiment with the ingredients to suit your family’s tastes. I substituted an extra 1/4 cup crispy rice cereal for the almonds. You can also substitute dried fruit for the chocolate chips. Enjoy!
Ingredients • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter • 1/3 cup dark brown sugar • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons honey • 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract • Heaping 1/8 teaspoon salt • 2 cups quick-cooking/instant oats, e.g. Quaker Quick 1-Minute Oats (NOT regular old-fashioned oats) • 1-3/4 cups crispy rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies • 1/2 cup sliced almonds • 1/4 cup flax meal or wheat germ • 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips (or regular chocolate chips, chopped) Instructions Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Spray the foil lightly with nonstick cooking spray. In a large pot, combine the butter, brown sugar and honey. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and simmer until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Add the oats, rice cereal, almonds and flax meal (or wheat germ) to the pan and fold with a rubber spatula until well combined. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press down lightly with a rubber spatula to even out. Sprinkle the miniature chocolate chips over top, adding more or less to suit your taste, and press down firmly with the spatula so the chips stick. The mixture should be tightly compacted in the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator for 1-1/2 - 2 hours to cool. Use the foil overhang to transfer the uncut bars to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut into rectangles. Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature. If you have to stack them, be sure to use parchment paper or foil in between the layers, otherwise they'll stick together and fall apart. Copyright Jennifer Segal, www.OnceUponaChef.com Monique Langer 45
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Restaurant Review
Thani Talk ~ September 2013
‘Eat Me’ Restaurant: Combo of Culinary & Visual Arts “A lovely restaurant, fantastic service & superb food for a special dinner.” It seems you can’t get much better than that! Despite its somewhat confusing and unconventional name, there is nothing to fear by this restaurant, other than indecision when faced with the adventurous and tempting menu. ‘Eat Me’ is a great place to go if you are looking for quality, ambience and great food. It has a unique feel of urban cool meets Asian style. Its dusky, candle-lit atmosphere provides a sultry, special mood, and yet the buzz of the waiters and general bustle of the restaurant lifts it to a very happening place. This also follows from the fact that the restaurant doubles as an art gallery – featuring different artists throughout the year. At present the exhibition is “The Road of Excess Leads to the Palace of Wisdom” by Richard Skene. So if that sounds like something you would like to explore further, you have until August 30 - thereafter, another theme will replace it. The food is described as ‘Modern International Regional’ – which we often read as ‘Western’, but this is to simplify way too much. Their menu is most definitely derived from different cultures and countries, presented with creative and imaginative flair. Examples are Heirloom Tomato Salad with Olive Oil Ice Cream, Mint, Basil and Parmesan; Salmon Gravalax with Espresso Mustard Emulsion; Black Chicken, Red Papaya, Toasted Coconut, Chilli and Lime Salad with Betel Leaf; Fig and Blue Cheese Ravioli with Walnuts, Rosemary and Brown Butter; Lamb Rack with Harissa Yoghurt, Chickpea, Eggplant and Mint. And, of course, the desserts are too yummy to list – you will have to go to indulge! Special mention has to go to the waiters – all of whom seem to have been sprinkled with happy dust. Polite, helpful, knowledgeable and charming, they really do complete the experience. So this is one restaurant where you can be pretty sure that you will have a good time. Located centrally, off Silom Road and tucked away down Soi Pipat 2 off Convent Road, it is an easy place to find. Ever helpful, they have downloadable maps with directions in both English and Thai – so easy to pass on to your driver to avoid those interpretation issues that can make your evening go with an extra swing! By Sally Elliott Hours: 3 p.m. – 1 a.m. Tel: 02-238-0931 (phones open at noon) www.eatmerestaurant.com Email: info@eatmerestaurant.com or reservations@eatmerestaurant.com 49
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DELIVERY RESTAURANTS
PHONE
BUSINESS
PHONE
Au Bon Pain
02-101-0312
Bamboo Spa Bank of Ayudhya Bumrungrad Family Clinic
02-583-9871 02-582-2669 02-960-4216
Clark Hatch Fitness Center Crystal Holiday Travel Gain Florist
02-960-4326 / 27 02-960-4469 081-644-0590
Amporn’s Food (Thai -Formerly Pum’s) 02– 584-4003 Baan Kimchi Korean BBQ/Thai Cuisine 02-952-0031 BBQ Sandwich King
086-773-4140
Bukhara (Afghan/Indian)
082-443-1398
Burger King/Pizza Company
1112
Food Loft
02-831-5588
KFC and Pizza Hut
1150
Le Bouchon Food Delivery McDonald’s Milano’s @ Pro Club
02-962-2850 1711 02-582-1555
Mr. Enzo’s
02-960-0411
New York Diner
081-624-2099
NICC Club
02-960-4326
Olive Restaurant
02-960-3286
Que Pasa
02-960-3821
Sapna (Indian and Afghan food delivery) 02-960-3141 Scoozi
02-715-8555
Sharja (Indian, Arab, Thai)
087-811-7980
Subway
02-960-3232
Sudhathai Food Delivery Service Farangfooddelivery.com
02-583-2694
Hair By Jib Happy Teeth Dental Clinic Great Massage ISB
02-960-3783 02-960-3988 02-960-3691 02-963-5800 Nails 089-057-2398 Le Studio Hair 084-022-9928 Nichada Customer Relations 02-960-4300 / 9 #187 Nichada Club
02-960-4326 / 7
Pandit Carpets Panipa Pum’s Salon Rex Pharmacy Rose Marie Academy Shawn Carpets Smile Beauty Starbucks Twist Villa Market
081-828-2562 02-960-3934 02-583-7117 02-960-4001 02-960-3663 090-564-8927 02-952-4927;081-828-1637 02-967-9686 02-911-6839 02 -584-5444
Wash-N-Dry 085-945-4132 4 Legs Pet Shop Grooming 02-960-4189
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