Pattaya Mail - FRIDAY MAY 18 - MAY 24, 2018 (Vol. XXVI No. 20) by Pattaya Mail Media Group

Established in 1993

VOL.XXVI No. 20

Pattayaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First English Language Newspaper

FRIDAY MAY 18 - MAY 24, 2018

25th Year

30 BAHT

Sacred Oxen predict an abundant and prosperous year

The traditional Royal Ploughing Ceremony was presided over by His Majesty the King with much pomp and splendour at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on Monday, May 14. Two sacred oxen chose a piece of cloth measuring six palms, predicting strong yields in lowland areas and low yields with some damage to crops in highland areas. Upon being offered seven types of food, the sacred oxen chose water and grass, forecasting adequate water as well as food and vegetation, predicting improved transportation, foreign trade and a prosperous economy. (Full story on page 3) (Photo/NNT)

2 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Na Jomtien foot-dragging means Pattaya losing war on trash beach sewage spills to continue as residents block dump site Staff reporters There’s no end in sight to sewage spills on outer Jomtien Beach due to continued foot-dragging by Na Jomtien officials on linking pipes to Pattaya’s treatment plants. Beachgoers and businesses along a stretch of outer Jomtien Beach from Soi 17 to the Pupen restaurant long have complained about black and smelly sewage fouling the beach and water there, leaving it unusable. In April 2017 the problem became so bad the Pattaya Sanitation Department said it would funnel the sewage to Soi Wat Boonsamphan sewage-treatment plant if the sub-district linked its pipes to the city’s. It never did, despite another major

Warapun Jaikusol/ Jetsada Homklin

Jirasak Suparos of the Na Jomtien Engineering Department and Deputy Mayor Pawitaravee Wijob discuss ways to help solve the problem. sewage spill in February and again May 5-7. Jirasak Suparos of the Na Jomtien Engineering Department said the spills occur after heavy rainstorms

Black and smelly sewage flows out from under the Jomtien Beach Road into the sea.

The ugly mass of raw sewage covers the beach.

during which both seweage and rainwater flow into a large cesspool built under a road in Moo 1 village. The culvert overflows and sends wastewater into the sea. The latest spill – and Na Jomtien’s refusal to fix the long-running problem – brought out officials from the Chonburi office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment May 8. Deputy Mayor Pawitaravee Wijob joined ministry officials, community leaders and soldiers to inspect the stricken area, but came away saying there’s nothing they can do right now and could not guarantee it wouldn’t happen again. Na Jomtien doesn’t have a sewage treatment plant and has not even filed the required environment impact report to build one. Officials said the plan to link the sub-district’s sewage pipes to Pattaya is tied up in bureaucratic red tape and that the sewage spills occur due to normal flooding, not specific dumping by one business or residence. Pawitaravee said the subdistrict will more closely monitor the situation and look specifically for illegal dumping, but if the sewage spills occur during rainstorms, there was little that can be done for now. Last week a meeting was held between Pattaya City and Na Jomtiem Municipalities where an agreement was reached to allow Na Jomtien to channel a limited amount of wastewater for treatment in Pattaya. This is for a limited period or until such time as Na Jomtien has constructed their own water treatment facilities.

Pattaya’s proposal to start dumping garbage near a Jomtien Beach arena hit a brick wall after residents got a whiff of the stinky plan. Administrators had suggested to neighbors of the city’s overflowing Sukhumvit Soi 3 rubbish-transfer facility that the excess could be stored on vacant land near the Eastern National Indoor Sports Stadium. But word soon spread to Soi Chaiyapruek 2 residents who responded with a vehement “not in my backyard” protest. On May 15, emergency contractor Ruamkha Advance Tech International began hauling away excess garbage to a landfill in Rayong. About 100 tons had been removed by Tuesday, but the site gets 400-plus tons a day, so Ruamkha’s work hardly is a permanent solution.

Mayor Anan Charoenchasri and Dep. Mayor Apichart Virapal held a meeting with residents of the Kratinglai and Ban Rongkeed communities at City Hall. The anger at this month’s hearings was palpable. Residents of the Kratinglai and Ban Rongkeed communities adjoining the Sukhumvit Soi 3 dump laid out eight demands, including compensation of 5 million baht to those affected by the pollution and smell. The other demands included removal of excess waste, cleanup and treatment of

Emotions ran high as residents adjoining the Sukhumvit Soi 3 dump laid out demands, including compensation of 5 million baht and a thorough cleanup of the area. Following meetings with East Pattaya and Jomtien Community leaders May 9 and 13, Mayor Anan Charoenchasri admitted defeat, dealing another setback to Pattaya’s losing battle against trash. The rubbish war truly has reached a tipping point: Pattaya has lost use of its former dump in Khao Maikaew, the Interior Ministry has barred the city from moving garbage dumped at the Soi 3 facility to other locations, the transfer facility is over capacity, garbage bins around the city are being left uncollected and city hall has bungled the contracting process for a new trash hauler.

polluted water flowing from the transfer station, continuous traffic management, quick response to residents’ complaints, and a establishment of a citizen’s committee to monitor use of the dump. Apichart Virapal said at the May 9 hearing that city hall could meet six of the residents’ demands, but payment of the 5 million baht and a citizens’ council were a red line. The compensation could violate Interior Ministry rules and would also need to be approved by the city council. And a public-inspection panel, the deputy mayor claimed, would only lead to delays in solving the trash crisis.

Residents attending the May 13 hearing at Pattaya School No. 1 didn’t take kindly to Apichart’s refusals. Speakers said the deputy mayor was just paying residents lip service on compensation, claiming the city has no intention of ever paying. Meanwhile, locals are being forced from their homes by pollution and health hazards. Others seemed less interested in solving Pattaya’s trash crunch than just shipping it to a different neighborhood. NIMBY advocates suggested Pattaya should dump its trash in Sattahip near the naval base, an idea Pattaya officials quickly quashed saying it was now against the law. Anan insisted he and his deputies are working tirelessly to solve the trash problem, but pointed out the junta-appointed city council has four times rejected budget requests ranging from 800 million to 1.3 billion baht, claiming the requests were too expensive. However, he added, he has directed the Engineering Department to begin work on a proper drainage system for the Soi 3 facility so water flows into the sewers instead of into neighbors’ yards. Meanwhile, he said, the city finally is ready to put its new trash-hauling contract out to bid. The city has budgeted a billion baht for the four-year contract and wants a hauler that has modern trucks and enough employees to do the job, unlike Pattaya’s current contractor. Where the new contractor will take that trash, however, remains the problem. The Soi 3 facility was never intended to be a permanent dump, but instead a stopping point on the way to landfills in Laem Chabang and Khao Maikaew.

On Tuesday May 15, emergency contractor Ruamkha Advance Tech International began hauling away about 100 tons of excess garbage to a landfill in Rayong.

VOL. XXVI No. 20

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 3

PATTAYA MAIL

Sacred Oxen predict an abundant and prosperous year Farmers begin sowing rice seeds on the auspicious day

This year’s Royal Ploughing Ceremony has predicted good yields for lowland farms, but less than abundant yields in the highlands. His Majesty the King of Thailand graciously appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Lertviroj Kowattana to serve as Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony. He departed Monday from in front of Wat Phra Sri Rattana Sasadaram at 7:19 a.m. for Sanam Luang with the year’s ceremony officially beginning at the auspicious time of 8:29a.m. upon the arrival of His Majesty the King. The sacred oxen chose a piece of cloth measuring six palms, predicting low water, strong yields in lowland areas and low yields with some damage to crops in highland areas. Upon being offered seven types of food, the sacred

oxen chose water and grass, forecasting adequate water as well as food and vegetation, and liquor, predicting improved transportation, foreign trade and a prosperous economy. Farmers across the country were sowing their first seeds of the season on the same day as this year’s Royal Ploughing Ceremony for good fortune, and have urged the government to help support the price of crops. In Bueng Kan, the family of Chaliw Chanabun in Non Sombun Subdistrict began sowing “Gor Kor 15” rice as they believe sowing the seeds on the same day as the Royal Ploughing Ceremony will bring them good fortune and a bountiful harvest. They also urged the government to implement policies that secure the price of rice. The family of Kampin Pongpan in Bua Thong Subdistrict in Buriram have

His Majesty the King presided over the traditional Royal Ploughing Ceremony held in the sixth lunar month and marking the beginning of the rice farming season. also begun ploughing their fields in the belief that the Royal Ploughing Ceremony will bring about seasonal rain. They also hope that the government won’t let the price of rice drop as happened

in previous years. If possible, prices should be maintained above 16,000 baht per ton to break even, they say. In Nong Khai, many farmers had already begun planting due to recent rainfall but also reserved parts of their farms for the auspicious day. Meanwhile, the sufficiency A farmer sows rice seeds onto his fields.

Two sacred cows plough the ceremonial ground in Sanam Luang, while rice seed is sown by court Brahmins followed by four ‘Nang Thepi’ (or consecrated women) carrying gold and silver baskets filled with rice seed, Monday, May 14.

Sawang Boriboon Technological College opens Warapun Jaikusol The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation launched its new Sawang Boriboon Pattaya Technological College with merit-making and a 50 percent-off discount offer. Prasit Thongtitcharoen, head of the foundation’s rescue unit, welcomed nine monks from Sutthawat Temple to perform religious ceremonies to wish for a prosperous first year for the new vocational school. Enrollment is now open for degrees in four fields: business computing, hospitality, tourism and accounting. Classes will be offered in

Monks chant prayers during the launching ceremony of the Sawang Boriboon Pattaya Technological College. Thai, Chinese and English. Tuition is 8,000 baht per term for basic vocational degrees and 11,000 baht for higher vocational courses.

But the first 100 to apply will get half of the fees for the first term, which begins on May 21. For more information, call 064-670-5017.

economy learning center in Si Kai Subdistrict has also invited members to begin planting fruit trees and vegetables within the center. In Uthai Thani, farmers have sown their new seed on the auspicious day and intend to implement agricultural practices according to the theories of His Majesty King Rama 9. In Ayutthaya, the Ban Tepo Learning Center in Sam Ruean Subdistrict held a merit making ceremony to bless the rice seeds. Governor Sujin Chaichumsuk led the attendants in giving alms to monks and inaugurated the province’s planting season by sowing seeds and setting up scarecrows. (NNT)

4 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

Seven busted at Pattaya ‘drug party’ Boonlua Chatree Seven Thai youths were arrested in a raid of what police called a “drug party” at a Pratamnak Hill hotel. Officers swarmed the hotel May 8 where 15 men and women from Suphan Buri were frolicking amid loud music around the pool. Officers found six methamphetamine tablets and a small bag of ketamine in a search of the premises. Seven of the 15 tested positive for drug use. Police said they received

Police busted a drug party where seven revelers were arrested for using illegal substances. a tip that the group had rented out the private hometurned-resort and held

wild parties each night during which drugs were consumed.

PM/Boonlua Chatree

The Pattaya leader of an anti-junta movement called on police to find who smashed up his car in what he believes is a politically motivated attack. Wanchaloem Khunsaen, a speaker at a March 4 Pattaya Beach “Start-Up People” rally organized by Sirawit “Ja New” Seritiwat and participant in subsequent Bangkok protests calling for elections, said he has been followed and harassed by a group of unknown people who, on May 5, heavily damaged his car while it was parked outside his Eakmongkol 4 Village home on Soi Khao Talo. Wanchaloem was among several people charged with violating a National Council for Peace and Order directive against political gatherings

Wanchaloem Khunsaen points to the damage on his car from an attack he says was politically motivated. of more than five people and failing to obtain permission for the rally. He is out on bail pending prosecution. Nongprue police chief Pol. Col. Chiddecah Songhong

said authorities have classified the assault as “malicious damage” and are seriously pursuing leads in the case as the political motive makes it a serious offense.

Pattaya woman seeks abducted child Teerarak Suthathiwong

Baht buses drivers’ disorderly behavior poses a danger to other vehicles and pedestrians alike. the latter two and only enforced the baht bus-related edicts for a few months. The army staged a one-day “crackdown” in February and has done nothing since. On May 11 it was business

as usual, with songthaews stopping anywhere to pick up or drop off, rental bikes taking up parking spots and nobody fearing an appearance from the boys in brown or green.

Bangkok-Pattaya bus driver suspended for mobile phone use behind wheel

A Pattaya woman has appealed to both the police and the public to help her find her baby boy after he was abducted by his father. Visuda Sihapong, 23, filed a complaint with police May 8 that her boyfriend, identified only as Fiew, took 8-month-old Taen to Nonthaburi on April 7 and never came back. They last spoke on April 28 and went to the province north of Bangkok May 3, but couldn’t find father and son. Neighbors around the house where Fiew supposedly was staying said they had not seen him in a while. Visuda also posted her story and photos of father and son to Facebook in hopes of someone spotting them. To date, keyboard warriors Visuda files a report with police provided only worthless criticism and empathy, accusing her boyfriend of abducting not any actual help in finding the child. her 8-month old son.

Alleged wildlife smuggling kingpin jailed

PM/Boonlua Chatree A Rung Ruang Tour Co. driver has been suspended after being caught on video playing with his mobile phone while behind the wheel of a packed Bangkok-Pattaya bus. A representative at Rung Ruang’s Pattaya Bus Station office said May 12 that the unidentified driver violated company policy about using mobile devices for either texting or talking while driving and has been relieved of duty indefinitely. The suspension came after a frequent passenger who goes by the online moniker Eak posted a video of the driver talking on his mobile phone, watching YouTube videos, listening to music and even counting pocket change while driving the from the Eastern

Anti-junta activist decries ‘political’ car bashing Teerarak Suthathiwong

Baht bus mice play while the cat’s away In a classic example of mice playing while the cat is away, Pattaya baht buses again are parking wherever they want after the military failed to enforce its bus stop dictate. The military spent most of last year flexing its muscles to bring the unruly songthaew system into check, forcing the pickup truck taxis to drive specific routes, stop only in painted zones and adhere to set fares. At the same time, the army said it would move motorbikerental vendors off the streets and reorganize rental-car booths. The military did neither of

VOL. XXVI No. 20

A photo shows the driver using his mobile phone while driving a bus full of passengers. Bangkok Bus Terminal to Pattaya. Eak said that he not only worried that the behavior put all the passengers in danger, it also made the bus late, with the trip taking nearly an hour

longer than usual. He said the driver drove the bus in the right “fast” lane and was repeatedly being honked at by other cars for going too slowly.

Bangkok (AP) A court in Thailand has sentenced a Thai man believed to be a kingpin in the illicit wildlife trade to 2½ years in prison for smuggling rhinoceros horns, an organization that works with police to combat trafficking said. The group Freeland said the court in Samut Prakarn province convicted Boonchai Bach last week in the shipment of 11 kilograms (24.2 pounds) of rhino horns from Africa worth $700,000. The rhino horns were seized in December when a Chinese smuggler was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport. A wildlife quarantine officer at the airport accused of assisting the smugglers was also arrested. The group said a relative of Boonchai’s was caught when he sought to pick up the shipment, implicating Boonchai as the financier and leading to his arrest in January. Rhino horns are used as medicine in some Asian cultures and viewed as aphrodisiacs. Demand has escalated in recent years, with the “belief that ownership conveys social and financial status,” Freeland said in a statement.

“The horn was destined for northeast Thailand where it would be smuggled across the Mekong River to Laos for onward shipment to buyers, either in Vietnam or China,” Freeland said. Boonchai, 41, was accused of running a large trafficking

network on the Thai-Lao border that spread into Vietnam. According to Freeland, he and his family played a key role in a criminal syndicate that smuggled items including ivory, rhino horn, pangolins, tigers, lions and other rare and endangered species.

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Farmers pray to pig heads for higher prices The Swine Raisers Association of Thailand held the world’s largest ever pig heads prayer ceremony, using close to 5,000 pig heads to promote Thailand as the Kitchen of the World. The ceremony on May 9 was held concurrently in six provinces with a total 4,247 pig heads used. In Ratchaburi 1,189 heads were incorporated into a prayer ceremony, in Chonburi 1,198, in Songkhla 559, in Nakhon Ratchasima 402, in Lamphun 499 and in Saraburi 400. The nationwide proceedings were to bring good merit to swine breeders following a fall in the price of pork, as well as to underline Thailand’s production of high quality, export ready pork. In the central region, the ceremony was held in Saraburi with Deputy Governor of the province, Kriatisak Trongsiri, chairing the proceedings. In the east, farmers gathered in Chonburi at its provincial hall ceremony with the head of the association, Surachai Suthitham, Gov. Pakarathorn Thienchai and Advisor to the Prime Minister Sonthaya Kunplome present. After the ceremonies, the pig heads were distributed to attendees and government agencies.

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 5

PATTAYA MAIL

Navy takes delivery of 5 new patrol boats

Hundreds of Chonburi farmers prayed to 1,198 pig heads in hopes of having a better year.

The Royal Thai Navy takes delivery of 5 new patrol boats for use in enforcing maritime law.

Patcharapol Panrak

After the prayer sessions Sonthaya Kunplome and Surachai Suthitham prepared the pig heads for distribution. The past year was not a kind one for pig farmers, who saw the price of pork plummet, forcing about 20 percent of the association’s membership into bankruptcy. Farmers prayed for prosperity and higher prices in

the coming year. Representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records were invited to witness the ceremonies to judge whether Thailand had held the largest pigs head prayer ceremony in the world. (CPRD)

Nongprue moves to outsource garbage collection Warapun Jaikusol Nonprue is preparing to solicit bids for a private contractor to take over garbage collection in the sub-district. Public Health and Environment Director Surapon Krimprasert said May 10 that the municipality, which currently collects its own garbage, would hire a private trash hauler to serve Zone 1 of the sub-district as a test to see if it can get out of the garbage business altogether. Nongprue currently owns 13 garbage trucks, but can only run 11 of them due to equipment and staffing problems. The subdistrict’s personnel budget won’t allow it to hire more garbagemen. So the municipality plans to spend 10 million

Director Surapon Krimprasert plans to hire a private trash hauler to serve Nongprue Zone 1. baht to hire a contractor for a trial run this year and, if successful, hopes to outsource all its garage needs eventually.

Fruit vendor sacrifices to feed soi dogs Patcharapol Panrak Jirawat Chomchai makes 1,000 baht a day or less, but spends 200 of it to feed stray dogs. The Bung Kan Province native, 45, earns his living selling fruit from a car in Sattahip’s Na Jomtien Sub-district. He goes around the area each day, wheeling down to the beach to find tourists, taking home 800-1,000 baht in revenue daily. But he said he spends 200 baht a day to buy rice and meat that he cooks up for stray dogs. He said he doesn’t make a lot, but has enough to get by. But dogs need to eat, too, so he Jirawat Chomchai spends a chunk of his income feeds them out of kindness, not feeding stray dogs in the Na Jomtien area. out of any desire for fame.

The Royal Thai Navy has taken delivery of five new coastal-patrol boats worth 600 million baht. Navy commander-in-chief Adm. Naris Pratumsuwan presided over the May 9 ceremony at the Sattahip Naval Base to receive the vessels built by Marsun Co. He gave authority over the boats to the Royal Thai Fleet commander Adm. Rungsarit Sattayanukul to deploy in the Coast Guard Squadron. Naris said the boats will be

used to enforce maritime law, intercept drug runners and prevent foreign fishing boats from trawling Thai waters. The navy spent 627-millionbaht on the five boats, which bring to 14 the number of new patrol boats added since 2008. Each watercraft weighs 45

tons, measures 21.4 meters long and 5.6 meters wide with a meter-deep draft. They have a top speed of 30 knots and carry a crew of nine with a range of 350 nautical miles. The patrol boats carry a 50-inch machine gun and an 81mm mortar.

6 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

Officers give hit and run victim a decent burial Patcharapol Panrak A Na Jomtien police officer laid to rest a monkey that had been hit by a car in the Sattahip sub-district. Pol. Sen. Srg. Maj. Ongart Chanapia and police volunteer Num Mokhaow collected the carcass of the dead simian May 5 after it was struck by a car on Sukhumvit Road near Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. The two men impressed nearby residents when, after checking it indeed was dead, took the animal to a seluded area by the railway tracks and buried it. Witnesses said many monkeys sit on trees and cables in the area, but one had come to the ground and was hit by a The ill-fated simian gets a decent burial white car. Locals said they appreciated by the railway tracks in Na Jomtien. the officers’ consideration.

Newly reopened Soi SCC already full of potholes Warapun Jaikusol Despite being closed for three years for resurfacing and repair, Soi Siam Country Club already has been pockmarked by potholes needing urgent repair. A work crew was out at the Soi SCC intersection with Sukhumvit Road May 9 where the road’s surface was akin to that found on the moon with many floodingcaused craters. Flabbergasted residents said they couldn’t believe the recently finished roadwork was so shoddy Workers patch the road surface at the railway the street already needed repairs. tracks on SCC Road.

Hazardous ramshackle wiring endangers life and limb PM/Jetsada Homklin

A resident points to the spot where a hapless motorcyclist (inset) got entangled in the sagging wires resulting in facial injuries.

Pattaya workers were forced to clean up after a jumble of wires became too much for poles to hold in Naklua. Engineering Department staffers deployed to Naklua Soi 14 May 10 to fix the hanging telephone, cable-TV and internet lines that had sunk so low a motorcyclist got injured after getting tangled in them. Local resident Chalermsak Athikannon said the wires repeatedly have been hit by buses, causing many to sag and fall. Workers tied the wires up high again and pruned nearby trees to prevent branches from tearing them down.

PATTAYA MAIL PUBLISHING CO., LTD. 62/284-286 Moo 12, Thepprasit Road, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150. Administration, Advertising and Editorial Offices: Tel: 038 411 240-1, 038 413 240-1 • Fax: 038 427 596 E-mail: ptymail@pattayamail.com • Website: http://www.pattayamail.com Managing Director Pratheep S. Malhotra e-mail: pratheep@pattayamail.com Executive Editor Daniel M. Dorothy e-mail: dan@pattayamail.com Director-Business Development Suwanthep Malhotra e-mail: tony@pattayamail.com Editor Nopniwat Krailerg e-mail: editor@pattayamail.com Sports Editor Martin Bilsborrow e-mail: martin@pattayamail.com Executive Editor-Pattaya Blatt Elfi Seitz e-mail: elfi@pattayablatt.com Director of Communications Supa Kukarja e-mail: sue@pattayamail.com Senior Special Correspondent Peter Cummins e-mail: npetercummins@hotmail.com Newsroom Manager Marcus Souksi e-mail: marcus@pattayamail.com Advertising Department Nutsara Duangsri e-mail: nutsara@pattayamail.com News Department: Boonlua Chatree, Jetsada Homklin, Urasin Khantaraphan, Patcharapol Panrak, Tanachot Anuwan, Theerarak Suthathiwong © Copyright Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd. (e-mail: newsdesk@pattayamail.com)

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Skinless durian a booming business - at 3 times the price Boonlua Chatree A Pattaya vendor selling the stinky durian fruit at three times the normal price says her business is booming because she sells it without the spiky skin. Pairin Janmee said May 11 her idea to sell only durian meat came to her after suffering through fussy customers and heavy rain. She said she used to sell durians as most vendors do, by stocking the whole fruit and cutting them open as needed. But she said many customers didn’t like the durian she cut: It was either too hard, too soft or had the wrong texture. A lot of fruit, she said, was wasted, especially when it rained and sales slumped. Pairin said she decided that slicing different durians and selling a variety of textures would win her more business. The cost of doing so, however, is higher, so she jacked up prices to 350 baht per kilogram, when durian this year can be bought from street vendors

Fruit vendor Pairin shows off her peeled durian, “what you see is what you get”. for 120 baht per kilo. Nonetheless, she said sales have boomed since making the move, especially after she advertised her business on Facebook. Customer Supattaraporn Srirarath said she came to the stand to buy three kilograms of durian after seeing Pairin’s Facebook post. She said she liked that she could get exactly

the texture she preferred. Bencharath Sriruang bought 2 kg. and said she appreciated being able to choose the meat she liked and thus didn’t think it was too expensive. While peeled durian certainly is not as common as whole or pieces of durian, packs of meat in plastic are found in markets and even street stalls everywhere in Thailand.

Beach Road congestion wanes with speedboat exodus Keng Na Songkhla The exodus of speedboat operators from Pattaya Beach not only has streamlined marine services, it has improved traffic on Beach Road. Traffic police reported May 9 that cars and trucks were moving much faster on the busy shoreline drive since May 7, when the vast majority of boats were relocated to the South Pattaya jetty. About 20 percent of boat operators were still using the sand to berth, but police aggressively were ensuring that tour buses and taxis weren’t double-parking or blocking lanes. The large number of coaches dropping off and picking up

Traffic police were seen checking up on the traffic situation after the NCPO had moved over 80% of the boat operators to the pier. Traffic was not as bad as it used to be according to a recent visit. passengers on the beach, as well as the hoardes of tourists crossing the road, were

major reasons for Beach Road congestion in the mornings and afternoon.

Baywatch ‘Pothole patrol’ patches Sukhumvit Jetsada Homklin Pattaya’s ‘pothole patrol’ was on duty on Sukhumvit Road May 3 patching up the busy highway near TescoLotus. Crews filled the deep potholes caused by storms and flooding with asphalt while worn-away surfaces were resurfaced. After several hours the stretch of Sukhumvit between Tesco and Soi Chaiyapruek 2 was smooth again.

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Germany invests 690 million baht to help Thailand adjust to climate change Elfi Seitz Germany is investing almost 700 million baht to help Thailand’s government and business sectors develop climate-friendly approaches in the energy, waste, water and agriculture sectors and address overall climate change. The two countries celebrated the launch of ThaiGerman Climate Programme at the German embassy April 23, with German Ambassador Peter Prugel saying the project will help the Thai government create “a framework that aims at more sustainable sourcing, more energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions”. The 17.9-million-euro project supports the Thai government in the development of an ambitious climate change policy and its implementation on the national, provincial and local levels, thereby strengthening the kingdom’s contributions to the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Goals include connecting climate change and energy policies, connecting national, provincial and local development-oriented adaptation

(l-r) Mr. Somkiat Prajamwong, Secretary-General of National Office of Water Resource, Mr. Tim Mahler, Country Director of GIZ Thailand and Malaysia, Dr. Raweewan Bhuridej, SecretaryGeneral of Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), Dr. Wijarn Simachaya, the Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), H.E. Ambassador Peter Pruegel and Mr. Stephan Contius, Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). and mitigation strategies, connecting ongoing support projects and facilitating political dialogues between Thailand’s Energy and Natural Resources Ministry and Germany’s Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety,

Pattaya residents at the seminar. (l-r) Marcus Schneider, Elfi Seitz, Marlis Wenger and Dr. Wolfgang Schwertner.

which is financing the program through Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ). “Since 2009, the German Federal Environment Ministry has financed more than 13 bilateral projects in Thailand with a total value of nearly 50 million euros (about 1.9 billion baht) focusing on mitigating CO2 emissions and helping Thailand to adapt to climate change as well as to protect forest areas and biodiversity,” Stephan Contius, commissioner for the German ministry’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development said at the launch. “Business-as-usual is not an option anymore: Both governments are very much interested in accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement and of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” he said.

More signs, less noise at Nongprue toll booth please Dear Editor, The completion of the toll road from Pattaya to Bangkok is a major achievement and will no doubt improve the lives of many commuters. However I have to point out that this has not being achieved without inflicting considerable discomfort and stress from incessant noise made by the staff on microphones at the toll gates at the Nongprue Junction. This noise is at a high level of volume and is extremely intrusive except to the motorists it is intended for. The purpose seems to be to inform drivers on the use of the toll system. This new toll booth is no different from the existing ones along the motorway so I respectfully question why any explanation on their use is necessary. At the toll, the motorist in their sound insulated cars, probably with the radio or Write to the Editor:

E-mail: mailbag@pattayamail.com

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 7

PATTAYA MAIL

stereo on plus other traffic noise, cannot hear the operators on their microphones trying to give them instructions. Better signage to provide the motorist with the information is required prior to arrival at the toll booths. This would be more appropriate, effective, safer and most of all less noise polluting for the local residents already coping with the extra traffic noise created by the highway. The affected residents do hope very much that the responsible administrators at the Department of Highways are reading this letter and will take notice of this annoying situation. Thank You! Daniel Biel, Marianne Buesch Biel, Carl Dyson Residents of Moo 1, Nongprue, Banglamung

Note: Letters printed herein in no way reflect the opinions of the editors or writers for Pattaya Mail, but are unsolicited letters from our readers, expressing their own opinions. No anonymous letters or those without genuine addresses are printed, and, whilst we do not object to the use of a nom de plume, preference will be given to those signed.

Pilots warn of weak taxiways at Bangkok’s busy airport Bangkok (AP) A pilots’ organization is warning that soft ground conditions at Bangkok’s main international airport, a major regional hub, can cause its taxiways and aircraft parking positions to buckle or otherwise fail. The warning issued last week by the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Association says soft spots have been reported by flight crews and ground service providers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport since at least 2008. The group issued a similar warning four years ago. The group, which represents over 100,000 pilots worldwide, said it was told by the airport’s operator, Airports of Thailand, that the cause of the pavement failures was “deficiencies in the asphalt materials used in pavement construction and the height of the water table below the airport.” The airport was built on a former swamp. It said Airports of Thailand said permanent repairs are not expected to begin until at least late 2019, but that a team is on standby around the clock to make stopgap repairs. The association said the conditions have resulted in “soft spots and failures on heavily transited areas after about two years, which is

A Thai Airways jet parking at Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 11, 2018. The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Association has warned that soft ground conditions at Bangkok’s main international airport can cause the pavement of its taxiways to buckle or otherwise fail. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) well below the expected pavement life of around seven years.” It is not the first time Thailand has come under criticism for its aviation safety standards. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration downgraded Thailand’s safety rating in 2015 to “category 2.” The downgrade signified that Thailand’s civil aviation authority is deficient in one or more critical areas or that the country lacks laws and regulations needed to oversee airlines in line with international standards, while

also barring Thai airlines from establishing new services to the United States. Thai aviation authorities expect its rating to be upgraded later this year. Last October, the U.N.’s International Civil Aviation Organization removed Thailand from its list of countries redflagged for safety concerns. In June 2014, it had added Thailand to a list of 12 other nations found deficient in managing their airlines. An ICAO spokesman said at the time that its main concern was Thailand’s ability to conduct air operator certifications.

8 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Where do you buy a bottle of ‘Dark’?

My first real studio was painted white (up till then I was working out of a shoebox under the stairs). Not white externally, but internally. My next studio was painted black internally, and was a much better studio. Why? It all came back to the wellused phrase in photography “painting with light” and having a bottle of “dark”.

Looking at the origins of the word “photography” it does indeed mean “painting with light’, but I would like you to think about the opposite – “painting with dark.” Controlling the light is the secret. In the white studio I had too much light, whilst in the black studio I added the light and controlled it all. With automatic flashes that pop up out of the camera, and others that come on as soon as the sensor decides it is getting too dark, it is difficult as a raw novice not to have shots that are very bright and absolutely bathed in light. Unfortunately, this is not the best way to show shape, form or evoke an air of mystery.

Dewar Hillary, If you knew the usual interpretation of biblical propaganda it was not until “after” the discovery of their nakedness, shame and expulsion from the “Garden of Eden” that they even knew to have intercourse. (“God” in his kindness and mercy at least promised the woman that she and her kind would forever afterward have great distress in childbirth....which had yet to ever happen....) The tempt was in the attempt at an apple. A big bad snake (unattached to Adam) was the culprit and the hero of the piece for without him no ancient Hebrew would have ever thought of writing it down. It is possibly significant as the first “Red delicious” moment. Shortly after this the price of apples went up and they had to invent money and temple taxes. Robert Dear Robert, You are the perspicacious one are you not. The Old Testament explained in just a few lines. We should be ever so grateful. Reminds me of when Moses went up the mountain to get the commandments and came down with 99 stone tablets, to be immediately sent back up the mountain and told to negotiate. A week later he returned and proudly announced he had got the list of commandments down to 10. “Only one problem,” Moses said. “Adultery is still on!” Dear Hillary, My Thai wife tells me every night that she is going to divorce me. The reasons are far too great in number to bore you with, but my problem is not the thought of impending divorce, it is the fact that she never gets any further than saying it is going to happen. How can I get her to either

Letting the camera dictate the flash setting will produce a well lit subject, but you have also removed shape and form from the photograph. To convey shape is done by showing the shadow the object casts. No shadow and it looks flat. Incorporate shadow and “Hey Presto!” you have invented 3D. Shadow has another benefit – it gives an air of mystery to any picture. Dark shadows allow the viewer to imagine what is being hidden. Your photograph “hints” at something and the viewer’s mind does the rest from there. This weekend, let’s put some shadows into your photographs. Let’s do a portrait to incorporate shadow. And let’s do this indoors and without flash guns or any fancy equipment, and get a ‘professional’ look to the final image. Find the largest window in your house or condominium and put a chair about one metre away from it. The chair should be parallel to the window, not facing it. Even a point and shoot will be fine,

Shadows give an air of mystery to any picture. because you are controlling the lighting on the subject. Place your sitter in the chair and position another chair facing the sitter. This one is yours, as you will take the photo sitting down. Reason? This way you keep the camera at the same level as your subject’s face and you will get a more pleasing portrait. If you photograph from a position below the subject you tend to give them “piggy” nostrils and it shortens the look of the nose, in a country where ‘big noses’ are considered desirable.

stop the threats, or just go ahead and do it? There must be other things that husbands and wives talk about, not just threatening divorce. Or is this “martial” bliss after all? What is your advice, wise Hillary? Roger Dear Roger, A few weeks ago one writer was asking about communication between men and women, and I wrote that for some people they think that the art of good communication is to shout louder. I think one of you needs to shout louder as there is something awry here. Have you thought that it is time to talk? Perhaps you could try that so next time when she threatens divorce, shout louder and tell her to either get on with it or give up talking about it. If that doesn’t work, you can always get divorce papers drawn up and when she threatens divorce, whip out the papers and say, “Sign here!” Lots of luck Roger, I think you’re going to need it. Dear Hillary, I have noticed that you spend much of your column appealing to your worried fans to send you champagne and chocolates. Do you think this is fair? These people have problems and you dismiss them with a “send chocolates and champagne” answer. What is it with you and the chewies anyway? Perplexed Dear Perplexed, You young people are all the same these days - wanting an answer for everything and no waiting. Some things are just written in the stars, my Petal. I suppose you also want

Now, look through the viewfinder and position yourself so that the sitters face is almost filling the frame. Notice that the side of the face away from the window light source is now in shadow. If you have the ability to meter from the lit side of the face, then do so. To change the brightness to darkness ratio is quite simple too. Use some black velvet close to the sitter’s face, on the side opposite the window. The black velvet absorbs the light that wraps around the face, emphasizing the shadow. Painting

with ‘dark’ light! You should also slightly angle the sitter’s chair so that one shoulder is closer to the camera and get the subject to turn their head to face the camera again. Try angling in both directions so you will get a choice of shots. Another variation to try is to place a thin voile net over the window, or draw any transparent curtains. This will soften the light and is particularly effective when taking shots of your favorite ladies. Again go through the variations. For a portrait study such as this it is worth taking many shots. Remember that you are not doing 20 identical shots – make variations in pose, lighting and exposure. There are also facial expressions to change – laughing, smiling, serious or sad. It is very easy to end up with 20 different shots. The secret to portraits is the addition of shadow, not more lights! And as an added bonus, you will have some with an air of mystery. Try it this weekend.

to know why the earth is round, when the simple answer is just because it is! Likewise with Hillary and my chocolates. Now, for having read your letter, Perplexed, that’s one chocolate bar. For replying to it that’s another. Remember that not everyone is like you, my little enquirer. That lovely man Jack Wild, who wants to build me a Grand Hyatt Erawan in the front garden of my townhouse dropped in a beautiful bottle of New Zealand wine the other day. Thanks Jack. Jack knows what life’s about, Petal! Even if he is a kiwi. You’ll get there too - eventually! And no grass at the front please. Dear Hillary, Having given a young lady, who works in the local hostelry, some shelter for one night because it was raining, I now find that when I drop in for a beer and a chat, all the other girls rush off and get Miss Wunnite Satand for me, even if it isn’t raining. This would be fun if I actually wanted to chat to this young lady, but there is another that interests me more. How do I get over this problem and get to speak to the one I want, not the one the others want me to see? Chuck Dear Chuck, I wish all the questions were as easy to answer as this one. The way around this is to be honest and tell your Ms. Wunnite Satand (lovely name, isn’t it - I’m sure you didn’t make it up) that you would like to speak with her sister Ms. Neksnite Satand and could she bring her over and here’s 100 baht for your trouble. She will understand and co-operate fully. If you have tipped a little heavily before, then be prepared to double the finder’s fee.

VOL. XXVI No. 20

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 9

PATTAYA MAIL

Growing old – the end game Many seniors will tell you just how dreadful old age really is. However, even if you don’t like getting older, with all the attendant aches and pains, it still beats the alternative! There are also people like my father who was only afraid of one thing – growing old. So he didn’t. He died aged 56 of a massive heart attack, and missed the enjoyment of watching children and grandchildren grow up, and holiday travel, because for pensioners, every day is a holiday. Fact Number 1: we are all getting older. Not wiser nor necessarily richer, just older. Just keep your seat reserved in God’s waiting room and you’ll be right. OK, so we are all living longer, what can we do to get our arthritic hands on the elixir of youth? If you believe the popular press, the answer to aging is multivitamins. Peddling mega-vitamins is a megabuck industry, credited with improving your health, your love life and fixing everything from falling hair to falling stock markets. The question is, should you take daily doses of antioxidants such as beta carotene, vitamin A and C or selenium to protect yourself against cancer, heart disease or tinea? There is some scientific suggestion that people who have a high level of antioxidants in their diet may have a lower risk of heart disease and certain cancers. That is why the nutritionists say we should eat at least five portions of

fruit and vegetables a day. However, other studies also seem to suggest that taking those same antioxidants in pill form may not have the same effect and may even be harmful. Who do you believe? Cancer Research UK says, “These products don’t seem to give the same benefits as vitamins that naturally occur in our food.” The British Heart Foundation agrees, “Research does not support the claim that taking extra antioxidants in the form of supplements will benefit the heart.” Catherine Collins, chief dietitian at St George’s Hospital in London says, “The whole idea that you must meet some vitamin and mineral target every day of your life is a marketing myth. You can eat lots of fruit and veg one day and not much the next but over a week you will still get the right amount of nutrients. There is very little scientific evidence that there is any benefit whatsoever in taking a daily multivitamin – even in old people. You cannot exist on a poor diet then shore yourself up with a multivitamin. The idea that taking high quantities of vitamins will give you a health boost – like putting premium petrol in your car – is complete nonsense.” Dr Toni Steer, nutritionist with the British Medical Research Council’s Human Nutrition Research in Cambridge, states supplements cannot compete with real food because when

we eat fruits and vegetables the vitamins and nutrients interact with other chemicals to produce positive effects on the body. “If these same vitamins are pulled out and isolated in pill form, there is no guarantee at all that they will have the same effect.” This is the old in vivo and in vitro argument. Another nail in the multivitamin pill coffin came from the US journal of the National Cancer Institute which found that men with prostate cancer who took more than seven multivitamins a week were 30 percent more likely to get an advanced and fatal form of the disease. The American Medical Association found that people who took antioxidant vitamin tablets (particularly vitamins A and E, and beta-carotene) were more likely to die earlier than those who did not. Oops! That isn’t something you will read on the back of the multivitamin bottle. Let’s look at the old Vitamin C to ward off the common cold, as proposed many years ago by Linus Pauling. Common claim: one gram doses will ward off or even cure the common cold. Reality check: the human body can absorb only 500 milligrams of vitamin C and will excrete the excess. Vitamin C reduces the average length of a common cold from five days to four and a half – if you are lucky. The answer in staying young is to stay active, keep the mind exercised and do things you enjoy. Just do it!

Kids with rare rapid-aging disease get hope from study drug Lindsey Tanner Chicago (AP) — Children with a rare, incurable disease that causes rapid aging and early death may live longer if treated with an experimental drug first developed for cancer patients, a study suggests. The small, preliminary study isn’t proof the drug works and it found only a small benefit: Treated children with the disease progeria were more likely than others to survive during the two-year study. But some kids taking the drug in this and other studies have lived into their late teens. Researchers and others say the results suggest a potential breakthrough for a heartbreaking condition that typically kills kids before they reach adulthood. “Anything we can do to try to provide them hope of a longer life is well worth doing and well worth celebrating,” said Dr. Francis Collins, director of the United States National Institutes of Health, who was not part of the new study. A geneticist, Collins led laboratory experiments

This March 2017 photo shows Carly Kudzia, 7, with her mother, Heather Unsinger, in Whitehouse, Ohio. (Heidi Bisbee via AP) that in 2003 identified the genetic basis for the disease, formally known as HutchinsonGilford progeria. Among 27 children with progeria who got the drug lonafarnib, one died during the 2007-2010 study. That’s compared with nine of 27 untreated children with the disease. Thirteen of the treated children are still alive; most began taking other experimental drugs too.

“For the first time ever we have a drug that is shown to extend lifespan for children with progeria,” said lead author Dr. Leslie Gordon of Brown University. Her son was a study participant and died in 2014 at age 17. The study, conducted at Boston Children’s Hospital, was unusually designed, comparing children given the drug with other progeria patients worldwide who

weren’t enrolled in the study. The untreated kids were matched as closely as possible with study participants by age, gender and other characteristics, but they weren’t a standard control group and didn’t receive dummy medication. That design weakens the study conclusions, said Dr. Howard Worman, a Columbia University biologist. “You really cannot say anything ‘worked’ without a contemporary placebo control.” The children in the study were also involved in earlier research testing the same drug combined with two others. Within a period of about five years, survival was extended by about 19 months. It wasn’t clear if all three drugs or just one or two of them contributed to the improvement. Lonafarnib also appeared to reduce blood vessel damage. Average life expectancy for progeria children is about 14 years. Though many die younger, usually from heart attacks or strokes, some lonafarnib-treated kids have lived to their late teens.

WHO: Saturated fat should be less than 10 percent of diet London (AP) — The World Health Organization is taking on the battle of the bulge, saying that saturated fats shouldn’t make up more than 10 percent of a person’s diet. In its first draft guidelines on fat intake, the U.N. health agency said to avoid piling on the pounds, both adults and children should ensure that no more than 10 percent The WHO recommends cutting down on saturated fats in your diet. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

of their calories come from saturated fat. That type of fat is found butter, milk, meat, eggs and chocolate, among other items. WHO said only 1 percent or less of calories should be from transfats, commonly found in baked and fried foods, processed foods and cooking oils. WHO’s draft advice largely matches similar nutritional guidelines in Britain and the U.S. The agency says it will consider external comments before the recommendations are finalized.

For parents, who want to see their children grow up, that sliver of extra time is a bittersweet blessing. “If you’re a mom and you’re told that life expectancy is 13 years, that 1.6 years is gold,” said Heather Unsinger. Her 7-year-old daughter, Carly, was a study participant and has been taking lonafarnib since age 3. “But it’s really hard to jump up and down.” Affected children are typically small, bald and fragile-looking but intellectually normal. Carly “has full-throttle dreams” and envisions becoming an art teacher one day, her mom said. Other kids “always think I’m a baby,” Carly said. But “I’m a regular kid.” Progeria is caused by a mutation in a gene that regulates production of a protein that helps shape and support

the nucleus of cells throughout the body. In normal aging, the protein accumulates in cells but in children with progeria, an abnormal buildup occurs that severely damages cells. Lonafarnib helps block that abnormal buildup. The disease affects about 1 in 20 million people. It is a chance mutation and isn’t inherited. Affected children are born looking healthy, but fail to grow normally, lose body fat and hair and develop aged-looking skin, stiff joints and diseased arteries. Lonafarnib was initially developed as a potential cancer treatment but without much success. Schering Plough/Merck supplied the study drug; the research was paid for by the Progeria Research Foundation.

sponsored by

Massic Travel

Across 1 Pass the night in the open air (7) 5 Writers of verse (5) 8 Desert plants (5) 9 Canned fish (7) 10 Whaling weapon (7) 11 Footwear (5) 12 Cord (6) 14 Maintenance (6) 18 Subject (5) 20 Weave, interlace (7) 22 Tribulations (7) 23 Depart (5) 24 Jewish term for non-Jews (5) 25 Breed of cat (7)

Down 1 God of wine (7) 2 Cleric (5) 3 Fabulous animal (7) 4 Gambling establishment (6) 5 Sounds contented (5) 6 Part of a serial (7) 7 Appears to be (5) 13 Swiftly (7) 15 Knee bone (7) 16 Go before (7) 17 Brutes (6) 18 Flexible part of a whip (5) 19 Attractiveness (5) 21 Fatuous (5)

Answer to 1293 Across: 1 Gambit, 4 Barges, 8 Rinse, 9 Despair, 10 Accused, 11 Laden, 12 Dirt-cheap, 17 Eaves, 19 Incited, 21 Moisten, 22 Pride, 23 Tremor, 24 Gratis. Down: 1 German, 2 Menaced, 3 Ideas, 5 Absolve, 6 Guard, 7 Sprint, 9 Deduction, 13 Risotto, 14 Patriot, 15 Helmet, 16 Adders, 18 Voice, 20 Caper.

Ten-Minute Sudoku An easy Sudoku puzzle that should not take long to complete. The rules of Sudoku are simple. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Each row must contain one of each digit. So must each column and each 3x3 box. Answer next week.

Last week’s answers:

A sticky mess: liquid chocolate spills onto Polish highway

No. 197

Warsaw, Poland (AP) — A tractor-trailer overturned on a Polish highway, spilling tons of liquid chocolate that solidified into a huge sticky mess. The private broadcaster TVN24 showed images of an overturned truck surrounded by brown chocolate covering six lanes on the A2 motorway, blocking traffic in both directions. Rescue officials said the liquid chocolate was solidified as it cooled and would require large amounts of hot water to clear away. Senior brigadier Bogdan Kowalski with the fire brigade of Slupca, a town in western Poland, said, “the cooling chocolate is worse than snow.”

Fruit’s pungent smell mistaken for gas leak, prompts panic Melbourne, Australia (AP) — The pungent smell of the rotten durian fruit at an Australian university library was been mistaken for a gas leak, prompting an evacuation of the building. Specialist crews wearing masks searched the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology university campus library, but all they found was rotting durian in a cupboard. About 600 staff and students had cleared the building. A Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokesman said the smell alarmed staff and students as it permeated the air-conditioning system. Durian, a tropical fruit known for its strong smell, is commonly banned from hotel rooms and public transport across Southeast Asia.

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Answers next week.

VOL. XXVI No. 20

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

How Google aims to simplify your life with AI Ryan Nakashima and Mae Anderson Mountain View, Calif. (AP) — Google put the spotlight on its artificial intelligence smarts at its annual developers conference last week, announcing new consumer features aimed at simplifying your life. Many of the updates have a practical bent, designed to ease tasks such as composing emails, making lists, navigating city streets and lessening the digital distractions that have increasingly addled people’s lives as a result of previous tech industry innovations. One of the biggest crowdpleasers for the thousands of software developers who gathered at the outdoor conference was an augmented reality feature on Google Maps that helps people get

walking directions. Users will be able to follow arrows — or possibly a cartoon-like creature — that appear on a camera view showing the actual street in front of them. Some new features for Android phones also aim to improve people’s digital well-being, including a new “shush” mode that automatically puts a phone in “do not disturb” mode if you flip it face down on a table. And a “wind down” mode will fade the screen to grey at a designated time to help you disconnect before bed. The company’s digital concierge, known only as the Google Assistant, is getting new voices — including one based on that of musician John Legend — later this year. It will also encourage kids to be polite by thanking them when they say please, similar to a feature

Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks about managing kids’ screen time at the Google I/O conference in Mountain View, Calif., Tuesday, May 8. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Amazon is bringing to its Alexa voice assistant. The assistant may also

NASA launches InSight spacecraft to Mars to dig down deep

soon be talking with ordinary people at businesses for tasks such as restaurant reservations, although the feature is still in development. Google said it will roll out the technology, called Duplex, as an experiment in coming weeks. “We really want to work hard to get this right,” said Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who kicked off the conference, known as Google I/O. Other changes are more

immediate. Gmail is getting an autocomplete feature that uses machine learning to offer suggestions for finishing half-completed sentences. For example, “I haven’t seen you” might be autocompleted to “I haven’t seen you in a while and I hope you’re doing well.” You can accept the completion by hitting the tab key. The Google Photos app aims to get smarter about suggesting who you might want to share photos with.

Whenever it recognizes a photo of one of your Google contacts, it can suggest sharing the photo with that person. It will also convert photos to PDFs and automatically add color to blackand-white photos or make part of a color photo black and white. The changes are coming in the next two months. The search giant aims to make its assistant and other services so useful that people can’t live without them — or the search results that drive its advertising business. But it also wants to play up the social benefits of AI and how it’s being used to improve health care, preserve the environment and make scientific discoveries. Pichai didn’t emphasize the privacy and data security concerns that have put companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google in the crosshairs of regulators. But he did say the company “can’t just be wide eyed about the innovations technology creates.” “We know the path ahead needs to be navigated carefully and deliberately,” he said. “Our core mission is to make information more useful, accessible and beneficial to all of society.”

Scientists say Chinese-backed dam risks orangutan habitat This illustration shows the InSight lander drilling into Mars. (NASA via AP)

Marcia Dunn Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP) — A robotic geologist armed with a hammer and quake monitor is rocketing toward Mars, aiming to land on the red planet and explore its mysterious insides. The NASA spacecraft, launched on May 5, will take more than six months to get to Mars and start its unprecedented geologic excavations, traveling 300 million miles (485 million kilometers) to get there. InSight will dig deeper into Mars than ever before — nearly 16 feet, or 5 meters — to take the planet’s temperature. It will also attempt to make the first measurements of marsquakes, using a high-tech seismometer placed directly on the Martian surface. “That’s the real payoff of this whole mission and that’s still lying ahead of us,” said the mission’s chief scientist, Bruce Banerdt of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Launched at the same time a pair of mini test satellites, or CubeSats, are trailing

InSight to Mars to serve as a potential communication link. The twin briefcasesized spacecraft are nicknamed WALL-E and EVE from the 2008 animated movie. NASA hasn’t put a spacecraft down on Mars since the Curiosity rover in 2012. The U.S., in fact, is the only country to successfully land and operate a spacecraft at Mars. It’s tough, complicated stuff. Only about 40 percent of all missions to Mars from all countries — orbiters and landers alike — have proven successful over the decades. If all goes well, the threelegged InSight will descend by parachute and engine firings onto a flat equatorial region of Mars — believed to be free of big, potentially dangerous rocks — on Nov. 26. Once down, it will stay put, using a mechanical arm to place the science instruments on the surface. Banerdt said Mars is ideal for learning how the rocky planets of our solar system formed 4.5 billion years ago. Unlike our active Earth, Mars hasn’t been transformed by plate tectonics and other

processes, he noted. InSight might also help explain why some planets — like ours — went on to develop life, while others did not. Over the course of two Earth years — or one Martian year — NASA expects InSight’s three main experiments to provide a true 3-D image of the interior of Mars. Scientists know Mars has an iron core and a crust, but beyond that, the inside is “basically, completely unknown,” said Banerdt. The lander is equipped with a seismometer for measuring marsquakes, a self-hammering probe for burrowing beneath the surface, and a radio system for tracking the spacecraft’s position and planet’s wobbly rotation, thereby revealing the size and composition of Mars’ core. “InSight, for seismologists, will really be a piece of history, a new page of history,” said the Paris Institute of Earth Physics’ Philippe Lognonne, lead scientist of the InSight seismometer. Problems with the Frenchsupplied seismometer kept InSight from launching two years ago.

Jakarta, Indonesia (AP) — Scientists are calling for cancellation of a Chinesebacked hydroelectric dam in Indonesia that threatens the habitat of a newly discovered orangutan species numbering only 800 animals. In the journal Current Biology, the experts say the 510-megawatt dam in Sumatra will flood or otherwise alter part of the habitat and likely make it impossible to take a crucial step toward ensuring the species survives — reconnecting fragmented forests the primates are spread across. China’s state-owned Sinohydro is building the dam, which is reportedly financed by Chinese loans. Critics of the project say it’s part of China’s “Belt and Road” plans to carpet Asia with Chinese-financed infrastructure and extend its economic and political influence. Scientists announced the discovery of the third orangutan species, Pongo tapanuliensis, in November. The population, with frizzier hair and distinctively long calls for the males, was previously believed to be Sumatran orangutans. Without special protection, it’s in danger of rapid extinction, scientists say. “It’s appalling to think that within our lifetimes, a new great ape species could be both discovered and driven

In this Nov. 3, 2017 file photo, Director General of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystem at Indonesian Forestry Ministry Wiratno (center), inspects a screen displaying the map of Batang Toru Ecosystem in North Sumatra, Indonesia. (AP Photo/ Tatan Syuflana) to extinction,” said Serge Wich, a professor at Liverpool John Moores University, who was involved in identifying the new orangutan species. The scientists also urged that the remaining habitat in the Batang Toru forest of northern Sumatra be given strict conservation protection and that forest corridors be created to link separated populations. One way to do that, they said, is to close a section of the road between two main forest fragments. The Batang Toru orangutan was the first great ape species to be proposed by scientists in nearly 90 years. Previously, science has recognized six great ape species: Sumatran

and Bornean orangutans, eastern and western gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classified Bornean orangutans as critically endangered in 2016 due to a precipitous population decline caused by destruction of their forest habitat for palm oil and pulp wood plantations. Sumatran orangutans have been classified as critically endangered since 2008. The scientists writing in Current Biology said orangutan subpopulations need to number at least 200 to have a chance of surviving a century and more than 500 for longer-term survival.

12 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Austria donates 1.2 million baht to ATCC

The benefactors pose for a photo with the happy children.

Elfi Seitz The Austrian embassy donated more than a million baht to the Anti-Human Trafficking Center for construction of a

new girls’ dormitory. The embassy’s police liaison attaché’s office on May 1 presented ATCC Director Palisorn Noja with 974,812 baht derived from the closure

Consul General Gerhard Götz and his wife Frosie (centre) together with their entourage present a cheque to Palisorn Noja director of the ATCC.

of a massive watch-smuggling ring. The donation followed the March 23 gift of 255,000 baht from Consul-General Gerhard Götz and his wife

The Austrian police liaison attaché and his group present their donation to support the ATCC. Frosie. The couple also presented Noja with 160 kilograms of rice from the Austrian Interior Ministry.

The police liaison attaché visits the new building under construction.

Noja thanked the Austrians on both occasions, saying the money would be used construction of a

girls’ home at the shelter where kids stay in warm home-like environments with guardians.

Palisorn Noja proudly shows off the sleeping quarters in the boys’ house.

HGM Education Fund gives scholarships to 12 students

Hans Mueller explains to the children about how important their education is, for now and the future.

Jetsada Homklin The HGM Education Fund donated 380,000 baht to a dozen poor students under care of the Human Help Network to help them continue their schooling. HGM founder Hans Gunther Mueller was greeted at the

HHN’s Drop-In Center May 8 by foundation Director Ratchada Chomjinda together with the children. Scholarships of 20,000 baht each were given to two junior high and three high school students while five vocational college students received 36,000 baht each. Two university

Hans Gunther Mueller (centre) and Ratchada Chomjinda (right) pose for a photo with the recipients of the scholarships.

Ratchada Chomjinda informs the students about what it takes to qualify as a worthy student for receiving educational support. students received stipends of 50,000 baht each. The funds will cover most the expenses for each student’s term. To receive additional support they must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average. Muller said education is very important for all and students must not forget

their goals. They must prove that they are worthy and convince supporters that they will make the most out of the scholarships given. Siblings Natika Chuthong, 23, and Thanapol, 15, both received scholarships and said they come from a poor family. Their parents work

Natika Chuthong, 23 and Thanapol Chuthong, 15, listen intently as they are advised to strive for certain goals and objectives.

Saranee Manesaeng, a student who received a scholarship thanked the generous patrons on behalf of all the beneficiaries. hard but don’t earn enough to send them to higher education. They said they were very grateful to receive support from the HHN and the HGM and they will be studying hard and do their best to prove that they are worthy students. Another recipient, Watchara Suprasert, 18, has outstanding grades but his father had a

stroke and has been disabled for 11 years, so his family is quite poor. He works part-time and gets some money from his family, but it wasn’t enough to continue his education. He is now training to be a mechanical engineer and has a 3.36 GPA. Watchara thanked the organizations for their support.

Students express their profound gratitude to the benefactors.

VOL. XXVI No. 20

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 13

PATTAYA MAIL

Avani ‘uncorks’ some NZ and French wines By Dr. Iain Corness

The Avani Pattaya provided a wonderful selection of finger food including a live cooking station making a rather special macaroni. French or New Zealand? Old World or New World? The vote was split as everyone found a wine to their satisfaction. For me, it was the Selini Estates, Cellar selection Pinot Gris 2016 from Hawkes Bay NZ. BB&B are to be congratulated on presenting five very pleasant wines, and Avani Pattaya for an enjoyable evening which went through without a hitch.

Renowned wine connoisseurs Dr Iain Corness and Teera Weerawan share their insightful knowledge of fine wines.

AVANI Pattaya invited some of Pattaya’s wine buffs for a Wine Tasting Evening: Saturday 12 May 2018. Five wines were experienced with three French and two New Zealand, plus another NZ sparkling Sauvignon Blanc as the reception wine. MC for the event was Khun Teera Weerawan, the National Sales Manager for Bangkok Beer and Beverage (BB&B), one of the sponsors for the evening.

Teera Weerawan keeps watch as a waiter pours wine with poise and style.

Tommy Dee (centre) of 103 FM having a jolly good time with his friends.

Destination LONDON

ECONOMY PRICE FROM VALID .

18000 37500 17000 13500 14000 11000 25000 11000

++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

3M 3M 12M 12M 1M 21D By 31 May 12M

BUSINESS PRICE FROM VALID .

82000 ++

82000 ++ 12 M 28000 ++ 12M ECO PREMIUM 29000++ ECO PREMIUM 68000 ++ 12M 102000 ++ 21D By 31May 86200 ++ 2M

DUBLIN/GENEVA /FRANKFURT 13000 ++ 14500 ++ 7500 ++

1M 1M 6M

75000 ++ 72000 ++ 65000 ++

12M 12M 2M BY10MAY

1M 12M

94000 ++ 90000 ++

6M 12M

++ ++ ++ ++

7D 14D 4M 14D

13500 13500 14000 16800

11000 ++ 6000 ++

14D 12M

29000 ++

1M 3M 3M 3M 4M

129000 ++F 59000 ++

1M 3M PREMIUM

120000 ++

2M BY30APR

SYDNEY MELBOURE BRISBANE THAI EMIRATES

Two charming ladies enjoying the Selini Pinot Gris.

www.massictravel.net

EVA HEATHROW EVA AIR ELITE ECONOMY TURKISH HEATHROW/GATWICK BRITISH LON EDI MAN NCL GLA BRITISH LON EDI MAN NCL GLA FINN AIR THAI AIRWATS QATAR AIRWAYS

FINN AIR (GVA DUB) FINNAIR (FRA) GULF AIR (FRA)

The chef delighted the guests with his inimitable technique of preparing cheese.

23000 ++ 21000 ++

CHINA VISA ASSISTANCE SERVICE THAI PASSPORT HOLDERS 5 WORKING DAYS 3,600.EUROPEAN PASSPORT HOLDERS 5 WORKING DAYS 6,400.Need: Passport, 2”x2” photos Permanent residence permit/Work Permit/Retirement visa ALSO. Assist with Vietnam. Myanmar,India visas. Application assistance for US, UK, Schengan visa

ADVISE ON ALL THAI LEGAL MATTERS BUSINESS REGRISTRATION WORK PERMIT EXTENSION OF VISA ETC

SINGAPORE/HONGKONG CATHAY (SINGAPORE) ROYAL JORDANIAN (HKG) EMIRATES (HONGKONG) SINGAPORE AIRLINES

4700 4500 7800 5800

++ ++ ++ ++

1M TILL 31MAY 1M BY30APR 14D

JAPAN/KOREA HONGKONG AIRLINES (NRT) JEJU AIR(ICN)

USA ALL NIPPON AIRLINES (LAX) CATHAY PACIFIC (LAX) EVA AIR (LAX/SFO) EVA LAX/SFO PREMIUM ECO EMIRATES AIRLINES (JFK)

16500 20000 23000 56000 23500

++ ++ ++ ++ ++

AFRICA EGYPT AIR (JNB) EGYPT AIR (CPT)

PLEASE NOTEALL FARES SHOWN ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY "++" denotes taxes and surcharges not included in fares Fares and conditions may changewithout prior notice. Visit us for for latest upto the minute all inclusive fares

ALLFARES ROUND TRIP UNLESS STATED 9000 ++ 14000 ++ 12000 ++

12M 12M 12M

43000 ++

12M 3M

WE OPEN : MON-FRI 09:30 - 18:30 | SAT 09:30 - 16:30 | SUNDAY CLOSED. |

14 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 20

The greatest fiddles of all time The other day I was watching a video in which someone was playing one of those electric violins and an ugly thing it looked too, a far cry from the beautiful instruments made by the great violin makers of the Renaissance. It didn’t sound much good either but then perhaps I am a bit oldfashioned. Some people are surprised to know that the word “fiddle” is used quite a lot in British orchestras. The first and second violin sections are often referred to as the “first and second fiddles”. Once, when I was helping out as an orchestral manager and checking whether everyone had got their music, quite unwittingly I created an unfortunate spoonerism and loudly asked the first violin section, “Have you all got the piddle farts?” Strangely, no one seemed to notice but perhaps they were too taken aback to react. The violin has been around since the early 1500s although bowed strings were known in Europe just before

The 1721 Stradivarius, The Lady Blunt. the tenth century. The earliest evidence of the violin’s existence is in a 1529 painting entitled Madonna of the Orange Trees by Gaudenzio Ferrari in which a podgy infant of indeterminate gender

is playing what is clearly a three-stringed violin. We know that the violin family, which also included the viola, cello and double bass, was clearly established by 1556 because the instruments were described by Philibert Jambe de Fer in his treatise Academie Musicale. They existed side-by-side with the older family of viols but the brighter, louder sound of the violin eventually won the day. Although no one is certain who designed and built the first violins, the credit is usually given to Andrea Amati of Cremona in Northern Italy. In his hands, the instrument took on its present form. The Amati family workshop became a magnet for student violin makers. Two of them were Antonio Stradivari and Andrea Guarneri, who eventually became the finest violin makers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Both Stradivari and Guarneri (known also by the Latinized form of their names, Stradivarius and Guarnerius) made significant improvements to Amati’s designs and their instruments sounded louder and richer in tone. They’re still being played today by top professionals and many of the instruments are given names, often that of the first owner. They don’t come cheap either. One 1721 Stradivarius, known as The Lady Blunt set a world record in 2011 when it sold for almost sixteen million dollars. Stradivari produced more than a thousand instruments half of which still survive. Less well known is that the Stradivari family also produced cellos, guitars, violas and harps. For three hundred years, violin-makers and

scientists have studied the instruments made by these brilliant craftsmen but no one has yet learned the secret of their legendary superb sound.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Sarabande from Partita No. 1 in B minor. Sean Avram Carpenter (vln) (Duration: 02:10; Video: 720p HD) In this recording Sean Avram Carpenter performs on a beautiful 1559 violin made by Andrea Amati, the earliest of the great luthiers of Cremona. This is a much older and rarer violin than Stradivarius and Guarnerius instruments and it’s a remarkable example of a Renaissance violin. The instrument is beautifully decorated and it’s thought that it was originally part of

a set presented to Philip II of Spain on his marriage to Elisabeth of Valois in 1559. In this unaccompanied piece, you can clearly hear the soft and delicate tone that was characteristic of Amati’s instruments. The Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin is a set of six works which Bach completed in 1720 though strangely not published until 1802. Incidentally, the name Partita is a seventh century term for a suite of dances written for a single instrument.

Karl Goldmark (1830-1915): Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor. Alexis Hatch (vln), Burbank Philharmonic, cond. Steven Kerstein (Duration: 38:35; Video: 1080p HD) In this video, the brilliant Alexis Hatch plays a 1699 Stradivarius or a Strad as

they’re affectionately known in the music business. The music writer Miles Hoffman says of the Stradivarius tone quality, “there’s a sweetness to it, there’s a depth of sound…you have the sense that no matter how much sound is coming out of the instrument, somehow or other there’s always more. It’s like a great race car - there’s more power than you need and it responds to the slightest touch.” Just listen to the gorgeous richness of the low strings at 03:39 onwards and the fabulous singing tone in the high register a bit later. This lovely concerto dates from 1877 but Goldmark also wrote a second violin concerto some years later. It was never published and sadly thought to be lost. Of course, it could be languishing in a museum or dusty attic somewhere – just waiting to be rediscovered.

To watch these YouTube videos, either use your Smartphone to read the QR codes or go to this article online, click on the “live” links and go direct to the videos. If you have a laptop, sound quality can be improved significantly by using headphones or external speakers.

Author John Connolly reimagines comedian Stan Laurel in ‘he’ Oline H. Cogdill Although never referred to by name, the he of the eponymous “he” is comedian Stan Laurel, who with Oliver Hardy, was half of Laurel and Hardy, one of the most successful and beloved comic teams in the early 20th century. With only the pronouns of he or him, author John Connolly reimagines Laurel in both abstract and three-dimensional ways, getting to the soul of Laurel, the comic, the multimarried, forever-in-debt-withalimony and alcoholic. “He” has no plot and is written as a memoir and with a stream-of-consciousness approach with short chapters, some only a couple of paragraphs long, as Connolly looks at Laurel’s life and career, showing the man’s flaws and foibles. “He” also is a story of Old Hollywood when the medium of movies was just gearing up, a story of gossip, of myth and of what makes a legend. “He” is gracefully written and maintains its lyrical look at the comic, despite being a bit too long. “He” alternates between Laurel’s last days in a Santa Monica apartment to his career that began around 1906 when the 16-yearold made his first appearance at a London music hall. Those early years were tough, noted for long hours and little pay. Along the way, Laurel met Charlie Chaplin, who

long before he became a Hollywood star showed his genius, inspiring awe and jealousy among his fellow comics. “Chaplin is different, touched by a god, but which god? There is discipline in Chaplin’s anarchy ...” Traveling on the same ship as Chaplin, Laurel finds the United States a series of cold flats and performances in sleazy theaters on the vaudeville circuit until he stumbles into the burgeoning movie industry. Laurel and Oliver Hardy, affectionately known as Babe, both had careers in Hollywood before their accidental partnership. The Laurel and Hardy team was kismet for both comics, with more than 100 movies featuring their slapstick comedy from the late 1920s through the mid1940s. The two men were genuinely fond of each other, and after Babe died, Laurel never again performed. Their careers were controlled by the early studio system, especially under manipulative producer Hal Roach, “a colorful man trapped in a black and white world” who staggered their contracts so neither could quit at the same time. Connolly’s meticulous research touches on unfair contract negotiations, how sound changed the business and the treatment of actors and especially young actresses as disposable commodities. The unusual “He” also showcases Connolly’s varied talents. (AP)

VOL. XXVI No. 20

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 15

PATTAYA MAIL

Plenty to love in film about Borg versus McEnroe

Mark Kennedy Los Angeles (AP) - Let’s begin this review of “Borg Vs. McEnroe” with a huge spoiler alert. The final score of the 1980 Wimbledon men’s final between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, which takes up the climactic last third of the movie, was 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 8-6. It’s not a secret, really. And, in the end, it doesn’t really matter. This fabulous, moody film isn’t your typical jock flick where bitter rivals compete to a crowning, sweaty end. There isn’t a real victor in “Borg Vs. McEnroe “ and the points don’t prove anything. It’s less a tennis movie than a meditation on the personal costs of chasing excellence. Borg and McEnroe, seeded 1-2 at the start of the tournament, played tense, taut tennis for almost four hours, creating

one of Wimbledon’s finest moments. The curly-haired youngster, chasing his first Wimbledon crown, was trying to prevent Borg from winning his fifth straight championship. Shia LaBeouf plays McEnroe and Sverrir Gudnason plays Borg and they’re both fantastic, nailing the tiny things like the way McEnroe twirled his racket or Borg’s hunched stance. But this film also requires both actors to reveal deep pools of inner turmoil and they somehow manage it with just a glance or a quiet moment. Borg and McEnroe rarely interact at all. The Wimbledon final was framed as a battle between opposites. Borg was the quiet, efficient Swede, while McEnroe was the brash, swearing Yank (“You cannot be serious!” he was prone to scream at umpires.) It was a match between the stiletto and the sledgehammer, the gentleman against the rebel, the Ice-Borg versus the Superbrat. But Ronnie Sandahl’s script and Janus Metz’ direction

This image shows Shia LaBeouf as John McEnroe (left) and Sverrir Gudnason as Bjorn Borg in a scene from the film “Borg vs McEnroe.” (Neon via AP) take us behind the stereotypes to reveal portraits of two men who actually have much in common in their loneliness and yearning. They love to win so much it hurts. Before matches, they seem to be silently awaiting their own executions. Single-mindedness gnaws at their souls, destroying friendships and tormenting them. “Nobody will remember that I won Wimbledon

four times in a row. Just that I lost the fifth time,” Borg says in anguish before the final. For his part, McEnroe lashes out at the puzzled press: “None of you understand it because none of you do it.” In its athletic duel between an agent of cool and a hothead, the film is a lot like “Rush” but only with fuzzy balls instead of race cars. In many ways, it’s more like “I, Tonya,” in its impressionistic darkness.

“Borg Vs. McEnroe” says it is “inspired by true events” which gives it plenty of wriggle room when it comes to the truth. We learn that Borg was not always a controlled, cool customer. He was a firebrand like McEnroe but had the petulance trained out of him by a coach (a superb Stellan Skarsgard) who told him to put his rage and panic into every stroke. We learn that McEnroe idolized Borg, putting his poster on his wall and wearing a headband in emulation of the older man. On the road to the 1980 final, the filmmakers give us flashbacks to each man’s childhood for insights. (The filmmakers get extra credit for casting Borg’s real-life son as a young Borg, who we see spending hours methodically smashing balls against a garage door.) It also shows how people in these two men’s orbit — girlfriends, coaches and even fellow competitors — walk on eggshells around them, fearful of setting them

off. To be the best in the world takes everything and leaves you slightly unhinged. Someone tells McEnroe: “It’s life and death for you. The others don’t feel the same. They’re not like you.” Once the final Wimbledon match has been won — we’re not going to say who prevailed, we’re not totally awful — the two men happen to share a private moment in a public place that is touching and cathartic. At one point, the camera during this exchange steps further away and we can no longer hear what these two champions are saying to each other. That’s fitting somehow: Only they — and anyone else who has been in their tennis shoes — can really understand. “Borg Vs. McEnroe,” a Neon release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for “language throughout and some nudity.” Running time: 107 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

Netta Barzilai wins 2018 Eurovision Song Contest for Israel Barry Hatton Lisbon, Portugal (AP) — Netta Barzilai is sassy, she’s fun and she can sing — and now the Israeli has won the Eurovision Song Contest with a catchy techno dance tune about women’s empowerment. The 25-year-old pre-competition favorite beat out competition from 42 other countries’ performers last Saturday to claim the music extravaganza’s annual crown at the Grand Final with her song “Toy.” There was a strong field of contestants at this year’s event in Lisbon, Portugal, which was watched by an estimated 200 million people. The votes coming in live from the capitals of participating countries delivered a tense finale, with Israel gripped in a tight, five-way race with Cyprus, Austria, Sweden and Germany. Barzilai eventually racked up 529 points, compared

with 436 for runner-up Cyprus with “Fuego” by Eleni Foureira, and 342 for third-place Austria with Cesar Sampson’s “Nobody But You.” The contest largely shed its traditional hallmarks of glitz and glitter in favor of a more restrained and tasteful tone in Lisbon, which was hosting the event because it won last year with Salvador Sobral’s sober and subdued ballad “Amar pelos Dois.” Sobral criticized “Toy” as “horrible music,” insisting the focus should be on the music and not the spectacle. But Barzilai, with her Asianthemed show in red and yellow and her dancers doing funky chicken moves, was unrepentant. “I’m happy people chose something different. It’s refreshing,” she said. “I believe authenticity (shows) through.” Her win — Israel’s fourth and first since 1998 — means her country hosts

Netta from Israel celebrates after winning the Eurovision song contest in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 12. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. “Next time in Jersualem!” Barzilai shouted to the audience as she picked up her award. The international contest began as a competition between European countries, but its huge popularity has led to the inclusion of Israel and Australia among the performers.

Barzilai, known more usually as Netta, has a witty and endearing personality. Before the Grand Final, her song had already racked up more than 20 million views on Eurovision’s YouTube channel. In “Toy,” Netta makes funny noises, including a clucking sound like a chicken and barely decipherable words, and uses a

Most excellent news: ‘Bill and Ted’ reuniting for sequel Cannes, France (AP) — Party on dudes: Almost three decades later, “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” is getting a new sequel. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter will reprise their roles as Ted “Theodore” Logan and Bill S. Preston Esq. in a third “Bill & Ted” adventure and the first in 27 years. The This combination photo shows actors Keanu Reeves (left) and Alex Winter. (AP Photo)

project was announced last week at the Cannes Film Festival, with MGM’s Orion Pictures set to release the film, titled “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” in the U.S. The script is by original creators Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon. Dean Parisot will direct. It will be the third installment in the franchise that began with 1989’s “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” and followed up with 1991’s “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey.”

looping machine and synthesizer. The lyrics say, “I’m not your toy, You stupid boy, I’ll take you down.” Portugal came last, with 39 points. Fans caught their breath when a protester ran onto the stage and snatched away the microphone of the United Kingdom’s contestant SuRie. The man got hold of the microphone but was quickly tackled by security and taken away while SuRie stood by. The British singer kept her composure and

picked up her song where she left off. The event is organized by the European Broadcasting Union, an alliance of public service broadcasters. In each participating country, a jury and viewers award between one and a maximum 12 points to their favorite songs. Those votes are combined to give each country a single score. Past winners have rarely become household names but there have been exceptions, including Swedish pop group ABBA and Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias.

16 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Kingfish: ‘King Biscuit Hour – Live in Concert’

mott@pattayamail.com Kingfish were formed in San Francisco, U.S.A in 1973 by Matthew Kelly, who had been guesting with The Grateful Dead, and Dave Torbert, who had been the bass player in The New Riders of the Purple Sage. The band were completed by fellow San Francisco boys Robbie Hoddinott on lead guitar, Chris Herold (drums), and Mick Ward on keyboards, the latter being tragically killed in a car accident later that year. He was replaced by another San Francisco musician, Barry Flast. The band quickly gained a strong live reputation but were given a huge shot in the arm when Bob Weir of Grateful Dead fame joined their ranks and performed on their first two albums: “Kingfish” (1976) and

“Live‘n’Kickin’” (1977), which both did very well on the American billboard charts. But it was of course when playing live that the band packed them into huge mega dome stadiums. When the Grateful Dead came out of their sabbatical and returned to the road, Bob Weir of course went back to his mother band, taking with him Heddinott and Herold. But Kelly and Tolbert carried on with replacement musicians. However, in 1979 a line was drawn in the sand and other projects were taken up. Sadly, in 1982 Dave Torbert died of a heart attack. From 1984 there were the occasional Kingfish reformations, but nothing to really raise the roof. They even released a very respectful studio album title “Sundown in the Forest” (1999). This album under review was recorded by the King Biscuit organization on April 3rd 1976 and finds the band at their pinnacle. Blasting their way through songs from the first two Kingfish albums, cover songs like

Kingfish performing in El Camino Park, Palo Alto, California, on June 8, 1975. (Left to right): Barry Flast, Robbie Hoddinott, Bob Weir, Dave Torbert, Chris Herold, Matthew Kelly. (Photo/Dave Gans/Wikipedia)

“CC Ryder’, two Chuck Berry classics, “Around and Around” and “Promised Land” (both strongly associated with The Grateful Dead) as well as future Grateful Dead classics that Weir took with him, including “Lazy Lightning/ Supplication”, although I can never remember hearing the Dead playing any of these songs with such fire. The three-pronged guitar attack of Kingfish certainly had a sting while the driving rhythm section was right up there too. The only mystery to me is why, if this concert was recorded in 1976, was the album not released until 1996? Matthew Kelly said of the

recording: “The one thing I remember about the Beacon Theatre concert was how great the audience was and how incredible the acoustics were. It was a great place to play, big enough to make it exciting but not so large like the stadiums we played that had no soul. There was some kind of chemistry with the first Kingfish that was magical. We were a live band more so than a studio band. We worked off the audience. On a good night we were able to create some kind of special magic.” For those rock music lovers that live outside of the United States, think of a very good Rockpile (Dave Edmunds,

Nick Lowe etc.) They even played a lot of the same songs. Album rating: 5 stars. Kingfish in 1976 were: Matthew Kelly – guitar, harmonica and vocals Dave Torbert - bass and vocals Robbie Hoddinott - lead guitar and vocals Chris Herold – drums and vocals Bob Weir - lead guitar and vocals Track List: Disc 1 Mystery Train/Mule Skinner Blues Juke Jump Back The Battle Of New Orleans

Goodbye Your Honor Big Iron I Hear you Knockin’ All I Need Is Time Around & Around Disc 2 C.C. Ryder Home to Dixie Hidden Charm Bye and Bye Promised Land Lazy Lightning/Supplication Jump For Joy Asia Minor New Minglewood Blues One More Saturday Night Note: Written By Mott The Dog and Hells Bells who can always be found boogieing down at Jameson’s The Irish Pub, Soi AR, North Pattaya.

Glenn Frey’s family keeps legacy alive with tour, box set Mesfin Fekadu New York (AP) — Glenn Frey, co-founder of the Eagles and one of pop’s most successful songwriters, passed away two years ago but his family is keeping his legacy alive in a resilient way. Deacon Frey, his 24-yearold son, is on road with the Eagles in his father’s shoes, and Taylor Frey, Glenn Frey’s daughter, is working as a road manager on the tour. Cindy Frey, his widow and executor of his estate, admits the first few shows of the tour, which started earlier this month in Vancouver, Canada, were tough. “It’s hard to get beyond the sad part of, the longing of missing Glenn. But in a deep sort of weird way, it’s a way of healing and living through grief for our family Frey said

in an interview with The Associated Press. “It’s a family reunion for all of us and we’re all doing it together. I don’t know that there’d be anything else we could do that’d make us move through our grief in this way. As painful as it is at times, it’s also deeply healing and comforting. It sort of makes us feel closer.” “Like, somehow we’re holding him even closer in some sort of strange weird way,” she continued. Glenn Frey died in 2016 at the age of 67. Cindy Frey said she wants people to remember the diversity of her husband’s sound — including his work with the Eagles, solo music and his love for multiple genres, including R&B and soul. The box set “Above the Clouds: The Collection” was

In this May 4, 2018 photo, Deacon Frey, son of the late Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey (left) and his mother Cindy Frey pose for a portrait at the Dog House Recording Studio in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP) released last Friday and showcases the many sides of t h e m u s i c i a n . O v e r three CDs and a DVD, the

set includes his hit songs, classic songs he covered and the pre-Eagles music he wrote with JD Souther.

“I think that he was really brave as a solo artist. I don’t think the record companies always thought his choices were always the things that were going to sell the most records, but he wanted to make records that meant something to him; that he could tell a story about himself. I think this sort of tells that story,” Cindy Frey said. Frey formed the Eagles in Los Angeles in the early 1970s with Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. They mastered the mix of rock ‘n’ roll and country music, and the band’s hits — including “Hotel California” and “Take It Easy,” both co-written by Frey — became part of the soundtrack of that decade. They broke up in 1980, coming back together 14 years later with Frey and Henley being the only remaining original members.

Deacon Frey said filling in for his father on the road is both “really scary and really exciting.” “Well I definitely practice more than I have for other shows I’ve done... It definitely takes more work. It’s definitely a larger scale operation and the standard is a lot higher for performance,” said Deacon, who plays the guitar and sings as well. For Cindy Frey, watching her son onstage, like she once watched her husband, is “emotional in so many ways.” “As a mother, I couldn’t be more proud of Deacon and his performance and his talent,” she said. “I think it’s a wonderful thing — not just for our family — but for the fans to be able to see the music continue on and have another generation, another iteration of what it means. It’s incredible.”

VOL. XXVI No. 20

PATTAYA MAIL

A lifetime of song The MC Judith Edmonds opened the meeting and introduced the guest speaker/ singer Stefan Sanchez to the assembly. Stefan Sanchez is the current Artistic Director at Grand Opera Thailand. Stefan started his performance at PCEC by walking amongst the audience singing from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, then Bizet’s Toreador Song - from the opera Carmen. He later sang an aria from Mozart’s opera The Marriage of Figaro. Stefan elaborated on his background. He was born in America to a Mexican/ American father and a Welsh mother. His mother taught him Spanish dances and “Old Time Variety Songs”. When he left school, he went to the Royal Academy of Music in London where he gained distinction, and from where he even started getting job offers before graduating. After a good start in musicals Stefan settled into opera, recitals and oratorio. He sang up, down and across the country and later with his own companies all over Europe, USA, UAE and South East Asia. However, singing, as much as he loved it, and he was doing rather well at it, was not enough for him - so he formed his first opera company - which in keeping with his usual run of luck went like this: He was singing in Madrid and during a day off found himself in Escorial, a lovely Spanish town. An agent, whom he had met previously was eating in the same restaurant as he was - and asked if he was still fixing concerts. “Yes!” Stefan replied brightly, anticipating a new line of income, and no sooner were the words out of his mouth, then he was off to Ciutadella,

Stefan Sanchez entertains his PCEC audience by singing an aria from Mozart’s opera The Marriage of Figaro.

Some interesting background to a few wellknown operas was provided by Stefan Sanchez when he talked about the unsung heroes of opera; the novelists, dramatists and librettists.

the pre-Admiral Nelson capital of Menorca to perform his first opera with his first opera company. After that Stefan quite naturally, circumvented the Globe. Stefan ran London’s Opera Holland Park and created their resident company. He then went on to run opera and concerts worldwide which took opera to far flung places such as Dubai, Bangkok, Tokyo, Colombo and Pattaya! It was in Bangkok where he met a local music impresario who asked him to sing and direct in Bangkok. He sang Thais (Massenet) and La Boheme (Puccini). He also directed Bluebeard’s Castle (Bartok), Tosca (Puccini), Savitri (Holst) and Mae Naak (Somtow) which they took to the UK. This outing comprised some 100 Thai singers and musicians. Stefan also enabled the YSP (Young Soloists Platform) to help Thai singers

take better roles. So here he is seven years later running the Grand Opera Thailand with a group of first class Thai singers! “Can Anyone Sing?” The answer is yes with certain reservations. Singing requires a free throat, a strong set of respiratory muscles (or if you like a good pair of lungs) and a carefree attitude with respect to the display of emotion. These natural attributes are found in almost every healthy child under the age of six until social conditioning renders them inactive and, in some cases, atrophied. Imagine the new born whose relentless and effortless screams can be heard four blocks away. The voice trainer’s job therefore is to strengthen and free the singing tendency. We are not talking about a technique which is superimposed onto a singing student but rather the unlocking

MC Judith Edmonds presents the PCEC’s Certificate of Appreciation to Stefan Sanchez for his informative and entertaining talk.

of the voice which may be in some degree lying dormant. It then follows that an opera singer, musicals singer, jazz or in some cases pop singer can, with training, reach their separate goals of performance excellence and maintain health, strength and beauty of tone well into senior age. The throat is basically made of cartilage, tendons and muscle. The Adams Apple (Thyroid Cartilage) is positioned superior to the Cricoid Cartilage and between them they house the vocal folds or chords which are controlled by the Arytenoid Cartilages. These are two spur like horns that swivel in motion and affect the length and breadth of the chords as well as the space between them called the Glottis. This glottal variation, as well as the changing shape of the pharynx gives the voice its tonal qualities. They do not work in isolation but in turn are cradled by the “suspensory mechanism” which motivates the throat up, back and down. This elasticity in singing requires the support of the respiratory muscles which are essentially everywhere from the knees up. Respiratory muscles and throat connect somewhat like the precision of a Swiss watch to create the singing tendency. Rhythmic intensity of the diaphragm is essential within this process. After his presentation, MC Judith Edmonds brought everyone up to date on upcoming events, which was followed by the Open Forum where members and guests can ask questions or make comments about Expat living in Thailand. For more on the PCEC and their activities or to subscribe to their weekly newsletter, visit www.pcec.club.

Les Edmonds makes his debut as moderator of the Open Forum.

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 17

18 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Southerners back on top at 2018 Chr

Jim Howard (left) and Nigel Westlake (right) present the Chris Kays Award to Alex Jezard.

Southerners Black hoist the trophy after winning the Cup final at the 2018 Chris Kays Memorial Rugby Tournament. Finally the day had arrived and despite some last minute problems, particularly with the weather being very uncooperative, the fabulous new facilities of the Rugby School were ready to be christened with the opening games of the Chris Kays Memorial 10’s Rugby Tournament. Held over the weekend May 5-6, this was to be the 18th staging of the tournament but the first at Rugby School. Given the long history of the game at the mother school in England, the players taking part here had a lot to live up to. A storm and heavy downpour had rendered the playing surface on the show pitch more like a swimming

pool than a rugby field and the ground staff performed near miracles to produce an excellent playing surface and despite several sharp showers during the weekend the tournament ran without a hitch. These minor problems could not of course deter the teams that had gathered on Friday at The Retox Soi Lengkee, part of the Retox Group and the hottest spot for watching sport in Pattaya, to sign up for the tournament. The tournament participants arrived from all over Thailand and other parts of the world to contest what has now been established as one of the principal 10 a-side tournaments in the region.

The tournament was to be contested by 16 teams with a very strong local bias. Reigning champions Royal Thai Police were determined to retain their title and had

Mocking Birds from Hong Kong are a revered touring side throughout Asia and had entered two teams, so they were expected to be among the leaders.

on early and giving the others a slightly later start. The previous night‘s partying had definitely taken its toll and tired limbs were anointed and strapped as the quest for Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield got under way. The Cup quarterfinals saw some very good and hard

A Fledgling runs into the Police defence.

The Stray Cats try some expansive rugby against the Fledglings.

No way through for Hong Kong Scottish against the Mocking Birds.

top trophies they were guaranteed to be very entertaining. For the first time we also welcomed The Shiny Rahus (AKA Phnom Penh Social Club) from Cambodia while those great tourists the French Asian Barbarians (FABS) were bound to bring plenty of colour and gallic flair.

brought a very strong squad containing several Thai national players. Other former champions, the Phuket Vagabonds and the Southerners and the resurgent Bangkok Bangers were also expected to make a strong challenge. The quality of the overseas teams was not known but the Tequila

Damp conditions couldn’t stop the quality rugby on show.

Hong Kong had further representation from Hong Kong University Rainbows and they were joined by the Hong Kong Scottish, who were returning for their fifth year. There was a welcome return to the tournament for the Stray Cats from Darwin and whilst they were not expected to challenge for the

The roster was rounded out by host club Pattaya Panthers, whose playing staff had been training hard under the watchful eyes of coach “ Animal “ and welcomed the return of former coach “Stout”, who has recently returned to these shores and was hoping to get a run out as well as add his advice to the team. The teams were divided into 4 groups and after Saturday round robin games to determine the rankings, the various squads reassembled on Sunday for the knockout stages and finals. The now well-known trickle down format was in effect, putting the ‘Big Boys’

games and, as expected, the Royal Thai Police accounted for the Tequila Mocking Birds while Southerners Black eased past the Bangkok Japanese. The Bangkok Bangers then overcame the Tequila Mocking Birds Fledglings and the host Panthers won a close encounter with Hong Kong University, who then withdrew to catch early flights back to Hong Kong. The first time losers then dropped into the quarterfinals of the Plate led by the Bangkok Japanese and the two Tequila Mocking Birds squads. The Plate quarterfinals were also hotly contested as teams were finding their appropriate level of competition. Southerners Gold received a

The Southerners perform an impromptu haka.

VOL. XXVI No. 20

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 19

PATTAYA MAIL

ris Kays Memorial Rugby Tournament walk-over and Bangkok Japanese, Elephant Brutal and the pastis fueled FABS moved into the Plate semifinals. The lineup for the Mike Cobb Bowl was to produce possibly the most entertaining rugby of the weekend and featured an absolute classic comedy performance from the Stray Cats against the Tequila Mocking Birds Fledglings. The older and heavier Cats decided that running was not in their repertoire and the spectators were treated to “dead ants”, “statues”, “short lineouts”, “20-man mauls” and “piggy back tries”, and at one stage

was exceptionally hard fought and the Southerners Black team attacked and attacked against the Bangkok Bangers, who defended as if their lives depended on it. This time the Bangers finally ran out of steam and Southerners Black regained the bragging rights for Bangkok expat teams as well as a place in the final. The finals round began with the Shield match between the Tequila Mocking Birds Fledglings and the tournament comedians the Stray Cats. The crowd was entertained to another classic display of coarse rugby as

year hoping to go one better. The Plate final saw another classic display from the FABS, who once again won a difficult encounter against the Brutal Elephants from Surin. The widely travelled FABS produced some Prosecco rugby and whilst the boys from Surin fought hard, the FABS experience got them onto the dais at long last and they now have a plate for all that French cheese. So the stage was set for a classic Cup final between the youth and fitness of the Royal Thai Police, the reigning champions, and the age, experience and weight of the Nigel Westlake, Headmaster of Rugby School (right), presents the Plate to the French Asian Barbarians.

Scrumdown – the Panthers front up to the Southerners. even the referee was taken into the scrum. As the final whistle approached with scores even the Cats were in a great position to take the winning try, however they contrived to pass to the opposition winger and then wave him through to score against them. The Phuket Vagabonds easily overcame the Shiny Rahus and Hong Kong Scottish accounted for the senior Tequila Mocking Birds, with Bangpoo given a walkover by the early departure of the Hong Kong University. Both semifinals of the Cup were hotly contested and the Royal Thai Police showed just what a potent force they are in Thai rugby as they coasted to a relatively easy victory against the hosts Pattaya Panthers. The second semifinal

the Cats pulled all of their stunts and could well have won the game, but that is against the ethos of their rugby. The Fledglings entered into the spirit of the game and for bringing a touring party of 46 they fully deserved a trophy and were rewarded with the Shield. Before the final of the Mike Cobb Bowl competition a minutes silence was held in remembrance of Mike and other absent friends who have gone to the great rugby club in the sky. Mike’s memory lives on! This was a very exciting game and the Hong Kong Scottish made hard work of beating the Bangpoo RFC boys, who never gave up and ran themselves into the ground. It was a trophy at the 5th attempt for the Scottish and they will be back next

Southerners Black, whose sister team Gold had last won the Cup in 2015. The match started at a frantic pace and the Police played some scintillating rugby, whilst the Southerners defended resolutely. There was nothing to choose between the two teams and heading to the final whistle it was all evens. Then the referee deemed that there had been foul play in the maul and a Police prop was given his marching orders. As the clock wound down the Southerners were

All hands to the pump at the lineout.

No quarter on the field as teams gave their all.

Players enjoy a break from the sidelines.

able to seize the initiative and the extra man proved decisive as they scored the winning try with almost the last play of the match. Both teams put on a magnificent display of hard running rugby and both defences stood firm. So the Southerners Black gained revenge over Royal Thai Police and regained the trophy that their club had last held in 2015. After the final whistle everybody crashed into the pool and presentations were made to all trophy winners. The highlight was the presentation of the prestigious Chris Kays Award after a gap of three years. This award is

made to the person who is deemed to have contributed most to the tournament, both on and off the field through their good sportsmanship and conviviality. The award this year went to Alex Jezard, the tour leader of the Tequila Mocking Birds who did a magnificent job of marshalling a tour party of 46. Nigel Westlake, the Headmaster of Rugby School gave a farewell speech to the departing players and thanked everybody that had taken part in the tournament for playing the game as it should be played. Jim Howard, the Chairman of Pattaya Panthers RFC, commended everybody for the great spirit in which the tournament had been played and the outstanding quality of rugby throughout, despite the weather’s interference. A vote of thanks is due to all the organizers supporters and sponsors without whom a tournament like this could not happen. Major plaudits go to Rugby School Thailand for the provision of the magnificent facilities and Retox outlets for good food and

drinks, Amari Orchid Resort, still with the fabulous Mantra restaurant, WHA Hemaraj Land and Development, The London Pie Shop, Bakri Cono Shipyard, Premier Solar Co. Ltd., Phoenix Pacific Inc., The Baron Devereux, Societe Generale de Surveillance, MAS Ausgroup, DSL Ltd. Paul Music, Garden International School, Chang for the beer, and media partner Pattaya Mail. Also a heavy vote of thanks go to Contract Resources Asia, who provided all of the shade, Drinking 4U all the drinking water and customized bottles, the Sawang Boriboon Foundation for the standby ambulance and first aid and medical team, David Viccars the referees supremo who kept everybody under control (even the referees) and thanks also to Tournament Director, David “Animal” Slater and Ron Keeley, the IT wizard who produced another superb programme. And a final thank you to everybody who supported the tournament this year and made it such a great event. We hope to see you all again next year!

20 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 20

South Africans celebrate Freedom Day and the Centenary of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

H.E. Ambassador Geoff Doidge delivers his Freedom Day speech.

Andrew Wood/Elfi Seitz South African expats celebrated the country’s 24 th Freedom Day, marking the anniversary of the country’s first-ever all-race, democratic elections. The festive event in

Bangkok celebrating the end of decades of sanctioned racial oppression under the apartheid system was hosted by H.E. Geoff Doidge, the South African ambassador to Thailand, and his wife Carol. High-ranking guests from the international diplomatic

H.E. Ambassador Geoff Doidge cuts the Freedom cake assisted by his wife Carol. corps, members of government and Thai-South African Chamber of Commerce and businesspeople from all over the world attended. Coming from Pattaya were Mayor Anan Charoenchasri, Deputy Mayor Apichart Virapal, Allan Riddell, a

A large delegation of Pattaya officials and residents attended this memorable evening.

Why a filet is not always a filet steak

I learned this after a few trips to France. Not that the French got it wrong again, it is rather is that different countries have “different filets” using the same name, obviously. In German speaking countries and many other parts of the world, the filet is what the English-speaking diner expects when ordering tenderloin. But in good old France the cook, yes the cook and not the chef - because chef is a French word and means nothing else other than boss, would put a sirloin steak on the grill when the chef de cuisine (boss of the kitchen) announces: “Nouvelle commande: deux filets saignants!”. That means in good English: “New order: two sirloin steaks rare!” So, if you are in France and order a filet, you will get a sirloin steak. If you want a filet in France don’t try to impress your companion by ordering a filet, you will be disappointed. You order a tournedos for a big filet or a filet mignon for a smaller filet. If you order a sirloin steak in UK or USA you will get what you ordered, but in Europe (except in France again) they use the French word Entrecôte which is literary means between the sides - between the (side) bones. So, in France if you order the filet, you will get the sirloin steak! Complicated, isn’t it?

It gets really complicated with the next cut! I talk now about the rib eye steak. The English-speaking people are all simple to understand and serve the rib eye steak. But only a few German speaking know the German Name which is Hohrückensteak or Hohrippensteak. And in France it’s called entrecote. This is confusing for most Europeans as they think they have been cheated after ordering an entrcôte which is a fine French word, and then being dished out a rib eye steak with fat and sinews going right through the middle of the supposedly lean meat. That’s why at restaurant Casa Pascal I have adopted the idea to put pictures alongside our alphabetical explanation of different cuts. If you think that was too much to learn about the different names of different cuts in different countries, I give you this: Travel to South America and try to order the right meat in Spanish. The real tricky thing is that they adopt some French terms like Filet and Entrecôte in their Spanish language but serve up whatever they think is the right thing. Each country north of Tierra del Fuego, has, despite using the same Spanish, a different name for each cut of meat! With culinary regards, Pascal Schnyder

chamber advisor, Graham MacDonald former chairman of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Elfi Seitz, editor of the Pattaya Blatt. Doidge paid homage to the long and cordial friendship that has developed between South Africa and Thailand and referred to the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela and the wide-ranging opportunities for trade and investment that continues to flourish in South Africa. He also paid tribute to the men and women who work tirelessly in the public and private domain who have made this possible. The ambassador also thanked chamber members and the numerous sponsors and airlines who continue to support the embassy’s global trade efforts. The choir of the Assumption University Bangkok sang both the Thai and South African anthems, the latter in all of the country’s five languages. The ambassador was especially happy to see 95-year-old Archie Dunlop from Pattaya and personally helped him back into his wheelchair after Archie congratulated Doidge on his birthday that day.

High profile guests from Pattaya, Elfi Seitz is flanked by Deputy Mayor Apichart Veerapal (left) and Mayor Anan Charoenchasri.

A line up of foreign ambassadors. (l-r) H.E. Dr. Meir Shlomo (Israel) H.E. Peter Pruegel (Germany), H.E. Abdelilah El Housni (Morocco) H.E. Stanislav Opiela (Slovak Republic).

Graham MacDonald with H.E. Ambassador Geoff Doidge.

(l-r)Tony Portman, Allan Riddell, HE ambassador Geoff Doidge, Archie Dunlop, Madame Carol Doidge, Andrew Wood, Pichai Visutriratana, Irish ambassador H.E. Brendan Rodgers and his lovely wife Kevin Doris Ejon.

VOL. XXVI No. 20

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 21

PATTAYA MAIL

Articles For Sale/Rent

Articles/Services Wanted

As/17-21/ Water leak portable detection kit (Model pqwt - CL200). Imported from China to trace an underground leak at my home and now surplus to requirements. New but for sale at a discounted price. Call 081 762 4676 for details. As611/01-52/ Pattaya Mail Cartoonist Michael Baird (M.J.B.) has 3 brand new cartoon E-Books out. These and his other 10 cartoon EBooks can be bought from www.amazon.co.uk or www.booksmango.com. You will now be able to see all of Mike’s cartoons in FULL COLOUR. His 3 new Kindle E-Books are “Pattaya Cartoon Memories”, “Ladyboy Book 3” and “Pattaya Unforgettable Memories”. These cartoons are for grown-ups and would be unique gifts. You never know - You might see yourself in them!

Aw01/01-52/ Missionary in Rayong sponsoring Little Duck Nursery needs help. Please - Any unwanted items you have would be appreciated. (Eng) Rev Stephen 086 600 5682, (Thai) 0875 381 586

Businesses for Sale or Rent Bop10/01-52/ House in Pratumnak, corner Soi 4, with 5 floors; 320sqm, 9 rooms, 8 bathrooms, entrance room, completely restored 2016, garage; 7,500,000 THB; (Ref. 259) WWW.GOPROPERTY THAILAND .COM, 093- 161 5995. Bop04/01-52/ Exclusive Sale! Hotel Resort in Koh Samui with 71 rooms; 10,700sqm of land, perfect investment; one of the best hotels with the most beautiful beach on the island; rare opportunity; Price extremely reduced,

owner wants to retire; details: GO PROPERTY THAILAND; 093- 161 5995 Bop03/01-52/ “Paradise for sale” on famous Phuket beach; breathtaking, beautiful resort on 1000-wah (4,000sqm) of land with 7 Thai- teak traditional style houses located directly on the beach; each house is a unique artwork with antique furniture & art; must see; only one of his kind in Thailand; very rare opportunity; details: GO PROPERTY THAILAND; 093- 161 5995 Bop01/01-52/ Hotel with “Hotel license” located 50m from Jomtien Beach, 45 guest rooms, lobby, bar, massage room, maiden rooms; one of the best locations on Jomtien Beach: 75,000,000 THB. Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com

Notices No01/16-20/ Looking for a game of snooker with a retired ex-professional UK snooker player? Tel. Mike on 089 152 3202

Pets Pets03/01-52/ Homeless puppies available for adoption to warm and caring homes! All puppies are healthy, vaccinated and acclimated to people. If you are looking for a friend for life, just call 088 402 6772 or e-mail to karin@carefordogs.org. Pets02/01-52/ **Free Cats and Kittens** We are still trying to find loving homes for over 40 cats and kittens. Please check the pictures on our website or ring Sandra. Call 085 287 5004 http:/ cats4youinpattaya.webs.com

Property for Rent Houses, Villas Prb169/17-21/ TOWNHOUSE, Off Soi Khaotalo, Like new, quiet, safe, two bedroom, one bathroom, patio, carport, Thai kitchen, air-conditioned, FULLY FURNUSHED,

22 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

Pattaya Emergency Numbers Pattaya Call Center ................................ 1337 Police Station .......................................... 191 - Pattaya ................................................... 038 424 186 - Banglamung ......................................... 038 221 800-1 Highway Police ....................................... 038 392 001 Fire Brigade ............................................. 199 Pat. Int. Hopsital ..................................... 038 428 374-5 Bkk-Pat Hospital ..................................... 038 259 911 TAT Central Office: Region 3 Pattaya . 038 428 750 Tourist Police ......................................... 038 429 371, 1155 . .................................................................. 038 410 044 (FAX)

PATTAYA MAIL

Guarded Subdivision, Communal Pool, One Year Lease, Bt.9,500. Monthly, Bt.19,000 Security Deposit. English, 087-805-5276 Prb168/16-20/ Beautiful House for Rent: 3 bed, 3 baths, fully furnished, private Pool. Near Jomtien beach. Start from 30,000 baht/month. Phone: 081-782-0206, 084-362-5920, www.rimtalay.com Prb167/14-39/ HOUSES FOR RENT –Rattana Village and Udomsuk Village: 72120m2, up to 7,000 Baht. Mr. Udom 082 2091452, Mr. Wirat 089 9354369

Condos, Apartments Prc207/19-38/ Royal Park Luxury Service Apartments and penthouse suite, Jomtien: starting at 15,000 baht/month. 56-70sqm, one bedroom, large living area with balcony and European kitchen, Free internet. Enjoy our rooftop swimming pool. Short walk to the beach. Monthly and daily rentals, Contact 086 111 7414 or check on our website www.royalparkjomtien.com to see why we are number 1 in Jomtien Prc206/19-23/ Markland Studio 48sqm, beach front balcony, refurbished, furnished, pool, fitness, minimum 12 months @ 15,000B/month by owner ian.thailand@hotmail.com, 087 137 1529

VOL. XXVI No. 20

(Sukkhumvit behind McDonald’s), 2 beds, 2 baths, office, living room, nicely furnished, terrace and “sala” (pergola) in the garden, end of cul-de-sac, nice little garden, quiet and and central location, reduced from 4.9 M Baht to only 3.5 M Baht. Heiner 081 861 19 07 Prc205/19-23/ Prestigious Sky Beach Condo, very nice - must see - High floor – 54sqm - directly at Wongamat Beach/ Naklua with wonderful sea views. Rent negotiable please contact e-mail: marty111@outlook.de Prc202/14-52/ Seaview Studio, View Talay 1A, high floor, Pattaya side, Living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, Flat TV, ceiling fan, clean & nice furnished, aircondition, security door, parking, big pool, located on “10 Baht Taxi route: 9,500 THB/ monthly. Tel. 092- 753 9309 (available from 1 May 2018) Prc201/14-39/ Apartments for rent: 46m2, air-con, hot water, kitchen, in Nongprue area- 4,500 Baht. Tel. Mr. Udom 082 2091452, Mr. Heinz 089 989 0567 Prc199/14-52/ Seaview Studio, Jomtien Beach Road, between Soi 15 – 16: 43sqm, high floor, living-bedroom, kitchen, bath, terrace, office table, clean & nice furnished,

air-condition, fitness gym, garage, 25m pool, direct on “10 Baht Taxi route”: 9,800 THB/ monthly. Tel. 092- 753 9309 Prc191/01-52/ Pratumnak Seaview Studio with private access to the beach; Ref: 2016- 139; located directly on the beach, 3rd floor, no public streets, no buses, no traffic; totally peaceful, sea views from the terrace; living space 51sqm; fully furnished; direct access to the beach; 1 living/bedroom, 1 bathroom, full kitchen; WiFi; security 7/24h; community pool on beachfront; restaurant on pool side, supermarket, laundry; For Rent at 13,500 THB/month; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com

Property for Sale Houses, Villas Psb29/13-52/ Semi-detached house in Central Park 2

Condos, Apartments Psc81/20-24/ Beachfront Condo at Bangsaray Condominium: 150sqm. 2-bedrooms, 2-bathrooms, 300m from beach, only 137units in 20 rai of green landscaped surroundings in an exclusive residence. Excellent decoration, fully furnished, TVLCD 50". Hot Sale: 8.9 million THB (59,000 baht/sqm). 081-3358102 (owner), for photos: pitipity@hotmail .com, Line: piti.t Psc81/19-23/ Markland Studios, Pattaya Beach Road, finance available: 48sqm, beachfront balcony, furnished, refurbished, pool, fitness, foreign ownership, by owner, 3 MIO baht, 20% deposit + 120 months @ 25000. Other bespoke available. ian.thailand@hotmail .com, 0871371529 Psc80/17-21/ New Price reduction for my condo in Jomtien Porchland 2: 38m2, 1 bedroom, 8th floor, Foreign name, fully furnished,

VOL. XXVI No. 20

swimming pool, gym, cable TV, internet, 4 Years old, nice view: 1.39 MLN BHT. Rent 8,500 baht/month. Tel: 087138-3523 Psc74/03-52/ Sea-View Condo Tropicana Pratumnak, modern 2 bedroom apartment, 81sqm, Pattaya City South, beautiful sea and island views; 1 living room with dining area, 1 bedroom, 1 office room, 1 bathroom, 1 shower room, fully equipped European kitchen, fully furnished, high Speed WLAN/ WiFi connection, Safe Box, air-con, ceiling fans, 2 swimming pools (roof and ground floor), Fitness Gym, Garage; medical Clinic; ZEN Beauty Clinic; located at the “10 Baht-Taxi route; For Sale at THB 4,500,000. Call 092- 753 9309 Psc59/01-52/ In the heart of Jomtien, 2 bedroom condo, (Ref: 2016- 259) 90sqm, 4th floor, big living room, 2 bathrooms, European kitchen, completely reformed, new furniture, 2 balconies, 3 aircons, 2 pools, garage, private access to Jomtien Beach; 3,950,000 THB; WWW.GO PROPERTYTHAILAND. COM, 093- 161 5995.

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 23

PATTAYA MAIL

Psc24/01-52/ Studio in Pattaya City; Ref: 2016- 136; located close to BIG C EXTRA, Pattaya Central Road; living space 28sqm; fully furnished;1 living/bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 kitchenette; WiFi; 2 community pools; restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry; 699.000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc20/01-52/ Beachfront Jomtien, Pattaya; Ref: 2016106; located at Jomtien Beach Road with stunning sea views, 26thfloor; living space 45sqm; direct access to the beach; fully furnished;1 living/bedroom; 1 bathroom, 1 kitchen; terrace; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; big community pool; garage; supermarket, laundry; 1,850,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc18/01-52/ Apartment Thappraya Road, Pattaya; Ref: 2016- 213; located on Thappraya Road with very nice sea and city views, 14th floor; living space 64sqm; 400m to the beach; fully furnished; living room with dining area, 1 bedroom/s, 1 bathroom/s, kitchen; terrace; internal blinds; 2 aircons; ceiling fans; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; community pool; 10 Baht Taxi Route into City, free parking; restaurants, bars, 24hrs supermarket, laundry; 2,750,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc17/01-52/ Studio directly on the beach from Ban Amphur; Ref: 2016-181; new Studio on the 6th floor with stunning sea views; living

space 35sqm; 1bathroom; air-condition; infinity pool on roof top; very nice beach location with many small restaurants, windsurfing shops and much more; garage; security 7/24h; to Pattaya City 20 min; 2,998,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc16/01-52/ Luxury Apartments in Pattaya City; Ref: 2016- 187; 1 or 2 bedrooms in a high rise condominium with 29 floors; living space 26-79sqm; community pools; fitness gym; massage, laundry, children playground; parking; cafe; restaurant; security 7/24h; construction end approx. 4/ 2018; prices are starting with 3.168,989 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc15/01-52/ MARKLAND Studio, Pattaya Beach; Ref: 2016- 199; located on Pattaya Beach Road with very nice sea views, living space 45sqm; fully furnished; direct access to the beach; 1 living/bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 kitchenette; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; community pool; restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry; 3,495,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc14/01-52/ City Apartment, Central Road close BIG C EXTRA; Ref: 2016172; 2nd floor, living space 92,5sqm; fully furnished; city location; 1 living room, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms ensuite, 1 kitchen; terrace; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; community pool; parking; restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry; 3,500,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc13/01-52/ Condo in Naklua; Ref: 2016- 224; new condo with 2 bedrooms, 3rdfloor; living space 54sqm; fully furnished; living room with dining area, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 European kitchen; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; community pool; garage; parking; restaurants, bars, supermarket “BIG C Extra”, laundry, 10 bath taxi route; 3,890,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc12/01-52/ Luxury Apartments in Pattaya Pratamnak; Ref: 2016- 188; 1 bedroom in a condominium with 5 floors; living space 33-77sqm; pool with jacuzzi; fitness gym; sauna, kids playground; parking; security 7/24h;

prices are starting with 4,296,530 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc10/01-52/ Beachfront Apartment Pattaya Beachroad; Ref: 2016- 193; 2 studios converted into a one bedroom apartment; redivision anytime possible (2 titles /chanots); it is located directly on Pattaya Beach Road in the heart of Pattaya Beach; living space 90sqm; 1 living room, 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, open kitchen; totally refurbished; community pool; fitness gym; garage; security 7/24h; access to the beach; restaurants; coffee shops; 7,500,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc7/01-52/ High floor condo at Jomtien Beach; Ref: 2016223; Sea view apartment with 3 bedrooms, located at Jomtien Beach Road with attached guest studio; breathtaking sea views, 22nd floor; living space 190sqm; short walking to the beach; fully furnished; 2 living rooms with dining areas, 3 bedroom/s, 3 bathrooms, 1 European kitchen; 1 kitchenette; terrace; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; sauna; spa; community pool; storage room; garage; parking; restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry; located in the “Heart of Jomtien”; 9,950,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc6/01-52/ High floor beachfront Apartment in Naklua; Ref: 2016-192; Sea view apartment in a high rise condominium with 25 floors with direct access to the beach; living space 180sqm; fully furnished; community pool; fitness gym; sauna; laundry; garage; security 7/ 24h; 13,500,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc5/01-52/ BANGKOK Luxury high floor apartment; Ref: 2016- 201; Apartment in Bangkok; own mooring for speed boat; SKY TRAIN in front of the condo; breathtaking City views overlooking the royal Grand Palace; living space 350sqm; fully furnished with antique, Asian and European furniture; living room with dining area; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, jacuzzi; 1 European kitchen; laundry; huge terrace; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; sauna; spa; 3 garage parking; 40,860,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com

Psc4/01-52/ Beachfront location, one of the very best luxury apartments in Pattaya in one of the best locations in Pattaya; Ref: 2016- 5995; breathtaking island and ocean views; living space 245sqm; fully furnished; living room with dining area; 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, guest toilet; full European kitchen; laundry; huge terrace; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; 2 garage parking; private access to the beach; 49,000,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com

Land for Sale P22/14-52/ Bang Saray, close to GERMAN AUTO BMW, 10 Rai (1 Rai 2.8 mio): www. GOPROPERTYTHAILAND .com; Tel. 093-161 5995 P21/07-52/ Land on public, cozy beach, Pratumnak, with 850 Talang Wah (3,400sqm) at the bottom of Pratumnak Soi 5. The land is owned free and clear by a Thai company. Perfect for an exclusive residential development, serviced apartment or hotel project in the neighborhood of 5-star Centara Grand Pratumnak Hotel:

245,000,000 THB; GO PROPERTY THAILAND; call Khun Jo: 093- 161 5995 P18/01-52/ 6,700sqm Land on Pratumnak Road, Soi 1, in front of UNIX Condominium; can be divided in 3 units; unit A: 815 T-wah 146,700,000 THB; unit B: 860 T-wah 155,010,000 THB; unit C (total): 1,675 T-wah 301,710,000 THB; WWW. GOPROPERTYTHAILAND.COM; please call Jo: 093- 161 5995 P16/01-52/ Jomtien Beach, 50 Rai at “km 1”: www. GOPROPERTYTHAILAND .com; Tel. 093-161 5995

Services Provided Sp/20/ PLANS DRAWN: Engineer designed, Tel. 085083-4221

Vehicles for Sale or Rent Vr02/20/ Jay’s Rent A Car: Toyota’s & Honda’s. All top of the range, for your safety all serviced by Toyota/Honda, all have A.B.S./airbags + 1st class rental Insurance. Rent the best. Please ring for details: (Thai) 084-865-5102 or (Eng) 085-283-4915

24 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Edwards out front in Hua Hin The Jomtien Golf Society Monday, May 7, Sea Pines G.C. Stableford Our annual trip here to Hua Hin and we had 38 golfers out on the first day at the Sea Pines course. The majority of players loved this course, especially the last three holes along the beach going back to the clubhouse but the fairways were a bit scruffy. We had a three division stableford competition for the four rounds and overall winners. Dave Edwards returned the best score of the day, winning division 1 with 37 points. Tim Hake was second one point behind and Pete Skinner beat Darryl Burkett on count-back for third after they both came in with 32 points each. In division 2, Bob Poole beat John Carlin 19/17 on the back-nine after they were both locked on 34 points while Stuart Thompson was third with 33 and Dannie Larsen fourth on 31. Rick Assi topped division 3 with 34 points and Gil

Phillips beat Alan Bissell 15/ 14 after they both scored 32 each. Leo Adam was fourth on 29 points after beating Rod Howett on another count-back Near pins went to (Div 1) Tim Hake and Pete Sumner (x2), and (Div 2) Steve Harris (x2), Dave Lehane and Willy Van Heetvelde. Paul Young birdied the 8th for the only ‘2’ of the day.

Tuesday, May 8, Black Mountain G.C. - Stableford We played the West and North nines today off the 65 tees and with 41 points the best score of the day came from Pete Sumner who won division 1. Terry Tucker was second on 38 points, with Martin Grimoldby third one point behind and Nik Evans in fourth on 36. Rick Assi with a 21/16 back-nine count-back beat Peter Davies to win division 3 after they both came in with 39 points each. Alan Bissell was third on 38 and Frank Grainger fourth with 37.

In division 2, Steve Harris beat Stuart Thompson 18/17 after they both scored 37 each and Willy Van Heetvelde beat Tim Hake’s brother Simon on count-back after they both shot 33 points. Near pins were claimed by (Div 1) Kevin Blake, Michael Brett, Pete Sumner and Terry Tucker, and (Div 2) Barry Copestake and Steve Harris (2). Michael Brett birdied N5 and Steve Harris the same hole in division 2 in the ‘2’s today.

Thursday, May 10, Springfield Stableford It was the Valley and Lake courses today off the white tees and with 41 points Dave Edwards had the best score of the day, winning division 1 by some margin. Michael Brett was second on 37 points, John Pegrham third with 34 and Nik Evans took fourth on 32. Some lower scores in the next two divisions with Willy van Heetvelde winning division 2 with 35 points, Bob

Harvey & Pratt on fire at Navy PSC Golf from Siam Country Resort Pattaya

(From left) Jonathan Pratt with Martin Hayes, Willem Lasonder and Neil Harvey.

Tuesday, May 8, The Emerald - Stableford

Thursday, May 10, Plutaluang - Stableford

On Tuesday we went to The Emerald with just one group as some of out players took part in the PSC monthly tournament. The course was in good condition and was very quiet. We had no spectacular results today but it was a close finish between Martin Hayes and Jonathan Pratt. Martin won with 30 stableford points, beating Jonathan on a count-back.

The Navy course at Plutaluang was our venue on Thursday and it was again a clouded day with a few showers. After all the rain the night before the course was in good condition although not perfect. We had some excellent results and Jonathan Pratt and Neil Harvey both scored 41 points. This time Jonathan won on the count-back and in third place was Willem Lasonder with 34. Near pins went to Jonathan Pratt and Dave Smith.

Near pins went to (Div 1) Martin Grimoldby, Pete Skinner and Pete Sumner, and (Div 2) Dannie Larsen, Dave Lehane, Tim Knight and Gil Phillips. Martin Grimoldby birdies C7 and Dannie Larsen B8 for the only ‘2’s of the day.

Friday, May 11, The Banyan Stableford Dave Edwards. Poole second with 32, Gil Phillips third on 31 and Dannie Larsen fourth with 28. Peter Davies won division 3 with 31 points, beating Leo Adam on a 19/15 count-back. Barry Copestake was third on 29 and Rick Assi fourth with 28.

Our last round of the week and a third division player recorded the best score of the day, with Rick Assi winning his flight with 40 points. Gil Phillips was second behind Rick on 38 and Leo Adam took third with 33. Tim Hake topped division 1 with 39 points and there were three 36’s fighting for second and third place.

With a 18/17/16 countback Michael Brett was second, Pete Sumner third and poor old Martin Grimoldby lost out. Dave Lehane won division 2 on 38 points and John Carling was second, beating Steve Harris on a 17/13 count-back after they both came in with 37 points. Near pins were awarded to (Div 1) Tim Hake, Pete Skinner, Pete Sumner and Terry Tucker, and (Div 2) John Carling, Peter Davies, Gil Phillips and Steve Harris. Congratulations to Dave Edwards who was the overall winner with 145 points, Rick Assi was second on 141 and Tim Hake third with 138. A brilliant week was had by all and many thanks to Lyn for her organizational skills.

Sweetnam shoots best of the week The Tara Court Golf Society Sunday, May 6, Green Valley Stableford 1st Jerry Sweetnam (10) 38pts 2nd Russell Gilroy (17) 37pts 3rd Donal McGuigan (20) 37pts 4th MikaelAndersson (13) 36pts Despite all the rain over the past week we found the course here in Green Valley in very good condition and the greens well improved from the sanding and coring which was done a few weeks ago. Although it looked like rain a few times we got round dry and as the course was quiet we also got round very quickly. We also had good scoring and you had to play to your handicap or better to come in the prizes today. Jerry Sweetnam came out the winner with thirty eight points and we then had two players with thirty seven, with Russell Gilroy having the better back nine to win the count back over Donal McGuigan. Mikael Andersson had thirty six to claim the fourth and last place for today.

Tuesday, May 8, Treasure Hill Stableford

Jerry Sweetnam.

Donal McGuigan.

not allowed on the fairways we played ‘lift clean & place’. Twelve players today and coming out on top was Donal McGuigan (H/cap 20) on 35 points, ahead of Bernie Stafford (18) with 31 points in second and Craig Hitchens (14) on 30 points in third. Fourth place was decided on c/b with 3 players on 29 points. Russell Gilroy took the money with a back nine of 17 points. It had been a few games since the group had any 2’s but today there were 3 players sharing the prize - joe Peters, Marc Brunner & Craig Hitchens.

It was a very hot and humid day here at Eastern Star today but at least we all got round dry. While the course was in very good condition and is excellent value for money at five hundred baht green fee, today the fairways were wet from all the rain over the past few days and it was playing very long. That was the excuse most of our golfers gave for such bad scores as we had only one player play reasonably well which was Pete Seil who was the winner with thirty four points. After that nobody managed to break thirty points and Donal McGuigan was surprised to hear that he came second with twenty nine and Mikael Andersson was even more surprised to hear that he came third with twenty eight.

Thursday, May 10, Driving up the 331 the Eastern Star weather was not looking Stableford promising as heavy rain was falling. Still, we decided to risk it and as buggies were

1st Pete Seil (7) 34pts 2nd Donal McGuigan (20) 29pts 3rd MikaelAndersson (13) 28pts

VOL. XXVI No. 20

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 25

PATTAYA MAIL

Capt Bob at the double PSC Golf from The Billabong Bar Monday, May 7, Phoenix - Stableford Phoenix lakes and Ocean loops today and the man on the siren was working overtime; there was thunder and lightning all around but not a drop of rain fell from the sky. The course was in fantastic condition as usual and was very busy but we got around in just over 3½ hours. The scoring was pretty good and there was a countback for the minor places between Thiery Temime and Sandy Chapo, with Sandy taking second spot and Thiery third, it being the only time Sandy has entered the winners’ circle. Top spot went to the prophet George Barrie with 39 points.

There were three ‘2’s, coming from Russ Rylance, Paul Greenaway and Eric Gobert.

Wednesday, May 9, Green Valley/Treasure Hill – Stableford As we approached the course black clouds and thunder threatened us with all sorts of mayhem but, mercifully, the heavens decided not to ‘rain on our parade’. In the Ladies flight at Green Valley, Miss Am just missed out by a whisker for the second time in as many weeks with a less than strong back nine. Miss Porn had a slight wobble after the turn with 2 blobs for 39 points on the same score as Miss Yen, who

Selwyn Wegner, William Macey and Wayne Cotterell. had 19 points on the way home to Porn’s 16. Miss Kran had a good, steady round over the 18 holes, coming home with 41 points to rise to the top. There was not a large field for the men as the B team were playing at Treasure Hill. In third place Selwyn Wegner’s battery ran dry with only 15 points after the turn, which was 4 points of short of Wayne Cotterell over the same holes and on the same

Parker & Stanley duel down the stretch PSC Golf from The Bunker Bar Parker third and Les Hall the unlucky one to miss out. After some very poor scores last week it was nice to see the standard raised considerably this week. Near pins went to Stuart Tinkler, Stuart Brown, Peter Allen, and Mark Stanley.

Monday, May 7, Khao Kheow – Stableford 1st Mark Stanley (11) 41pts 2nd Geoff Parker (15) 39pts 3rd Les Humphrey (28) 34pts Once again the weather gods smiled benevolently on the Bunker Boys for today’s round at the Khao Kheow course. Despite threatening skies all around and thunder in the air, the round was completed dry. The course was generally in very good condition with only a few soft spots on some fairways due to recent rain, and the greens were superb, probably the best we have seen recently. The round did throw a bit of a conundrum though. Mark Stanley who has recently decided to forgo the curse of the working class (drink) and take up yoga shot a superb forty-one points with a gross minus one on the back nine to take first place. In doing so made a very good case for a healthy lifestyle. On the other hand, Geoff Parker who enjoys the occasional tipple, has a bunger every five minutes and does not practice yoga also had an excellent round of thirty-nine points, so the debate over lifestyle choices rages on. Les Humphrey came third with a score of thirty-four edging out Stuart Tinkler on count-back. Stuart had the consolation of winning three near pins.

Friday, May 11, The Emerald – Stableford Stuart Tinkler.

Wednesday, May 9, Burapha – Stableford 1st Steve Durey (21) 44pts 2nd Stuart Tinkler (16) 37pts 3rd Geoff Parker (14) 37pts Yet another day where rain threatened but didn’t eventuate, the Bunker Boys took advantage of sports day pricing to play a course we never play in high season i.e. Burapha. We were allocated the A and B nines and elected to play off the white tees as the fairways were soft with no run. The greens were excellent but the bunkers were a different matter with wet sand and many balls plugged and difficult to play Today was Steve Dureys time to shine with an unbelievable score of forty-four points off a twenty-one handicap, no doubt an adjustment is forthcoming. A three-way tie for second, third and fourth was decided on count-back with Stuart Tinkler second, Geoff

1st Geoff Parker (14) 42pts 2nd Les Hall (25) 40pts 3rd Mark Stanley (10) 40pts 4th Geoff Cox (37) 37pts Third time lucky for the Bunker Boys as another day where weather threatened to intervene, fortunately, the rain stayed away and the round was completed dry. Due to so much recent rain course maintenance is beginning to suffer as mowers have to stay off the course so fairways were in need of a cut and greens were super slow for the same reason. Despite this, the quality of scoring didn’t suffer with once again some super scores being returned. This time Geoff Parker turned the tables on Mark Stanley so the lifestyle choice conundrum is still unresolved, Geoff returned a superb forty-two points to take first place. Les Hall on forty points took second edging out Mark Stanley on countback, whilst Geoff Cox took fourth with a very respectable thirty-seven points. Near Pins went to Dave Ashman, Jimmy Carr, Steve Durey and Bruno Facenda.

score. William Macey has found some form recently and led the field with 35 points despite a disappointing back nine. At Treasure Hill the B team decided to play a Rainbow today and it was quite obvious that most of the players used their allocation of the longer white tees on the front

nine. Russ Rylance is gaining a mention on a regular basis at the moment and today was no exception for he came third with 36 points, with 20 of those on the return trip. Tony Berghagen only used 2 white tees on the back which had him recording 37 points, one point behind the star of the day, Capt. Bob, who saved 4 red and 3 yellow tees after the turn and 21 points. Only one ‘2’ today and that went to Jeff North.

Friday, May 11, Burapha - Stableford Burapha A and B today and thankfully we got away a little early as the rain came down in bucket loads just as we got back into the club house. The course was in great condition with greens as good as you would see anywhere

and the lies on the fairways as always were superb, but the rough was as brutal as you could get. With 4 groups playing the scoring was very good and a count-back was needed to decide the minor places. Peter Seil and Ivor Smith both scored 35 points but Ivor with 22 points on the back nine secured secondspot, relegating Peter to third. The top spot was taken by Capt Bob with his best round this year, scoring 38 points. There were three ‘2’s, coming from Rob Kershaw, Thiery Petrement and Ramsay Smith. Both Monday the 18th and 25th of June will not be played at Phoenix as the course will be closed for a couple of big tournaments and the June monthly scramble on the 29th will be held at Plutaluang on the North and West loops.

Ellis sparkles at Crystal Bay PSC Golf from The Growling Swan Monday, May 7, King Naga Stableford A Flight 1st Ian Ward (12) 33pts 2nd Denis Steele (15) 32pts 3rd Keith Buchanan (15) 31pts B Flight 1st Colin Stielow (27) 33pts 2nd Glenn Smith (25) 32pts 3rd Lorraine Percy (36) 29pts Near Pins: #5 Jason Mills, #7 Marty Kempton, #12 Paul Hack, #16 Andy Zwart. Long Putts: #9 Lorraine Percy, #18 Marty Kempton. Great to see we had an increase in numbers today, to the point that we were in a position to play 2 flights. The course was in great condition and other than the fact that two of the greens had been sanded there were no complaints. We attacked the course from the white tees and in A Flight it was Ian Ward returning with the equal best score of the day, his 33 points giving him the win. Coming in second was Denis Steele, while third went to Kissy Buchanan who nudged out Paul via the count-back system. B Flight went to Colin Stielow on 33 points, one ahead of Glenn Smith in second with third spot going to Lorraine Percy.

Thursday, May 10, Crystal Bay Stableford 1st Roger Ellis (30) 41pts 2nd Keith Buchanan (15) 38pts Near Pins: C4 Andre Van Dyke, C7 Steve Younger, B3 Andre Van Dyke, B6 Colin Stielow. Long Putts: C9 Keith Buchanan, B9 Terry Drier. Heading out to Crystal Bay today it appeared that the

Roger Ellis (right) with Keith Buchanan. weather could take a turn for the worst, but as luck will have it we never copped the rain at all. Conditions were good and the course it was in great nick with the greens playing fast but true. We played C and B nines in that order (B nine was used for the count-backs) from the yellow tees as chosen by the captain of the day. We went to the starter with 13 (unlucky for some) golfers

which meant that we would be playing one flight only, with first & second places only. Scores were quite good as you would expect playing from the front tees. Roger Ellis led the charge, returning to the judges with a very good score of 41 points. Tied up for second, Keith Buchanan got the nod via the count-back system from Alex Field.

Thatchers Cider Monday Pool League Results & Standings May 14 (week 18) Team P W D L +/Pts. Thirsty Beaver 18 15 0 3 62 45 Moonies Kitchen 18 14 0 4 60 42 Diva Sports Bar 18 12 0 6 52 36 Khao Noi Sports 18 12 0 6 34 36 Honeypot 18 12 0 6 19 36 Black Moonies 18 10 0 8 42 30 Diva Devils 18 10 0 8 18 30 Pride 18 8 0 10 -18 24 Leks Bar 18 5 0 13 -18 15 Full Moon 18 5 0 13 -34 15 Honeybees 18 5 0 13 -55 15 GB Bar/Bye 18 0 0 18 -162 0 Results: Diva Sports Bar 13 - 2 Honeybees, Honeypot 7 - 8 Khao Noi Sports, Leks Bar 6 - 9 Black Moonies, Moonies Kitchen 8 – 7 Full Moon, Pride 12 - 3 GB Bar/ Bye, Thirsty Beaver 9 - 6 Diva Devils

26 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

McHugh stars at Soi Dao

Elphick & Davis conquer Greenwood PSC Golf from the Tropical Golf Group

VOL. XXVI No. 20

PSC Golf from The Golf Club Friday, May 11, Soi Dao Highlands (white tees) – Stableford

Steve Ellison

Monday, May 7, Green Valley (white tees) – Stableford

Barry Elphick (left) with John Davis.

Friday, May 11, Greenwood – Stableford The ever-popular Greenwood was on the rotation for the Tropical golfers on Friday and a very manageable sixteen golfers made the trip. Under threatening skies everyone finished their breakfast at BJ’s Lodge and made for their ride. Greenwood is one of the favored golf stops, and with good reason. A manageable 1050 baht to walk and an interesting layout course in borderline excellent condition makes the trip worthwhile. Even the locker room is top notch. During the round it sounded like an artillery duel was in progress with booms and occasional flashes all around during the round. However, luck prevailed this day as there was only the slightest drizzle for a few minutes barely requiring

umbrellas. It wasn’t until after we got back we found out that while we were enjoying a nice round of golf that Pattaya was drowning. Greenwood is usually a fair but slightly high scoring course, and such was this day. In the A-Flight (0-21), regular winner John Davis (c/h 15) took the honours with a well played 37 points. Bob Britton (15) made his drive worthwhile by taking second place with 35 points, and John Hackett (20) did well enough to take the last bow with 33. In B-Flight (22+), Barry “my toe hurts” Elphick (30) had the high score of the day with an amazing 41 points. Something is working for Barry. Dick Warberg (23) won on count-back over Jim Ferris (26) at the 35 point mark to take second place. Daryl Evans and Gordon Clegg had best non-winning 9-hole scores.

1st Mimi Fujimoto 44pts T-2nd Gary Emmett 38pts T-2nd Peter Thomas 38pts We had a good turnout with 5 groups including those regular, early bird members who generally start half an hour ahead of the rest of us. Two of them did well today and recorded 38’s on the cards and that would be Peter Thomas and Gary Emmett, so well played gents. Gary also popped the shot closest to the pin. When you have a guy go out and shoot his best ever round in Thailand, a 38 just ain’t good enough. Today it was the turn of Mimi Fuijmoto to be the record setter with a blistering 44 on the card. Mimi has become a semi-regular visitor jetting back to Tokyo every few weeks and then back to Pattaya. Mimi plays off 7 and is a strong striker of the ball.

Thursday, May 10, Soi Dao Highlands (white tees) – Stableford 1st Martin Zimmerman 38pts 2nd Tony Oakes 37pts 3rd John McHugh 36pts 4th Roachie Roadley 35pts Soi Dao is a special, almost magical place set in the hills of Chanthaburi and close to

John McHugh at Soi Dao. the Cambodian border. Longtime resident golfers of Pattaya all agree this has always been one of Thailand’s top destinations. This revamp of a Dennis Griffiths design has been beautifully done, for the most part. The format has been changed, switching the former front nine to now be the back nine. The new 17th par-5 is a concern as the turtleback green here is far too small and punishes those long hitters trying to get on in two. The “T.P.L. Memorial Trophy” competition was a 2-day individual stableford with the big winner being the best score over both days. We correctly played from the white tees at 6,363 yards on the card but less about 100 yards by tee box adjustment, and that yardage was plenty for everyone. The PSC office as well as the desk here at

the resort both stated they do not have a slope rating so we played to our straight handicaps. We had a big turnout of 24 golfers as well as another 14 cheerleaders with the wives, girlfriends and kids on board and great to have our mates Micky Beresford and Roachie and their crew join in. Day 1 saw Martin Zimmerman the leader of the pack with a solid 38. Tony Oakes, McHugh and Roachie went down the ladder a shot each placing. We had a rain delay for a good 50 minutes before we even teed off, so lucky us to be sheltered in the clubhouse restaurant for the wait. Our 1:00 tee time was just 5 minutes past, but the course was astonishingly dry after such a downpour and there was no rain for the rest of the day.

T-1st Jeff Calrow 38pts T-1st John McHugh 38pts 3rd Roachie Roadley 37pts 4th Zed Beloglavec 36pts Day 2 was a bit of a blur for most of us, but we carried on nevertheless. Dramatically dark clouds of a Biblical nature were just over the mountain ridge approaching the tee box and a few bolts of lightning seemed foreboding, but not a drop of rain came all day. We got lucky again. If you had a 35 like Mark Wood, Eddie Bielby, Martin Zimmerman or Frank Tordeur… too bad. Nice round, but the cut was at 36 today and Zed Beloglavec was in there, with Roachie at 37 and Calrow and McHugh tied at 38. Notables were Boncafe specialist Ernie McInerney who had 4 birdies but ended up with a mere 33 on the card and Connecticut Yankee Paul Kidder who won his very first prize of the near pin on 14. Roachie, Martin and Peter LeNoury tagged the rest of the near pins for a BBQ Pork Chop dinner back at the club. In the end, Roachie (probably the best golfer I have ever played with) nabbed third spot with 72 points overall, Martin was just one back at 73 and TGC partner John McHugh took the title for this inaugural event with The Players’ Lounge.

Webb Simpson wins The Players in TPC Sawgrass runaway Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP) — Webb Simpson navigated his way through a few mistakes but not too much stress to win The Players Championship last Sunday. Staked to a seven-shot lead, no one got closer than four shots of Simpson, even after a double bogey on the 18th hole when his only concern was finishing the hole at the TPC Sawgrass. He closed with a 1-over 73 for a four-shot victory, his biggest title since the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic Club. Tiger Woods made another big run that revved up the crowd and revived hopes that he was close to winning. So did Jason Dufner, Jimmy Walker and Danny Lee. None could do enough to catch Simpson during record scoring at the final Players Championship in May. His only big mistake didn’t even matter. Simpson’s approach to the 18th bounded across the green and into the water. He closed with a double bogey, but that only made the final margin closer. “It was harder than I thought,” Simpson said. “There’s so

much noise in front of us with Tiger, and you wonder what everybody is doing. Once I got to 17 and the ball was on the green,” he said, “internally I was celebrating.” Justin Thomas left the TPC Sawgrass as the No. 1 player in the world. He closed with a 66 to tie for 11th, more than enough to end Dustin Johnson’s 15-month reign at the top of the ranking. Thomas is the 21st player to reach No. 1 since the ranking began in 1986, and the seventh American. Jimmy Walker, Charl Schwartzel and Xander Schauffele all shot 67 to tie for second. Woods ran off six birdies through 12 holes in the final round. He was tied for second at one point, still four shots behind, but that was as close he got. Woods made a soft bogey on the 14th hole when he missed the green with a sand wedge, and was well short of the island green in making double bogey on No. 17. He shot 69 and tied for 11th. Simpson tied the course record with a 63 in the second round when he seized control

Webb Simpson holds the The Players Championship trophy, Sunday, May 13, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) — even with a double bogey from the water on the 17th — and he tied Greg Norman’s 54-hole record from 1994 at 19-under 197. Simpson set a record for the largest margin through three rounds. Brooks Koepka became the eighth player with a 63 on Sunday,

which featured an albatross 2 on the par-5 16th. Simpson earned $1.98 million. He had missed the cut in four of his previous eight appearances at TPC Sawgrass and had gone 107 starts on the PGA Tour since winning Las Vegas toward the end of 2013.

VOL. XXVI No. 20

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 27

PATTAYA MAIL

Tottenham tops the table PSC Golf from the Pattaya Links Golf Society Consolation awards went to Walter Baechli for his best front nine of 21 points and Tommy Marshall with the day’s best back nine of 18 points.

Monday, May 7, Eastern Star Stableford 1st Mike Tottenham (22) 37pts 2nd Joe Nagle (13) 35pts 3rd Pete Seil (6) 34pts 4th Mike Firkin (23) 32pts There was no lull in the heavily overcast conditions on Monday, as the Pattaya Links Golf Society visited Eastern Star to play a stableford competition off the white tees. From the start the course, which was in good order throughout, was surrounded by sombre black clouds, and thunder echoed all around. Excessive humidity made the day an uncomfortable one but a tight competition nevertheless ensued. In fourth place was Mike Firkin with 32 points, a couple behind Pete Seil in third with 34. The runner-up was Joe Nagle with 35 points, leaving Mike Tottenham the winner with 37, the day’s only sub-par round. Near pins went to Pete Seil (3), Bill Copeland (6) and Joe Nagle (17) whilst the thirteenth kept its secrets to itself as no golfer managed to find the “short stuff” on this day. Consolation awards went to Tip Briney for his best front nine of 18 points and

DATE:

Friday, May 11, Khao Kheow Stableford

Mike Tottenham (left) with Phil Davies. Derek Phillips for the pick of the back nines with 20 points.

Wednesday, May 9, Burapha - Stableford 1st Colin Service (21) 37pts 2nd Peter Petursen (7) 37pts 3 rd Fergus Brennan (14) 37pts 4th Terry Dreier (15) 35pts Golfers are a hardy breed! How else could you describe a dozen golfers hell bent on tackling Burapha A and B on a day which was to show on course temperatures of 41 degrees and a humidity level of 90 percent. Such was the Pattaya Links Golf Society’s predicament on Wednesday, 9th May. The course was in excellent

FRI 18

Apple’s Irish

Pattana

Bunker Boys

Crystal Bay

SAT 19

condition but shirts, and in some cases shorts, were soon wet and in twenty years one of the golfers had never known it as tough as this. Two shirts later as the round drew to a close scores were very close. In fourth place on 35 points was Terry Dreier, but three golfers were ahead of him, all on 37 points. Count-back was needed to place Fergus Brennan in third with 37 points and Iceland’s Petur Petursen as runner-up with the same score. An excellent back nine of 21 points saw Colin Service take the main prize, again with 37 points.

SUN 20

1st Barry Wellings (6) 36pts 2nd Colin Service (21) 34pts 3rd Mike Firkin (23) 33pts 4th Dom Downey (12) 33pts Twenty-one golfers set off today, ready to tackle Khao Kheow off the longer yellow tees. With the recent rains KK has been receiving, the course played much longer as there was very little roll on the fairways, but the greens here are almost always in good shape and today lightly brushed with sand they played as good as we expected. Only one flight today and Barry Wellings headed the leaderboard with a handicap equalling 36 points. With his handicap of just 6, that is a fine effort. He says his return to using blades (that’s a type of golf club for the uninitiated) is working well. Colin Service had a win two days earlier and continued that good form here to take second place with 34 points. Mike Firkin has had his ups and downs with form, and at

MON 21

TUE 22

one stage during the day was commenting that he might have lost it again. However, 33 points to take third place may have caused a rethink. Fourth place went to Dom Downey also with 33 points but beaten on count-back by Mike. It’s always a little bonus to have your name called for

WED 23

“being nearest the pin” We had four chances and all four were won by Ian Corica (B3), Gabriel Enright (B8), Tommy Marshall (A3), and Peter Henshaw (A5) Consolation “best nine” scores came from Phil Davies (front, 16pts) and Petr Pedursen (back, 17pts).

THU 24

Crystal Bay

FRI 25 Mt. Shadow

Greenwood

Bangpra

Eastern Star

Royal Lakeside

Burapha

Crystal Bay

Cafe Kronborg Colin’s Golf

Mt. Shadow

Green Valley

Growling Swan Billabong Golf

Treasure Hill

Pattavia

Burapha

Phoenix

Pleasant Valley

Greenwood

The Links

The Emerald

Bangpakong

Pattavia

Outback Golf Bar

St. Andrews

Burapha

Eastern Star

Retox Game On

Treasure Hill

Greenwood

Oleasant Valley

Plutaluang

Pattaya C.C.

Khao Kheow

Parichat

Mt. Shadow

Green Valley

Pattavia

Greenwood

Le Katai

Green Valley Treasure Hill

The Emerald

Burapha King Naga

Pleasant Valley

Lewiinski’s

Pattavia

Siam Country Sugar Shack

Mt. Shadow

Green Valley Laem Chabang

Green Valley Mt. Shadow

Treasure Hill

Soi Diana Sports The Golf Club The Players Lounge

Green Valley

Tropical Golf

Treasure Hill

Valley View Hackers

Green Valley

Bangpakong Green Valley

Treasure Hill Green Valley

Green Valley

The Bunker Boys meet at the M-Club off Pattaya 3rd Road for golf outings every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (www.bunkersociety.com). Transportation leaves from Cafe Kronborg on Soi Diana Inn at 8:15 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, (contact Bjarne, tel. 038 423203, 038 423809). Colin’s Bar plays golf Sun/Mon/Wed & Fri (www.colinsbar.com). The Growling Swan plays golf on Monday & Thursday (www.thegrowlingswan.com). Lewiinski’s departs from Soi Pattayaland One (Soi Pattaya 13/3) at 9:00 a.m. on its scheduled days. of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday/Wednesday and Friday. The Pattaya Links Hotel Golf Society departs from Soi Buakhao on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call Phil on 0625 933 380 or visit www.thelinkshotelpattaya.com. The Outback Golf Bar is situated 6km from Sukhumvit Rd. along Siam Country Club Road. Telephone Andre on 092-617-4951 or visit www.outbackgolfbar.asia. The Golf Club is located on Soij LK Metro. Call Phil on 090 769 3778. Tropical Golf meets at BJ’s Holiday Lodge at 8am on Tuesday’ & Friday. Call Derek on 089 034 0629

28 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Lomachenko stops Linares in 10th, wins lightweight title Brian Mahoney New York (AP) — Vasiliy Lomachenko had been down on the canvas and was even on the scorecards. The tough test Lomachenko craved, the one he said would force him to finally unleash all his skills, had finally arrived. Moments later, he ended it. Lomachenko stopped Jorge Linares in the 10th round of their lightweight championship fight last Saturday, winning a title in his third weight class in just his 12th pro bout. Lomachenko landed a hard left to the body during a flurry of precision punches that sent Linares to a knee. Linares finally got up just as the count was reaching 10 but referee Ricky Gonzalez called an end to the fight at 2:08 of the round. “I prepared for the last few rounds, and my father told me, ‘You need to go to the body,’” Lomachenko said. His father, Anatoly Lomachenko, is his trainer. Linares knocked down Lomachenko in the sixth and the fight was all even after

nine rounds before Lomachenko (11-1, 9 KOs) put an overpowering end to his first fight at 135 pounds, adding that title to his belts at 126 and 130 pounds. Linares (44-4, 27 KOs) hadn’t lost since 2012 and used his size advantage to do some damage, but in the end Lomachenko did more in an exciting Madison Square Garden match. Each fighter was ahead 86-84 on a judge’s card, while Julie Lederman had it 85-all after nine rounds. “The fight was getting interesting,” Linares said. “It was very close, but he did surprise me with that body shot. I wanted to continue. I wanted to keep working, but the ref stopped the fight.” The fighter widely known as Vasyl said this week he prefers to use Vasiliy, his legal name. And now he can be called lightweight champion after picking up the WBA’s version of the belt in front of a crowd of 10,429 that chanted “Loma! Loma!” as he made his ring walk — which came first for a change

Zverev beats Thiem to win Madrid Open

Vasiliy Lomachenko (left) of Ukraine, throws a punch at Jorge Linares, of Venezuela, during their WBA lightweight championship fight, Saturday, May 12, in New York. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen) since he was the challenger — and waved blue and gold flags for much of the night. It was Lomachenko’s eighth straight victory by stoppage, but this one was much tougher than a recent stretch of clinics in which his last four fights ended when his opponents’ corners wouldn’t let them take more punishment from the Ukrainian. Lomachenko had joked he should be called “no mas Chenko” for his habit of making opponents quit, but Linares made him earn this victory. The Venezuelan was on a

13-fight winning streak and was giving the two-time Olympic gold medalist the test he wanted, one that he said would bring out the best in what many already consider the most skilled fighter in the world. “Thank you to Jorge Linares for giving me one more lesson in this interesting sport,” Lomachenko said. Lomachenko said in the build up to the fight he needed to finally be put in danger to show his complete array of skills, and they were on display in the 10th round

with a series of shots that Linares couldn’t defend, especially the left to his midsection that took the biggest toll. Linares landed the fight’s first noticeable punches early in the second round but Lomachenko began to get dialed in later in the round, and Linares’ face showed some frustration by the end of the third as Lomachenko kept landing quick combinations and dancing out of the way when Linares fired back. Lomachenko ended the fifth with another flurry and his manager, Egis Klimas,

stood in the corner smiling and nodding his head, knowing he has someone special. But the smiling stopped in the sixth, when Linares knocked Lomachenko down with a straight right hand in the final minute of the round. Lomachenko got up easily and didn’t appear hurt, but Linares carried the confidence from the knockdown into a strong seventh round. “That right hand, it was a great punch. It happens,” Lomachenko said. Lomachenko regrouped to win the eighth but Linares responded with a strong ninth, landing a solid combination that seemed to momentarily hurt Lomachenko. But that was his last highlight. Lomachenko arrived at the arena to find a personalized Knicks jersey hanging in his locker and the crowd that included new Knicks coach David Fizdale roared when clips of him warming up were shown on the arena’s video screens. But unlike when he fought at the smaller Theater inside MSG in December in his last bout, a sixth-round stoppage of the smaller Guillermo Rigondeaux, this time Lomachenko faced a bigger man and a much bigger test. “Linares is a great champion,” he said, “and the fight was good for the fans and everybody.”

Mercedes cautious despite a commanding victory in Spain Tales Azzoni

Alexander Zverev of Germany returns the ball to Dominic Thiem of Austria during the men’s final of the Madrid Open Tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Sunday May 13. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Madrid (AP) — Secondseeded Alexander Zverev eased past fifth-seeded Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-4 to win the Madrid Open last Sunday, claiming his second title in a week. The German broke Thiem’s opening service games in each set and didn’t give his Austrian rival a single break chance to win in 1 hour, 19 minutes. Zverev won his eighth career title and second of the season after also winning the Munich Open last weekend. “It is unbelievable,” Zverev said. “This is my third Masters 1000 and I am only 21 years old. It has been an amazing journey.” Zverev dominated the entire week in the Spanish capital, not losing a single set en route to victory. Thiem lost his second consecutive final at the Caja

Magica. He avenged last year’s final loss to Rafael Nadal by beating him in Friday’s quarterfinals for the Spaniard’s first clay-court loss in a year. Zverev started strongly when Thiem conceded his first service game with a costly double fault. Serving to close out the first set, Zverev trailed 0-30 but used his big serve to force deuce and finally closed out the point when Thiem’s return sailed long. Zverev started the second set in similar fashion, hitting a deep forehand that Thiem could only send into the net on the final point of his service game to fall behind a break. It was Zverev’s second win in six meetings with Thiem. On Saturday, Petra Kvitova beat Kiki Bertens in three sets to win the women’s title.

Barcelona, Spain (AP) — Mercedes got the commanding victory they had been seeking all season. Lewis Hamilton put on a strong performance at the Spanish Grand Prix last Sunday, showing both he and his team were back in business after a struggling start to 2018. It was the first time Mercedes showed the type of dominance many fans had grown used to seeing from the Silver Arrows in recent years. And it was the type of victory that could reassert the team’s authority in Formula One. “That was a great result but there was no point where it felt as comfortable as it might have looked from outside,” Mercedes chief Toto Wolff said. “It feels like a long time since we had a 1-2 finish, so there’s definitely a measure of relief in how we asserted ourselves. “But we know that this was a good circuit for us and the temperatures fell in our favor as well. So we need to stay calm and humble, because it can be a different ball game again next time.” Valtteri Bottas was second on Sunday to cap a nearly perfect weekend for the Mercedes drivers, who set

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Barcelona Catalunya racetrack in Montmelo, Spain, Sunday, May 13. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) the fastest times in practice and qualifying before Hamilton ultimately cruised to victory at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. It was the first time this season Mercedes finished 1-2, and also the first they locked the front row in qualifying. The Circuit de BarcelonaCatalunya was a track where the Mercedes cars were expected to run well, but the next race is in Monaco, where the team has struggled in recent years. The street circuit

demands setups that work well on slow corners, traditionally a strength for Ferrari and Red Bull. “We will savor the result, but our thoughts are already turning to Monaco, to the struggles we had there last year and to how we can make sure not to suffer a repeat,” Wolff said. Vettel won the Monaco race last year, when Ferrari went 1-2 in qualifying and in the GP. Bottas finished fourth and Hamilton was seventh.

“The next race in Monaco could be difficult for us,” Bottas said. “I think Red Bull will really be strong and Ferrari was on the pole last year. So we need to keep working hard and believe in our ability to improve things.” Despite the early problems this season, Mercedes will arrive in Monaco with Hamilton leading the drivers’ standings by 17 points over Vettel. The team has a 27-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors’ championship.

VOL. XXVI No. 20

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 29

PATTAYA MAIL

Emirates hosts $2.7 million race Rain stops play for PSC Softball for traditional dhow ships

Ghazi, a 60-foot Dhow, approaches the finish line to win the $2.7 million Al Gaffal traditional Dhow Race off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday, May 14. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Kamran Jebreili Sir Bu Nair Island, UAE (AP) — The United Arab Emirates has hosted a $2.7 million traditional dhow racing event, which saw the wooden boats powered only on the wind race off the coast of Dubai.

The Al-Gaffal Traditional Dhow Race happens every year and celebrates the dhow, which is a style of boat still used in the region. The race began Monday on Sir Bu Nair Island, which is about 100 kilometers west of Dubai. The ships gathered at dawn and the race began. It lasted

about five hours and the finish line saw racers arrive near the iconic sailed-shaped Burj al-Arab hotel. The winners in this year’s contest was a team on a boat called the Ghazi, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the crown prince of Dubai.

PSC Softballers pose for a group photo. Sunday, 13 May saw the numbers grow a bit from the inaugural PSC Recreational Softball outing last week as players, including two members of the Thai Women’s National Softball team from Bangkok were on hand to participate. With the field set up and both teams warmed up and

ready to go, the heavens opened up drenching the field and sending the players to cover. It was soon obvious the field would be unplayable for a least a couple of hours so all agreed to “postpone due to inclement weather” and meet up again, same place, same time, next Sunday, May 20.

For complete information regarding the PSC Recreational Softball program; contacts, schedule, location, etc., please visit the “Softball” page on the P S C w e b s i t e at www. pattayasports.net. All players are welcome and it cannot rain every Sunday afternoon can it?

Harbor Mall to stage 2nd Gulf Serena Williams’ coach says of Siam hockey tourney she will return for French Open Rome (AP) - Serena Williams’ coach says she will play the French Open beginning in less than two weeks. The tournament will mark the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s first major since returning to the tour from maternity leave. Coach Patrick Mouratoglou tells the WTA tour’s website, “Serena will play the French Open to win it.” Williams returned to the tour briefly this year, after a 14-month absence to give birth to her daughter. But she withdrew from last week’s Madrid Open and this week’s Italian Open. Mouratoglou says when Williams arrived to train with him in France late last month, “We realized that she was not ready yet. The time she lost after the delivery with all the medical issues she had to go through, was missing.” Mouratoglou adds, “That is the reason why we decided to skip Madrid and Rome as she needed five weeks to be perfectly ready. ... I

Serena Williams. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) am very satisfied and confident that she will be ready for Roland Garros.” Williams, a three-time French Open champion, has not played since a first-round loss to Naomi Osaka in March at the Miami Open. Roland Garros starts on May 27.

Pattaya Destroyers and the Predators ice hockey teams pose for a group photo.

Pattaya Cricket Club maintain push for ESCL title Surrounded by thunder clouds and lightning, Pattaya Cricket Club entertained local rivals Asian Stars in the latest round of Eastern Seaboard Cricket League fixtures at the very wet but playable Thai Polo Ground last Sunday. After winning the toss, the PCC captain Simon Philbrook had no hesitation in asking the powerful batting line up of the Asian Stars to bat first. In the sultry conditions the PCC opening attack of Salman Khan and Wezley Masterton were exemplary with their line and length. Despite some early boundaries from Darmesh (11), PCC controlled the run rate and Salman made the deserved breakthrough as Ben Charleston held onto a spiralling catch at backward point. Salman struck again two balls later as he trapped Dimple lbw and wrapped up

his spell with the wicket of Manoj, caught joyfully by Venky. Asian Stars started to rebuild the innings as the ball softened in the wet conditions with Bilial and Mazar at the crease. Enter Andy Emery. Just before the drinks break he had Mazar (8) caught in the covers, next ball he held a fantastic low return catch to send Sam (0) back to the tent and then he trapped Satnaam (0) back on his stumps lbw to complete his first hat-trick for the club. It was an innings changing 3 balls and PCC refused to relieve the pressure despite some wonderful strokeplay from Bilal. Lee Standen clean bowled two tail-enders and completed a run out to leave Bilal with the final Asian Star batsman. Andy returned to wrap up the innings as he had Bilal caught in the deep for a marvellous

72 but it was Andy’s 4/14 that put PCC in control and needing 131 runs for victory. In reply Manik and Wezley faced some determined and sometimes hostile new ball bowling but both weathered the storm, literally, and ensured the PCC innings started positively. With 46 runs on the board from 9 overs PCC were looking very much in command, but the wickets of

Wezley (12) and Venky (0) soon halted the momentum. Andy (10) steadied the chase with the unflappable Manik who was in imperious touch. But, a flurry of late wickets including Manik for a wonderful 67 created a little panic in the home dressing room before Lee Standen settled the contest with a glorious drive over extra cover and a straight six. PCC won with an over to spare and Manik deservedly was presented with the man of the match trophy. The win means PCC are now joint top of the ESCL with 3 fixtures remaining, the next of which is Sunday 20th May against the Southerners. PCC would like to encourage anyone with a passion for the game to join the club by visiting the club website www.pattayacricketclub.com or the Facebook page.

Four teams will compete in the upcoming Gulf of Siam Classic ice hockey tournament, being staged at The Rink, on the 5th floor of the Harbor Mall on Pattaya Klang (Central Road) from May 18-19. The teams taking part this year are outfits from Phuket and Bangkok, plus Jellonas Finland and the favoured hometown Pattaya Destroyers. The two-day tournament will start on Friday at 6pm and Saturday at 3pm. Admissionis free. and this year the tourney will be a 4-on-4 format. One of the players to watch is Pattaya’s Oleg Kabokov,

who played in the KHL and with former NHL star Jaromir Jagr. The Pattaya Ice Hockey Association (PIHA) was founded on 9th September 2017. At that time, three separate teams were formed: the Pattaya Destroyers (sponsored by the Pattaya Sports Club), the Predators (sponsor by Euro Design Furniture), and the All Stars (sponsored by PIHA funds). The Pattaya Destroyers practice Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights from 8:4510:15pm at the Harbor Mall. For more information, visit w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / pattayaicehockey.

30 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

Vasiliy Lomachenko (left) of Ukraine, avoids a punch from Jorge Linares, of Venezuela, during their WBA lightweight championship fight on Saturday, May 12, in New York. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen)

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova returns the ball against The Netherlands’ Kiki Bertens during the Madrid Open tennis tournament women’s final in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 12. Kvitova won the final 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-3. (AP Photo/ Francisco Seco)

Detroit Tigers’ Jose Iglesias is hit by a pitch in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners in Detroit, Sunday, May 13. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Britain’s Simon Yates celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 9th stage of the Giro d’Italia cycling race in Campo Imperatore, Italy, Sunday, May 13. (Daniel Dal Zennaro/ANSA via AP)

Webb Simpson hits from an 18th hole sand trap during the third round of The Players Championship golf tournament Saturday, May 12, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson dunks during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, Sunday, May 13, in Boston. (AP Photo/ Michael Dwyer)

Germany’s Mathias Niederberger eyes the puck during the Ice Hockey World Championships group B match between Germany and Finland at the Jyske Bank Boxen arena in Herning, Denmark, Sunday, May 13. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

VOL. XXVI No. 20

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 31

PATTAYA MAIL

A ‘real’ Jaguar

Brabham name resurrected Jack may have passed on, but his memory is still fresh. Just months after the end of Australian car manufacturing, Australia says it is back in the game. Granted, it’s only a track car and, agreed, there are just 70 examples to be built, but the mid-engined Brabham BT62 coupe just might be the start of something big. At nearly $2 million, plus options and taxes, the BT62 is far and away the most expensive car anyone has tried to put into series production from this country. But it doesn’t appear to be one of those pie-in-the-sky prototypes regularly unveiled around the world in the hope of attracting backers. The Giocattalo was one of those. The funding is already in place, and the car has been in secret development since early 2016. The long-term plan is to build a series of Brabham models out of a 15,000 square meter facility in Edinburgh Parks, northern

Brabham BT 62 Adelaide, as part of a plan to develop a new transport manufacturing and technology hub. This newly acquired site is just a stone’s throw from Holden’s recently shuttered Elizabeth factory. Production of the Brabham BT62 is ready to start, according to the company’s director of manufacturing, Christian Reynolds. “One of the things that we wanted to do from a brand perspective is not necessarily come out with a concept prototype

and then try and keep the media fed for 18 or 24 months while we get ready to deliver a production tested vehicle. It is tested, is demonstrable in performance, and we’re able to commercialize in terms of taking deposits now.” These types of one-off ’ supercars have had a checkered history in Australia, but you never know, with the Brabham name, it might just make it. Certainly a wild looking car.

Pattaya Mail scores a third at the Bira Circuit The Toyo series May 5 th and 6 t h was held at the famous Bira Circuit, on Highway 36, coming from Rayong, the circuit is on the left about 300 meters after the 331 flyover. This was an important meeting for the Gerry-at-Rix team (say it quickly) competing in the Retro Class (Pre 1985 cars) with their 1973 Mk 1 Ford Escort. This was the first race back for both the car and its driver Dr. Iain, after a huge crash last November in which the car looked to be a total writeoff and the driver was more than slightly secondhand. However, Thai panel shops are amazing with what they can do. It took three months to pull the twisted shell into shape, and then reinforce all weak points. It was then delivered back to us in Pattaya as a bare shell, whereupon every item had to be checked before bolting back into the shell. At that stage we found that even the rear axle was bent, as well as the front, the steering rack, radiator, intercooler, all glassware, parts of the roll-cage, wiring harness, fuel tank and pumps and lots more that I can’t remember!

Dr. Iain and his ancient Escort. In the crash Dr. Iain suffered a 15 stitch laceration to the groin, a fractured tail bone and a couple of ribs, so the driver needed some repairs as well. Fortunately Dr. Iain works at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya so personal repairs began immediately. The car turned a wheel in anger for the first time on the 5th May and it was with some trepidation that Dr. Iain climbed into the driver’s seat. Minor problems were expected and firstly the car’s brake pedal locked on increasing the trepidation! Next problem was a leak from the new radiator. To add to the drama, the heavens opened making the track very slippery. Sunday 6 th saw car and driver heading out on to the

circuit, with crossed fingers if I am to be honest! The Escort made progress through the field, stayed on the bitumen, didn’t hit anything and was awarded the trophy for third. When we reached the podium, the drivers insisted Dr. Iain take the top step as it was felt by all that to even be there and racing was a fantastic effort. The Escort is now back in the workshop for a full (unhurried) spanner check and will be taken out for private practice in a couple of weeks. This, no-pressure running will settle the car, and the driver! In that time, the sponsor’s logos will be laser cut and then applied to the car. And yes, Pattaya Mail is one of the sponsors.

For those who need reminding, the Jaguar C-type (officially designated the Jaguar XK120-C) was a racing car built by Jaguar and sold from 1951 to 1953. With an aerodynamic body designed by Malcolm Sayer and a lightweight, multi-tubular, triangulated frame designed by Bob Knight, a total of 52 were built. (No wonder there is a thriving market amongst enthusiasts worldwide for replicas of exceptional quality.) Mechanically, the C Type used the running gear of the contemporary XK120 sports car (the C stands for ‘competition’). The twin-cam, six cylinder engine was tuned to around 153kW rather than the 134kW of the road car. The custom, tubular chassis and aluminum body-panels, along with the elimination of creature-comforts, helped the car to shed nearly 454kg compared to a comparable Jaguar road car. The later C-Types were more powerful, using triple twin-choke

Jaguar XK 120 C. Weber carburetors and high-lift cooling system, and subsecamshafts. They were also quently all three entries retired lighter and better braked, by due to overheating. In 1953, means of all-round disc the car won again, in a lightened, brakes. more powerful configuration, The Jaguar C-Type won the driven by Duncan Hamilton Le Mans 24 hours race at its and Tony Rolt. This victory first attempt in 1951, driven marked the first time the race by Peter Walker and Peter had been won at an average Whitehead and in so doing, of over 100 mph (105.85 mph became the first car to win a - 170.34 km/h, to be precise). major race using disc brakes. I remember those halcyon In 1952 Jaguar, worried by days when the Border Rievers reports of the speed of the team raced their C-Type Jaguars Mercedes-Benz 300SL, at the Charterhall circuit. Inmodified the aerodynamics cluded in the team were a to increase the top speed. certain J. Clark and J. Stewart, However, this necessitated as well as Ninian Sanderson a rearrangement of the car’s and Duncan Hamilton.

No rain in Spain? The current crop of F1 drivers has not improved since the previous outing in Azerbaijan. The simple lesson that you don’t win the race on the first lap – you only lose the race on the first lap, has yet to be learned. Remember too, that these drivers (the ‘best’ in the world) have come through the ranks of Go-Karts to lesser formulae and then won their places on the F1 grid. That journey takes about 10+ years, so you would imagine they have learned the lesson by now. Grosjean in the Haas has not, taking out Gasly (Toro Rosso) and Hulkenberg (Renault) with his ineptness. This is one driver who was suspended a few years ago for his ability to crash on the first lap. He should stick to authoring cook books with his wife. You will not see him in F1 next year. The remaining 17 drivers were there only to show just how good is Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), as he was never challenged over the remaining 65 laps. His team mate Veltteri Bottas has confirmed his talent as a capable journeyman and nothing else. Second place while driving the best car. Third was ‘Mad Max Crashstappen’ in the Red Bull, who (almost) got through a complete race without hitting anybody, but did manage to lose half his front wing on the way to the checkered flag by tapping Stroll in the Williams. Come back Maldonado, all is forgiven. After jumping Bottas, Vettel (Ferrari) gave the impression that he would take the fight to Hamilton. He did not and despite changing tyres under a Virtual Reality Safety Car he could not even get close enough to Max to be in the position of a challenge. Ricciardo (Red Bull), despite setting a new

lap record, was not his usual exciting self and a lonely fifth did nothing for his previously lauded reputation. Out of contract at year’s end he will have to smarten up and defeat Max or he may find that nobody needs him. Magnussen (Haas), Sainz (Renault), Alonso (McLaren, Perez (FIndia) and Leclerc (Sauber) enlivened the mid-field, but it was not enough to elevate the overall race to a bit more than soporific. Driver of the day was again Leclerc despite this being his first season in F1, beating Stroll (Williams and Daddy’s money), Hartley (Toro Rosso), Ericsson (Sauber and his team mate), Sirotkin Williams and a sack of Rubles). The next GP is at Monaco, 27 May. Results: 1 L Hamilton Mercedes 1:35.29.972 - 192.945 km/h 2 V Bottas Mercedes 1:35.50.565 - 20.593 3 M Verstappen Red Bull 1:35.56.845 - 26.873 4 S Vettel Ferrari 1:35.57.556 - 27.584 5 D Ricciardo Red Bull 1:36.20.030 - 50.058 6 K Magnussen Haas - 65 laps 7 C Sainz Renault - 65 laps 8 F Alonso McLaren - 65 laps 9 S Perez Force India - 64 laps 10 C Leclerc Sauber - 64 laps 11 L Stroll Williams - 64 laps 12 B Hartley Toro Rosso - 64 laps 13 M Ericsson Sauber - 64 laps 14 S Sirotkin Williams - 63 laps Non Finishers: R S Vandoorne McLaren Gearbox - 45 laps R E Ocon Force India Oil pressure - 38 laps R K Raikkonen Ferrari Mechanical - 25 laps R R Grosjean Haas Accident - 0 laps R P Gasly Toro Rosso Accident - 0 laps R N Hulkenberg Renault Accident

Autotrivia Quiz Last week I drew attention a man known for keeping vehicles on the straight and narrow, or even just around the bend. His principle was patented by his manager, but is still used today, more than 200 years later. I asked who

was he? This related to Ackermann steering geometry which is a geometric arrangement of linkages in the steering of a car or other vehicle designed to solve the problem of wheels on the inside and outside of a turn needing to trace out circles of different radii. It was invented by the German carriage builder Georg Lankensperger in Munich in 1817, then patented by his agent in England, Rudolph Ackermann

(1764–1834) in 1818 for horse-drawn carriages. So to this week. This item was used in many cars, tanks, and planes, but was actually patented in the early 1900’s after having been invented in the late 1800’s and is still in use today. For the free beer at the next car Club meeting, be the first correct answer to email automania@pattayamail.com or viacars@gmail.com. Good luck!

Read Pattaya Mail Online Updated Daily www.pattayamail.com | Facebook/pattayamail Email: ptymail@pattayamail.com

32 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 20

Pattaya Pioneers celebrate ‘We Are Family’ Day

Santsak Ngampiches leads the guests in signing their names in the ‘Heart of Pattaya Pioneers’.

Jetsada Homklin Pattaya politicians and hotel executives came together to reminisce and contemplate the future at the fifth “We Are Family” event. Political Advisor to the Prime Minister Sonthaya

Kunplome opened the May 4 revelry at the Hotel J attended by former MPs, Santsak Ngampiches, Poramet Ngampiches, J Group owners Santi, Somjai and Yuwatida Jirapat, Banglamung Ice Factory owner Pramote Pattanasin, Bartender Association eastern

Arthid, Jan and Rugby enjoy the proceedings.

Veteran hoteliers Suwat Paepiromrath, Pitichote Srimetakul, Pranee Pitaktham and Prasut Susiri join in a panel discussion reminiscing about the good old days. regional boss Yupparaj Wongdaowkul, Pitichote Srimethakul and Pattaya Mail MD Pratheep ‘Peter’ Malhotra. Sonthaya said he was impressed to see many familiar faces, including those he considered some of Pattaya’s founders. Things have changed in the years since and Pattaya has morphed into something new, but the founders will continue to drive the city as family, the elder member of the Kunplome political clan said. A panel discussion on the over 50 year-history of the hospitality industry in Pattaya and the drive to achieve international standards followed. Panelists Suwat Paepiromrath, director of sales and marketing at the Eastern Grand Palace; Pranee Pitaktham, advisor to the Room Service Association

Eastern Thailand, Prasut Suksiri and Pitichote Srimethakul spoke about how some of Pattaya’s oldest, finest resorts were serving guests when Pattaya was far less popular and grew with the city due to high standards for customer service and amenities. Next was a presentation on campaigns to conserve the environment and a general talk on the growing population and rubbish issues. The day also featured free bloodpressure checks from the Public Health Department and free food and drinks.

Direk Pongsawat who worked for decades at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group kept in touch with his old friends and together with Santi Jirapat (right) was instrumental in organizing the reunion for the past 5 years.

Pramote Pattanasin, Peter Malhotra and Yupparaj Wongdaowkul join in chanting the Pattaya Pioneers slogan.

(l-r) Poramet Ngampiches, Pranee Pitaktham, Somjai Jirapat, Santsak Ngampiches, Sonthaya Kunplome, Santi Jirapat, Prasut Susiri, Pitichote Srimethakul and the effervescent MC Umaporn Ratchatawattanakul chant in unison, “Pattaya Pioneers Reunion, We are Family”.

Over a hundred Pattaya Pioneers attended the ‘We are Family Day’.

VOL. XXVI No. 20

FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018 33

PATTAYA MAIL

E-mail: comhaps@pattayamail.com

Events The next meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) will be held on Sunday, May 20. Dr Pantalee, MD, from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya will be speaking about sex hormones in men and women, and what you can do about it. The program starts at 10:30 a.m. with a buffet breakfast available from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on the 4th floor of the Holiday Inn’s Executive Tower, located behind the Holiday Inn’s Bay Tower on Beach Road. A Joint Chambers Eastern Seaboard networking evening will be held at the Movenpick Siam Hotel in Pattaya on Friday, May 18 from 6.00 p.m. – 9 p.m. (last drinks at 8.30 p.m.). Entrance cost is THB 500 on the door for members and THB 1000 for non-members. Admission includes free-flow drinks and finger food. For more information send email to greg@bccthai.com. Jameson’s The Irish Pub in north Pattaya will be showing the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live on the pub’s big screen on Saturday May 19. Happy Hours from 2pm – 10pm with FREE egg mayonnaise sandwiches at 5pm. For more information, call 038 361 873 or visit: www. jamesons-pattaya.com. The BCCT will hold an after-hours Eastern Seaboard business networking event at Jameson’s The Irish Pub on Soi AR, north Pattaya from 5.00 pm – 9.00 pm on Friday, June 1. Entry is free

including finger food. Happy Hour from 5 - 9 pm. Drinks on guest’s own account. For more information, send email to greg@bccthai.com. The spectacular 2018 Pattaya International Fireworks Festival will be held from June 8-9 at Central Pattaya Beach. Starting at 6 p.m. each evening, competing countries will put on short individual displays on the first day while longer 45 minute performances will take place on the second day. Vendors along the Beach Road will provide a multitude of food and refreshments for onlookers. The Pattaya Bikini Beach Race 2018 will take place on Saturday, May 19 at Central Festival Pattaya Beach. Race distances are 3km and 9km and admission fees are 700 & 800 baht. For more information, go to Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ CentralfestivalBikiniBeachRace or call 082-563-1291 The Pattaya International Ladies Club invites you to a Black & White Party at the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya on June 23 beginning at 19.00 hrs. Enjoy a bubbly reception, buffet, disco, raffle prizes and a free flow of wine, beer and soft drinks: Price 1500 baht per person. Dress code Black & White. Email: specialeventspilc @gmail.com. YWCA Pattaya Center will hold the 6th Charity WalkRun on Pattaya Beach on Saturday, June 16 with runners competing for Her Royal

Fax: 038-427596

Highness Princess Somsawalee’s Cups. The races cover distances of 1.5km, 3km, 6km and 10km and admission cost is 400 baht. Proceeds from the event will go towards charitable projects chosen by the YWCA. To register, visit website: https:/ /race.thai.run/ A Farmers’ Market takes place every 2nd Saturday of the month at the Holiday Inn hotel on Pattaya Beach Road from 10.30 am - 3.30 p.m. Products range from wellness items, jewelry, freshly prepared food, organic vegetables and fruits. The next market will be held June 9. A stamp market is held every Sunday from 10.00 a.m. till 3.00 p.m.at Rahnpintang Moe Kata Restaurant, Panji Place, on Soi Ponphraphanimit 7 (200m from the Bangkok Highway underpass). Here can you exchange stamps from the whole world. Call 089 091 3418 for more information and directions.

Dining Benihana Terrace Bar offers a ‘Shushi High Tea’ with fresh sushi and nigiri, California rolls and Temaki, all served with beautiful sea views. High tea served daily from 2pm – 5pm. Price: THB 750++ per set (for two). Benihana is located at the AVANI Pattaya Resort & Spa. Call 038 412 120. Hard Rock’s Pattaya’s World Burger Tour is back and ready to take guests’ taste buds on an international flavor experience. In May, enjoy a choice of Tandoori Spiced Chicken Burger,

English Breakfast Burger, Tango Salsa Burger and Jambalaya Burger. Hard Rock will also showcase the brand’s world-famous beverage menu made up of refreshing cocktails and non-alcoholic options. For more information on World Burger Tour and to contact Hard Rock Cafe Pattaya for menu details, call 038 426 635 or visit www. hardrock.com/cafes/pattaya. Royal Cliff Beach Hotel invites you to a deVine Club Wine Dinner on Friday, 18 May. Experience a 5-course menu featuring extraordinary cuisine prepared by Royal Cliff’s Executive Chef and his talented culinary team, along with premium wines from Vanichwathana Co., Ltd. The evening will commence at the Bar of the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel at 6:30 pm. Dinner will be served at 7.15 pm at the Royal Grill Room and Wine Cellar. Price: THB 2,500++ for deVine Wine Club members and THB 2,750++ for non-members. For more information and reservations, call 038 250 421 ext. 2782 or email uaaree@royalcliff.com. Every Wednesday during the month of May you can enjoy a delicious seafood buffet dinner from 18.0021.00 pm at the Persimmon restaurant, Pattana Golf Club & Resort, priced at just 399 baht net per person. For further information or reservations, call 038 318 999 Ext 11230 or Email: restaurant @pattana.co.th. Buffet Theme Nights @ Coast: Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya.

All buffet nights priced at only THB 999 net per person! Wild Wild West Mondays buffet serves a wide variety of dishes including steak, polar fresh seafood, salad, desserts buffet and ice cream every Monday night from 18.30 – 22.45 hrs. Asian Seafood BBQ, served every Tuesday night from 18.3022.45 hrs, with a big selection. Enjoy a BBQ buffet specializing in Korean and Japanese cuisine every Wednesday night from 18.30 – 22.45 hrs. Hawaiian Seafood BBQ buffet spread includes a popular Hawaiian & Polynesian dance show every Thursday night from 18.30 – 22.45 hrs. Samba Night Fridays offer a Churrasco BBQ buffet and live Samba dance show every Friday night from 18.30 – 22.45 hrs. Coast Beach Club & Bistro is located on the beachfront of the hotel at Wong Amat Beach in North Pattaya. Call 038 301 234 for reservations. In May and June, Hilton Pattaya invites you to experience a variety of special menus featuring free range chicken. ‘Flare’ Restaurant presents slow cooked free range chicken with Thai herbs at THB 650 net; ‘Drift’ Lobby Lounge & Bar introduces appetizers including deep fried free range chicken with Thai seasoning and herbs at THB 350 net and chicken in massaman curry

served with French fries at THB 350 net. ‘Horizon’ Rooftop Restaurant and Bar recommends roasted free range chicken with truffle oil served with riceberry and quinoa pilaf, baby carrots, Shimeji mushrooms, and asparagus at THB 850 net. For more information or reservations, call 038-253-000 or bkkhp_fb@hilton.com or pattaya.hilton.com.

Delicious free-range chicken dishes at Hilton Pattaya. The Bay Grill & Buffet at Dusit Thani Pattaya: Dine with a sea view and enjoy seafood and meat barbecue accompanied by Thai and international items from soup, appetizers and main courses to dessert for only THB 1200++ per person. Free flowing beverage for additional THB 599++ per person. The Bay is open daily from 18:30 - 22:00. Call 038 425 611-7 ext. 2149 0r 2150 for more information and reservations. Continued on page 35

34 FRIDAY MAY 18, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 20

diningout@pattayamail.com

(Cote d’) Azure Never heard of the Azure restaurant? The ‘new’ Azure is where the old Fabrice restaurant used to be, but the restaurant/bar/resort has been taken over by a very well experienced restaurateur, who has shown that he is a man with vision.

take Soi Marb Yai Leer (AKA Ban Lang 8 Road) on the left at the staggered intersection with a 7-Eleven. (The road running off on your right is 10 meters further on and has a big sign for Tara, and is not the one you want.) Follow the left hand road, taking the

retractable roof to counter the vagaries of the weather. Crockery and cutlery are good quality and the rattan chairs very comfortable. The menu is mainly photographic and very reasonably priced. Appetizers range from B. 60-80, sandwiches B. 130-140 with the two croques Monsieur and Madame. Pastas are B 130-220, steaks B. 340-400, pizzas B. 220-300 and Mains B. 200-320, including a fabulous Goulash served in a cast iron bowl set in a wooden box. Great presentation, large portion and very filling.

Starbucks items, and that is a lot of lattes. Azure might be joining the trend at the right time. With the beans coming from the Royal Projects, this restaurant is assisting charities in the North as well as satiating the coffee drinkers on the Dark Side. The description of the coffees reminds me of a wine tasting, and it was pointed out to me that the flavor/taste depends upon the soil chemistry (‘terroir’ in wine terms). There are two types of tree, the Robusta (high caffeine) and the Arabica giving a more

You can’t miss the sign. The outside of the complex is now blue and white, with awnings, louvers, exterior walls and dining restaurant now fitted out with white rattan chairs. The best description is “charming”. Finding Azure is tricky, but not impossible. The simplest way is to come down Nern Plubwan from the railway end rather than Siam Country Club and driving almost to the bottom (where the fancy streetlights commence) and

left fork and continue for a short way and you will see the white and blue Azure Resort on your left with parking in front. 20 meters further on there is also a vacant lot on the left with additional parking. There are two entrances with the one on your right being for the restaurant and the one on your left being for the separate bar. The open restaurant overlooks a very inviting swimming pool and has a

750,000 calorie dessert.

Goulash in the cast iron plate.

A very filling macaroni cheese.

Madame went for the macaroni cheese declared as excellent, followed up by a dessert with around 750,000 calories. For me, the goulash was the dish of the evening. Azure has elevated itself from its somewhat rustic ‘fabrice’ past, to become a rare jewel on the Dark Side. With coffee being a commodity that is peaking in the world – Nestle, for example, has just paid $7.15 billion to market

perfumed coffee. The coffee beans from Northern Thailand are Doi Tung, Doi Chang, Doi Wawee, Peabury, Doi Inthanon, Doi Mork and Doi Luang and are Arabica coffees. The percentages in the cup give subtly different tastes. You have a choice from 10 different coffee grinds and as a novice in the coffee sampling I tried the Opera Italia which has 80 percent Arabica and 20 percent Robusta

and compared it to the coffee from Doi Mork. Both smooth but the Opera Italia was my pick. Discerning customers will be delighted to try all 10 grinds. As an aside, but an important one, the Thai tribes involved in the coffee plantations include Akkha, Lisu and Hmong, all of whom were previously involved in the cultivation of the poppy, but through the

Royal Projects of the late King Rama 9 switched to growing coffee beans. Azure Restaurant and resort, Baan Lang 8 Road, 49/5 Moo 6, Soi Nern Plub Wan, tel +66 89094 1732, www. azureresortpattaya.com, open 8 a.m. through to last orders from the kitchen 9.30 p.m. (BTW there is also the Azure bar adjoining, great fun, but not for children.)