Pattaya Mail - FRIDAY JANUARY 18 - JANUARY 24, 2019 (Vol. XXVII No. 3) by Pattaya Mail Media Group

26th Year

Established in 1993

VOL.XXVII No. 3

Pattaya’s First English Language Newspaper

FRIDAY JANUARY 18 - JANUARY 24, 2019

30 BAHT

Pattaya filled with toys, young hearts filled with joy on Children’s Day

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From navy ships to turtle ponds, jet planes to shopping malls, kids did it all and saw it all on Children’s Day Jan. 12. Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome kicked off Pattaya’s official Children’s Day celebration at city hall under the Prime Minister’s 2019 Children’s Day motto: “Children and youths volunteer to develop the Nation.” It’s all about having fun, a theme these girls had no trouble enacting at Pattaya City School #5. North Road had been closed to traffic and filled with dozens of booths with exhibits, school projects, toys, games and shows for and by the kids. (Full story and more photos on pages 18-19.)

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Beach-management panel meets to decide on more meetings

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Big cleanup after Pattaya Countdown

A new committee charged with the upkeep of Pattaya and Jomtien beaches hopes to bring consistency to enforcement of city regulations.

A new committee charged with the upkeep of Pattaya and Jomtien beaches hopes to bring consistency to enforcement of city regulations. Pattaya City Manager Chanatpong Sriviset chaired the Jan. 10 meeting with Sretapol Boonsawat, an advisor to Jomtien beach masseuses, Pattaya regular enforcement chief Pol. Maj.

Jeerawat Sukonsub and sanitation chief Pramote Subsang. The panel’s mission and agenda covered things city hall already is supposed to be doing and managing, but has failed to enforce consistently. It’s hoped a beachmanagement committee will do a better job. Agenda topics included organization of beach chair

vendors, elimination of rats, organizing masseuses, enforcing the no-smoking policy, solving problems related to vagrants, stray dogs and vermin, garbage collection and use of the beach at night. The huge agenda proved too much to tackle in one session and panelists agreed more meetings would be needed. (PCPR)

Bali Hai expanded without adequate restrooms

Due to inadequate restrooms at Bali Hai, city hall has brought in mobile toilet buses to serve tourists.

Warapun Jaikusol With Bali Hai Pier busier than ever, its shortage of public toilets has become a crisis. More people use the South Pattaya pier than ever now that speedboats have been consolidated there, instead of loading all their passengers from Pattaya Beach. But the order to increase passengers at the pier was issued without proper foresight on planning about restroom facilities.

Complaints grew after news circulated that there are brand-new, never-used public restrooms in the Bali Hai Service Center, a white elephant of a building built for the International Fleet Show in 2017 and never opened. City hall still hasn’t opened those facilities and, instead, has brought in mobile toilet buses to serve tourists. None are accessible to the disabled. Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh claimed the Service

Center is still under construction but said Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome has ordered it to be opened as soon as possible. Offices there will be allocated to the Marine Department, Marine Police and the Tourism Authority of Thailand as well as medical teams. Extra space will be offered for the public to rent. He added that there are discussions underway about building new, permanent restrooms for Bali Hai.

Pattaya sanitation workers faced a massive cleanup after the two-day New Year’s countdown concert, as shown here at the Bali Hai stage grounds.

Pattaya sanitation workers faced a massive cleanup after the two-day New Year’s countdown concert. Overflowing trash bins and large amounts of litter

abounded at Bali Hai Pier. The cleanup wasn’t completed until Jan. 7, when trash trucks came out to haul out the then-rotting refuse. Crews also were dispatched

to Pattaya and Jomtien beaches to clean up the new-year aftermath while other workers pruned trees on Sukhumvit Road. (PCPR)

Boat operators, floating restaurants to be impacted by environmental-law changes Chonburi asked Pattaya-area boat and floating restaurant operators how new environmental regulations might affect them. Deputy Gov. Wisit Pungpetch chaired the Jan. 10 meeting on the latest update to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s list of protected sites in Banglamung District. The draft list outlines coastal and marine areas to receive official government protection, including coral reefs. The regulations will impact the current business practices of boat and jet ski operators as well as several floating restaurants. The operators were given a chance to provide input that will go into the final report. The report covers jobs, security, competitiveness, development and environmental quality. (PCPR)

Deputy Gov. Wisit Pungpetch chairs a meeting on the latest update to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s list of protected sites in Banglamung District.

Nongprue cracks down on sidewalk vendors Jetsada Homklin Nongprue officials evicted street vendors set up illegally on the sidewalks of Soi Khao Noi. Sutin Rakano, deputy chief for the sub-district’s regulatory enforcement department and his team inspected

the area opposite Chokchai Market Jan. 9 following from Soi Khao Noi residents. A shop and restaurants had expanded their sales areas onto the public sidewalk for

about four meters. Officers asked the business owners to move their property inside. They also tracked down the owners of cars who had parked on the footpath.

Nongprue officials evicted street vendors set up illegally on the sidewalks of Soi Khao Noi. They also tracked down the owners of cars who had parked on the footpath.

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Navy welcomes HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej Patcharapol Panrak

The Royal Thai Navy welcomed its most-celebrated warship in decades when the HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej arrived at the Sattahip Naval Base.

The Royal Thai Navy welcomed its most-celebrated warship in decades when the renamed HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej arrived at the Sattahip Naval Base. Navy commander-in-chief Adm. Luechai Ruddit presided over the Jan. 7 reception and fleet-enrollment ceremony for the high-performance frigate that was named the HTMS Tachin when it left Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. in South Korea Dec. 22.

During its voyage to Hong Kong, Vietnam and then Thailand, the Royal Household notified the navy that HM the King Maha Vajiralongkorn had ordered FFG-471 renamed after his father, HM King Rama IX. The 14.6-billion-baht frigate is based on the design of the Gwanggaeto, or Greatclass, destroyer built to the standards of the U.S. and South Korean navies. Leuchai called the ship the most-advanced in the Thai fleet. Equipped with stealth technology, the multi-role frigate

Pattaya launches study into tram system Pattaya has launched a formal feasibility study of using electric trams as part of the city’s efforts to improve mass transit. Deputy City Manager Sutham Petchket chaired the Jan. 10 meeting of local and regional transportation officials and Sumet Piriyawat of Burapa University’s Engineering Faculty who is working as an advisor on the project to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand. The go-ahead for the feasibility study was given Dec. 20 and now Pattaya will hold a series of public meetings to gauge the cost, design, environmental impact and operational

Deputy City Manager Sutham Petchket (right) chairs a meeting to launch a formal feasibility study of using electric trams as part of the city’s efforts to improve mass transit.

aspects of a tram system. In June, Thammasat University researchers tested electric tram cars in Pattaya.

They ran the rubber-wheeled trollies on four routes from Naklua to Jomtien Beach. Pattaya officials in 2016

proposed that a light-rail or tram system be built, with variations on the plan calling for a loop between North and South Pattaya on Beach and Second roads, or just a single track on one of those streets. The tram system is based on one already being built in Khon Kaen. The Pattaya test, funded by the National Science and Technology Development Agency, was designed to collect data for later analysis of capacity, route planning and economic benefits. The next meeting will give local business leaders a chance to give their input on the tram plan. (PCPR)

is intended to protect Thailand’s oceans, ensure security shipping routes and engage in disaster-relief operations. It can support anti-aircraft, anti-surface and anti-submarine naval missions and is capable of detecting distant targets with a towed array sonar and can attack submarines with torpedoes and

long-range weapon systems. The ship’s defense include an advanced harpoon weapon-control system, anti-aircraft gun and closein weapons system. It will carry a 141-man crew, has displacement of 3,700 tons and a maximum speed of 30 knots with an operational range of 4,000 nautical miles.

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Police look for Pattaya Beach ‘troublemaker’ Boonlua Chatree

Chaichana Chemjantuk came to police with a bloody face claiming he had been minding his own business on the beach when a local troublemaker smashed him in the head with a piece of wood.

A beach mat vendor with a bad reputation is running from police after allegedly attacking another man at random on Pattaya Beach. Chaichana Chemjantuk came to police with a bloody face Jan. 9, claiming he had been minding his own business while drinking on the beach when a local troublemaker smashed him in the head with a piece of wood. The incident began when the beach mat vendor, known around the beach as Tom, approached Chaichana and, according to the victim, picked a fight. Chaichana didn’t bite and got Tom to leave. But he returned shortly later with the wood and assaulted Chaichana. Police planned to check CCTVs in the area to locate the mad vendor.

Homeless man beaten for refusing cigarette Boonlua Chatree A homeless man was bludgeoned with a glass bottle after he refused a request to bum a cigarette off him. The unidentified man in his late 30s suffered cuts and bruises to the head in the Jan. 9 attack at Lan Po Public Park. He was treated at Banglamung Hospital. Police arrested one of the two alleged attackers, identified only as Pong. The suspect told police his uncle had tried to bum a cigarette off the homeless man, who refused and insulted him for asking a poor person for cigarettes. The uncle didn’t take kindly to being dressed down and hit the victim with a bottle, shattering it. Police are now looking for Pong’s uncle and holding the suspect as an accomplice.

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Pattaya police detain 8 beggars with infants Boonlua Chatree Pattaya police rounded up six beggars with eight young children after a video shined unfavorable light on the city’s problem with panhandling gangs. Police and Mayuree Damnernpol, director of the Chonburi Protection Center for the Destitute, and representatives from the Chonburi Children and Family Home swept through Pattaya Jan. 9, picking up five women, one man and eight kids, one as young as a year old. The crackdown came after a video went viral showing a woman in her mid-20s holding what appeared to be a newborn infant outside Pattaya School No. 8. Videographer Sunanta

Pattaya police rounded up six beggars with eight young children after a video shined unfavorable light on the city’s problem with panhandling gangs.

Santhep, 29, said she had offered to buy the woman food, send her home and help her find a job. But when she saw the camera, she refused any help and fled the scene. Beggar gangs are deeply involved in human trafficking, forcing Cambodians, Burmese and Laotians into

the trade and using trafficked infants. Police sent the women and children to shelters while DNA tests were performed to determine if the babies were, in fact, their offspring. Most will likely face immigration charges and eventually be deported.

December drug bust leads to 3 new captures Teerarak Suthathiwong

Police arrested one of the two alleged attackers, identified only as Pong, when a homeless man was bludgeoned with a glass bottle after he refused a request to bum a cigarette off him.

Accused rapist arrested again for necklace snatch Boonlua Chatree A Thai man out on bail after allegedly raping a Chinese tourist in October has been arrested again, this time for snatching a gold chain. Naris Khunnean, 26, and accused cohort Jaroonwittaya Sawadkit, 21, were captured in front of an unnamed motorcycle garage in South Naris Khunnean and Jaroonwittaya Sawadkit have been arrested for snatching a gold chain off Pattaya Jan. 9. With them police found the Wipaporn Sonsomnuk on Thepprasit Road. borrowed motorbike used in Police said both men con- they ripped off her gold neckthe Jan. 5 robbery of Wipaporn fessed that, around 12:30 lace worth 28,000 baht. Sonsomnuk, 27, on Thep- a.m., they had followed Naris had been arrested for prasit Road, her gold Phra Wipaporn down Thepprasit the Oct. 21 rape of a Chinese Luang Pu Tud amulet and toward Jomtien Beach and tourist but had been re3,900 baht cash. when she stopped at a light, leased on bail.

The December arrest of a northern drug runner caught with 200,000 methamphetamine pills in Pattaya is paying off, with police arresting his alleged local dealer and two others. Attasit Loywisut, 41, was captured Jan. 10 with 56,000 ya ba pills, two 9-mm. handguns, 20 bullets, two cellphones, three pickup trucks and a motorcycle. Attasit went into hiding in Sattahip last month after the arrest of his alleged boss, Sophon Sainee, a 46-yearold who had spent 16 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamines in Samut Prakan in 2000. Pattaya and Narcotics Suppression Division police were able to get an informant into Attasit’s network, who

Police confiscated 56,000 ya ba pills, two 9-mm. handguns, 20 bullets, two cellphones, three pickup trucks and a motorcycle during the arrest of a local dealer and two others.

gave up the location of a delivery of 20,000 speed pills at the Bira Circuit on Highway 36. Officers and soldiers then raided his house in Ban Chang where more drugs were found. While in that area, narcotics police also arrested two others believed to be dealing

drugs locally. It’s unknown if they were part of Attasit’s ring. Prapaporn Boonlon, 29, was caught with 73 grams of crystal methamphetamine, two grams of ketamine, seven ya ba tablets, and two ecstasy tablets. Winit Kowjan, 30, with apprehended with 17 g. of ya ice.

Chinese credit card fraudsters arrested in Pattaya Teerarak Suthathiwong Two ethnic Chinese men were arrested in Pattaya and charged with using fake credit cards. Taiwan national Chen Hung Cheng, 27, and Wang Fuhui, 30 of China, were captured with 17 bogus cards, three computers, three cellphones and a magnetic strip data reader along with 15,000 baht cash Jan. 12. Immigration police had received word that the two men, believed to be part of a cardfraud gang, had entered Thailand and three search warrants were issued for houses in Seagull Village in Jomtien Beach. But before police ever made it to the houses, they spotted the two men standing in front of the TJ Resort Hotel. The counterfeit cards were found in a bag they were carrying. Police said Chen confessed he worked for Laotian Wen Ping with orders to buy brandname goods that could be hawked for cash. He received three percent of the take and had been working in the gang for almost four years.

Taiwan national Chen Hung Cheng, and Wang Fuhui of China were captured with 17 bogus cards, three computers, three cellphones and a magnetic strip data reader along with 15,000 baht cash.

Wang confessed he was in charge of finding credit card information of banks in Laos before sending it to Wen Ping. He got up to two percent of all income and had been working for a month.

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RTF commander visits injured sailor Navy releases 33 turtles into wild

Adm. Noppadol Supakorn arrives with a flower basket and compensation money for Petty Officer 1st Class Boonsom Promchart at Queen Sirikit Naval Medical Center in Sattahip.

Patcharapol Panrak The commander of the Royal Thai Fleet offered get-well wishes to a sailor aboard the new HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej injured during Tropical Storm Pabuk. Adm. Noppadol Supakorn brought a flower basket and compensation money to Petty Officer 1st Class Boonsom Promchart at Queen Sirikit Naval Medical Center in Sattahip Jan. 9. Boonsom, an artillery chief, was thrown off his feet and cracked his skull when the ship was hit by a towering swell during the storm Jan.

3. He also broke his collarbone and sprained a leg. The HTMS Bhumibol was en route from a shipyard in South Korea at the time.

Boonsom said he was proud to be part of the mission even though he couldn’t participate in the welcome-home ceremony due to his injury.

Rear Adm. Jatuporn Sukchaleam, deputy commander of the 1st Naval Area Command, leads sailors, residents and students to release sea turtles in honor of HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana.

Patcharapol Panrak The Royal Thai Navy released sea turtles to the sea in honor of HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana. Rear Adm. Jatuporn

Sukchaleam, deputy commander of the 1st Naval Area Command, presided over the Jan. 7 ceremony that 74 sailors, residents and students release a 5-year-old female green turtle and 32 baby

hawksbill turtles into the sea. HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana has backed a campaign to revitalize Thailand’s marine ecosystem the replenishment of sea animals and conservation.

Community health volunteers trained About 500 community health volunteers continued their training to improve the quality of health care in Pattaya. Deputy Mayor Poramet Ngampichet opens a Jan. 11 workshop for about 500 community health volunteers to continue their training to improve the quality of health care in Pattaya.

Deputy Mayor Poramet Ngampichet opened the Jan. 11 workshop, one of six held each year for volunteers. Lecturers from the Chonburi and Banglamung District public health departments, Banglamung Hospital and other organizations taught the day’s lessons. Topics covered use of a mobile application to receive

“trustworthy” information on medicines, the “Smart Volunteer” app used when visiting patients, and brush-up lessons on emergency first response techniques. The event also saw 39 volunteers honored for 10 and 20 years of service and 16 awards to neighborhood clinics and outstanding volunteers. (PCPR)

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Pattaya reviews accessibility Immigration: All foreigners working efforts with disabled residents at Pattaya Floating Market legal Pattaya officials and representatives of disabled residents met to check on the progress of projects to improve accessibility and improve the quality of life for the disabled. Deputy Mayor Banlue Kullavanijaya chaired the Jan. 8 meeting of city administrators, social workers and tourism officials who met with local residents who are physically or mentally disabled, blind, deaf or autistic. Officials provided briefings on various projects, such as Dongtan Beach’s redevelopment, which includes three ramps leading to the beach and parking for the disabled. Also discussed was improvements in sidewalks on North Road, wheelchair ramps at the Pattaya Youth Sports

Boonlua Chatree

Deputy Mayor Banlue Kullavanijaya (right) chaired a meeting with officials and representatives of disabled residents to check on the progress of projects to improve accessibility for the disabled.

Center and the wheelchairaccessible overpass on Sukhumvit Road. The meeting also discussed ways to provide learning equipment to Redemptorist

Technological College so students there could study with non-disabled students at other schools, thus helping them integrate better into society. (PCPR)

Group donates wheelchair to Nong Krabok resident

The Love Song and Merit Power Group used funds raised at a December concert to purchase and donate a wheelchair to a disabled Soi Nong Krabok resident.

Jetsada Homklin The Love Song and Merit Power Group used funds raised at a December concert to purchase and donate a wheelchair to a disabled Soi

Nong Krabok resident. Kawinchai Wongpetch, organizer of the Old Thai Folk Music Contest hosted at the Nongprue Sub-district office last month, said Jan. 10 that money raised by the

show was used to purchase the wheelchair. The group regularly supplies wheelchairs to seniors and disabled residents. To date, it has given out five chairs and 30,000 baht in additional support, Kawinchai said. Anyone needing a wheelchair can submit an application by calling him at 095-4949-259.

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Immigration police said all foreigners working at the Pattaya Floating Market are doing so legally after responding to complaints by xenophobic Thais. Officers checked the entire tourist attraction, checking passports, visas and work permits for 43 foreign sellers. Paperwork for all of them were found to be in order. Chonburi Immigration Office officials said the inspection resulted from numerous complaints and baseless allegations from Thais about foreigners working

Immigration police said all foreigners working at the Pattaya Floating Market are doing so legally.

at the floating market. Immigration officials planned

to check other local markets as well.

Sattahip officials join navy on drug patrol, catch only seasickness Patcharapol Panrak Sattahip’s district chief and nine other local administrators joined the Royal Thai Navy on a narcotics-interdiction mission, but succeeded only in getting seasick. Anucha Intasorn, a former naval cadet, and a group of deputy chiefs, village headmen, defense volunteers and district narcotics officers went aboard the HTMS Sattahip Jan. 9 for the firstof-its-kind joint patrol for drugs with the navy. Vice Adm. Banjob Poedaeng, commander of the first naval area command, saw the group off as it steamed out into rough seas. Still churned up by last week’s tropical storm, the Gulf of Thailand was hit with swells, along with high winds that rocked the ship.

Sattahip’s district chief and nine other local administrators joined the Royal Thai Navy on a narcotics-interdiction mission, but succeeded only in getting seasick.

All the civilians, including the district chief, got terribly seasick, with some passing out and most vomiting. Sailors

provided their drug-catching partners with first aid instead and the mission returned to port having caught no one.

Firefighters, rescuers undergo training Pattaya firefighters and marine rescuers brushed up on their emergency-response skills at a five-day training course. Deputy Mayor Wuthipol Charoenpol and Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department chief Surath Thepchaito opened the Jan. 10-14 course at the Jomtien Fire Station. A second round of training is scheduled for Jan. 24-29. Employees from the disaster mitigation department, Sea Rescue Center staffers and Marine Department workers jointly trained on emergency-response techniques, focusing on cooperation when accidents occur at sea. The courses are meant to bolster skills and response as well as reassure tourists about safety in Pattaya. (PCPR)

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department chief Surath Thepchaito opens training for Pattaya firefighters and marine rescuers to brush up on their emergency-response skills.

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Tech’s big gadget show edges closer to gender equity Barbara Ortutay New York (AP) - The world’s largest tech conference has apparently learned a big lesson about gender equity. CES, the huge annual consumer-electronics show in Las Vegas, caught major flak from activists in late 2017 when it unveiled an all-male lineup of keynote speakers for the second year in a row. Although it later added two female keynoters, the gathering’s “boys’ club” reputation remained intact. It didn’t help that one of the unsanctioned events latching on to CES last year was a nightclub featuring female “robot strippers.” This year, four of the nine current keynoters are women. GenderAvenger, the activist group that raised a ruckus last year, recently sent CES organizers a congratulatory letter and awarded the show a “Gold Stamp of Approval” for a roster of keynote and “featured” speakers that it says is 45 percent women - 60 percent of them women of color. It’s a significant change for CES, which like most tech conferences remains disproportionately male, just like the industry it serves. Even absent the robot dogs, sci-fi worthy gadgets and “booth babes” CES has been known for, you could readily peg it as a technology show from the

bathroom lines alone - where men shift uncomfortably as they wait their turn while women waltz right in. The four-day CES show opened Tuesday, though media previews began Sunday. Keynoters this year include IBM CEO Ginni Rometty; Lisa Su, CEO of chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices; and U.S. Transportation Security Elaine Chao. The entire featured speaker list is currently half female, although the exact percentage won’t be known until after the event. “There is no question we keep trying to do better,” said Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, which organizes CES. “Diversity is about having people who see things differently - frankly, disagree with you and tell you that you are stupid,” said Tania Yuki, CEO of social media analytics company Shareablee and an attendee of CES for the past several years. The big question, she says, is whether CES has really listened to its critics. CES is the place to be for tech companies and startups to show off their latest gadgets and features. More than 180,000 people are expected to attend this year, and some 4,500 companies will be on the convention floor. Among them are newcomers like Tide maker Procter & Gamble,

In this Jan. 8, 2018, file photo a model performs at a display for Sony cameras after a Sony news conference at CES International in Las Vegas. Critics have been on the case of one of the tech industry’s largest trade shows for not including enough female speakers. That seems to be changing this year at CES, the huge consumer-electronics show in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

defense contractor Raytheon and tractor seller John Deere - all eager to burnish their technology bona fides. But really leveling the playing field often means more than inviting female CEOs to speak. For starters, women and people of color are underrepresented in the tech industry, especially in leadership and technical roles. So, conference organizers might need to look harder, or be more flexible in who they invite to speak. There are also optics. While recent attendees say “booth babes” - scantily clad women

hawking gadgets - no longer seem to be a presence, some companies still hire “fitness models,” largely young women wearing tight-fitting outfits, to demo products. This can make it difficult for the few women at the show who are there as executives, engineers and other technologists, as men mistake them for models, too. “When you are talking about scantily clad models you are setting a tone,” said Bobbie Carlton, the founder of Innovation Women, a speaker bureau for women. “It is a slippery slope and

you end up with this type of mentality that runs through industry, where women are objectified and are only useful if they look good.” More optics: Until recently, a porn convention taking place immediately after CES appeared more diverse than CES itself. Not a good look for the tech confab. There are also logistical challenges, Carlton said. For example, women often work for smaller companies, which can find it more challenging to “send someone crosscountry to stay at a fancy hotel for three days,” she said.

Rajia Abdelaziz is CEO of invisaWear, a startup that makes smart “safety jewelry.” While she’s attending CES this year, she said it wasn’t worth the $10,000 it would cost her company to have its own conventionfloor booth. In addition to the cost concerns, Abdelaziz notes that her products are primarily aimed at women and there just aren’t that many of them at CES. Women are also still more likely to be responsible for the home and for child care, so they might turn down speaking opportunities if the timing doesn’t work for them, Carlton said. CES has tried to make some concessions. For example, it offers private pods for women to pump breast milk at the event. But it doesn’t offer child care support, unlike the smaller Grace Hopper Celebration for Women in Computing conference, a fall event aimed at women in computer science. Organizers note that children are not permitted at CES. Although kids are also banned from Grace Hopper, that conference still manages to offer free child care for attendees. Still, Yuki is hopeful that CES is on the right track. “It’s a big conference,” she said. “You can only turn a very big ship very slowly.”

China begins first surface exploration of moon’s far side Ken Moritsugu Beijing (AP) - A Chinese space rover has explored the lunar terrain in the world’s first mission on the surface of the far side of the moon. Jade Rabbit 2 drove off a ramp on Thursday night, January 3, and onto the soft, powdery surface after a Chinese spacecraft made the first-ever soft landing on the moon’s far side. A photo posted online by China’s space agency showed tracks left by the rover as it headed away from the spacecraft. “It’s a small step for the rover, but one giant leap for the Chinese nation,” Wu Weiren, the chief designer of the Lunar Exploration Project, told state broadcaster CCTV, in a twist of U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong’s famous

comment when he became the first human to walk on the moon in 1969. “This giant leap is a decisive move for our exploration of space and the conquering of the universe.” Previous moon landings, including America’s six manned missions from 1969 to 1972, have been on the near side of the moon, which faces Earth. The far side has been observed many times from lunar orbits, but never explored on the surface. China’s space community is taking pride in the successful landing, which posed technical challenges because the moon blocks direct communication between the spacecraft and its controllers on Earth. China has been trying to catch up with the United

In this photo provided on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019, by China National Space Administration via Xinhua News Agency, Yutu-2, China’s lunar rover, leaves wheel marks after leaving the lander that touched down on the surface of the far side of the moon. (China National Space Administration/Xinhua News Agency via AP)

States and other nations in space exploration. “The landing on the far

side shows China’s technology is powerful,” said He Qisong, a space expert at the

East China University of Science and Law in Shanghai. While China’s space program still lags America’s, He said “China has already positioned itself at least as good as Russia and the European Union.” The news cheered people on the streets of Beijing on Friday, many of whom said it showed that China can now achieve or even surpass what the United States has done. “I think this is very good evidence that we are now able to compete with the Americans,” said energy company employee Yao Dajun. “You can get on the moon and so can we - I think this is very good. It means our science and technology ability is getting stronger and the country is becoming more powerful.” The news inspired dreamier thoughts for advertising employee Shang Yuegang. “Probably after some years

ordinary people like us can also travel up there to take a look,” he said. The Chinese rover has six powered wheels, allowing it to continue to operate even if one wheel fails. It has a maximum speed of 200 meters (220 yards) per hour and can climb a 20-degree hill or an obstacle up to 20 centimeters (8 inches) tall. The surface is soft and it is similar to that when you are walking on the snow,” rover designer Shen Zhenrong of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said on CCTV. Exploring the cosmos from the far side of the moon could eventually help scientists learn more about the early days of the solar system and even the birth of the universe’s first stars. The far side is popularly called the “dark side” because it can’t be seen from Earth and is relatively unknown, not because it lacks sunlight.

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Smoking reduces the risk of Dementia? In the Pattaya Mail there has been much debate in the Reader’s Letters page over smoking. I have zealously resisted the chance to hop into the minefield, and it certainly seems that the same old names are there week after week. While much of the debate is whether or not sidestream smoke is dangerous for the individuals in that environment, it also encompasses whether smokers have any “rights” and many will justify their “choice” saying that it hurts nobody but themselves. I am not joining the debate, as it is usually a pointless exercise, as many of you have already found. But perhaps the following may be of interest when looking at the arguments put forward. The smokers amongst you will have seized on that headline and are now voraciously reading this item, in the hope that you have some evidence to throw in the face of those who would point the finger at all smokers. As reported in the British Medical Journal, a publication not known for wild and extravagant claims, researchers investigated claims that smoking enhances memory, vigilance, attention and reduces the risk of Dementia. Now, when the British Medical Journal (BMJ) publishes results, the author has been checked for his or her bona fides, and the results are also checked by independent specialists. When the BMJ publishes something, it is authoritative.

In the article ‘Long term smoking contributes to cognitive decline’, the study was based on about 500 men and women who were all born in 1936 and who had taken part in the same IQ survey in 1947, and who had agreed to be re-examined at the age of about 64 between 2000 - 2002 to measure any decline. In essence, what the researchers did, was to look at the IQ score of the 500 people when they were 11 years old, and then compare the scores at age 64. It was found that many factors were involved, including education, occupation, lung function and smoking. The authors, from universities at Aberdeen and Edinburgh, reported in a paper in Addictive Behaviors, “Current smokers and non-smokers had significantly different mental test scores at age 64. This difference remained after adjustment for childhood IQ,” said the authors. Now comes the crunch line. “After adjustment for childhood IQ, a positive smoking history was associated with lower performance on tests of psychomotor speed and on a composite score derived from five cognitive tests,” says the report. “There were no differences in IQ at age 11 by smoking status, but by age 64, current smokers were performing less well on cognitive tests than non-smokers and former smokers. Psychomotor speed was lower in smokers.” After taking every other variable factor into consideration, the research debunked the claims that smoking enhances

memory, vigilance, attention and reduces the risk of Dementia. In fact, it was quite the reverse. Quoting directly from the report in the BMJ, “We conclude that long term smoking does not produce long term cognitive benefits; to the contrary, smoking makes a small but significant contribution to cognitive decline from age 11 to 64.” The authors added, “The data obtained here suggest that about 5.7 percent of the variance in cognitive function at age 64 is attributable to the effects of education and occupation after adjustment for IQ at age 11. Thereafter, small but significant negative contributions amounting to no more than about 4 percent are made by a combination of smoking and impaired lung function acting both together and alone. Although negative effects on cognition are relatively small in terms of a single individual, these effects are important at the population level. As a lifestyle choice, they are open to modification and thereby to enhancement of retention of cognitive function.” This research has shown that you can expect a slow deterioration in your mental function, but if you remain interested in life and continue your education, have an interesting job and don’t smoke, you have every chance of still being on the ball when you turn 64. But as a smoker, you will have reduced your mental capacity by 10 percent. Now while 10 percent doesn’t sound much, in the IQ stakes, it means a lot!

Low carb? Low fat? What the latest dieting studies tell us mean you have to subsist on steak drizzled in butter to be healthy. Bruce Y. Lee, a professor of international health at Johns Hopkins, said the lessons learned from the anti-fat fad should be applied to the anticarb fad: don’t oversimplify advice. “There’s a constant look for an easy way out,” Lee said.

Candice Choi New York (AP) - Bacon and black coffee for breakfast, or oatmeal and bananas? If you’re planning to try to lose weight in 2019, you’re sure to find a fierce debate online and among friends and family about how best to do it. It seems like everyone has an opinion, and new fads emerge every year. Two major studies last year provided more fuel for a particularly polarizing topic the role carbs play in making us fat. The studies gave scientists some clues, but, like other nutrition studies, they can’t say which diet - if any - is best for everyone. That’s not going to satisfy people who want black-andwhite answers, but nutrition research is extremely difficult and even the most respected studies come with big caveats. People are so different that it’s all but impossible to conduct studies that show what really works over long periods of time. Before embarking on a weight loss plan for the new year, here’s a look at some of what was learned last year.

Fewer carbs, fewer pounds? It’s no longer called the Atkins Diet, but the lowcarb school of dieting has been enjoying a comeback. The idea is that the refined carbohydrates in foods like white bread are quickly converted into sugar in our bodies, leading to energy swings and hunger. By cutting carbs, the claim is that weight loss will be easier because your body

So which is better?

This June 9, 2014 file photo shows a dish of steak and cheese pasta in Concord, N.H. Two major studies in 2018 provided more fuel for the debate around carbs and fats, yet failed to offer a resolution to the polarizing matter of the best way to lose weight. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

will instead burn fat for fuel while feeling less hungry. A recent study seems to offer more support for low-carb proponents. But, like many studies, it tried to understand just one sliver of how the body works. The study, co-led by an author of books promoting low-carb diets, looked at whether varying carb levels might affect how the body uses energy. Among 164 participants, it found those on low-carb diets burned more total calories than those on high-carb diets. The study did not say people lost more weight on a low-carb diet - and didn’t try to measure that. Meals and snacks were tightly controlled and continually adjusted so everyone’s weights stayed stable.

David Ludwig, a lead author of the paper and researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital, said it suggests limiting carbs could make it easier for people to keep weight off once they’ve lost it. He said the approach might work best for those with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Ludwig noted the study wasn’t intended to test longterm health effects or realworld scenarios where people make their own food. The findings also need to be replicated to be validated, he said. Caroline Apovian of Boston University’s School of Medicine said the findings are interesting fodder for the scientific community, but that they shouldn’t be taken as advice for the average person looking to lose weight.

Do I avoid fat to be skinny? For years people were advised to curb fats, which are found in foods including meat, nuts, eggs, butter and oil. Cutting fat was seen as a way to control weight, since a gram of fat has twice as many calories than the same amount of carbs or protein. Many say the advice had the opposite effect by inadvertently giving us license to gobble up fat-free cookies, cakes and other foods that were instead full of the refined carbs and sugars now blamed for our wider waistlines. Nutrition experts gradually moved away from blanket recommendations to limit fats for weight loss. Fats are necessary for absorbing important nutrients and can help us feel full. That doesn’t

Another big study this past year found low-carb diets and low-fat diets were about equally as effective for weight loss. Results varied by individual, but after a year, people in both groups shed an average of 12 to 13 pounds. The author noted the findings don’t contradict Ludwig’s low-carb study. Instead, they suggest there may be some flexibility in the ways we can lose weight. Participants in both groups were encouraged to focus on minimally processed foods like produce and meat prepared at home. Everyone was advised to limit added sugar and refined flour. “If you got that foundation right, for many, that would be an enormous change,” said Christopher Gardner of Stanford University and one of the study’s authors. Limiting processed foods could improve most diets by cutting down overall calories, while still leaving wiggle

room for people’s preferences. That’s important, because for a diet to be effective, a person has to be able to stick to it. A breakfast of fruit and oatmeal may be filling for one person, but leave another hungry soon after. Gardner notes the study had its limitations, too. Participants’ diets weren’t controlled. People were instead instructed on how to achieve eating a low-carb or low-fat in regular meetings with dietitians, which may have provided a support network most dieters don’t have.

So, what works? In the short term you can probably lose weight by eating only raw foods, or going vegan, or cutting out gluten, or following another diet plan that catches your eye. But what will work for you over the long term is a different question. Zhaoping Li, director of clinical nutrition division at the University of California, Los Angeles, says there is no single set of guidelines that help everyone lose weight and keep it off. It’s why diets often fail - they don’t factor into account the many factors that drive us to eat what we do. To help people lose weight, Li examines her patients’ eating and physical activity routines to identify improvements people will be able to live with. “What sticks is what matters,” Li said.

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2019

Odds and Ends The Associated Press

A moose walks into an Alaska hospital and finds a snack Anchorage, Alaska (AP) - A moose wandered into a hospital building in Alaska’s largest city and chowed down on some plants in the lobby as workers watched the massive animal in awe. When a patient mentioned that security staffers were monitoring a moose that got inside the Anchorage building Monday, Stephanie Hupton dashed out and started recording. “Didn’t think we’d have a pet moose,” said Hupton, who works in billing at a physical therapy office inside a building attached to Alaska Regional Hospital. The footage shows the moose browsing around some greenery near an entrance before it stands gazing at the camera’s direction. It briefly lingers before sauntering out through an open door. Hupton said she never felt threatened by the mellow creature. It was an experience she never expected when she moved to Anchorage three years ago from Carroll, Iowa. “It’s definitely different than small-town Iowa,” she said. The moose got inside through doors that were stuck open because of extreme cold in Anchorage, where temperatures hovered around zero Monday, hospital spokeswoman Kjerstin Lastufka said. The plants in the warm lobby were likely inviting to the animal, who ate some of them before leaving after about 10 minutes, Lastufka said. The moose caused no injuries or any big problems, other than the snacking. “It was a pretty calm visit,” Lastufka said. (Alaska Regional Hospital via AP)

Oklahoma game warden catches poacher via dating app Checotah, Okla. (AP) - An Oklahoma woman looking for love got more than she bargained for when she unwittingly shared her exhilaration about illegally shooting a “bigo buck” on a dating app with a state game warden. Oklahoma Game Warden Cannon Harrison says he uncovered the poaching in a conversation on Bumble with a McIntosh County woman. She talked about using a spotlight to shoot the deer at night, outside the rifle season. The woman only harvested the head and back-strap meat - and she sent Harrison pictures as proof. The woman has pleaded guilty to charges of improper possession of an illegally taken animal and taking game out-of-season. She and an accomplice face $2,400 fines. The incident was posted to the Oklahoma Game Wardens Facebook page on Sunday night.

Couple reunited with engagement ring dropped in sewer New York (AP) - Police in New York City say they helped a couple ring in the New Year by reuniting them with their missing engagement ring. NBC New York reports the diamond ring was dropped down a sewer grate Thursday near Times Square. Officers noticed the ring in a grate on Eighth Avenue and 48th Street and recovered it with the help of the FDNY and a police emergency services unit. The NYPD says in a tweet the couple was reunited with their ring Friday. While it was the first engagement ring recovered in 2019, the NYPD found another engagement ring last month that was given back to the couple on “The Ellen Show.”

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Crossword No 1329

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12 FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2019

“Who wants a snack and a prize?”

PATTAYA MAIL

Pattaya City organized the 2019 Children’s Day event under the motto announced by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha: “Children, youth and volunteers join together for the development of the nation’s children and youth to follow the guidelines of the volunteer spirit in order to continue His Majesty’s determination to be giving, have a generous heart and be dedicated to the public.” Dusit Thani Pattaya, led by General Manager Neoh Kean Boon, the staff and management together with other patronages joined the National Children’s Day 2019 activities as part of hotel’s ongoing CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) General Manager Neoh Kean Boon hands out snacks and gifts to deserving children on National Children’s Day.

VOL. XXVII No. 3

Dusit Thani Pattaya marks National Children’s Day 2019

Dusit Thani Pattaya joined the National Children’s Day 2019 activities at Pattaya City Hall to realize the importance of children who are the future of the nation.

initiatives and to realize the importance of children who are the future of the nation. The event was hosted in

front of Pattaya City Hall; and provided snacks, toys, games and fun activities for children who visited the

hotel booth with their parents through an atmosphere full of care, happiness and smiles.

CPDC hosts New Year’s party

HHNFT Director Radchada Chomjinda (left) presents a gold chain to a happy lucky draw winner. The party’s theme was Cowboys and Indians.

Jetsada Homklin The Child Protection and Development Center celebrated New Year’s with a party and prizes. Human Help Network Thailand Director Radchada Chomjinda hosted the Jan. 1 HHNFT Vice President Samphan Akarapongpanitch has fun with staff and friends at the New Year party.

celebration with a cowboys and Indians theme. There was a lucky draw for prizes of electric appliances, accessories, home decorations, learning equipment, dolls, watches and the grand prize of gold jewelry. After the prize giveaway, everyone had a meal together and enjoyed shows performed by HHN children. Moreover, there was a surprise birthday cake for the foundation’s foreign volunteers.

German volunteer Fanny is given surprise birthday gifts during the party.

Staff surprises German volunteer Fanny with a cheerful birthday cake.

Children under the foundation’s care perform skits and dances - all part of the fun.

The Child Protection and Development Center rang in the New Year with a party and prizes.

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US aviation system is starting to show strains from shutdown David Koenig (AP) - The US partial government shutdown is starting to strain the national aviation system, with unpaid security screeners staying home, airtraffic controllers suing the government and safety inspectors off the job. Miami International Airport is providing the most visible evidence yet that the shutdown is at least making air travel less convenient. Facing double the usual number of absences among unpaid TSA screeners, the Miami airport closed one of its concourses for most of last Saturday, Sunday and Monday to make sure TSA can adequately staff the remaining security checkpoints. Meanwhile, the national union representing air traffic controllers - who are also working without pay during the shutdown - sued the government, claiming they are illegally being denied pay. And aviation-safety inspectors are still off the job, deemed not to be essential enough to keep working during the shutdown.

Here is a roundup of recent developments in the partial government shutdown’s impact on air travel.

AWOL screeners The Transportation Security Administration said that 5.1 percent of screeners were absent on Thursday, up from 3.3 percent on the same date last year. The TSA has 51,000 transportation-security officers, who have continued to work because they are deemed essential employees. Screeners represent just 6 percent of government workers who didn’t get paychecks Friday because of the shutdown. Airline-industry officials worry that they are particularly likely to stop showing up because their relatively low pay means they could quickly struggle to pay bills without money coming in. Screeners start around $24,000 a year, and most earn between $26,000 and $35,000, according to TSA. The agency has very few tools to deal with a severe shortage. It has a team of non-essential employees who are trained to screen air

Destination LONDON

travelers, but that is only a stopgap designed to cover for shortages at one or two airports during a natural disaster. January is a relatively light travel period, but industry officials worry what will happen if the shutdown lingers and more TSA employees leave for jobs that include a paycheck. “TSA only has what it has,” said Christopher Bidwell, the vice president for security at the trade group Airports Council International-North America, “and although they have advised us that they are continuing to hire and train, we are very concerned about a prolonged government shutdown.”

Air traffic controllers About 10,000 air traffic controllers under the Federal Aviation Administration continue to work without pay. On Friday, their union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington and asked for an order that its members get paid. Union President Paul Rinaldi said there is already a shortage of controllers, and

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Safety inspectors About 3,300 aviation safety inspectors under the FAA are not working - since 2013, they have not been considered essential employees who must stay on the job during government shutdowns. They oversee and certify inspections done by employees of airlines and aircraft-repair shops. “Our inspectors are the oversight, they are the regulatory side of the house for the FAA,” said Mike Perrone, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union. Their work is not getting done, he said. An FAA spokesman said earlier this week that the agency is recalling inspectors and focusing resources on overseeing airline operations. He declined to say how many inspectors are working, but union officials believe it’s about 100.

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if current controllers decide to retire - about 1,900 are eligible - the government could be forced to restrict air traffic, creating flight delays. There is no indication that is happening yet.

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“A hundred out of 3,300 is probably not real good odds,” said Stephen Carl, an FAA inspector in Florida. “Please put us back on the job right now. Aviation is not being overseen.” Carl said ongoing investigations have been put on hold by the shutdown.

Security concerns Jeffrey Price, an aviation-security consultant and a professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, expects more TSA agents will fail to show up, creating longer lines and creating a potential target for terrorists at airports. “As the lines slow down and the crowds grow larger, it puts more and more passengers at risk from an attack,” Price said. He added, “The screeners who do come to work will be forced to make up the slack, which erodes their effectiveness even more.” TSA officials said despite fewer numbers, screeners

aren’t getting lax about their work. “Security standards have NOT and will NOT be compromised,” tweeted TSA spokesman Michael Bilello.

Helping out Some airports are trying to help the unpaid federal employees. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport organized an event with credit unions, utilities and nonprofit organizations that can help federal employees obtain short-term loans and assistance, said spokesman Perry Cooper. Tampa International Airport is working with different agencies to set up a food pantry, get bus passes and work with utilities to help hundreds of federal employees who may be struggling to pay bills. Pittsburgh International Airport delivered lunches to TSA workers and air traffic controllers on Friday and plans to do it every Friday until the shutdown ends.

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14 FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2019

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VOL. XXVII No. 3

Key Visa sheds some light on Thai Immigration matters The Sunday morning meeting of the PCEC on January 6, was packed to the proverbial gills with an almost record attendance of 152 souls. The regulars as well as many extras were there to calm the jitters of long timers when it was recently announced that the big three (American, British and Australian) embassies in Bangkok were no longer going to issue income letters required by Thai Immigration as proof of meeting the 65,000 baht monthly requirement for income. Many of those present were depending on long time visa consultant Darren McGarry of Key Visa to shed some well desired light on the subject. He did…sort of. Without the aid of slides or a power point presentation but toting a fist full of notes, Darren began his highly anticipated oration. Darren mentioned in passing the many (over 14) years of experience in the visa field, his numerous daily trips to immigration and

Darren McGarry of Key Visa provides his PCEC audience with the latest information on Thai Immigration matters with emphasis on the status of new rules for documenting monthly income.

stays, the government is somewhat curious as to the reasons for their multiple visits. Generally speaking the government looks favourably on long term residents and if you meet the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank requirement (it must be there for at least

Darren McGarry listens to a question regarding Thai Immigration requirements for reporting your address on Form TM.30 after returning from a trip outside of Thailand.

aware of misleading reports of incomes on letters. As a result, they asked the various embassies to be more diligent in assessing their reported citizens’ incomes. The embassies balked at the responsibility that would put on them and decided not to

Member Ren Lexander interviews Darren McGarry about his presentation to the PCEC. View the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= jIKNox4LuG8&t=7s.

the long laundry list of visa problems that those at Key Visa have solved over the years. Since he knew many had questions, Darren agreed that the meeting would be primarily in a question/answer format. But also, aware that most of the questions would be about the new requirements for proving income, Darren elected to give a short informative up front talk about what he did know on the subject. Darren asked that what was revealed in the room stay there since the subject was a sensitive one. He began with some new rules on entering Thailand with tourist visas and mentioned that entering 4 times in a year is now enough says the government on 30 day Visa exempt entries and only 2 when crossing at land borders. Most of the immigration crackdown is on younger (under 40) visitors. Since they don’t meet the requirement for long term

3 months prior to your visa renewal) you needn’t worry about the new income letter problems. Darren shared what he thought was the driving force behind the income letter change. Immigration became

give any letters at all. That was that! As far as he had heard in a meeting of involved persons as late as last Friday (January 4th), no decision had been made concerning what documentation would be

acceptable to immigration as proof of income. In the question and answer period to follow, one member said that the immigration website had posted that proof of 65,000 baht deposit per month in a Thai bank for at least a year was going to be the new requirement. Darren said that the meeting he was in Friday postdated the information that was being reported and at the meeting, it had not been decided what the standard would be. Darren being on the leading edge of this area promised to bring news to the club as soon as it was available. Since he was quite thorough in his presentation, there were not that many questions from the members. After the presentations, MC Roy Albiston brought everyone up to date on upcoming events and then turned it over to the Open Forum portion of the meeting where questions are asked and answered and comments made about Expat living in Thailand, Pattaya in particular. For more information about the PCEC and their activities, visit www.pcec.club.

Member Judith Edmonds announces the winning ticket number for the PCEC’s free breakfast drawing won this month by member Donna Westlake while MC Roy Albiston looks on.

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Awaiting rediscovery

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767).

Right then, sit up and pay attention. Without fumbling to look up Google, give me the names of three baroque composers within five seconds. The chances are that you might come up with Bach, Handel and Vivaldi. There were hundreds of others of course, most of which have fallen into oblivion and some of them for good reason. If you could transport yourself back to the Germany of the 1720s and ask a similar question you’d get a different answer. The name on everyone’s lips was Georg Philipp Telemann. He was one of the most powerful and influential musicians in Germany. He was born in 1681 into a religious middle-class family in Magdeburg, a sprawling medieval town on the banks of the River Elbe. Telemann was virtually self-taught and

today would probably be considered a child prodigy. He taught himself several instruments and began writing arias, motets and instrumental works, completing his first opera at the age of twelve. Despite this remarkable talent, his mother did everything possible to discourage him, having been influenced by the joyless Puritan Lutherans who prohibited musical activities. At one point, this hopelessly misguided woman confiscated the boy’s musical instruments and commanded him to stop composing altogether. At about the age of twelve Georg was packed off to a school in Zellerfeld but the head teacher, to his eternal credit, recognised the boy’s extraordinary talents and provided much-needed encouragement.

In 1702, at the age of twenty-one, Telemann became director of the Leipzig Opera and over the next few years he wrote several operas for the company. He held some of the most prestigious jobs available and evidently had a good sense of humour and a likable personality. Handel and Bach were among his personal friends, although Telemann’s salary was about three times higher than that of Bach. Even then, opera was more profitable than religion. Telemann is one of the most prolific composers of all time. He wrote over a thousand church cantatas, a couple of dozen concertos, nearly fifty settings of the Passion and fifty operas. It’s been estimated that in all he produced over three thousand musical works. So what happened? Why was one of the baroque’s brightest stars neglected for so long? Well, in the twilight years of the eighteenth century baroque music simply fell out of fashion. It was replaced by the lighter styles like the music of Haydn and Mozart. The music of Bach was not rediscovered until the 1850s, a hundred years after his death. He was hailed as a master of the baroque at the expense of other composers of the period. It wasn’t until the middle of the twentieth century that a renewed interest in Telemann’s music emerged.

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767): Telemann: Concerto in G major for Viola,

TWV 51:G9. Bern Baroque Orchestra (Duration: 14:27; Video: 1080p HD) This work contains many Telemann trademarks. One of them is his energetic stringwriting using repeated notes. You can hear the effect in the solo viola part at around 04:09 but it occurs often in the work. Telemann was the only Baroque composer I know of who used this effective trick. It brings an almost folksy quality to the sound. There’s a constant interplay between the various string parts and in the slow movement there are lovely phrases exchanged between the strings and surprising harmonies which must have seemed very “modern” to eighteenth century ears. The last movement fairly belts along, perhaps a little faster than the players would have wished but the performance is exhilarating. The instrumentation is pretty well what Telemann might have heard himself.

Georg Philipp Telemann: Suite for Strings in E major “La Lyra”. Orquesta Civitas Musicae cond. Jesus Echeverría (Duration: 14:23; Video: 720p HD) In 1740, Telemann estimated that he’d already composed six hundred suites. Only about a quarter of them

Gervais crafts intelligent and thoughtful thriller Jeff Ayers Pierce Hunt has returned from a six-month forced leave after a reporter is injured during a bust even though it’s not Hunt’s fault. On his first day back, he’s assigned to assist the transfer of a high-profile drug cartel target named Vicente Garcia. It’s personal for Hunt since he’s responsible for bringing Garcia to justice at the cost of his marriage. He also fell in love with Garcia’s daughter. When the convoy is ambushed, Hunt barely survives. Then he learns that the people responsible are not only attempting to take over the lucrative drug business, they have also kidnapped Garcia’s granddaughter and a friend of hers who happens to be Hunt’s daughter.

The new head of the cartel could not be more ruthless, and if it means killing the girls to have her demands met, so be it. Hunt has to not only work with Garcia’s daughter, the woman he tried to forget and who loathes him after his betrayal, he also has to work against the very principles he swore to uphold. In “Hunt Them Down,” Gervais has crafted an intelligent and thoughtful thriller that mixes family dynamics with explosive action. Heroes who fight impossible odds while being likable characters are always welcome in the world of genre fiction. The possibilities are endless in this new series, and this will easily find an enthusiastic audience craving Hunt’s next adventures. (AP)

have survived and this is a splendid example of Telemann’s string writing, quite different in style from that of Bach and Vivaldi. This seven-movement suite is composed of popular dances. After the opening overture we hear a selection of dance including a bourée, gigue and minuet. Telemann’s music is intensely rhythmic, enormously varied, with bubbling energy and a seemingly limitless display of musical ideas. Just listen to the rich sonorous opening bars, and his use of the so-called “pedal bass” in which the other instruments

play short phrases over a low note in the bass sustained for about 22 seconds. The bustling contrapuntal movement (at 03:37) sounds almost Bach-like but with a lovely lightness of touch. The other dance movements are equally light and airy and demonstrate that this is a composer who knows what he’s doing. However, much of Telemann’s music remains undiscovered. It’s been estimated that half of his works have been lost. How many other examples of his wonderful music are still in existence is really anyone’s guess.

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.

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PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVII No. 3

‘Green Book’ is sure to put a smile on your face Lindsey Bahr Los Angeles (AP) – If there is a big studio movie that’s more generally crowd-pleasing than “Green Book “ this season, I have yet to find it. In this landscape of challenging, provocative, edgy films, Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali and, of all people, director Peter Farrelly have come along with a movie about friendship that goes down so easy that it’s almost suspect, as though it were flung out of 1996 and gifted to our weary 2018 brains. Based on a true story, “Green Book” recounts a 1962 road trip when a Bronx bred Italian-American Frank Anthony Vallelonga, also known as Tony Lip

(Mortensen), was hired to drive a renowned black pianist, Dr. Don Shirley (Ali), to all of his concert engagements across the Deep South. The two men are obviously mismatched — what would anyone have to learn if they weren’t? Tony is a workingclass bruiser and world class eater with a wife (Linda Cardellini), two sons, a limited vocabulary, institutional racism, but a generally good heart. Dr. Shirley is a wealthy, erudite dandy, a master of his art, a snob and a loner. He also knows he needs reliable protection on this journey to a segregated south, asks around and finds this Copacabana bouncer Tony Lip is the one for the job despite the prejudices. The constructs will feel familiar and well-worn and surprises are few on this journey toward acceptance and friendship, but the pleasure of this

film is in the larger than life characters created by the two leads and their perfectly askew chemistry. Mortensen is almost unrecognizable as Tony, packing extra pounds and an astute comedic sensibility. He knows just how far to push his caricature without making it cartoonish. When Dr. Shirley says to make sure that there’s a Steinway piano at every concert venue, Tony scribbles down “STAINWAY” on a sheet of paper. His doltishness is endearing, not annoying. And Ali, so memorable and heart-wrenching in “Moonlight,” puts his own stamp on a character who feels alienated from his own race and those he’s performing for. Although a considerably more staid role than Tony, Ali also manages to have his own fun with Dr. Shirley’s seemingly incurable snobbery, wincing at Tony’s lack of decorum, or care.

This image shows Viggo Mortensen (left) and Mahershala Ali in a scene from “Green Book.” (Patti Perret/Universal Pictures via AP)

In fact, this film allows everyone to play against their Hollywood-prescribed “type,” from the actors to the director, who is perhaps the most surprising revelation of them all. The Farrelly name conjures up a very specific kind of movie: The big, bawdy comedy that he and his brother made their own and, later,

failed to keep fresh. If anything, the charm and success of “Green Book” makes a heck of a case for giving directors more room to work outside of the genres or styles that they became famous for. There is certainly a more serious story to be told out of this road trip, and about Dr. Shirley’s extraordinary

life. “Green Book,” taken from the title of the guide Tony has to use to find the establishments and hotels where people of color are welcome at throughout the South, scratches at the surface of the horrors and indignities Dr. Shirley faced while being a “guest of honor.” Those range from being asked to use an outdoor toilet to being denied the right to dine in the place he’s about to perform. This film chooses a different route, and is in turn funny, heart-warming, illuminating and a joy to watch. “Green Book,” a Universal Pictures release, is rated PG13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for “thematic content, language including racial epithets, smoking, some violence and suggestive material.” Running time: 130 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

With blockbuster effects, Peter Jackson brings WWI to life Jake Coyle New York (AP) — Peter Jackson has used digital wizardry to conjure J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth and King Kong’s 1930s New York, but he has now — in perhaps his most acclaimed film — employed all his technical powers to bring to life the Western Front of the first World War. Jackson’s “They Shall Not Grow Old” is the 57-year-old filmmaker’s first documentary. Commissioned by Britain’s Imperial War Museum to coincide with the centenary of the Armistice, Jackson assembled the film from more than 100 hours of footage from the front and 600 hours of audio interviews conducted in the 1960s with surviving British soldiers. In the course of the five-year project, Jackson restored the heavily damaged, grainy footage, colorized it, stabilized the frame rates (many were only 13 frames per second, and could vary based upon how fast the cameraman was cranking) and transferred the film into 3-D. Along with adding battle sound effects, he even employed expert lip readers to

This image shows a scene from the WWI documentary “They Shall Not Grow Old,” directed by Peter Jackson. (Warner Bros. Entertainment via AP)

recreate the unheard dialogue. With the kind of technology usually employed on a bigbudget spectacle, the fog of time lifted from the footage, revealing the soldiers anew. “The people on the film became human beings again. Their humanity jumps out at you,” Jackson said in an interview. “Their faces and the

subtle way they move and their expressions, you just realize you’re seeing you’re seeing these people for the first time in 100 years.” “They Shall Not Grow Old,” which takes its name from the Laurence Binyon poem “For the Fallen,” has already played in the U.K., where it earned Jackson the

best reviews of his career. “The effect is electrifying,” wrote the Guardian. “The faces are unforgettable.” For Jackson, it’s the culmination of a passion project, one undertaken in part as a tribute to the New Zealand filmmaker’s grandfather, who fought in the war. The first three years of the project,

edited at Jackson’s postproduction facility, Park Road Post, weren’t spent cutting anything together but sifting through the material and cleaning it up. Startled by the clearness of the restoration, Jackson opted to impress as little as possible on the film. The only narration is that of the soldiers recounting their experiences; even dates and locations of battles have been withheld to capture the view of the war from those in the trenches. “They only saw what was right in front of their eyes,” says Jackson. The recollections of the British soldiers are surprisingly pragmatic and straightforward, lacking any sense of regret or self-pity. “They didn’t want that and they didn’t expect that,” says Jackson. “I don’t think they would really approve of the way we think of the first World War now.” But the director is also quick to point out that the 120 men interviewed don’t reflect a universal story of the war. These are survivors, many of whom went on to have families and productive lives, looking back decades later.

“If we had interviews from the millions of soldiers that were killed, they would tell a different story,” says Jackson. Clarity has always been elusive in WWI, a war with puzzling beginnings and staggering loss of life that nevertheless became overshadowed in the popular imagination by World War II. But the simple, unclouded lucidity of “They Shall Not Grow Old” offers a small window into the Great War. Jackson hopes it inspires young people to learn about WWI and archivists around the world to make similar restorations of historical film. “There Shall Not Grow Old” is, in some ways, a characteristically Jackson film, with the notable exception that he wasn’t there to shoot any of it. Not that he minded. “I don’t actually like being on set, particularly. I always regard that as being an arduous chore,” he says. “So in a way I was quite happy to skip over the shooting part of it. The boys on the Western Front a hundred years ago did all the hard work filming it, and I was able to go straight to the part I like the most.”

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Grand Funk Railroad: ‘Live - The 1971 Tour’

mott@pattayamail.com During 1970 and 1971 the power trio Grand Funk Railroad (Mark Farner, Don Brewer, and Mel Schacher) under the management of Terry Knight set out to become the biggest Rock ‘n’ Roll band in America. By the time of this recording, the three talented musicians had reached their aim and were the biggest band in the land. They probably peaked at Shea Stadium that year, but there was still plenty of mileage left on the tracks. Soon they were to have two #1 singles in America - with a cover of Carole King’s “Locomotion” and Don Brewer’s “We’re an American Band”. The Shea Stadium concert was to be recorded for a full length feature movie, but before this could happen, band and management went their separate ways and the whole thing was put on the shelf. Fortunately the tapes were dug out in 2002 and Capital

Records realized what a little gold mine they were sitting on. These tapes were handed over to David. K. Tedds, who has done a marvelous job of seamlessly putting together an entire show from that hot summer of ’71 and leaving it in its original running order, with all the stage announcements, crowd cheering, and the atmosphere of a good old Seventies Rock ‘n’ Roll concert. Richard Strauss’ iconic “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (theme from 2001 A Space Odyssey) leads Grand Funk Railroad into their opening number “Are You Ready”, which gets the audience on their feet and rockin’. GFR obviously had a lot of dog in them as they grab their followers by the scruff of the neck and just keep on shaking until they beg for mercy. The band storms through a set of all the highlights from their first five albums. The medley of “I’m Your Captain/ Closer to Home/ Hooked on Love/ Get it Together” in the center of the set is the true work of artists playing at the peak of their powers, while their take on Farner’s T.N.U.C. is seventeen minutes long and allows every member of the band

Grand Funk Railroad in an early promo photo.

enough space to stretch out and show their skills. Farner was the obvious focal point of the band, playing lead guitar, keyboards, singing most of the lead vocals and at this time also writing all the songs. But during T.N.U.C. Mel Schacher gets to show off his dexterous bass playing, and Don Brewer takes a 10-minute drum solo that even listening to on audio he still manages to keep interesting. Next on the album we get two cover versions to bring the set to a proper rousing conclusion. First we have a 15-minute version of The

Animals song, “Inside Looking Out” and here the band take it apart and smack it back together again in their own style with some wonderfully sprawling guitar solos and plenty of pathos in Farner’s endeavors to sing Eric Burdon’s words. Then, with the introduction from Farner of “This song is our generation’s National Anthem”, the band scream into a powerful version of the Stones’ “Gimmie Shelter”, which may not have the light and shade of the Stones original, but what it lacks in grace it more than makes up for in power and

Tia Fuller, fierce woman in jazz, takes shot at 1st Grammy Mesfin Fekadu New York (AP) — Saxophonist Tia Fuller was crying in bed. And praising God. She’d just received the news that she was nominated for her first-ever Grammy Award — but it’s not just any nomination: Her inclusion in the best jazz instrumental album category is a historic moment for women because they have rarely been nominated for the coveted award throughout the Grammys’ 61-year history. And if Fuller wins, she becomes just the second women to take home the prize. “I feel really blessed. Anytime I think extensively about being in the category and (anything) Grammy-wise, I start tearing up,” said Fuller, this time smiling ear-to-ear with light tears of joy in her eyes. “It’s really a dream come true. I’m realizing that dreams can become reality and everything is tangible.” Her nominated album, “Diamond Cut,” is a smooth and striking collection that has brought the skilled performer, who once played with Ray Charles during her college years and toured with Beyonce, to the next level. The album, her fifth,

This Jan. 6, 2019 photo shows saxophonist Tia Fuller posing in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Brian Ach/Invision/AP)

was produced by another woman making critical waves in jazz, Terri Lyne Carrington. The drummer, who came to national prominence decades ago in “The Arsenio Hall Show” band, became the first female to win best jazz instrumental album at the 2014 Grammys. Carrington describes the win as bittersweet because of the “many great female instrumentalists that weren’t nominated ever, so that was really disheartening.” It’s one of the reasons Carrington, a three-time

Grammy winner, is excited for Fuller’s success and has been a mentor to the artist. “I feel like this record is showing her growth and her evolution,” Carrington said. “If nothing else, I believe that she’s really motivated to keep pushing herself and keep evolving into all that she can be.” “Diamond Cut” is Fuller’s first album in six years. She’s been busy as a professor at the prestigious Berklee College of Music since 2013, and that decision to move to Boston to fulfill a lifetime

dream came at a crossroads: In the same 24-hour period that Fuller was offered the teaching position, Beyonce asked Fuller to perform again with the band. “That was the year I think they were doing the Super Bowl and she was going back out on tour,” recalled Fuller, who performed with Beyonce from 2006 to 2010. “While I was on tour with her something came over me and spoke, ‘You have to move in faith and not fear. Don’t be afraid of what may not happen, or get attached to the artificial result of, ‘I’m playing with Beyonce,’” she said. “So the reason why that I ended up not going back is because I realized that it was time for me to move on.” Now, in between the teaching and playing — she’s also busy dress shopping for her big day at the Grammys, taking place Feb. 10 in Los Angeles. “I actually reached out to one of Beyonce’s stylists and he responded, so he’s going to help and connect me with some of his designers,” she said. “I’m trying to find a healthy mix between making a statement and me being me.”

enthusiasm. It also proved how much influence the Britinvasion of the mid-Sixties was still having on American Rock & Roll. After this there is only one song Grand Funk Railroad could possibly finish with, “Into The Sun”. Seeing the band perform live without them playing this track would be a bit like watching a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert without them doing “Freebird”. “Into the Sun” starts off with the main lick played

over softly until the first sung verse, where from this point onwards it builds and builds, from guitar breaks to heavier drumming to Schacher ringing every note out of the bass guitar until it reaches a thunderous climax. This version from Detroit (Motor City) is by far the most exciting ever officially released and worth the price of the album on its own. Turn it up to 11, and enjoy. Album rating: 5 Stars. Tracks List: Intro (2001 Space Odyssey) Are You Ready Footstompin’ Music Paranoid I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home/Hooked on Love/ Get it Together T.N.U.C. Inside Looking Out Gimme Shelter Into The Sun Grand Funk Railroad: Mark Farner - guitar, organ, harmonica, percussion, and vocals Don Brewer - drums and vocals Mel Schacher - bass and percussion

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VOL. XXVII No. 3

Children’s Day offers trea Pattaya Mail Team

Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome hands out Children’s Day gifts at Pattaya City Hall.

Chonburi Governor Pakarathorn Thienchai opened his office for children to sit in his governor’s chair.

From navy ships to turtle ponds, jet planes to shopping malls, kids saw it all as the Eastern Seaboard celebrated Children’s Day. Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome kicked off Pattaya’s official Children’s Day celebration Jan. 12 at city hall under the Prime Minister ’s 2019 Children’s Day motto: “Children and youths volunteer to develop the Nation.” The road outside was closed and filled with 29 booths and exhibits for the kids. The zone was split into six “bases”, covering science, society, the English language, mathematics and art, with about 2,000 prizes on offer for winning various games, quizzes or lucky draws.

Private businesses also did their part across the city. Central Festival Pattaya Beach joined with Cartoon Network Amazone Water Park to let youths meet cartoon mascots and win prizes sponsored by mall shops. At Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, it was young patients who got the treats with both sick and healthy kids enjoying games, painting, arts and crafts, and snacks. The many children under the care of the Child Protection and Development Center also had their special day with some putting on stage performances and others taking part in educational activities and games. The highlights of the event was a concert by Ruth-Dew from The Star television show

Former Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome (left) helps hand out toys in Nong Plalai. HHNFT Director Radchada Chomjinda and a beautiful young lady present a flower garland to say thanks to Rotarian Rodney Charman.

Chonburi Provincial Councilor Sakol Phonlookin and friends give away bicycles to children in Naklua’s Hua Tung Community.

Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit hands out presents to little children under his care. Students and their teacher at Nernplabwan School prepare to hand out snacks. The event also featured children’s performances, games, and lucky draws for fun prizes.

Tough guy heroes dress up as their favorite comic book defenders-of-the-good on Children’s Day at Pattaya City School #9.

Pattaya Blatt Executive Editor Elfi Seitz receives a garland of thanks from a young gentleman from the Human Help Network Foundation Thailand (HHNFT). At Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, young patients get the treats with both sick and healthy kids enjoying games, painting, arts and crafts, and snacks.

Families at Nongprue Nursery School wait in anticipation as bicycles are about to be awarded to deserving children.

A juggler provides a Children’s Day performance at Pattaya Police Station on Beach Road.

Little tykes play with friends at the Banglamung municipality office.

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ats, tests for eastern kids and a dharma lesson taught by Samana Poaputh of the Santi Asoke sect in Bangkok. Around the area, Nongprue Nursery School hosted a talent show and quiz where youths won prizes while children gave alms to monks at Ban Nernplabwan School. At Aksorn Pattaya School, kindergarten students danced for parents and teachers. In Nong Plalai, former Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome presided over the distribution of 20 bicycles and local students put on stage shows. In Pong, 1,000 local youths attended the sub-district’s event. In Chonburi, Gov. Pakarathorn Thienchai welcomed area children into the provincial hall for a tour while, outside, the government organized stage performances, educational exhibits, a reading activity, games, skills competitions, quizzes and prize giveaways. The province also opened the Charone Dharma room

for parents and children to pay respects to a Buddhist relic. The big Children’s Day guns came out in Sattahip, however, where tens of thousands of youngsters swarmed battleships, jet planes and military bases. At the Sattahip Naval Base, the new HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej, HTMS Chakri Naruebet and HTMS Similan were all opened for tours with kids getting to touch and pose with artillery and military equipment. Down the road at U-TapaoRayong-Pattaya Airport, the navy’s Air Division opened its hangars to kids to view exhibits from the Naval Aviation Museum. Youths got to climb aboard retired aircraft including the Corsair A-7E, Harrier AV-8S, S-3E, C-47, Bell 212 helicopter, P-3T Orion and more. The navy-run Sea Turtle Conservation Center also threw open its doors for free tours with the center using 1,000 eggs to serve up free omelets.

The navy-run Sea Turtle Conservation Center threw open its doors for free tours and presented children with turtle-themed gifts.

Ruth and Dew the Star team sing songs and participate in Children’s Day activities at HHNFT, creating smiles and laughter.

Children play games for prizes at Sutthawat Temple School.

At U-Tapao-Rayong-Pattaya Airport, the navy’s Air Division opened its hangars to kids to view exhibits from the Naval Aviation Museum.

At Sattahip Naval Base, the new HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej, HTMS Chakri Naruebet and HTMS Similan were all opened for tours.

At Central Festival Pattaya Beach, children win prizes sponsored by mall shops.

The little ones’ eyes lit up when they saw all those presents on stage at Pattaya City School #8.

Young performers receive special gifts in Pong Municipality.

Young models enjoy their time on the Royal Garden stage.

Chonburi Gov. Pakarathorn Thienchai welcomes area children into the provincial hall for a tour.

Kindergarten students at Aksorn Pattaya School perform Thai dance, much to the delight of their parents, who cheered and took many photos.

D Varee Jomtien Beach, Pattaya joined Children’s Day activities by offering sweets and gifts for children who attended the event.

Children line up for fun toys at the Pattaya Sikh community’s booth on Children’s Day.

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E-mail: socialscene@pattayamail.com

Catholic community pays homage to late priests

Roman Catholics paid homage to five Redemptorist priests at a holy mass held at the Saint Nikolaus Church in Pattaya recently. The revered priests were Rev. Dennis Jerway who died June 8; Rev. Francis Victor Kroto, who died in 2015; Rev. Lawrence Albert Pattin, who passed in 2011; Rev. Patrick Raymond Morris, who died in 2004; and Rev. Core Noxious Ryan who passed in 1994. The mass was conducted by Fr. Michael Veera Phangrak, Fr. Peter Pattarapong Srivorakul and Fr. Michael Picharn Jaiseri.

Cape Hotel, Bangkok staff recognised for life-saving action

Tirawan Taechaubol (4th left), Project Development Manager of Cape & Kantary Hotels, presents an award to Auttachai Chompoo (5th left), member of the Fitness Staff of Cape Hotel, Bangkok in recognition of his swift action in executing CPR on a foreign tourist and transferring him to an ambulance to be transported to a hospital for emergency treatment. His good deed has been recognized by the Heart Association of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King.

Birthday celebrated at Yupin’s

Rotarians celebrate Children’s day at HHNFT

Members of the Rotary E-Club Dolphin Pattaya International and the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard attended the Children’s Day celebrations at the Human Help Network Foundation Thailand (HHNFT) where they donated funds in aid of the education centre. (l-r) Jan Abbink, Dr. Margret and Dr. Otmar Deter, Radchada Chomjinda, Director of the HHNFT, Ket Abbink and her two lovely daughters Nina and Tina.

Indian Ambassador visits Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya

Ambassador of India H.E. Mrs. Suchitra Durai (centre) together with her husband, former ambassador R. Swaminathan (2nd right) are greeted by Rohit Pandey (2nd left), Director of F&B, and Jeerapa Chaimart (left), Front Office Manager during their recent stay at the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya.

New Year greetings from our friends

Asanee Intaring (right) Marketing Communications Manager and Toonkwan Nillawong (left) E Commerce Manager of the Avani Pattaya Resort brought gifts galore to wish the Pattaya Mail team a Happy New Year. They were received by Nutsara Duangsri.

Punchita Rungwimonrut (Deta) (right) PR Manager and Orawan Thunantha (Bena) PR Executive of the Centara Grand Mirage Resort Pattaya show their appreciation for our support throughout the years. They were welcomed by Nutsara Duangsri.

Suthiporn Tongprasarn (Amm) (left) Marketing Communications Executive of D Varee Jomtien Beach Pattaya dropped by the Pattaya Mail office to wish us a Happy New Year. She was greeted by Nutsara Duangsri, our Sales & Marketing Manager.

Palika Chaleamsan (left) Assistant Sales Manager and Apinya Kaensan (right) Sales & Public Relations Coordinator of the Centara Grand Phratamnak Pattaya were greeted by Nutsara Duangsri (2nd left) and Prince Malhotra (2nd right) Deputy Managing Director of Pattaya Mail.

Tony and Phil, two beloved regulars at Yupin’s Restaurant, held a small private celebration recently to mark Tony’s birth anniversary. They enjoyed good food and superb wine before Tony made a tremendous effort to blow out the candles on the birthday cake before cutting it.

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Articles For Sale/Rent 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

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2019 21

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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!

Articles/Services Wanted 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 Bop04/02-03/ Beer Bar for Sale in Jomtien with 9 year lease, no key money. Rent paid till May 2019. 3 large

ensuite letting rooms, kitchen to serve bar food, 1 minute walk to very nice beach. English: 080 520 0261 Price: 1.2 MTB Bop03/01-52/ Spacious Double Shophouse, Thepprasit Road, Soi 5; very good business location; land 240sqm; business space 150sqm; 6 rooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 kitchenettes; 2-4 locked parking spaces; partly furnished; 4,900,000 THB or near offer; Joe: 092753 9309, info@gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com Bop02/01-52/ Guesthouse in the heart of Pattaya, Thappraya Road; Land: 210Twah (840sqm) and approx. 800sqm business space on 2 floors; 14 rooms; tropical garden; family owned since 30 years; 11,950,000 THB o.n.o.; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995, info@gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com

Bop01/01-52/ Big Shophouse; located close Sukhumvit Road / Central Road; commercial space 200sqm; 19,950,000 THB o.n.o.; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995, info@ gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com

Notices No01/01-10/ 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.

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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)

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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 Prb08/03/ Fully furnished, 2-bedrooms, 2-bathrooms, 280sqm House for rent on beachside of Sukhumvit road, between North Pattaya and Naklua in Baan Chalita village with carport, communal pool, 24hrs security, easy access to schools, markets and hospitals. Rent: 23,000 Baht/month. Contact 081 854 3871 Prb07/52-11/ For Rent: Bt.10,900 Per Month, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 3 A/C, Furnished, Pool, Clean, Beautiful, Soi 53 Nern Plabwan at Soi 45. Tel: 084-351-8254 Prb06/52-03/ TOWNHOUSE, Off Soi Khaotalo, Like new, quiet, safe, two bedroom, one bathroom, patio, carport, Thai kitchen, air-conditioned, FULLY FURNUSHED, Guarded

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Subdivision, Communal Pool, One Year Lease Minimum, Bt.9,5000. Monthly, Bt.19,000. Security Deposit. English, 087-805-5276

Condos, Apartments Prc218/42-09/ 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 Prc216/52-04/ Pattaya Beach Rd. Soi 13, Studio, Terrace, Kitchenette, Safe box. Penthouse style, pool. Bt. 13,500. - Tel: 091 504 1806

Property for Sale Houses, Villas Psb32/52-04/ Bargain Pool Villa needs to be viewed. Refurbished very specious, 3 bed 3 baths, huge living room. Separate Euro kitchen and Thai kitchen Luxurious salt water pool with Jacuzzi and remote gate parking for 2 cars. Land 125TW, House 300m2. SP3 village Siam Country Club with excellent

security 5.7 M Tel: 083 102 9293, also available for rent 38,000 baht per month. Psb31/46-08/ House for sale: 1,850,000 Baht. Location in Soi Nernblabwan. Tel: 096 397 9541, Line ID: domicil24, Email: duangpee.domicil @gmail.com

Psb28/01-52/ 5-storey Townhouse in Pratumnak; lobby, 9 rooms and 8 bathrooms; total area 320sqm; big garage; the property was completely restored in 2015; new bathrooms, new rooms, new air-conditioners; new electric wiring; must see! Great Opportunity! Only 6,200,000 THB; 092- 753 9309, info@ gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com

Psb27/01-52/ City Villa in the heart of Pattaya; completely renovated; close to 3rd Road / LK Hotel; in walking distance to Soi Buakhao; 120sqm living space; land approx. 150sqm; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, kitchenette; fully furnished; 2 new Flat TVs; 3 air-cons; big storeroom; garden, carport & parking; NO THROUGH ROAD- very quite; 3,950,000 THB; 092- 753 9309, info @gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com Psb26/01-52/ 3-storey Townhouse located in Pratumnak Hills close to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Royal Cliff Hotelâ&#x20AC;?; living space 200sqm; fully furnished with high quality furniture; living room with dining area, 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, guest toilet; 1 European kitchen; terrace; 2 balconies; Jacuzzi bath; 3 aircons; ceiling fan; WiFi access; storage room; carport; very nice and clean place to live; 4,950,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995, info@gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com Psb25/01-52/ Villa located on Pattaya East Side, only 5 min. from Sukhumvit/

VOL. XXVII No. 3

Thepprasit Road; Land size 760sqm, living space 350sqm; partly furnished; living room, dining room, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, guest toilet; Jacuzzi; European kitchen, security 24/7; private pool; tropical garden; garage; parking; 15,500,000 THB; 092- 753 9309, info @gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com Psb24/01-52/ Big Villa with 5,200sqm park similar land; located close to Huay Yai Road; living space 650sqm; fully furnished; 1 living/dining room; 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, full European kitchen; terraces; WiFi; private pool 10m x 5m; outdoor shower and toilet; small lake with sala; air-con in all rooms; fitness gym; many storerooms; 85sqm office in separate building; alarm; own well; pantry & laundry room; double garage; automatic gate; 3 BBQ’s; the property is completely walled in: 24,950,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995, info @gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com Psb23/01-52/ 3-storey modern “BAUHAUS-Style Villa” and a wooden “Traditional Thai Style house” on 1 Rai of land located in Pratumnak, Pattaya; 360sqm living space on 3 floors with gallery; Thai house has 100sqm living space; short distance to the

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beach; both properties are partly furnished; open living room over 2 floors; dining room; 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 kitchen; terraces; WiFi; storage rooms; private parking; 75,000,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995, info @gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com Psb22/01-52/ Big Villa located in a clean & well maintained Resort in East Pattaya, 12 min drive to Sukhumvit Road; quite & peaceful; 1,632sqm land; living space approx. 500sqm; fully furnished with custom made quality furniture; 1 living room; 1 dining room; 3 bedrooms, 3 ensuite bathrooms, guest toilet, 1 kitchen, maid’s house; pool 10m x 5m (salt water); many terraces; security 7/24h; double garage; fully air-conditioned; laundry, pantry, many storerooms; office; SOLAR hot water; double wall and roof insulation; emergency power generator; double glazed insulation windows; 25.000 liter water storage; 35,000,000 THB or best offer; 092- 753 9309, info@ gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com

Condominiums Psc98/03-07/ Porchland Condo Jomtien Owner Sale: One bedroom, 48m2, 8th Floor, high quality. All included. 2.1 Million Baht. Info: 087 138 3523

Psc97/01-05/ Jomtien Plaza, 126sqm, Corner unit, high floor, beach views, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 balconies, foreigner owner, 5.95 million (Negotiable) Tel: 094 461 2395 Psc95/03/ 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, TV-LCD 50". Hot Sale 7.9 mil. 4x,xxx baht/sqm. 081-3358102 (owner), for photos: pitipity @hotmail.com, Line: piti.t Psc90/46-08/ Condo for sale: 750,000 Baht. Location in Soi Nernblabwan. Tel: 096 397 9541, Line ID: domicil24, Email: duangpee.domicil @gmail.com Psc88/45-02/ PRATAMNAK, 2-bedrooms, 2-bathrooms, Brand New! Sale: 3 Million Baht. High Floor, Includes furniture and appliances. Foreign name. Tel. 064 723-9972 Psc80/01-52/ City-Studio Jomtien VIEW TALAY 1; 6th floor; living space 32sqm; 500m to the beach; fully furnished; 1 living-bedroom; 1

bathroom; kitchen; balcony; WiFi; security 7/24h; community pool; parking; restaurants, bars, supermarket 24h, laundry in the building; directly located at the 10-BahtTaxi route and Shuttle Bus to AirportBKK;1,250,000THB;(or rent 7,900 THB) 092- 753 9309,. info@gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com Psc79/01-52/ Studio on the beach in Pratumnak, 50sqm, totally quite & peaceful, fully furnished; private access to the beach; big sea view terrace; 1 living-bedroom, 1 bathroom, full kitchen; washing machine; security 7/24h; community pool on beachfront; restaurant on pool side, parking; supermarket and laundry; 2,450,000 THB; (or rent 12,500 THB) 092 7539309, info@gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com Psc76/01-52/ Seaview Apartment in Pattaya, Pratumnak Hills with 2 bedrooms, 11th floor; 3 balconies; living space 101sqm; fully furnished; living room; 2 bathrooms, 1 European kitchen; 2 new air-conditioners, ceiling fans; double security door, security 7/24h; fitness gym; sauna; steam

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2019 23

room; community pool; parking; restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry; 7,495,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995, info@gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com Psc74/01-52/ Studio located close to Pattaya Beach and “Rhompo Night Market”, Jomtien 2nd road, living space 47sqm, fully furnished, 1 living/bedroom, 1 bathroom, kitchenette, terrace, WiFi, Security 7/24h, fitness gym, community pool, garage, “10 Baht Taxi Route”, supermarket, laundry close by: 1,600,000 THB; GO PROPERTY THAILAND 093 -161 5995, info@gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com

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24 FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2019

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVII No. 3

Coghlan & Parish post best of the week PSC Golf from the Tropical Golf Group

Tuesday, Jan. 8, Pattavia – Stableford The day’s course was Pattavia Century Golf Club and it proved quite a challenge, with only Mick Coghlan able to score better than his handicap. A few sprinkles of rain fell as we started to teeoff, but as soon as umbrellas were opened, the sun was shining again. Today we had a total field of 22 players, with eleven winners, spread over three flights. The minimum half the field being a prizewinner is proving very popular. In the A flight (0–15) Landis Brooks was on top with 35 stableford points, playing from his handicap of 8. Second went to Mashi Kaneta (13) with 32 points and Paul

Weatherley (15) was in third with 31. In the B flight (16-22), Mick Coghlan (22) was first with 37 points, second went to Joe Sparwirth (22) on 30, while Daryl Evans (22) bested Brian Gabe on countback for third, both with 29. In the C flight (23+), Graham Buckingham (24) was first past the post with 34 points and Don Carmody (26) claimed second on countback over Frank Xin (23), both with 32. The best front nine (nonwinners) went to Brian Gabe’s 17, while John Davis had the best back nine score, with 18 points.

Friday, Jan 11, Crystal Bay – Stableford This Friday a healthy twenty eight golfers took advantage

Davies on form at Greenwood PSC Golf from Siam Country Resort Pattaya

Landis Brooks (from left) with Mick Coghlan and Graham Buckingham.

of nice weather and friendly green fees to head to Crystal Bay, a “go figure” kind of course. Some days you can shoot 37 points and not even get a nod. Other days, those with 20-something are shocked to be called. Today

Tuesday, Jan. 8, Greenwood Stableford

Thursday, Jan. 10, Mt. Shadow Stableford

On Tuesday we went to Greenwood with 3 groups and played the A & B nines. It was a lovely day and the course was in very good condition even after the heavy rain the night before. Paul Davies played very well and consistently today and won with 38 stableford points. Second was Bob Edwards with 36 points and in third came Martin Hayes with 35. The near pins went to Paddy Devereux, Peter Pendlebury, Neil Harvey and Bob Edwards.

Mountain Shadow was our venue on Thursday and the course was in very good condition and challenging to play. We missed having a cool breeze today, but we survived the 18 holes. Dave Smith was the man of the hour and won with 40 points. A modest distance behind was Willem Lasonder in second with 37 points while Bob Edwards took third with 35. The near pins were claimed by Jonathan Pratt, Dave Smith, Martin Hayes and Willem Lasonder.

rates in play for our more fancied courses we keep it on the menu till low season and then reassess. Some areas were rather soggy, while other dry and brown sections haven’t seen water in a while, and yes, many sections were just

Avril goes wild at Bangpra The Tara Court Golf Society Sunday, Jan. 6, Green Valley – Stableford

Martin Hayes, Bob Edwards and Paul Davies.

was one of the latter. Given the number of golfers it is surprising only one (Brian Parish) broke handicap and he by just a point. The course was certainly in poorer condition than last month but with high season

right! At 1050 baht to walk there were few complaints though. The golfers were put into a generous four flights, with three winners each. In the AFlight (0-14), Brian Parish was top with 37 points ahead of John Davis in second on 34 and Alan Sullivan third with 33. Tom Herrington topped the B-Flight (15-21) with an even par 36 points on countback over Brian Gabe while Colm O’Donovan was one point further back in third. C-Flight (22-24) saw Graham Buckingham in first place with 35 points, Joe Sparwirth was second on 34 and Phil Scotton secured third with 30. Don Carmody was the winner of D-Flight (25+) with a modest 32 points, beating Karen Brown on countback, and David Bailey was third with 28. Best nines (non-winners) went to Deryl Neufeld and Mick Coghlan.

We certainly got 2019 off to a flying start here at Green Valley today with the best scores we have had here in a long time. We also had a record number of ‘2’s with nearly one third of the players getting one. The cut for the A flight came out at fifteen and this is where we got the best score of the day. Paul Pavloff (H/cap 6) had two blanks on his card but he still scored a magnificent forty points on the other sixteen holes to come out a clear winner. After that we had four players with thirty six points and here Michael Williams (13), who had twenty-three points on the back nine was a clear winner of second place ahead of Shaun Merriman (12) in third, Nick Caulfield (7) fourth and Gerry Hannan just missed out on the prizes. In The B flight we also had great golf and Leo McCauley (20), just arrived from Ireland, took the win with thirty-eight points. Both Peter Henshaw (28) and Paul

Butler 17) also had thirty eight on the scorecard with Peter taking second and Paul third on countback while Pat Carty was fourth with thirty-four. We had seven ‘2’s today, from Joe McArdle, Michael Williams, Nick Caulfield, Shaun Merriman, George Cullen, Joe Peters and Donal McGuigan.

Tuesday, Jan. 8, Pattavia - Stableford Pattavia is becoming a very popular course and today we had our largest group for the high season so far, with 30 players. We had 3 divisions with “A” cut at 17 & “B” 18 + and we also had a Silver/Red tee division. “A” division was won with the best score of the day, with Craig Hitchens (12) having a solid 40 points. Second went to Sean McNamara (15) on 36 points, Nick Caulfield (7) was third on 35 and fourth spot was a tight affair with the countback going to the 18th hole after both Gerry Hannan (12) and Ted Morris had 34 points overall, Gerry getting the nod for the final

podium place. “B” division was also won with a good score and in first place was Joe Peters (24) with 38 points. Bernie Stafford (18) was second with 34 points, third went to Pat Carty (23) on 33 points and in fourth was Jean Fok Chak (19) with 31. The Silver /Red comp was won by Peter Henshaw (28) with 34 points and second was Evelyn McNamara (24) with 31. We had three ‘2’s, coming from Jerry Sweetnam, Nick Caulfield & Craig Hitchens.

Thursday, Jan. 10, Bangpra - Stableford We had our first visit here to Bangpra for this year and today the greens were back to their previous lightning fast speed, with many tales of three-putting and even more on some occasions. The cut for the A flight came out at sixteen and the winner was Wayne Antlitz (13) with thirty two points. Both Declan Kelly (12) and Gerry Hannan (12) had thirty one points but Declan won the countback to come second.

Avril Wildsmith.

In the B flight we had what was by far the best score of the day. Avril Wildsmith (31) came back a few weeks ago and told us she had lost five shots on her handicap. After today’s score she will be losing a few more as she scored a magnificent forty two points, a full ten points ahead of Kevin Page (19) in second place while Joe Peters (24) featured in the prizes again today, this time in third with thirty points. Gerry Hannan had the only ‘2’ of the day.

VOL. XXVII No. 3

FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2019 25

PATTAYA MAIL

Ashton piles on 42 at Riverside PSC Golf from the Pattaya Links Golf Society third from Kenny Jepson, both on 33. Near pins went to Carl Luke, Dane O’Brien, Tip Briney and Brendon McGoven.

Monday, Jan. 7, Bangpakong Riverside - Stableford A Flight (0-15) 1st Phillip Ashton (12) 42pts 2nd Pete Seil (5) 39pts 3rd Maurice Roberts (13) 38pts 4th Colm Lawlor (14) 38pts B Flight (16-18) 1st Ralph McConnell (18) 41pts 2nd Wayne Peppernell (16) 41pts 3rd Dane O’Brien (16) 36pts 4th Tony Browne (18) 34pts C Flight (19+) 1st Walter Baechli (21) 35pts 2nd Larry Slattery (19) 34pts 3rd Pierre Zbinden (21) 33pts 4th Kenny Jepson (26) 33pts We never tire of hearing about how good this course is, as it is almost always presented in immaculate condition with wide, nicely mown fairways, the rough not too harsh and first class greens running with good speed. Today was no exception with the possibility of some big stableford point scores. Phillip Ashton got into town about a week ago and got right into his game by taking out the “A” flight and the Green Jacket with the best score of the day, a big 42 points. Pete Seil is a class golfer and never far from the podium and his 39 points was

Wednesday, Jan. 9, Pattavia - Stableford

Phillip Ashton.

a very good score from his handicap of 5. Maurice Roberts is showing some solid form of late and took the countback for third from Colm Lawlor, both on 38 points. “B” flight was set up for a countback as Ralph McConnell and Wayne Peppernell both had great games amassing 41 points each. That result got Ralph first place by way of a better back nine. There was a gap to third placed Dane O’Brien with 36 points and Tony Browne winning a countback for fourth on 34. The “C” flight at last found world traveller Walter Baechli return to the form we know he is capable of to take first place on 35 points, ahead of Larry Slattery on 34. The final countback of the round saw Pierre Zbinden take

A Flight (0-15) 1st Phillip Ashton (11) 40pts 2nd Brendon McGoven (+2) 39pts 3rd Maurice Roberts (13) 37pts 4th Bill Copeland (15) 34pts 5th Mitchell Carlon (11) 33pts B Flight (16+) 1st Wayne Peppernell (16) 41pts 2nd Marco Beer (17) 39pts 3rd Peter Mace (26) 36pts 4th John Hughes (21) 36pts 5th Colin Service (16 36pts After an unusually high number of no shows and cancellations we took a field of 38 players to Pattavia Century Golf Club. We did two flights today with 5 places in each and the “A” flight saw Phillip Ashton score his second 40-pointer in a week, just before he heads off home. We don’t see many plus handicappers playing in our society but we had Brendon McGoven here for a return visit and did he show what a +2 handicapper can do? His 67 “off the stick” was a terrific round of golf. Dave

Wayne Peppernell (center) with John Pearce (left) and Robin Taylor.

Arataki said later “he plays a different game to us”. That great round equated to 39 points and “only” second place. Then came the very in-form Maurice Roberts with 37 points, followed by Bill Copeland on 34 points and Mitchell Carlon with 33. “B” flight saw our current Captain, Wayne Peppernell, follow up his 41 points two days ago with yet another 41 points here. He was beaten to the Green Jacket then, but this time it was all his. Marco Beer had a welcome return to form with an above average score of 39 points for second place while the next three places all had 36 points and had to go to countback. This resulted in Peter Mace for third, John

Hughes fourth and Colin Service, who missed a putt on the last hole by a whisker, in fifth. Near pins were claimed by John Doyle, Gabriel Enright, John Hughes, Steve Truelove.

Friday, Jan. 11, Pleasant Valley Stableford A Flight (0-18) 1st Stuart Thompson (18) 39 pts 2nd Wayne Peppernell (16) 39 pts 3rd Colin Smith (14) 36pts B Flight (19+) 1st Stuart Kidd (21) 34pts 2nd Derek Phillips (19) 33pts 3rd Len Jones (31) 31pts High season can be tough on golfers and most of the

seven groups playing today endured a five-hour plus round in very humid conditions. The course was fair with some damp fairways and greens which ran slower than most. However, generally it was worth the discounted deal which the group enjoyed. The field was divided into two flights with the cut coming at eighteen and scores in both were a fair reflection of the day. In the second flight third place went to Len Jones with 31 points, second to Derek Phillips with 33 and Stuart Kidd took the win with 34. The top flight saw Wayne Peppernell going for a third big score this week and he did not disappoint with 39 points, but he lost top spot to compatriot Stu Thompson whose back-nine was better. Stu thereby took a long awaited and very rare Green Jacket. Third place in the flight went to the consistent Cardiff golfer Colin Smith with another level par score. The best nine awards were won by Willie Brown (best front 19 points on c/back) and John Harrison (best back 20 points). Near pins went to Stuart Thompson, Derek Phillips (x2) and Kenny Jepson (17)

Welch puts on a sizzling show Traveller’s Rest Golf Group

Monday, Jan. 7, Khao Kheow Stableford Division 1 1st Mike Rushant (11) 37pts 2nd Iko Akitoshi (11) 36pts 3rd Lee Kwang-Jae (14) 34pts Division 2 1st Sam Lee (18) 37pts 2nd Daryl Harvey (28) 37pts 3rd Terry Martin (19) 35pts We start this week’s report at Khao Kheow where thirty three hopefuls vied for the top position in their respective divisions. In division two, otherwise known as the South Korean division, our resident Sam Lee narrowly won the day with 37 points, just beating Daryl Harvey on a countback which went to the last three holes. In division one Mike “The Machine” Rushant, who is always about the top three spots, posted a strong back-nine to stave of the challenge of Iko Akitoshi.

Tuesday, Jan. 8, Green Valley – Stableford Division 1 1st Arnold Jones (14) 38pts

2nd Mike Rushant (11) 38pts 3rd Barry Wood (13) 36pts Division 2 1st Ho Yong-Wang (23) 35pts 2nd John O’Donoghue (19) 35pts 3rd Alex Fenwick (19) 31pts For the second consecutive day a count back was required to determine the winner of division two and once again the South Koreans came out on top. Ho Yong-Wang held off John O’Donoghue to claim his first victory for 2019. In division one Mike “The Machine” fell at the final hurdle and allowed Arnold Jones (A.J) to cross the finishing line in first place. Both divisions required countbacks to determine a winner, however division one went down to the last hole.

Wednesday, Jan. 9, Greenwood – Stableford 1st John T Welch (36) 45pts 2nd Ross Luchterhand (18) 41pts 3rd Jim Best (15) 40pts

was no exception, with thirtyseven players in the field. In division two it was a pleasure to see Peter McGinty take out the number one spot with a very respectable score of 36 points. In division one the scoring was very impressive and our resident “lefty” Daryl Ottaway shot the lights with a brilliant three-over par round to deservedly take out first place.

Friday, Jan. 11, Burapha – Stableford Kim Seung-Hwan.

It was here that the magic happened. John T Welch, who is not known for his golfing prowess but has a claim to fame for his mouthwatering BBQ’s, threw away his cooking equipment and “steaked” his claim in the annals of golfing history. His amazing 45 points shook the golfing fraternity to the core and left the rest of us looking like minced meat.

Peter McGinty.

Thursday, Jan. 10, Phoenix Gold – Stableford Division 1 1st Daryl Ottaway (8) 41pts 2nd KimSeung-Hwan(14)38pts 3rd Mike Rushant (11) 38pts Division 2 1st Peter McGinty (23) 36pts 2nd Sam Lee (36) 34pts 3rd Kim Hyoung-Tae (23) 31pts Phoenix always attracts good numbers and today

Division 1 1st Kim Seung-Hwan (14) 40pts 2nd Bob Hannon (13) 39pts 3rd Rocky Jones (05) 36pts Division 2 1st Peter Williamson (16) 38pts 2nd Don Hawkins (16) 38pts 3rd Eun Suk-Choi (17) 36pts With a fantastic turnout of forty-two players today, in division two Peter Williamson took his playing companions apart with a 38-point round. In the top division Kim

Seung-Hwan was staking his claim to fame in the golfing fraternity with a very commendable 40 points and representing his fellow countrymen in the higher echelons of golf.

Saturday, Jan. 12, Pattavia – Stableford Division 1 1st Colin Smith (12) 40pts 2nd Don Hawkins (16) 38pts 3rd Mike Rushant (11) 38pts Division 2 1st Nathan Sheridan (21) 42pts 2nd Sam Lee (18) 37pts 3rd Jim Sheridan (26) 36pts We finished this week at Pattavia, where the average golfer quivers in fear of the pace and undulation of the greens. Not so for the iconic Nathan Sheridan whose muscle-bound body allowed him to K.O. the opposition with a brilliant 42 points. Meanwhile in division one it was current player of the year Colin Smith with a very respectable 40 points who took the plaudits.

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26 FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2019

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVII No. 3

Italian connection muscles in PSC Golf from Café Kronborg Monday, Jan. 7, Khao Kheow (white tees) – Stableford A Flight (0-20) 1st Peter Bygballe (19) 42pts 2nd Jon Dean (10) 36pts 3rd Brian Gabe (17) 36pts 4 th Henning Olsen (20) 34pts B Flight (23+) 1st Dal Pastro (24) 37pts 2nd Peter Hammond (30) 37pts 3rd Jan Lovegreen (23) 37pts 4th Gordon Clegg (26) 31pts

Near Pins: Peter Bygballe, Kurt Sandgaard. Long Putts: Gordon Clegg, Brian Gabe Cafe Kronborg golfers visited this classy course today and were not disappointed with the condition thereof. What the golfers in the B Flight did not bargain for was the Italian connection, in the form of Dal Pastro, muscling in with his 37 points and 21on the back nine, pushing Peter Hammond and Jan

Macart fires off 43-point blitz PSC Golf from the Growling Swan

Lovegreen into second and third respectively. Our top flight did not have an Italian connection, just a Viking in the form of Peter Bygballe who regularly plunders and he did so again today with his 42 points, winning by six shots.

Thursday, Jan. 10, Crystal Bay Stableford A Flight (0-22) 1st Rob Brown (7) 36pts 2nd Ronnie Rattle (21) 35pts 3rd Phil Scotton (22) 34pts B Flight (23+) 1st Peter Hammond (30) 35pts 2nd Ulla Ravn (36) 30pts 3rd Jan Lovegreen (23) 26pts Near Pins: Rob Brown, Phil Scotton, Kjeld Ravn, Rob Brown. Long Putts: Ronnie Rattle, Peter Hammond. Cafe Kronborg golfers went to Crystal Bay on Thursday where they played the B and C nines. Unfortunately the condition of this course is rapidly declining. It seems somebody has forgotten

Dal Pastro (left) with Dave Richardson (center) and Peter Bygballe.

that this is the golf course that needs constant labour and attention and somebody who can operate a greens cutting machine. The grass on the greens on the back nine looked and played as if they had not been cut and believe it or not, downhill putts were slow! Apart from our moans and groans one of our players,

Rob Brown, was able to play to his handicap and won the A Flight in spite of blobbing the last hole after a bee stung his ear when he was walking to the 18th tee. Not too much sympathy was expressed as he has been stinging us all winter - maybe there is poetic justice! Ronnie Rattle was

second behind Rob, just one point behind, and Phil Scotton took third with 34. Peter Hammond topped the B Flight with a one over handicap 35 points while Ulla Ravn and Jan Lovegreen were surprised to get spots on the podium with their relatively modest scores.

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Stormin Norman sweeps the field Colin Stielow (from left) poses with Bernie McCart and Keith Buchanan, with Mike Johns taking a peek in the background.

Monday, Jan. 7, Mt. Shadow - Stableford 1 Colin Stielow (25) 34pts 2nd Mashi Kaneta (13) 32pts 3rd Patrick Poussier (29) 31pts Near Pins: Keith Buchanan, Mark Stapleton, Mark Stapleton. Long Putts: Brendan Cope, Keith Buchanan. We had fourteen golfers put today at Mountain Shadow, playing off the blue tees at about 6200m in length. There was not one complaint regarding the condition of the courses; fairways were mowed and tidy, the greens ran true and the bunkers were clean and raked. All in all the opportunity for some good scores one would think, or was it! With just the solitary flight, Colin Stielow took the shackles off to return a good score of 34 points for top spot. In second and only two shots behind was Mashi Kaneta and finishing third another stroke behind was his playing partner Patrick Poussier. st

Thursday, Jan. 10, King Naga Stableford A-Flight 1st Martin Kempton (11) 39pts 2nd Takeshi Hakozaki (12) 36pts

3rd Ian Ward (12) 35pts B-Flight 1st Bernie McCart (32) 43pts 2nd Colin Stielow (25) 37pts 3rd Andrew Allen (33) 36pts Near Pins: Denis Steele, Dave Maw, Bill Steinmann, Shane Young. Long Putts: Peter Grey, Martin Kempton. Twenty golfers took up the challenge today at King Naga on a course in good nick and which offered plenty of run. Bunkers were clean and raked, fairways were tidy but putting close to the greens was a little difficult as the buffalo grass took the speed from the ball. Our five groups teed off about 10 min earlier than our allotted tee time, and we were not held up at all. The AFlight saw Martin Kempton take the show with a good score of 39 points. Second home was Takeshi Hakozaki who on the Par 4 eighth hole shot an eagle in two, and third past the post was Ian Ward on countback over Mark Stapleton, Keith Buchanan and newcomer Jon Dean. B-Flight witnessed the score of the day when Bernie McCart came home with an excellent score of 43 points. Leaving us this week, Colin Stielow took second six shots behind the winner and Andrew Allen rounded of the podium places.

PSC Golf from The Bunker Boys Monday, Jan. 7, Plutaluang N & W – Stableford 1st Dary Vernon (24) 38pts 2nd Keith Norman (14) 37pts 3rd Neil Carter (11) 36pts 4th Geof Cox (17) 35pts 5th Phil Mashiter (6) 35pts 6th Alan Sullivan (14) 35pts We had a good field of twenty-three for a rare visit to Plutaluang. The course looked very crowded as we drove in so we encountered the usual problems, i.e. a lack of caddies and a very slow round. I guess it’s the price you pay in high season for a low-cost game. Despite the frustration of slow play very few suffered scoring wise, with many very good cards returned. Top of the heap was the everimproving Daryl Vernon who took first place with a very fine round of thirty-eight points. Keith Norman continues to play solid golf and took second place one stroke adrift and third place went to Neil Carter on thirty-six. Three golfers, Geoff Cox, Phil Mashiter, and Alan Sullivan were all locked on thirty-five and had to be separated on countback. Daryl has all aspects of his game in shape at present, taking two near pins and becoming a regular in that department, the other two going to Geoff Cox and Michael Brett.

The search for a new home continues with about seven weeks to go before we must relocate. The selection criteria for a new home are as follows (1) central location, (2) open at 9.00 am (3) secure accommodation for about twenty lockers, (4) reasonably priced beverages, food a plus (5) reasonable access to parking. Any bar owner who can match these criteria and wishes to grow their business should make contact with one of our members as soon as possible

Wednesday, Jan. 9, Treasure Hill – Stableford 1st Keith Norman (14) 35pts 2nd Jimmy Carr (15) 33pts 3rd Dave Ashman (18) 33pts 4th Ken Elmore (20) 31pts Some months ago we marveled at the sight of a tenball at Pleasant Valley. Not to be outdone, Treasure Hill today threw up a twelve-ball on the first tee as our lead group completed the ninth. Our joy at not being behind them was short lived as two four-balls which were due to follow then decided instead to go to the thirteenth tee and hold us up further on what was already slow tedious round. The speed of play was reflected in the scoring with many failing to put together a decent score on what is a very challenging course.

Keith Norman.

Keith Norman took the honors today with thirty-five points. Having missed out on golfer of the month in December, Keith seems keen to rectify that this month and already has a decent lead after only a handful of games. Jimmy Carr took second with thirty-three from Dave Ashman on countback. with Ken Elmore rounding out the winner’s circle with thirtyone points in fourth place. Near pins went to Mark Stanley, Dave Ashman, Jimmy Carr, and Keith Norman.

Friday, Jan. 11, The Emerald – Stableford 1st Keith Norman (14) 40pts 2nd Kob Glover (28) 34pts 3rd Ken Elmore (20) 34pts 4th Robby Watts (8) 33pts 5th Geoff Cox (17) 32pts On arrival at Emerald we were greeted with the news that we would have to wait ninety minutes for carts. After the

threat of twenty-one golfers walking away, carts suddenly materialised from who knows where. The second problem was that many of the caddies were new to golf and would appear to have made a poor career choice, not being able to read greens or distances. The biggest problem of all however was the speed of play, four hours forty-five minutes to complete the round meant that frustration levels were extremely high. Stormin Norman (Keith that is) seemed totally unfazed by all this and cruised to victory with forty points, that made it two wins and a second place for the week, very consistent indeed. Second place went to the fast-improving Kob Glover with thirty-four points, beating Ken Elmore on countback. Robby Watts in his first game of this tour started in great fashion with eleven points after four holes only to fade thereafter to end up with thirty-three points in fourth place. Geoff Cox rounded out the scoring with thirty-two and could have ended a few places higher with better knowledge of the rules having wiped the last hole unnecessarily. Keith Norman had his name on all the near pins and took two, with the others going to Geoff Parker by a whisker and Neil Carter.

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Sasicha shines at Phoenix PSC Golf from the Billabong Bar Monday, Jan. 7, Phoenix Gold Stableford Phoenix was very busy today with visitors from Taipei every nine had groups waiting to tee off. We played Ocean and Mountain nines from the white tees and had only two ladies playing with us today. The course as usual was in spectacular condition with thankfully greens a slower the normal. With 7 groups playing rather the 5 we have booked, we were a little late teeing off but the marshall did his job to the letter and accommodated us extremely well. We had a young English lad, Aaron, playing with us today who plays off plus 3-handicap and he shot 70 off the bat. This being his first time at Phoenix it was a great effort. The prizes went down to 4th and that spot was taken by Paul Greenaway with 35 points, Miss Phin took 3rd with 36, and 2nd went to Bob Scott with 37, but the lady of the moment Miss Sasicha took the top spot with a great 42 points.

DATE:

Kran, Sasicha and Pin.

There were only three ‘2’s, coming from Justin Melshuall, Miss Phin and Sandy Chapo.

Wednesday, Jan. 9, Green Valley Stableford Bearing in mind that there were 50 Billabong golfers participating in today’s round, the overall scores were remarkable. The fantastic golf weather may well have been a contributory factor for it was warm with a gentle breeze in the latter stages. In the ladies competition 38 points were needed to be mentioned in dispatches,

FRI 18

Apple’s Irish

Treasure Hill

Bunker Boys

Pattavia

SAT 19

which was achieved by Miss Phin (H/cap 11) but she missed out on the bronze position by having a slightly inferior back–nine to that of Miss Kran (22) on 39 points. She in turn was just 1 point behind Miss Pin (19) in 2nd place who had a birdie on the 10th a hole that has defied many a golfer to even finding a par. Her 40 points equaled that of the day’s winner Miss Sasicha (23) who had a lively celebration of her birthday back at the Billabong, but her 20 points on the way home was 1 point better than Miss Pin.

SUN 20

Le Katai

Burapha C and D courses for a change today and the greens were a bit different than the last time we played these loops but the maintenance just keeps getting better. One of the team started with 4 for 4, 5 for 3 and 4 for 3, all off a 25 handicap. He was going home he said if

MON 21

TUE 22

WED 23 Bangpra

Green Valley

Pattavia

Burapha

Phoenix

Pleasant Valley

Greenwood

Siam Old Course

The Links

Greenwood

FRI 25 King Naga

Mt.Shadow Pleasant Valley

The Emerald

Lewinski’s

THU 24

Eastern Star

Pattavia Crystal Bay

Glenn Smith with 38 and Paul Greenaway had a day in the sunshine, scoring 41 points off his 12 handicap. There were four ‘2’s, coming from Rick Culley, Bob Scott and Paul Greenaway got the other two.

Friday, Jan. 11, Burapha - Stableford

Pleasant Valley

Growling Swan Billabong Golf

he got a par the 4th hole as it was the best he had ever played, and it turned out to be one of his better days anyway. Rick Culley took third place with a fine handicap round of 36 points, 2nd went to

Pattana

Cafe Kronborg Colin’s Golf

Five golfers on 35 points could not have a mention but Barry Copeskate (16) came in 5th with 36 points, 1 point behind Helmut Hebstrake (11). Gary Ritchie (8), who played the 1st nine holes in just 1 over for 21 points scored 39 points overall for third and two golfers with 40 points battled for top spot. Peter Le Noury (11) had his best round for a long time but a back-nine of just 16 points was not quite enough to edge Dougie Crowe (9) for the win. There were nine ‘2’s in total, going to Miss Sasicha, Miss May, Miss Lynn, Glyn Davies, Keith Allen, Jeff North, Peter Le Noury and 2 to Helmut Hebstrake.

Mt.Shadow Crystal Bay

Green Valley King Naga

Pattavia

Burapha Pleasant Valley

Plutaluang Siam Old Course

Royal Lakeside

Plutaluang

Pattavia

I Rovers Retox Game On

K.Kheow/T.Hill

Greenwood/Navy Mt.Shadow/Pattana P.Valley/Wangjuntr

C.Bay/Pattavia

Pleasant Valley

Khao Kheow

Siam Country Sugar Shack

Greenwood

Pleasant Valley

Harry’s Golf

Pattaya C.C.

Pattavia

Mt.Shadow

Green Valley

Khao Kheow

The Golf Club

Treasure Hill Khao Kheow

K.Kheow/Bangpra

The Emerald Pattavia

Pattaya C.C.

Greenwood

Pleasant Valley

Green Valley

The Players Lounge Tropical Golf

Greenwood

Valley View Hackers

Green Valley

Outback Golf Bar

Green Valley

Burapha

The Emerald

Bangpakong

Treasure Hill Green Valley Laem Chabang

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 Dave on tel. 038 602 2117). Colin’s Bar plays golf Sun/Mon/Wed & Fri (www.colinsbar.com). The Growling Swan plays golf on Monday & Thursday (www.thegrowlingswan.com). Lewinski’s in Soi Pattayaland 1 (Soi 13/3), now have a new schedule, 5 days per week Monday thru Friday. Transport is available everyday, call Jack on 0815781956 for further information and booking. 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 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

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VOL. XXVII No. 3

Patriots-Chiefs, Saints-Rams in NFL conference championships Jay Cohen New York (AP) - Tom Brady versus Patrick Mahomes. Drew Brees against Jared Goff. Two high-profile rematches with the Super Bowl on the line. The NFL’s highest-scoring offenses face off in the conference championships this coming Sunday. Brady leads the New England Patriots into Kansas City to take on Mahomes and the Chiefs, and Brees and the New Orleans Saints host Goff and the Los Angeles Rams. “We’ll see how it goes,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “Well-coached, they have a lot of explosive players. We had a tremendous game with them here earlier. That was a long time ago. We’ll see where we are now, see where they are.” New England hosted Kansas City way back on Oct. 14, and Brady passed for 340 yards and a touchdown in a 43-40 victory that was the Chiefs’ first loss of the season. Mahomes’ 75-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill tied it with 3:03 left, but Brady drove the Patriots to

Stephen Gostkowski’s 28yard field goal as time expired. The AFC championship game is Brady’s first trip to Kansas City since he threw two interceptions and was sacked twice in an ugly 4114 loss on “Monday Night Football” on Sept. 29, 2014. “It’ll be a tough game,” Brady said. “They’re wellcoached. They’ve got a good offense. ... It’s going to be a lot of fun to go back there and play in a championship game and try to advance.” New Orleans (14-3) and Los Angeles (14-3) played their own wild shootout on Nov. 4. Wil Lutz’s 54-yard field goal got the lead for the Saints with 6:23 left, and Brees found Michael Thomas for a clinching 72-yard touchdown in a 45-35 victory. “When we come out there, we feel like no one can stop us,” Thomas said of his connection with Brees. “I just feel like we keep building every week. We have a thing, and it’s hard for the other team to stop.” The Saints averaged 31.5 points this season on their way to the NFC South title, ranking third in the NFL behind the

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (left) gestures as he runs past Indianapolis Colts safety Clayton Geathers and linebacker Anthony Walker during the second half of an NFL divisional football playoff game in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Jan. 12. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Chiefs (35.3 points per game) and Rams (32.9) and ahead of the Patriots (27.3). It’s the first time in the Super Bowl era that the NFL’s top four scoring offenses all reached the conference championships. But New Orleans’ defense played a crucial role in its

20-14 win over Philadelphia in the divisional round last Sunday. Marshon Lattimore had two interceptions, including one on the Eagles’ final drive, and the Saints erased an early 14-0 deficit. “We were real calm and poised and we knew we were going to get things

done,” Brees said. Los Angeles advanced by powering its way to a 30-22 win against Dallas last Saturday. C.J. Anderson had 123 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and Todd Gurley rushed for 115 more yards and another TD. “Our sense of focus and

the sense of urgency have gone up tremendously,” guard Rodger Saffold said. New England (12-5) also showed off its rushing attack in a 41-28 win against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Sony Michel rushed for 129 yards and three TDs. The Patriots scored on their first four possessions on their way to a 35-7 halftime lead. “The ability to execute early and get things going sets a lot of things up,” wide receiver Julian Edelman said. “It shows that we had a good week of practice, executed well in practice and it carried over and went into the game.” Kansas City (13-4) is headed for its first AFC title game in 25 years after rolling to a 31-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts last Saturday. Mahomes, who is one of the favorites for the NFL MVP award, passed for 278 yards and rushed for a score in his playoff debut. “This is what we work for,” Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford said. “We just want to keep this thing rolling. Enjoy it now but keep it rolling.”

UAE, Thailand make Asian Cup On bad hip, Andy Murray out last 16, heartbreak for India in 1st round of Australian Open Howard Fendrich

Thailand players celebrate after midfielder Thitipan Puangchan (left) scored his side’s goal during the AFC Asian Cup group A soccer match between United Arab Emirates and Thailand at Al Maktoum Stadium in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Jan. 14. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Al Ain, UAE (AP) — Thailand’s decision to change coaches continued to prove to be a masterstroke but there was last-minute heartbreak for India at the Asian Cup on Monday. Thailand drew against host side United Arab Emirates 11 to qualify for the next round for the first time since reaching the semifinals in 1972. UAE finished top of Group A and the pair could be joined in the round of 16 by Bahrain, who beat India 1-0 thanks to a last-gasp penalty and will likely progress as one of the best four thirdplaced teams.

It was a far cry from Thailand’s first match in the tournament, a 4-1 loss to India that led to the firing of coach Milovan Rajevac and the appointment of his assistant, Sirisak Yodyardthai, as interim coach. UAE started strongly and took the lead less than seven minutes in. IsmailAl Hammadi’s attempted chip came back off the crossbar but Ali Mabkhout headed home the rebound. Thailand started to get into the match and leveled four minutes before the break when Thitiphan Puangjan took advantage of panic in the UAE defence to bundle the ball past goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.

The War Elephants finished second, a point below UAE and above Bahrain thanks to a better head-tohead record, having won the match between them 1-0. Bahrain, who hit the woodwork earlier in the match, were seconds away from going out of the tournament as India managed to fend off wave after wave of attacks. However, India captain Pronay Halder brought down Hamed Alshamsan in the penalty area and Jamal Rashed converted in stoppage time to send Bahrain into unbridled joy. The knockout stages begin Sunday, January 20.

Melbourne, Australia (AP) — If this was it for Andy Murray, if this truly was it, he gave himself — and an appreciative, raucous crowd that included his mother and brother — quite a gutsy goodbye, the type of nevergive-in performance he’s famous for. What Murray could not quite do Monday at the Australian Open was finish off a stirring comeback and prolong what might just be the final tournament of his career. Playing on a surgically repaired right hip so painful that pulling on socks is a chore, he summoned the strength and strokes to erase a big deficit and force a fifth set before eventually succumbing to 22nd-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-2, Murray’s first opening-round loss at a Grand Slam tournament in 11 years. “If today was my last match, look, it was a brilliant way to finish,” Murray said. “I literally gave everything that I had on the court, fought as best as I could, and performed a lot better than what I should have done with the amount I’ve been able to practice and train.” Murray, just 31, is a year removed from his operation, and he said that he will decide in the next week or so

Britain’s Andy Murray reacts during his first round match against Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 14. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

whether to have a second one. If he opts to avoid another procedure, he might be able to play in July at Wimbledon, where he won two of his three major titles, including the first for a British man in 77 years. If he decides for further surgery, then Monday’s match might have been his last. Even with a hitch in his gait, even as he leaned forward to rest his hands on his knees between points, Murray summoned the strength and the strokes to push the match beyond the 4-hour mark. And the fans tried to will him past Bautista Agut, who had lost in straight sets all three previous matches the two men had played.

They roared when Murray managed to break back to 2all on the way to taking the third set, with his mom, Judy, smiling widely as she stood alongside other spectators. They chanted his name when he grabbed the fourth set. They rose when the compelling contest ended. Afterward, a video was shown in the stadium with tributes to Murray from various players, including rivals Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, along with Nick Kyrgios, Caroline Wozniacki, Karolina Pliskova and Sloane Stephens. “Amazing career. Congratulations, buddy,” Federer said. “I’m your biggest fan.”

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Poole sails home at Navy The Jomtien Golf Society Monday, Jan. 7, Plutaluang Stableford The North and West courses were booked here today and we had eight groups out with the equal cut in the three divisions at 8-15.0, 15.3-19 and 20+ in division 3. On our last round here four weeks ago the greens were the slickest we had ever seen at this course and they were in an identical condition today. Bob Poole with 36 points recorded the highest score of the day to win division 1 ahead of Terry Drake is second on 33. The Durham boy John Hughes took third on 32 and in fourth place with 31 points was Bob Comartin. There were two 33’s in for division 2 and with a 20/19 countback Colin Aspinall beat Bill Kana for top spot and with a 17/16 countback in third place Jerry McCarthy edged Harry Vincenzi after two scores of 32. An amazing 29 points won division 3 for Louis Wong and five points behind in second place was Frank Grainger. Then there were three 31’s in and Dave Howden took third place with a 13/11/11 countback over Andres Van De Laan in fourth and John Dawson just missing out. Near pins went to (Div 1) John Hughes, Brian Keating and Bob Poole (x2), and (Div 2) Frank Grainger, Rod King and Rob Sommers. There are five ‘2’s in division 1 coming from John Chambers, John Hughes (x2), Bob Poole and Harry Vincenzi while in division 2 Frank Grainger birdied the lighthouse to scoop the pot.

Bob Poole.

Louis Wong.

Wednesday, Jan. 9, Wangjuntr Highlands - Stableford

Rob Sommers birdied the 4th and in division 2 Mike Lewis the same in the ‘2’s today.

Our once a year visit to Wangjuntr and there were quite a few golfers who had not played here before and were looking forward to the experience playing the course. We had a reasonable turnout with six groups and the cut in the two divisions at 817 and 19+. We were glad we picked the white tees today as the yellow and blue had some outrageous placings on some of the holes. Playing off 11 today, Marc Brunner recorded the best score of the day and won division 1 with 39 points. Bob Comartin was second on 35 points, Pete Sumner took third with 33 and in fourth place with 30 was Rob Sommers. On the podium again in division 2 was Bruce Gardner who won with 35 points while Frank Grainger came in second after beating John Carlin on an 18/11 countback after two score of 33. Kari Aarnio completed the podium in fourth on 31. Near pins were claimed by (Div 1) Bob Comartin, Brian Keating and Pete Sumner (x2), and (Div 2) Kari Aarnio, Mike Lewis, Finn Olsen and Rudi Thurschmid.

Friday, Jan. 11, Eastern Star Stableford We had 36 players out today with the cut set at 9-16, 17-21 and 22+ in the three divisions. As always here at this time of the year it will be a slow round. The greens are still improving and there were some very tough pin placements and this was reflected in the scores today. Louis Wong won division 3 with 34 points, the highest score of the day, and there were 27’s battling for second with Ron Lavett taking it over Tom Novak in third and Lars Strom fourth. Les Smith topped division 1 with 33 points while Harry Vincenzi took second after beating John Hughes on countback, both scoring 31 overall. With 30 points Brian Keating beat Pete Sumner on countback for fourth. John Carlin was the best in division 2 with 32 points while in second place Mike Lewis beat Bill Kana on countback after they both scored 31 and Jerry McCarthy was fourth with 29. Near pins went to (Div 1) John Chambers, John Hughes and Pete Sumner, and (Div 2) Tony Irving, Bert Jumelet , Bill Kana and Finn Olsen. Colin Aspinall recorded the only ‘2’ of the day.

Niphatsophon wins national qualifier for Honda LPGA Thailand 2019 From page 1 She has experience playing in three majors in women’s professional golf: the 2017 Evian Championship, ANA Inspiration 2018 and Ricoh Women’s British Open 2018, earning particularly impressive scores in the latter two tournaments. PajareeAnannarukarn (Meaw) gained the 39th rank LPGA Q-Series that was eligible to LPGA tour and got a Tour Card for LPGA 2019 in the position of Rookie. Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras (Saipan) participated in her first LPGA Tournament in 2016. In 2018, she competed in 19 tournaments

and her best result is achieving the 10th rank at the Blue Bay LPGA. She qualified from having participated in three Majors: the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Ricoh Women’s British Open and Evian Championship. The Road to Honda LPGA Thailand aims to further develop the sport and industry of golf in Thailand and also to raise the local standards of golf. Besides the Honda LPGA Thailand national qualifiers, the tournament is organizing two golf seminars; the Young Ambassadors Seminar on the 19th January 2019 for golf industry professionals to

share in-depth knowledge of golf tournament management with a new generation and the Golf Leaders Conference which will be held on the 21st February 2019 to encourage golfers and industry experts to network and exchange experiences regarding sustainable development golf in Thailand. For more information on the Honda LPGA Thailand 2019 and to purchase tickets, go to www. hondalpgathailand.com. VIP tickets are also available and offer access for hospitality services in the clubhouse at Siam Country Club Pattaya, Old Course.

South Africa’s fast bowlers deliver 3-0 series sweep over Pakistan Johannesburg (AP) — South Africa’s fast bowlers delivered another quick victory over Pakistan on Monday, a 107-run win early on the fourth day of the final test that sealed a 3-0 series whitewash. South Africa collected the seven wickets they needed before lunch at the Wanderers as the tourists crashed from 153-3 overnight to 273 all out and well short of their target of 381. The final nail for Pakistan — a run out — came just after midday as the lunch break was delayed with the home team on the verge of wrapping it up. That series-ending wicket, when Pakistan No. 11 Mohammad Abbas was run out for 9, was the only one of the 60 wickets for South Africa in the series that didn’t fall to one of their four fast bowlers. Abbas was stranded after a mix-up with Shadab Khan, ending their last-wicket partnership of 31 and Pakistan’s last stand. “A 3-0 series win is right up there,” said stand-in South Africa captain Dean Elgar, leading the Proteas with Faf du Plessis serving a onematch suspension for overrate offenses. “That’s what we asked the guys for out of this series and we got it. It’s a good way to start the year.”

Pakistan’s Sarfraz Ahmed is bowled out for 0 on day four of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Pakistan at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, Jan. 14. (AP Photo/Christiaan Kotze)

Duanne Olivier was Pakistan’s chief destroyer, finishing with 3-74 in the final innings and a series-leading 24 wickets in the three tests, just one wicket short of the South African record for a three-test series. Olivier was man of the series yet only played because fellow fast bowler Lungi Ngidi was ruled out with injury. Olivier found a hostile edge to his game on his return to test cricket after being out of the team for more than a year. He bowled short and fast throughout to bombard the Pakistan batsmen and give South Africa a new weapon in an already-strong fast-bowling arsenal. Olivier had top-ranked test bowler Kagiso Rabada, No.

4-ranked Vernon Philander and leading South African wicket-taker Dale Steyn to back him up, a fearsome foursome that South Africa hope could take them to No. 1 in the world. The four-pronged pace attack saw South Africa to a seventh consecutive series victory at home, a ninth win in their last 11 series anywhere, and up to No. 2 in the test rankings behind India. “Each bowler brings something different,” Olivier said. “Vernon has tremendous skill, KG (Rabada) has raw pace, and Dale’s record speaks for itself. For me it was just trying to bring something different to the team and I got rewarded for that. It obviously worked quite well.”

Japan Olympic official Takeda denies corruption allegations Stephen Wade Tokyo (AP) — Tsunekazu Takeda, the head of the Japanese Olympic Committee and a powerful IOC member, has denied corruption allegations against him concerning reported bribes paid to be awarded the rights to host the 2020 Olympics. A French prosecutor is investigating Takeda, who is reportedly linked to about $2 million in payments in 2013 before and after the IOC picked Tokyo ahead of Madrid and Istanbul to stage the games. The brewing scandal is a major blow to Tokyo’s preparations, which IOC President Thomas Bach has called “the best” in Olympic history. The Tokyo Olympics open in 18 months with Japan spending at least $20 billion to prepare. “I am very sorry for having caused worry for those working very hard to preparing for Tokyo 2020,” Takeda told a packed news conference Tuesday, Jan. 15 at the JOC’s office. Dressed in a dark suit, Takeda did not take questions and said: “I’d like to clear the allegation against me, and I will cooperate fully with French authorities.” The preliminary charge against Takeda announced by the National Financial Prosecutors office was first reported by French newspaper Le Monde. The preliminary charge means the investigating magistrate has determined there are serious grounds for suspicion. But no decision has been made on prosecution. Le Monde said French authorities suspect the IOC vote for Tokyo in 2013 was swayed by secret deals that secured the backing of IOC members from Africa, reporting that

Tsunekazu Takeda, President of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games bid, is shown in this Jan. 10, 2013 file photo. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

investigators suspect Takeda of authorizing the payment of $2 million in bribes made on either side of the IOC vote in September 2013 to a Singapore company, Black Tidings. “As for me, I was not involved in the decision-making process for deciding on Black Tiding,” Takeda said at the news conference. “There was no reason for me to question the process on this consultation deal.” The International Olympic Committee has backed Takeda and says he has the presumption of innocence. He testified with an IOC ethics commission on Friday. The IOC has not commented on details. The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics were also sullied by corruption scandals. Carlos Nuzman, the head of those games, resigned afterward accused of vote-buying. There was some speculation Takeda might use his brief address to step aside on Tuesday, at least temporarily

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Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea saves a shot from Tottenham’s Harry Kane (right) during their teams’ English Premier League match at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Jan. 13. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Russia’s Maria Sharapova serves to Britain’s Harriet Dart during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 14. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Birgit Platzer of Austria misses the target during the team relay race at the Luge World Cup event in Sigulda, Latvia, Sunday, Jan. 13. (AP Photo/Roman Koksarov)

VOL. XXVII No. 3

New England Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers (98) sacks Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 13, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/ Steven Senne)

Driver Carlos Sainz, of Spain, holds his head after his Mini broke down during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between San Juan de Marcona and Arequipa, Peru, Wednesday, Jan. 9. (Franck Fife /Pool Photo via AP)

Stina Nilsson (right) from Sweden celebrates as she wins the sprint race of the FIS Cross Country Ski World Cup in Dresden, Saturday, Jan. 12. (Sebastian Kahnert/dpa via AP)

South Africa’s Vernon Philander plays a shot on day one of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Pakistan at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, Jan.11. (AP Photo/Christiaan Kotze)

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Schumacher’s 50th birthday comes amid celebrations, privacy By Jerome Pugmire, AP Sports Writer Gland, Switzerland (AP) Against the backdrop of celebrations marking Michael Schumacher’s 50th birthday earlier this month, the medical condition of Formula One’s most successful driver remains just as fiercely guarded by his close family. More than five years after a near-fatal brain injury in a skiing accident, the seven-time F1 champion continues to be cared for in total secrecy at home in the quiet Swiss town of Gland on the shores of Lake Geneva. He has been there since being transferred from a hospital in September 2014. “You can be sure that he is in the very best of hands and that we are doing everything humanly possible to help him,” Schumacher’s family said in a rare statement this month. “Please understand if we are following Michael’s wishes and keeping such a sensitive subject as health, as it has always been, in privacy.” It was while skiing with his teenage son Mick in the French Alps at Meribel that Schumacher fell on Dec. 29, 2013. He hit the right side of his head on a rock, splitting open his helmet. Doctors at Grenoble hospital removed blood clots, but others were left untouched because they were too deeply embedded in his brain.

With unsourced stories abounding, updates on his condition went from scarce to non-existent as his family closed ranks around him. But the family understands the level of devotion toward Schumacher from his legions of fans. Coinciding with his birthday on January 2, the family released the Official Michael Schumacher App offering a virtual museum tour of his greatest achievements. “The app is another milestone in our effort to do justice to him and you, his fans, by celebrating his accomplishments,” the statement said. Many of those accomplishments were with Ferrari, where the German driving ace won five titles. The Italian manufacturer is honoring the former champion’s 50th birthday with a special museum exhibition of his achievements at its Maranello headquarters in northern Italy. His stature is Ferrari folklore is immense, while his impact on F1 is unparalleled with perhaps the exception of the late Brazilian great Ayrton Senna. Schumacher’s winners’ aura was perhaps unfairly viewed from the outside as cold and distant, when in essence he was incredibly appreciative of those he worked closely with. In 2000, he delivered Ferrari from years of frustration with a

In this Oct. 1, 2006 file photo, Germany’s Michael Schumacher celebrates winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/ Greg Baker)

first world title since Jody Scheckter in 1979. At the time, Schumacher spoke about the emotions he felt as the team celebrated wildly around him. “Those faces. Bright eyes everywhere and everyone cheering,” Schumacher said in recognition. “I would have loved to hug and kiss each and every one of them.” Schumacher won the next four F1 titles — even securing the 2002 title an astonishing six races before the end — on his way to a record 91 GP wins. His speed,

consistency and work ethic were all unmatched. “He was winning races sometimes he shouldn’t have won,” said F1’s managing director Ross Brawn, who worked with Schumacher on all seven F1 titles. “He just had a majesty about him in that period.” During Schumacher’s glory years, F1 even rivalled soccer as the No. 1 sport in Italy — quite an achievement. Memorabilia from those halcyon days, including cars and race-worn helmets, has been on display in the German city

Nissan unveils new Leaf car after Ghosn’s arrest delays it Yuri Kageyama Yokohama, Japan (AP) — Nissan is showing the beefed up version of its hit Leaf electric car as the Japanese automaker seeks to distance itself from the arrest of its star executive Carlos Ghosn. The unveiling last week at Nissan Motor Co.’s Yokohama headquarters, southwest of Tokyo, had been postponed when Ghosn was arrested Nov. 19. Ghosn has been charged with underreporting his income but last Tuesday he made his first public appearance since his arrest, and denied each allegation in the Tokyo District Court. The Leaf was among the achievements for Nissan that Ghosn highlighted in his statement to the judge. The new 4.16 million yen (US$38,000) Leaf e+ is about the same size as the model on sale, but gets more power and cruise range. The bestselling electric car competes against Tesla models and General Motors’ Bolt.

The LEAF e+ is shown on display at the global headquarters of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in Yokohama, Japan, Wednesday, Jan. 9. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

The Leaf that’s on sale now costs about 3 million yen ($28,000), according to Nissan. The Leaf e+ gets faster acceleration and has more torque than the older model and offers 40 percent more range at 458 kilometers (285 miles) per charge, as measured under Japanese regulations, compared with the old model’s 322 kilometers (200 miles).

It goes on sale in Japan later this month, and rolls out in the U.S. in spring 2019, and in Europe by mid-2019, Nissan said in a statement. Nissan Executive Vice President Daniele Schillaci said the new model was offering customers more power and range, noting that it was “now more convenient and appealing than ever.” More than 380,000 Nissan Leaf vehicles have been sold

globally since its 2010 debut, a tiny fraction of the overall auto market. But many nations such as China are bullish about electric vehicle technology as it allows newcomers in the industry a big chance to succeed. It is also an ecological technology and can be greatly boosted by government policies. Although Nissan as a legal entity has also been charged with the underreporting of income, no other executive besides Ghosn and Greg Kelly, an American accused of collaborating on the underreported income, have been arrested. Kelly is out on bail since last month. He has not been suspected of breach of trust. Prosecutors say Ghosn, a Brazilian-born Frenchman of Lebanese ancestry, is a flight risk. Bail is harder to get for breach of trust than falsifying financial reports, according to his lawyers. Prosecutors tend to think the suspect may collude with others or tamper with evidence, they said.

of Cologne at The Michael Schumacher Private Collection since June of last year. “Michael can be proud of what he has achieved, and so are we,” his family’s statement said. “We want to remember and celebrate his victories, his records and his jubilation.” Schumacher has not been seen in public since his accident. Brawn and Jean Todt — the head of motorsport’s governing body FIA — are very close friends and have visited him at his Swiss home. Brawn reiterated the need for Schumacher to be shielded from the media spotlight. “I am constantly in touch with (Schumacher’s wife) Corinna and I totally agree with their decision,” Brawn said. “Michael has always been a very private person.” The exhibitions in Cologne and Maranello are initiatives of the Keep Fighting Foundation, launched by Schumacher’s family and of

which Brawn and Todt are trustees. It was then-Ferrari general manager Todt who persuaded Schumacher to join him there after world titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995, where he had developed a dazzlingly successful rapport with Brawn. Todt rarely speaks publicly about Schumacher, out of respect, but revealed he watched the Brazilian GP with Schumacher at his Switzerland home in November. Brawn spotted the young Schumacher’s brazen talent during the World Sportscar Championship. “He was doing lap times on less fuel than the others, and beating them by a mile,” Brawn said, underling how even then Schumacher was “clearly incredibly quick.” They started working together at Benetton in 1991. A year later, Schumacher won his first F1 race at the Belgian GP and his astonishing career took off. “In ’94 when he won the first championship he was incredible,” Brawn said. Given his age and lack of experience at the time, Schumacher’s breakthrough Benetton days were arguably equal to his stellar time with Ferrari. “It’s difficult to define a peak,” Brawn told F1’s official podcast. All eyes will be on son Mick Schumacher this year as he competes in F2 with the Prema Racing team. The 19-year-old Schumacher won last year’s F3 championship in style with eight wins and seven pole positions. It was another racing title for the Schumacher family, and maybe not the last. If Schumacher wins the F2 championship in 2019 then he, like other drivers such as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, could well be fast-tracked into F1.

Dr. Iain is currently on leave. The weekly car quizzes are postponed until he returns.

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Associated Press editors’ Asia photo picks for 2018

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sentosa Island in Singapore on June 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, right, cross the military demarcation line to the South side at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone, South Korea, on April 27, 2018. (Korea Summit Press Pool via AP)

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi prays at the tomb of her late father and Myanmar’s independence hero Gen. Aung San during a ceremony to mark the 71st anniversary of his 1947 assassination, at the Martyrs’ Mausoleum on July 19, 2018, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)

The historic summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the riveting drama that unfolded in a cave in northern Thailand and a deadly earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia were just some of the memorable stories from Asia in 2018. Associated Press photographers across the region captured remarkable images from these stories, as well as others, including the plight of hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya who fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh and the move by China to abolish presidential term limits that could allow Xi Jinping to rule for life. The Trump-Kim summit was stunning, coming not long after the two leaders exchanged angry barbs that had the world wondering whether war was on the horizon. The meeting in Singapore ended with a general call by the two sides for a denuclearized Korean Peninsula, but without specific details on how that would be accomplished. The dramatic rescue of 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach who were trapped in a cave for more than two weeks captivated much of the world - from the heartsinking news that they were missing, to the first flickering video of the huddle of anxious yet smiling boys

Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, arrives with Premier Li Keqiang, left, for the opening session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on March 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

when they were found by a pair of British divers. Indonesia suffered a major earthquake that spawned a devastating tsunami, killing more than 2,000 people. The magnitude 7.4 quake and 11-meter (36-foot) high tsunami waves, which devastated miles of coastline, also left thousands of others unaccounted for. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who had fled from western Myanmar to Bangladesh to escape brutal persecution by Myanmar security forces remained in Bangladeshi refugee camps, as officials continued to assess whether it is safe for

Indian para-military force soldiers push exiled Tibetan activists into a police bus during a protest outside the Chinese Embassy, in New Delhi, India, on March 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, a total length of 55 kilometers (34 miles), is lit up in Hong Kong on Oct. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

them to return home. The military in Buddhist-majority Myanmar is accused of raping, killing and torturing Rohingya and burning their villages. Xi, already China’s most powerful leader in more than a generation, received a vastly expanded mandate as lawmakers abolished presidential term limits that had been in place for more than 35 years and wrote his

political philosophy into the country’s constitution. In one swift vote, the rubberstamp legislature opened up the possibility of Xi being president for life, returning China to the one-manrule system that prevailed during the era of Mao Zedong and the emperors who preceded him. The following is a selection of some of the best AP images from the year in Asia.

Rescuers and villagers wait for news for their missing loved ones as recovery efforts continue after liquefaction hit the neighborhood of Balaroa in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Oct. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Rescuers work at the entrance to a cave complex where 12 soccer team members and their coach went missing, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand, on June 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

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E-mail: comhaps@pattayamail.com

Events The next meeting of Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) will be held on Sunday, January 20. Scheduled is Neil Davidson, giving gossip from the ‘Golden Years of Hollywood’. The program starts at 10:30 am with a buffet breakfast available from 9:00 to 11:00 am 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 Holiday Inn Pattaya on Friday, January 18 from 6.00 p.m. – 9 p.m. (last drinks at 8.30 p.m.). Entrance cost is THB 600 on the door for members and THB 1,200 for non-members. Admission includes free-flow drinks and finger food. The 2019 Burapha Bike Week will take place from Feb. 14-16 at the National Indoor Stadium on Chaiyapruek 2 Road in Pattaya. During the festival, live concerts will take place throughout the day and evening; there will be many food stalls, fireworks, tattoo displays, dancers, motorcycle parades, stunt shows and more. For updates and more information, check Burapha Bike Week Pattaya on Facebook. Renaissance Pattaya Resort & Spa will host a ‘Wedding Showcase’ on Saturday,

26 – Sunday, 27 January 2019. A must visit for all brides and grooms to be, the event will highlight the resort’s excellent wedding facilities, the expertise of the dedicated wedding team, fantastic offers, wedding setups, food & beverage pop-ups, entertainment and more from 10 am until 8 pm. The top spenders over the weekend will win a chance to get an exclusive 2-night stay prize in a luxurious villa at Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa. No booking is required and attendance is free. For additional information, contact the wedding team at sales@ renaissancepattaya.com. The Eastern Seaboard Businessmen’s Dinner is a monthly event taking place at the Mantra Restaurant at the Amari Pattaya Resort on the last Thursday of the month. It brings together business leaders from various backgrounds including Automotive, Aerospace, Real Estate, Architecture, FMCG, Electronics, White Goods, Logistics, Recruitment, Legal, Consulting, and others in a relaxed atmosphere. If you are interested in attending please contact Anuttra.Sukruen@tinfish.co.th. 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

Khao Tom (Thai Rice Soup) This is one of the commonest staples in Thailand. Khao Tom (rice soup) can be found anywhere, and most city blocks will have at least one local ‘restaurant’ that specializes in this dish. Khao Tom is the base to which you can add chicken, pork, prawns, seafood, or whatever takes your fancy! The addition of the eggs is a personal one, depending on how the chef feels that day!

Ingredients Serves 4 Pork or chicken stock 6 cups Ginger root, minced fresh 1 tbspn Shallots, minced and crushed 2 large Lemon grass 1 stalk (cut in two) Rice ¾ cup Ground pork minced 250 gm Eggs 2 Fish sauce 2 tbspns Maggi sauce 1 tbspn Scallion, for garnish 1 sliced Deep-fried garlic 1 tbspn for garnish Coriander fresh, chopped 1 tbspn for garnish

Cooking method In the wok heat the stock and then add ginger root, shallots, lemon grass and rice and bring to a boil and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 30 minutes, or until soup is a porridge-like consistency. Remove and discard lemon grass. Add the pork and fish sauce and then break the two eggs into the soup, stir and then simmer five minutes more. Garnish with scallion, fried garlic and coriander.

Fax: 038-427596

items, jewelry, freshly prepared food, organic vegetables and fruits. The next market will be held Feb. 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 Royal Varuna Yacht Club will hold an early Chinese New Year celebration on Saturday, February 2 starting at 6.30pm. Tickets are priced at Adults 650 THB, Teens (age 13-17) 500 THB, Kids (age 12 and under) 300 THB and Kids (under 3) Free and include a BBQ Chinese food buffet and entertainment from Chinese lion dancers. To book tickets, call 038 250 116 or email to events@varuna.org. Intercontinental Pattaya Resort invites you to a Chinese New Year Buffet Dinner on Tuesday, February 5 from 6:00pm – 10:00pm. The resident chefs have prepared special gourmet dishes for the celebration. Highlights include suckling pig, Hong Kong-style roasted duck, dim sum, BBQ specialties, seafood on ice, and assorted Chinese traditional desserts. During your gourmet feast, the traditional Lion Dance “Wushi” will be performed to bring good luck and great fortune in the coming year. THB 1,680++ per person. For more information, call 038 259 888 or email to icpattaya@ihg.com.

Seared red snapper at Horizon Lounge.

Horizon Rooftop Restaurant & Bar at Hilton Pattaya invites you to savor a special dish of the month ‘Seared Red Snapper with Peanut and Tamarind Sauce’ throughout January. Seared red snapper is served with peanut and tamarind sauce, turmeric foam sauce, dill foam sauce and homemade rice noodles and salad at THB 950 net. Horizon Rooftop Restaurant & Bar is located on level 34 of the hotel

and open from 6pm – 11pm. For more information or reservations, call 038 253 000 or visit pattaya.hilton.com. 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. Saturday Night Buffet is back at AVANI Pattaya Resort & Spa. Experience regional favourites galore, street dishes an artisan desserts, as you relax with classical Thai dance and live music. Every Saturday night at Sala Rim Nam Restaurant from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm. Priced at THB 599++ per person. Kids under 5 eat free.

For more information and reservations, call 038 412 120 Big Fish restaurant at Siam@Siam Design Hotel Pattaya enhances its seafood buffet with more premium catches and live music entertainment. The restaurant offers a nightly Seafood BBQ Buffet at only THB 777 net or THB 1,099 net with free-flow wine. Enjoy highquality, premium seafood cuisine as you listen to acoustic guitar and piano music from prominent local artists. Seafood BBQ Buffet at Big Fish is available every night from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. For reservations call 038 930 600 or email fbsec @siamatpattaya.com. Centara Pattaya Hotel and Centara Nova Hotel & Spa Pattaya are currently offering festive hampers priced from THB 359 net – THB

2,299 net while stocks last. To order, call 038 295 999 ext 2 or Email: restaurantmgrcpy @chr.co.th. After 14 years as the Landlord of an Irish Pub, the name Kim Fletcher has not disappeared. Kim may have gone from Jamesons, but his wife Goy has ensured that the name Fletcher has not died by opening Fletchers’ Folly, a boutique pub on the Dark Side. Kim is trying to get used to being retired, but the new ‘pensioner’ loves regaling the drinkers with stories from his lifetime in pubs, punctuated with his characteristic laugh. Fletchers’ Folly is on Siam Country Club Road, opposite Maxxis tyres and 300 meters before the “Chicken Crossroads”. Food and drinks at very reasonable prices. Continued on page 35

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Going Down Under In January 1830, Thomas Hardy was born in the village of Gittisham in Devon. It’s a county in the West of England with lonely moorlands inhabited by wild ponies, narrow country roads and historic coastal towns which were once popular havens for smugglers. This part of England is known to all British people as “The West Country”. You can usually spot a West Country person the moment they speak, thanks to their distinctive dialect. It can be traced back to ancient West-Saxon dialects, which gradually developed into Old English during the Middle Ages. Thomas Hardy almost certainly spoke with the characteristic burred West Country accent. And when he travelled to South Australia at the age of twenty, he took it with him. In those days, the journey from Britain to South Australia took a staggering twelve weeks. It was not a decision to be taken lightly, unless of course you were sent there as punishment for some petty crime. Between the

Thomas Hardy winemaker.

years 1788 and 1868, about 162,000 British convicts were transported to Australian penal colonies by the British government to reduce pressure on crowded prisons at home. Thomas Hardy arrived in South Australia in August 1850 and three years later planted his first Shiraz vines. Eventually he founded The Hardy Wine Company in Adelaide and it soon became South Australia’s largest winemaker. Hardys (without an apostrophe, for some

Hardys winery yesteryear.

reason) has grown into a massive organisation. It’s now part of Constellation Wines, the largest wine company in the world. Hardys produce a wide range of wines including a range of varietals which are crafted for consistency. This means that each varietal will taste pretty much the same year after year. These two VR wines (it means Varietal Range) have been around for ages and widely available in this country. Interestingly, the price hasn’t changed much in several years despite the increases in tax and duty. Wine-Now Asia offers a splendid selection of wine and other beverages. You can browse their website, order online and pay by Visa or PayPal and they’ll arrange delivery anywhere in Thailand.

Hardys VR Sauvignon Blanc (white), Australia (Bt. 569.00 @ WineNow.Asia) This is an agreeable pale straw with hints of green and there’s a floral, honeyed aroma

of gooseberries and ripe pears. In the background, you might pick up the attractive and delicate smells of dill, a touch of white pepper and a fresh grassiness. At first sniff, it could almost be Chardonnay, but the taste leaves no doubt that it’s Sauvignon Blanc with an Australian accent. The wine makers have taken the wild and elemental Sauvignon Blanc grape and tamed the wine into an off-dry, soft-textured drink with only the slightest touch of acidity. It’s

Cabernet-Sauvignon-grapes.

Australian vineyard.

very clean and refreshing with a long, pleasing finish. It reminded me of the musical “My Fair Lady” in which you may recall that Eliza Doolittle, a simple flower-girl with a coarse East-London accent, received elocution lessons from Professor Henry Higgins so that she could speak like a lady of high social standing. I know some wine purists would disapprove of taming Sauvignon, but this isn’t a wine for purists. It’s intended as a light easy-drinker for those who want a reliable but uncomplicated dryish

white. It’s just 12% alcohol content and being off-dry would make an excellent partner for many Thai dishes or chicken and fish. It goes well with alpine cheeses too, like Emmenthal and Gruyère.

Hardys VR Cabernet Sauvignon (red), Australia (Bt. 569.00 @ Wine-Now.Asia) If you like your Cabernet packed with fruit, you’ll certainly appreciate this little number. It’s a rich, dark red medium-bodied wine with a strong and slightly jammy

aroma of dark berries, blackberry, and a faint hint of plums and spices. You might pick up the “heat” of the alcohol on the aroma too, for this wine comes at 14% alcohol content. On the palate, there are plenty of blackberries and rich dark cherry fruit but soft tannins, so soft that you might not notice them at all. The wine has a pleasant long, dry and fruity finish and you might even pick up a reminder of oaky vanilla. Although it’s a dryish wine, the plentiful fruit gives a slight impression of sweetness. I’d guess it would work well with fairly full-flavoured dishes and it would make a good partner to rich beef or lamb dishes, casseroles or the bright colours of Mexican cuisine. Now, I have to admit that I prefer a little less fruit and a bit more tannin, but this is a matter of personal preference. I am sure that this big, confident Australian wine will win many friends. It’s uncomplicated, cheerful and easy to drink and a wine that’s obviously made to please.

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E-mail: comhaps@pattayamail.com

From page 33 Pizza and Pasta All You Can Eat at Mövenpick Siam Hotel Na Jomtien: Twist Restaurant features Italian classics like creamy Carbonara or meaty Bolognese with a choice of pasta, or the delicious Prosciutto Pizza with your choice of regular or whole wheat dough. The menu also includes original Thai-fusion pizzas and pasta such as the Tom Yam pizza with chili paste, prawn, squid and Thai herbs or the tasty Green Curry Pasta. Available all day from Sunday – Thursday at only THB 500 per person, with a glass of soft drink. For more information or reservation, call 033 078 888. Special culinary nights at Persimmon restaurant, Pattana Golf Club & Resort: Pizza Pasta Night on Tuesday at only 299 Baht or 399 Baht including sangria or wine, customers can choose ingredients for their pasta and pizza. Seafood Night on Wednesday at only 399 Baht, customers can choose varieties of fresh seafood cooked to order in the open kitchen. Carnivore Night on Friday at only 499 Baht offers a free flow chicken, lamb, beef or pork BBQ direct from the charcoal grill. In addition, for only 100 Baht customers can choose or combine lots of ingredients and level of spiciness to create your own Som Tam, all day, every day. Call for reservation at 038 318 999 ext. 11212/11230 or email restaurant@pattana.co.th. The Thai Garden Terrace Restaurant offers nightly dining presentations with different themed “all you can eat” buffets at the resort poolside: Monday – Italian buffet; Tuesday – BBQ buffet; Wednesday – multi-cuisine buffet; Thursday – German buffet with roasted pig; Friday – Thai buffet; Saturday – international buffet; Sunday – steak & skewers buffet. The buffet starts from 6 p.m., runs until 9 p.m. All this for just 399 baht net per adult. What you see is what you pay, no additional service charges or VAT. For reservations call 038 370 614 or make your booking at www.thaigarden.com under “buffet reservation”. Thai Garden Resort is located on North Pattaya Road, 200 meters from the Dolphin roundabout and 200 meters before Tesco Lotus.

Yupin’s Restaurant in Jomtien Complex offers some fabulous culinary options including Fines De Claires Oysters arriving fresh ‘Par Avion’ from Normandy in France. Served on ice with lemon and on request a spicy Thai sauce for dipping. An amazing experience. Only 595 baht per six oysters. Yupins is also taking bookings for Christmas dinner at 995 baht per person. For more information or reservations, call 038 250394 or visit website: www.yupins.com. Linda’s Restaurant is large with seating for 200 people, with a covered al fresco verandah outside for those who wish to smoke. Inside, in air-conditioned comfort, there are comfortable chairs and decent sized tables, with white starched napery. Linda’s Restaurant, 315/177-180 Moo 12, opposite the Jomtien Complex. Thappraya Road, Jomtien. Open seven days from 7.30 a.m. until late. Tel: Reservations: 038 252 726, www. lindasrestaurant.com, streetside parking. Email linda@ lindasrestaurant.com . GPS 12.901655 N 100.869. Yamato Restaurant located on Soi Yamato has been around for more than 39 years and the soi was named after its oldest tenant. This is a restaurant to take a few people with you. The prices are certainly not over the top, and the quality is superb. Yamato Japanese restaurant, 219/51 Soi Yamato (13/1), close to Beach Road end, telephone 038 429 685 or 038 421 618. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner. The legendary Somsakdi Restaurant has been in operation in Pattaya for more than 40 years. Proprietor and Chef Somsakdi is still cooking and running his amazing restaurant at 78 years of age. The menu is probably the largest in Pattaya, with 374 individual items. Each dish is in Thai with an English explanation underneath. Rather than be swamped by choices, let Somsakdi guide you. After all, who knows his dishes better than he? Somsakdi Restaurant, Pattaya Soi 1, tel. 038 428 987, 038 423 284, 038 429 869, limited parking plus onstreet parking in the soi. Hours 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., seven days.

Fax: 038-427596

Spa & Hotel Promotions Aromatherapy Massage promotion at Ayatana Spa, Pattana Golf Club & Resort: 90 min massage only 1,800 baht, get free 30 min body scrub worth 500 baht or 100 baht discount. This promotion is valid from Jan 1, till the end of Feb 2019. For bookings, call 038 318 999 ext. 11143 Eforea spa at Hilton Pattaya introduces a 120-minute spa package ‘Total Bliss’ for your ultimate relaxation and facial skin nourishment: Priced at THB 4,300 net per person and THB 8,000 per couple and available until January 31, 2019. For more information and reservations, call 038-253-000. AVANI Spa offers a spa buffet package: 90-minute AVANI signature touch massage and International Buffet Dinner at Garden Cafe for one at only THB 2,700 net. Advance reservations required, contact AVANI Spa at Tel. 038 412 120.

Entertainment A violin and accordion duet concert will be held at Diana Garden Resort & Hotel on Sunday, 20 January 2019, starting at 6pm. The concert will feature Tasana Nagavajara (violin) and Kanako Kato (accordion) and will include music from Freddie Mercury, Astor Piazzolla, Johann Strauss and more. Tickets are priced at 500 baht and 300 baht for students available from Pattaya Orphanage toy@ thepattayaorphanage.org and Pattaya City Expats Club email: judithpcec@ gmail.com, or Diana Garden Resort Hotel in North Pattaya, Phone: 038 415 212. Dicey Reilly’s Pattaya will host a Gentleman’s Night on Saturday 26 January from 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm. Unlimited Gentleman Jack with live barbeque, tasty snacks and quality live trio band. Tickets are priced at THB 1,250 net per person (early booking, before 20 January at only THB 1,000 net). Call 038 411 755. Despacito Fridays at Siam@Siam Design Hotel Pattaya –Start off the weekend with a sensual step Latin night at the Roof Sky Bar, every Friday from 4pm – 10pm with DJ Ro-Bi-El Gordo and DJ Rocky, plus zumba classes. Free admission, ladies enjoy a free drink until

5pm. For more information, call 038 930 600. Enjoy great music from Thomas Reimer, one of the most famous European Jazz guitarists, playing live every evening (except Tuesday) from 6.00 p.m. - 10 p.m. at the Sugar Hut restaurant on Thappraya Road, call 038 364 186 for details.

Community Services The North Star Library on Sukhumvit Road, north Pattaya holds regular Thai language classes Mon - Fri from 10.30 a.m. till 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. Cost of admission is 100 baht per session for library members and 200 baht for non-members. Private lessons are also available for 200 baht per hour. In addition, the library also holds Yoga training every Tuesday from 1 - 2 p.m. at the Father Ray Foundation. Cost is 1200 baht for 6 sessions (first session free). For more information, call 081 575 4854 or email wan_nujan@yahoo.com

Groups & Associations Rotary Club of JomtienPattaya (English) meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at Royal Cliff Grand Hotel, Pattaya City. Fellowship begins at 18.30 hrs and Dinner meeting at 19.00 hrs. President Vutikorn Kamolchote Email: <vutikornk@hotmail.com> Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard (English) meets at the Siam Bayshore Hotel, 17.30 hrs for 18.00 hrs on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month, followed by dinner (Fellowship) President Brian Songhurst Email: <bjs2904@yahoo.com> Rotary Club Phönix Pattaya (German) meets every Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Pattaya at 19.00 hrs. President Peter Schlegel Email: info@rotary-phoenixpattaya.org. Le Rotary Pattaya Marina, seul Rotary Francophone d’Asie, vous accueille les premier et troisième vendredis de chaque mois, début des réunions 19h, à l’hôtel Pullman G Pattaya Wongamat 445/3 Moo 5 – Soi 16 – Pattaya Naklua Road. Venez agir avec le Rotary pour changer des vies. Pierre Yves Eraud Président 2018-2019 Email: < info @rotarypattayamarina.org. Rotary Club of Pattaya

(Thai-English) meets at the First Pacific Hotel, Central Road on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. Meetings begin at 19.00 hrs. President Stephen Devereux Email: < stevecarlow@gmail.com> The Thai Stamp Alliance is a new internet and social media group created to share information, including posts of events like Exhibitions and Auctions. If you live on the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand and have an interest, email thaistampalliance @gmail.com. or find us on Facebook. Post 12146 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America (Ban Chang – U-Tapao, Thailand) meets the second Saturday of each month at 13:00 at Sinthavee Park Condo, 2/ 1 Moo 5, in Ban Chang. If you are interested, please contact Membership Chairman Dan Morgan at <ban changvfw12146membership@ gmail.com> or visit website: www.banchangvfwpost12146.org. The Royal British Legion Thailand meets the last Saturday of every month from 2 p.m. at the Tropical Bar on Soi Khao Noi (Watboonsampan near the Temple entrance) in East Pattaya. You do not need to have served in the Armed Forces to become a member and can join in the many social events arranged throughout the year. The Legion’s primary aim is the care and welfare of those who have served and/or their dependents. For general enquiries send email to <secretary@rblthailand .org, www.rblthailand.org>. Alcoholics Anonymous: The Pattaya Group meets Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. All

meetings are closed (alcoholics only) and are held at Soi Skaw Beach (off Pattaya 2nd Rd). Contact Carl 08-45631-671. The Good Morning Pattaya Group meets 9 a.m. every morning. All meetings are ‘open’: contact 084 564 8479. The Jomtien Group meets every day at noon at Jomtien Long Stay Hotel: Contact, Andrew 086 107 6631. The Scandinavian Group meets on Tuesdays and Fridays 6 p.m. at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church, Thappraya Road Soi 7: contact Hans 085 135 7755 or Rune (Rayong) 089 754 9515. 10.30 a.m. meetings every day at Satree Pattana Centre on Soi Skaw Beach off Second Road. Call 084 564 8479. The Samaritans of Thailand English Help Line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support to the expatriate community. English-speaking staff, trained in crisis intervention will provide active, non-judgmental and empathetic listening services on the phone. All calls will be handled on an anonymous basis and are free of charge. (02) 713-6791. Overeaters Anonymous The ‘Up to You’ group meets Wednesdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the housing area just behind Pan Pan Restaurant in Jomtien on Thappraya Road. Call Steve at 038-364-207(h) or 089-250-1359 (cell) for directions or more information. Narcotics Anonymous Hotline: 082 811 2686. 3 English speaking meetings in Pattaya near Central Festival and 2 in Jomtien each week. Also regular Thai speaking meetings at 12 noon every Sunday, and Persian Farsi speaking meetings at 5.30 pm on Thursdays. Please call the Hotline for details.

36 FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2019

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVII No. 3

Niphatsophon wins national qualifier for Honda LPGA Thailand 2019

Benyapa (Gift) Niphatsophon holds her trophy after winning the 2-day tournament at Siam Country Club Old Course in Pattaya to qualify for the Honda LPGA Thailand 2019, Wednesday, Jan. 9.

Benyapa Niphatsophon (Gift) secured her ticket to play in the US$1.6 million Honda LPGA Thailand 2019 after winning a 36-hole national qualifier held event at Siam Country Club Old Course in Pattaya on January 8-9. The 24-year-old golfer from Bangkok shot a second round 7-under to win by four shots on a 9-under total of 135. Pavarisa Yoktuan, who took a two-shot lead after the first round, came in second on 139 in the 53player field. “I’m very satisfied with my performance,” said Niphatsophon following her victory. “The golfers were very determined because the opportunity to be competing in the Honda LPGA Thailand

Teenager Atthaya Thitikul is one of three Thai players to receive an invitation to play in the Honda LPGA Thailand 2019 tournament.

2019 with world-class professionals does not come by easily. I would like to thank Honda and Sports Authority of Thailand for promoting this competition. I will train hard to develop the competitive skills of a top-level player in the near future.” This year, Honda LPGA Thailand 2019, to be held at

Siam Country Club from Feb 21-24, will carry the tagline “Dream Big”. The tournament aims to spark interest in golf and build passion among junior players to develop their skills and to pursue a dream of becoming professional golfers. This year’s tournament will feature 57 professionals from the 2019 LPGA

Priority List, the winner from the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions 2019, 2019 ISPS Handa Vic Open and 2019 ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open, as well as nine invited players and Niphatsophon, the winner of Honda LPGA Thailand national qualifier. Three Thai women golfers have received sponsor’s exemption spots – they being Atthaya Thitikul, Pajaree Anannarukarn, and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras - and all three have some notable achievements in their fledgling careers to date. Atthaya Thitikul (Jeen), 15, an amateur golfer, was the youngest ever winner of a professional tournament in The Ladies European Tour and also won the mixed team gold medal of the Youth Olympic held in Argentina. Continued on page 29

Thai Polo Open 2019 kicks-off this weekend The annual B.Grimm-BMW sponsored Thai Polo Open takes place on Saturday, January 19 at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in East Pattaya. One of the most prestigious events on Thai Polo and socialite calendar, the tournament is being organized to raise funds for H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Chitralada Vocational School project. The VIP guest list is once again expected to include members of royalty, ambassadors and celebrities. Four teams from Thailand, Malaysia, China and Hong Kong will be competing for this year’s Princess Cup. The sporting activities on the day will include play-off matches and finals to be followed by the presentation of the trophy and other prizes while spectators can enjoy a relaxing cocktail party. Guests can enjoy marching bands and shopping

The B.Grimm-BMW Thai Polo Open takes place on Saturday, January 19 at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in East Pattaya.

opportunities and games at sponsors’ tents set amid the palm trees of the scenic Thai Polo Club. There will also be generous supplies of wine and food at the outstanding buffet lunch. Younger fans will have the opportunity to test out their equestrian skills with the available pony rides and

watching their peers in a junior show-jumping competition. The event kicks off at 1.30 pm and all visitors are welcome to attend. For more details, please contact at Tel 02 651 4081-5, email: thaipoloclub@lbg.co.th or visit website: www.thaipolo-club.com.

NFL preview: Patriots-Chiefs, Saints-Rams in conference championships. Turn to page 28. PATTAYA MAIL is edited by Nopniwat Krailerg for Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd. Printer, publisher and owner Offices: 62/284-286 Moo 12, Thepprasit Road, Pattaya City 20150. Advertising and Administration Office: Tel: 038 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax: 038 427 596, E-mail: ptymail@pattayamail.com www.pattayamail.com