Pattaya Mail - FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 14, 2019 (Vol. XXVII No. 6) by Pattaya Mail Media Group

26th Year

Established in 1993

VOL.XXVII No. 6

Pattaya’s First English Language Newspaper

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 14, 2019

30 BAHT

Asia welcomes Year of the Pig with banquets, temple visits Pattaya city departments mobilize to fight bad air

Virtually every Pattaya City department has been mobilized to fight microscopic dust contributing to the region’s air-pollution problem.

Virtually every Pattaya City department has been mobilized to fight microscopic dust contributing to the region’s air-pollution problem City Manager Chanatpong Sriviset chaired a Jan. 30 meeting to recap efforts taken over the previous two weeks to combat particulate

matter measuring 2.5 microns or less, which cannot be filtered out by the body before reaching the lungs. The so-called PM 2.5 is considered hazardous if more than 50 micrograms are measured within a cubic meter of air. Continued on page 5

A Lion dance with LED lights, performs on the glass deck of the King Power Mahanakhon building, currently Thailand’s tallest at 314 meters (1,030 feet) tall, in Bangkok. Asia welcomed the lunar Year of the Pig on Tuesday with visits to temples, family banquets and the world’s biggest travel spree. Locally, religious ceremonies began the holiday, followed by dragon and lion dances, cultural shows and acrobats. (For more, turn to center pages.) (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

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Disabled briefed on legal rights

About 100 disabled residents and their families were educated about their legal rights at a seminar in Pattaya.

About 100 disabled residents and their families were educated about their legal rights at a seminar in Pattaya. City Councilman Choluek Chotekamjorn opened the Jan. 27 workshop at city hall organized to explain the

benefits and protections provided under the Empowerment Of Persons With Disabilities Act of 2007. Teeraporn Srijan, director of the Social Welfare Department, said the training was needed to reinforce knowledge and understanding of

human rights and the responsibilities of caregivers and guardians. Chayada Wiriyasirivej, chairwoman of Chonburi Disabled Women’s Club, explained the law and how to claim benefits and report infringements of the act. (PCPR)

North Road drainage system install on schedule

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Angry Pattaya councilors order neglected Jomtien palm trees revived Pattaya city councilmen ordered the city’s parks department to immediately rejuvenate about 30 palm trees on Jomtien Beach that have wilted to near-death due to improper care. Council Chairman Anan Angkanawisai and three other officials toured the 500meter stretch Feb. 1, between the View Talay 7 condominium and Avalon Beach Resort where the shriveled trees were sagging, their leaves yellow and many dead brown ones on the ground. Pattaya last year spent 257 million baht on a facelift of the beachfront and, based on appearances, never bothered to water the trees since it was completed. Kanlaya Barewall, 51, said she works in Dongtan Beach and has passed the dying trees every day. She

Pattaya city councilmen ordered the city’s parks department to immediately rejuvenate about 30 palm trees on Jomtien Beach that have wilted.

and others always assumed Pattaya’s Environment Department was on the job and was caring for the trees, but apparently not. Angry councilman immediately ordered the department’s Public Parks Office to get on the job and bring the sick trees back to life without chemicals, hoping the city doesn’t have to pay for new ones.

Responding to complaints by Kanlaya and others, the Sanitation Department also was dispatched to do a better job of cleaning up trash in the area while the parks office was told to spruce of other landscaping as well. On Saturday, Feb. 2, a team was sent out to prune the dead branches and water the trees. (PCPR)

Poramet resigns as Pattaya Deputy Mayor to run as MP Boonlua Chatree Pattaya Deputy Mayor Poramet Ngampichet resigned his post to run again as an MP, this time for the military-backed Palang Pracharat Party in March’s general election. Appointed in September by Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome, who himself was appointed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Palang Pacharat’s party boss, Poramet, 47, previously served in the lower house under Kunplome’s Palang Chon Party banner. His seat was vacated by the 2014 military coup. In an online post, Poramet thanked Sonthaya for giving him the four-month opportunity to do good for Pattaya. Poramet told the media that he has always aspired to be in national politics, although

Pattaya Deputy Mayor Poramet Ngampichet resigned his post to run as an MP in the upcoming election.

he has never held a Cabinet position as his father had. He said he took the deputy mayor job because, at the time, it was uncertain when a new election would be held.

Chark Nok Reservoir park development on schedule Roadwork on upper North Road to install a new drainage system is on schedule for completion in September.

Jetsada Homklin Roadwork on upper North Road to install a new drainage system is on schedule for completion in September. Contractor Boonkitthana Part Ltd. is laying dual pipes

to funnel storm runoff to the sea and polluted water and sewage to Pattaya’s watertreatment plant. The pipes will be covered with an upgraded reinforced-concrete road surface. The work zone spans Sukhumvit So 11-13. It began

in November and is slated to finish by Sept. 16. The work is being done in tandem with the Provincial Electricity Authority’s project to bury power and utility lines and is expected to be completed on time, Pattaya officials said.

Warapun Jaikusol Nongprue’s new Chark Nok Reservoir Public Park is on schedule to be completed on time in April, Nongprue municipality office announced last week. The sub-district received 60 million baht from the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration to Nongprue’s new Chark Nok Reservoir Public Park is on schedule to be completed on time.

redevelop the area surrounding Chark Nok Reservoir to be a public park. Another 60 million is budgeted for this year for a Mabprachan Reservoir park. Construction and landscaping is now about 60 percent

complete and will be done on time, Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit said. When complete, the park will be a new “green lung” for Nongprue Mai said, offering a space to exercise, relax and host activities.

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Probe launched after Jomtien masseuses claim extortion by Municipal officers Boonlua Chatree

Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome ordered an investigative panel to immediately probe the complaints brought by beach vendors who claimed the regulatoryenforcement officers demanded 20,000 baht each from them.

A group of Pattaya municipal police have been suspended amid allegations they extorted hefty bribes from Jomtien Beach masseuses to fund a New Year’s party. Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome ordered an investigative panel to immediately probe the complaints brought by the beach vendors, who claimed the regulatory-enforcement officers known as “tessakit” in Thai, demanded 20,000 baht each from them. The masseuses balked,

Final phase of North Road wire-burying project begins March 11 Jetsada Homklin The Provincial Electricity Authority will begin the final phase of its project to bury power and utility wires under North Road in March, with more traffic congestion to continue into 2020. Pattaya Deputy Mayor Banlue Kullavanijaya and PEA Assistant Gov. Nukul Tupanitch briefed city officials, residents and business owners Jan. 30 about the 211-million-baht project

The Provincial Electricity Authority will begin the final phase of its project to bury power and utility wires under North Road in March, with more traffic congestion to continue into 2020.

that will span the entire length of North Road from Sukhumvit Road to the Dolphin Roundabout. Preparations will get underway Feb. 19 with the installation of barriers, lights and signs on the inbound and outbound center lanes of the busy thoroughfare. Actual digging will begin March 11. The work will see 115-kilovolt cables and 22-kilovolt distributors buried under the

center of North Road. The initial phase will cause the most bottlenecks, as heavy machinery is needed for two or three weeks to drill holes in the roadway. However, parts of the road will continue to be closed for another year, with workers closing segments of lanes during off hours to reduce congestion. At the end of the wire-submersion, empty utility poles will be removed.

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complaining that sum was four times the amount in bribes they historically paid to city hall during the holidays. However, the complainants said those who refused to pay were arrested on made up charges on “the boss’s orders”.

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, who is overseeing the investigation, did not disclose how many officers are involved in the scandal, but said that, if found guilty, they not only will be fired, but will also face criminal charges as well.

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Woman claims daughter 2 arrested for handbag snatch molested in S. Pattaya mall Boonlua Chatree A Pattaya mother claimed her 5-year-old daughter was sexually assaulted at a Pattaya mall, saying police have done nothing. In an interview following her post on Facebook, the 25-year-old mother, who declined to provide her real name, said a middleaged man of undisclosed nationality took her unsupervised daughter to play video games in the basement level of a Pattaya mall. When the girl ran out of money, the man gave her more coins in exchange for molesting her. The mother said a young boy witnessed the incident and called for help. The attacker was identified, the mother claimed, but police told her they could not prosecute since that level A Pattaya mother claimed her 5-year- of the mall had no security cameras. old daughter was sexually assaulted at She said she wants the police to be more aga Pattaya mall, saying police have gressive and posted her warning on Facebook so other children don’t fall prey to the same fate. done nothing.

Pork smugglers arrested at Naklua market Boonlua Chatree Two truck drivers were arrested for smuggling pig carcasses and pork pieces into a Naklua market. Chaiya Kokaun, 36, and Suksan Boonprom, 25, were taken into custody in separate arrests by livestock and Banglamung security officers at the Amorn Market early Feb. 1. Both were charged with transporting carcasses into a disease-free zone without a license. They face up to two years in jail and fines of up to 40,000 baht. Poj Sichanugriot of the Chonburi Provincial Livestock Office said authorities were tipped off to the illegal imports of pigs and pork pieces from Nakhon Pathom before Chinese New Year, a major buying season for raw pork. Naklua and Pattaya are classified as disease-free

A South Korean died after falling from the sixth floor of a Pattaya hotel. The nude body of Jaekwon Park, 50, was found in bushes outside the KTK

Boonlua Chatree Two men were arrested for snatching a handbag from a woman in Jomtien Beach. Christian Comma, 21, and Chokearun Kamsen, 24, were apprehended Jan. 28 at the Rompo Market. Police said they confessed that Comma drove his large motorcycle with Chokearun

riding pillion, looking for female motorcyclists carrying handbags. Around 3 a.m. Jan. 24 they spotted Nipaporn Puipa, 29, and snatched her pink handbag on Soi Chaiyapruek containing an iPhone X and cash, which she claimed was close to 60,000 baht, as she was driving to the Ambassador City Hotel. They were charged with theft at night.

Streetwalker arrested for drugging, robbing foreign tourists Boonlua Chatree

Two truck drivers were arrested for smuggling pig carcasses and pork pieces into a Naklua market.

zones and all meat and carcasses brought into the area must pass inspection and transporters must have a license to do so. Chaiya’s documents said the two metric tons of carcasses loaded into the back

of his Toyota Vigo were destined for Chachoengsao. Suksan, driving an Eig Fresh Pork Isuzu pickup modified with a cold-storage locker in the bed, had no documentation at all for his 2,000 kilograms of pork.

South Korean dies in six-story hotel fall Boonlua Chatree

It was them. They did it. Nipaporn Puipa points to two men who allegedly snatched her handbag.

Royal Residence on Soi 12 off Central Road Jan. 29. His boxer shorts were recovered from a tree. Security guard Wiroj Samart, 42, said Park lived on the 6th floor. He heard the impact, but didn’t initially

see the body, only noticing that steel supports for the outside wall were bent. The body was on the other side of the wall. Police could not immediately determine if Park jumped or was pushed.

A Phetchabun woman who admitted to drugging and robbing at least three foreign tourists was captured in Pattaya. Kam Pakam, 48, was taken into custody Jan. 29, three days after Briton Daniel James, 27, reported he’d been knocked out and robbed of his phone and expensive watch. James told police he was walking back to his hotel on Soi Buakhao and picked up streetwalker Kam. While in his room, she slipped a tranquilizer into his drink and stole his property, police said. Pattaya, Chonburi and Immigration police tracked Kam down from security cameras and found 10 designer watches and two

After she was captured, sultry Kam Pakam admitted to drugging and robbing at least three foreign tourists in Pattaya.

mobile phones in her room. Police said she confessed to both being a prostitute and robbing three foreigners

by drugging them. She faces up to five years in prison and up to 100,000 baht in fines.

Police threaten trashburners with 7 years in jail Jetsada Homklin Police are threatening up to seven years in jail for burning grass and garbage during Thailand’s air pollution crisis. The Crime Suppression Division issued the warning online that outdoor burning carries jail time of 1-7 years in prison and fines of 2,000-14,000 baht, depending on the danger the fire poses to others. The Pattaya fire department is enforcing the law, saying many people in the region are ignoring how the smoke is contributing to poor air quality and throwing toxic, microscopic dust into the air. Bangkok, where the CSD is based, and to a lesser extent Pattaya, have been struggling with high amounts of airborne particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns or

Police are threatening up to seven years in jail and fines of 2,000-14,000 baht for burning grass and garbage during Thailand’s air pollution crisis.

less that are too small for the human body to filter out before it reaches the lungs. Garbage and grass fires, particularly those started with accelerants, are a major contributor to the so-called PM 2.5 problem, the department said. While burning on private property doesn’t pose much

of a fire hazard to others, it still contributes to air pollution, officials said. Those found violating the law will first be warned and, if caught again, prosecuted. Penalties increase for fires started on open land that could spread to adjacent buildings or property.

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Pattayans gripe about smoke from incense, firecrackers

Navy to rebuild Pabukdamaged homes in South

Jetsada Homklin

Patcharapol Panrak

Pratamnak Hill residents are complaining that tourists lighting incense and setting off firecrackers at the Pattaya viewpoint are contributing to the area’s recent air pollution problem. Some locals, who refused to identify themselves, said they think the incense and firecrackers – lit to pay respect to the statue of Prince Chumphon, should be stopped, given the recent poor air quality. There’s no evidence that incense smoke or firecrackers – especially in the relatively small quantities set off at the peak – contain the microscopic dust at the center of public scrutiny or have any significant impact on

About three dozen Sattahip-based sailors were dispatched to Thailand’s storm-ravaged southern coast to repair and build houses for victims of Tropical Storm Pabuk. Sattahip Naval Base commander, Vice Adm. Choomsak Nakwijit, inspected troops from the Construction and Development Regiment at the General Staff Division headquarters Jan. 28. Regiment commander Capt. Wirat Konthong said 35 navy engineers and construction experts will take vehicles, heavy machinery and electrical and communications equipment to the 10 southern provinces hit by last month’s storm.

the region’s air quality. Pattaya City Hall has given no indication it plans to respond to the anonymous gripes.

Of greater concern to Pattaya and Chonburi officials is outdoor burning of trash and brush, vehicle emissions and construction sites.

Pattaya School No. 6, eastside streets to see upgrades Pattaya officials surveyed an eastside school and two nearby streets where water and drainage system upgrades are either needed or in progress. Deputy Mayor Pattana Boonsawat and staffers from the sanitation and engineering departments inspected Pattaya School No. 6 where it was determined new restrooms and largescale landscape improvements are needed. After seeing the run-down condition of the aging school, engineers were assigned to draft designs for upgrades to present to the Pattaya City Council for budget discussions. They next checked on the progress construction of the Khao Talo pump station being undertaken by Prosper Joint Venture Co. The station will house 6 high-capacity pumps and a collection basin to store rainwater before it is shuttled to the Huay Yai pump station, which funnels it into canals

Deputy Mayor Pattana Boonsawat and staffers from the sanitation and engineering departments inspected Pattaya School No. 6 where it was determined new restrooms and large-scale landscape improvements are needed.

leading to the ocean. Finally, they witnessed firsthand dilapidation of Tungkom-Tanman Soi 4/1, a 270-meter-long road of which 200 meters sit inside Pattaya’s boundaries and the rest in Nongprue Sub-district. The joint custody of the street has resulted in neither side maintaining the road, which is uneven and pockmarked with holes.

Pattaya has begun laying crushed rock on its side of the border to level the road, but a full street rebuild – complete with a new drainage system and Provincial Waterworks Authority pipes to bring tap water to residents – is needed. Pattana said the city will engage Nongprue in discussions on how to split the bill for the development. (PCPR)

Sewers, drains cleaned Pattaya workers dredged and cleaned sewers and repaired street grates across the city to improve storm drainage. Crews were deployed to suck out clogged sewers on Walking Street and a box culvert on Soi Buakhao. Pumps also were deployed to clear drains on Pratamnak Hill, Soi Arunothai 2, Soi 4, Beach Road, Naklua Soi 2, Soi 12 and Chaimongkol Temple in front of the Thong Tar Yaowarat gold shop. (PCPR) Crews suck out clogged sewers on Walking Street as part of a city-wide effort to improve storm drainage.

About three dozen Sattahip-based sailors were dispatched to Thailand’s stormravaged southern coast to repair and build houses for victims of Tropical Storm Pabuk.

Choomsak urged all the forces to be good representatives of the Royal Thai Navy and work diligently.

Pattaya city departments mobilize to fight bad air From page 1 During Jan. 16-30, Pattaya’s air quality generally was within healthful levels of PM 2.5, but did inch into worrisome territory when it topped out at 56 μg/m3. City officials drafted eight action plans to curb dust involving Pattaya police and the departments of environment, public health, education, social development, tourism promotion and the City Manager’s Office. Top of the list was getting smoke-belching vehicles off

the road through aggressive patrols and ticketing. Trucks carrying dirt and rock also were stopped if their beds weren’t covered. Construction sites also were targeted, with contractors told to cover dirt piles and hose down their properties. City regulatory officers also were out to stop people from burning trash, leaves and other material outdoors, controlling ready-mix concrete and stop street vendors from barbecuing. Environmental workers were dispatched to clean streets and

parks, plant more trees and use natural methods to combat the man-made pollution. Schools were told to spray down their playgrounds and closely monitor students for respiratory effects. Public health workers likewise stepped up monitoring of the elderly or infirm, distribute face masks and push barbecue restaurants to install filters on their vents. Other departments were mobilized for public-relations efforts to advise tourists, tour operators and residents about activities that contribute to air pollution. (PCPR)

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Burapa Bike Week rocks, Pattaya showcased at Malaysia, Singapore travel shows rolls Feb. 14

Pattaya and Thai tourism officials hyped the Eastern Seaboard to tour guides at a trade show in Malaysia. Pattaya Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome and Prasan Nikaji, president of the Burapa Motorcycle Club, announced that Burapa Bike Week will return with big bikes and hard rock from Feb. 14-16 at the Eastern National Indoor Sports Stadium.

Jetsada Homklin Burapa Bike Week returns to Pattaya next weekend with big bikes and hard rock. At a Jan. 19 press conference Pattaya Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome and Prasan Nikaji, president of the Burapa Motorcycle Club, announced the official schedule for the Feb.

14-16 event at the Eastern National Indoor Sports Stadium. The event again will feature a ride for peace called Stay Strong 2019 on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. Bikers will leave the Soi Chaiyapruek 2 stadium and travel along Pattaya Beach Road to Jomtien Second Road and back. The theme of “all people

are relatives” will emphasize fun activities on two stages. One stage will feature classic rock from legendary guitarist Lam Morrison and tribute bands doing Guns N’ Roses and ACDC music as well as heavy metal headbangers Syteria from the U.K. and reggae band Inner Circle from Jamaica.

East Pattaya public housing project drowning in trash Jetsada Homklin An East Pattaya housing project is generating so much garbage, no matter where it’s put, it annoys people. Boontem Yikeng, director of the Nernplabwan Government Housing Project in Nong Maikaen said Jan. 29 that he is now awaiting approval from the Chonburi Housing Department to construct a garbage-storage shed in front of the project by a pond. The shed is necessary because no matter where trash bins have been placed, residents complain about the smell and flies, plus the bins overflow, giving the project a bad image. At first, five bins were placed around the perimeter of the development. But lazy

An East Pattaya housing project is generating so much garbage, no matter where it’s put, it annoys people.

people continued to dump garbage behind the main administration building. So all five bins were moved to behind the administration building. That solved the illegal dumping, but overpowered nearby homes with its smell.

Boontem said the problem has been going on for years and, barring an amazing turnaround in residents’ refusal to separate trash and recycle, will continue until a larger storage area farther from the apartments is approved.

Pattaya and Thai tourism officials hyped the Eastern Seaboard to tour guides at a trade show in Malaysia. Kullapramote Wannalert, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Southeast Asia

director, joined Pattaya Director Pinnart Charoenpol and Pattaya and Chonburi politicians at the Holiday Villa Johor Bahru City Center for a tabletop sales event for 100 Malaysian

travel buyers. The sales event also featured Thai arts and cultural shows, Muay Thai boxing and contemporary dance. A similar event was scheduled next for Singapore. (PCPR)

Banglamung puts drug-infested neighborhood under microscope Jetsada Homklin Banglamung District has put the Rong Loey Community under extreme scrutiny to stamp out drugs in the Moo 3 village. District security chief Thawat Theptub led 50 police officers and soldiers to the neighborhood Jan. 31, going door-to-door to check household registrations in the community’s 67 homes. He said the check was to survey how many families have not registered and count how many men, women and children are living in Rong Loey legally. The data will be used both to plan anti-drug measures and improvements to public utilities, but also to force out those not registered to live in the area, presumably because they are contributing

District security chief Thawat Theptub led 50 police officers and soldiers to the Rong Loey neighborhood, going door-to-door to check household registrations in the community’s 67 homes.

to the neighborhood’s drug problem. Thawat said civil registration checks will continue regularly until the drug problem has been stamped out. In another step toward

cleaning up the area, Banglamung officials and local residents banded together Feb. 7 for a neighborhood cleanup. In addition, more street lights and CCTV cameras will be installed.

Soi Buakhao locals complain about flooding, work to resolve it Jetsada Homklin

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

Soi Buakhao-area residents complained about flooding. Now they’re complaining about the roadwork needed to solve it. Contractors for Prosper Joint Venture Co. have closed Soi Tangmo, a sidestreet off Soi Buakhao, as they rip up the road surface and install subterranean pumps and a well. The 56-sq.-meter well and two pumps are expected to solve all flooding in the area. But the price for that is a road closure through May. City officials pointed out that residents wanted the

City officials pointed out that residents wanted the flooding problem resolved but they will have to put up with the inconvenience of a closed sidestreet to get it.

flooding problem resolved. They will have to put up with

the inconvenience of a closed sidestreet to get it.

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CES 2019: “Family tech” gadgets appeal to parental anxiety Matt O’Brien Las Vegas (AP) - Every year, the CES gadget show brings more devices promising to make life a little bit easier for harried parents. Sure, the kids might love them too: who wouldn’t want a computerized Harry Potter wand that also teaches coding? The Las Vegas show’s growing “family tech” sector encompasses products that range from artificially intelligent toys and baby monitors to internet-connected breast pumps. Their common thread is an appeal to parental anxiety about raising smart kids, occupying their time, tracking their whereabouts and making sure they’re healthy and safe. Some also come with subtle trade-offs. “Technology makes us forget what we know about life,” said psychologist Sherry Turkle, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who studies people’s relationships with machines. She’s particularly concerned about robots that seek to befriend or babysit young children.

Not-so-imaginary friends Take the cute, furry Woobo, meant to be a reallife version of a child’s imaginary friend that can help set tooth-brushing routines, answer complex questions and play educational games.

A Woobo talking robot is on display at the Woobo booth at CES International, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

It’s part of a new cottage industry of sociable toys, which includes robots like Cozmo and Sony’s dog-like Aibo. A gentle pull at the ears switches the screen-faced Woobo into listening mode. The $149 toy talks in a childlike voice and makes a game out of boring chores that might otherwise require a parent’s nagging. Its makers say Woobo doesn’t glue kids to its screen because it invites them to go find things in the home, help parents cook dinner or play family games like charades. “Our focus on the content side is not to replace parents,” said Shen Guo, who cofounded Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Woobo after

graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design. “It’s to enhance family time.” But its appeal for a child’s emotional attachment and nurturing sets off alarm bells for Turkle, who has been warning against what she calls “artificial intimacy” since the Tamagotchi digital pet craze of the 1990s. Research has shown the benefits of children playing out their inner feelings and worries by projecting them onto inert dolls. But Turkle says that doesn’t work when the toys seem real enough to have their own feelings. “Pretend empathy is not a good thing,” Turkle said. “Everything we know about children’s development is that if you read to a child,

what’s going on is the relationship, the talking, the connection, the mentoring, the safety, the sense that people love learning. Why do we think this is a good idea to give this to some robot?”

Is your baby breathing? Talk to makers of the next generation of baby monitors unveiled at CES and you’d be surprised that generations of children survived infancy without artificial intelligence systems analyzing their every breath. “Babies want to breathe. Babies want to live,” says Colt Seman, co-founder of Los Angeles-based startup Miku, which promises to monitor breathing and heart rate without letting parents

get overly worked up about it. Regulators haven’t approved any baby monitors for medical use and instead recommend parents focus on providing a safe sleeping environment. Some doctors worry that such devices create additional stress for parents. Unlike most past offerings, the latest crop of baby monitors that measure vital signs are “contactless” - meaning they don’t work by attaching some electronics to a baby’s sock or chest. Raybaby’s device resembles a one-eyed robot that detects breathing patterns using radar technology. The non-ionizing radiation it emits is at low levels, but might still turn off some parents already concerned about keeping their babies too close to smartphones. Most of the other devices rely on computer vision. A camera by Nanit watches a baby from above and measures sleeping patterns by tracking the slight movements of a specially-designed swaddle. It also uses the data it collects to recommend more consistent sleep times. Nanit’s Aaron Pollack acknowledges that some parents might still check Nanit’s phone app to check breathing data five times a night “out of sheer anxiety.” “We’re not trying to prevent that,” he said. “We’re just trying to give you some piece of mind.”

Two others, Miku and Utah-based Smartbeat, each boast of a level of precision and analytical rigor that could eventually help predict when the baby is going to get sick. Both have phone alert systems to report worrisome breathing irregularities. Smartbeat’s analysis is purely image-based, while Miku also uses radar. Miku’s sleeker hardware comes at a cost: It’s $399, well above the $250 Smartbeat.

Tech in the womb Of course, parental anxiety begins even before a child is born - hence Owlet’s new $299 pregnancy band that wraps around a woman’s abdomen to track fetal heartbeats by taking an electrocardiogram. The idea is to put on the stretchy band before going to sleep starting about three to four months before the due date. It sends a morning wellness report to a user’s smartphone app, with details including an expectant mother’s contractions and sleep positions - and warnings if fetal heartbeat or movements fall outside acceptable ranges. An owl-faced medallion above the mother’s belly gives the band the look of a superhero emblem - and why not? Pregnancy is tough. “It’s really just having that extra piece of mind, between doctor’s visits, that everything is OK,” said Owlet spokeswoman Misty Bond.

Toshiba unveils robot to probe melted Fukushima nuclear fuel Mari Yamaguchi Yokohama, Japan (AP) Toshiba Corp. unveiled a remote-controlled robot with tongs on Monday that it hopes will be able to probe the inside of one of the three damaged reactors at Japan’s tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant and grip chunks of highly radioactive melted fuel. The device is designed to slide down an extendable 11meter (36-foot) long pipe and touch melted fuel inside the Unit 2 reactor’s primary containment vessel. The reactor was built by Toshiba and GE. An earlier probe carrying a camera captured images of pieces of melted fuel in the reactor last year, and robotic probes in the two other reactors have detected traces of damaged fuel, but the exact location, contents and other details remain largely unknown. Toshiba’s energy systems unit said experiments with the new probe planned in

February are key to determining the proper equipment and technologies needed to remove the fuel debris, the most challenging part of the decommissioning process expected to take decades. The three reactors at the Fukushima plant suffered core meltdowns after a massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami damaged key cooling systems. In last year’s probe, a camera developed by Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corp. and the International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning found large amounts of deposits in that area, including parts that resembled pebbles or gravel. The 30-centimeter (12-inch) long robot unveiled Monday will carry a radiation dosimeter, thermometer, LED lights, a camera and a pair of tongs as it slowly slides down from a pipe. The probe, attached by a cable on its back, is to dangle from the pipe and

Toshiba Corp.’s energy systems unit group manager Jun Suzuki shows a remote-controlled melted fuel probe device at its facility in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mari Yamaguchi)

descend to the bottom of the reactor vessel’s pedestal, a structure directly below the core from which the melted fuel fell. Toshiba plans to use the new device to touch and

grip the deposits with the tongs, which can hold a lump as wide as 8 centimeters (3 inches) weighing up to two kilograms (4.4 pounds), to investigate its hardness and other details, said Jun

Suzuki, a Toshiba ESS group manager for the project. “Until now we have only seen those deposits, and we need to know whether they will break off and can be picked up and taken out,”

Suzuki said. “Touching the deposits is important so we can make plans to sample the deposits, which is a next key step.” The probe will mainly examine the fuel debris’ physical condition rather than its radioactive components or other details which require actual sampling and safe storage. “We are taking one step at a time,” said Tsutomu Takeuchi, a Toshiba ESS senior manager for the Fukushima decommissioning project. “First we’ll find out if those deposits can be picked up.” If the device is unable to lift anything, that’s also a key finding, he said. In that case, they will need a cutting device to tear off a sample piece. TEPCO and government officials plan to determine methods for removing the melted fuel from each of the three damaged reactors later this year so they can begin the process in 2021.

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Have you ever tried to import a cat? Ever stopped to wonder why there are so many difficulties put in your way if you wish to import your pet? Well, one of the difficulties relates to “La Maladie des griffes du chat” known in English as Cat Scratch Disease. Now most people know that dogs carry diseases such as rabies, but the other domestic pet, the cat, carries its fair share of nasties as well. Almost every household has at least one cat, and often more. Cats are affectionate, warm pets that will sit on your lap for hours, purring away, while licking your hands. During that time, it may even be giving you more than love. It may be giving you a little present called Bartonella henselae, AKA Cat Scratch Disease! Yes, your cat is a walking, purring receptacle of illnesses. Tell me more, you say, while wondering if you should strangle the cat now or later! But first a little history. A little over 50 years ago, the clinical signs of Cat Scratch Disease were described, and despite 50 years in between, it is still in the feline population. Cat Scratch Disease affects 2-10 people per 100,000 head of population in America, so whilst it isn’t an everyday diagnosis, most doctors will come across a few cases in their medical lifetime.

La Maladie

The presenting symptom is a regional swelling of the lymph nodes, generally in a young person or a child, and the usual scenario involves a panicking parent who is sure the child has lymphatic cancer! What actually happens is that the cat is carrying Bartonella henselae, which is actually found all over the world. This bug gets into the human blood stream and in turn is trapped by the lymph glands, within which one almighty fight takes place, with the end result being that the glands swell dramatically and can even burst through the skin as a suppurating discharge. Other signs and symptoms include a fever, sore throat and headache. Now there are many causes for swollen glands, fever, headache and sore throat, so how do we pick on the family pussy cat? Quite simply, there will be a history of having been bitten or scratched by the family moggy, and the inoculation site will drain into the affected lymph glands. So just how does the cat give you a “shot” of bugs? Well, firstly somewhere between 20-40 percent of cats are carrying the organism, and it lives in the cat’s saliva as well as in its blood. While licking its claws, pussy cat leaves a collection of the organism there, which in turn becomes yours when the cat scratches you. Deliberately or accidentally. Cat Scratch Disease, although generally localized can even end up infecting internal organs such as the liver, spleen,

heart and brain, though this is very rare. For most people who contract the illness they quietly recover, though it can sometimes take some months. However, for people with compromised immune systems, spontaneous recovery is not the norm. Children get the disease more than adults, because children tend to spend more time with family pets, and pull more than the occasional tail. There is treatment, with one of the most appropriate antibiotics being Doxycycline, while the most usually available penicillins are fairly ineffective. There are tests which can be done in the laboratory to prove or disprove infection by Bartonella henselae, so what we call a “Definitive” diagnosis can be made. Again you can see the dangers in self-medication. If you do indeed have Cat Scratch Disease from the cat bite, the penicillin you bought over the counter is useless! So should we then consign pussy cat to the great veterinary hospital in the sky? The simple answer is no, but the moral to this tale is that we should be on our guard. Cat scratches and bites should not be taken lightly. Immediately after any injuries you should wash the wounds with soap and water and after a thorough cleansing only then apply your favorite antiseptic, and at the first sign of problem, pop into the hospital and get it checked. But just leave the cat at home!

Companies navigate dementia conversations with older workers Andrew Soergel Chicago (AP) - Faced with an aging American workforce, companies are increasingly navigating delicate conversations with employees grappling with cognitive declines, experts say. Workers experiencing early stages of dementia may struggle with tasks they had completed without difficulty. Historically punctual employees may forget about scheduled meetings. And those who have traveled to the same office day after day, sometimes for years on end, may begin to lose their way during their morning commutes. “I’ve talked to a number of families where a person didn’t realize they had the disease and they didn’t know what was going on. And they got fired for performance issues before anyone knew what the diagnosis was,” says Ruth Drew, the director of information and support services at the nonprofit Alzheimer’s Association. Drew also oversees the organization’s 24-hour help hotline. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the number of U.S. workers between the ages of 65 and 74 will balloon 55 percent between 2014 and 2024, with 86 percent growth for the working population over 75. It’s that 65-and-up age group that’s most likely to face dementia diagnoses, though early-onset symptoms can afflict younger people. And even though studies show the rate of dementia diagnoses has actually fallen in recent years, the sheer number of older U.S. workers expected to remain in the workforce has increasingly left employees and employers wrestling with the prospect of dementia in the office.

“And it’s not just managing missed deadlines. It’s about managing their frustration with everything that’s changing,” says Sarah Wood, director of global work-life services at Workplace Options, a North Carolina-based consultation and training organization. “If this person has been a dependable employee for 40 years and is now missing meetings, they’ll be beating themselves up over this.” The Americans with Disabilities Act, which guarantees certain rights and workplace accommodation, covers individuals with Alzheimer’s diagnoses and certain other forms of dementia depending on the employee’s position and level of impairment. “The trick is figuring out what tasks they can still perform and what they can still do safely to continue to contribute,” Wood says. Possible accommodations might include issuing written instructions rather than verbal commands, or reassigning a heavy machine operator or employee to a desk job, says David Fram, director of Americans with Disabilities Act and equal opportunity services at the nonprofit National Employment Law Institute. He notes that employers cannot simply fire an employee solely because of a disability or dementia diagnosis if that person can still perform certain job requirements. “The next question is whether they’re qualified for their job. And that’s the tougher point, depending on how advanced (the dementia) is,” he says. “People have to do the essential functions of the job.” This creates a delicate balance between employer and employee. For some, disclosing dementia to an employer could open the door to workplace adjustments. For others, there’s fear of

Mary Radnofsky, diagnosed with a rare form of leukoencephalopathy and in the early stages of dementia, tries to recall a recent phone conversation in her home on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Alexandria, Va. Faced with an aging American workforce, U.S. companies are increasingly navigating delicate conversations with employees suffering from cognitive declines or dementia diagnoses, experts say. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

stigmatizationoreventermination. Mike Belleville, 57, a former telecommunications technician at Verizon now living in Bellingham, Mass., was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2012. He said receiving his diagnosis “was almost like, ‘Hey, here’s what’s wrong with me. And here’s the reason why I’ve been messing up.’” Belleville says his “aha” moment came when his performance began to slip and younger colleagues he initially trained began coaching him through his job. He says he wouldn’t have had access to certain benefits like short-term disability insurance had he not fully disclosed his condition to his employer. His supervisors eventually scaled back his hours and reduced his workload, allowing him to work several months with a regular salary before going on disability leave. “If you’re driving a semi cross-country and you keep getting lost, OK, you shouldn’t be doing that. But could you work in the loading dock?

Could you have a desk job? What are the ways we can accommodate people so that they can continue contributing meaningfully to society?” asks Al Power, an internist and geriatrician who has extensively researched and written about dementia. After initially being misdiagnosed, Mary Radnofsky, 60 and a former professor now living in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, learned she had a rare form of leukoencephalopathy, which caused minor strokes, seizures and cognitive impairment. Her worsening condition led her to step away from her teaching career at the University of Hawaii in 2011, even before her official diagnosis. “Apparently I ‘looked’ healthy both on paper and in person, had a very good education, and was ‘too young’ to have dementia,” she says. Early dementia symptoms often mirror other ailments that may impair cognitive function, or even other types of dementia. Belleville, for example, was initially diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s

before doctors recognized his condition as Lewy body dementia. Muddling matters further are instances in which patients plead with their doctors to run more tests or cushion the severity of their symptoms in medical reports, says Rod Blough, a former human resources executive at Luxottica who at 58 years old was diagnosed with earlyonset Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. “If a patient is adamantly opposed to having a certain diagnosis, they might be able to influence a certain doctor not to put that language into their medical record. And that can help you on the employment side,” he says. “If your employer wants to see medical documentation, you can show them papers that suggest you’re still well

enough to work.” Blough notes that this may not be the best option for employees long-term, considering their access to Social Security Disability and other resources will be influenced by possibly inaccurate medical documentation. But he says dementia sufferers’ decisions about whether to remain in the workforce are often very personal. Power, the geriatrician, suggests that the U.S. is “still in denial in terms of public policy” related to the aging workforce and supporting employees with dementia. And that, he says, has placed a “greater burden on society.” “I don’t think people have gotten their heads around how to respond to this rapidly aging population,” he says. “We should have been planning for this 30 years ago.”

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2019

Odds and Ends The Associated Press

Ice disk freezes out an attempt to hack peace sign into it Westbrook, Maine (AP) - A giant disk of river ice has proved too much for a New Jersey attention-seeker who tried to carve a peace sign on it. Christopher Angelo, of Lavallette, New Jersey, went onto the ice Thursday with a hatchet, saying he wanted to transform the natural phenomenon into a spinning work of art. But he was unable to get the disk spinning - and his peace sign came up short, too. The massive disk appeared last month in the Presumpscot River in Westbrook, Maine, mesmerizing onlookers as its spun slowly before coming to a stop Tuesday. Stories, photos and videos have been shared widely. Police declined to intervene Thursday, saying it wasn’t a crime to hack at river ice. The Portland Press Herald reports Angelo has a history of staging public stunts. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Officials: Vandals hit New Mexico school with vegetable oil Eunice, N.M. (AP) - A New Mexico high school was forced to delay classes after authorities say vandals slipped onto campus and poured vegetable oil throughout the hallways. The Hobbs News-Sun reports the slick attack at Eunice High School in Eunice, New Mexico, reportedly occurred late Sunday and forced custodial staff to race Monday morning to clean up the mess. Principal Tracy Davis says surveillance cameras captured six people wearing black clothing with hoodies and gloves pouring the vegetable oil on floors. Davis says the greasy attackers gained entrance through an unlocked classroom window. Officials alerted parents and students via social media that classes were delayed until staff removed the oil. No arrests have been made. Eunice is about 327 miles (526 kilometers) southeast of Albuquerque.

German man survives ride between 2 train cars at 125 mph Berlin (AP) - Police say an intoxicated German man who ducked out of a train for a cigarette during a short stop got into trouble when he tried to jump back on board between two cars after the train departed without him. Police said Thursday the 33-year-old clung on to the coupling during frigid temperatures, screaming as the train headed toward Hamburg late Wednesday at speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour (125 mph). Passengers heard the man’s cries and were able to trigger an emergency stop, allowing him to be brought inside. Authorities say he was handed over to them at the main station in Essen and was “unmistakably informed by the federal police about the mortal danger he had been in.” He’s under investigation for dangerous interference with rail traffic.

PATTAYA MAIL

Crossword No 1332

VOL. XXVII No. 6

Read more news at pattayamail.com

Children’s Day turned into Children’s Month for kids in Banglamung Sub-district as the Moo 3 village chief continued to spoil local tots. Manot Songyotin and other local village chiefs and subdistrict administrators hosted yet another Children’s Day activity Jan. 27, two weeks after Thailand’s official day. Held in front of the Sea Shrine, the event featured lucky draws, free toys, painting booths, an inflatable playground, free food and drinks and ice cream. Manot himself also passed out more gifts, capping a month of free stuff for local kids.

Helping local charities

Jetsada Homklin The Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort treated to lunch students at the Pattaya Redemptorist School for The Blind as part of its community service program. General Manager Denis Thouvard led a group of employees to the school Jan. 25. In addition to the annual lunch, the hotel also donated snacks, supplies, paper for writing braille and aluminum for prosthetics. After lunch, staffers engaged the children with games and fun activities.

The Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort treated students to lunch at the Pattaya Redemptorist School for The Blind.

Nong Plalai officials clean preschool

Generous GIS students spent time playing with children from the Khru Boonchu home. Nong Plalai administrators put down their pencils and picked up brooms to clean the sub-district’s Children’s Development Center.

Mark Beales Photos by IB students Students from Garden International School (GIS) helped children at a local charity with an afternoon of activities. The students, who are studying the IB Diploma, headed to the Khru Boonchu home to spend time with the children there, who have mental and physical disabilities. Led by CAS Coordinator Mr Croft, they visited on January 30 to play a range of games with the children, who were thrilled to welcome them. This is part of the IB

Warapun Jaikusol

An IB student helps with some writing skills.

students CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) experiences, an integral part of the

IB Diploma. GIS is based in Ban Chang near Pattaya.

Nong Plalai administrators put down their pencils and picked up brooms to clean the sub-district’s Children’s Development Center. Deputy Mayor Lae Boonsung and Council Chairman Thongkam Kamjam led the group of civil servants in cleaning up the preschool Jan. 30. Workers used brooms, dustpans, garbage spears, grass cutters, waste compactors and more to clean trash and cut back brush.

The effort was deemed both necessary for cleanliness and the children’s s a f e t y, a s s n a k e s a n d

dangerous insects hide in the tall grass. Officials said a big cleanup will occur monthly.

The effort was deemed both necessary for cleanliness and the children’s health and safety.

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Bangkok flies drones as PM warns of costs in pollution fight Tassanee Vejpongsa Bangkok (AP) - A fleet of drones, trucks and small planes sprayed water to try to reduce air pollution around Bangkok last week while the city’s governor invited critics to brainstorm better ideas to improve the air quality in the Thai capital. Unhealthy pollution levels forced city schools to close Wednesday for the rest of week, and many residents are wearing air-filtering masks while they’re outdoors. Faced with public discontent as well as a possible health crisis, Bangkok’s governor, Police Gen. Asawin Kwanmuang, has declared the city a “pollution control zone,” allowing firmer measures such as road closings and limits on diesel exhaust, outdoor burning and construction activities. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered inspections of factories to measure the pollution they are emitting. But he warned that implementing radical solutions could cause inconveniences that people might be unwilling to accept.

“To ban vehicles or to ban vehicles on odd and even dates, will people accept that?” he said. “If we provide (more public) transportation, will people use it?” Even long-term measures raise questions, he said. “At the moment, we can improve the efficiency of cars and convert buses to use NGV gas. Are we ready to spend the budget for whatever it will cost?” The measures proposed this week would focus on what are generally considered the main sources of Bangkok’s air pollution, particularly vehicle exhaust, especially from

diesel engines. Open burning and emissions from factories and power plants also are major problems, along with dust from construction sites. Some scientists have speculated that smoke and haze from Thailand’s lessdeveloped eastern neighbor, Cambodia, also drifted into Bangkok, stirring up a bit of eco-nationalism, but the government’s Pollution Control Department said evidence did not support this theory. Parts of northern Thailand, however, do suffer an annual air pollution crisis due to fires from

A drone is flown over the Suthat Temple in Bangkok, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. Bangkok’s municipal government displayed six drones that will be used to spray water over the city to help ease high levels of pollution. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

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Asawin invited privatesector experts and academics to share ideas to improve air quality. “Those who are knowledgeable on this issue, don’t give opinions to others, tell me. I am the one who is working on the issue, please give me advice,” he said. “Do I know everything? No, I don’t. Because I do not know everything, that’s why I will hold a meeting (Thursday). Please join us in brainstorming.” Critics say the authorities’ attempt to combat pollution by using drones to spray water is ineffective. The director of Greenpeace Thailand, Tara Buakumsri, said at best, the attempt will

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A thick layer of smog covers Lumpini Park in central Bangkok, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

have a psychological impact on city dwellers, but it won’t improve air quality. Tara said the government should determine the sources of the pollution and come up with long-term strategies to reduce emissions from those sources. Police announced last week that they arrested the operator of a website that falsely claimed that a woman had died as a result of tiny “PM 2.5” particulate matter that experts say is one of the most dangerous constituents of air pollution because it can penetrate deep into the lungs. A photo of a woman whose skin was swollen accompanied an article on the man’s website. The man was arrested Sunday and charged with violating the Computer Crime Act by uploading false information that could alarm the public. The offense is punishable by up to five years in prison. Police said they are trying to track the operators of two other websites that published the same article, and have asked government telecommunications authorities to block them.

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VOL. XXVII No. 6

Brit slam dunks American Presidents … even Abe

The presidential guru gets a grilling.

MC and chairman of the expats club opened with the usual remarks but stunned his audience with a word describing our wonderful Holiday In surroundings. He called it, salubrious. Good going Roy. There were two speakers this day at PCEC, a Brit, Peter Henry Taylor originally from Liverpool England but who had spent 52 years in America. His topic was a short history of the USA and some remarks about its presidents. He was not complementary. The second speaker was a managing tour agent from Bhutan, Kesang Tshering who had an extensive slide presentation on the beauty and reasons for visiting his country. Peter started with an Irish joke and then proceeded to remind us that the Beatles came from Liverpool and that half the population of this less than wealthy area worked.

The overlying principle of his talk seemed to be to ‘get your facts straight’. With that in mind he told us that the potato famine was not caused by a lack of food but a buy off of land by certain nobles and the lack of the use of same. When Irishmen fled Ireland for England they ate corned beef and cabbage on the ships over and so it was thought that that was their diet. Those happened to be the only foods that didn’t require refrigeration. Peter proclaimed that democracy started in England under Henry the 8th in 1066 when the Magna Carta was written. During the Q and A that followed more than one person challenged that claim. Switching his topic again he started to talk about American Presidents, starting with Abraham Lincoln. Peter proclaimed him a liar and a failed attorney. He was

The team from Bhutan.

always at odds with his cabinet and wasn’t a good president. Talking about America’s healthcare system, he reminded us that Obama was not the first to offer universal health care to America. It was done by Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Kennedy, LBJ and the Clintons. Eisenhower was the least qualified to command the allied armies and was also not qualified for President. Nixon

successful job of revitalizing the economy was in Peter’s opinion really Carter’s accomplishment from earlier instituted programs. Interesting view. Peter ended his talk by stating the old familiar proverb that the ‘more things change the more they stay the same. Our 2nd speaker, Kesang was dressed in cultural attire and walked us through a nice preview of what one might expect to seed and do

Checking the facts on Bhutan.

was a brilliant man, was an insomniac and a drunk. He was very shy and had the strange habit of arranging interviews of only 5 minutes with only 10 selected people at special events. He golfed a lot. LBJ and Reagan were both men who did not feel qualified to lead the country but were pushed by their wives to take the jobs. Reagan’s

in Bhutan. His central theme was that most countries base their importance on their GDP where as in Bhutan success was measured in GNH — gross national happiness. Bhutan is a land locked country south of China and surrounded on the other side by India. The country is still mostly agricultural with some 72% of the people still working and living on the land. Most of the 735 thousand population are Buddhists and all visitors to the country except India, Bangladesh and Myanmar need an e visa to enter the country. This fee is usually about $40. Although there are four distinct seasons, visiting Bhutan can be seen at any time except the monsoon season in later August or early September. One won’t find any Starbucks, McDonalds or large malls in Bhutan but internet is available in the cities as are many small shopping areas. The real draw of the country is its natural untouched beauty of forests, mountains and waterways. Do visit the club next week for a really special presentation which I will only say will be one of a kind.

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Double take At almost every orchestral concert, the first instrument you hear is always the oboe. This is because the oboe sounds the note to which all the other instruments tune. This convention came about largely because the penetrating tone of the oboe can be clearly heard above the other instruments. The oboe has a long history though the origins are obscure. We know that the instrument as we know it first emerged during the middle of the seventeenth century when it was known by the French name hautbois (OH-bwah). In French, haut means “high” and bois means “wood”. Its predecessor was called the shawm which dated back to medieval times and a harsh-sounding thing it was too. I’ve always felt that anyone who starts learning the oboe must possess a certain degree of tenacity, because the instrument is something of a challenge for a beginner. The clarinet and saxophone produce their sound with a single reed and it is relatively easy for an absolute beginner to produce a half-decent sound at the first attempt. The oboe has a double reed which consists of two reeds bound to each other and it’s controlled by pressing the lips close together over the double reed. The first sound that beginners manage on the oboe is

oboists make their own reeds but this is a tricky skill that can take years to master. Some professional players make a bit on the side by selling home-made reeds to other oboists.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Concerto for Oboe in C major KV314. François Leleux (ob), Frankfurt Radio Symphony cond. Andrés OrozcoEstrada (Duration: 22:11; Video: 720p HD) An oboe double reed.

usually a duck-like honk which surely must be discouraging to a sensitive child. It takes a great deal of practice to convert those initial quacks into something worth hearing. In the hands of a fine player the oboe can produce a bright, reedy sound with a yearning, lyrical tone quality. The characteristic tone quality, known to musicians as timbre comes from the design of the tube which, like that of the saxophone and the tuba gradually increases in diameter. The reed has a significant effect on the sound, so much so that oboe players spend a great deal of time selecting a reed that suits their purpose. Most professional

Like the vast majority of concertos written during the so-called classical period, this one is cast in three movements: two lively outside movements and a slow one in between them. Mozart wrote this work during the spring of 1777 for the Italian oboist Giuseppe Ferlendis who was the oboist in the orchestra of the Archbishop of Salzburg. The following year the composer re-worked this concerto for flute, changing the key to D major. It has since become a well-known concert-piece for both instruments. The first movement kicks off in joyful fashion, yet with the elegance that typifies so much of Mozart’s music. Notice the clever way the solo oboe begins – a single scale leading to a long note

over the shifting melodies played by the orchestra. Listen out for the way Mozart creates interplay between the oboe and the other instruments, sometimes imitating each other or sometimes the solo oboe flying off in little extravaganzas of its own. The orchestration is light and transparent, highlighting the soloist and creating a delicacy of touch. The slow movement opens in a sombre mood but gradually becomes more song-like and lyrical. In contrast, the chirpy finale fairly belts along and it’s a showpiece for the brilliant technique of this renowned French oboist. It’s a delight to hear the crystal-clear articulation and the way François Leleux navigates through the difficult virtuosic passages with consummate ease.

Joseph Haydn (17321809): Concerto for Oboe in C major. Christoph Hartmann (ob), Symphony Orchestra of the University of Caxias do Sul cond. Diego Schuck Biasibetti (Duration: 23:25; Video: 1080p HD) The German oboist Christoph Hartmann gives a sparkling performance of

‘Out of the Dark’ is a great thriller Jeff Ayers Evan Smoak was trained to be Orphan X, and his first assignment over 20 years ago seemed to be successful. Now the other elite team members of that mission have been eliminated one by one. Evan investigates and realizes that the man who started the Program that turned him into an assassin is cleaning up and having the other orphans killed as well. Rather than wait for the inevitable, he decides to go on the defensive and take out the man who started the orphan Program. Why is his former superior now taking out these operatives? Nonetheless, it will take more than meticulous planning and skill to succeed, since this man is the most heavily guarded person in the world: the president of the United States. The president knows he has to fight back, so he pulls his very first recruit, Orphan A, out of a federal penitentiary.

Orphan A has no moral values, and his first job is to murder all potential witnesses before he kills Orphan X. With the help of two fellow inmates who find pleasure in inflicting pain on others, Orphan A knows exactly how to get Orphan X once and for all. Evan always tries to do the right thing, and he goes out of his way to help others who are dealing with insurmountable odds. He usually levels the playing field by his skill set, but this time he might be outmatched. “Out of the Dark” by Gregg Hurwitz takes the reader on a journey that covers a wide range of emotions from potential love to outright terror. The relentless action and detailed mission planning make the tale both clever and smart. Hurwitz continues to profile this stellar character and improve with each new installment. It’s only the end of January, but this novel will be remembered as one of the best thrillers of the year. (AP)

this concerto, well supported by the Brazilian orchestra. This three-movement concerto is usually attributed to Haydn. It sounds rather like Haydn’s music and exudes the grace and charm that typifies his orchestral works. However, it’s generally agreed by music historians that he didn’t actually write it. It’s thought the work was composed around 1790 though it was not published until 1926. The orchestral score was assembled from a unique set

of nineteenth-century handwritten orchestral parts found in a monastic library in Zittau, Germany. Someone, for reasons unknown, added Haydn’s name to the title page. Modern research has shown that the concerto was possibly the work of Ignaz Malzat, a rather shadowy figure who lived during the second half of the eighteenth century. Or it might have been written by someone else. Honestly, no one knows for sure.

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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Everything is pretty good in ‘The LEGO Movie 2’ Lindsey Bahr Los Angeles (AP) - “The LEGO Movie” is a hard act to follow. Its world was so fresh and vibrant and unexpected, it’s no wonder that it spawned a number of spinoffs of varying quality. But the big test was always going to be the sequel and whether or not it could recreate the magic of the first. And I’m pleased to report that “The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part “ is pretty darn good, but also you can’t help shake the feeling that it’s just never going to live up to the exciting newness of the first. The script, written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is once again whip-smart. Jokes and clever pop culture references whizz by at lightning speed and you’ll be lucky to catch even half of them on the first watch. Even the songs (there are a few more this time) are packed

with Lord and Miller wit. And you’ll definitely want to stay for the credits song which, oddly enough, is one of the best parts of the movie despite not really being part of the movie. But there’s something that’s lost in this round. With a new director at the helm in Mike Mitchell (“Trolls,” ‘’Sky High”) you sense sometimes that the film is just going through the motions. Still, it has charm and winking fun to spare and kids will likely adore it just as much. The movie starts by establishing the introduction of a little sister, and all the chaos and destruction and cuteness that implies. Her LEGOs are oversized and adorable, and really throw the more traditional LEGOs of the brother’s world for a loop, wrecking all the meticulous buildings of Bricksburg. An abrupt cut to five years later finds Emmet (Chris Pratt), Wyldstyle/ Lucy (Elizabeth Banks), Batma n ( Wi l l A r n e t t ) , Unikitty (Alison Brie), B e n n y ( C h a r l ie Day),

This image shows a scene from “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.” (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

MetalBeard (Nick Offerman) and all the favorites of the first living in a “Mad Max” homage they call Apocalypseburg (which they say is “grittier and cooler” than Bricksburg). Emmet is still Emmet, though, bright, cheery and optimistic even while everyone else is brooding and scowling. He even builds a cookie cutter house for himself and Lucy with a picket fence, a front yard, and a toaster room, you know, so

they can eat toaster waffles anytime. Lucy tells Emmett she wishes he could grow up, like her, but before their fight is resolved, aliens from the Systar system attack and take Lucy, Batman, Benny and Unikitty hostage for a marriage ceremony on their planet. Left behind, Emmet goes off to rescue them and teams up with a new character, Rex Dangervest, who is also voiced by Pratt, in a very

self-aware riff on his own movie stardom. He’s a “galaxy-defending archaeologist, cowboy and raptor trainer” who enjoys showing off his “chiseled features that used to be hidden under baby fat.” Rex’s crew is made up entirely of velociraptors, who sound like the Jurassic Park/ World velociraptors but here are given subtitles. It’s an inspired bit that made me laugh every time. He and the

Systar System people like General Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) and Queen Watevre Wa’Nabi (Tiffany Haddish) are all delightful, and refreshingly new. But the film does start to drag on just a big, and even feel rather similar to “Toy Story 3” at times. It’s not entirely their fault, once the real world element was revealed in the first “LEGO Movie,” there are only so many directions you can go and the big stakes that all toys face being forgotten and the threat of being shoved away into storage. I’m not sure just how much more the studio can mine out of this concept that was once so brilliant. But happily, “The LEGO Movie 2” doesn’t destroy everything the first worked so hard to build. It’s just trying very hard to be exactly the same. “The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for “for some rude humor.” Running time: 106 minutes. Three stars out of four.

Could ‘Alita’ be Hollywood’s breakthrough manga movie? Nick Perry Wellington, New Zealand (AP) — The manga movie “Alita: Battle Angel” has been 20 years in the making, and producer Jon Landau thinks it will finally represent the breakthrough success in Hollywood for a genre which has proved problematic. “I think this is definitely the breakthrough one because of the story that Kishiro wrote,” said Landau, referring to Japanese author Yukito Kishiro, who wrote the graphic novels, or manga, upon which the movie is based. “You know, other mangas that have not worked have been very Asian-centric in their world, and in their stories,” Landau said. “And Kishiro wrote a melting-pot world. He didn’t write a central character that was Asian. He wrote universal themes of discovery, of self-awareness, for these characters. And

that’s what’s relatable to people across the globe.” The film has an estimated budget of $200 million and when it opens in February, Twentieth Century Fox will be hoping for a much better reception than Paramount’s 2017 flop “Ghost in the Shell.” That manga movie didn’t seem to connect with audiences, grossing just $41 million in the U.S. and $170 million worldwide, with some critics accusing it of “whitewashing” after Scarlett Johansson was cast in the lead role. “Alita” tells the story of cyborg Alita (Rosa Salazar) who awakens without memory in a dystopic world where she’s taken in by a compassionate father figure Dr. Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz). As she learns to navigate her new world, she begins to discover her latent fighting powers and develops feelings for street-smart Hugo (Keean Johnson).

In this photo taken on Jan. 9, 2019, from left, director Robert Rodriguez, producer Jon Landau, actors Rosa Salazar and Christoph Waltz pose for a photo near Wellington, New Zealand. (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

Landau said director James Cameron first fell in love with the Alita novels in 1999, and spent five years working on a script that ballooned to nearly 200 pages with 600 pages of notes. He says Cameron got waylaid working on “Avatar” (2009) and

its sequels before one day having a social lunch with director Robert Rodriguez. “He said if you can crack this down to a shooting length, you can direct it,” Landau recalls. “And Robert did.” During principal filming in Austin, Texas, Salazar wore

a motion-capture suit so her character could later be animated to reflect its look in the novels. When the first trailers came out last year, some viewers said Alita’s eyes appeared huge to the point of being creepy. Senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri, from the Weta Digital studio in New Zealand’s capital Wellington, said they discussed the eyes with Cameron, and he had the opposite reaction, telling them they had held back and should go bigger. Salazar, who previously appeared in “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” (2015), said she completed many months of martial arts training in disciplines like Muay Thai to prepare for the fight sequences. “It was a lot of working through soreness, working through pain, getting my endurance up,” she said. She broke some ribs during her training, she said.

“I fell on my ribs doing a whip kick,” she said. “My other foot just kind of gave out, my other leg kind of swept from under me, and I fell directly on my ribs. I couldn’t breathe for a little while.” She said she can empathize with the way Alita transforms from a girl to a woman in the movie, after shedding one body for another. “I could relate to that when I was 14 and I felt like a mutant,” she said. Waltz, who played Col. Hans Landa in “Inglourious Basterds,” said he had no experience with graphic novels before reading up on Alita. “The manga, comic, graphic novel thing is not my world at all,” he said. “I know nothing about it. And I realize that there is a vast field to be discovered.” Other roles in the movie are played by Mahershala Ali (Vector), Eiza Gonzalez (Nyssiana) and Jennifer Connelly (Chiren).

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The Strawbs: ‘Live at the BBC Volume Two –In Concert’ Sonja Kristina while those who have warmed the keyboard seat include three Wakeman’s (Rick, Adam and Oliver), Blue Weaver, John Hawkins and Don Airey.

mott@pattayamail.com The Strawbs started out as a bluegrass/folk outfit in 1964 before progressing to become over the years a full blown pop/rock band, and very good they have always been too. They keep playing concerts to this very day in fact, either as the acoustic Strawbs or as the full blown electric Strawbs. In all there have been 31 musicians who could call themselves a Strawb but Dave Cousins, with his unique and emotional vocals, is the only person to be able to say he has stayed the course (apart from a brief hiatus in the early Eighties.) But some mighty fine musicians have passed through the ranks over the years. Female vocalists have included Sandy Denny and

Dave Lambert was there for an awful long time and of course John Ford and Richard Hudson are famous for being in the band and writing their best known hit single, the simply excruciating “Part Of The Union”. Fortunately Dave Cousins kept his hand firmly on the quill for most of the song writing. In 2010 the BBC finally unlocked their vaults and released in entirety the music recorded by the Strawbs for the Beeb. Volume one is a compilation of songs

collected from various radio shows over the years and a very fine selection it is too. But it is the second volume where things really step on the gas with three full ‘in concert’ recordings taped from 1971-1974, when perhaps the Strawbs were in their pomp. The first CD features Rick Wakeman and you can hear why Yes were so glad to steal him away. Next up was Blue Weaver who, not to be outdone by his illustrious predecessor, really gives some welly to the keyboards on the second outing. Weaver had an illustrious career after leaving the Strawbs, first with Mott The Hoople and then later finding fame and a massive fortune working with the Bee Gees. Then came John Hawken who moved onto many different regions of rock music. But more importantly for the listener is that the music throughout is of the very highest standard. The songwriting of Dave Cousins is a wonder to listen to, varying from soft lullabies

The Strawbs are shown in this early 1970s photo.

like “Tears/Pavan” and the sumptuous “A Glimpse of Heaven” to the full blooded progressive rock of “Sheep”, which used to finish their live sets back in the day where the band could be mistaken for playing with the power and the passion of Deep Purple (apart from Dave Cousins distinctive vocals). You also get two versions of “Hangman and the Papist”, one from 1971 and the other from 1973 (as is the nature of these collections, many songs are repeated

Singer in Thai girl band apologizes for swastika shirt Bangkok (AP) - A popular Thai music act has apologized after one of its members wore a shirt showing the swastika flag of Nazi Germany during a performance. The incident involving the girl group BNK48 occurred just two days ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, with somber ceremonies in other parts of the world to remember the 6 million Jews and others killed in Adolf Hitler’s death camps. Israel’s embassy in Thailand posted a statement on Twitter expressing “shock and dismay over the Nazi outfit worn by the singer.” “Presenting Nazi symbols by the band’s singer, hurt the feelings of millions around the world, whose relatives were murdered by the Nazis,” it said. The performer, 19-year-old Pichayapa ‘Namsai’ Natha, blamed her own ignorance for her actions as she delivered a tearful apology and asked for forgiveness. In the video apology made on the stage where the group usually performs, she dropped to her knees as she finished her brief statement and was comforted by fellow band members. Her apology was also posted on her Instagram account. Management of the group, noted more for its marketing prowess than its musical

In this June 2, 2017, file photo, Thai pop band BNK 48 performs for the first time in a large commercial facility in Bangkok. (The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images)

abilities, also apologized that they had “inadvertently caused dismay and distress to people affected” by the historical crime against humanity. Incidents involving insensitive use of Nazi symbols occur from time to time in Thailand, where there is little awareness of the Holocaust and an inclination to use them as design elements or comic props. Past scandals have involved bars, restaurants, motels and clothing using swastikas and images of Hitler for decorative purposes. But on several occasions students at schools and colleges have mimicked

Nazi regalia and rituals, including the ‘Heil, Hitler’ salute, in skits, artworks and ceremonies. Thais are not alone among the peoples of Asia with little knowledge or sensitivity about the Holocaust. In what may be a mark of disinterest in history among the younger generation, several other youth-oriented music groups have been involved in similar scandals. Late last year, management for the South Korean hit Kpop boy band BTS apologized for one of its members wearing a T-shirt depicting the explosion of an atomic bomb and another a hat with

a Nazi emblem in a magazine photo book. Band members previously flew flags with what appeared to be the Nazi swastika during a concert. In 2016, the producer for a Japanese all-girl “idol” group like BNK48 joined Sony Music in apologizing after the popular act performed in outfits resembling Nazi-era German military uniforms. Keyakizaka46, a group of about 20 mostly teenage girls who sing and dance in synch, appeared at a concert in black knee-length dresses that look like military overcoats, and black capes and officer caps with a Nazi-like eagle emblem.

due to their popularity in the set). The Strawbs would yearly add a little twist to each song to keep the enthusiasts happy. On this, perhaps one of Dave Cousins most famous songs, you can hear how the band have progressed. The Cousins’ wonderful hit single “Lay Down” is played with much gusto and is far more representative of the Strawbs sound whilst still remaining commercial. To hear a marvelous rock band who have now become a worldwide institution, please dig out this album, turn it up and enjoy. (Just skip “Part of the Union”). The Strawbs have had far too may band members to

name them all, but song wise what you get stretched over the two CD’s is this: CD1 (Paris Theatre, London 05/08/1971) Hangman and the Papist Martin Luther’s Dream A Glimpse of Heaven Witchwood In Amongst The Roses R.M.W. Flower and The Young Man Fingertips The Shepherds Song When You wore a Tulip Sheep CD 2 (Paris Theatre, London 25/03/1973) New World Tears/Pavan Stormy Down Hangman and the Papist Benedictus Heavy Disguise Bovver Blues The River/ Down by The Sea Winter and Summer Part Of The Union Lay Down CD 2 (Golders Green Hippodrome 11/04/1974) New World Lay Down Autumn Tears/Pavan Just Love Out in The Cold/Round and Round Heroes and Heroines The River /Down by The Sea/Lay a little Love on Me

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Asia welcomes Year of the Pig with banquets, temple visits

Beijing (AP) - Asia welcomed the lunar Year of the Pig on Tuesday with visits to temples, family banquets and the world’s biggest travel spree.

Celebrations took place throughout the region, from Beijing and Seoul to Hanoi and Singapore. In Bangkok, people lit incense sticks and burned pa-

Performers take part in a night parade to celebrate Chinese New Year in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/ Vincent Yu)

Two divers perform an underwater Chinese Lion Dance at Aquaria KLCC underwater park in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

per money and other symbolic offerings for deceased relatives despite government appeals to avoid contributing to smog. Some shopkeepers sold symbolic ballots to burn as offerings following official promises of an election this year, the first after four years of military rule. The streets of Beijing and other major Chinese cities were quiet and empty after millions of people left to visit relatives or travel abroad during the year’s biggest family holiday. Families gathered at home for multigenerational banquets. Companies, shops and government offices closed for official holidays that ranged from two days in South Korea to a week in China. Worshippers stood in line for hours at Hong Kong’s Wong Tai Sin Temple to welcome the new year by lighting incense. Lana Wong, a prominent Hong Kong actress, wore a pig costume for the event. “My first wish is for world peace,” said Wong, 88. “Everyone has food to eat, employment and houses to live in. The elderly also hope the government will take better care of them.” In Beijing, performers in traditional Qing dynasty robes strummed zithers for a re-enactment at sunrise of

A performer dressed as an emperor, center, participates in a Qing Dynasty ceremony in which emperors prayed for good harvest and fortune at a temple fair in Ditan Park in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

a sacrificial ceremony at the Chinese capital’s Temple of Earth park. An actor portraying an emperor bowed before an altar with dozens of people in ceremonial dress behind him. Acrobats and drummers also performed. Vendors sold toys branded with the British cartoon character Peppa Pig, which is enjoying a surge of popularity for the Year of the Pig. “My wishes for new year are a promotion, a raise and finding a boyfriend,” said a spectator, Cui Di, a 28-yearold employee of a foreign company.

The holiday in mainland China is marked by the biggest annual travel boom as hundreds of millions of people visit their home towns or travel abroad. The railway ministry forecast mainland travelers would make 413 million trips

during the three-week period around the holiday. Chinese set off billions of fireworks to celebrate the new year. In the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, visitors left bouquets of flowers at statues of former leaders Kim Il Sung and his son, Kim Jong Il.

Mutlitple dragon dances take part in Lunar New Year celebrations in the Chinatown area of Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)

Performers take part in a night parade to celebrate Chinese New Year in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/ Vincent Yu) (Above) Ethnic ChineseThai light candles after praying at the Leng Nuei Yee Chinese temple for the Lunar New Year in Bangkok. (AP Photo/ Sakchai Lalit)

Filipino-Chinese display piggy banks at the start of celebrations for Lunar New Year in Chinatown, Manila. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

A fire-eater performs during celebrations of the Lunar New Year Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, in the Chinatown district of Manila. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

People bow in front of statues of North Korean late leaders, Kim Il Sung, left, and his son Kim Jong Il, after laying bouquets of flowers in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Lunar New Year’s Day. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)

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Chinese New Year celebrations sprawl across Pattaya Jetsada Homklin

Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome is joined by city hall officials and employees to make offerings to the Eight Immortals and Gods at the Sawangboriboon Thammasathan Pattaya Foundation in Naklua.

In a city that has become so dependent upon Chinese tourists, Pattaya’s annual Chinese New Year celebration has become one of the biggest events of the year. Always a big deal for Naklua’s Chinese-Thai population, the lunar new year is now a sprawling festival, ushered in by top Pattaya officials and celebrated in separate and simultaneous shows in tourist hot spots. The Year of the Pig got off to a traditional start Feb. 4, with Thai-Chinese residents bringing whole ducks and chickens, pig heads, pastries, stuffed dough pyramids, sticky rice cakes, fruit and others food to shrines to pay homage to their gods. Revelers dressed in brilliant red and gold “qipao” dresses, happily offered up by five Naklua shops for 200

Former Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and Former Deputy Mayor Poramet Ngampichet pay their respects at Chonburi’s City Pillar Shrine.

Chinese actors in traditional dress pose at Royal Garden Plaza Pattaya.

A beautiful and talented young woman plays the guzheng, an ancient Chinese musical instrument, at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.

Officials opened the normally closed beaches for umbrellas and chairs on Wednesday for the Chinese New Year holiday.

A contestant walks the isle in the Miss Hanbok (traditional Korean dress for semi-formal or formal attire during traditional occasions such as festivals, celebrations, and ceremonies) contest at Central Festival Pattaya Beach.

The dragon breathes fire on Lunar New Year.

baht or more. Fueled by directives from government offices, hotels and restaurants to look the part for New Year’s, sales of the Chinese dresses and shirts were brisk across the city. Worshippers also assembled outside Pattaya City Hall, praying at the King Thaksin Monument for prosperity in the coming year, but they found themselves alone: No Pattaya executives showed up, instead holding off their appearances until the next morning. On Feb. 5 at the monument, Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome welcomed in the new Chinese year, along with top city officials, who then moved to the Prince Chumphon Monument atop Pratamnak Hill followed by moving to the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation – the epicenter of the Chinese-Thai community – in Naklua for religious rites. The real celebration, however, began after dark at both Central Festival Pattaya Beach and on Walking Street.

A telling of the history of Thailand’s Chinese New Year festivals in Thai, English, and Chinese kicked off the party, followed by a guzheng musical-instrument performance. Sonthaya made his appearance, welcoming Chinese tourists who – although arriving in much smaller numbers than last year – are Pattaya’s No. 1 tourist group. At 8 p.m., dances by Chinese dragons and lion characters preceded an acrobatic performance with limber performers assembling human

pyramids and climbing and flipping from poles. At 8:30 p.m. Chinese cultural and arts performances unfolded on the stage with music taking over at 9 p.m. Finally, at 10:30 p.m. musical act Gesunova performed, with fans joining in on its big hit “Krai Kae Nui kua Kai”. A similar schedule played out on Walking Street, with the guzheng artists moving down the road after finishing their Central Festival show, followed by the dragons and lions, acrobats and stage performers.

Acrobats thrill the crowd with their dangerously high pole climbing.

Talented young dancers perform an ancient ThaiChinese dance at Central Festival Pattaya Beach.

Thai guests put money into the dragon’s mouth at Friendship Supermarket in South Pattaya for prosperity.

Gesunova performs their big hit “Krai Kae Nui kua Kai”.

“Eng Kor” fighters add excitement to the festivities with their traditional performance.

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Centara Grand Mirage Resort Pattaya presents gifts to children with special needs

VOL. XXVII No. 6

French beauty queen holidays at Amari Phuket

After a strenuous yet fun filled week during the 67th Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Miss France Universe Eva Colas chose to holiday with her family at the Amari Phuket recently, where she was welcomed by Pierre-Andre Pelletier, Regional Vice-President, Operations – Southern Thailand, Vietnam and the Maldives. (Above) Father Pattarapong Srivorakul, President of the Father Ray Foundation, welcomes Denis Thouvard, GM of the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya and his entourage to the Father Ray School for Children with Special Needs to present a donation of 26,029.50 baht along with many presents for the children. The funds were raised at the Charity Christmas Tree Light-up event in December 2018.

Dusit Thani presents prizes and gifts at polo tourney The B. Grimm and BMW Thai Polo Open 2019 was held at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in Pattaya recently. The event was organised to raise funds to support H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Chitralada Vocational School project. The main trophy was the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Cup. Neoh Kean Boon, General Manager of Dusit Thani Pattaya, handed out hotel room vouchers to support the charity draw prizes, as well as distributed 2019 Dusit Calendars to participants and visitors alike.

More New Year Greetings from our friends

Phimpa Sukkasem, Asst. General Manager, and Nualchan Phuphasit, Acting GM of Diana Garden Resort, Phumpich Dabbaransi (left), Marketing Communications & PR Manvisited the Pattaya Mail office recently to present New Year gifts which were happily received by Prince ager for Siam@Siam Design Hotel Pattaya, bears goodwill gifts for Malhotra (2nd right), Nutsara Duangsri (left) and Peter Malhotra (right). Pattaya Mail’s Nutsara Duangsri.

Kannikar Sawaengrujitham (2nd left), Senior Marketing Communications Coordinator, and Maria Hannah C. Quiwa (left), Asst. PR & Marketing Manager, represented the Royal Cliff Hotels Group in wishing us a happy New Year. They were received by Nutsara Duangsri, Sales & Marketing Manager and MD Peter Malhotra.

With the grand building project of the Amari Pattaya in full swing, Rashana Pimolsindh (2nd left), Marketing Communication Director, and Poowadol Boonnieum (left) Marketing Coordinator, paid a courtesy call to Pattaya Mail to wish us a Happy New Year. They were received by Nutsara Duangsri (2nd left), Sales & Marketing Manager, and Peter Malhotra, MD.

VOL. XXVII No. 6

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 E-Books are “Pattaya Cartoon Memories”, “Ladyboy Book 3” and

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“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

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)

Businesses for Sale or Rent Bop03/01-52/ Spacious Double Shophouse on 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 No02/04-10/ Pattaya Panthers Rugby Club is looking to recruit new players. All ages and abilities welcome to come to training nights every Thursday at Horseshoe Point in east Pattaya from 7pm – 8.30pm. For more information, go to Pattaya Panthers page on Facebook. No01/01-10/ Looking for a game of snooker with a retired ex-professional UK snooker player? Tel. Mike on 089 152 3202

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Prc216/05-09/ Pattaya Beach Rd. Soi 13, Studio, Terrace, Kitchenette, Safe box. Penthouse style, pool. Bt. 13,500. - Tel: 091 504 1806

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

Property for Rent Houses, Villas Prb06/04-08/ TOWNHOUSE, Off Soi Khaotalo, Like new, quiet, safe, two bedroom, one bathroom, patio, carport, Thai kitchen, air-conditioned, FULLY FURNUSHED, Guarded Subdivision, Communal Pool, One Year Lease Minimum, Bt.9,5000. Monthly, Bt.19,000. Security Deposit. English, 087-805-5276 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

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

Houses, Villas Psb33/06-10/ 3-Bedroom House (very nice) 100sqw, Pool, European kitchen, Daikin Air, Close to exit to motorway, golf courses, markets, 2 minutes from 300 yard golf driving range, close to entrance, Siam Place: 4.9 million. Contact Lek: 061 536 1126, Sugar Ray: 087-1429155 Psb32/05-09/ Lake Mabprachan house for Sale: 3 bed, 2 baths pool home. Sale: 3.8 million baht. Tel: 087 802 1018 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

Psb29/01-52/ Pool Villa located in Chaiyapruk 2, only 10mins from Pattaya City, land size 52sqw (210sqm), 120sqm, 1 living room, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished, 2 TVs, aircondition in all rooms, quiet and peaceful area. THB 4,500,000B, (350), GO PROPERTY THAILAND Tel. 093- 161 5995 (Eng/German), 062 191 7894 (thai), info@gopropertythailand.com Psb28/01-52/ Villa on Pratumnak Hill, 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, bathroom with Jacuzzi in master bedroom, 2.5km to Walking Street, only 700 meters from Dongtan Beach, land size 100sqw, living area 170sqm, fully furnished, 3 air-cons, 1 living room with flat TV, European kitchen, alarm system, private swimming pool, garden, private car park with automatic gate. 12,000,000 THB, (340), GO PROPERTY THAILAND Tel. 093- 161 5995 (Eng/German), 062 191 7894 (Thai), info@gopropertythailand.com

VOL. XXVII No. 6

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 ROADvery quite; 3,950,000 THB; 092- 753 9309, info@ gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com Psb25/01-52/ Villa located on Pattaya East Side, only 5 min. from Sukhumvit/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

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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 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 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 Psc79/01-52/ 1-Bedroom condo located on Jomtien Beach, 12th floor, 49sqm, close access to the beach, fully furnished, 1 living room, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, kitchen, WiFi, security 7/24h,fitness gym, table tennis room, 2 community pools, parking, in the building are restaurants, internet cafes, bars, supermarket, laundry, massage, 2,450,000B (273), GO PROPERTY THAILAND Tel. 093- 161 5995

(Eng/German), 062 191 7894 (Thai), info@goproperty thailand.com Psc78/01-52/ High floor sea view studio, 32sqm living space in LUMPINI BUILDING located directly on Jomtien beach, 2 pools, one close to the beach, fitness gym, beautiful roof terrace, computer room, garage, price does not include furniture, 2,490,000B, (256) GO PROPERTY THAILAND Tel.: 093- 161 5995 (Eng/German), 062 191 7894 (Thai), info@gopropertythailand.com Psc77/01-52/ Studio located on Pattaya Beach Road with very nice sea views, 45sqm, fully furnished, direct access to the beach, 1 living/ bedroom, 1 bathroom, kitchenette, WiFi, security 7/24h, fitness gym, community pool, hotel, restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry in the building, 3,495,000B, (199), GO PROPERTY THAILAND Tel.: 093- 161 5995 (Eng/German), 062 191 7894 (Thai), info@goproperty thailand.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 room; community pool; parking; restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry; 7,495,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995, info@goproperty thailand.com, www. gopropertythailand.com

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2019 23

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

Land for Sale P02/01-52/ Land is located close to Chaiyaprueck Road 2, 629sqm (17m x 37m); completely walled inn with a 3m high wall; 13,000 liter water deposit; own well; 2,950,000 THB or best offer; 092- 753 9309, info@gopropertythailand.com, www.gopropertythailand.com

Services Provided Sp03/05-09/ Visa Runs: Cambodia, Laos, Visa Thai Service, Tel. Apple 095 426 2862 Sp02/06/ PLANS DRAWN: Design & Construction: Condo Remodeling Tel. 085083-4221 Sp01/06-10/ Custom Built Swimming Pools. 20 years experience. Call for Free advice and quotes Jon: 062 384 3864 email: poolcom01@gmail.com

Vehicles for Sale/Rent Vc01/06/ Jay’s Rent A Car: Toyota’s & Honda’s. All top of the range, for your safety all serviced by Toyota/Honda, all have A.B.S./airbags + 1st class rental Insurance. Rent the best. Please ring for details: (Thai) 084-865-5102 or (Eng) 085-283-4915

24 FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2019

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVII No. 6

Phin gets the gong at Green Valley PSC Golf from The Billabong Bar Monday, Jan. 28, Phoenix Gold Stableford At Phoenix Gold today we played the Mountain and Lakes courses which were in great condition but some of the pins on the Lake loop were very difficult to get at. The scoring is always slightly different when we play the Mountain loop as it must be one of the hardest nine holes of golf in this area, if you miss the short grass you have a difficult time getting your ball anywhere near the green. One player took all this in his stride and beat the course today with 40 points, Jerry Grocott being that man. His lovely partner Julie Battersby took second spot with 37 points, our little French general Gerard Lambert placed third on 36 and Peter Davies was fourth with 34.

There was only one birdie ‘2’, coming from PatAdamson.

Wednesday, Jan. 30, Green Valley – Monthly Medal The penultimate round of the Haven Consultants monthly medal today with 10 previous winners of this competition waiting in the wings before battling it out to find this year’s champion in March. It was good to see Brian Chapman, the CEO of title sponsors Haven Consultants, join the fray on the 1st tee together with 40 others. The ladies always seem to excel in a medal round and today was no exception, with 3 golfers on net 68 which had Capt. Bob putting on his thinking cap to determine the winner. Miss Poopay (H/cap 10) had 12 pars in her net 69 leaving her in 4 th place, just behind those on

Miss Phin receives her medal from Brian Chapman.

net 68. Miss Porn (22) stumbled a little after the turn to finish with net 37 one on

Big field kicks off PAGS 2019

the inward half and adrift of Miss Am (21) who finished with a net 36. But the everpresent Miss Phin (11) had an excellent round with 5

pars and 3 birdies, two of which came on the back nine, to account for her net 34 to on the back nine to win the trophy. As usual, the men could not match these scores with only two having better than their handicap. Sel Wegner (14) had a net 72 to miss out to Wayne Cotterell on the same score, perhaps conserving his energies with a buggie at the turn. Tony Oakes (13) was steady through the 18 holes for a net 71, being outdone by Keith Allen (12) improving on his back nine with 5 pars and 1 birdie for a net 68. There were ten ‘2’s in total, going to Miss Phin, Miss Eng, Sandy Chapo, Jim Bell, Gerrard Lambert, Jerry Roescott and two each to Dougie Crowe and Jeff North.

Friday, Feb. 1, Burapha - Stableford Burapha on the A and B loops today and the course was in great condition as usual with greens running quite fast and no way could you get a bad lie on the short grass. The scoring was exceptional with a countback on 36 between 3 players for the minor places. Paul Greenaway took fifth, gerard Lambert fourth and Peter Rooke was the unlucky one to miss out. Third place went to Peter Davies, also on a countback with 38 points, him being beaten by Mick Beresford with the same score but a better back nine. Francis Goyon took top spot with a fantastic 44 points, shooting 78 gross off his 14 handicap. There were three ‘2’s, coming from Francis Goyon’s, George Zadro and Ivor Smith.

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Devereux delivers in spades PSC Golf from Siam Country Resort Pattaya

Low Gross and A Flight winner Jeff Wylie.

After last year’s PAGS record opener with 188 players, this year’s strong field of 162, which included 15 ladies, was another successful way to kick the year off. Pattavia was the venue on January 30, with the course in good condition and fairways running firm, which ensured plenty of roll out. The greens were holding for the well struck shot, but still offering plenty of putting challenges, particularly from above the hole. Weather conditions were close to perfect for players, clear skies with a light breeze to keep the humidity down. The winner in the Ladies Flight was Butsaya Chummung (H/ cap 25) with a creditable 43 points, well clear of second placed Panda Aree (32), who fired a solid 37 points.

Ladies winner Butsaya Chummong (right) receives her prize.

The C Flight required a series of countbacks after 3 players signed for 41 points. The winner of the flight was Mats Flodin (24) with his superior back 9 of 24 points, while Mike Warner (33) took the silver, courtesy of his 21 point back 9. Bill Kana (22) got the bronze after his 20 point back 9, to go with a NTP on hole #7. B Flight for handicaps 14– 21 again required countbacks to settle the places - Staffan Lyrestram (19) edging out Brian Keating (18) 22/21 on the back 9 after both signed for 41 points. Low spot on the podium went to Nick Townrow (20), outpointing Seppo Kontio on countback

after both had 39 points. Seppo did pick up the Approach on #10 to ensure his visit to the presentation spot. The A Flight for players for 0–13 saw Jeff Wylie (10) turn back the clock, shooting 75 to pick up the Low Gross and the A Flight net with 43 points. Finn Csizmadia (10) signed for 40 points, to go with his Long Putt on #5, while Jon Dean (12) picked up third spot with his 38 points. Technical prizes were well spread around with special mentions to Ulf Bergstrom who got the NTP on #17 and the Long Drive on #18, while second placegetter in B Flight, Brian Keating, also picked up the Approach on #11.

Ty Anderson, Joop Bijsterbosch, Paddy Devereux & Bob Edwards.

Tuesday, Jan. 29, Pattaya C.C. Stableford On Tuesday we went to Pattaya Country Club with 4 groups and it was again a beautiful day and the course was in reasonable condition with fast challenging greens. Paddy Devereux was in good form today and was far ahead of his opponents after returning a fine score of 40 points. Joop Bijsterbosch followed on a modest distance behind with an even-par 36

on his card while our American friends fought for third spot. Ty Anderson was the lucky one and beat Bob Edwards on countback after both came in with 35 points each. The near pins went to Jonathan Pratt, Joop Bijsterbosch, Paddy Devereux and Dave Smith.

Thursday, Jan. 31, Crystal Bay Stableford Crystal Bay was our venue on Thursday where we

played the B & C course. The layout was in reasonable condition with some wet spots around the sprinklers and many dry areas. The greens were on the slow side today. We had 3 players battling for top spot and after some serious calculations of the countsbacks it was Stan Rees who emerged the winner ahead of George Gamble and Bob Edwards, all with 38 points. The near pins were won by Neil Harvey, Bob Edwards and Paddy Devereux.

VOL. XXVII No. 6

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2019 25

PATTAYA MAIL

Sparwirth captures his first mug PSC Golf from the Tropical Golf Group Tuesday, Jan 29, Pattaya C.C. - Modified Medal A-Flight (0-15) 1st Tom Herrington net 68 2nd Richard Kubicki net 74 3rd Maski Kaneta net 76 4th John Davis net 77 5th Rob Brown net 79 B-Flight (16-23) 1st Dave Cooper net 70 2nd Mick Coghlan net 76 3rd Andre Van Dyk net 79 4th Brian Gabe net 81 5th Carole Kubicki net 82 C-Flight (24+) 1st Fred Tam net 69 2nd Kurt E. net 73 3rd Gordon Clegg net 74 4th Colm Mullen net 74 5th Don Carmody net 74 It was a special Tuesday for the Tropical Golfers as this was our first monthly mug of 2019. Twenty-eight golfers made the trip and we had 3 flights with 5 placegetters in each plus the mug winner. Playing a modified medal where you can pick up and card a double par on any

hole, everyone knew they had a chance to win something with one or maybe even two “throw up” holes. It must be said that the greens here, while “The Masters” slick, were in good condition grass-wise. Balls rolled true (and rolled and rolled) and there was no blight or bare spots. The track seemed more playable than our last outing here probably a year ago. The fairways were a bit short on grass but not rock hard as we remembered. Consider out of 28 golfers, only four made handicap or better and golfers in the net 80s were getting placed. Someone always rises to the challenge however, and today that someone was Joe Sparwirth with his mug-winning net 67. Tom Herrington, Dave Cooper and Fred Tam all made a challenge for the coveted trophy but had to settle for first place in their respective flights.

Dave Cooper (from left), Karen Brown and Rob Brown.

Friday, Feb. 1, Mt. Shadow – Stableford Today’s challenge was Mountain Shadow Golf Club from the blue tees. It proved to be a worthy adversary, with only one player scoring better than his handicap, and the “B” flight without anyone reaching 30 points.

Younger drinks from monthly mug PSC Golf from the Growling Swan Monday, Jan. 28, Pleasant Valley Stableford 1st Tony Berry (15) 35pts 2nd Dave Maw (19) 34pts 3rd Keith Buchanan (15) 34pts Near Pins: Colm Mullen, Bjodvic, Colm Mullen, Mashi Kaneta. Long Putts: Tony Berry, Dave Maw. Monday seems to be the day our numbers are a little down, maybe the thought of playing from the longer tees turns some off. We headed out with thirteen golfers and as per usual the course was in top nick - fairways and greens were good and everything was set for a great day out. We attacked the course from the blue tees which drew no complaints. Today saw Tony Berry return with 35 points, a single point in front of second and third place getters. Second via the count back system was Dave Maw who kept Keith Buchanan out with a better back nine.

Thursday, Jan. 31, Pattavia – Monthly Mug/Medal A-Flight (0-17) 1st Steve Younger (14) net 69 2nd Tony Berry (15) net 70 3rd Takeshi Hakozaki (12) net 72 4th Keith Buchanan (12) net 73

Steve Younger and Dave Maw.

B-Flight (18+) 1st Dave Maw (19) net 70 2nd Patrick Poussier (29) net 71 3rd Jayson Schembri (19) net 72 4th Pat Kavanagh (30) net 72 Near Pins: Mashi Kaneta (2), Bill Steinmann, Keith Buchanan. Long Putts: Sal Brizzi, Andrew Allen. Twenty-eight starters s for today’s monthly mug event. Pattavia very rarely gets a bad write up, and according to all reports this has not changed. Today we found the fairways in great condition, rough had been cut back and the greens, well what can I say about them. We went at it from the yellow tees, a bit short for some but we needed to speed the

game up as mug day can turn into a long day. A Flight saw Steve Younger get back on top of his game and return with net 69, one stroke clear of his nearest opponent. Tony Berry was the man in second place while third place went to Takeshi Hakozaki and fourth to Keith Buchanan. B Flight was just as close and a net 70 saw Dave Maw win the flight by a solitary stroke in front of Patrick Poussier, who has more monthly mugs than the Growling Swan. His net 71 kept him one shot clear of 3rd & 4th spots which were separated by the countback system. Winning the CB and getting third was Jason Schembri with Pat Kavanagh taking fourth.

Mountain Shadow is a tough course and the management have started to make some big improvements here. From the rumor mill (a caddie, and therefore unconfirmed), Mountain Shadow will close in May for

extensive renovations and will stay closed for about six months. In Friday’s results, we had a total field of 20 players, with eleven winners spread over three flights. In the A flight (0–15) Rob Brown was

the only player in the field to break his handicap, with 38 points from his new even lower handicap of six. Second went to Brian Parish (13) with 36 while Alan Sullivan’s (14) 33 points was good for third place. In the B flight (16–24), players found the blue tees just too much of a challenge and no one was able to total even 30 points. Dave DB Cooper (33) was willing to accept first place, on countback over Brian Gabe (18), both with only 29 points, leaving Jadwiga (21) in third with 28. In the C flight (25 and up), Karen Brown (31) took first with 33 points, Colm Mullen (28) was second on 29 and Roland Raeber (27) took third with 28 over Barry Elphick on countback. The best front nine, not placing, went to Landis Brooks with only 15 points while Joe Sparwirth had the best back nine score with 17 points.

Korbin posts best of the week The Tara Court Golf Society Sunday, Jan. 27, Green Valley – Stableford In total contrast to last week’s mayhem, we arrived to a fairly quite entrance today with heaps of caddies & buggies available. We had 3 divisions with the cuts at 16, 17-22 & 23 +. We were away right on time and had a very strong wind right behind us going up the 1st and it kept the temperature at a very nice level. The course was in good condition and the greens a fair pace. Paul Pavloff (6) won A division with 37 points, one point up on Russell Gilroy (16) in second while William Bishop (16) took third with 34. B division was decided on countback with Bernie Stafford (18) edging it over Terry Mangan (22) in second, both with 38 points. Paula Koppatz (21) completed the podium in third with 35 points. Joe Peters (23) topped C flight with 35 points while silver and bronze were decided on countback and here John McGarry (23) got the nod over Ted Murphy (26), both with 34 points. Jerry Sweetnam & Craig Hitchens shared the 2’s pool.

Tuesday, Jan. 29, The Emerald Stableford

Paul Pavloff.

Liam Hyland.

general maintenance would not go astray, but it was playable. The greens were the thing that defeated most players and were fast with shaved approaches. No one came near playing to handicap and A division was decided on a 3-way countback with Liam Hyland (9) taking first place ahead of Barney Sheedy (10) in second and Craig Hitchens (11) in third, all with 31 points overall. Donal McGuigan(18) completed the podium in fourth with 30 points. Pat Carty (24) was the winner in B division with a modest 30 points, second place went to Don Byrne (20) on 29, John McGarry (23) filled third spot with a 28 point return and Larry Eden (21) was fourth on 25. The big winner was Jerry Sweetnam who had the only 2 on the day.

Plutaluang today on what despite a very short shower of rain was a beautiful day for golf and cooler than of late. Although the course might have been watered a bit too much in places it still was in excellent condition with very fast but fair greens. We had a smaller than usual group out today with only one flight but we got some very good scoring. Mark Korbin (10) was playing his last game for this trip and he certainly will be going home happy as he had an excellent forty points to come out a very clear winner. Ted Morris (17) came second with thirty-seven and we then had two players with thirty-six points and here Paddy Naughton (16) won the countback to come third ahead of Jean Fok Chak (19) in fourth. Kevin Blake (7) wasn’t too disappointed to come fifth with thirty-five as he also had the only birdie 2 of the day.

Thursday, Jan. 31, It had been a while since Plutaluang we played this course and Stableford today it was a bit rough around the edges and some

We p l a y e d t h e N o r t h and West courses here in

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VOL. XXVII No. 6

Elmore maintains good form PSC Golf from the Bunker Boys Monday, Jan. 28, Greenwood A & B – Stableford 1st Ken Elmore (20) 38pts 2nd Peter Allen (29) 37pts 3rd Kob Glover (27) 36pts 4th Raleigh Gosney (23) 35pts 5th Colin Greig (11) 34pts A good field of twenty-two made the trip to the very popular Greenwood course for the second last game of the month. We had not played the B nine for several months so most looked forward to seeing what it was like and as usual, it didn’t disappoint even though the C nine is most people’s favorite. The standard of play was high with some excellent scores returned none better than Ken Elmore who despite throwing out an anchor by wiping the last still managed thirty-eight points, just enough to avoid a cut to his handicap. Peter Allen made an appearance at the club at seven o’clock so it was obvious he had a good score, a thirty-seven to take second place. Kob Glover continued her good run of form and took third with thirty-six. Raleigh Gosney with thirty-five points

took fourth and Colin Greig rounded out the winner’s circle with thirty-four and also snared two near pins, the others going to Les Cobban and Alan Sullivan.

Wednesday, Jan. 30. Bangpakong – Stableford 1st Peter Allen (29) 40pts 2nd Steve Durey (22) 40pts 3rd Ken Elmore (20) 39pts 4th Michael Brett (13) 39pts The last game of the month was played at the Bangpakong Riverside Course which normally gets rave reviews for its condition, today however it was not up to its usual standard. Much of the course had been overwatered and some areas were quite soggy, also the greens were very variable in speed and no logical reason could be seen for this. As always the scoring on this relatively easy course was good and once again the high handicappers dominated the scoreboard. Peter Alen followed up his second placing on Monday with a first place of forty points, beating Steve Durey on

Neil Carter (left) presents the golfer of the month award to Keith Norman.

countback. Steve has been having lessons recently which seem to be paying dividends. Ken Elmore, who is enjoying a rich vein of form lately took third place with a remarkable twentyfour points on the back-nine, beating Michael Brett on countback into fourth place. Several others returned very good scores of thirty-six. Near pins were shared by Mike Lloyd, Ken Elmore, Stuart Brown and Michael Brett.

As it was the last game of the month it was time to find the winner of the golfer of the month and there was no need to look too far as it had already been wrapped up easily by Keith Norman who despite a few recent poor rounds had done enough early in the month to secure the win by a comfortable margin.

Friday, Feb. 1, Mt. Shadow – Stableford 1st Neil Griffin (24) 35pts

Neil Griffin.

2nd Colin Greig (11) 34pts 3rd Dave Ashman (18) 34pts 4th Jimmy Carr (15) 34pts 5th Mark Stanley (9) 33pts 6th Les Cobban (7) 32pts A very good field of twentyeight played the first game of a new month at the popular if difficult Mountain Shadow course. Normally this course is in good condition but today was the worst we have seen it for a long time. Many of the fairways had brown or straw color grass and bare areas were common.

It was a bad day for some with Les Cobban losing all three sixes and also forfeiting his sixth place winnings to the delinquent fund, as he thought he would miss out on a place. Mark Stanley once again for the umpteenth time generously donated his winnings and Neil Griffin rang the bell so some free beverages for all. Colin Greig almost bagged an ace at the third par three, unfortunately for him it was at the second attempt having put his first in the water. Despite only playing once a week Neil Griffin seems to be able to maintain a good standard and took first place with thirty-five points. Colin Greig, Dave Ashman, and Jimmy Carr had thirtyfour points each and finished in that order separated on countback. Mark Stanley took fifth with thirty-three whilst the man with the hat Les Cobban brought up the rear. There was a good pot for the three near pin winners, Dave Ashman, Ken Elmore, and Steve Durey.

Kidd’s play at Burapha PSC Golf from the Pattaya Links Golf Society Monday, Jan. 28, Burapha A & B Stableford A-Flight (0–18) 1st Andy Kelleher (10) 40pts 2nd Rana Gurnam (11) 39pts 3rd Colm Lawlor (14) 39pts B-Flight (19+) 1st Stuart Kidd (21) 41pts 2nd Soren Hansen (19) 35pts 3rd Derek Phillips (19) 33pts Burapha was the venue on Monday and a field of thirtytwo golfers were ready for the day. As usual the course was in excellent order and greens were true and running at a fast medium pace. In the top flight Colm Lawlor and Rana Gurnam both scored 39 points with countback relegating Colm to third place, Rana taking another high placed finish. The flight winner was Andy Kelleher with a fine 40 point finish, giving him his first win this trip.

Stuart Kidd.

The second flight saw Derek Phillips take third with 33 points whilst Dane Soren Hansen took second with 35 after a frenetic start. The flight winner was Stuart Kidd and his 41 points gave him a runaway victory and the Green Jacket. Near pins went to Stuart Kidd (A3), Tommy Marshall (A6), Paul Smith (B3) and

Keith Melbourne, with Paul Stewart (left) and Darren Beavers (right).

Paul Durkan with more than a little luck on B8 where his tee shot rolled against the existing near pin marker and just crept inside it. Consolation prizes went to Phil Davies for his 21 points on the front nine while Tony Browne posted 20 points on the back nine for some small success

Wednesday, Jan. 30, Pattaya C.C. Stableford A Flight (0-18) 1st Will Brown (18) 39pts 2nd Maurice Roberts (12) 37pts 3rd Masa Takano (8) 33pts B Flight (19+) 1st Keith Melbourne (35) 43pts

2nd Tip Briney (27) 38pts 3rd Soren Hansen (19) 38pts The society ended its January schedule with a visit to Pattaya Country Club to play a stableford competition on the course which continues to be more than presentable with firm fairways giving lots of run and greens which were a little tricky with deceptive pace. Thirty-three golfers took to the first tee and the field was divided into two flights at eighteen and under. In the top flight Masa Takano again seemed to be the “bridesmaid” with his second best gross of the day giving him 33 points for third place. Ahead was the daunting figure of the consistent Maurice

Roberts on 37 points in second. The flight winner was Willie Brown with 39 very solid points. In the second flight scores were again very competitive with Soren Hansen taking third place with 38 points, losing second on countback to a resurgent Tip Briney. The flight winner and recipient of his maiden Green Jacket was Keith Melbourne with a personal best score of 43 points. The near pins went to Bill Copeland (two), Phil Davies and Torben Lindgaard whilst the best front nine score was recorded by Derek Phillips (23 points) and the best back nine score went to Larry Slattery on countback with 18 points.

Friday, Feb. 1, Pattavia – Stableford A Flight (0-17) 1st Stuart Thompson (17) 34pts 2nd Chris Barker (12) 34pts 3rd Tommy Marshall (7) 34pts 4th Masa Takano (8) 33pts 5th Ray Banks (13) 33pts B Flight (18+) 1st Tony Browne (18) 40pts 2nd Bart Bingham (21) 38pts 3rd Torben Lingaard (26) 36pts 4th Greg Thompson (22) 35pts

5th Ian Collier (26) 35pts After just one week it was back to Pattavia for another try at taming those greens. However, the Greenkeeper had done the job for us as some maintenance had slowed things down. In the “A” flight it was a three-way countback on 34 points to sort the placings which resulted in Stu Thompson taking the top spot ahead of Chris Barker and Tommy Marshall in third. Then another countback on 33 points saw Masa Takano sneak in ahead of Ray Banks. It was cut and dried for the first three places in “B” flight with Tony Browne having an easy victory, scoring a great 40 points on a difficult day. He must have been on the simulator again. Bart Bingham took second with 38 points and Torben Lindgaard third on 36 points. One more there was a countback to settle fourth place where Greg Thompson got the nod over Ian Collier, both with 35 points. Near pins went to Bill Shepley (4), Russell Exley (7), Maurice Roberts (13), Bill Copeland (17) and consolation nine awards to Jim Ferris with 18 points on the front side and Richard Dobson with 22 on the inward half.

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Bygballe & Clegg demolish Greenwood PSC Golf from Cafe Kronborg Monday, Jan. 28, Greenwood - Stableford A Flight (0-22) 1st Peter Bygballe (18) 44pts 2nd Ty Anderson (13) 39ps 3rd Richard Kubicki (11) 37pts 4th Carole Kubicki (22) 34pts B Flight (23+) 1st Gordon Clegg (27) 44pts 2nd Ulla Ravn (36) 30pts 3rd Tiziano Dal Pastro (24) 30pts 4th Birgit Jorgensen (31) 30pts Near Pins: Kenneth Madsen, Ronnie Ratte. Long Putts: Ty Anderson, Peter Bygballe. Cafe Kronborg played Greenwood on Monday where conditions were ideal with the greens running true at a lovely pace and the yellow tee boxes positioned at the correct distances. Expectations were that some low scores would be made, but only 4 players managed to beat their handicap. However, two players were a cut above the rest and took advantage of the conditions to the max. TheAFlight winner was Peter Bygballe with an amazing 44 points, beating second placed Ty Anderson by 5 points, Tys 39 points being well respectable

DATE:

Gordon Clegg (left) and Peter Bygballe (right) with Dave Richardson.

in its own right. In third place was Richard Kubicki with a fine 37 points and not to be left out Carole Kubicki was fourth with 34 points. Gordon Clegg also had an amazing 44 points to take first in B Flight place. Just to highlight how good Gordon’s score was, second, third and fourth place was decided on countback with 3 players having only 30 points, 14 points less than Gordon! Second was Ulla Ravn winning the countback with 17 points on the back and 12 points on the last 6 holes. Tiziano Dal Pastro was third with 11 points on

FRI 08

Apple’s Irish

Crystal Bay

Bunker Boys

King Naga

SAT 09

the last 6 holes and fourth was Birgit Jorgensen with 12 points on the back nine.

Thursday, Jan. 31, Pattaya C.C. – Stableford A Flight (0-22) 1st Rob Brown (6) 40pts 2nd Kjeld Ravn (19) 37pts 3rd Jon Dean (10) 36pts 4th Kjeld Jorgensen (21) 32pts B Flight (23+) 1st Steen Habersaat (25) 35pts 2nd Birgit Jorgensen (31) 33pts 3rd Peter Hammond (30) 30pts 4th Kurt Sandgaard (32) 30pts Near Pins: Kjeld Ravn, Henning Olsen, Richard Kubicki, Peter Bygballe.

SUN 10

Long Putts: Peter Hammond, Jon Dean. Cafe Kronborg played Pattaya Country Club on Thursday where the course was in pretty good condition and the greens were slick and unforgiving. You had to keep your nerve or 3 putts abounded. Apparently rain the previous afternoon had given the course a good soaking and some areas were a bit soggy, making picking your landing area carefully paramount. Back in the clubhouse the cards revealed only 2 people had beaten their handicap, both in the A Flight. Everyone else lagged behind a bit, but not that far. The A Flight winner was Rob Brown with a sterling 40 points, playing off his 6handicap, only 2 shots off a scratch round! In second was Kjeld Ravn with a sound 37 points, the only other golfer to beat his handicap while Jon Dean came third with a steady 36 points off his 10handicap. Hotly contested was fourth spot with 3 golfers having 32 points. Kjeld Jorgensen won that battle with 19 points on the back, beating Carole Kubicki who

MON 11

TUE 12

had 16 points and Richard Kubicki who had 15. Steen Habersaat took first place in B Flight with a hard earned 35 points, a couple of blobs preventing him from beating his handicap, easily done with today’s greens, but great scoring on the other 16 holes. Birgit

WED 13

Jorgensen continued her improving form and took second place with a respectable 33 points. Third and fourth places were decided on countback, with two players having 30 points. Peter Hammond came third with 17 points on the back whilst Kurt Sandgaard only had 15.

THU 14

Pleasant Valley The Emerald

Cafe Kronborg Colin’s Golf

FRI 15 Khao Kheow

Bangpra

Treasure Hill

Bangpakong

Pleasant Valley

Pattavia

Green Valley

Growling Swan Billabong Golf

Burapha

Phoenix

Le Katai

Pattavia

Greenwood

Lewinski’s

Siam Plantation

Green Valley

Siam Plantation

Siam Waterside

The Links

Pleasant Valley

Burapha

Treasure Hill

Plutaluang

Green Valley King Naga

I Rovers Retox Game On

Pattavia

Burapha Pleasant Valley

Mt. Shadow

Pattaya C.C. K.Kheow/Phoenix

Crystal Bay

King Naga/T.Hill

Siam Country

B’pakong/G’wood P.Valley/M.Shadow Cr.Bay/Wangjuntr

Mt. Shadow

Sugar Shack

The Emerald

Khao Kheow

Harry’s Golf

Pattaya C.C.

Pattavia

K.Kheow/Pattana

King Naga Eastern Star Khao Kheow

Mt. Shadow

Greenwood Greenwood

Pattaya C.C.

The Golf Club Green Valley

The Players Lounge Tropical Golf

Crystal Bay

Bangpakong

Greenwood

Valley View Hackers

Green Valley

Outback Golf Bar

Green Valley

Burapha

Crystal Bay

Green Valley Chee Chan

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), play Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Transport is available, call Marcus on 089 503 9179 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. 6

Patriots beat Rams 13-3 in lowest scoring Super Bowl ever Barry Wilner Atlanta (AP) — That super shootout everyone expected turned into a defensive standoff. The New England Patriots showed they can win that type of championship game, too. So after Tom Brady led one classic drive to win the Patriots their record-tying sixth Super Bowl, he perfectly summed up the 13-3 victory last Sunday over the Los Angeles Rams. “Finally got a touchdown and the defense played the best game of the year,” Brady said. In a season in which all sorts of offensive records were set, this Super Bowl rewrote the defensive record book. “How about our defense? How about our defense?” he said. “They played unbelievable.” So well that their leader linebacker Dont’a Hightower, joked they had extra incentive. “I’m tired of hearing about Brady,” he said with a laugh. “I won one today — we all got one. It feels good for us to get it all. Shout out to him getting his, but this is a team game and it feels good to win.” But the defense still needed vintage Brady for one drive. He threw two perfect passes to Rob Gronkowski to set up rookie Sony Michel’s 2-yard score — the only touchdown in the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever. That put New England up 10-3. A late field goal clinched it 13-3.

New England Patriots’ players celebrate after winning the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game 13-3 over the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

No Super Bowl had gone into the fourth quarter without a touchdown. This one did, tied 3-3 — even though these teams had combined to average over 60 points a game during the season. When the Patriots needed a score, Brady, the oldest winning quarterback in a Super Bowl at 41, completed four straight passes, including a pair covering 47 yards to Gronkowski. The second, on which the star tight end beat two defenders, ended at the Los Angeles 2, the only time either team was inside the 20-yard line. Michel ran off left tackle for his sixth postseason touchdown. “He knows to trust in me and throw that ball,” Gronkowski said, “and I’m going to grab it.” Julian Edelman, the outstanding receiver who missed the 2017 season with a knee injury, was the game’s MVPwith 10 receptions for 141 yards.

With 4:17 left, All-Pro Stephon Gilmore picked off an ill-advised pass by Rams quarterback Jared Goff, who seemed overwhelmed by the big stage all night, at the New England 2. Stephen Gostkowski made a 41-yard field goal with 1:12 remaining, completing a 72yard march that took more than three minutes off the clock and included 26-yard runs by Michel and Rex Burkhead. It was a workmanlike conclusion for the Patriots (14-5), whose losses all came away from New England. They beat the top two offenses in the Chiefs and Rams (15-4) in the postseason, and tied Pittsburgh for most Super Bowl titles. “We’re a relentless team,” Hightower said after New England allowed the fewest points in a Super Bowl (tied with Dallas in 1972 against Miami). “We didn’t give up. A lot was thrown at us.

New England Patriots’ Tom Brady (center) holds his daughter, Vivian, after the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 3. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

When we play like we did tonight, we can’t be beat.” The Rams, who reached the NFL championship game with the aid of a major officiating error in the conference title victory at New Orleans, never really threatened to reach the end zone. “Last time I checked, defense wins championships,” Rams running back C.J. Anderson said. At 66, Bill Belichick became the oldest winning Super Bowl coach. The Patriots beat the Rams, then representing St. Louis, to begin their dynastic run in the 2002 game. They also have beaten Carolina and Philadelphia (2004 and ’05, the last backto-back championships); the Seahawks in 2015; and the Falcons in 2017 in the only overtime in Super Bowl history. They have lost three times, including to Philadelphia a year ago. New England is the first team since the 1972

Dolphins to win a Super Bowl the year after losing one. How the Patriots accomplished it was atypical. The 10-point margin was their biggest in winning a championship. “This whole year, it was the biggest team win, the biggest team Super Bowl that I’ve ever been a part of,” said Gronkowski, who could be headed for retirement. Brady, who has won four Super Bowl MVP trophies, wasn’t particularly sharp — except when throwing to Edelman. He was the steadiest offensive player on the field. “It just matters that we won,” Edelman said. “It was a crazy year. We had a resilient bunch of guys.” Brady passed Hall of Famer Charles Haley to become the only player with six Super Bowl titles. All those suspicions about the Patriots declining this season became moot as the

defense made the 24-year-old Goff look awful and turned All-Pro running back Todd Gurley into a nonfactor. It wasn’t a typical New England championship win. The 2 1/2-point favorite Patriots moved the ball well, ran down the clock, but made uncharacteristic gaffes on offense. Goff and the Rams made more. “I think we expected to score a lot more points than that,” Goff said. “It sucks that’s the way it worked out, but we’ll use this as a learning experience.” A painful one. LA’s second-ranked offense managed 57 total yards for the first half. The Rams were completely overmatched on the line and were particularly unable to handle the elusive Edelman, who had seven receptions for 93 yards. Coach Sean McVay, whose Rams never had been blanked in a first half, let out a long, deep sigh just before halftime, recognizing how badly his team was manhandled, even though it trailed just 3-0. It was the lowest score at halftime since Super Bowl 9, which Pittsburgh led 2-0 over Minnesota. McVay, the youngest Super Bowl head coach at 33, admitted he was outcoached. “They did a great job. I’m disappointed that I didn’t do a better job of adjusting,” McVay said. “I know there’s a handful of decisions that I’m going to wish that I could have back, for sure.”

Ireland toppled in Dublin by England 32-20 Foster Niumata Dublin (AP) - England are back and their reputation restored after upending Ireland 32-20 at the defending Six Nations champions’ Lansdowne Road stronghold last Saturday. Ireland were unbeaten in 14 home matches in the Six Nations since 2013, and, overall, on a national-record 12 successive home wins since 2016, including a first home defeat of New Zealand only three months ago, after which they were regarded as the world’s best rugby team. But New Zealand, and England coach Eddie Jones again in the buildup, warned

Ireland it was harder being the hunted than the hunter. As the hunter, England were ruthless. They hadn’t scored a try in Dublin in eight years, and bagged one after just 94 seconds. Ireland settled down, but England finished the first half stronger and continued to stress Ireland to the point where they earned a bonus-point four tries. Ireland were limited to two tries, one at the death when England were already celebrating in a stadium quickly draining of Irish fans. “The intensity at which we played pleased me most,” Jones said. He added, “We’re nowhere near

England’s Kyle Sinckler (centre) runs at Ireland’s Josh van der Flier (left) and Bundee Aki during the Six Nations rugby union international between Ireland and England in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Feb. 2. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

our best. We’re looking forward to playing better than that — and we will.” England welcome France to Twickenham this coming weekend, while Ireland have to try and regroup in Scotland.

In Paris last Friday, George North accepted two gift tries as Wales rallied from 16-0 down at halftime to beat France 24-19 in a rainy Six Nations rugby opener. Two of Wales’ three tries were donated by French

mistakes, allowing Wales to pull off the biggest comeback win in the tournament since it expanded in 2000. “The biggest difference between the two sides is that we’re a side who’s forgotten how to lose, whereas on the

other foot they’re a side looking for confidence,” Wales coach Warren Gatland said. In Edinburgh on Saturday, Italy reached a new low in their woeful Six Nations history by losing to Scotland 33-20 for an 18th straight defeat in the championship, breaking a century-old record. Blair Kinghorn scored a hat trick of tries as the Scots recorded a bonus-point win at Murrayfield to start a tournament in which they are expected to be competitive for the first time in this century. With this loss, the Azzurri left behind the France team of 1911-20 that delivered 17 consecutive losses in what was then the Five Nations. Six Nations chiefs continue to dismiss calls to enlarge the competition to seven teams, perhaps adding a 13th-ranked Georgia team that are two places higher than Italy in the world order, or to introduce promotion and relegation to give motivation for the lowerranked European countries.

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Wood wins at a canter The Traveller’s Rest Golf Group Monday, Jan. 28, Silky Oak - Stableford Division 1 1st Barry Wood (13) 42pts 2nd Mike Rushant (11) 38pts 3rd Arnold Jones (14) 36pts Division 2 1st Peter Cahill (19) 39pts 2nd Gabriel Enright (19) 39pts 3rd Ted Senior (16) 39pts We started the week at Silky Oak where the first three places in division two were all decided on countbacks. Gabriel Enright and Ted Senior were quietly confident that they had done enough to claim the top spot but they hadn’t counted on Peter Cahill storming home with twenty two points on the back nine and smashing their dreams of glory. In division one there was no need for a countback as Barry Wood left the opposition for dead with an incredible 42 points, four shots clear of his nearest rival.

Tuesday, Jan. 29, Green Valley – Stableford Division 1 1st Seil Peter (5) 38pts

2 Andy Kelleher (10) 38pts 3rd Alain Hefner (14) 35pts Division 2 1st Mark Pearson (17) 40pts 2nd Peter McGinty (24) 39pts 3rd Chris Plona (36) 38pts Green Valley was once again hosting the TRGG members and forty-two players participated in today’s event. Mark Pearson got off to a slow start on the front nine, posting his usual seventeen points, but came home like a man possessed on the back nine with an amazing twenty three and just edge out Peter McGinty for line honours. In division one the winner was decided on a countback which went down to the last three holes as Seil Peter and Andy Kelleher went head to head for the coveted purse.

Jim never once complained to his playing partners as he struggled through the pain in true Scottish stoicism to earn a deserved victory with a very respectable 38 points. In division one Alan Thomas, who has been playing very steady golf lately, shot one over par off the stick and scored a brilliant 41 points. Amazingly it was only just enough and with the aid of a better back nine held off the debonair Barry Wood.

Wednesday, Jan. 30, Eastern Star – Medal 1st Dong Huy-Kwak (11) net 70 2nd Daryl Ottaway (8) net 76 3rd Alan Thomas (6) net 76 Today’s competition was the first round of the TRGGFerdinand Trophy which is a stroke event and whoever chose Eastern Star as the

Barry Wood.

venue must harbour a weird sense of humour or a very sadistic streak. Twentythree people took on the challenge and only one person shot better than their handicap. Dong Huy-Kwak posted a net 70 points and earned the honour of being the first qualifier for 2019.

Thursday, Jan. 31, Greenwood Stableford Division 1 1st Mark Pearson (15) 37pts 2nd Mimi Fujimoto (6) 36pts 3rd Brad Gearie (11) 36pts

Chang Soung-Gueen.

Division 2 1 st Chang Soung-Gueen (16) 43pts 2nd Chris O’Loughlin (16) 38pts 3rd Toshikatsu Saito (24) 36pts There were some incredible scores recorded during the week but the best score posted was that of Chang Soung-Gueen who amassed a total of 43 points to claim the number one spot in his division. In division one Mark Pearson was out to prove that he is not just a one game wonder and having won on Tuesday in division two he was promoted

Richmond rules at Khao Kheow The Jomtien Golf Society Monday, Jan. 28, Treasure Hill Stableford

Friday, Feb. 1, Eastern Star Stableford

There were eleven groups out today and had a cut of 5-14 and 15-19 and 20+ in the three divisions. Thirty-five points was the best score recorded for the day in each division. John Batty won division 1 ahead of Mark Robertson in second place on 33, Bert Mittendorf was third with 32 and with an 18/16 back nine countback Neil Gamble took fourth over Barrie Richmond after they both came in with 31 points. Brian Keating beat arch rival Paul Young by one point in division 2, Per Forsberg was third on 33 and John Carlin beat the Welsh boy Mike Lewis on a 20/14 countback for fourth spot after they both scored 32 points. Bert Jumelet, with an extra 3 shots on his handicap allowance this week, topped division 3 with 35 points, Rudi Schaefer was second on 34, Alan Bissell took third with 33 and in fourth place with 32 was Mike Fitzgerald. Near pins went to (Div 1) John Batty, Neil Gamble, Bert Mittendorf and Les Smith, and (Div 2) John Carlin, Jerry McCarthy, Paul Sturgeon and Andres Van De Laan.

Another ten groups out today in three divisions and 36 points was the highest score returned, John Seton posting that number to win division 3 ahead of Tony Thorne in second on 32, Ron Lavett third with 31 and Bruce Gardner fourth with 30 points on countback over DouglasClarke and Paul Sturgeon. Gerry Dooley won division 1 with 35 points, Dennis Scougall was second one point behind, Pete Sumner was third with 33 and Dave Edwards fourth on 31. John Hughes beat Colin Aspinall on a 16/15 countback to win division 2 after they both scored 32 points, Paul Butler took third on 29 and Paul Young finished fourth with 28. Near pins went to (Div 1) John Hughes, Ted Lodge and Mark Robertson (2), and (Div 2) Glyn Evans and John Seton (2). There were some tough pin placements today but there were four ‘2’s, coming from Ted Lodge on the 13th, Mark Robertson the 6th and Barney Sheedy on the 3rd in division 1 and from Fred O’Connor on the 17th in division 2.

Barrie Richmond with John Batty and Pete Sumner.

John Batty birdied the 2nd, Nik Evans the 17th and Mark Robertson the 13th with a rollover in the ‘2’s pot and in division 2 Alan Bissell the 13th, Bert Jumelet the 17th and Rudi Schaefer the 6th.

Wednesday, Jan. 30, Khao Kheow Stableford We had an identical cut as of Monday in the three divisions but with some higher scores coming in today. Playing off 12-handicap, Barrie Richmond won division 1 with 38 points, Pete Sumner was second three points behind, and four points further back Dennis Scougall beat John Batty on a 17/12 back nine countback for third. In division 3 there were two 36’s and Mike Fitzgerald beat

Frank Grainger on a 18/13 countback for top spot. Rick Assi was third with 33 points, beating Rudi Schaefer 20/18 on another countback. Paul Butler, seemingly always on the podium, won division 2 with 34 points while Barry Stirling beat Per Forsberg 17/16 on the back nine for second after they both scored 33 overall. In fourth place was Paul Sturgeon with 32. Near pins went to John Batty (x2) and Tony Molloy in division 1 and Mike Fitzgerald, Jerry McCarthy and Rudi Schaefer in the second flight. After six 2’s on Monday there were three more today, coming from John Batty and Barrie Richmond on B8 and Pete Sumner chipping in from off the green on A3.

to division one, where he once again proved his worth and took out the number one spot with a respectable 37 points.

Friday, Feb. 1, Burapha – Stableford Division 1 1st Alan Thomas (6) 41pts 2nd Barry Wood (12) 41pts 3rd Mike Rushant (11) 39pts Division 2 1st Jim Cooper (19) 38pts 2nd Richard Talbot (15) 36pts 3rd Mark Pearson (15) 36pts Today saw the return of Jim Cooper, the injured warrior who has been absent from golf for almost six months due to unconventionally descending a flight of stairs using his head and shoulders instead of his feet!

Saturday, Feb. 2, Treasure Hill – Stableford Division 1 1st Jack Watkins (13) 43pts 2nd Mike Rushant (10) 34pts 3rd Mimi Fujimoto (12) 34pts Division 2 1st Suresh Mehta (20) 36pts 2nd Billy Allan (21) 33pts 3rd Lee Sung-Bok (30) 32pts We finished this week at Treasure Hill where Suresh Mehta finally posted a winning score. His 36 points was quite an achievement as this is not an easy course to score on. Over in division one Jack Watkins was taking the course apart and was required to produce a urine sample to test for “Performance Enhancing Drugs” after scoring an unbelievable 43 points.

Beresford leads the way PSC Golf from the Kull Bar Tuesday, Jan. 29, Green Valley Stableford Four groups were squeezed in amongst 2 large societies the fear was it would be a long day in the sun. The final 4-ball went around in 4 hours so we had no complaints. Mick Beresford posted a magnificent 39 points to take top spot ahead of Jim Bell in second with an even-par 36. We then had three players on 35 points and here the countback awarded third place to Steve Mann, fourth to Brian Scott and the unfortunate Bill Peach just missed out. There were three ‘2’s recorded on the day, coming from Pat Regan, Brian Scott and Barry Copestake. For those of you who had the pleasure of meeting

Mick Beresford

Aaron Edward Hill, or indeed playing with him in the recent Pattaya Matchplay comp, Aaron went to Spain and played in the Evolve Championship and finished as the leading amateur and came 6th overall on 3 under par. A large step forward in his quest to make the Walker Cup team 2021.

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VOL. XXVII No. 6

Italy’s Angelo Esposito is tackled by Scotland’s Finn Russell during their teams’ Six Nations rugby union international at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday, Feb. 2. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell) New England Patriots’ Kyle Van Noy (left) sacks Los Angeles Rams’ Jared Goff during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Rickie Fowler hits from the 17th tee during the second round of the Phoenix Open PGA golf tournament, Friday, Feb. 1, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Norway’s Robert Johansson soars through the air during the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in Oberstdorf, Germany, Friday, Feb. 1. (AP Photo/ Matthias Schrader)

Qatar’s players celebrate after winning the AFC Asian Cup final match against Japan in Zayed Sport City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Feb. 1. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Kiki Bertens of Netherlands holds her trophy after winning the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy-2019 tennis tournament final against Donna Vekic of Croatia in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, Feb. 3. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

West Indies’ captain Jason Holder celebrates the dismissal of England’s James Anderson during day three of the second test match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, Saturday, Feb. 2. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

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New Aston V12

The beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning It’s a bit like plastic bags, the current bête noir. Say you don’t want a plastic bag and you get some self-satisfaction brownie points. In actual fact, you have done nothing on the global scale. However, it stops the world doing public “challenges” with the pledged funds generally not arriving or being used for other expenses. Diesel fuel is a bit like that. The policy makers who are chauffeured around in petrol fueled luxury cars could not care less about what banning diesel might do to the family motorist hidden under the guise of the global economy. As a flow-on from VW’s ‘Dieselgate’ scandal, the green groups are making it look as if all diesel engines are evil polluters. When you examine the fact that all VW did was to make engines run lean at idle which kept the emissions ‘clean’. It has prompted calls for vehicle bans, tax penalties, and scrappage schemes. A knee-jerk result! The Society of Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said that, on average, modern diesel vans use around 50 percent less fuel than

Aston Martin V12.

by Aston Martin in league with Red Bull Racing touted

as to be “the greatest car of the modern era”.

Wottle she do, Mister?

Chinese EV looking like a Mini?

petrols, which means lower fuel bills for operators and a knock-on benefit for consumers and taxpayers. Mike Hawes, the SMMT’s chief executive said, “Commercial vehicles play an essential but often overlooked role in keeping Britain functioning, performing jobs and transporting vital goods and services that we all rely on every day. “This sector has never been so important to the UK economy - and to British jobs - and diesel’s role in powering these vital vehicles should not be downplayed. Nearly all our commercial vehicles are driven by diesel.” But the vocal green group groups said it was clear all diesel engines must be phased out.

However, the petrol groups have a much greater threat than ‘dirty’ diesels, and that is electric cars. Over the past five years, the number of manufacturers offering an electric car has more than trebled, and the number of electric cars has grown exponentially. The EV30@30 Scenario reflects a policy case characterized by a wider adoption of EVs, in line with the EV30@30 campaign if it were to be applied at a global scale. The EV30@30 campaign, launched at the Eighth Clean Energy Ministerial in 2017, set the collective aspirational goal for all EVI members of a 30% market share for electric vehicles in the total of all vehicles (except two-wheelers) by 2030.

What level EV will you be buying? Level Zero This level has you totally in charge. The car does no ‘thinking’ for you. That description covers most cars for sale today. Level One This is the lowest echelon of autonomy, and refers to vehicles with a single type of driver assistance, be it electronic control of the steering, braking, speed modulation, etcetera. A vehicle fits into Level One as long as it is equipped with even a single example of the technology above. Level Two This covers vehicles that can automatically steer and adjust speed. However, the driver can override these technologies and remains in control at all times. A car would be considered a Level Two vehicle if it was equipped with “one or more driver assis-

Aston Martin has revealed that its Cosworth-developed 6.5 liter V12 will be the “masterpiece” engine for its upcoming hybrid hypercar, the Valkyrie, and will pump out 745 kW of power and rev to an unbelievable 11,200 rpm. Weighing just 206kg, the normally aspirated, F1-based engine will be a fully stressed element of the chassis, joining the front and rear sections of the two-seat road racer that is being developed

tance systems” like a selfparking feature as well as lane-holding assistance. Automakers currently sell vehicles that fit into the Level Two category. Level Three Vehicles in this category have the ability to drive autonomously, and can make decisions independently of the driver, such as overtaking slow-moving cars on the freeway. However, Level Three vehicles still need the human touch for when they are unable to make a decision and the automated system needs to be overridden. Level Four While a manual override is still available, Level Four autonomous vehicles are able to make decisions if things go awry or if a system fails. In the majority of situations, the driver is not required, and the vehicle can

The outlook for EVs is bright, but requires ambitious targets The number of electric cars on the road reaches 125 million by 2030 under the IEA’s New Policies Scenario. With rising ambitions to meet climate goals and other sustainability targets, as in the EV30@30 Scenario, the number of electric cars on the road could be as high as 220 million in 2030 and the country with the most electric cars? China.

be left to its own devices. In Level Four, the vehicle will notify the driver when conditions are safe, allowing the driver to manually put the car into an autonomous mode. Level Five The Level Five category imagines a vehicle that has much stronger environmental awareness than the other levels, and can transport cargo and/or people completely autonomously. A Level Five vehicle does not need conventional driving controls like a steering wheel pedals, and so a driver is not required. Younger people who will grow up with autonomous motoring will not be afraid of Level Five, but I doubt whether sporting motorists today will be able to give up control to a bunch of diodes.

Own a performance car and you get asked that question any time you park. Unfortunately the automakers today put very optimistic figures on the car’s speedometer. My daily driver Vios, for example, indicates 220 kph on the speedometer, a speed it couldn’t do down a mine shaft with a hurricane for a tail wind. Here’s some real numbers. Hennessey Venom F5: 484 kph. Koenigsegg Agera RS: 447 kph. Hennessey Venom GT: 434 kph. Bugatti Chiron: 424 kph. Bugatti Veyron Super Sport: 420 kph. SCC Ultimate Aero: 415 kph. Tesla Roadster: 411 kph (unverified). Saleen S7 Twin Turbo: 499 kph. And if you are interested in Bonneville Salt Flats where most of these observed runs are

Hennessey.

carried out, then pick up the DVD “The World’s Fastest Indian,” showing the life of Burt Munro with his 1920 Indian motorcycle. Starring Sir Anthony Hopkins as Burt, this is a great movie on its own, but if you know anyone passionate about cars or bikes this movie has real depth.

Another manufacturer chasing its tail Subaru is the latest to have to recall some of its models because of a defect – this time in the power steering system (in some ways a welcome change from Takata safety belts). The defect involves an electric power steering component supplied to the Subaru factory in Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo. Subaru looks to resume assembly at the Japanese plant after two weeks, which provides 60 percent of the company’s global production. Hitachi Automotive Systems

produces the component, which is used in power steering, and would give a warning light on the dash to indicate something was wrong. The parts are found in the Japanese automaker’s Forester and XV sport utility vehicles as well as its Impreza compacts. Subaru estimates more than 10,000 vehicles produced between late December and Jan. 16 are affected. The supplier, a unit of Hitachi, said it was unlikely that the parts were damaged during assembly, suggesting a fault in the

Autotrivia Quiz I am sorry there has been no quiz for a few editions, but I was incarcerated for a few weeks following some radical abdominal (abominable?) surgery. However my surgeons have agreed (reluctantly) that I can drive the race car after June. So to last week. A famous race driver maintained his interest in agriculture. I asked, where was his first race and what was the model of car? This was Jim Clark who owned the Edington Mains farm in Scotland and his first car was a borrowed DKW Sonderklasse at Crimond in Scotland. On his gravestone there is “Farmer” above “world champion” which was his wish. So to this week. Two brothers bought a championship winning Kremer Porsche and raced it at Le Mans. Later they were arraigned for money laundering. Who were they? For the Automania dehydrated beer this week (just add hops and water), be the first correct answer to email automania@pattayamail.com or viacars@ gmail.com. Good luck!

electronics of the component. Subaru said it is still investigating the exact cause of the defect. The plant shutdown also impacts other Subaru models because the automaker assembles multiple models on single production lines. Daily output totals roughly 2,600 units, and a shutdown could affect production of more than 20,000 vehicles. The company ships 80 percent of cars made at the Japanese plant overseas, with 60 percent of exports going to the U.S.A.

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Pro, youth chefs vie for 500,000 baht at Makro HoReCa Jetsada Homklin Siam Makro Co. celebrated their 30th anniversary with a 500,000-baht cooking contest to find the best professional and youth-amateur chefs in the East. Pattaya Deputy Mayor Poramet Ngampichet and city officials opened the 14th Makro HoReCa food and kitchenware festival at the South Pattaya Makro Cash & Carry Jan. 29. Held since 2012, this HoReCa event was a special “Asian Culinary Challenge” with 180 youths and 18 professional teams of chefs getting up to 60 minutes to

prepare an original dish using ingredients in a “Makro mystery box.” Winners not only split the large cash bounty and received trophies, but will compete against winners from six other regions to represent Thailand at the Food & Hotel Asia show in Singapore in 2020. Professional chefs Teerapob Kedsawapitak and Sangtien Singsawe won the top prize for their “jim dak”, stewed potato croquettes with kimchi sambab, namul and a “two-tone seafood” with spicy Korean sauce. Finishing second were Pichid Ardsing and Panadda

Navy discharges 104 sailors

The Royal Thai Navy discharged more than 100 sailors who served their required two years in the military.

Patcharapol Panrak The Royal Thai Navy discharged more than 100 sailors who served their required two years in the military. Vice Adm. Choomsak Nakwijit, commander of the Sattahip Naval Base, presided over the Jan. 31 c e r e m o n y, p r e s e n t i n g

certificates to the 104 conscripts. He praised them for their service, saying the country appreciated their sacrifice. The sailors now are free to return home to civilian life but Choomsak urged them to follow the ideals and principles of the navy throughout their lives.

Siam Makro Co. celebrated their 30th anniversary with a 500,000-baht cooking contest to find the best professional and youth-amateur chefs in the East.

Wited with a menu of Japanese grilled scallops in teriyaki sauce, stewed Japanese curry beef, tonkatsu

with scallop gyoza in eipigo mayonnaise. Third place went to Pakawat Chidtasuk and Keerati

Wongtaprom for a baked tenderloin with green curry and salted egg sauce, grilled beef with oyster sauce, tamarind

curry mousse served with paya fried rice with turmeric, cauliflower puree, stirred-fried vegetables and sweet carrots. The winners in the youth bracket were Supatsorn Kannongha for a green curry with meat balls, bean salad and stirred-fried chicken with yellow curry. Supanat Sathongha took second place for a menus of slow-cooked chicken with Penang curry, garlic fried rice with fried egg, sautéed kale in oyster sauce, and deepfried lobster with tamarind sauce. In third was Kritsana Nusu for preparing a seared pork fillet with Indian korma sauce, pork and salmon samosas with tamarind sauce, and salmon on Indian fried rice with sautéed green peas.

Pattaya Bully Expo puts on the bling They’re ugly and have a bad rep, but pure-bred American Bully dogs are beloved by many, including in Thailand where the best in breed was shown off at the Pattaya Bully Expo. The Pattaya Business & Tourism Association and American Bully Register Association sponsored the Jan. 26 show at the Eastern National Indoor Sports Stadium. Deputy Mayor Poramet Ngampichet and PBTA President Ekasit Ngampichet opened the show with American Bully Register representatives Thanakiat Noppaket and Peter Banuelos. Organizers claimed the show was be the largest of its kind in Asia with purebreeds from more than 20 countries competing for ribbons and trophies. There also was a dog race, lectures by dog-breeding experts and the “Bling Bling” show that saw bulldogs dressed up in sunglasses, gold chains and fancy outfits, prompting many laughs and lots of photos. The event also was a platform for government officials to advocate sterilization of street dogs and vaccinations for more ordinary breeds. Bully owners and fans acknowledge that while the Bully’s lineage includes the aggressive, oft-maligned pit bull, Bullies are, in fact, a very docile, friendly breed. The breed was created by American Kennel Club breeders to be the “ultimate family companion” and is known to be outgoing and eager to please. The Bully arose on the east and west coast of the U.S., but now can be found in Europe and Asia. (PCPR)

(Above) Pure-bred American Bully dogs are beloved by many, including in Thailand where the best in breed was shown off at the Pattaya Bully Expo.

(Right) You lookin’ at me?

The breed was created by American Kennel Club breeders to be the “ultimate family companion” and is known to be outgoing and eager to please.

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E-mail: comhaps@pattayamail.com

Events The next meeting of Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) will be held on Sunday, February 10. The PCEC program varies, but usually involves a guest speaker on a topic of interest to Expats. 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. The Pink Polo 2019 equestrian tournament under the patronage of HM Queen Sirikit will be held at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in Pattaya on Saturday, Feb. 16 starting at 12 p.m. Running alongside the polo action will be a fashion show on horses, Lampang carriage rides, a flea market, lunch, snacks and high tea. All proceeds will go to breast cancer care for needy women. For more information and directions, visit website: www.thai-polo-club.com. A Joint Chambers Eastern Seaboard networking evening will be held at the Renaissance Pattaya Resort & Spa on Friday, February 15 from 6.00 p.m. – 9 p.m. (last drinks at 8.30 p.m.). Entrance cost is THB 500 on the door for members and THB 1,000 for non-members. Admission includes free-flow drinks and finger food.

Pattaya Pride Rainbow Festival 2019 will be held at Central Festival Pattaya Beach shopping mall from February 8-14. The event will feature parades by numerous Pride groups plus concerts, shows, games and fun. 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. A Farmers’ Market takes place every 2nd Saturday of the month at the Holiday Inn hotel on Pattaya Beach Road from 10.30 am - 3.30 p.m. Products range from wellness items, jewelry, freshly prepared food, organic vegetables and fruits. The next market will be held 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.

Chicken Curry Stew Stews are great for large hungry families, and for cooks without much time. It is a case of set and forget and call the family to the table 30 minutes later.

Ingredients Broiler chicken Bacon Salt Pepper Celery chopped Onion chopped Green bell pepper, chopped Garlic, minced Fresh tomatoes, chopped Madras curry powder Thyme leaves Chicken stock, hot Currants or raisins Chopped fresh parsley Slivered toasted almonds

Serves 4 1.5 kg, cut in parts 4 slices ½ tspn ½ tspn ¾ cup ½ cup 1 2 cloves 2 cups 2 tspns ½ tspn 1 cup ½ cup 1 tbspn ½ cup

Cooking Method In a deep frying pan, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon to paper towels to drain; crumble and set aside. Add chicken parts to the pan; cook for about 15 minutes, turning, or until browned. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, remove but keep warm. In the pan add celery, onion, bell pepper, and garlic; cook for about five minutes. Add tomatoes, curry powder, thyme and sprinkle of salt. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes. Return chicken to the pan and add currants and broth; cover and cook for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley, crumbled bacon and toasted almonds.

Fax: 038-427596

Dining 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. Yupin's Fantastic French Onion Soup is now available again. For more information or reservations, call 038 250394 or visit website: www.yupins.com.

Fines De Claires Oysters at Yupins.

Valentine’s Day @ The Bay International Skewers Restaurant, Dusit Thani Pattaya. Enjoy a perfect, romantic evening and pamper yourself and your loved one with a “Valentine Romance Set Dinner” complemented by splendid night views of Pattaya Bay. Price: THB 3,299++ per couple inclusive of a complimentary glass of wine or sparkling wine and rose for couple. Thursday, 14 February from 18:45hrs onwards. Advanced reservations recommended, call 038 425 611-7 Ext. 2149, 2150 or email to dtpafb@dusit.com. Make this Valentine’s Day an unforgettable one by dining at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s restaurants on 14 February. Enjoy a romantic pink-inspired 5-course dinner under the stars at the poolside of the Royal Wing Suites & Spa for THB 4,000++ per couple or THB 9,300 ++ per couple with a bottle of Deutz Champagne. Romance your love with an authentic taste of Italy as you savor a divine 5-course candle-lit dinner at the terrace of Rossini and Cigar Lounge for only THB 3,200++ per couple. Both dinners start at 7:00 p.m. For more information or to book a table, contact Guest Relations at 038 250 421 Ext. 2037 or email: gro-main@royalcliff.com. Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Pattana Golf Club & Resort. Indulge in a 3-course set menu on the candlelit

terrace while watching a classic lover’s film. Dinner served from 6 pm at Persimmon restaurant and priced at only 1,400 Baht/couple. The first 5 couples who book will get one night accommodation free. Book now at 038 318 999 ext. 11230 or email: restaurant@pattana.co.th. Hilton Pattaya invites you to experience a variety of special creations from sugarcane throughout February. Flare Restaurant presents Vietnamese braised pork belly with sugarcane at THB 350 net while Drift Lobby Lounge & Bar features grilled sugarcane-skewered seafood priced at THB 350 net, smoked chicken wing with spicy BBQ and sugarcane sauce at THB 350 net, and chocolate banana sugarcane at THB 150 net. Horizon Rooftop Restaurant & Bar introduces braised and roasted duck in sugarcane served with cooked riceberry, tea egg, fried ginger, stir-fried Hong Kong kale and pickled carrot, priced at THB 1,050 net. For more information or reservation, please call +66(0)38 253 000 or bkkhp_fb@hilton.com or pattaya.hilton.com. Join a Valentine’s Day celebration at Sala Rim Nam, Avani Pattaya Resort on Thursday February 14 from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Treat your loved one to a candlelit evening of romance whilst enjoying soothing classic Thai melodies, in a truly dreamlike setting. Price: THB 2,299 net per couple, including one glass of sparkling wine. For reservations or more info, call 038 412 120. Hard Rock Pattaya offers a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner on February 14. Enjoy a special set menu for 2 featuring a starter, 2 main course and dessert for just THB 1,499 per couple. Dinner served at the Hard Rock Café from 12 noon – 11pm. For reservations, call 038-426-635.

Delectable buffet offerings at L’Olivier Restaurant.

L’Olivier Restaurant invites you to enjoy a daily cold buffet and 4-course menu comprising soup, salad bar, main course and dessert for only 395 baht. The buffet menu is changed every two days. The restaurant

specializes in French Provencal cuisine, traditional Thai food and rare Vietnamese dishes. Dine in air conditioned comfort or on the terrace. Located on Jomtien Walking Street between View Talay 2 and Jomtien Complex on the main taxi thoroughfare. For reservations, call Ms. Wan on Tel. 061 854 4848 (French, English & Thai spoken). 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. 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. 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.

The happy BBQ chef at Thai Garden.

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 Continued on page 35

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Linda’s: discovered by Vikings Some places in Pattaya can looked after by very attenbe something of a neon lit tive service staff. Linda hermad house. Especially self is also touring the tables around the Jomtien Complex most nights to ensure cusarea. Add in the ‘greeters’ of tomer satisfaction. So how does a Hong Kong all persuasions sitting outside restaurants and bars, born lady end up in Pattaya motorcycle taxis, gawkers with a Scandinavian restauand hawkers. But fortu- rant? Via a long journey from nately you can find an es- Asia to Norway, dish washcape route and it is on the ing, and right the way opposite side of the road through to being a chef in from Jomtien Complex and it her own right. Assisting her is called Linda’s Restaurant. these days is a Japanese chef You can’t miss Linda’s on who also worked in Norway Thappraya Road as you and even published a Nordrive down towards the wegian cook book! Hanuman statue, as Linda’s Restaurant is on your left and large, being a quadruple shop-house with seating for 200 people. Outside is a covered al fresco area for smokers. Inside, in air-conditioned comfort, there are comfortable chairs and decent sized tables, with white starched napery. The place mats are fun, with pictures of many of the customers taken with Linda over the years. A couple of the Pattaya Mail rogues were visible in the gallery. Along the back wall is the Hjemmelaget Fiskeboller cocktail bar, and you are fish balls in white sauce.

It has become difficult to get a good early breakfast in Pattaya these days. Some establishments offer breakfasts which begin at 11 a.m. but Linda’s has a choice of a dozen dishes with most well under B. 200 and available from 7.30 a.m. The Luxury Norwegian breakfast has Norwegian smoked salmon, egg and caviar, homemade beef burger and Italian salad with strawberry, blueberry jam and served with Norwegian brown cheese. If an omelet is your fancy, Linda’s

omelet has spinach, bacon, and onion, with fresh fruit toast and jam for B. 185. Amongst the appetizers is a Norwegian smoked salmon and gravlax with dill stewed potato and mustard sauce, definitely a Scandinavian treat. Moving along, there are three pizzas on offer with a chicken, salami, beef meatballs, seafood , pineapple, onion, tomato, olive, garlic and mozzarella, there is a Herring Plate for 285 baht, how northern region do you want? Norsk Husmannskost is next in the menu, with a Norwegian traditional dinner of Bacalao con natas (Gratin dry cod with garlic, New Zealand mussels, mozzarella cheese and potato).

Bambi and Linda are very sweet and attentive, ensuring customer satisfaction.

i hvit saus - homemade

Potetball komle vossakorv m tilbehør - lamb meat, sausage and potato dumpling.

So after a perusal of the very large menu, Madame began with the shrimp cocktail (B. 260) which was large and well presented, and followed that up with Hjemmelaget Fiskeboller i hvit saus (homemade fish balls in white sauce).

I liked the sound of the Potetball / komle / vossakorv/ m tilbehør which in English is lamb meat, sausage and potato dumpling. This was a very considerable portion and had me beaten, but fortunately one of our party did the job and cleared the plate.

Ice creams finished our Scandinavian meal, but I should point out that standard Euro style items were available, as also a comprehensive Thai menu. There is a rumor that it was the Vikings who discovered America, which may be the true. However, the Dining Out Team knows that the Vikings did discover Linda’s Restaurant for a taste of home and multiple choices of their home fare. Well worth a trip to lower Thappraya Road. 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. Telephone Reservations: 038 252 726, www.lindasrestaurant.com, street-side parking. Email linda@lindasrestaurant.com. GPS 12.901655 N 100.869.

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E-mail: comhaps@pattayamail.com From page 33 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.

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 on-street parking in the soi. Hours 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., seven days.

Spa & Hotel Promotions

BBQ Pork Spare Ribs & Jasmine Rice for only 195 baht

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, street-side 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.

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 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 Regina Albrink will perform a piano recital at Ben’s Theatre in Jomtien on Saturday, March 2 starting at 8pm. The concert will feature music from Chopin, Mozart, Gershwin and more. Tickets are priced at THB 750 pp including free drink of choice.

Fax: 038-427596

Reservations by email to: benstheaterjomtien@gmail.com, call 089 983 3351 or send a message on LINE to benben. 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 Yamato’s mixed sashimi plate which had octopus, salmon, tuna, crab sticks, sea bass, squid and mackerel.

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@rotaryphoenix-pattaya.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@rotarypattaya marina.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 on the last weekend of every month at various locations around the city. Please join and like the Face Book page and you will see the all the social events listed. You do not have 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 an email to - <chonburi.secretary @rbl.community>. 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 08-456-31671. 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 9:3010:30 a.m. in the housing area just behind Pan Pan Restaurant in Jomtien on Thappraya Road. Call Steve at 038-364-207(h) or 089250-1359 (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.

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PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVII No. 6

Pink Polo 2019 raising funds for cancer care The 11th edition of the charity fundraising Pink Polo tournament will be held at Thai Polo and Equestrian Club Pattaya, on Saturday 16 February. A press-conference was held in Bangkok last week featuring sponsors and organizers to announce the latest iteration of this fun event which helps raise funds for the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation. Supanaree Sumonmart, the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation manager, stated that “current statistics have shown that breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women in Thailand. The Foundation is granted a Royal Patronage from Her Majesty Queen Sirikit that acts as a sanctuary and provides care and support to breast cancer patients. This non-profit organization saves lives through providing a

state-of-the-art cohesive ‘Prevent, Cure & Care’ approach to breast cancer patients and a nurturing support system for those in need. This year, there will be 4 allfemale teams participating in the Pink Polo competition, consisting of players from various countries including Team La Familia / Marengo Malaysia, Team San Eugenio

- Switzerland, Team 1003 POLO - China, and the host Team Thai Polo - Thailand. Thailand’s first lady polo player Nunthinee Tanner, one of the chief competition organizers, said that this year in addition to the ladies polo competition there will also be a fun and entertaining flea market, Lampang horse carriage tours, a dog fashion

Enjoy some spectacular equestrian action at the 2019 Queen’s Cup Pink Polo tournament on Saturday, February 16.

show by the Yorkshire Terrier Club Thailand and a horseback fashion show featuring celebrities and youth horse riders. You are invited to take part in this charitable cause by

coming along to support the players at the Queen’s Cup Pink Polo 2019. Those who donate 1,000 baht will be provided with a wristband, which covers lunch and drinks during the event while also receiving a

Pink Polo limited edition bag. The polo action takes place from 12.00 – 6.00 pm at Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in Pattaya. For more information call 02-651-4081-5 or email thaipoloclub@lbg.co.th.

Patriots beat Rams 13-3 in lowest scoring Super Bowl ever

New England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski (right) catches a pass in front of Los Angeles Rams’ Marcus Peters and Cory Littleton during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ David J. Phillip) (Full story on 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