Established in 1993
VOL.XXVII No. 38
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1 - NOVEMBER 14, 2019
30 BAHT
Kingdom to celebrate romantic Loy Krathong November 11
This year’s Loy Krathong Festival, the most romantic night on the Thai calendar, falls on Monday, November 11. The entire Kingdom will be celebrating, with most everyone going to the water’s edge to loy (float) their krathong. Shown here, elephant lovers in Sattahip float their krathong on this special day. Since it is such a revered holiday, expect a large influx of people flowing into the resort. This will most likely cause more than a few traffic jams, so please plan ahead should you choose to drive anywhere during the holiday period. (City’s itinerary appears on page 2.)
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Remembering King Rama IV on his birthday
Volunteers sweep the main hall and clean up the area surrounding the temple in order to do good deeds in commemoration of HM King Mongkut’s kindness towards his subjects.
child of HM King Rama II and Queen Srisuriyentra. He succeeded to the throne on Wednesday the 1st day of the 5th month of the waxing moon in the year of pig which was in B.E. 2394 (1851) and held the throne for 16
years and 6 months. He had total of 82 sons and daughters and died on Thursday the 15th day of the 11th month in the year of dragon around 19.00 o’clock falling on Oct 1, 1868 at the age of 64 years old.
Kingdom to celebrate romantic Loy Krathong November 11 Fireworks, flying lanterns banned for Loy Krathong Nov 11 This year’s Loy Krathong Festival, the most romantic night on the Thai calendar, falls on Monday, November 11. The entire Kingdom will be celebrating, with most everyone going to the water’s edge to loy (float) their krathong. Organizers are requesting people to use only krathongs made from all natural material that will easily biodegrade. This year’s city sponsored Loy Krathong festival will be held at the Activity Zone in Central Pattaya. Hosted by the Religion, Art, and Culture Promotion office, the celebration will again feature both a krathong competition and the Miss Noppamas pageant for young girls. The krathong contest will award prizes for the mostbeautiful krathongs in three categories: public, elementary and high school students. All krathongs must be made from natural materials. The winners will win cash and trophies from city hall. The Miss Noppamas pageant will be limited to 20 girls
Jomtien 2nd Road construction to finish in April PCPR
Jetsada Homklin Banglamung District Chief Amnart Charoensri, accompanied by volunteers from 904 Vor Por Raw, cleaned Wat Nongprue on Oct. 17 to commemorate the royal anniversary of HM King Rama IV’s birth the following day. Volunteers swept the main hall and cleaned up the area surrounding the temple in order to do good deeds in commemoration of HM King Mongkut’s kindness towards his subjects. HM King Mongkut, the 4th king of the Chakri Dynasty, was born at the old palace on Thursday the 14th day of the 11th month of the waxing moon in the year of the rat, falling on October 18, 1804 during the reign of HM King Rama I. He was the 2nd
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Fireworks and kom loys (flying lanterns) are banned during Loy Krathong on Monday, November 11. Violators face stiff fines, imprisonment, or both.
ages nine and under. Their family must be registered in Banglamung District and contestants must be in good health. The winner will receive cash, a trophy and sash from Pattaya. Pattaya-area hotels also will be hosting their own Loy Krathong holiday festivals, from the Dusit Thani Hotel in North Pattaya to the Royal Cliff Hotels Group in Jomtien Beach. Once again this year, fireworks and kom loys (flying
lanterns) are banned. Violators face stiff fines, imprisonment, or both. Pattaya City is asking for cooperation from manufacturers, collectors, sellers, and the general public to not light and release sky rockets, floating lanterns, or any other similar fire hazards which may lead to damaged property, especially houses in the area. Officials say kom loys can even cause a hazard to air craft. (PCPR)
The construction currently being undertaken on Jomtien 2nd Road, which started June 6, is scheduled to finish on April 1, 2020. Pattaya City hired Chokdee Engineer Products Co., Ltd. and Thai Tong Lee Co., Ltd. to reinforce the concrete surface and install rainwater drain pipes, as well as upgrade traffic signs and street lights to TISI standards. Pattaya’s deputy city manager, Sutham Khetpetch, took a team of officials out to the construction site Oct. 21 to check on the progress. They found it to be about 15% complete. Sutham said the contractors have been instructed to
The construction currently being undertaken on Jomtien 2nd Road, which started in June, is scheduled to finish in April 2020.
continue work 24 hours a day, Monday through Thursday, but must shut down for the weekend starting at 5pm on Fridays. At that time,
they must open the road to traffic and ensure machinery and materials are out of the way in a safe place to avoid accidents.
Confusing traffic at Nongprue-Khao Mai Kaew intersection causes concern Warapun Jaikusol Problems for commuters have arisen in Khao Maikaew due to unclear traffic lines at the Highway 3240 (Chaiyapornwithi) junction with Rural Road 4095, and at Pong Interchange where people are making quick Uturns to get onto the overpass. Also, some commuters suddenly turn right to get onto Highway 36 after crossing the bridge. Residents using these roads say these problems regularly cause accidents and annoyance. Banglamung District Chief Amnart Charoensri visited the area with his team and predicted the problems would be easy to solve. He instructed Banglamung Highway Dept to start by erasing the yellow dashed lines on the roads that are causing confusion, and install a stop sign on Highway 3240 from Khao Maikaew to turn right to Nongprue. New, correct traffic lines can be painted next week. The problem at Pong Interchange would be fixed by having the Chonburi Highway Dept. install traffic posts to keep people from making U-turns there. A more permanent solution
Problems for commuters have arisen in Khao Maikaew due to unclear traffic lines at the Highway 3240 (Chaiyapornwithi) junction with Rural Road 4095, and at Pong Interchange where people are making quick U-turns to get onto the overpass.
could be made in the middle of next year. In the meantime, surveys will be conducted to find the best long term solutions,
followed by budget proposals to carry out plans determined by the surveys. If the budget is approved, work will begin in April 2020.
Baywatch City sends out repair crews after storm
The heavy rainfall produced by large but mostly short time tropical storms has been creating havoc around the city, and keeping repair crews busy. The Pattaya City Maintenance and Renovation, Engineering Office sent out crews Oct. 17 to refill and smooth areas of Pattaya Beach eroded by rainwater at the Dusit curve, Soi 2 and Soi Pattaya 5 in north
and central Pattaya, repair the collapsed walkway on Central Pattaya Road, repair the Railway Road by filling potholes and smoothing the surface with asphalt, fix collapsed concrete blocks on Pattaya 3rd Road at the Mum Aroi Junction, and fix decorative lights on the Sukhumvit Road traffic island in Central Pattaya. (PCPR)
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Their Majesties conduct royal merit-making ceremony for King Rama IV Their Majesties the King and Queen have conducted a royal merit-making ceremony for the birthday anniversary and renaming of the late Somdej Phra Chomklaochaoyuhua. Their Majesties the King and Queen, accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati, visited Amarintharavinitchai Throne Hall in the Grand Palace and conducted the royal merit-making ceremony for the birthday anniversary and renaming of Somdej Phra Chomklaochaoyuhua. His Majesty the King lit candles and incense in tribute to the Phra Phuttha Patima Chaiwat image and relics of King Rama IV. Her Majesty the Queen also lit candles and incense in tribute to the Buddha image and relics of King Rama IV. His Majesty the King conducted the royal merit-making ceremony before His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch and 65 monks, and had the Secretariat of the Cabinet’s Bureau of
Royal Scribes and Royal Decorations announce a royal command for the renaming of Somdej Phra Chomklaochaoyuhua as Somdej Phra Poramen Ramathibodi Sisin Maha Mongkut Phra Chomklaochaoyuhua Phra Sayam Deva Maha Makut Vidhaya Maharaj. At the end of the announcement, the monks prayed, and officials struck gongs and blew horns. His Majesty the King lay the golden plate inscribed with the new name of King Rama IV before the urn containing relics of King Rama IV. Upon the end of a prayer by Phra Thamma Kittimethi of Rajathivat temple, His Majesty the King proceeded with the royal merit-making ceremony and paid homage to the Buddha image and relics of King Rama IV. (NNT) Their Majesties the King and Queen have conducted a royal merit-making ceremony for the birthday anniversary and renaming of the late Somdej Phra Chomklaochaoyuhua.
Angered Zone 7 voters want MP to resign Boonlua Chatree A group of people who voted for Future Forward Party candidate Kawinnart Takee, MP of constituency 7 Chonburi, now want her to resign, allegedly because she voted “yes” for the national budget. Constituents want the Future Forward Party to
appoint a board of inquiry and prohibit her from participating in the party’s activities because she voted for the draft Budget Act of 2020 against the party’s resolution. These residents of constituency 7 are so mad, they caused her Facebook page to crash.
A group of people who voted for Future Forward Party candidate Kawinnart Takee, MP of constituency 7 Chonburi now want her to resign, allegedly because she voted “yes” for the national budget, so they set up a table on Beach Road to gather signatures - without permission from the city.
Wanchalerm Kunsen, leader of the angry constituents, asked the city for permission to hold a protest on Beach Road if the MP doesn’t step down. They have composed a letter with their demands, and will try to get a petition with 20,000 signatures to force her out. Three other FFP MPs, Benja Sangchan, party-list MP of Eastern Region, Kwanlert Panitchmart, MP of constituency 5 Chonburi, and Jarat Kumkainam, MP of constituency 6 Chonburi, received the letter and apologized for
what happened. They will take the letter to the party leaders for consideration of the request and public hearing. The city and city police turned down their request to hold a protest, but they went ahead with it anyway. It was not made known what, if any, penalty they faced, or whether they were able to get their 20,000 signatures. Since the gathering seemed to have had a small turnout at any one time during the day, perhaps no laws were actually broken.
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Thailand arrests German man for Suspect identified in stabbing allegedly disposing of body assault of Korean businessman Bangkok (AP) — Police in Thailand are investigating the death of a German woman after arresting a German man for allegedly dumping her body into a canal. Thailand’s Immigration Police Commissioner Lt. Col. Sompong Chingduang said Tuesday that the dead woman, 77-year-old Margund Schaefer, co-owned a bar in the resort town of Pattaya with Richard Stanislaus and shared a house with him and his Thai girlfriend. The police began their investigation of the case at the request of German authorities after Schaefer’s relatives reported losing contact with her. Thai police launched a search for both Schaefer and Stanislaus in the eastern province of Chonburi, and interrogated Stanislaus after finding that his visa had expired in 2017. Stanislaus’ girlfriend told police he had been living in part on pension money sent to Schaefer. Police said the 55year-old Stanislaus is wanted in Germany on several fraud charges and that he is reported to have committed previous crimes involving swindling the elderly.
Boonlua Chatree
Immigration officers escort Richard Stanislaus, center, at the immigration office in Bangkok, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. Police say they are investigating the death of an elderly German woman Margund Schaefer after arresting Stanislaus, also German, for allegedly dumping her body into a canal. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
His girlfriend told police that Schaefer fell in the bathroom and died in January. She said Stanislaus put her body in a box and dumped it in a canal, where it was later found. DNA tests and dental records established that it was Schaefer. Police have charged Stanislaus with concealing, moving or destroying a corpse and overstaying his visa. They said forensic tests could tell them whether Schaefer died by accident or
was intentionally killed. “We found out that Mr. Richard and Mrs. Margund opened a beer bar together in Pattaya, but the business was unsuccessful,” Lt. Col. Sompong said at a news conference where Stanislaus was present but didn’t speak. “That led them into an argument. A Thai witness said they had an argument before the victim went and took a shower. But whether or not the argument led to a murder, we can’t say at this point.”
Dozed-off driver injures 5 Patcharapol Panrak A navy officer on his way to work dozed off behind the wheel, swerved off the road, and plowed through motorcycles and food stalls in front of a commercial building outside Navy Housing 19 Village M. 9 in Sattahip. Five people were injured, four females and one male, during the mayhem at 8.30am Thursday, Oct. 24, and taken to Wat Yanasangwararam Hospital for treatment. Their conditions are unknown. 3 shops, a pick-up truck, and 4 motorcycles were damaged. Lt. Cdr. Chamnan Somjai, the driver, told police he drove from home in Pattaya to Sattahip, but fell asleep on
Police have identified the suspect who stabbed Korean Jinhyung Park, 39, seventeen times and left him for dead on the side of the Rong Moo Road in Soi Khao Talo, Nongprue. They have sent his name and photo to all areas they believe he might try to escape the country. He is believed to be Korean. Remarkably, at the time of writing this, Park was still alive, but in a coma after surgery at Chonburi Hospital. He was discovered by a taxi driver who came upon the scene immediately after it happened at 2am. Park is a professional golfer in Korea. He also has a spa business in Pattaya, and
Korean Jinhyung Park, 39, was stabbed 17 times and left for dead on the side of the Rong Moo Road at 2am in Soi Khao Talo, Nongprue. A large, bloody knife and gloves left in the back seat were collected for evidence.
police initially surmise the assault was due to a business conflict since the keys to the BMW and 40,000 baht were found on the console. A large, bloody knife and gloves had been left in the
back seat and were collected for evidence. The car and ground around it were covered in blood. Wichien Wiyasingh, 33, the taxi driver said while driving back home, he noticed that the white BMW’s lights were on and it was parked on the wrong side of the road. When he slowed down, a bloodied man ran out from the car, fell down in front of the taxi and shouted for help. Miss Ampa Paking, 31, Park’s girlfriend, said she lost contact with Park around midnight, and didn’t know what happened until the hospital called her. She told police she didn’t know why it happened, and that to her knowledge Park had no problem with anyone.
Unidentified corpse found at sea Patcharapol Panrak A young man in his small fishing boat found a corpse floating in the ocean near Koh Ped about 3 nautical miles away from BanAmphur Beach. Teerapong Boonwat, 24, tied a rope to the body and slowly towed it to Pak Klong Beach behind Wat Ampawaram in Sattahip, where he arrived at 9.30 in the morning on Oct. 18.
Another fishing boat captain sped ahead to shore and called police so that they were waiting for him when he arrived. Teerapong told police that as he was pulling his crab traps in the area around Koh Ped in front of the beach at the Naval Rating School, he saw the corpse floating in the sea. He said he was “really scared” but couldn’t leave the body in the sea, so he towed it back to the shore
to find his relatives for the proper religious ceremony. Police determined the body looked to be a non-Thai male, heavy set, about 40 years old, wearing a white T-shirt, jeans, and black sport shoes. They predicted he had been dead for about 7 days. There was no identification on the body. Police are looking through missing persons reports to see if they can identify the deceased man.
Search on for missing fisherman Patcharapol Panrak
Five people were injured, four females and one male, during the mayhem when a navy officer on his way to work dozed off behind the wheel, swerved off the road, and plowed through motorcycles and food stalls.
the way to his post after not getting enough sleep the previous night. He said he has already contacted the insurance company to take
responsibility and he regrets what happened. It was not made known what charges he faced for his reckless driving.
Apinan Jo Poonsawad, 36, set out to sea from Pratuang Jetty at Sattahip Market Oct. 17 on a boat captained by a Mr. Lee. On Oct. 20, the boat returned to port without him. His wife, Kalong Konan, 39, is desperately reaching out to authorities to keep up the search to find him. Lee told Kalong that her husband fell into the sea around 9 pm on Oct 20, seven nautical miles west of Koh Karm. The boat was at anchor due to strong winds and high waves. Lee said he fell asleep, and when he awoke, the boat was flooded so he climbed down into the bilge to fix the problem. He said he last saw Apinan headed to the bow to get a lifejacket. He didn’t return. Lee said he drove the boat around trying to find him, to no avail. So, he headed back to shore to get help.
Kalong Konan is desperately reaching out to authorities to keep trying to find her husband lost at sea.
Kalong alerted the press to publicize her plight and ask everyone or anyone to help find her husband. She is holding out hope her husband is safely floating in the sea, and she prays for a miracle.
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: 038 411 833 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)
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Buddhist Lent ends quietly in Pattaya Jetsada Homklin
People provide a new robe for the reclining Buddhasaiyad Rachasanmingmongkol at Wat Nong Aor Monastery.
Buddhists present alms to monks at Wat Boonsamphan.
Pattaya marked the end of three months of Buddhist lent with merit making and good deeds. Auk Phansa, the end of Buddhist Lent, and the Tak Bat Devo ceremony the following day are the two-day observance of the end of the “rains retreat,” where, in olden times, monks remained within temple walls to avoid trampling rice crops and studied dharma by candlelight. Things have progressed since the tradition began, but its roots remain pure in spirit. Buddhists welcome the monks back to society with presentations of meats and desserts. Buddhists on Oct. 13 eagerly prepared food, sweets, bananas with sticky rice, flowers, incense, candles and more to temples from Nongprue to Jomtien Beach. Families came together, most dressed nicely, to pray for prosperity and pay
Festival of food and drink celebrated at Amari Oktoberfest Nawaporn Rojarayanont Autumn brings many splendid things, but the best of all is Oktoberfest, the German fall festival that celebrates everyone’s favourite things – wholesome food, lots of beer and non-stop merrymaking. Amari Pattaya brought the iconic German beer-fest to a new high as it welcomed over 150 guests to its own full-filled Oktoberfest party on the Beach Lawn on October 11&12. Guests enjoyed traditional German delicacies like Bretzen, Schweinshaxe, Weisswurst, Currywurst, and Apfelstrudel prepared by the hotel’s executive chef, along with live music, fun activities for the kids, and drinking games for adults. Traditional European and favourite Thai beers were available throughout the night, while the Beach Lawn was transformed into a festival of colour and life with cosy picnic tables and live food stations in wooden huts. The Beach Lawn at Amari Pattaya is a 1,000sqm outdoor
The traditional Bavarian beer drinking contest is not only for men.
This Bavarian in his lederhosen is jubilant after winning a prize.
ar e a i d e a l f o r v a r i o u s kinds of open-air events such as social gatherings,
Oktoberfest is fun for the whole family.
weddings, corporate events, team building activities, outdoor film screenings, pop-up events and fun festivities like Oktoberfest. The event was part of Amari Pattaya’s endeavour to offer a great leisure experience for both in-house guests and walk-in visitors. Reviving Oktoberfest at the Beach Lawn is one of the flagship events after the reopening of Amari Pattaya earlier this year and will be a popular event for many years to come.
Tan Jao Khun Panya Rattanaporn, Abbot of Wat Chaimongkol sprinkles holy water on disciples.
homage to their ancestors. They made merit and listened to dharma sermons before doing good deeds, such as cleaning temples, decorating houses with the national flag and repairing religious places. The following day observances continued with Tak Bat Devo, which usually is centered around a temple on a hillside, but stairs make do on flat land. Monks who’ve been in their rains retreat for three months emerge in a procession of golden gowns down the hill depicting the path Buddha took down a celestial stairway made of silver, gold and crystal.
Believers made merit by giving alms and performing good deeds which they dedicated to the memory of HM King Rama IX. The anniversary
of his passing was also commemorated on Oct. 13. Bars and entertainment venues were closed for the Buddhist holiday.
Buddhists welcome the monks back to society with presentations of alms.
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World’s 1st female spacewalking team makes history by Marcia Dunn Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP) — The world’s first female spacewalking team made history high above Earth on Friday, floating out of the International Space Station to fix a broken part of the power network. As NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir emerged one by one, it marked the first time in a halfcentury of spacewalking that a woman floated out
without a male crewmate. America’s first female spacewalker from 35 years ago, Kathy Sullivan, was delighted. She said it’s good to finally have enough women in the astronaut corps and trained for spacewalking for this to happen. NASA leaders — along with women and others around the world — cheered Koch and Meir on. At the same time, many noted that this will hopefully become routine in the future.
“We’ve got qualified women running the control, running space centers, commanding the station, commanding spaceships and doing spacewalks,” Sullivan told The Associated Press earlier this week. “And golly, gee whiz, every now and then there’s more than one woman in the same place.” Tracy Caldwell Dyson, a three-time spacewalker who watched from Mission Control, added: “Hopefully, this will now be considered normal.”
In this photo released by NASA on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, U.S. astronauts Jessica Meir, left, and Christina Koch pose for a photo in the International Space Station. (NASA via AP)
In this photo provided by NASA, astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir exit the International Space Station on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. The world’s first female spacewalking team is making history high above Earth. This is the first time in a half-century of spacewalking that a woman floated out without a male crewmate. Their job is to fix a broken part of the station’s solar power network. (NASA via AP)
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine watched the big event unfold from NASA headquarters in Washington. “We have the right people doing the right job at the right time,” he said. “They are an inspiration to people all over the world including me. And we’re very excited to get this mission underway.” NASA originally wanted to conduct an all-female spacewalk last spring, but did not have
enough medium-size suits ready to go. Koch and Meir were supposed to install more new batteries in a spacewalk next week, but had to venture out three days earlier to deal with an equipment failure that occurred over the weekend. They need to replace an old battery charger for one of the three new batteries that was installed last week by Koch and Andrew Morgan.
“Jessica and Christina, we are so proud of you. You’re going to do great today,” Morgan radioed from inside as the women exited the hatch. Meir, making her spacewalking debut, became the 228th person in the world to conduct a spacewalk and the 15th woman. It was the fourth spacewalk for Koch, who is seven months into an 11-month mission that will be the longest ever by a woman.
Facebook CEO defends refusal to take down some content Marcy Gordon Washington (AP) — Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the social media platform’s refusal to take down content it considers newsworthy “even if it goes against our standards.” But while he promoted free expression, limitations were place on coverage of his remarks at Georgetown University. Reporters were not allowed to ask questions — only students were given that chance, filtered by a moderator. Facebook and Georgetown barred news organizations from filming. Instead organizers provided a livestream on Georgetown’s social media site and made available
video shot by Facebook. “It’s quite ironic,” said Sally Hubbard, director of enforcement strategy at the Open Markets Institute and a former state prosecutor. More generally, she said of Facebook, “The key to free expression is to not have one company control the flow of speech to more than 2 billion people, using algorithms that amplify disinformation in order to maximize profits.” Facebook, Google, Twitter and other companies are trying to oversee internet content while also avoiding infringing on First Amendment rights. The pendulum has swung recently toward restricting hateful speech that could spawn violence. The shift follows mass shootings
in which the suspects have posted racist screeds online or otherwise expressed hateful views or streamed images of attacks. Facebook also has come under criticism for not doing enough to filter out phony political ads. “Right now, we’re doing a very good job at getting everyone mad at us,” Zuckerberg told the packed hall at Georgetown. He said serious threats to expression are coming from places such as China, where social media platforms used by protesters are censored, and from court decisions restricting the location of internet users’ data in certain countries. “I’m here today because I believe that we must continue to stand for free expression,” he said. People of varied political beliefs are trying to define expansive speech as dangerous because it could bring results they don’t accept, Zuckerberg said. “I personally believe this is more dangerous to democracy in the long term than almost any speech.” Taking note of mounting criticism of the market dominance of Facebook and other tech giants, Zuckerberg acknowledged the companies’ centralized power but said it’s also “decentralized by putting it directly into people’s hands. ... Giving people a voice and broader inclusion go hand in hand.” John Stanton, a former fel-
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at Georgetown University, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Washington. At left is Mo Elleithee, the founding Executive Director of Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
low at Georgetown who heads a group called the “Save Journalism Project,” called the CEO’s appearance “a joke.” Zuckerberg “is the antithesis of free expression,” Stanton said in a statement. “He’s thrown free speech, public education and democracy to the wayside in his thirst for power and profit.” The social media giant, with nearly 2.5 billion users around the globe, is under heavy scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators following a series of data privacy scandals, including lapses in opening the personal data of millions of users to Trump’s 2016 campaign. Facebook and other social media platforms have drawn accusations from President Donald Trump and his allies
that their platforms are steeped in anti-conservative bias. Zuckerberg recently fell into a tiff with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a leading Democratic presidential candidate, who ran a fake political ad on Facebook taking aim at the CEO. Warren has proposed breaking up big tech companies. With the phony ad, she was protesting Facebook’s policy of not fact-checking politicians’ speech or ads in the same way it enlists outside parties to fact-check news stories and other posts. “We think people should be able to see for themselves,” Zuckerberg responded Thursday on the fact-checking issue. “If content is newsworthy, we don’t take it down even if it goes against our standards.”
The social media network also rebuffed requests that it remove a misleading video ad from Trump’s re-election campaign targeting Democrat Joe Biden. A spokesman for Biden said Zuckerberg’s speech was an effort “to cloak Facebook’s policy in a feigned concern for free expression.” “Facebook has chosen to sell Americans’ personal data to politicians looking to target them with disproven lies and conspiracy theories, crowding out the voices of working Americans,” campaign spokesman Bill Russo said in a statement. Several of the students’ questions to Zuckerberg at Georgetown pointed up the conflict. One asked, if Facebook supports free speech, “why is conservative content disproportionately censored?” But another asserted that the policy of not fact-checking political ads is pro-conservative. “I think it would be hard to be biased against both sides,” Zuckerberg replied, smiling. Asked about the handling of questions, Facebook spokeswoman Ruchika Budhjara said, “They were submitted by students as they walked into the room. And they’re being picked at random by Georgetown.” AP Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay in San Francisco contributed to this report.
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Coprolalia, effing and blinding It has been shown to the satisfaction of the medical world, that humor and a good laugh really is good medicine. Some hospitals even employ clowns to brighten up the days of the inpatients. And no, I am not the clown. However, one of my favorite jokes involves a parrot that was prone to ‘bad’ language, and consistently used the “F” word. After threatening the talkative bird with dire consequences, its owner put it in the freezer for five minutes. After being retrieved from the freezer, the parrot was asked if it would now behave. “Yes,” said the shivering parrot, “I won’t say the ‘F’ word again, but tell me what did the effing chicken say?” “Effing” and “Blinding” are forms of expression used by (almost) all of us when taken to psychological extremes by some particularly vexatious situation. Shut in the freezer might be one of them. Inappropriate use of the F word (there are some appropriate situations, in my mind at least) is part of an interesting condition known as Tourette’s Syndrome. These are involuntary movements (and sounds) and can be related to the magic “F” word, and is usually seen in children (not parrots) around the age of 5-7 years. Boys outnumber girls three to one! So is this just a case of little Johnny parroting off (sorry about that, couldn’t help myself) “dirty” words he has heard at home? Actually no. This is a developmental problem
that comes under the general heading of ‘Tics’ (as opposed to ‘ticks’ that are parasitic problems). Tic disorders can affect up to almost 20 percent of children at some stage of their development. At one end of the spectrum are children with brief episodes of single tics, whereas at the other are children with chronic multiple tics, including our friend Tourette’s syndrome. Tics are abrupt and recurrent involuntary motor or vocal actions. Motor tics include eye blinking, grimacing, nose twitching, lip pouting, shoulder shrugging, arm jerking, head jerking, kicking, finger movements, jaw snapping, tooth clicking, frowning, tensing parts of the body, and rapid jerking of any part of the body are simple tics. More complex ones include hopping, clapping, touching, throwing, arranging, gyrating, bending, biting the mouth, the lip, or the arm, head-banging, picking scabs, writhing movements, rolling eyes upwards or side-to-side, making funny expressions, sticking out the tongue, kissing, pinching, writing the same letter or word over and over, and tearing paper or books. However, the tic can also be vocal, with simple ones being coughing, spitting, screeching, barking, grunting, gurgling, clacking, whistling, hissing, sucking sounds, and syllable sounds such as “uh, uh,” “eee,” and “bu.” The complex vocal tics can involve complete phrases such as, “Oh boy,” “you know,” “shut up,” “you’re fat,” “all right,” and “what’s that.” Take that a little further and you get repetitive bad language
(which we call Coprolalia, because we love big words) and that is the best known example of Tourette’s syndrome. Children who have these tics can be looked upon as fools by their peers, and there is a no more predatory group than other children. Parents also can feel helpless in these situations. Form the medical point of view, one has to treat the entire family, not just little Johnny washing his mouth out with soap! Most children with tics can lead normal lives, and the tics themselves slow down in teenage years. Parents should be encouraged to get support for themselves from various organizations such as the Tourette Syndrome Association (enquiries@tsa.org.uk). With a good understanding of tics and related problems, including acceptance from teachers and education of the child’s peers, most children with tics do not need regular medical follow up. Parents and children need to understand that although all these symptoms relate to an underlying brain disorder, breaking the cycle may be extremely simple—for example, just allowing the child to have a short “tic break” in a long school lesson may be enough. Drug treatment can be used, though there are differences in opinion on the efficacy, with some researchers claiming only 30 percent can be helped; however, tic severity and frequency can be reduced. Studies of Risperidone in Tourette’s syndrome have shown that it can help.
J&J agrees to $117M settlement over pelvic mesh devices Linda A. Johnson Trenton, N.J. (AP) — Johnson & Johnson has agreed to a $117 million multistate settlement over allegations it deceptively marketed its pelvic mesh products, which support women’s sagging pelvic organs. Ohio’s attorney general said Thursday an investigation found that J&J, the world’s biggest health products maker, violated state consumer protection laws by not fully disclosing the devices’ risks. Numerous women who had the once-popular, hammocklike devices implanted claim they caused severe pain, bleeding, infections and other complications. Johnson & Johnson and its Ethicon surgical products unit reached the settlement with 41 states and the District of Columbia. “These companies didn’t paint a clear picture of the device’s medical risks,
preventing patients from making well-informed decisions,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement. The products, also called transvaginal mesh, are a synthetic material surgically implanted through the vagina of women whose pelvic organs have sagged or who suffer from stress urinary incontinence — bladder leakage when they cough, sneeze or lift heavy objects. Such incontinence is estimated to affect 3% to 17% of women and sometimes becomes severe after age 70. Some of the products are still on the U.S. market, and hundreds of thousands of women have had the devices surgically implanted, according to Yost’s office. An Ethicon spokeswoman noted the settlement doesn’t include admission of any misconduct, and said the devices “are considered by many to be the gold standard for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.”
In this July 30, 2013, file photo, large banners hang in an atrium at the headquarters of Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, N.J. Johnson & Johnson has agreed to a $117 million multistate settlement over allegations it deceptively marketed its pelvic mesh products, which support women’s sagging pelvic organs. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)
“Ethicon has acted appropriately and responsibly in the research, development and marketing of our transvaginal mesh products,” which were launched around the world in 1998, she added. About 25,000 U.S. women with complications have sued Johnson & Johnson, the company said. Those
lawsuits aren’t affected by the settlement. It comes as J&J is swamped with thousands of lawsuits claiming patients were harmed by products including baby powder, opioid painkillers and prescription drugs such as its schizophrenia drug Risperdal. Headlines about the litigation and
Vaping-related illnesses still rising, though at slower pace Mike Stobbe New York (AP) — Vaping-related illnesses in the U.S. are still rising, though at a slightly slower pace. Health officials of Thursday said there have been 1,479 cases and at least 33 deaths in the mysterious outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been releasing new case counts each week. The latest jump — 180 cases — was the lowest increase since mid-September. But CDC officials say there’s no indication that the outbreak is waning. The outbreak appears to have started in March. Symptoms of the illness include severe shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain. No
In this Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 photo, a man using an electronic cigarette exhales in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Vaping-related illnesses in the U.S. are still rising, though at a slightly slower pace. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
single ingredient, electronic cigarette or vaping device has been linked to all the illnesses.
Most who got sick said they vaped products containing THC, the high-inducing ingredient in marijuana. Investigators say they are increasingly focused on black-market THC products. About 1 in 10 of the outbreak cases said they used only nicotine but that percentage has been falling. It was 13% last week. In some cases, people who initially claimed they had used only nicotine admitted later they had vaped THC. Until a cause is pinpointed, the CDC is advising Americans to refrain from vaping. Forty-nine states and one U.S. territory have reported illnesses. Only Alaska has not seen a case. The vast majority of cases are people in their teens, 20s or early 30s, according to the CDC.
big jury verdicts against J&J, including an $8 billion punitive award to a young man who grew breasts while taking Risperdal, have depressed J&J’s stock price for nearly a year. Most of the verdicts against J&J have been overturned or are being appealed. The pelvic mesh deal requires the company to cease its claims that surgical technique can eliminate any risks, as well as to disclose a list of risks, including loss of sexual function, mesh eroding into the vagina and the possible need for corrective surgery. The settlement covers the District of Columbia and these states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin. Ethicon said it settled separately with Washington State and has cases pending in California, Kentucky, Mississippi and West Virginia. J&J shares closed Thursday up $1.00 to $136.17, still well below their 52-week high of $148.99 late last fall.
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Odds and Ends The Associated Press
Wyoming man grows 1,491-pound pumpkin, breaks state record Cheyenne, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming officials say a Cheyenne man has grown a pumpkin that weighs in at 1,491 pounds (676 kilograms), a new state record. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported Thursday that Andy Corbin grew the gourd in his backyard. For perspective, scientists say newborn elephants weigh about 200 pounds (91 kilograms) on average. Corbin says the pumpkins he grows at his east Cheyenne home require a handmade tripod to move them. He says his pumpkins require yearlong maintenance and can gain dozens of pounds a day during growing season. Corbin says he hopes to grow three pumpkins weighing more than 4,000 pounds (1,800 kilograms) combined. (Michael Cummo/The Wyoming Tribune Eagle via AP)
Colorado woman indicted in attempted sale of 1920s fetuses Canon City, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado woman suspected of trying to sell three human fetuses from the 1920s and a fetal skeleton online has been indicted in California on charges of violating a U.S. law prohibiting the transfer of human fetal tissue. Emily Suzanne Cain, 38, pleaded not guilty to charges Tuesday, KUSA-TV reported. The case has been delayed until Nov. 20 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, according to court records. The fetuses are believed to be from stillborn infants from the 1920s, court records said. Cain attempted in October 2018 to mail a package from Canon City in central Colorado to an address in the United Kingdom, according to a criminal complaint. The package, labeled “school teaching aids and T-shirts,” caught the attention of U.S. Postal Service workers who noticed there was no signature on a customs form certifying the package did not contain dangerous contents, authorities said in the complaint. An X-ray of the package revealed a human-like shape, according to U.S. customs agents at the San Francisco International Airport cited in the complaint. Cain posted on Facebook that she acquired the fetuses from a university lab collection and was selling them for $20,000, the complaint said. The specimens were traced to Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, the complaint said. University policy calls for specimens that are no longer needed to be cremated and not sold, university officials told investigators. The university is cooperating with authorities, a spokesperson said. Cain was first arrested in Fort Collins and released on a $5,000 bond with a GPS monitor. A phone number for Cain could not immediately be located.
PATTAYA MAIL
Crossword No 1364
sponsored by
Massic Travel
Across 1 Scottish dance (4) 3 Strangle (8) 9 Letters sent by plane (7) 10 Tick off (5) 11 Cast, shed (5) 12 I’ve found it! (6) 14 Nervous, tense (2,4) 16 Rarely (6) 19 Obstacle (6) 21 Statement of belief (5) 24 Senior (5) 25 Waterfall (7) 26 Rebellion (8) 27 Musical rhythm (4)
Down 1 Response (8) 2 Mistake (5) 4 Aided (6) 5 Cinema award (5) 6 Deceived (7) 7 Garden of Adam and Eve (4) 8 Insect with large rear pincers (6) 13 Powerless (8) 15 South American country (7) 17 Overindulgence (6) 18 Warning light (6) 20 Pub game (5) 22 Wipe out (5) 23 Bill of fare (4)
Last week’s answers Across: 1 Macabre, 5 Crumb, 8 Crane, 9 Ratchet, 10 Enemies, 11 Depth, 12 Height, 14 Stayed, 18 Popes, 20 Anaemia, 22 Undying, 23 Trite, 24 Padre, 25 Serpent. Down: 1 Macbeth, 2 Chase, 3 Blemish, 4 Egress, 5 Cited, 6 Unhappy, 7 Bitch, 13 Impeded, 15 Traitor, 16 Dialect, 17 Ganges, 18 Plump, 19 Seize, 21 Maize.
Ten-Minute Sudoku An easy Sudoku puzzle that should not take long to complete. The rules of Sudoku are simple. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Each row must contain one of each digit. So must each column and each 3x3 box. Answer next week.
Last week’s answers:
Iowa man finds 5 inches of animal blood flooding basement
No. 266
Bagley, Iowa (AP) — Blood may be thicker than water, but it’ll still flood your basement. Nick Lestina found this out the hard way two weeks ago when he discovered 5 inches (13 centimeters) of blood, fat and other animal tissue flooding his family’s basement in Bagley, which is about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of Des Moines. He told the Des Moines Register that he hasn’t been able to clean it up because it’s still seeping in. The waste is coming from a neighboring meat locker, where blood and tissue from slaughtered animals was washed down a drain. Officials say a clog or break in the pipe sent the waste into Lestina’s basement through a floor drain. A state environmental specialist traced the waste to Dahl’s Custom Meat Locker and says the company is now pumping its into a large tank. The Lestina family has temporarily moved in with a relative.
San Diego woman living in van gives up all 300 of her rats San Diego (AP) — A woman living in a van in San Diego with her pet rats has agreed to give them up — all 300 of them. The San Diego Union-Tribune says the San Diego Humane Society went to the woman’s van near Del Mar on Oct. 8. Authorities found rats had clawed into upholstery, burrowed into the seats and gnawed the engine wiring. Capt. Danee Cook says the woman wasn’t hoarding the animals — she’d started with just two pet rats. But rats can give birth every four weeks and produce a dozen in a litter. Cook says the woman acknowledged things had gotten out of control. Authorities collected about 320 rats, and more than 100 are currently ready for adoption. The woman, meanwhile, has found a new place to stay.
VOL. XXVII No. 38
Answers next week.
VOL. XXVII No. 38
PATTAYA MAIL
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2019
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Getting closer to the subject with macro
Macro photography can be done by everyone. Photography is such a vast subject, there is always something you can try any weekend, even if mobility is a problem for some of the older photographers. One branch of the art is in ‘Macro’ photography. The simple name for macro photography is ‘close-up’ photography and allows you to get much more detailed images of subject matters that are very small. Obviously one does not need macro facility to photograph an elephant, but to get the elephant’s eye and nothing else, a macro capability in your camera would make life easier (even if not for the elephant).
Look at the icons on the top of your newly acquired digital SLR camera. Does it have a thing that looks like a tulip? If so, you are on your way to macro photography. There are, however, some pitfalls in macro photography, and some are financial rather than photographic. If you want a car that does 200 kph, it is easier to start with a Ferrari than it is to start with a small family pick-up and then modify the engine. However, the Ferrari is a lot more expensive. Likewise, true macro lenses are more expensive than ordinary ones modified to have near macro capabilities. Having said all that, it is still possible to get close-up photographs with some fairly simple equipment, with the easiest being called ‘closeup lenses’ that screw on to the front of your existing lens. These usually have numbers like +1, +2, +3. The +number refers to the diopter measurement of the lens and
Dear Hillary, My GF went up country to do a course in hair dressing in the village. For the first week we exchanged messages every day. The second week she replied to half of mine. Now the third week and I hear nothing personal, but loads of photos of her and her class mates in Line. Is this usual, Hillary? Or what should I make of it? Reid Dear Reid, Now then my Petal, time for you to look at the realities of the situation. The fire went out of the relationship at the end of the first week of separation. You have been living in hope, but that emotion is not being returned, is it? If she has the time to post photos, there was time to drop you a note as well. Time to move on, Reid. There’s plenty of fish in the ocean, as they say. Forget about your snapper and get a “Dolly” fish instead. Dear Hillary, Help me! I’m in trouble again. Met this crazy bird. Sparkling, sensational, super and sexy, who had me eating out of her hand within 10 minutes. Had to miss the next two nights as I was sent to Chiang Mai for work, but when I came back from up north, she didn’t want to know me. Didn’t even want a lady drink, nothing. It was as if I never existed and the sexy time we had before never happened. What am I supposed to do now? Jimmy Dear Jimmy, What do you want for your 15th birthday, Petal? You have a long way to go yet in the battleground called “women”.
the higher the number, the greater the magnification possible. The diopter measurement is actually the reciprocal of the focal length of the lens measured in meters. Therefore a +1 diopter lens is 1 meter focal length, a +2 is 500 mm and a +4 is 250mm. These add-on lenses are available in a variety of filter sizes and qualities. If you don’t wish to get heavily involved then a set of uncoated close-up lenses to fit your favorite lens is the way to go. Coated close-up lenses cost more and will
yield a better image, and two element close-up lenses (much more expensive) will give better results but you need to be a dedicated macro man to justify the cost of these lenses. The effect of these closeup lenses increases as you add them together. The +1 and the +2 screwed together will yield +3. However you come across another problem when you start ganging them up – the focal length gets smaller and the light that gets into the camera becomes less.
You fell for a professional lady of the night, who was doing her job, and very well too, it would seem. But just by bobbing up again like a rabbit from a gopher hole, all bright eyed and bushy tailed, doesn’t change the way she acts. Go to a better bar, and grow up. Or rather, grow up first and then go to a bar. And, by the way, I think you are telling porky pies. Dear Hillary, Nok, the cashier at my local has told me she wants to get out of the bar trade. Even though she’s cashier, she has managed to get someone to cover for her while we’ve been out together. She tells me that I have to buy her out of the bar, and that is going to cost me 30,000 baht, which I think is a lot, but she’s a really nice girl, woman actually. Is the price for buying her out correct, but Nok says she will look after me after that. Is this a risky thing, Hillary? Jimbo Dear Jimbo, Have you ever heard of the saying “Opportunity Knocks”? Well in your case it is more like “Opportunity Noks”. Not for you – for her. How old are you, my pink Petal? The cashier story is used all the time, to make you think they are “good” girls and not bar girls. The figure of 30,000 baht is well inflated too. Jimbo you are being ripped off. What you do now is run, and never go anywhere near that bar again! Dear Hillary, I’m coming your way in December. What are the safe bars
Understand that in all macro photography as the lens gets closer to the subject and the image gets larger on the electronic “film”, the light reaching it is lessened. Also the depth of field gets very shallow and to combat this, very small apertures are called for which lessens the light to the sensor even more. Both these things in combination mean that normal hand held exposures are usually out of the question. A tripod is needed for steadiness plus flash is needed in nearly every circumstance to give decent illumination.
However, as you strive to get closer to the subject, there may not be enough distance to get the flash to light the subject. A ring flash can help here, but that is another expense. There is another way around this and that is to use a light box. Now these can be purchased from specialized camera suppliers and do cost money, but you can make your own light box very inexpensively. The secret is a large cardboard box and some tracing paper. You can go on line and Google how to make one. So there you have it. If you have a macro lens in the camera, then experiment with how close you can get to your subject. If you haven’t, then try screwing the closeup lens on the front. I find the +3 the best for my camera gear. The biggest problems are short depth of field and lighting, however none of these are insurmountable. Try it today, after you have built the light box! Lots of luck!
to frequent in Pattaya? I don’t want to be ripped off. I’m told you’ve got to be careful in any go-go bar, but what about the bars out in the suburbs? What happens if you’re still there after official closing time? I’ve got a few more questions, but they can wait till closer to my trip. My lodgings are out in the western country, and nothing like Thailand (I was over once before a couple of years ago). Sparrow Dear Capt. Jack, You are nothing like Capt. Jack Sparrow. There is no way I can give you a six month in advance bar forecast. Bars change weekly, some daily. Just use common savvy, Petal. If a bar is empty, then you can say that it isn’t the most popular one, can’t you? If it is thumping and full of people, then it is popular. There’s many more bars other than a-go-go, with sports bars, music bars, family hangouts and more. Just tread gently, go slowly and you’ll be OK. If you’re still there after closing time, don’t worry, the staff will put you right. Dear Hillary, My live-in GF has started going out with “the girls” and was getting back at 2 a.m., then 3 a.m. and even later with the best being 11 a.m. the next morning. I am supposed to believe that they go to restaurants and karaoke bars and drink and have a few laughs. Is this usual? I am getting tired of this. Jimmy Dear Jimmy, A “few laughs”? The laughs are on you, James. You are being used by your GF. There’s more than just drinks there. Show her the door as soon as possible. It will cost you some money as a good bye gift, but it is better than living with someone who is not thinking about you at all.
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VOL. XXVII No. 38
Troubled times for temples in Sattahip City to dig up Lan Pho area in Naklua Wat Nongjubtao demands apology from online media Patcharapol Panrak With all the upheaval at Wat Boonsamphan this past week, another Sattahip temple has been receiving bad online press. Phra Kru Thammayanprayuth, abbot of Wat Nongjubtao in Najomtien, Sattahip, is allegedly suing the “Big Krien” Facebook moderators for publishing rumors about the temple being greedy and only serving Chinese tours. Sound familiar? In the evening of Oct 25, the “Indy Big Krien Sue Nokkok” published photos and claimed that Wat Nongjubtao, “supported Chinese tour gangsters by renting out the area to gain benefits from fraud for selling Buddha amulets to build new duo main halls as photographed. Moreover, the temple doesn’t care although local residents have (complained) leading to conflict ... Many people had negative comments and were seeking the firing of the abbot.” The following day, on Oct. 26, Phra Kru Piyakitwiboon, akaAjan Kaew, Najomtien Subdistrict Dean of Monks, and Phra Kru Thammayanprayuth,
Wat Nongjubtao’s abbot is suing the “Big Krien” Facebook moderators for publishing rumors about the temple being greedy and only serving Chinese tours.
Wat Nongjubtao abbot, said the claims were false and that the online media had twisted the truth. They insisted the temple used its own money to build the new main halls and Phaya Tao Ruan (big turtle sculpture) for 10 million baht. They said door façade and Naga surrounding the old main hall and the new main hall were supported by Chonsawad Atsawaheam, a famous politician who donated the money for the building and construction. Pramuan Pensuk, 35, acting as the temple’s representative,
reported to Najomtien Police that the publisher “totally ruined the temple’s and the abbot’s reputation” and they wished to sue the administrators of “Big Krien” with the charge of publication of false information and libel according to the Computer Crime Act. Phra Kru Thammayanprayuth said he wants the publishers to apologize in the press and to publicize the true story. Otherwise the temple will continue the lawsuit until it is settled. The administrators of “Big Krien” have so far not come out with their side of the story.
In the seemingly never ending fight against flooding, the city predicts that putting a box culvert and runoff areas under and around the Lan Pho area in Naklua will help by directing floodwaters to the sea. Pattaya City has hired Boonkitthana Part., Ltd. to take on the construction project along Sawangfah Road. Deputy Mayor Banlue Kullavanijaya went out to the site Oct. 18 to have a survey done, to ensure the end result is the most effective it can be, but also to try and mitigate the inconvenience to commuters,
Deputy Mayor Banlue Kullavanijaya has a team survey the area where a future flood mitigation project will be undertaken.
businesses and residents. Construction is due to be
complete in March 2020. (PCPR)
Baywatch Litterbugs caught on camera Jetsada Homklin A concerned citizen caught on film these men in a blue pickup illegally dumping their garbage on the Railway Road behind a walled village in Ban Rong Maiked Community. The kicker is, they were dumping construction material scraps, wood furniture and other junk only few meters away from the Sukhumvit Soi 7 city waste transfer plant. The shutterbug who took the photo on Oct. 18 turned it in to Boonma Pangrak, Chair- Mayor Manote Nongyai. man of Ban Rong Maiked Community, who Since the litterbugs were unknown and since said he turned it over to Pattaya Deputy their pickup had no tags, they went free.
Thailand bans use of paraquat and other toxic farm chemicals Preeyapa T. Khunsong & Grant Peck
The door façade and Naga surrounding the old main hall and the new main hall were supported by Chonsawad Atsawaheam, a famous politician who donated the money for the building and construction.
Bangkok (AP) — Thailand’s government agreed Tuesday to ban the use of three farming chemicals widely regarded as dangerous to human health. The government’s National Hazardous Substances Committee voted to put the herbicides paraquat and glyphosate and the insecticide chlorpyrifos in the category of banned chemicals, automatically barring their use under existing law. The ban takes effect Dec. 1. Industry Ministry Deputy Permanent Panuwat Triyangkulsri said the Agriculture Ministry would establish what to do with remaining stocks of the chemicals, taking into consideration the effects on farmers and sellers. The ban, proposed by the Agriculture Ministry, had met with strong opposition from some farmers groups and academics, who argued that the chemicals were not unacceptably dangerous and banning their use would drive up farmers’ costs significantly. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul, who took office in July with the installation of a newly elected government, had said earlier
In this Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, photo, containers of the herbicide glyphosate are for sale at a farm supply store in Nakhon Phanom Province, northeast Thailand. Thailand’s government has agreed to ban the use of the herbicides paraquat and glyphosate and the insecticide chlorpyrifos, all widely regarded as dangerous to human health, starting Dec. 1. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
this month he would resign if the chemicals were not banned. Prokchol Ousap, coordinator of the Thailand Pesticide Alert Network, said that Tuesday’s passage of the ban hinged on political support that was a reflection of public sentiment. She said that bipartisan support for studying the potential problems of the chemicals was crucial, as well as a rare example of an issue all sides could agree on. The network campaigned for banning the chemicals, publicizing studies that found residues of the chemicals on fruits and vegetable sold to consumers.
The use of paraquat, especially, has been sharply debated worldwide. Farm workers are at particular risk from the toxic chemical, which can cause immediate death through ingestion as well as chronic health problems from other contact. The European Union has banned its use, but it is still popular in many countries. In Southeast Asia, paraquat was banned by Vietnam in 2017, and Malaysia in March announced a total ban on paraquat starting Jan. 1 next year. The herbicide brand Roundup, which has glyphosate as its active ingredient, has recently
been in the news because of lawsuits from thousands of plaintiffs in the United States contending it causes cancer. Bayer, the German chemical company that owns the brand, says studies have established that the weed killer is safe, but several U.S. courts have ruled otherwise. In August, however, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it would no longer approve labels warning glyphosate is known to cause cancer. It acted after California required warning labels on glyphosate products because the International Agency for Research on Cancer has said it is “probably carcinogenic.” The EPA disagreed, saying its own research showed the chemical poses no risks to public health. In September, Germany announced plans to ban the use of glyphosate over concerns it is leading to a decline of bees and other insects, upsetting the balance of nature with effects that include hindering the pollination of food crops. Germany’s Cabinet agreed to start phasing out glyphosate next year and ban all use in Germany by the end of 2023. Similar actions against the chemicals have been launched in Austria and France.
VOL. XXVII No. 38
Terracotta Warriors exhibition opens in Bangkok
Culture Ministry to hold exhibition on royal barge procession
The free “Qin Shi Huang: The First Emperor of China and the Terracotta Warriors” is open Wednesday to Sunday until December 15, 2019, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Sivamok Phiman Throne Hall at the Bangkok National Museum in Phra Nakhon district.
Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome recently attended the premiere of the “Qin Shi Huang: The First Emperor of China and the Terracotta Warriors” exhibition on Monday in Bangkok. The exhibition features 133 historic relics, many of which are over 2,200 years old. They are from 14 leading museums in the People’s Republic of China and are on
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2019 11
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display at the Sivamok Phiman Throne Hall at the Bangkok National Museum in Phra Nakhon district. Thai citizens and foreign tourists are invited to visit the special exhibition, which is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday until December 15, 2019, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Every Sunday, people can visit the exhibition as a family, free of charge. (NNT)
Destination
The Ministry of Culture is organizing an exhibition on the Royal barge procession from October 25 to November 11, 2019, in Bangkok. The procession is part of nationwide celebrations of His Majesty King Maha Va j i r a l o n g k orn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua coronation earlier this year. At 7:29 a.m. on Sunday (Oct 20), Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome presided over a religious ceremony at the exhibition. The rite was performed by the Brahmin chief priest, Phra Maharajchakru Sriwisutthikun. The exhibition is divided into three zones. The first zone shows the history coronations since the Rattanakosin period. The second zone features an extravagant three dimensional show in commemoration of Royal grace. The third zone offers knowledge about the Royal barges since the Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin
eras. The exhibition also has an open market and includes cultural performances. The event is designed to present traditional architecture. Staff will be available to assist people with disabilities and senior citizens. “I would like all Thais to visit this exhibition. The exhibition offers knowledge about the coronation and the Royal barge procession. It is one of the important events that the government organizes to honor His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The government wants every Thai person to experience the beauty and detail of this Royal ceremony and the Royal barge procession. They’re elegant and we’re all familiar them. Not many people, however, understand all the information. All Thais should be informed of the ceremonial procedures.” The exhibition is open to public from October 25 to November 11, 2019, between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. (NNT)
Buriram ranked 3rd in Airbnb top 20 trending destinations
Buriram has been ranked 3rd in Airbnb’s top 20 trending destinations.
The ranking is based on 20 trending destinations for 2020 based on year-on-year growth in bookings, in which Buriram has seen a threehundred-eighty-three percent increase. The most trending city is the US’s Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s largest city, followed by Bilbao in Spain and Buriram. According to Airbnb’s website, some of the top trending locales are cities and regions that are preparing for big events, and the Chang International
Circuit in Buriram will be one of the competition venues this year. Apart from being regarded as a “sporting hotspot”, Buriram also offers cultural delights, such as the Khmer temple and Phanom Rung Historical Park, which is already in UNESCO’s tentative list for consideration as future World Heritage Sites. The number of tourists visiting Buriram increases every year, from 1.2 million to two million in the past 5 years. (NNT)
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VOL. XXVII No. 38
Scotch Mist
Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang.
I played Max Bruch’s first violin concerto when I was fourteen. Not the solo violin part you understand, because at the time I couldn’t play the violin. I still can’t play the violin and to be honest I have never tried. No, in those days I was a spotty teenage cellist and a rather inexperienced one at that, sitting at the back of
the cello section of our national youth orchestra. But the concerto had a lasting impression and as soon I had saved up enough pocket money I bought the record, along with LPs of Bruch’s two other violin concerti and a recording of his Scottish Fantasy. In his day Bruch was much admired for his choral music but he also
wrote three symphonies, four operas, several concertos and a fair amount of chamber music. The Scottish Fantasy has always remained a popular concert piece perhaps because it contains some genuine and well-known Scottish folk songs. And in case you’re wondering, the curious expression “Scotch mist” has several different meanings. In its literal sense it means the thick, cold and penetrating mist which verges on rain and all too common in the northern parts of Britain. It’s also used as an idiomatic expression for something that is hard to find or possibly doesn’t even exist. It can also apply to a flowering plant known to botanists as Galium sylvaticum and most important - as far as I’m concerned - it’s the name of a splendid drink made with Scotch whisky, ice and a dash of lemon. It makes a pleasing late-night drink before hitting the hay. Now then, where was I? (Search me – Ed.) Ah yes, I remember. Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy was completed in 1880, despite the fact that he didn’t actually visit Scotland until se veral years later. It’s a violin concerto in all but name, though I suppose it’s more prosaically described as “a fourmovement fantasy based on
Scottish folk melodies”.
Max Bruch (18381920): Scottish Fantasy Op. 46. Clara-Jumi Kang (vln), Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra cond. Shi-Yeon Sung. (Duration: 39:27; Video: 1080p HD) After the slow and rather ominous introduction, the mood gradually becomes lighter and more melodious. The work is built around a handful of Scottish folk tunes. The first you’ll hear is Through the Wood Laddie which also shows up later in the work along with the songs The Dusty Miller and I’m a’ Doun for Lack O’ Johnnie. The unmistakable sound of Scots bagpipes is suggested in the second movement (10:05) and you might even recognise some of the melodies, especially a tune called Hey Tuttie Tatie that kicks off the sizzling last movement (23:37). Surprisingly, this tune dates back to the 14 th century. The Fantasy would make a splendid introduction to the music of Max Bruch who today is really not given the attention he deserves. These fine South Korean
musicians give a compelling performance and violinist Clara-Jumi Kang is brilliantly competent. A child prodigy, she started violin lessons at the age of three and won a full scholarship at the age of seven to study at the prestigious Julliard School. Incidentally, back in 1881 the soloist at the work’s premiere was the distinguished violinist Joseph Joachim but the composer accused him of “ruining” the performance. History does not record what acerbic comments might have been exchanged.
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 (“Scottish”). Concierto de la Orquesta Joven de la OSG, dir. Roberto González Monjas. (Duration: 41:33; Video: 1080p HD) Felix Mendelssohn went to Scotland on an extensive walking tour in 1829. It must have had quite an impression him because it also inspired The Hebrides concert overture. After this was completed he started sketches for the symphony, although progress was evidently difficult, so much so that he abandoned the work
for ten years and didn’t get it finished until 1842. As a result, although it was the composer’s fifth and final symphony, it was the third to be published and has subsequently been known as Symphony No. 3. It has an imposing first movement and unusually the second movement (at 15:49) is a fast one with a lovely, sunny theme which may strike you as familiar. This movement is meticulously played with splendid precision and articulation especially by the brass. The last movement draws ideas from Scottish dance music although unlike Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy, no genuine Scottish folk songs have ever been identified. The Youth Symphony Orchestra of Galicia is in splendid form. In case you’d forgotten (or possibly never knew) Galicia lies on the north-west Atlantic coast of Spain, directly north of Portugal. This performance is somewhat unusual for a 19th century symphony in that it’s directed by the orchestra’s leader. But because the work requires a relatively small number of players, a conductor is not entirely necessary. Even so, it’s a bit disconcerting to see an empty space where the conductor usually stands.
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.
Grisham’s ‘The Guardians’ is suspenseful thriller Jeff Ayers In John Grisham’s latest novel, “The Guardians,” a former priest named Cullen Post works for an organization called Guardian Ministries that scours court transcripts and personal letters from convicts to determine if someone is wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he or she didn’t commit. If the organization believes without a doubt that the potential client is innocent, it will do everything it can within the boundaries of the law to free an innocent person, investigating and pushing for a new trial. Quincy Miller has been in prison for 22 years — and still claims his innocence. A young lawyer was murdered, and suspicion quickly turned to Miller pulling the trigger. He says a fellow inmate fabricated a story about Miller confessing, and his
ex-wife claimed that he owned several guns, which also wasn’t true. Another witness lied about seeing him flee the scene. Miller swears he never owned a gun, wasn’t anywhere in the area that night and that a key piece of evidence that later disappeared was planted. It’s a bit much to believe that so many folks would be involved in a miscarriage of justice, but Post believes Miller and begins to dig into what happened that fateful night. Grisham again delivers a suspenseful thriller mixed with powerful themes such as false incarceration, the death penalty and how the legal system shows prejudice. The Guardian team of characters is first-rate, and Miller’s attitude and mannerisms will have readers questioning what truth means in the world of the legal system. “The Guardians: a Novel,” published by Doubleday, by John Grisham.
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‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ claims No. 1 over ‘Joker’
Lindsey Bahr Los Angeles (AP) — The Walt Disney Co.’s “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” knocked “Joker” out of the No. 1 spot at the box office, but just barely. Studios on Sunday say the film starring Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning grossed an estimated $36 million in North America and $117 million internationally in its first weekend in theaters. The first film had a much stronger domestic showing, opening to nearly $70 million domestically in 2014, and the sequel was expected to earn more stateside. Although, “It’s not as strong as we hoped domestically, but it’s a good start for October and we have a great window leading into Halloween,” said Cathleen Taff, Disney’s president of theatrical distribution. “Most encouraging is the fact that audiences seem to be responding very positively.”
The A CinemaScore — in contrast to the mixed critical reviews — suggests that the film could have a longer life at the box office. Although it fell to second place after two weekends at the top, Warner Bros.’ “Joker” continues to hold strong at the box office. It added $29.2 million in its third weekend in North America. The villain origin story has grossed over $247 million domestically. Worldwide, it’s earned $737.5 million, and has already surpassed the lifetime grosses of “Justice League” and “Suicide Squad.” Now the big question is whether the R-rated film will make it to $1 billion, but with a $55 million production budget, it’s already a massive hit for the studio and will likely also become director Todd Phillips’ highest-grossing film too. “It’s already in territory that nobody thought it would get to. It’s achieved a box office that is above the wildest expectations of the studio and analysts,” said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s senior media analyst. “Even if the box office stopped right now it’s an absolute, unqualified success.”
Dolly Parton, Chris Stapleton, Pink to perform at CMA Awards
In this July 31, 2015 file photo, Dolly Parton performs in concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. Parton will perform a new song “Faith” in a gospel medley at the Country Music Association Awards on the Nov. 13 awards show in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Wade Payne/Invision/AP, File)
The Associated Press Nashville, Tenn. (AP) — Dolly Parton will perform a new song “Faith” in a gospel medley, Reba McEntire will revisit her hit “Fancy” and Chris Stapleton will perform a duet with Pink at this year’s Country Music Association Awards. CMA announced Wednesday the first round of performers for the Nov. 13 awards show in Nashville, Tennessee. Parton will also sing “God Only Knows”
with Christian duo for King & Country and “There Was Jesus” with Zach Williams. Carrie Underwood, who is nominated for entertainer of the year and will host the show with McEntire and Parton, will perform “Drinking Alone,” while Miranda Lambert will sing her new single, “It All Comes Out in the Wash.” Additional performers include Eric Church, Luke Combs, Keith Urban and the show’s top nominee, Maren Morris.
This image released by Disney shows, from left, Harris Dickinson as Prince Phillip, Elle Fanning as Aurora, Robert Lindsay as King John and Michelle Pfeiffer as Queen Ingrith in a scene from the film, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.” (Jaap Buitendijk/Disney via AP)
Third place went to another new sequel, Columbia Pictures’ “Zombieland: Double Tap” with $26.7 million. The R-rated comedy comes 10 years after the original, reuniting Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Woody Harrelson with director Ruben Fleischer. “Three films earning over $25 million, that doesn’t happen very often,”
Dergarabedian noted, although the weekend is down from last year when “Halloween” opened to over $76 million. In notable landmarks, “Hustlers” crossed $100 million domestically this weekend. It’s the second STX film to do so this year after “The Upside.” And buzzy, awards-friendly indies are continuing to
thrive. “Parasite,” which opened last weekend, added $1.2 million. This weekend, Taika Waititi’s Nazi satire “Jojo Rabbit” opened in five theaters with a strong $350,000, the black and white Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe mindbender “The Lighthouse” earned $419,764 from eight theaters, and “Jay & Silent Bob Reboot” grossed $93,520 from one screen this weekend. But the year is still down 5% from last year. “It was a great weekend for sequels and great weekend for indie movies,” Dergarabedian said. “But we’re still struggling to get ahead of last year. We’re racing to the finish line here. We’ve only got 11 weekends left to go.” Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest
international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday. 1. “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” $36 million ($117 million international). 2. “Joker,” $29.5 million ($77.8 million international). 3. “Zombieland: Double Tap,” $26.7 million ($5.3 million international). 4. “The Addams Family,” $16.1 million. 5. “Gemini Man,” $8.5 million ($33.4 million international). 6. “Abominable,” $3.5 million ($9.2 million international). 7. “Downton Abbey,” $3.1 million ($2.5 million international). 8. “Judy,” $2.1 million ($1.3 million international). 9. “Hustlers,” $2.1 million ($3 million international). 10. “It: Chapter Two,” $1.5 million.
Review: Neil Young back in his ragged glory with ‘Colorado’ Scott Bauer Neil Young is back with his old band Crazy Horse in all their ragged glory with “Colorado,” a beautiful, rambling, chaotic howl against climate change, division and hate. It’s one of Young’s best record in years, reminiscent of 1989’s triumphant “Ragged Glory,” and his first with Crazy Horse since 2012. Young, an old man showing no signs of slowing down at 73, cranks up both his rage and tenderness as only he can with the latest incarnation of Crazy Horse behind him. The band members have spent 50 years recording on and off with Young. The latest version features longtime Bruce Springsteen guitarist Nils Lofgren, who replaces retired 70-year-old Frank “Poncho” Sampedro.
But just like Young, Crazy Horse seems to defy the passing of time with the energy and emotion they bring to “Colorado.” That passion is on full display on “Mountaintop,” a companion documentary that captured the recording session high in the Rockies as Young and Crazy Horse suck on oxygen and work out the new songs. The sweetly melodic threeminute opening track “Think of Me” could easily fit on Young’s 1992 “Harvest Moon.” But in a sharp left turn, Young follows it up with a shambolic 13-minute jam — “She Showed Me Love” — with echoes of earlier Crazy Horse adventures like 1969’s “Down by the River.” As he has for much of the past decade, Young focuses his rage on climate change, railing about “old white guys trying to kill Mother Nature.”
Neil Young with Crazy Horse, “Colorado” (Reprise).
On the standout “Rainbow of Colors,” Young offers some hope amid the despair. “There’s a rainbow of colors/In the old USA,” Young croons. “No one’s
gonna whitewash those colors away.” Young’s never one to whitewash anything, as he proves magnificently once again on “Colorado.”
14 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2019
VOL. XXVII No. 38
Regents Internatio marks 25 years of ‘M
Dr. Virachai Techavijit, Founder, Owner, Chairman and Licence Holder of Regent’s International School Pattaya & Bangkok.
Local and international dignitaries, including past heads of school, teachers and parents packed the ballroom of Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Regents International School Pattaya Oct 5. Heading the distinguished line-up of dignitaries was none other than Dr. Virachai Techavijit, Founder, Owner, Chairman and Licence Holder of Regent’s International School Pattaya & Bangkok. He was accompanied by his wife Thiphavan and his son Kanet (Nick), his daughter Kwanshanok (Noon) and grandson Puno. In an emotional introduction, Sarah Osborne-James, Regent’s International School Pattaya Principal said, “The Regents Pattaya began with one man. With the support of his loving family, he founded our school in 1994 and Regents Bangkok in 2000 … Dr. Virachai Techavijit.” Dr. Virachai said, “I wanted to start my speech with something stunning, but
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when I look back these past 25 years, it seems that everything was stunning. I will therefore speak from my heart.” He went on to thank his wife Thiphavan who he called “a great woman who is always at my side” and his children for supporting him throughout the years. Dr. Virachai thanked Sarah Osborne-James and her amazing organizing team for arranging the grand 25 th Anniversary celebration. He thanked all the teachers and staff for their dedication and hard work and even pointed out that one of the staff has worked for the school for the past 24 and a half years. Dr. Virachai said that the relationship with Nord Anglia education has proven to be most beneficial to all parties because it offers academic, social and personal success for every student. “Through opportunities to learn from the best, experiences beyond the ordinary, and the encouragement to achieve more than what they thought possible, we help our students
succeed anywhere through our unique global educational offer. We do all this by investing in our people, our schools, and above all, our students.” He reiterated that the mission of the Regent’s School is to ensure a safe environment for students. “We will not tolerate bullying and this also helps the teachers do their work effectively by concentrating on educating the children rather than spending precious time resolving conflicts.” Dr. Virachai’s keynote address was followed by special performances, an international buffet dinner, presentations, prize draws, a live band and dancing in celebration of the Regent’s success.
So, let’s look at the life and times this remarkable man, to learn about his past, the present and future of education in the Kingdom. It takes some people decades to discover what their passion is in life. For Dr. Virachai Techavijit, he stumbled into his passion for education at an early age. At just 19 years old, he became the headmaster of Joseph Upatham School in Sampran, Thailand, managing over a thousand students and 35 teachers. “Most of the staff were older than me,” Dr. Virachai recalls, smiling. At 21, Dr. Virachai left the Kingdom to study in the United States, where he earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degrees in
Sarah Osborne-James presents a plaque of gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Virachai and Thiphavan Techavijit.
transforming his life and the lives of countless students in Thailand. Back in Thailand, Dr. Virachai spent the next 12 years working in a variety of sectors putting his western experience and negotiating expertise to use. His former bosses include CP’s Dhanin Chearavanont (he helped in penetrating the Chinese market in 1982), former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun (he helped in easing pressure from the US Congress’ Textiles and Farm Bills), and Bangkok Bank’s Chatri Sophonpanich (he helped in fixing the 200,000 baht fee ceiling for loan mortgage registration).
resolution so the government was able to build the country’s first subway train, the Blue Line). By 1996, he was serving as an official advisor to the Prime Minister, a position which he left a year later to commence a year-long process to become the Honorary Consul of Republic of Estonia for Thailand. Dr. Virachai invested in real estate in Pattaya in 1988 whilst serving as advisor to Thai Bankers’ Association, setting off a chain of events that put him on a track back into the world of education. First, he developed homes for three major US companies in
Dr Virachai, Kwanshanok and Thiphavan Techavijit, a family dedicated to the best education for all.
An educator’s story: Bringing London to Bangkok Reaching a milestone of any organization or institution usually calls for a celebration. Bu t t o f u l l y e n j o y and appreciate their achievements, one must learn about the origins and events and the sacrifices made by so few for so many.
Dr. Virachai Techavijit, Master Puno, Michael Deveney, Kirsty Paiboontanasin and Kanet Techavijit.
accountancy, including a CPA. The newly minted doctor worked as professor at universities across the US for six years, eventually setting his sights on the West Coast. “I heard the old advice: young man, go west,” he said. He landed a highly prestigious position in 1981 as an MBA lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) when tragedy struck. He came home during his holidays and asked his father, when was the last time he had a physical examination? “I knew that he had been smoking like a chimney when he was younger,” said Dr. Virachai. He convinced his father to get an X-ray and the results revealed terrible news. A ping pong ball-sized tumour had formed in his lung. A biopsy showed the tumour was cancerous. “I had a big decision to make. Coming from a Chinese background, you needed to be with your family.” He deferred his position at UCLA and returned to Thailand to be with his father, a move that would end up
Dr. Virachai Techavijit (centre) and Sarah OsborneJames (left) welcome Sukanya Gale, Peter Malhotra and Winston Gale to the festivities.
Then in 1993 he became Senior Executive Vice President of Bangkok Metropolitan Bank before the Cabinet appointed him the chairman of the board of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority in 1994 (he reversed a cabinet
North Pattaya. The residents of those homes were concerned for the future of their companies that wouldn’t be able to recruit valuable talent without proper education options for families. They implored the
Rhian Curtis conducts the school choir, enchanting the guests with their beautiful rendition of the classics.
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onal School Pattaya Making a Difference’ former educator to solve their crisis. The decision by the Thai government under Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun in 1992 to allow local children to attend international schools was most timely - one may say it was a key factor of Thailand’s successful globalization. “To decide to invest in a school is a huge, huge job,” Dr. Virachai says, “but of course what really scared me was that we would have 32 empty houses.” Dr. Virachai took over a small international kindergarten in Pattaya and opened its doors in 1994 as a full scale international school with just 75 families. Two months later, the number grew to over 140. He then moved the school to its current site in 1995. Regent’s International School Pattaya, now operating as a day and boarding school, caters to 1100 students and boasts 11 buildings on 70 of his 450 rai. Six years into the school’s history, parents pushed Dr. Virachai to open a Bangkok campus to ease the pain of being apart from their children. The chairman obliged, and in 2000 brought his esteemed school to the capital, which at present caters to over 700 students. Regent’s International School alumni began going on to graduate from Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, and other prestigious schools including Stanford, UCLA, Cornell, National Singapore University and Seoul National University. Many went on to complete doctorate degrees from top institutions, including Cambridge University. Some went on to become politicians, including the Deputy Minister
of Energy and Natural Resources in Armenia. With Dr. Virachai’s reputation in Thailand, it became easy to recruit world class teachers. (We have had) “graduates who went to study Law at Cambridge University, Economics at University of Chicago and other noted subjects at LSE, UCL, and Imperial College,” Dr. Virachai proudly says. While the schools’ reputations soared, Dr. Virachai saw another opportunity to offer students in Thailand. “We were looking for something stunning to bring to Bangkok,” he says, and that’s how we started the
UOL-LSE provides the curriculum, supporting literature and final exams to students working toward their Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics, Management, Science or Social Science. Students can even participate in the graduation ceremony in London. With passionate leaders in education like Dr Virachai pushing for young people to not only earn prestigious degrees, but become naturally curious, lifelong learners; everyone seems to win. In 2016 Regent’s International College started another option of higher
(l-r) Kwanshanok, Dr. Virachai, Thiphavan, Khanet and Puno receive greetings from Suchai Rujivanichkul (3rd right).
(l-r) Peter Hogan, Principal of Regent’s International School Bangkok, Miss Kwanshanok and Mrs. Thipavan Techavijit, School Directors, Dr. Virachai Techavijit, Sarah Osborne-James, Principal Regent’s International School Pattaya, Dr. Peter Jones, Head of Secondary and Ms. Caroline Drumm, Head of Primary School at Regent’s International School Bangkok.
University of London International programmes.” “The one major feature is that the curriculum is set by the University of London and London School of Economics (LSE),” Dr. Virachai says. “LSE actually dictates what students study.”
education with emphasis on employment demand driven curriculum. The College became the first and still the only one in Thailand that is licensed by the Thai Government to teach foreign vocational curriculum. Dr. Virachai’s vision was fully supported by the then
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2019 15
Education Minister, General Da-pong, the current privy councilor, who proposed and the cabinet approved to allow the teaching of international vocational curriculum in the Kingdom. The College then proceeded to apply for the required training and certification to
Dr. Virachai Techavijit is flanked by Peter Hogan and Paul Schofield.
BTEC qualifications. Not only BTEC teachers what the industries need but the approach of learning is focusing on critical thinking and problem solving without memorization nor closed
book exams. Over the years, this sort of learning approach has been recommended to Thai Ministers by so many critics and this BTEC approach is exactly what they were searching for.
Courtesy of Prestige Magazine, published with the kind permission of Dr. Virachai Techavijit.
Dr. Virachai Techavijit personally thanked his loyal staff who are working tirelessly to maintain the Regents International School as the top international school in Thailand comparable to the best in the world.
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VOL. XXVII No. 38
Avoiding legal catastrophes in Thailand At the Sunday, October 13 meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club, well known Bangkok lawyer Mike Doyle’s topic was “Avoiding Legal Catastrophes in Thailand”. He spoke about some of the most common legal mistakes that foreigners make in Thailand and how to avoid them. Using real life stories, he focused on the areas of estate planning, employment law, and real estate acquisition. Mike is a frequent public speaker in Thailand and the region on Thailand investment laws and is fluent in both written and spoken Thai. Mike is a US lawyer and Senior Partner of the Bangkok-based law firm Seri Manop & Doyle. He has practiced in Thailand since 1996 and in 1999 joined the firm and became a named partner in 2002. He first published his very well-known book Doyle’s Practical Guide to Thailand Business Law in 2004 (currently in its 5th edition - available in English and Japanese) and went on to publish Doyle’s Practical Guide to Business Law in Asia in 2009 (currently in its 2nd edition). Mike introduced his talk on a light note, with a slide showing a Maclean’s magazine cover page with
the stereotype of lawyers as rats. During his talk, he showed that often they deal with clients who try to cheat or are being cheated. He began with the following observations on Thailand Estate Law: 1) If you die without a will, Thailand’s intestate rules apply on who will get your assets, 2) wills must be properly executed (normally not an issue), 3) foreign wills are generally enforceable in Thailand unless contrary to Thai Law, 4) Thai law does not recognize trusts, a common method in other countries to distribute assets over time to beneficiaries, and 5) the same general rules apply for Thais and foreigners with only a few exceptions. Mike gave a case history of a Swedish entrepreneur with 2 wives and a son. The Swedish guy was married in his twenties to a Thai lady, marriage registered and had a son. He established a business which became very successful; 15 years later, they separated, but did not divorce. Five years after that, the man marries again, but does not register the marriage since he had not divorced his first wife. When he died, he did not have a will. Consequently,
Mike Doyle, with the Bangkok law firm of Seri Manop & Doyle, uses actual cases to advise PCEC members on how to avoid legal catastrophes in Thailand.
under Thai law, the first wife and sons inherited his assets and his second wife got nothing. The lesson to be learned from this is if you have assets in Thailand, you should have a will as it allows you to designate who is to receive your assets (including company shares). The second aspect of Thai Law that he dealt with was when a company, a Japanese Jewelry manufacturer, wanted to remove their Financial Controller, caught stealing, and have their company property returned. The CEO in Japan decided to terminate him, but they discovered because they had also made him a Director, they must call a shareholders meeting which required a 7 day notice. Although no longer a company employee,
during those 7 days, the director had the right to enter the company premises, thus still able to remove valuable property. In the next situation, the company terminated the accounting manager in possession of the only company seal, a USA company with registered sales office in Thailand. There is a 45 million baht company bank account, but the accounting manager effectively controls access to the bank account because it requires use of the seal. The important lesson in this case is that there should be more than one company seal, otherwise the one person who possesses the seal will have the company at a disadvantage during negotiations for its return.
The next case study involved another situation involving a Financial Controller found to be embezzling funds. In this case, a Korean service company identified suspicious transactions to a supplier which turned out to be owned by the Controller and her husband. The decision was made to terminate the financial controller but was complicated by the fact that she was a company shareholder. The lesson here referred to how risky it can be to have staff serve as nominee shareholders because it gives them leverage. In conclusion, the final case involved a situation many are familiar with, real estate purchase of buying a condominium off plan before construction. A French individual bought 5 condominium units off plan for 62 million baht, paying 80% up front to get a big discount. In this case, the land being developed was mortgaged to a bank. When the developer ran out of money and defaulted on the loan, the bank had first priority in their claim against the developer with buyers’ claims being secondary and they got nothing as there were no assets left to recover
from. The important lesson is if you buy off plan, you are an unsecured creditor (just like a credit card company). Since buying off plan is a big risk, Mike recommended you do as much investigation as possible of the developer before investing anything, such as previous project bankruptcy. He emphasized it doesn’t matter what they say or what their offices look like as they are often very underfunded. The bank will lend money because it is secured by a mortgage. If it goes to court, the bank will be first in line and there will be many ahead of the lowly investor. After the presentation, the MC brought everyone up to date on upcoming club and other Pattaya events of interest. The meeting ended with the usual Open Forum where audience members can ask questions or make comments about Expat life in Thailand, especially Pattaya. For more info about the PCEC, visit their website at www.pcec.club. Visit the Club’s You Tube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCJ2hH8irBpX _v7Qb7s-pANA to view the presentation and the subsequent speaker interview by Club member Ren Lexander.
PCEC learns about acting and modelling in Thailand The Sunday, October 20, meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club featured Lela Layla Aukes and Ross Cain speaking about their experience as westerners appearing as actors or modelling in Thailand. Both have lived in Thailand for many years and are now involved with the very different world of cinema, modelling and all that goes with it. Lela is of Dutch extraction, born in Indonesia. With her fair colouring, willowy build and quiet confidence, it is easy to see how she keeps busy in her chosen field. As her start in the business, she tells the story of a boyfriend who was in film school at college and how she supplemented her income as an extra in those early days before going on to have a career and a family. Much later it was convincing her daughter to go to seek work in the acting field to give her more self-confidence. That brought about an offer for herself to work. Since then, she has not looked back. She says Thai films often need foreigners. To aid this she now runs an active online Facebook group for people interested in obtaining work in acting, modelling or as extras. Merely as a go between she says, not an agent, but maybe more as a facilitator.
Ross Cain is English, originally from Manchester. Slim and dark haired, he has an expressive and interesting face for film. He too had another career and family in his early life but, as he says quoting Shakespeare, ‘All the World’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts…’ Ross says for him acting is just an extension of this philosophy. He went into the profession after he was mistaken for a famous actor. This inspired him to step outside of his comfort zone, take acting classes and eventually acting. He mentions an old TV character figure, Mr Ben, who dressed in a different costume to become different character which had always fascinated him. As he points out, this is very much what actors must do. Ross has completed many films, his first being Kilroy. He talks of theatre as being his first love but also being incredibly demanding. He stresses going outside your comfort zone is a good thing, he likes to stretch himself. Both Lela and Ross spoke of the many technicalities of filming. They met on a blue screen session. This is
MC Les Edmonds presents the PCEC’s Certificate of Appreciation to Lela Aukes and Ross Cain for their enlightening and entertaining presentation about acting and modelling for westerners in Thailand.
where you have no scenery, yet you react as if there were. The blue screen is the background, surroundings are added later. In their particular shot they were supposedly viewing paintings in a gallery. A later shoot with blue screen was used for the opening of the shopping centre ‘Icon Siam.’ As is often the case, there were two days of filming to get two minutes of film. Often the actors are not told where it will be used. They stress the industry needs all sorts of material, such as hair, hands, feet, eyes, with a wide variety of ages and sizes of people. Ross tells a funny story of being offered work to model his hands,
leading to much confusion. They talked of how you advertise and sell yourself to agents or directors. Of the preparations needed. A vital one being the com card, or more fully, the composition card. Showing a full profile: age, height, weight, etc. that can be left after a casting call, or audition, or simply sent out as requested. This should list all your special skills and abilities; plus, any experience you have. Portfolio photos should show a variety of angles. Another com card can show a variety of characterisations. A small video clip is often useful. Maybe a Facebook or Instagram page. Then, you take an interest in what’s
going on in the business, maybe join Lela’s group where agents often advertise. As you progress, make contacts, as you decide which aspects interest you. Modelling, acting, music, TV, film theatre. Then go for it. Ross talked of the many aspects going on behind the scenes. The location, or alternative green screen, the makeup, costume, wiring for sound, story board: a comic book type illustration showing the order of scenes and the call sheet, showing times and days for characters. Once on-set you must cope with a mostly foreign language, the tangle of cameras, camera rails, cables and the waiting. It can be a tough and demanding business with shoots often lasting twelve to fifteen hours. Filming can begin early or end late. The other side they stress, is that the group of people involved can become good friends and it can be lots of fun. It is how Lela and Ross met; some casting calls, they say, become a kind of social gathering for the “regulars.” They have a great body of work, often cast together, with films being shown at the Beverly Hills Film Festival. More recently, Ross is a feature actor in recent film, ‘The Cave’, dealing with the
rescue of the soccer team from a cave here in Thailand. He is also in the soon to be released ‘Future sex’. In theatre Ross was one of the jurors in the classic ‘Twelve Angry Men’, plus one called ‘Bangkok Days’. Ross is also writing a book. With Lela playing in Hangover 2, Death trap and the lead as Anna Wintour the designer, she also has had many parts in other movies, or seen modelling famous fashion brands, spas etcetera, too many to mention here. If you are interested in being an extra or other aspect of show business, Lala’s Facebook Group can be found at: https://www. facebook.com/groups/ TalentThailand/. Information on Ross’s films can be found at www.imdb.com/ name/nm7210361/. The presentations were followed by announcements of upcoming events and the Open Forum where questions can be asked or comments made about Expat living in Thailand. To learn more about the PCEC, visit www.pcec.club. Member Ren Lexander interviewed Lela Aukes and Ross Cain at the conclusion their presentation. To view the video, visit https:// www.youtube.com/watch? v=5Vx9xa3fmb8&t=2s
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Businesses for Sale or Rent Bop03/35-38/ Walking Street GOGO Bar FOR RENT: 120,000 Monthly Rent. Refundable security deposit 800,000. All Licenses. New Fully furnished. Bar on two floors, third floor 2 air-con ensuite apartments. 3+3 year lease. Open immediately. Tel. 092 934 4099 Bop02/14-42/ Warehouse on Huay Yai Road, 4 big halls on 1.5 Rai (2,400sqm), 8 toilets, air-condition; perfect for all kind of business. 20,000,000 THB(331) GO PROPERTY THAILAND; 093- 161 5995; www.gopropertythailand.com Bop01/37-38/Buriram Raveekan Resort 15 rooms – swimming pool-restaurant-big house, new renovated Tel: 061 828 5973
Property for Rent Houses, Villas Prb07/36-40/ For Rent 10,900 baht per month, 2 bedroom, 2bath, 3 A/C Furnished, Pool, Clean Beautiful, Soi 53 Nern Plabwan at Soi 45 Tel: 084 351 8254 Prb06/38-42/ 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, B9,500. Monthly, B19,000. Security Deposit. English, 087-805-5276
Condominiums Prc05/35-39/ 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 Prc04/36-47/ Rent 19,000 THB/Month long-term – Sea-front condo with infinity pool, tennis – Banglamung – 204sqm, 2-bed, 2-bath, See pictures at: www.facebook.com/ thailand.bayview, T: 082 122 4335 – mail: bay.view@live.com Prc02/36-40/ Markland studio: 48sq-mtrs, sea front balcony, refurbished, furnished, internet, parking, pool: 15,000 B/month, min 12 months contact. Email owner ian.thailand@hotmail.com or Tel. 0871371529 Prc01/25-42/ You like to rent a clean and nice condo short time or long term? We have City-Condos from 5,000 THB/ monthly, directly located at the “10-Baht-Taxi-Route” or close to the beach with stunning sea
views from 9,500 THB/monthly. We get daily new properties for rent. Please call us. We have the right one for you. GO PROPERTY THAILAND; call Mr. Jo 093- 161 5995
Property for Sale Houses, Villas Psb01/14-42/ House located on Thappraya Road, PattayaJomtien; land size 372sqm, living space 250sqm; fully furnished; 1 living room; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, European kitchen; garden; security 7/24h; community pool; parking; close 10 Baht Taxi Route, restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry, 8,300,000 THB (281) GO PROPERTY THAILAND; 093- 161 5995; www. gopropertythailand.com
Condominiums Psc111/36-47/ Sale 4.9M THB – Sea-front condo with infinity pool, tennis – Banglamung – 204sqm, 2-bed, 2bath - Foreign owned. See pictures at: www.facebook.com/ thailand.bayview, T: 082 122 4335 – mail: bay.view@live.com Psc110/36-05/ Condo for Sale: The Trust Resident Central Pattaya Fully furnished, 1,100,000 Baht (free tax) Tel: 086 633 2948 Psc/37-42/ Pratamnak 2 B/R Condo, 2.8 MB, Foreign name, corner unit, 56 sqm, 7th floor, 2 bathrooms, 3 A/C, 3 TVs, Furnished, Parking, Swimming Pool, Fitness, Sea View, Quiet area. Tel: 089-09-66-729
Psc/37-42/ Jomtien 3 B/R Big Condo, 191 sqm, 8.9 MB Foreign name, Double Corner Unit, Sea View and Pattaya View, 30th floor, Parking, Fitness, Swimming Pool - Convenient location Tel: 089-09-66-729 Psc/38/Investors: buy nice apartment with 45 sq.m. foreign owned. with tenant inside and make 7.50% int. per year, it is a luxury condo from 2012 in Pratamnak, 500 m from the beach. Price: 1,9000,000 baht. Tel. 08 7513 9477 (English, French) Psc/38-42/Beachfront Condo at Bangsaray Condominium: 150sqm, 2-bedrooms, 2-bathrooms, 300m from beach, only 137units in 20 rai of green landscaped surroundings in an exclusive residence. Excellent decoration, fully furnished, TVLCD 50". Hot Sale 7.9 mil. 4x,xxx baht/sqm. 081-3358102 (owner), for photos: pitipity @hotmail.com, Line: piti.t Prc106/28-42/ CETUS CONDO, high-floor, stunning sea- and city views, 54sqm, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, living room, kitchen, terrace, condition like new, “foreign owned”, luxury furnished, 7,000,000 THB; www. GoPropertyThailand.com; 093- 151 5995 Prc105/28-42/ THE BASE Condo; high-floor, sea- and city views, 30sqm, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, living room, kitchen, terrace, condition like new, “foreign owned”, fully furnished, 3,650,000 THB; www.GoPropertyThailand.com; 093- 151 5995 Prc104/28-42/ THE PEAK TOWER; high-floor, seaand city views, 63sqm, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, living room, kitchen, terrace, condition new, “foreign owned”, not furnished, 5,900,000 THB; www. GoPropertyThailand.com; 093- 151 5995 Prc/33-39/View Talay 7 Jomtien: Studio 48 sqm, Floor 22, seabay view, internet, pool, all luxury. 19,000 baht/month Tel: 087 138 3523
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2019 17
Prc103/28-42/ DUSIT GRAND VIEW; sea views, 34sqm, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, living room, kitchen, terrace, condition like new, “foreign owned”, quality furnished, 3,000,000 THB; www.GoPropertyThai l a n d .com; 093- 151 5995 Prc102/28-42/ BAAN PLAI HAAD NAKLUA beachfront; high-floor, sea- and city views, 41sqm, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, living room, kitchen, terrace, condition like new, “foreign owned”, luxury furnished, 5,500,000 THB; www. GoPropertyThailand.com; 093- 151 5995 Prc101/28-42/ JOMTIEN BEACH RESIDENT; nice garden views, 52sqm, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, living room, kitchen, terrace, condition like new, “foreign owned”, design furnished, 2,900,000 THB; www.GoPropertyThailand.com; 093- 151 5995 Prc100/28-42/ VIEW TALAY 3 beachfront, sea views, 52sqm, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, living room, kitchen, terrace, condition like new, “foreign owned”, design furnished, 2,700,000 THB; www. GoPropertyThailand.com; 093- 151 5995 Prc/37-38/Markland Condo Available for 3 to 4 months (Nov-Feb) Beach Road, a great view, studio, 23rd floor, furn, cable, pool, gym 17,000 bath/ month Tel: 086 677 8446
Land for Sale P04/34-43/ LAND FOR SALE: Jomtien Beach Road Soi 9, 551sqwah. Contact: IG Missk_9 P03/14-42/ 4 Rai land located 45m along Sukhumvit Road, close NONG NOOCH BOTANIC GARDEN; total land size 4 Rai, 134sq-wah; 1 Rai solo: 35,000,000 THB, 4 Rai in total: 120,000,000 THB (321) GO PROPERTY THAILAND; 093- 161 5995; www. gopropertythailand.com P01/14-42/ 1,150sqm land for sale in the town of Bang Saray, (288sqw), few minutes’ drive to the beach, can build up to 7 floors. 27,000,000 THB (329) GO PROPERTY THAILAND; 093- 161 5995; www. gopropertythailand.com
Vehicles for Sale/Rent Vs/38-42/Nissan Navara Calibri NP300 double-cab pickup truck, 2018, 6 gear manual, only 3,000 km, brand new, perfect condition, for sale 576,000 Baht, phone or SMS (0)8 5275 7711. Vc01/38/ 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) 084-8655102 or (Eng) 085-283-4915
18 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2019
PATTAYA MAIL
New Catholic Church opens at Maryvit School
Bishop Silvio Siripong Charatsri, the Bishop of Chantaburi, cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of the new St. James Catholic Church at Maryvit School in Bowin, Sriracha.
Jetsada Homklin A religious service was held Sunday, Oct. 20 to celebrate the opening of the new St. James Catholic Church at Maryvit School in Bowin, Sriracha. Bishop Silvio Siripong
Charatsri, the Bishop of Chantaburi, celebrated mass at the opening of the 41st church named St. James Catholic Church in memory of Bishop Giacomo Luigi Cheng, the 1st Thai Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chanthaburi and in
celebration of Catholic Laity Day of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chanthaburi. A special lecture was given to celebrate 75 years of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chanthaburi. After Mass, a ribbon ceremony was officially held.
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Billabong and sponsors come to the rescue Everyone was so excited, for the school was about to start building a new extension, for an additional classroom was planned to make life easier for staff and students alike. But the excitement subsided when the money ran out and a half completed building remained. Not an unfamiliar story unfortunately. The education of children is a prime requirement in any country in the world and Thailand is no exception for there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of schools throughout Thailand. Most schools in the city centres are well supported by the local government with new extensions, a roof to cover the playing areas and general support. But the staff of small, out of the way schools in small villages must take steps to raise finance to have extensions or improve facilities to benefit the village children. This is not a simple matter, for the children generally come from poor families who make their living off the land or supporting local business. Ban Krasang School is a case in point. Situated just outside Buriram, their facilities have been outgrown by the ever increasing number of children in attendance and they were in desperate need of an additional
HHNFT receives HRH Princess Soamsawali award Radchada Chomjinda On October 21st, Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali assigned ML Sarali Kitiyakara as Her Royal Representative to preside over the “National Social Worker and volunteer, 2019” award ceremony by the invitation of Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. This award is given annually to outstanding individuals and organizations providing help and support to underprivileged and struggled persons. This year, the ceremony was held at Miracle Grand Convention, Bangkok. Juti Krairerk, Minister of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security gave a warm welcome to ML Sarali on behalf of all the participants and escorted the Royal Representative through the exhibition. On this occasion, Human Help Network Foundation Thailand was chosen to be 1 among 15 organizations
More like a Sala than a classroom.
We are up and running.
classroom. They started to build an extension but ran out of money and ended up with the building having a roof that leaked, no flooring and no walls, which is a problem when a strong wind accompanied by heavy rain envelopes the children with a fine spray. Also, dust and dirt whirling around is no help when the children are studying. When the extension is completed other items will be required, like desks and chairs - but that is a problem for later. They have about 200 children at the school with ages ranging from 5 to 12 years coming from families who can ill afford extra expense. An urgent appeal came to the Billabong, via Miss Sasicha who originates from Krasang, for help which could not be ignored by Sandy and Capt. Bob, and a charity golf day was quickly organized. The fund has been swelled by the generosity of Pattaya Sports Club, KCL Cleaning, Mike Stennett, Bob St. Aubin, Todd and Nok Gibbens. There was also an auction of 2 golf bags and each golfer made a donation of 300 baht. It is anticipated that an amount in excess of 90,000 baht will be raised for this worthwhile cause. So a big thank you goes to the sponsors and all those that have donated to this event and provided for a successful day.
Free dental checks provided for HHNFT kids Jetsada Homklin
Director Radchada Chomjinda receives the HRH Princess Soamsawali award for outstanding social work on behalf of the HHNFT.
nationwide by the Ministry to receive the greatest privilege of the award presented by Her Royal Highness’s representative. ML Sarali kindly paid a visit to HHNFT’s booth and Radchada Chomjinda, the director was delighted to give her brief information about the organization.
All management and staff of Human Help Network Foundation Thailand would like to express our utmost gratitude to Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali and Her Royal Representative ML Sarali Kitiyakara and we promise to continue helping those in need for decades more to come. We help children.
Kids from Ban Euaaree and under the care of the Human Help Network Thailand Foundation were “treated” to free dental care Oct. 17 at Wat Yanasangwararam to commemorate the 6-year anniversary of the Oct. 24 passing of H.H. Somdet Phra Sangharaj Chao Kroma Luang Vajiranyanasangworn. The event, sponsored by Wat Yannasangwararam Hospital, took place a week early so it would not conflict with activities on the actual day of the anniversary.
48 people, mostly children but adults as well, took advantage of the free dental care offer.
The public was also invited to take part in the dental day, and in all 48 people,
mostly children but adults as well, took advantage of the offer.
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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2019 19
F1 McLaren team lining up at the pumps
Chinese auto sales down 6.3 percent in September Beijing (AP) — China’s auto sales sank 6.3 percent in September from a year earlier and purchases of electric cars tumbled 34.2 percent at a time when the industry is spending heavily to meet government sales quotas for the technology, an industry group reported Monday. The global industry’s biggest market is on track to contract for second year, dragged down by weak consumer demand in the face of a tariff war with Washington and cooling economic growth. Sales of sedans, SUVs and minivans in the global industry’s biggest market fell to 1.9 million, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, an industry group. Total sales, including trucks and buses, retreated 5.2 percent to 2.3 million. Demand has suffered from consumer jitters over a trade
war with Washington and slowing economic growth. The industry has been reporting negative growth every month since June 2018. Sales of electric cars fell to 80,000 units, hurt by a decline in government subsidies that helped to make China the biggest market for electrics. Brands are spending heavily to meet government sales quotas. Beijing is shifting the burden to automakers by requiring them to earn credits for selling electrics without subsidies. That raises the cost to buyers. For the first nine months of the year, auto sales were off 11.7 percent at 15.2 million. In the same period, electric car sales were up 20.8 percent over a year earlier at 872,000. That reflected strong first-half demand before government subsidies were cut.
Sales of SUVs, previously a bright spot for the industry, were off 9.3 percent from a year earlier in the first nine months of the year. It gave no figure for total sales. Sales by Chinese brands were off 9.8 percent at 727,000. (There is a world-wide depression, with China, America and even Thailand’s production figures dipping year on year. All sorts of reasons have been put forward, but governmental involvement is one of the main ones. Subsidies stimulate buying, but then by removing the subsidy there will be a slump in sales. It is only a few years ago that the Thai government promoted the first car owners deal. A spike in sales figures resulted, repossessions followed and total manufacturing numbers also nose-dived. There is a lesson here, but reversing the trend is very difficult.)
always seize up, and you had to pull it all apart. Remember those days? The owners manual made it look easy. (Those were the days when the manufacturer actually allowed you to touch the car. These days your warranty would become null and void and you would probably be subjected to some kind of exquisite electro-torture. Tomorrow you will be shot if you open the bonnet.) But back to the manual, plus pix of some chap in a dust coat.
“Tap the yoke lightly and the bearing will appear” was what the good book says. Not one solitary word as what to do when the bearings didn’t appear – and they never did. No, the tapping physical law does not exist. You have to get the biggest cold chisel you can and split the casing, and by the time you have thoroughly butchered it, then the bearing will appear – in bits. “Tap the yoke lightly” indeed! Physics be damned!
Physics be damned I was taught that everything on this earth could be explained by using simple physics. I was given tommy twaddle. A few years ago I looked at Lucas fuel pumps and how to get them going again with a bit of physical abuse. But another bit of engineering that defies physical laws lies in the universal joints in the propeller shaft. A kind of metal X with case-hardened caps filled with rollers. Despite all the greasing in the world, these things would
The ideal car for Pattaya? The WaterCar Panther is probably the coolest amphibian and it’s surprisingly fast. Billed as the Fastest Amphibious Car in the World and is available for order so if you need a new car it might just be the ideal car for you but it costs about USD 135,000 in the US. Now add on freight and duty and you are probably looking at six million baht (very rough guess). However, you can
drive it across the Pacific Ocean, I suppose, and at least you can put off getting a boat if you buy a panther. The Panther website has a caution: The Panther is currently offered in two states of completion, Turnkey Minus and Complete Custom. Please note the Complete Custom version may be a challenge or impossible to license and register for street use in some states (and in
WaterCar Panther.
Thailand). In those American states the Panther must be purchased as a Turnkey Minus and licensed as a specially constructed vehicle if used on the highway. There is federal legislation for low production vehicle manufacturers that will make the registration of Complete Custom models much easier. Check your local registration requirements before you order, and in Thailand, don’t make your hopes too high.
Rio De Janeiro (AP) — Brazil’s government says the state-controlled oil company has ended a nearly $200 million advertising agreement with Formula One team McLaren that had been criticized by President Jair Bolsonaro. The Economy Ministry announced the cancellation, saying the five-year deal that took effect this year was “unjustifiable.” Brazil suffered a devastating recession in 2015 and 2016 that sent unemployment surging. Since then, growth has averaged just over 1 percent annually and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects growth below 1 percent this year. Bolsonaro took office in January and announced in May that his government
Petrobras.
was seeking a way to cancel the contract. “Such matters are commercially confidential and therefore we are not able to comment further at this time,” a McLaren spokesman said. The Brazilian government said Petrobras has a new
focus on expanding production. (Whilst McLaren has been doing better on the track than expected this season, there’s none of the F1 teams that can give $200 million worth of value. Even if Petrobras were giving away free petrol and a plastic toy.)
The Road Toll – again and again and again I try to shy away from contentious subjects in this column, as it was designed to be a lighthearted look at things motoring, but sometimes a lighthearted look may not be appropriate. For the nation’s road toll, this is one of those times. Try 66 deaths per day for a start. And Thailand having the second highest road toll in the world. What prompted me on this line of thought was the fact I was passed on the freeway by a very young schoolboy motorcycle rider and pillion passenger, complete with no crash helmet on either of them. For those who have not been to Pattaya recently, you will find that Beach Road now has pedestrian traffic lights every 200 meters. However, unfortunately all these do is to instill a false sense of security for those on foot. Now when we look at the road toll, what were prime factors? 1. 75 percent of those killed are between 15-60 years. 2. 75 percent of the people killed are male. 3. 80 percent were riding motorcycles. 4. 85 percent had no crash helmet. 5. More than 50 percent of those injured had blood alcohol levels above the legal limit of 0.05. (Figures for blood alcohol levels of those killed are notoriously underreported to avoid police/insurance problems.) So what has been done? Even way back in 2001 the BBC reported that the Thai government was considering cutting short the country’s main holiday to reduce the number of traffic accidents and discourage Thais from going abroad. That is like saying they will ban all motorcycles from the road over holiday weekends. Impractical and would be rejected by the population. In December 2010, the Thaksin University in Songkhla published a treatise in their website claiming 12,000 Thai people per year
Count the heads and helmets.
are killed, or 33 per day and doubling during the Songkran festival and New Year’s Day. The item went on to say that, “There are three major causes of road accidents in Thailand they are driver’s behaviors, mechanical failure, and road conditions.” This idea that mechanical failures are prime factors has also been seized upon by governments, with a government spokesman saying that about 50,000 vocational students were to be sent to checkpoints and car maintenance spots across the country last year to provide vehicle inspection services over the New Year break. It does not need a Mensa IQ score to see that diverting attention to vehicle maintenance is not going to change the road toll, but driver behavior and alcohol are related and have a direct effect on the total number of people killed. However, the greatest numbers should be attacked as the first priority. 75 percent of fatalities come from motorcycles. If it were possible to prevent these, you would have lowered the death toll by 75 percent, but that is Utopian and not possible.
But – if you could get the 85 percent who were not wearing helmets to wear a helmet of a decent standard then you would produce an immediate lowering of the annual toll. This is not Utopian. The legislation regarding the wearing of helmets is already law – if this was policed properly, and it is not difficult to spot a motorcycle rider not wearing a helmet, then you would see a dramatic fall in the numbers. Of course, I have stated it needs helmets “of a decent standard”. Again, this is not difficult. Apply US Snell or the British Standard to all new helmets sold in Thailand. Give the shops six months to clear the old stock and thereafter only helmets meeting the standards are allowed to be sold. This is also not difficult to police – a walk down the supermarket shelves will soon show whether the helmets have the certification. The salient figures are already there, the legislation is already there. The members of the Think Tank committees can finish their morning coffee and go home. But this is Thailand.
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VOL. XXVII No. 38
Recent travails continue PSC Golf with the Bunker Boys Monday, October 21st Pattaya Country Club Stableford 1st Gerry Cooney (18) 34 points 2nd Gavin Lang (18) 32 points 3rd Michael Brett (15) 31 points Near pins Bob Lloyd, Gavin Lang, Gerry Cooney, & Michael Brett “When troubles come, they come not single spies but in battalions,” thus wrote Shakespeare many years ago. Just when we thought it was as bad as it could get last Friday, it was a case of “you ain’t seen nothing yet”. On Monday we were out behind two three balls, young lads who were obviously new to golf with no knowledge of the game or etiquette thereof. As a result, all we could do was grin and bear it as another slow round unfolded. At least we were out in the fresh air and sunshine with nothing else to worry about. The course was in ok condition and the weather fine.
For the third game in a row, Gerry Cooney took first place with thirty-four points. Surely he has a wall to build somewhere upcountry. Second went to Gavin Lang on a short visit with a score of thirty-two and third went to Michael Brett on thirty-one after another abysmal day with the putter. So much for the Scotty Cameron putter being the answer, or could it be something else.
Wednesday, October 23rd Plutaluang North & West Stableford
Gerry Cooney.
1st Ken Davidson (24) 30 points 2nd Gerry Cooney (18) 30 points 3rd Michael Brett (15) 27 points Near pins Ken Davidson, Gerry Cooney, Jimmy Carr, and Michael Brett. Somebody at the Bunker Boys must have smashed a mirror as our recent travails continued. Our booking at Eastern Star had been
canceled without notice. We were offered a game at an increased holiday rate, an offer we had little difficulty rejecting. Instead, we made our way to Plutaluang where we had a choice of courses. As we played South & East our last two visits we opted for a change and played North and West. We had a pleasant round until the fourteenth when the rain came, not heavy enough to stop play,
Jimmy Carr.
just enough to make everyone uncomfortable. It was looking like we would have had a four in a row from Gerry Cooney as he got off to a fast start. However, Ken Davidson stormed home with nineteen on the back nine to relegate him to second place on countback, both with thirty points. Another sad day with the putter confined Michael Brett to third.
Friday, October 25th Greenwood C & B. Stableford 1st Jimmy Carr (17) 35 points 2nd Stuart Brown (7) 34 points 3rd Gerry Cooney (18) 32 points Near pins Jimmy Carr & Michael Brett. Finally, the spell is broken,
after over a week of drama, we had an uneventful day of golf to finish the week at Greenwood. We were allocated the C & B nines which were both in fine condition despite the greens having recently been cored and sanded. The day was extremely hot and humid so fatigue became a factor late in the game. Are we seeing the return of Jimmy Carr to form just in time for the club championship or is he peaking too soon? Only time will tell. Today Jimmy put in a fine round and got better as the round progressed to take first place with thirty-five points. Second went to the ever consistent Stuart Brown one adrift and Gerry Cooney closed out the scoring with thirty-two. After a lazy few weeks away from golf Les Cobban returned and wished he hadn’t, having a round to forget and losing all three sixes, a real tragedy for a Scotsman.
Read more news at pattayamail.com
Thiery Temine wins Billabong Rainbow charity golf day PSC Golf from the Billabong
Greg, George, Richard and Kevin.
Friday, October 18th Plutaluang Charity Stableford Never missing the opportunity to help those in need, Capt. Bob and Sandy heard about the Ban Krasang School, just outside Buriram, who had a serious need to
have an additional classroom for their ever expanding school. The staff at the school started to build an extension as a classroom but the funds dried up and the new extension was left without walls or a floor. So Bob and Sandy decided to have this Charity Golf Day
Thai ladies always have a good time.
to provide some funds to help complete the project. A mixed rainbow competition on the East and South courses attracted a number of Billabong regulars and it is hoped to raise, with the help of sponsors who have donated generously to the cause, more than 90,000
baht. Rainbow competitions are all about choice and it appears that the French contingent made some very wise decisions for they occupied 1st and 2nd spots. Thiery Temine (24) won the day with 41 points with 22 points on the back nine helped
Saerd, Gerry, Bob and Gerry.
considerably by five 3 pointers. Another Thiery Petrement this time – (12) had only two tee shots from the blues on the way home, 18 points and 36 overall for 2nd place. Greig Ritchie (35) had an amazing 21 points after the turn but the blob on the last was compensated
by a birdie on the 17th for 5 points. Arch Armstrong (9) came 4th with 34 points. Near pins went to Miss Na, Gerry Roche, Tony Oakes and Bob St. Aubin. A box of beer was donated by Bob St. Aubin and won by Miss Phen Snider.
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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2019 21
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Victor Diaz awarded green jacket at 24th TQ Masters 73 golfers, some traveling from as far away as Atlanta Ga., Seoul South Korea, and from all corners of Thailand, set out with a two tee start on Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club’s Mountain and Ocean courses to compete in the 24th TQ Masters Friday, Oct. 18. The staff at Phoenix were great and the grounds in ideal condition, and even the weather cooperated, not always a given at this time of year. When the last putt was holed and the last card turned in and calculated, Victor Diaz with his net 71 had won the tournament and the coveted Green Jacket for 2019. Libations out on the course for the oldest surviving
Lewis (Woody) Underwood presents the coveted TQ Masters Green Jacket to worthy winner Victor Diaz.
Jack Levy from Macallan Insurance Broker Co., Ltd. presents the spoils of victory to long putt winner Christoph Balzli.
“major” tournament in Pattaya were supplied by V.V. in the hash truck with the
back at The Tahitian Queen on Beach Road where golfers were treated to Bjarne’s
usual beverages and dynamite sub sandwiches. Presentations were held
famous chuck stew. In the end, a great day and evening was had by all leaving
many looking forward to number 25 next year! 24th TQ Masters Div. 1 1st Steve MoreyNet 72 2nd Carl Ballantine Net 75 3rd Jay Burns Net 78 Div. 2 1st Victor Diaz Net 71 Green Jacket winner 2nd Kurt Danter Net 71 3rd Rene Roth Net 73 Div. 3 1st Stanley Gieriaszski Net 72 2nd Nigel Henry Net 73 3rd Kevin Pratt Net 75 Near Pins: Ocean 3 Ross Schiffke, Ocean 7 John Blyton, Mountain 4 Paul Young, and Mountain 8 Rick Groebel. The long putt winner was Christoph Balzli who split the prize.
Division winners.
1 - 17 Nov. 2019
Fri 1
Apple's Irish
Bunker Boys
Treasure Hill
Emerald
Café' Kronborg
Growling Swan
Harry's Golf
Lekatai
Retox Game On Bar
Sugar Shack
The Golf Club
Tropical Golf
Valley View Hackers
Pattaya CC
Pleas. Valley
Mt. Shadow
Pattavia
Greenwood
Pleas. Valley
Green Valley
Sun 3
Waterside
Mon 4 Tue 5
Greenwood
Treasure Hill
Greenwood
Eastern Star
Wed 6
Royal Lakeside
Mt. Shadow Emerald
Pattavia
Crystal Bay
Crystal Bay
Plutaluang
Treasure Hill
Thu 7 Fri 8
Pleas. Valley
Greenwood
Treasure Hill
Pattavia
Khao Kheow Pleas. Valley
Pleas. Valley
Pattana
Mt. Shadow
Pattavia
Eastern Star
Pattana
Wed 13
Greenwood
Silky Oak
Khao Kheow
Greenwood Pattavia
Pleas. Valley
Crystal Bay
Pattavia
Parichat
Pattavia
Thu 14
Sun 17
Green Valley
Parichat
Greenwood
Green Valley
Waterside
Mon 11
Fri 15
Bangpakong
Eastern Star
Sun 10
Tue 12
Green Valley
Bangpakong
Mt. Shadow Pattaya CC
Green Valley
Mt. Shadow
Kings Naga
Mt. Shadow
Pattavia Eastern Star
Pleas. Valley
Green Valley Pattana
Eastern Star
Plutaluang Pattaya CC
Green Valley
Green Valley Greenwood
Pleas. Valley
Khao Kheow
Treasure Hill Waterside
Crystal Bay
Green Valley
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VOL. XXVII No. 38
The Giant Panda Tour 2019 Monday 21st October Mae Jo Stableford Our annual trip to Chiang Mai with a three day competition and an optional game in the week. There are five groups out each day with the cut for the week at 10 - 20 and 21+ in the two divisions. John Hughes returns the best score of the day with 20 points on each nine winning division 1 with 40 points, Reijo Heiskanen is second on 33 and Dennis Scougall is third with 31. William Chang wins division 2 with 36, Curtis Hessler is second with 31 and Glyn Evans is third with 28. Nearest the pins Div 1. John Hughes (3) and Wichai Tananusorn. Div 2. Tom Carmody, Curtis
Hessler and Gil Phillips No two’s in either division so rollovers to Gassan Panorama on Wednesday. The fairways here were immaculate but the greens a disgrace after being scarified and cored but nothing mentioned to us during communication with bookings for the course. It was Curtis Hesslers 75th birthday today and we all had a memorable evening at the Happy Drink bar just round the corner from the Duangtawan Hotel where we are all staying.
Wednesday 23rd October Gassan Panorama Stableford Some heavy rain as we leave town today but it is clearing as we arrive at the
Heiskanen is third on 32. Nearest the pins Div 1. Nik Evans, John Hughes, Dennis Scougall and Wichai Tananusorn. Div 2. Will iam Chang, Ning Heiskanen, Reijo Heiskanen and Chris Ross. John Hughes birdies the 16th and in division 2 a double rollover to Royal Chiang Mai on Friday.
Friday 25th October Royal Chiang Mai Stableford Dennis Scougall, William Chang and John Hughes.
course but a clear round with no problems. 23 points on the front nine and Dennis Scougall wins division 1 with 41 points, the Durham boy John Hughes is still in form and comes in second on 35
Well, well, well Casa Rifkin is in the winner’s circle with a great score! PSC Growling Swan Golf played out of “Bogey’s Bar & Grill”
Bill Checks Out at Greenwood PSC Pattaya Links Golf Society
October 24 Eastern Star G.C. Stableford To start this report I have a retraction to make. My last report stated Buffalo Bill’s 46 points was the best we had had at Growling Swan Golf. Well it has been pointed out to me that Mike Johns had 48 points at Crystal Bay, so Mike I owe you an apology and Bill sorry mate for the write up but with luck you will knock that off. I guess now that I have made that statement all these scores will come out of the woodwork, bring it on. At the very least I can see people are reading these reports. Twelve golfers signed up but unfortunately we only had eleven as K.K. had a fall (not full of grog) and caused an injury that hindered him in playing. Hope you are feeling better mate. It was off to Eastern Star for the day’s event. A great course with great facilities, the course was in good shape. The only problem that we faced was our allotted 10.26 tee time put us behind a couple off groups of 5 balls, normally this would not be a problem but they were painfully slow. In the history of our golf the return to the bar was the latest of all time!
and with a 18/15 back nine countback Colin James comes in third beating Reijo Heiskanen. William Chang is on the podium again winning division 2 with 35, Tom Novak is third on 33 and Ning
Our last game of the week and with 36 points Dean Worell beats Nik Evans on a 21/17 back nine countback after two scores of 36 come in and Gil Phillips comes in third with 33, William Chang with another 35 wins division 2 with Curtis Hessler in second place on 32 and Ning
Heiskanen is third with 31. Nearest the pins Div 1. John Hughes (2) and Wichai Tananusorn (2). Div 2. Tom Carmody, Glyn Evans and Gil Phillips. Wichai birdies the 17th and in division 2 Colin James scoops the pot with two rollovers after a birdie on the 6th. Overall winner of the week winning the Giant Panda Tour headcover was William Chang with 106, John Hughes was second with 104 and Dennis Scougall third on 99. An enjoyable round here today with the course in a very god condition and there are quite a few difficult tee shots, you need to play here a few times to understand the course layout. Many thanks to Lyn for her organizing everything, the week was a great success and was enjoyed by all.
(L to R) Winner Stu (Casa) Rifkin, with runner up Patrick Poussier.
Weather was good to us although a little on the warm side, we attacked this course from the Yellow tees. Eleven golfers allowed us to play only the one division with two placing’s with all novelties up for grabs! Well it was Casa Rifkin that pulled one from the clouds. Been a long time threatening but Thursday was his day and 42 points saw him cross the line in first place. Second home was Patrick Poussier two shots behind the Casa, then we had Martin Kempton & Denis Steele finishing third and fourth. Winners 1st Stu (Casa) Rifkin (19) 42 pts 2nd Patrick Poussier (24)
40 pts 3rd & 4th Martin Kempton & Denis Steele 36 pts Near pin: 3. Denis Steele, 6. Bill Steinmann, 13. Stu Rifkin, and 17. Patrick Poussier. Longest first putt: 9. Steve Younger and 18. Stu Rifkin Back at Bogey’s we welcomed back Peter Bye and Ian Ward, good to see both you guys back and having a hit with us. We bid farewell to two golfers sadly leaving us, Kevin Kennedy and Tony Ryan. Well guys you will be sadly missed, let’s wish you safe travels and hope that we see you again soon. D-For was nowhere to be found as of the lateness of the golfers returning.
Winner Bill Stewart with Bryan Barrell (L) and Lloyd Mills (R).
Friday Oct. 25 Greenwood C+B Stableford The Pattaya Links Golf Society played its final low season Friday round on 25th October at Greenwood, where the C and B nines were allotted to the group. The course was in good condition and there was some evidence of previous coring on the B nine which made greens just a little inconsistent. Another week should see them perfect again, however. Fielding six groups was something of a luxury for the organisers after almost a year of fields averaging 32 golfers but normal service should be resumed next week as the Vietnam “tourists” return to the Links fold. Course conditions were perfect for golf and scoring was close in the single flight.
Third place went to Derek Teeling whose better back nine took the placing from Donal McGuigan on countback, both golfers returning 36 points. Countback was also invoked to decide the top two places, with Andrew Purdie’s best gross figures of 79 giving him 39 points, albeit with a slightly lower back nine score, leaving Bill Stewart to take his first Green Jacket with his 39 points. Near-pins were won by Stu Thompson (C6), Steve Moxey (B2) and Links debutant Brad Hope (B5). Again, the long C3 par three held on to its honour as no golfer managed to sully its name. Consolation awards went to John Evans for an excellent 20 points on the front nine (C) and Donal McGuigan posted 19 points on the back nine for his share of the spoils.
Winners at Greenwood 1st Place -Bill Stewart (21) 39 pts c/back 2nd Place -Andrew Purdie (10) - 39 pts 3rd Place -Derek Teeling (28) - 36 pts c/back Best Front Nine (B) (nonwinners) – John Evans – 20 pts Best Back Nine (C) (nonwinners) - Donal McGuigan – 19 pts Finally, Aussie Bryan Barrell had the dubious honour of donning the “wig” after a disaster of a round for him whilst compatriot Lloyd Mills took the “silly hat” for ten points on his back nine, albeit on countback. At the presentation, farewells were bade to Links stalwart Chris Barker on the eve of his return to the US and his golf skills and general good humour will be missed over the next few months. Hurry back Chris, you know it makes sense.
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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2019 23
Springboks eke out 19-16 win England upsets All Blacks to over Wales, reach RWC final reach Rugby World Cup final Steve Douglas
From page 28
Yokohama, Japan (AP) — It was attritional, it was error-strewn, it was mostly a kick-fest. It was pretty much exactly what was predicted, perhaps even uglier. The Springboks won’t care: They’re into the Rugby World Cup final again. In a semifinal that will not be fondly remembered, South Africa eked out a 19-16 victory over Wales to set up a title match against England in Yokohama. It’s a rematch of the 2007 final won by the Springboks in Paris for their second and most recent world title. Just like 12 years ago, they’ll be relying on their physicality, set-piece strength and structured game to get them through. It was just enough against Wales. A day after a supreme display by England in an upset win over the All Blacks, this was a grafting contest that was ultimately settled by a 76th-minute penalty by South Africa flyhalf Handre Pollard. He didn’t miss any of his five kicks at goal — four penalties and a conversion after Damian de Allende’s 57th-minute try. “It probably wasn’t the best spectacle to watch,” South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus said, “but the boys stuck to their guns and adapted to it.” The Welsh, seeking to reach a first final, recovered from a sloppy, mistakeriddled start that somehow only left them 9-6 down at halftime and took the game to the Boks in the second half, their bench giving them energy and better field position. They drew level at 9-9, and then again at 16-16 after winger Josh Adams’ converted try in the left corner. But a turnover in centerfield by Springbok replacement Francois Louw and one last error — by prop Rhys Carre, coming in at the side of one of South Africa’s hard-to-stop rolling mauls — proved Wales’ undoing. “It was one of those weird games I guess, probably the complete opposite of last night’s game which had so much running rugby,” Wales flanker Justin Tipuric said. “Today was so close that any bounce of the ball could have gone either way. It was just a bit gutting when we didn’t come out with a win.”
“We’ve had 2 ½ years to prepare for it. They’ve had a week to prepare,” Jones said, recalling how England targeted this game when the tournament draw was made. “We’ve been unconsciously preparing for this.” The plan doesn’t stop there. “We set out four years ago ... we wanted to be the best team in the world and we’re not the best team in the world,” Jones said. “But we’ve got an opportunity to play in a game where we could be and that’s the only thing we’re concerned with.” England will next play the winner of Sunday’s semifinal between two-time champion South Africa and Wales. Four years ago, no northern teams reached the semis. After Saturday, teams from the north have at least a 5050 shot of winning it. The New Zealanders rallied from 15-0 down to win their last meeting against England 16-15, but this time England didn’t give them a chance. And that included two tries disallowed by the Television Match Official. “There’s no shame in getting beaten by them,” New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said, but “there’s a lot of hurt.” What hurt Hansen more was the suggestion that the All Blacks didn’t turn up hungry to win. He invited a reporter to step outside the news conference room for daring to question his team’s commitment. England always led after Tuilagi’s try, which Owen Farrell converted. Flyhalf George Ford kicked four
South Africa’s RG Snyman takes a restart during the Rugby World Cup semifinal at International Yokohama Stadium between Wales and South Africa in Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
There’ll be no first allnorthern hemisphere final and no perfect send-off for coach Warren Gatland, who is departing after 12 successful years in charge. Just a bronze-medal playoff against his native New Zealand. “Once we were in the arm wrestle, it was about attrition and I’m proud of the boys for not giving up and staying in there,” Gatland said. “A bounce of the ball and it might have been different.” Instead, it’s the Springboks, led by their first black captain, Siya Kolisi, heading to the championship decider for a third time. They have gone on to win it on both occasions, the first time in 1995 and famously under the gaze of Nelson Mandela, the president at the time. Cyril Ramaphosa is South Africa’s current president and he phoned Kolisi on the eve of the semifinals, wishing the team good luck. It is a triumph for Erasmus, who was hired in February 2018 with South African rugby on its knees following a chastening two years under Allister Coetzee. Twenty months later, the team is playing trademark, hard Bok rugby and it’s delivering the results. “I’m not 100% sure the World Cup final is going to be won by a very expansive game plan and wonderful tries,” Erasmus said. “It might be. I might be wrong. But we will go and grind it out.” Gatland spoke of the need to be accurate and take the set-piece out of the game, but the Welsh made mistake after mistake early on in a swirling wind to hand over field position. Ross Moriarty fumbled twice at restarts in the first half. Adams leapt in the air
and carried the ball into touch. In one erratic moment, winger George North mistimed a box-kick and ended up meeting it with a soccer-style volley upfield. The Welsh were also under pressure in the scrum and didn’t quite have the same physicality in the collisions. Wales escaped with a threepoint deficit at halftime, but had lost North (right hamstring) and prop Tomas Francis (left shoulder), adding to their ever-growing list of injuries. Then South Africa got the bug. At the start of the second half, Faf de Klerk and Willie Le Roux dropped high balls under no pressure near the touchline, conceding precious territory. When Dan Biggar kicked his third penalty, in the 46th, Wales was level and it was game on. With 25 minutes left, Pollard gave South Africa some go-forward with two dynamic, piercing runs through the middle. When the ball was recycled out, De Allende palmed off Biggar, swatted aside replacement scrumhalf Tomos Williams, and forced his way over the line. Pollard converted for 16-9 but back came Wales. After 19 phases on the Boks’ line, Wales forced a penalty and captain Alun Wyn Jones opted boldly for a scrum instead of a kick at goal. The front rows came up but Wales’ No. 8 got the ball away to Williams on the short side and it went via Jonathan Davies to Adams, who cruised over unchallenged. Halfpenny converted from the touchline and the game was again all square. Pollard had the final say, though, keeping the Boks on course for a record-tying third world title.
England’s Manu Tuilagi scores a try against New Zealand during the Rugby World Cup semifinal at International Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
penalties to keep the scoreboard pressure on. New Zealand was overwhelmed in almost every aspect of the game, with even its try coming from an England mistake when hooker Jamie George overthrew at a lineout. Ardie Savea collected and dived over in the 57th minute. England made fewer tackles — 145-161 — but made them count in a system sharpened by defense coach John Mitchell — an ex-All Blacks coach — and typified by flanker Sam Underhill’s robust hits on Read and Jordie Barrett. New Zealand conceded more penalties (11-6) and turnovers. The first of the disallowed tries was in the 25th, when the TMO ruled against Underhill’s try because Tom Curry blocked two defenders when he crossed in front of a ballplaying Kyle Sinckler. But Underhill earned a penalty that allowed Ford to make it 10-0 at halftime. It was only the second time New Zealand had been held scoreless in the first half of
a World Cup game — the first was in a semifinal loss to Australia in 1991. Scrumhalf Ben Youngs scurried over six minutes after the break, but again the TMO overruled, deciding that an England forward lost control of the ball in a maul before it was regathered by his teammate in front. Another Ford penalty made it 13-0 before New Zealand finally scored, and suddenly there was six points in it. An ominous end of that comeback came on the hour, though, when Underhill caught and tackled Jordie Barrett as New Zealand was launching a counterattack. Two further penalties made the margin too big to overcome. It’s been a tough year for New Zealand teams against England, after the Cricket World Cup went to England on an unusual tiebreaker countback. New Zealand will have to play off for bronze in what will be Hansen’s last match in charge. And this loss to England will be tough to come back from.
Nongprue Municipal Kindergarten announces OTP Run Dec 22
Nongprue Municipal Kindergarten will be holding a Fun Run December 22 to promote good health, raise funds for the school, and promote Nongprue as a tourism destination.
Jetsada Homklin Nongprue Municipal Kindergarten will be holding a Fun Run December 22 to promote good health, raise funds for the school, and promote Nongprue as a tourism destination. Wichai Luangmuang,
chairman of the school’s Basic Education Board, announced Oct. 14 the run/ walk will take place at the Chalermprakiat 82 years old Bhumibol the Great Public Park. The event will consist of a 5k fun run and an 11k minimarathon. Registration is 500
baht which includes a shirt and medal after crossing the finish line, and can be done online at www.fanaticrun.com from now until Dec. 5, or in person from now until Dec. 22 the Nongprue Municipal Kindergarten School during official hours and days.
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VOL. XXVII No. 38
Beloved Chulalongkorn the Great remembered
Banglamung District Chief Amnart Charoensri leads the Sangha ceremony, offering alms to 57 monks.
Government officials lead the public in a candlelight ceremony in the evening on Chulalongkorn Day, Oct. 23.
Jetsada Homklin Pattaya commemorated Chulalongkorn the Great, “the beloved great king” who brought democracy to Thailand on Chulalongkorn Day. Banglamung District Chief Amnart Charoensri presided over the Oct. 23 alms-giving Volunteers “do good” by cleaning the area around Pattaya’s Railways Station.
ceremony where rice and dried food were given to 57 monks. Afterward, the district chief laid a wreath on the King Rama V monument. King Chulalongkorn was only 15 when he ascended to the throne in 1868, ruling until his death in 1910. He transformed the country, then called Siam, from a backward Asian land to a modern 20th century nation. When he assumed power, Siam had no schools, roads,
Banglamung District Chief Amnart Charoensri, pays homage to Rama V before setting out to “do good”.
railways, hospitals or wellequipped military forces. To achieve the enormous task of modernization, he brought in foreign advisors and sent his sons and other young men abroad for education. After his death, King Chulalongkorn was named Piya Maharaj, “the beloved great king” and he is commemorated every Oct. 23, the date of his death. In Chonburi, military and police officers, civil servants and
residents offered flower garlands to King Chulalongkorn in front of Chonburi City Hall. Later, the public held an alms-giving ceremony at the provincial hall. Here, too, rice and food were given to 57 monks, one for each year of the king’s life. In Sattahip, the public and representatives from 30 organizations presented wreaths in front of a portrait of King Rama V before giving alms to 57 monks at the district office.
Record number get their annual flu vaccination at the PCEC
Although there were 100 flu vaccinations provided by Phyathai Sriracha Hospital at the PCEC’s Sunday morning meeting, no one had a long wait as the line moved quickly. The first stop. Phyathai Sriracha Hospital staff check the name on the PCEC signup sheet and then collect the 700 baht fee for those that wanted this year’s Flu Vaccination.
For several years, the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) has arranged for nurses to give the annual Flu Vaccination to their members and guests at one of their meetings as a convenient means of getting the current year’s vaccination at a reasonable price just before Flu season begins. This year, the PCEC again made arrangements with Gavin Waddell, International Marketing Manager with Phyathai Sriracha Hospital. Nurses arrived around 9am
at the PCEC’s regular Sunday meeting room on the 4th floor of the Holiday Inn Pattaya’s Executive Tower. The PCEC considers this a service to the Expat community and the vaccinations are open to all their members and guests with an encouragement to include their families and friends. In past years, the number taking advantage of this arrangement has been around 70 plus. But this year, it was a record turnout. From 9am till noon, all one hundred doses available
After signing in, the next step is a free blood pressure check from this smiling Phyathai Sriracha Hospital nurse before getting the flu vaccination.
Phyathai Sriracha Hospital nurse prepares to administer this year’s flu vaccine at the PCEC’s October 13 Sunday meeting.
were given, with minimal waiting time. The PCEC is now in its 19th year of providing a weekly meeting and facilitating other
activities for Pattaya expats to get together and to help one another. For more information about the PCEC, visit their website at www.pcec.club.
PCEC Vice Chairman Richard Smith even has a smile on his face while being jabbed with the needle as he takes the opportunity to get this year’s flu vaccination before the start of the regular Sunday morning meeting.
VOL. XXVII No. 38
Rotary Charity Golf Tournament HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Trophy to be awarded to the winner of the 1st Rotary Club of Phoenix Pattaya Charity Golf Tournament. The tournament will be held on 1 November 2019 at the Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club. Registration at 10am and Teeoff at 12.30pm. The cost per golfer is 3900 baht including caddy and cart. All proceeds to benefit the Child Protection and Development Center CPDC), Take Care Kids Foundation and the German Aid Association Thailand e.V. (Deutscher Hilfe Verein e.V.). The Gala Dinner and prizes presentation will be held at the Renaissance Pattaya Resort & Spa commencing at 6.30pm. The cost is 1600 baht per person includes an international bar-b-que, drinks and entertainment. All golfers and guests are invited to attend. To reserve a place in the tournament and for the gala dinner, please contact: President Dieter Barth. Tel. 080 014 2776 Email: dieter.barth@rotary-phoenix-pattaya.org
Associations & Clubs The next meeting of Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) will be held on Sunday, November 3 & 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
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2019 25
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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 Eastern Seaboard Businessmen’s Dinner is a monthly event taking place on the last Thursday of the month. It brings together business leaders from various backgrounds including Automotive, Aerospace, Real Estate, Architecture, FMCG, Electronics, White Goods, Logistics, Recruitment, Legal, Consulting, and others in a relaxed atmosphere. If you are interested in attending please contact Anuttra.Sukruen@tinfish.co.th Rotary Club of Pattaya (Thai-English) meets at the Royal Cliff Grand Hotel on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. Meetings begin at 19.00 hrs. President Stephen Devereux Email: stevecarlow@gmail .com Rotary Club Phönix Pattaya (German) meets every Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Pattaya at 19.00 hrs. President Dieter Barth Email: dieter.barth@ rotary-phoenix-pattaya.org Rotary Club of JomtienPattaya (English) meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at Royal Cliff Grand Hotel, Pattaya City. Fellowship begins at 18.30 hrs and Dinner meeting at 19.00 hrs. President Joachim Klemm Email: jo.klemm53@gmail.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 Dieter Reigber Email: dieter.reigber@t-online.de 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. Michel Roche Président Email: mmproche@gmail.com
Christmas 2019 PILC Christmas Market 2019. The Pattaya International Ladies Club will hold its annual Christmas Market on Sunday, the 17th of November 2019 at the Holiday Inn Pattaya Ballroom. PILC Christmas Market tables are priced at 2,800 Baht for one (1) table. Included in the charge is a table (size 0.90 x 1.80 x 0.75 meters), a tablecloth, electricity and 2 chairs for attendants. Additionally, we are offering two (2) adjacent tables at the special price of 5,000 Baht. To reserve your space, please complete and submit the enclosed Vendor Registration form and email it to Jayne Jouai
Email: specialeventspilc@ gmail.com
Community Services 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 08-456-31-671. The Good Morning Pattaya Group meets 9 a.m. every morning. All meetings are ‘open’: contact 080 563 0232. 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. 9.00 a.m. meetings every day at Satree Pattana Centre on Soi Skaw Beach off Second Road. Call 080 563 0232. 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
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noon every Sunday, and Persian Farsi speaking meetings at 5.30 pm on Thursdays. Please call the Hotline for details. 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 Overeaters Anonymous - The ‘Up to You’ group meets Wednesdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the housing area just behind Pan Restaurant in Jomtien on Thappraya Road. Call Steve at 038-364-207(h) or 089-250-1359 (cell) for directions or more information.
Post 12146 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America (Ban Chang – UTapao, 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 <banc hangvfw12146membership@ gmail.com> or visit web site: www.banchangvfwpost 12146.org. 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. Continued on page 27
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VOL. XXVII No. 38
An Adventurous Evening with Dicey Reilly Dr. Iain Corness All whisky drinkers have heard of malt whisky but not everyone knows of the difference between Whisky and Whiskey. The original name for the distilled spirit was Uisgeba which was the translation of the “water of life”. Go back a few hundred years and spelling wasn’t number one in the school curriculum, with the Scots calling it “whisky” and the Irish spelling it as “whiskey”. So now you know. You will also have often heard of “single malt” whisky, all spoken with a kind of reverence as befits the noble tipple. However, in 1948 a chap by the name of Douglas Laing got on to the idea of blending single malts and then selling this
‘new’ whisky to those who enjoyed a “wee dram”. Since then, these blended malts have become entities in their own right and marketed all over the world. Leading us on the knowledge trail was Paul Wang, a
chatty “Scotsman” in full regalia, who is the Asia Regional Sales Manager for Douglas Laing, with the venue for this tasting October 19 being Dicey Reilly Bar and Restaurant on Second Road.
Tiemjan Sakulpanitch, MD of United Beverage Thailand, Paul Wang – Sales Manager of Asia Region of Douglas Lang Co., Ltd., Pattana Wangtapan – Food and Beverage Manager, Dr. Iain Corness, and Dicey Reilly’s executives get ready for a night of tasting.
A cheese and cracker hors d’oeuvres plate was served with the Highland.
Not having restriction of single names for single malts, Douglas Laing let his imagination run riot, coming up with names such as Timorous Beastie (Rabbie Burns), Rock Oyster , Big Peat, Epicurean
and Scallywag (an amusing title for his blend from small Speyside distilleries). These “new” malts are subject to the same rigorous production standards as ‘regular’ single malts to bring them all to 46 percent ABV), and maintain their geographic. These were paired with suitable food items, and this format worked very well. For example, my favorite from these five was “Big Peat”
from Islay which did indeed have a ‘peatey’ nose to it, and was paired with a substantial beef tenderloin and the Rock Oyster from the Scottish islands was paired
with a herb crusted salmon. This had been a most enjoyable evening, with everyone coming away with a greater appreciation of all malt whisky than previously.
The scribe’s favorite from the five was “Big Peat” from Islay which did indeed have a ‘peatey’ nose to it, and was paired with a substantial beef tenderloin.
Leading us on the knowledge trail was Paul Wang, a chatty “Scotsman” in full regalia.
Honored guests take part in the evening food and beverages.
VOL. XXVII No. 38
From page 25
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, nonjudgmental and empathetic listening services on the phone. All calls will be handled on an anonymous basis and are free of charge. (02) 713-6791.
Dining & Entertainment New Delicacies at Pan Pan San Domenico Italian Antipasto: Parma Ham, Salame, Milano, Hot Salame, Mortadella, Olives, Mozzarella & Bell Peppers. Served with hot, crispy pizza bread. 580 Baht. Highly Recommended. Must Try! Black Spaghetti Seafood Ki Mao: With Prawns, Cherry Tomatoes, Chilly & Squids. 395 Baht. A must for spicy food lovers! Saeb-e-lee! Pan Pan San Domenico, Jomtien Pattaya, 038 251 874, 084-345 1717. Pan Pan Italia Restaurant, Na Jomtien Sattahip, 038 237 880, 065-570 7836. Pan Pan Cafe Bar, Terminal 21, Pattaya, Tel. 086-392 3288 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 – Duck buffet; Thursday – German buffet with roasted pig; Friday – Asian Delights buffet; Saturday – international buffet; Sunday –
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Steak & Skewers buffet. The buffet starts from 6 p.m., runs until 9 p.m. All this for just 499 baht net per adult. 299 baht for children under 12. (Kids under 4-years old eat free). 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. Indian Lamb Curry at Yupins. Lamb fillets and leg, homemade ghee and fresh home ground pices. Spicy sauce includes sultanas, raisins and cranberries Served with popadom, roti, homemade mango chutney and cucumber raita. An Amazing Experience! Only 350 baht. For reservations, call 038 250394 or visit website: www.yupins.com edge restaurant, Hilton Pattaya invites you to discover a unique ‘7 Days 7 Themes’ lunch buffet, the well-known lunch concept featuring a variety of favorite selections and some of the world-famous dishes served with a panoramic view of Pattaya bay. Monday ‘Smokehouse Grill’ at THB 580 net. Tuesday ‘Mediterranean Classics’ at THB 580 net. Wednesday ‘Burgers, Sandwiches & Salads’ at THB 580 net. Thursday ‘Hawker Highlights’ at THB 580 net. Friday ‘Beachfront Seafood Grill’ at THB 650 net. Saturday ‘Wok and Roll’ at THB 650 net. Sunday ‘Edge Sunday Brunch’ at THB 1,500 net.
Tenderizing local steak A discussion at a dinner table the other evening, centered on how do you tenderize cheaper cuts of steak. No professional chefs at the table, but the consensus was that imported Wagyu was just too expensive for the family dinner. The local cheaper meat is often called Thai-French. Instructions: To properly tenderize a steak, lay the steak out on a plate and cover each side with approximately 1 teaspoon of kosher/sea salt before cooking. Use your fingers to gently work the salt granules into the surface, breaking down the fibers of the meat. (For even more flavor, add crushed garlic to the salt.) Let the steak sit with this covering of salt for 45 minutes to an hour. Longer for thicker cuts. After the waiting period, rinse the salt off your steaks under cool running water. Use some paper towels to pat your steaks until they are good and dry, so you can get the delicious, crispy sear you want. If you don’t pat them dry, you’re basically steaming the meat, and steamed meat is bland and less flavorful. Season as desired, then grill until desired doneness. Serve and sit back and enjoy the satisfied faces around the dinner table. :-)
Halloween in Pattaya
Multi Chambers Networking
Join Royal Cliff ’s “Transylvania Halloween Party at the Cliff” on Saturday, 2 November 2019 from 6:00 – 9: 00 p.m. at Panorama – Dramatic Atmosphere and experience a memorable night of non-stop family fun. Inspired by the popular Hotel Transylvania animated film. Admission is only THB 300 for all hotel guests and THB 400 for outside guests. Complimentary Halloween mocktail, photo op, fun face-painting, freaky wishing tree, hair-raising drink specials, exciting lucky draw, spooky tunes and lots of special Halloween goodies. Exciting activities and electrifying entertainment lined up for the entire family. Seats are limited, so reserve your table now! If you are nonPattaya residents, we have great news! The hotel will also offer special discounts for families joining the party. For more information, to book a table or accommodation with special rates, please call our Marketing Department at (+66) 38-250-421 Ext. 2878 or email creative @royalcliff.com
The Netherlands-Thai Chamber of Commerce (NTCC) proudly presents “Multi Chambers Eastern Seaboard Networking at Ana Anan Resort & Villas Pattaya on 15th of November 2019. Time: 18:30 - 21:00. Members and friends in Samutprakarn, Chacheongsao, Chonburi, Rayong and those who have a business meeting in the area, are invited to join one of the best networking events of November! As 15th of November is considered as Entrepreneur’s Day in the Netherlands, a small gift ceremony to the well-performing Dutch SMEs will also take place. Legal update session from 15:30 - 18:00 hrs by Baker McKenzie. A variation of international and Chonburi’s gimmick menus served in canapes style. Free flow of beer, wines and soft drinks. Tickets: THB 600 for NTCC and partner chambers’ members: THB 1.200 for non-members. Reservations: Tel 033 098 888, Email: reservations@anaanan.com
Hobbies 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.
Shopping 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.
Sports Thailand Seniors Championship (ITF Grade A) returns to Pattaya on November 16-22 2019. FITZ Club at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group will stage one of the world’s premier se-
niors’ tennis tournaments which is expected to bring in more than 250 top international players from 15 countries to compete for the prestigious ITF Championship title throughout the 7-day event. For more information or to register for the ITF tournament, please visit For more information on the Royal Cliff Hotels Group and Fitz Club, please call; Tel: (66) 38 250 421 or visit: www. royalcliff.com and www. facebook.com/fitzclub
Theatre Calling all singer actors and actresses! Bangkok Community Theatre will present The Essential Marriage of Figaro in a Dinner Theatre format at the British Club during March 2020. The show, adapted by Ian Robinson, is a studio opera sets in modern times, which tells the core plot of Mozart’s wonderful opera The Marriage of Figaro and uses
Mozart’s original beautiful score. If you sing and act - you can be a part of this exciting project. Auditions at Bistro 33, Sukhumvit Soi 33, Sub Soi 5. Bangkok, Saturday 23rd November 2pm & Monday 25th November 6:30pm. You do not need to learn anything from the opera for the audition, but you must be prepared to sing a solo song, and you must bring your own music along with you. You can sing something from the opera if you would like, and in that case, we will have a score available. Be well prepared with your song! For performers aged 16+. For complete information, including character descriptions and vocal requirements, please email: audition@bangkok communitytheatre.com For registration: please complete the audition form and email it to: audition@ bangkokcommunitytheatre .com
Read more news at pattayamail.com
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VOL. XXVII No. 38
England upsets All Blacks to reach Rugby World Cup final
Victor Diaz awarded green jacket at 24th TQ Masters
John Pye
When the last putt was holed and the last card turned in and calculated, Victor Diaz (left) with his net 71 had won the 2019 TQ Masters played Oct. 18 at Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club. Lewis Underwood (right) presents him with the coveted TQ Masters Green Jacket. (Full story and more photos on page 23)
Yokohama, Japan (AP) — Even facing up to the prematch haka, England stole a march on defending champion New Zealand. Respect for customary All Blacks practice? Not in this Rugby World Cup semifinal. Reserve prop Joe Marler wasn’t the only England player standing on New Zealand’s side of halfway when the All Blacks performed their famous challenge on Saturday, but he barely budged when a match official gestured to him about his breach of convention. After shocking the twotime defending champions with a try to center Manu Tuilagi in the second minute, England didn’t retreat one bit. And four years after being unceremoniously dumped
England’s Anthony Watson is tackled by New Zealand’s Richie Mo’unga and Ardie Savea (7) during the Rugby World Cup semifinal at International Yokohama Stadium between New Zealand and England in Yokohama, Japan, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
out in the group stage of the World Cup it was hosting, England reached its first final in 12 years with a 19-7 upset over New Zealand. The All Blacks hadn’t lost a World Cup game since 2007, had never lost to England at a World Cup, and went into the semifinal on a six-game winning streak in head-to-heads and having won 15 of the last 16. All those streaks are over. Much will be made of England’s V-formation that
straddled both sides of the halfway during the haka. New Zealand captain Kieran Read said it wasn’t a factor because it wasn’t part of the game. It was, though, a clear statement that England wasn’t going to give the All Blacks any chance to get on the front foot. “We wanted to not just stand there and not let them come at us,” England captain Owen Farrell said. “We wanted to keep a respectful distance. And be respectful,
but we didn’t want to just stand in a flat line and let them come at us.” England’s Australian coach Eddie Jones had spoken all week of how vulnerable the All Blacks were as the hot favorites, despite describing them as the best team in sport. “New Zealand is a god of rugby,” Jones said in a comment translated from Japanese. He added, in English: “So we wanted to take it to them, show we could take the game to them. We wanted to put them on the back foot as much as we could.” Objective achieved. Jones strikes again. Jones coached Australia to the 2003 final which ended in an extra-time loss to England — so far the Northern Hemisphere’s only Rugby World Cup crown. He was a consultant on South Africa’s title win in 2007, sealed with a victory over England, guided Japan to a shocking win over South Africa at the 2015 World Cup pool stage and has now got England to the final. Continued on page 23
Marc Marquez wins Australian MotoGP with last-lap overtake Associated Press Phillip Island, Australia (AP) — Eight-time world champion Marc Marquez overtook leader Maverick Vinales on the final lap to win the Australian MotoGP race at Phillip Island on Sunday. Vinales, who had earlier taken pole position in delayed qualifying because of rain on Saturday, crashed out as he desperately tried to retake the lead. Vinales’ misfortune allowed Britain’s Cal Crutchlow to finish second, with Australian Jack Miller claiming his first home race MotoGP podium. It was Marquez’s 11th win of the season and third at Phillip Island. Italian Valentino Rossi led his 400th race into turn one after a strong start from fourth position, but was unable to sustain that pace, fading to eighth. Jorge Lorenzo’s problems continued, with
Repsol Honda MotoGP rider Marc Marquez of Spain enters a turn at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island near Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
the five-time world champion finishing last of the 16 remaining runners. Earlier, Lorenzo Dalla Porta won the Moto3 world championship. The Italian held a 47-point championship lead heading into Sunday’s race and claimed his first Moto3 world title with a win over Leopard Racing teammate Marcos Ramirez, with Albert Arenas third.
Dalla Porta’s main championship rival, Aron Canet, slid off the circuit at turn one on the second lap of the 23-lap race. South Africa’s Brad Binder claimed his third win of the Moto2 season. Binder and Red Bull KTM teammate Jorge Martin established an early break on the chasing pack and finished well ahead of third-place Thomas Luthi of Switzerland.
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