pattaya living No 25 • JANUARY 2013 • the mid-month edition of real estaTe magazine
The Day the Music Died – myths and facts about the death of Buddy Holly
WHAT’S NEW IN 2013 events & promotions • quiz • health matters • attractions & golf • bars & restaurants
Reasons to be cheerful With the advent of the new year comes a time for reappraisal and re-evaluation. Many people seek to make resolutions about what they will do better in 2013. I’ve stopped making resolutions. Now I’m only prepared to think in terms of aims and goals ... My key aim and/or goal for this year is to try to take better care of myself. To think more about health matters and actually do something about them. For years now I’ve let work rule my life to the detriment of my health and I realise that I need to adjust the balance. My aim is to continue to work hard but maybe not “play” so hard. That’s my aim. If I were to say that it’s my resolution I would have scorn and derision poured on me every time I walk into a bar or attend a networking evening. I don’t want that. A couple of years ago I tried to diet to raise money for charity and actually put on weight. Last year I did the same only this time the “charity” was myself. Even then it did not work. Overleaf Dan Cheeseman writes about this weight loss campaign and word reaches me that some of the protagonists might try again in 2013. I’ll put my name down and I’m actually optimistic that I might make some progress this time. Optimism costs nothing! Weight loss apart why do I put up the “reasons to be cheerful” headline? Well, I’ve been reading Bart Walter’s assessment of the impact that the ASEAN Economic Community might have when introduced in 2015 and it all sounds rather promising for Thailand provided, of course, that his analysis is correct. The to start making plans now. I will be, will you? Good luck in 2013.
Dave Buckley
Managing Director, Pattaya Property Consultants, publishers of REm
All photos courtesy of mydestination.com/pattaya
pattaya LIVING
mid-month edition of
REALESTATE ine magaz
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
year 2015 may sound a long way off but I’m thinking it’s time
e v e n t s / p r o m o t i o n s
Dan Cheeseman is co-founder and director of Choice Group Asia and Inspire-eMagazine.com. Previously he has worked in other forms of media in the city. Before coming to Thailand he spent 10 years with Coca-Cola Enterprises in various sales and marketing positions before going on to work in a consultancy capacity, developing business propositions essentially with the Post Office Ltd in the UK during its transition from being Government-owned to becoming a more commercial proposition.
Setting a new year resolution in Pattaya – is it a losing battle?
‘‘
By dan cheeseman
Well it (the
weight loss) was always going to be difficult to maintain when the landlord of the bar the group had previously visited regularly turned up
’’ at the final
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
weigh-in.
This time last year myself and another dozen friends set about losing some weight as our New Year’s Resolution (one of the dozen was even the owner of this magazine!). We even themed it ‘Pattaya’s Biggest Loser’ and staged weigh-ins every two weeks to measure our progress. It seemed the perfect plan and, in all honesty, we all made good losses during the six week campaign (with the exception of the owner of this magazine). But – and here the key to it all rests – did we manage to keep the weight off afterwards? Pattaya is one of those cities where you need to be strong with the resistance to phone calls from others tempting you out for a beer after work (isn’t it strange how you never get calls asking if you want to go to the gym after work?). Some time ago I coined a phrase that Pattaya can “consume you and then spit you out”. This really can be the case if you are not careful. So how can you possibly succeed with any New Year’s Resolution that is based on cutting a bad vice here in Pattaya? After all Pattaya was built on bad vices, wasn’t it? So, going back to the weight loss
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resolution I embarked on last year, did the group manage to stave off the weight thereafter? Well, it was always going to be difficult to maintain when the landlord of the bar the group had previously visited regularly turned up at the final weigh in. He offered free beer to the group to help celebrate their weight losses. This landlord was clearly concerned he had been losing revenue during the group’s six week break from alcohol. The story ended with all of the “losers” going to his bar and the “no-bars” habits they had developed were quickly dumped in the bin of good intentions gone sour. The weight piled back on everybody and we were back to square one. Is this a typical story to living in Pattaya, can leopards change their spots and kick bad habits? It is certainly an uphill challenge.
Maybe, and very much tongue in cheek, the key is in setting objectives that Pattaya will help you achieve. So rather than say “I will drink less beer in 2013” you should finish the sentence to make it Pattaya compatible: “I will drink less beer in 2013, and replace it with whiskey.” Here are some other examples, with the brackets being the Pattaya-friendly version: I will not visit my local beer bar after work (and start using different beer bars on different nights); or I will stop smoking (but remain faithful to the saying ‘winners never quit’). I have been a little hard on this town but from one expat to another, as I am guessing the majority of you reading this are, we all playfully acknowledge what this town is about, it’s a tourist destination where fun often comes before seriousness. Finally, although somewhat late, I would like to wish you all the very best for the year ahead and hope it turns out to be a great year for you, whether that’s with a viable New Year’s Resolution or not!
e v e n t s / p r o m o t i o n s
Star-studded line-up set for Pattaya Open
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
C
ombine talent with glamour and you have the perfect recipe for a world-class tennis tournament. And that’s exactly what’s in store when the 22nd PTT Pattaya Open women’s event gets under way at the Dusit Thani Hotel on January 27. Former world No 1 Ana Ivanovic from Serbia and Russia’s former world No 2 Vera Zvonareva were confirmed entries as Pattaya Living went to press. Also in the main draw on January 28 will be the world No 14 Maria Kirilenko from Russia, Germany’s world No 37 Sabine Lisicki, Romania’s rising star, Sorana Cirstea,, and the British pair of Heather Watson and Laura Robson. The players will be competing for US$235,000 in prize money with play starting daily at 3pm, except for the semi-finals on Saturday, February 2, and the final on Sunday, February 3, when play will start an hour later. Heather Watson recently became the first British woman in 24 years to win a WTA title when she triumphed in Osaka in October. Her win took her into the world top 50 and she is looking forward to her second trip to Pattaya. “I love Pattaya as a tournament and as a city,” she said. “The people are warm and welcoming and I am really happy to be returning.” Sorana Cirstea has already accumulated five WTA titles. On her first visit to Pattaya in 2012 she reached the semi-final before falling to Maria Kirilenko. Like Watson she is looking forward to returning to Pattaya. “It’s one of my favourite tournaments,” she said. “It’s such a different environment from the Australian Open where everyone
the events & promotions section of pattaya living is produced in association with
is stressed and then we got to this amazing place where everyone is so welcoming. So I enjoyed my time here.” As well as the strong line-up of international stars on parade in Pattaya, all of Thailand’s leading women’s tennis players have entered the tournament, including Tammarine Tanasugarn, Luksika Kumkhum, Nudnida Luangnam, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn and Varatchaya Wongteanchai. Tickets for the PTT Pattaya Open are on sale at Bt300, Bt500, Bt800 and Bt1,200. For more information and tickets, please contact Pentangle Promotions at 02-3113414/5 (www.pentanglepromotions.com) or Thaiticketmajor on 02-262-3456, (www.thaiticketmajor.com). Bike Week If you think Pattaya has a lot of motorbikes, then, in the words of Al Jolson, you aint seen nothin’ yet! For on February 15 between 7,000 and 10,000 bikers are expected to descent on the city for three nights of partying during the 14th annual Burapa Pattaya Bike Week. Add to that a further 35,000 non-biking visitors each night for the entertainment programme and you get some idea of the scope of South East Asia’s biggest motorcycle event. The bike week involves a
Twenty yearold Heather Watson, the current British No 1 and the first British woman to win a WTA title for 24 years.
Former world No 1 and current world No 13 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia.
Russia’s Maria Kirilenko, the world No 14.
Vera Zvonareva of Russia, a previous winner of the PTT Pattaya Open and a former world No 2.
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e v e n t s / p r o m o t i o n s
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
Thousands of bikers converge on Pattaya during last year’s Bike Week. 2,000-kilometre journey in convoy from Singapore to Pattaya then back down south to Kuala Lumpur. Starting in Singapore on February 10, the trek includes overnight stops at Butterworth, Surat Thani, Hua Hin and Kanchanaburi on the way to Pattaya and at Hua Hin, Surat Thani and Songkhla on the way back to Kuala Lumpur. Burapa Pattaya Bike Week now attracts bikers from more than 25 countries who pay up to US$7,000 for the privilege of taking part. The Pattaya stopover includes lavish helpings of live entertainment. Details of this year’s programme were sketchy at the time of going to press, but I understand the free music concert will this year be staged at Silverlake Vineyard rather than Chaiyapreuk Stadium where they were last year. If last year is anything to go by, then this year’s event is likely to be one of the parties of the year. No longer a mere biking event, it encompasses music of all persuasions, not least some of the best of Western, Thai and Malaysian rock bands but also cabaret acts like last year’s magic shows from the Laughing Wizards, hypnotist Bruce Quinby, a triple chainsaw juggler by the name of Marty Legray, a Chinese belly dancer, Kenny the Rock-n-Roll Clown, the Wild West show, an American car display, a fire show and a classic motorcycle display. There were also surprise visits by Bangkok supermodels and famous film and TV stars. February 10 marks the start of the Chinese New Year when we say
the events & promotions section of pattaya living is produced in association with
goodbye to the Year of the Dragon and hello to the Year of the Snake. Although not an official national holiday, you can expect plenty of merrymaking in Pattaya in the form of lion and dragon dances at Bali Hai, Jomtien Beach, Walking Street and Friendship supermarket, spectacular fireworks and a greater proliferation than usual of stalls selling Chinese food and products. Watch out for the street processions and various displays and events of cultural significance to the Chinese community. Kissing contest Hard on the heels of Chinese New Year is St Valentine’s Day on February 14. Although I’ve heard nothing official, I am fully expecting there to be another marathon kissing contest at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! at Royal Garden Plaza. It would certainly be surprising if there wasn’t following the success of the first two in 2011 and 2012. The idea behind the event was to set a new Guinness world record. The 2011 winners were Mr Akachai and Mrs Laksana Tiranarat, who surprised onlookers with their marathon kiss lasting 46
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
e v e n t s / p r o m o t i o n s
hours 24 minutes and 9 seconds. Last year’s contest kicked off at 4pm on February 12 with seven couples taking part. At the end only two couples remained in contention – the previous year’s champions and a gay couple, Mr Nonthawat Charernkesornsilp and Mr Thanakorn Sittiamtong. After 50 hours and 20 minutes of kissing the 2011 champions were exhausted and threw in the towel. The new champions went on a further five minutes to set a Guinness world record of 50 hours 25 minutes and 1 second. The winners received Bt100,000 in cash, a diamond ring and a gift voucher issued by Anantra Phuket, worth Bt200,000, and, of course, an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. The previous champions received Bt20,000 in cash and a gift voucher as runners-up. The second runner-up team, Mr Nont Vittayanuch and Miss Thanasuk Aridej, kissed for 45 hours 23 minutes and 23 seconds and received Bt10,000 in cash and a gift voucher. If you are one of those who find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, then here’s an event
Puerto Rican jazz double bassist Eddie Gomez is one of the featured artists at the International Jazz Conference in Bangkok. How's that! Cricket makes its mark in Pattaya as the new season starts at Horseshoe Point. Something to get out of bed for – the annual bed race. Is another Valentine’s Day record on the cards for marathon kissers at Royal Garden Plaza?
the events & promotions section of pattaya living is produced in association with
where you don’t have to – a bed race along Pattaya Beach Road! The Rotary Club of Pattaya will stage its fifth annual bed race on January 27, starting outside Central Festival Beach Mall. Fun event It’s a fun event with plenty of colourful costumes and inventive home-made beds being manhandled by teams along the street, all in a good cause. Proceeds will go the Father Ray Foundation and other children’s shelters, so pop along, enjoy yourself and help improve the lives of Thailand’s less fortunate children in the process. Besides the bed race, there will be plenty of other roadside attractions to keep the whole family amused. Anyone for cricket? That’s
not a phrase often heard around these parts, but it’s a sport that’s becoming increasingly popular thanks to Pattaya Cricket Club, which was formed in January 2010 by a group of enthusiasts who wanted to promote and develop the game in the Chonburi area. And they’ve done rather well at it too. Today the club has a 1st XI (Stallions) that competes in the Bangkok Premier League, a 2nd XI that competes in the Bangkok B Division, a Thoroughbreds XI (over 45s) that plays social fixtures and a junior programme aimed at youngsters of all ages wanting to learn and play the game. Females are also welcome to join in and, dependent on ability, are encouraged to participate. Pattaya’s 2012-2013 season began on December 15 when the second team recorded a 16-run win in a 25 overs game against Southerners at the Harrow Ground, Bangkok. The first team will be in action at the Thai Polo Club, Horseshoe Point, against Siam Cricket Club on February 2 at 9.30am with the second team also playing Siam the following day starting at 10am.
e v e n t s / p r o m o t i o n s
There’s plenty of action for catamarans at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club.
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
Anyone interested in joining the cricketers should email nets@ pattayacricketclub.com. Jazz lovers will get the opportunity to indulge their passions with three days of great music in the form of the International Jazz Conference at the College of Music, Mahidol University, Bangkok between February 1-3. The TIJC is an annual event that features live performances by various jazz artists from Thailand and all over the world as well as discussions, workshops and lessons by world class jazz musicians and a jazz solo competition. Jazz clinics Day-time clinics will be held on each day between 10am and 6pm followed by concerts from 6.30pm until 11pm. More than 20 featured artists and bands will take part, including American jazz pianist Kenny Werner, American jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein and Puerto Rican jazz double bassist Eddie Gomez. Virtually all you will need for your jazz life will be available at the
the events & promotions section of pattaya living is produced in association with
TIJC, from musical instruments and parts to jazz instruction books and jazz CDs. Admission to each session costs Bt500 with three-day tickets to all events costing Bt2,000. The catamarans of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club will be in action in The Varuna Handicap on January 19 and the Multihull Koh Larn race the following day. The final of the three-part New Olympic Series for catamarans and dinghies takes place on January 26-27 and the Varuna Campout for cats and dinghies is on February 2-3. Dinghy sailors will compete in the Great Laser Island Race and Koh Larn Handicap on January 20. Robert Collins
Details of published events are correct at the time of going to press but are subject to change without notice. Readers are advised to check with event organisers.
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P A T T A Y A
G R A F f I T I
uld a r o F ; r a , my de e n y s g n a l ndness i k For auld ’ o p u c take a l ’l e W ; e n Burns y lang s g Syne : Robert n La ld u A – . ng syne a l d l u a r yet; Fo Hope For 11 months and Smiles from the maybe about 20 threshold of the days each year, we year to come, concentrate upon Whispering 'it will the shortcomings of be happier'.. others, but for a few days at the turn of New Year we look at our own. It is a good habit.
– Alfred Lord Tennyson
– Arthur H Sulzberger, former publisher of the New York Times
People think th at I changed my n ame. I could’ve been an actress, a super hero, or a stripper.
a small word And love is such t that is so vas For something e future, But in it lies th nd the past– the present a e Song : Lindisfarn From the January m albu ) (Fog on the Tyne
– January Jone
s, actress
Sitting here stressing; At 2.30am; About how fast a year can go; I wonder where it went; If we start all over again; Would it really work? I know that you could be could be; Coming back to me
PATTAYA LIVING• 01/2013 • Issue 25
– New Year : Sugarbabes
From New Year's on the ou tlook brightens; good humour los t in a mood of failure return s. I resolve to stop complaini ng.
–Leonard Bernstei n
Cheers to a Ne w Year and another ch ance for us to get it right. – Oprah Winfr
ey
Happy new year; Happy new year; May we all have a vision now and then; Of a world where every neighbour is a friend – Abba New Year's D ay... now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolution s. Next week you can begin pavin g hell with them as usual.
–Mark Twain
until An optimist stays up new midnight to see the stays year in. A pessimist old up to make sure the year leaves mnist .– Bill Vaughan, colu
want to hear u yo s g in th e th ay s t s You ju clear as w g in th ry ve e d ve e li e b And like a fool I what to say w no k t n’ o d I ; nt re e f if But now I feel so d important are just another day The things I thought I are miles and miles apart And you and n heart e k ro b re o m ne o To ad You got me on the ro – January February : Barbara Dickson New Year’s Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time. –James Agate, critic
tough Sharks are as ll fans as those footba
the moment has passed.
– Cavett Robert, fo under of the Professional Spea kers Association
From an idea by Bart Walters
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
shirts who take their es in off during gam uary, Chicago in Jan gent. only more intelli zer – Dave Barry, Pulit thor and prize-winning au mnist Miami Herald colu
Character is th e ability to carry out a goo d resolution long after the ex citement of
P A T T A Y A
N I G H T L I F E
the nite owl Swooping on the best venues Happy to be mal(l)contented
T
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
he combination of holidays and high season hoopla took their toll on me this year. Social events, family travel and any number of reasons for legitimately straying from my low-fat/low-carb diet have me yearning for kinder and gentler entertainment. Last week I didn’t want to go to a bar, my liver was demanding some rest. I didn’t want to hear loud music, or play pool, or get dressed up, or anything that might demand too much effort on my part. I just wanted to chill out with my favourite wingwoman somewhere out there in Pattayaland, with a nothing particular in mind to do. I called said wing-woman and had one of those, “what do you want to do … I dunno … what do you want to do” conversations. “We go to the mall,” she said. “Have many thing there”, and then she hung up. On the way to pick her up, I couldn’t believe I was actually going to hang out in the mall. But, after thinking about it some more, I realised that my aversion to shopping malls is connected to experience in my home country. The truth is, the shopping malls in Asia are superior to those in the west. Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and especially Manila … they all give good mall. Central Festival on Pattaya Beach is a good example of fitting a shopping centre to a particular purpose. My partner and I were treating it as an entertainment destination, and we were there to do everything but shop. We would put that mall to the test! When we arrived I could tell this
16
This month the Owl finds his nocternal entertainment all under the same roof. At first consideration a mall might not be everyone’s idea of a good night out, but, it works!
trip was about seeing a particular movie as I was instructed to park on the floor adjacent to the SFX Cinema. There is direct access from the parking lot to the cinema. It is a misnomer to call this place a cinema as it is more of an entertainment complex. The main theatres are pretty much stateof the art, running a long list of current movies in English and Thai. They even have some premium seating for couples in rear of the theatre. Movies heaven They also have a First Class Theatre, digital 3D theatres, an indoor/outdoor theatre called The Porch, and an XD Theatre that is actually a 4D motion ride. For people who like movies, this is heaven. We chose to see a movie on The Porch, a unique indoor/ outdoor experience with big comfortable lounging chairs and snack and drink service. The Porch even has its own bar and staff. Our start time was a way off, so wing-woman informed that we would descend to the 4th floor which is like one big beauty clinic. Day spas, slimming clinics, cosmetic dentists, skin specialists, hair salons, nail salons
… no stone in the beauty universe is left unturned. I was directed to BKK Nail Salon, plopped down in a manicure/ pedicure chair and instructed to relax; which I did. The manicure/ pedicure procedure is kind of like seated meditation. You aren’t going anywhere for an hour so you might as well take the phone of the hook and enjoy it. The staff at BKK Nail Salon did an excellent job and sent us on our way finely groomed. Realising we had time to eat before the movie started, I was instructed to ascend to the 5th and 6th floors to evaluate our food options. Nearly all of these floors are dedicated to nothing but places to fill your belly. There are also a few other restaurants scattered around on other floors. This is where I must again draw a clear distinction between malls in Asia vs malls where I come from. In the US, malls have food courts that serve a variety of fast foods. Some more upscale malls will have a nice restaurant, but nothing like the extreme variety displayed at Pattaya’s Central Festival. Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, American, Italian, Vietnamese, Lebanese …
‘‘ We relaxed, we ate well and
we experienced state-of-theart motion picture
technology in all its glory. It wasn’t my idea, but it
’’
was a damn good one.
Saigon Bistro. We plowed through spring rolls and giant bowls of noodles and finished off with some Vietnamese coffee. The whole thing cost less than Bt400. With movie time at hand, we headed to The Porch to see James Bond do his thing. It is difficult to describe the sensation this kooky theatre brings about. It’s climate controlled, but partially outside. Patrons are seated at an array of oversized loungers in a tropical motif terraced like watching a movie from the hillside somewhere. It is like a new twist on the drive-in theatres I grew up with. Servers like ghosts The chairs are comfy and the servers move about the theatre like ghosts, drinks and snacks magically appearing at the table. In my opinion, the sound in this theatre is the best I’ve ever experienced in a public setting. Usually when I think of going to the movies, it reminds me of air travel; people sitting all in a row, inevitably invading each other’s space. Seeing a movie at The Porch is like driving over to a friend’s house and watching it from a lazy-boy.
Well, James Bond saved the world again and I needed some coffee to keep me alert on the drive home. Wing-woman and I seated ourselves at the little Belgium candy makers shop called Duc de Praslin. I remembered this story from Bangkok. A Thai chef went to Belgium and trained to make authentic Belgian chocolate. Now there are shops all around upscale areas. I soon learned why wing-woman had picked this spot. When you order a cappuccino or espresso, you get a couple pieces of Belgian chocolate complementary. The chocolate and the coffee really hit the spot. On the drive home it occurred to me that we had achieved our goal. We went out with no preconceived notions about what we would do … or at least I did. Our entertainment challenge required an all-purpose, fullservice kind of solution. Central Festival was just what the doctor ordered. We relaxed; we ate well and we experienced state-of-theart motion picture technology in all its glory. It wasn’t my idea, but it was a damn good one. Thanks again Wing-woman. Nite Owl out.
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
burger joints, coffee shops, pizza places, sushi bars, noodle shops and bakeries are all represented. They even have an uber-chic Japanese Robot Restaurant and a Brazilian Churascaria down near the water with a live dance show! We shuffled around, frozen by indecision. The Lebanese place was tempting with the smell of mint tea and gorgeous sea view. We could have gorged ourselves on sushi and Japanese fare at AKA, Fuji or Zen, but we couldn’t decide between them. We looked long and hard at Shashiki, kind of fusion of Japanese food and Korean Barbeque. The food looked awesome, but we were too lazy to do the barbeque-at-the table thing. Even the decedent aroma of onion rings couldn’t draw us through the doors of Carl’s Jr. to indulge in carnivorous pleasures. In the end we couldn’t stop walking by Saigon Bistro, a little Vietnamese place near the escalator. The big steaming bowls of Pho (noodle soup) were just too tempting not to try. The food was great, but what floored me was the price. My wing-woman and I are prone to putting on eating clinics every now and then, and we certainly did some damage at
h e a l t h y
l i v i n g
Dr Iain Corness (right) is a medical doctor who has worked in the UK, Europe and Australia, before coming to Thailand in 1997 to become a consultant at the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya (email: inquiry@bph.co.th). He has been writing for newspapers and magazines since 1967 and is currently a special correspondent for the Pattaya Mail, technical editor for Asean Autobiz, and contributor to many coffee table magazines in Thailand.
The aging process – and how to beat it!
T
here are many retired British ex-pats in Thailand, and with the cost of living and the dreadful climate in the UK (summer fell on a Tuesday last year), do you blame them for seeking a warmer retreat for their dotage. But is everyone over the age of 65 really dottled? Simple answer, No! But those of you over 65 will have found that the younger generation tries to push you into that retired person’s home category. Here we go – waiting to die!
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
Explore the night life A few years ago, my eldest son (then 29 years old and a strapping 6’6”) and I went to the UK to visit my dear old Mum and my sister. While there we decided that father and son might like to go and explore the
‘‘ You get told by Western society
that you
are ‘over
the hill’ and that’s it. All over red
rover.That’s
’’ absolute BS!
night life in the fairly large city close to my sister’s rural retreat. Upon asking where we should go in town for some drinks and dancing, I was told by my young sister, “Oh there’s nothing for you there!” “What do you mean?” I replied. “You’re too old!” was the answer. “But what about him?” I said, pointing to 6’6” of youth and enthusiasm. “Oh he’s too old too,” was the response! What a sad indictment of today’s world! There is an unfortunate tendency in the west to write off everyone after the age of 25, you don’t have to wait till you are 65 to be redundant. Why? The only real difference between “old” people and “young” people is that the older group have much greater experience. There is precious little of substance worth doing that older people cannot do. And I am not talking here about people over
the magic (and arbitrary) 65 year retiring age. I am talking about anyone still wandering around the planet unaided, no matter how old they are. For example, if you are 80 years old and want to do a parachute jump, can anyone tell me why not? The reason I say this, is that by the time a person is 80 years old, they have a fair idea of what they can or cannot do. After all, they’ve had that same body for eight decades, they must know it pretty well by now. The problems you come up against when deciding to do something is not usually a “physical” restraint, but a mental one. Still driving? You get told by the Western society that you are ‘over the hill’ and that’s it. All over red rover. That’s absolute BS! Me, I drive racing cars, despite people saying to me “are you still driving at your age?” as if I am committing (another) sin! Like any living creature, you need stimulation (and I’m not talking about the ‘stimulation for hire’ bars), and mental stimulation will get you going physically as well. Forget your chronological age and think about things that you want to do – and then work out how you are going to do these things. Do not accept “age” as a barrier to anything. Work out how to do it and get on with it. Live life to the fullest, every day, for as many days as you have got left!
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b a r s / r e s t a u r a n t s
Bars
Bamboo Bar: live music nightly in this busy bar and streetside lounge. Close to Walking Street entrance. Tel: 038 232 315, Fax: 038 232 315, email: bamboopattaya@ hotmail.com Caddy Shack: as the name suggests, it’s a haven for golfers. Airconditioned with outdoor terrace and swimming pool and rooms to rent upstairs. 388/385 M10, Soi 17. Tel: 038 300 683, Fax: 038 300 682, email: enquiries@caddyshackpattaya.com Green Bottle: cosy, well-run pub with a good reputation and central location. 216/3 M10, 2nd Road. Tel: 038 429 870, email: dianagrp@ loxinfo.co.th Jameson’s: Irish pub with strong food offering. Popular with locals and tourists alike. Good place to unwind. 80/164 Moo 9, Soi Sukrudee (Soi AR) right next to Nova Park. Tel: 038 361 873-4 Fax: 038 361 873, email: info@jamesonspattaya.com Metro: an air-conditioned sports bar boasting free pool tables and numerous screens on which to watch top sports events. Soi LK Metro, 33/85-36, Moo 10 close to Soi Buakhow. Tel: 038 425 874, email: info@metro-apartmentspattaya.com
PATTAYA LIVING • 2013 • Issues 25/26
Punch & Judy: this is a Londonstyle pub with good food and competitive prices. Frequent promotions. Almost opposite the Caddy Shack in Soi 17. Tel: 038 413255 Shamrock: fun and lively British-run ‘family’ bar, an oasis of sanity among the bars of Pattayaland, South Pattaya. Tel: 038 425 417 email: pattayashamrock@yahoo.com Witherspoons: A typical Britishstyle pub with inexpensive meals available while you watch the football on one of its numerous screens. Rooms also available. Soi Buakhow near Soi Diana Inn. Tel: 038 721 121
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Need to be fed and watered? You’ll find a warm welcome at any of the following ...
Restaurants
Ali Baba: Good quality Indian restaurant with a fine selection of authentic dishes. 1/13-14, Pattaya Central Road close to the beach. Tel: 038 361 620 Alt Heidelberg: German sausages and imported sauerkraut dominate the menu, good location. 273 M10, Pattaya Beach Road, South Pattaya. Tel: 038 421 258 Bruno’s: Renowned for serving classy reasonably expensive French cuisine, more than 150 wines available. A place to impress. 306/63 Chateau Dale Plaza, Thappraya Road, Pattaya. Tel: 038 364 600-1, Mobile: 081 861 5612, Fax: 038 364 602, email: reservations@brunos-pattaya.com Cherrys: You get a lot for your money here. European and Thai food. Be careful not to fill up on the salad bar which is free when ordering a main course. Their buffet nights get crowded. In Third Road opposite the former X-Zyte Disco. Tel: 086 3145819 Ciao: Decent pizza and pasta in this established Italian restaurant in town centre. 4 Pattaya Klang Road. 038 710 614 Hard Rock Café: International restaurant cum bar with large cocktail menu and mainly American influenced cuisine. DJs spin discs and house band performs cover versions. 429 Moo 9, Pattaya Beach Road. Tel: 038 428 755, Fax: 038 421 673. Open: Mon-Sun 11.00 to 02.00 JJ Pizza Bar: authentic pizza cooked in wood fire ovens, reasonably priced. 325/85 M.10, Soi Pattaya-land 2, Pattaya Beach Road. 038 424 128 Lobster Pot: huge restaurant serving all seafood, specialising in lobster and tiger prawns. Walking Street opposite Pattaya Soi 14, South Pattaya. Tel: 038 426 083 PIC Kitchen: classy Thai food in a traditional atmosphere. Soi 5, Pattaya 2 Road. Tel: 038 428 374, 428 387, Fax: 038 422 773, email: picpih@loxinfo.co.th
Pig and Whistle: British pub grub in ample portions served by welltrained staff. 217/34 Moo 10, Pattaya City. Tel: 038 361 315, Fax: 038 361 272, email: info@ pigandwhistlepattaya.com Queen Victoria Inn: traditional English pub with excellent menu and a good selection of imported beers on tap. 437/137-8 Soi Yodsak (Soi 6), Pattaya.038 425 418, 362 523, Mobile: 086 060 6210, Fax: 038 424 941, email: mail@ queenvicpattaya.com Rice Mill: Cantonese restaurant offers dim sun and all-you-caneat buffet on weekends. Royal Garden Plaza, 218 Beach Road, Pattaya. Tel: 038 421 120 Royal Cliff Beach Hotel: huge complex containing 10 restaurants, including the delicious Maharani Indian restaurant. 353 Pratumnak Road. Tel: 038 250 421, Fax: 038 250 511, 250 513, email: info@ royalcliff.com Shenanigans: bars and restaurants serving traditional Irish pub-style fayre and drinks with daily food specials. Two venues. First is up one level at The Avenue Pattaya. Tel: 038 723 939-40, Fax: 038 723 941, email: info@shenanigans-pattaya.com. Second is in Jomtien Complex which also has daily promotions such as “Toss the Boss”. Tel: 038 303 490. The Sportsman: traditional pub fayre with Thai food. Top Sunday carvery, extensive wine list and many imported beers. Soi 13, Beach Road. Tel: 038 710 609 Sugar Hut Restaurant: in hotel of the same name, expensive, but worth it. Thai cuisine. 391/18 Moo 10, Thappraya Road. Tel: 038 364 186,251 686, Fax: 038 251 689, email: sugar-hut@cnet.net.th, opening: 07.00-24.00 Tips Restaurant: more than 12 set breakfasts served in this popular, yet inexpensive, restaurant. 22 Pattaya Beach Road, South Pattaya. Tel: 038 423 418. Open Hours: 07.00-24.00
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Bira International Circuit: is the only internationally certified racetrack in Thailand. Its extensive facilities include a full-service karting track, an off-road test track, and the FIA certified 2.41km racetrack. It can be found about 15 km away on the Pattaya-Rayong Road (Highway 36). Tel: 022 803 547/025 221 731/8 Flight of the Gibbon: this attraction is ranked highly on the Trip Advisor website list of things to do. Cheap it isn’t but most of the reviews rate the experience and commend the safety measures employed. It can be found close to Khao Kheow Zoo. Tel: 0899 70 55 11 or visit website www.treetopasia.com Khao Chi Chan: etched and filled with gold leaf, this Buddha is more than 100 metres high and is thought to be the largest such image in the world. Next to Silver Lakes Vineyard which is also worth a visit. Khao Kheow Open Zoo: 35 km north of Pattaya. A huge zoo with many animals that are on the endangered species list including six rare white tigers exchanged by the Memphis Zoo in the USA. Open daily 08:00-18:00. Tel: 038 298 188. Koh Larn: is reached by ferry from Bali Hai pier or by speedboat. It has several beaches boasting white sand and clear blue water. The many activities include para sailing, snorkeling, jet ski, banana boat, swimming in tropical waters, and there is even a shooting range there. Koh Larn is also suited for bicycling and hiking. www.kohlarn.com Million-Year Stone Park and Crocodile Farm: lies a 15 minute
drive from central Pattaya. It features an exotic zoo, and crocodile, fire-swallowing and magic shows, as well as the garden and stone park. Open 8.0018:30. Tel: 03824 9347-9 or www. thaistonepark.org for information. Mini Siam: is on Sukhumvit Road, surrounded by Soi 33. This model village celebrates the heritage of Thailand with miniature replicas of the most famous monuments and historical sites. Replicas of Tower Bridge, Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty and Trevi Fountain are also displayed. There is a small go-kart track. Open daily from 7.00-22.00. Tel: 038 421 628 for information.
Here we list just a few of the things tourists and expats can do to make their time here more enjoyable ...
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden: 163 Sukhumvit Road (15 minutes east of city towards Bang Saray). Beautiful gardens with waterfalls, “Cultural Extravaganza” performances four times a day. Tourists experience religious ceremonies, martial arts demonstrations, massages and elephant shows. Tel: 03842 9321. Pattaya Dolphin World and Resort: a comparative newcomer to the scene and parts of it were yet to be completed at the beginning of 2013. Recommended for families with young children but don’t expect USA-style shows. Tel: 038 051 790/6. Pattaya Elephant Village: 7km from Central Pattaya on Phonpraphanimit Road. Shows daily at 14.30 and last an hour. A one-hour elephant ride is available from 8.00-17.30 and rafting, trekking (three hours including a meal) is available at 9.00, 10.30, 12.30 and 16.30. Tel: 038 249 818.
Pattaya Park and Tower: at Pratumnak features a large whirlpool with giant sliders and a tower with a revolving restaurant. Visitors can also enjoy several games and rides on the tower and in its playground. Open daily from 10.00-19.00 (20.00 on Saturday). Tel: 03836 4110-20 or 02579 9612-4 or www.pattayapark.com for more information. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum: on the third floor of Royal Garden Plaza. Access from both Second Road and Beach Road. Open daily 11.00-23.00. Tel: 03871 0294/8. Sanctuary of Truth: this wooden giant can be found in North Pattaya. The entrance is at Soi 12, Naklua Road. Every inch of the building is covered with wooden carvings to reflect Ancient Vision of Earth, Ancient Knowledge, and Eastern Philosophy. It is open daily from 9.00-18.00 Admission is 500 baht. 038 225 407/038 367 229 www. sanctuaryoftruth.com Sriracha Tiger Zoo: a zoo with various shows at 341 Moo 3, Nongkham, Sri Racha (30 minutes away). It claims a population of 200 tigers and around 10,000 crocodiles, the largest of such in the world. Tel: 03829 6556. Underwater World: on Sukhumvit Road 200 metres south of Tesco Lotus at Pattaya South has a collection of marine species from the Gulf of Thailand. Walk through the 100-metre long pedestrian tunnel and witness more than 200 species of fish swimming by. Open daily from 9.00-18.00 (last tickets 17.30). Tel: 038 756 879.
PATTAYA LIVING • 2013 • Issues 25/26
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Many local bars organise golf days, often at better prices than casual golfers can negotiate with the course direct. If you plan to play regularly, consider membership of the Pattaya Sports Club as production of its membership card can help secure worthwhile discounts. The one-off registration fee is Bt400 plus Bt500 a year membership thereafter. Most golfers find they can save these sums within just a few rounds. Bangpra International: is one of several five-star courses in the area. This is an 18-hole, par 72 course with plenty of water on the front nine. Clubhouse has been renovated in style – even the toilets are automated! Tel: 038 341 149-50 Burapha Golf Club: is a fourstar, 36-hole, par 72 course. The Eastern course suits up-andcoming golfers, while the Western challenges the more experienced. Reserving a tee-off time is advised. Tel: 038 372 700-1
designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. The course with a five-star clubhouse is set in an old coconut plantation and is popular with families due to its pools and sports club adjacent. Tel: 038 630 410-6 The Emerald: Close to Bang Chang, Emerald is another course where Nick Faldo has left his mark. He designed this in conjunction with the late Desmond Muirhead. Many holes test accuracy, not length, of drive. Tel: 038 941 111
Whatever standard you play to you will find a course to suit within an hour’s drive. Here are just some of them.
Great Lake: is a 36-hole, par 72, Nick Faldo design to the east of Pattaya. The 120 bunkers, water hazards and lovely setting make this a challenging course at moderate prices. Tel: 038 622 630 Greenwood (formerly Noble Place): is well designed 27-hole, par 72 course. A well-kept course with few water hazards allows good scoring for high handicappers. Tel: 081 484 9066, 081 484 9069
Century Chonburi: Designed by Nick Faldo, this is an inexpensive 18-hole, par 72 course, often not too busy during the week. Clubhouse has little to commend it, but this is reflected in low green fees. Tel: 081 304 1545
Laem Chebang International: in terms of course, facilities and expense this Jack Nicklaus-designed, 27-hole, par 72 course is one of the top ones. Set in spectacular surroundings on mountain, valley and lake nines. Carts are compulsory. Tel: 038 372 273
Crystal Bay: Many palms has led to Hawaiian comparisons. Testing par 3s are a feature. Water adds to the look of the course, not just as a hazard. Virtually no rough. Good chance to play to your handicap or better. Tel: 038 349 370-80
Pattana Golf and Sports Resort: Three nines – one of which features a par 6; another starts with an intimidating drive between two stretches of water. The course is a par 72 set in more than 1,200 rai. Tel: 038 318 999
Eastern Star: near Bang Chang is an 18-hole, par 72 four-star course
Pattaya Country Club: located 25 kms outside Pattaya on Route 36
is popular with expat golfers. This 18-hole course gives value for money. Tel: 038 423 718-9 Phoenix: offers a five-star clubhouse and a four-star, 27hole, par 72 course which is found between Pattaya and Sattahip off the Sukhumvit. The three nines are called Ocean, Lake and Mountain. Tel: 038 239 391-5, 239 400 Rayong Green Valley: this is a Wolveridge and Thompson course of 18 holes, classed as five-star for both the course and clubhouse (which it shares with St Andrews). Suits all handicaps, but beware the water. Tel: 038 603 000-5 Royal Thai Navy (Plutaluang): reasonable green fees ensure this 36-hole, par 72 venue is well used but is rarely too busy. Feature holes include The Lighthouse par 3 surrounded by water. Tel & Fax: 038 246 056-7 Siam Country Club, Old Course: is a three-star, 18-hole course, a four-star clubhouse and a five star price. Gentle hills with large trees give it the feeling of Western golf courses. Tel: 038 909 700 Siam Country Club, Plantation Course: 27-hole course opened in 2008 and is already regarded as one of the most difficult. Three holes share the same green – a first in Asia. Carts are compulsory. Clubhouse is a delight. Tel: 038 909 600 St Andrews 2000: is considered one of the best in the area. This course is a serious challenge. Carts are compulsory. Boasts two par 6 holes. Tel: 038 030 660-2
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The day the music died... and a legend was born Early next month marks the 54th anniversary of the death of Buddy Holly. Two other major talents of the ‘50s also perished in the plane crash that took Holly’s life. But it is the memory of the music of the young man from Lubbock, Texas, that lingers
The plaque that lies at the foot of this statue in honour of Holly on the “Walk of Fame” opposite the Buddy Holly Center in his home town of Lubbock, Texas.
most in the minds of the older generation. Overleaf Robert Collins explores several of the facts and myths that surrounded his death. Was there a fight on the plane before it went down? Why a group member said caustically that he hoped the plane would crash. How another band member agreed to spin a coin with Ritchie Valens for his seat on the plane PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
and luckily lost! ....
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The intrigues surrounding Holly’s death
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
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on McLean’s 1971 megahit American Pie coined the expression “The Day the Music Died”. It was in reference to the February 3, 1959 plane crash that claimed the lives of singers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Jiles Perry ‘Big Bopper’ Richardson, along with that of pilot Roger Peterson. But February 3, 1959 wasn’t so much the day the music died; it was the day an industry was spawned. Although Holly is now regarded as a giant of the early rock and roll era and a major influence on many of the talents which followed him, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton, the fact is he had been a pop star for little more than 18 months at the time of his death. His legacy was a mere three studio albums and a handful of singles, only one of which, That’ll Be The Day, reached number one in Britain or America. However, thanks to Holly’s prodigious writing and recording talents, he left behind enough material to feed the singles charts for the next 10 years with hits like It Doesn’t Matter Anymore/ Raining In My Heart, True Love Ways, Brown Eyed Handsome Man, Bo Diddley and Love Is Strange. Throw in a staggering 24 albums issued between February 28, 1959 and October 30, 2009 and it’s easy to see why Holly has earned the unenviable title of pop’s first posthumous superstar – larger in death than ever he was in life.
Holly, Valens and Richardson died in what, on the face of it, was a fairly straightforward and therefore unremarkable accident: a light aircraft at the hands of a relatively inexperienced pilot in severe weather. But the enduring fascination has as much to do with its associated side issues as it has with the celebrity status of its victims. The facts are these: Holly and his recently assembled threepiece band (the Crickets had been disbanded), along with Valens, Richardson and Dion and the Belmonts, were undertaking a three-week, 24-city Winter Dance Party tour. Following a performance at the Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa on February 2, Holly, Valens and Richardson boarded a charter plane to take them to the next venue in Moorhead, Minnesota, while the remainder of the party travelled on the tour bus. The plane never arrived. Severe weather The tour was ill-conceived from the start – too many venues, too far apart, too little time. What’s more, the bus was ill-equipped for the severe mid-winter weather conditions. Its heating system failed just a few days into the tour and was replaced with a school bus. ‘Flu spread among the group and Holly’s drummer, Carl Bunch, was hospitalised with severe frostbite. Holly’s frustration surfaced in Clear Lake when he decided to charter a plane at $36 a head for
Three of the biggest names in pop music during the 1950s died in a plane crash close to Clear Lake, Iowa, in the early hours of February 3, 1959. Dubbed ‘The day the music died’ by singersongwriter Don McLean in his 1971 hit American Pie, the tragedy claimed the lives of ... Buddy Holly, 22 (pictured top), Ritchie Valens, 19 (centre in red shirt), the ‘Big Bopper’, Jiles Perry Richardson, 28 (centre on phone), and pilot Roger Peterson, 21.
himself and his two remaining band members, Tommy Allsup and Waylon Jennings, to avoid a tedious journey in the freezing tour bus and give them time to do some much needed laundry. Jennings, who went on to become a country music star in his own right, gave up his seat to JP Richardson who was suffering from a heavy cold and complaining how uncomfortable a long bus trip was for a man of his size. Seventeen-year-old Valens also wanted a seat on the plane and asked Allsup if he could have his. Allsup agreed to let the matter be decided by the toss of a coin and Valens won the seat. On hearing that Jennings was not going to be on the plane, Holly jokingly told him, “I hope your ol’ bus freezes up!” to which Jennings retorted, “I hope your ol’ plane crashes!”. It was a remark which a guilt-ridden Jennings admitted was to haunt him for the rest of his life.
The wreckage of the Beechcraft Bonanza 35 in which Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, JP Richardson and the pilot, Peterson, died. Picture of the tour bus (taken in 1958) which was ill-equipped to cope with severe mid-winter weather conditions.
170mph, slewed 170 metres across a frozen cornfield and come to rest against a perimeter fence. The bodies of Holly and Valens lay near the plane. Richardson’s body was thrown over the fence into the neighbouring cornfield. Peterson’s body was entangled in the wreckage. Such an event in 2012 would inevitably lead to the immediate cancellation of the tour. But this was 1959 and the show went on. Waylon Jennings and Tommy Allsup continued the tour for two more weeks, missing Holly’s funeral in the process. Carl Bunch rejoined them two days after the crash and Ronnie Smith, Jimmy Clanton and Fabian were recruited to help fill the depleted playbill. However, the line-up for the February 3 gig at Moorhead, Minnesota looked pretty thin with the three headline acts laying in the mortuary. Salvation came in the form of 15-year-old Robert Velline, who hastily assembled a band of Fargo, North Dakota schoolboys. They called themselves the Shadows
and volunteered for the unenviable task of filling in for Holly. With few other options open to them, tour organisers agreed. The boys were a success and the pop career of Robert Velline – better known as Bobby Vee – was launched. One of the pre-eminent solo artists of the early sixties, Vee went on to record 38 Hot 100 chart hits in the USA and Top Ten hits in the UK with Rubber Ball, More Than I Can Say, Take Good Care of My Baby and The Night Has A Thousand Eyes. Heard radio plea for talent Bobby Vee recalled: “The local radio station broadcast a plea for local talent to entertain at the scheduled dance. About a week before this, I had just organised a vocal and instrumental group of five guys. Our style was modelled after Buddy’s approach and we had been rehearsing with Buddy’s hits in mind. When we heard the radio plea for talent, we went in and volunteered. Soon afterwards, I made my first record. It was called Suzie Baby and I was pretty lucky
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
Tommy’s Heads Up Saloon Guitarist Allsup, the sole surviving member of the band, is now approaching his 81st birthday. In 1979 he opened a club named Tommy’s Heads Up Saloon in acknowledgment of the coin toss that saved his life. The wreckage of Holly’s 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza 35 aircraft wasn’t discovered until the following morning. It waas less than six miles northwest of the airport from which it took off. It had struck the ground at about
This memorial in stainless steel, created in 1988 by fan Ken Paquette, now stands on the crash site.
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with it; it was a fair-sized hit.” Schoolboy Don McLean learned of Holly’s death while folding newspapers for his paper round. Twelve years later it prompted him to write the line “February made me shiver with every paper I’d deliver” for his ballad American Pie, named by the Recording Industry Association of America as No 5 in its Songs of the Century project.
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
Never visited his grave Unfortunately, Maria Elena Santiago, who Holly had married less than six months earlier, learned of his death on the TV. She miscarried a day later. Maria Elena is now a divorced grandmother living in Dallas, Texas. She has spent most of her life protecting her first husband’s legacy, although she did not attend his funeral in Lubbock, Texas on February 7, 1959 and has never visited his grave site. She told a local newspaper: “In a way, I blame myself. I was not feeling well when he left. I was two weeks pregnant and I wanted
Buddy to stay with me, but he had scheduled that tour. It was the only time I wasn’t with him. And I blame myself because I know that, if only I had gone along, Buddy never would have gotten into that airplane.” Investigators from the Civil Aeronautics Board concluded that the crash was due to a combination of poor weather conditions and pilot error. But the discovery of Holly’s .22 pistol at the crash site two months later only served to feed rumours that a gun had been fired on board the aircraft and that JP Richardson had initially survived the impact. In January 2007, Jay Richardson, JP’s son born two months after his father’s death, requested that the Big Bopper’s body be exhumed and an autopsy be performed to settle the matter. The autopsy was performed by Dr Bill Bass, a forensic anthropologist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Jay was present with Dr Bass throughout the autopsy and observed as the casket was opened. Both men were surprised to find the remains well enough preserved to be recognisable as those of the late rock star. “Dad still amazes me 48 years after his death, that he was in remarkable shape,” Jay Richardson told the Associated Press. “I surprised myself. I handled it better than I thought I would.” Dr Bass’ findings indicated there were no signs of foul play.
Waylon Jennings made a caustic remark he later regretted. Tommy Allsup owes his life to losing a coin toss. Maria Elena Holly, a widow after less than six months. A giant replica of Holly’s glasses heralds the Clear Lake crash area. Carl Bunch, who was hospitalised suffering from frostbite.
He was quoted as saying: “There are fractures from head to toe. Massive fractures. (Richardson) died immediately. He didn’t crawl away. He didn’t walk away from the plane.” After the autopsy, the Big Bopper’s body was placed in a new casket made by the same company as the original. It was then re-buried next to his wife in Beaumont’s Forest Lawn Cemetery. Jay then allowed the old casket to be put on display at the Texas Musicians Museum. Testament to Holly’s impact The fact that we are still talking about Buddy Holly more than 50 years after his death is testament to the impact the 22-year-old had on the world in just 18 months of stardom. His legacy is not so much the music he left behind, but the influence he had on pop culture. He even made glasses cool, prompting the likes of Elton John to wear them on stage, even though he didn’t need them. February 3, 1959, may forever be remembered as the day the music died. But it was also the day a legend was born, serving only to draw even greater attention on an already remarkable talent and inspire a new generation of musicians in the most creative decade the music industry has ever known: the Swinging Sixties. Robert Collins
315/37 Theppasit Road Near Grandcodotel TEL. (038) 303119, 303131, 303311 www.jomtiengas.com
BBQ
E/GAS DEEP WITH OVEN
BUILT IN HOBS
E/GAS DEEP FRYER
KEBUB MACHINE
GAS GRILL
(H) STANLESS
E/GAS HOT PLATE
GAS BLOW TORCH
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
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Oh what a year that was!
1. Which word, first used in BBC TV’s political satire The Thick Of It, was named by the Oxford English Dictionary in November as the Word of the Year? 2. Why did swimmer Trenton Oldfield (above right) make UK headlines in April? 3. D Squadron, The King’s Royal Hussars, stripped naked in Helmand, Afghanistan, to show their solidarity with whom? 4. Which precious item was inadvertently left in May at The Plough, a 16th Century pub near Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire?
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
5. What was the name of the Italian cruise ship (above centre) which sank off the coast of Tuscany in January, killing at least 30 people? 6. Which Royal abseilled 239 metres (784 feet) for charity from the 87th floor of The Shard, Europe’s largest building, in September? 7. Who since June 19 has been a guest of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he has been granted diplomatic asylum? 8. To which high office was Justin Welby appointed in November?
2012 has been and gone, but just how much do you remember about the people and events which helped shape the year? The answers to all our questions appear on Page 32
9. Whose mortal remains were discovered beneath a Leicester car park in September, more than 500 years after he died? 10. What is the popular name given to the Higgs boson, a fundamental particle that gives mass to matter? Scientists believe they discovered it in 2012, half a century after it was first imagined by Scottish physicist Peter Higgs. 11. Which British wonder horse retired in October as the highest rated Thoroughbred of all time having won all 14 of its races? 12. What is the name given to the formal investigation launched by the Metropolitan Police in October in the wake of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal? 13. Who was revealed in November as the next Governor of the
Bank of England, the first nonBriton to hold the post? 14. Which footballer suffered a heart attack, during which his heart stopped for 78 minutes, while playing against Tottenham Hotspur in March? 15. Which city, granted city status in June to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and recently flooded, has the smallest cathedral in Britain? 16. Britain’s largest sculpture, the 115 metre (377 foot) ArcelorMittal Orbit, designed by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond, was unveiled on May 11. Where is it? 17. Which London landmark was sold to the Spanish in October? 18. What was the name of the Thames pleasure cruiser that served as the royal barge during the 1,000-vessel flotilla from Battersea to Tower Bridge during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June? 19. What was the name of the largest Atlantic hurricane on record with winds spanning 1,100 miles, causing more than $65 billion in damage and claiming at least 253 lives in seven countries in October?
Construction Started E.I.A. Approved
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1. Omnishambles. The word refers to a situation which is seen as shambolic from all possible perspectives.
St Asaph Cathedral, the smallest in the UK.
2. He halted the Boat Race for 30 minutes when he deliberately swam between the competing crews. He was subsequently sentenced to six months in jail.
Prof. Peter Higgs inside the Large Hadron Collider tunnel in which his theory about the God Particle was proved.
3. They were showing support for Prince Harry who had been photographed naked in a Las Vegas hotel room. 4. Nancy Cameron, eightyear-old daughter of the UK Prime Minister. Her parents inadvertently left without her after a pub meal. 5. Costa Concordia. 6. Prince Andrew, who raised around £300,000 for the Outward Bound Trust and the Royal Marines’ Charitable Trust Fund. 7. Julian Assange, Australian founder of WikiLeaks. The British Government wants to
Britain’s largest sculpture, the ArcelorMittal Orbit, at London’s Olympic Park. Admiralty Arch, sold on a 125-year lease to Spanish real estate developer Rafael Serrano for conversion to a luxury hotel.
extradite him to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning in relation to a sexual assault investigation. 8. Archbishop of Canterbury. 9. King Richard III who was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field. 10. The God Particle, named for its role in turning the Big Bang into a living universe. 11. Frankel. 12. Operation Yewtree in which police are pursuing more than 400 lines of inquiry, based on evidence of 200 witnesses, via 14 police forces across the UK. 13. Canadian Mark Carney, the eighth and current Governor of the Bank of Canada and the current Chairman of the G20’s Financial Stability Board.
smallest city by population with 3,491 inhabitants.
14. Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba.
16. The ArcelorMittal Orbit is at the Olympic Park in Stratford, London, and is intended to be a permanent lasting legacy of London’s hosting of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
15. St Asaph, the UK’s second
17. Admiralty Arch.
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
18. The Spirit of Chartwell, a luxury hotel barge which has since been sold to the Portuguese company Douro Azul to operate luxury cruises in the Douro river, Porto, Portugal. 19. Hurricane Sandy, which devastated portions of the Caribbean and the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States.
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Coffee break
Did you know... There is an ATM in Antarctica – at McMurdo Station about 840 miles from the South Pole. The world’s most northern ATM is in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, about 800 miles from the North Pole. The world’s highest ATM is in Nagchu County, Tibet, about 14,800 feet (4,511 metres) above sea level, and the world’s lowest is in Ein Bokek near the Dead Sea. It is in a grocery store almost 400 feet (122 metres) below sea level.
I D I D I I I _________ __ _ __________ ___ D___________ D I I _____;__ ____ __ _____ _________ __ __ _____ SUDOKU CRYPTOGRAM 1
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Decode this Mahatma Gandhi quote by deciphering the missing letters. We’ve given you two to start.
Answers to all the puzzles appear on Page 47
Guinness – best TV ad?
NUMBER CRUNCHER Fill in the missing numbers using 1-9 to complete the equation. Each number is used once. Multiplication and division are peformed before addition and subtraction.
× +
+ -
÷ +
6 +
×
+ 15
1 2 9 2 8
Six of the best
-4 ×
+ -16
19 60
Two-minute trivia
1. Which footballer has scored the most penalties for the England national team? 2. Which world heavyweight boxing champion made the most successful title defences?
4. Silent films apart, which was the only Best Picture Oscar winner not to feature a woman in a speaking role? 5. Who was the first English monarch to reign for more than 50 years? 6. Which capital city is closest to the Equator?
3
5 4
4 2 1 5 6 8 1 3 3 6 4 7 2 7 6 3 9
7 7 9
8
D C H A R I O T S O F F I R E V
J A F U F Q O O C Q O P N G C B Y H N R X C D A N R O W W L P Z A T P C H O M O R A I N M A N E U F U F E A V E N M M U I D C Q Y S I A D S S I M G N I V I R D P P Q E E T W H F C J V V A E Q M L U M G B G I I G O C W T P X F S I U W G N Y T P L A T O O N B D M C J T R A E H E V A R B C K P L B C T W X C L W Y Q P S M K T G H W C K W V I A O L N A D G X S C H I N D L E R S L I S T U I F Q U E O B N G T E K V V I O I I C W U X A J U W O M S E X B N S O U T O F A F R I C A T S Find the names of these 12 Oscar winning movies:
Amadeus Chariots of Fire Forrest Gump Platoon American Beauty Dances With Wolves Gladiator Rain Man Braveheart Driving Miss Daisy Out of Africa Schindler’s List
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
3. Who was the last Stewart monarch to rule Great Britain and Ireland?
The best UK TV commercials of all time according to uktvadverts.com. Agree or disagree? 1. Guinness (Horses and Surfers). 2. Smash (Martians). 3. Tango (Orange Man). 4. Electric Central Heating (Creature Comforts). 5. Boddingtons (Melanie Sykes - ice cream) 6. Levis (Laundrette).
4
w i n i n g
&
d i n i n g
the chow hound Hunting down meals and deals ... The Hound likes his seafood right where he can see the sea...
The Glasshouse in South Jomtien – No throwing stones here
The warm wood, whitewashed trim and fluffy tropicalcoloured seat cushions gave The Hound a “Key West”
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
feeling.
The Hound was pacing the floor with condo fever in anticipation of a night out to chow down and maybe howl a little. So, when an old friend called and invited him to pig out on fresh seafood, he jumped right in the car. The Glasshouse Restaurant is on a clean, private beach in that netherworld between South Jomtien and Na Jomtien. Seating at this sprawling seafood joint covers several dining areas and is about 50 per cent outside. During the rainy season the capacity is diminished but this didn’t stop them from being incredibly busy. There’s a huge indoor/outdoor dining room off the back of the house with a bar and comfortable seating. This place reminds me of colonial style beach houses on the east coast of the US. The entire dining room and bar are open to the beach. The warm wood, whitewashed trim and fluffy tropical-coloured seat cushions gave The Hound a “Key West” feeling. Latin music early on gave way to a live singer with guitar and eventually some cool and jazzy house music. Even though the weather had eliminated all the outside seating, The Hound and companion felt fully immersed in the beach vibe. The Hound’s tail was wagging as he loves to find a comfortable and uncontrived atmosphere to wine and dine in. The service staff were incredibly accommodating and attentive. The menu was a pretty straightforward Thai seafood selection, but the presentation with pictures and descriptions in English told The Hound this place had some real hospitality management at the helm.
The Hound selected a couple of unique items and one old favourite. The larb salmon (Thai style salad/appetiser made with finely chopped salmon) was a really nice start, especially with the clean Aussie Sauvignon Blanc. The Pesto Green Mussels were an unusual and tasty twist The Hound did not expect. But the real measure of any seafood joint is how well they do the whole fish thing. The Hound howled at the moon when the waiter brought the big sea bass bubbling on the fish platter done PlaNeungManow style (that’s sea bass steamed and basted in a sour and spicy soup). The feast was devoured at an unhurried and relaxing pace; which, of course, means there was room for dessert. Order desserts in advance The items on The Glasshouse’s dessert menu aren’t there just for looks. Regular patrons know the menu and order dessert in advance to get their favourites. The Hound and company enjoyed Mango Sorbet and a gooey delicious chocolate fondant with a big pile of fresh whipped cream; an unexpectedly good finish to the three-hour meal. The Hound left feeling satisfied both in a culinary sense and a cultural one. Sometimes in a bustling tourist town like Pattaya, the little things like service, atmosphere and value for money can get lost. The Glasshouse walks that fine line between a popular busy restaurant and chilled out beach house. The Hound gives them an “A” on atmosphere and cannot imagine anyone not enjoying this casually elegant place.
i n s i d e r
r e p o r t
Colour My World . .. what’s ‘in’ for 2013
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PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
id you ever wonder who decides universal trends? Why do skirts and hair change lengths according to what is considered the fashion of the day? Why do vehicle manufacturers change styles and bring out new models of cars and trucks? Is there a big trend committee appointed by some omnipotent being to make sure we mere mortals are saved from our own bad taste? Perhaps the most universally felt trend decision that is made for us is colour. What is the new “in” colour? What colour can we look forward to seeing all year? Clothing, cars, furniture … virtually any industry where a sense of style and individuality are part of the product’s charm will be affected by what the colour prophets decide. What criteria is used In December, 2012, the colour gods spoke again and we were given the gift of “Colour of The Year 2013”. That colour is Pantone 17-5641, Emerald Green. In case you didn’t know, Pantone 17-1463, Tangerine Tango was the colour of the year 2012. But exactly who makes these kinds of decisions for us and what criteria do they use? Is there
38
‘‘ The truth is, the colour gods are
quite readily accessible,
conduct tons of research and are very serious about colour and the affect it has on how we live.
a method to the madness or is it a random process? The truth is, the colour gods are quite readily accessible, conduct tons of research and are very serious about colour and the affect it has on how we live. Four separate groups announce colours of the year. Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams are both large paint manufacturers that claim a right to name the COY. The Colour Marketing Group (CMG) is an international not-forprofit association of 1,100 colour designers who forecast colour directions one-three years in advance for all industries, manufactured products and services. But, the real group handing down the colours our world will be tinted for the next 12 months is The Pantone Colour Institute, one of the trend forecasters and a worldrenowned authority on colour. When I first found out there were actually groups of experts whose job it is to determine what colour will be in fashion, my reaction was “why?”. Why would a big paint company like Sherwin Williams feel a need to support one colour or another? It’s not like they’ve got
a big stockpile of a particular colour they need to sell. Sonu Mathew, Benjamin Moore’s senior interior designer, summed it up when she said: “The end goal in providing an annual colour forecast is to help inspire and fuel the imagination of individuals as they take on homedecorating and painting projects. This is meant to be a starting point in their colour-selection process.” Fortunately, there’s something for every style and taste. Pragmatic view Ms Mathew’s view is very pragmatic. Anyone who has taken on the task of interior design knows you’ve got to start somewhere. Whether it is a colour in a carpet, or a pillow possessing three desirable shades, or a favourite shirt, we all pick a focus colour and work out from there. Colours are picked early in the year, so variations and mutations develop as the year progresses. Last year my brother was staring at the stark white walls of his new house wondering what to do. He chose one particular mossy green, and then went on the internet to find complementary colours. Several sites offer a free colour consultation and he chose a pallet of colours called “fog”.
The pallet included tinted whites intended for ceiling paint and some earth tones to suggest shades of wood and leather furniture. It sure made his choices easier and the end result was spectacular. Not all of the major colour cartels agree on which colour, but all associate colour with emotion and how it makes people feel. The 50-year-old association CMG proclaimed “Re-Blued” as the 2013 Colour of Year. “Blue will dominate the colour movement for years ahead,” said Mark Woodman, the colour group’s president. “It’s stable, comfortable and well liked.” However, the 2013 blues will move away from previous blues. “New blues will be warmer and more aqueous. Tropical, watery blues with a touch of green will dominate.”
‘‘ Blue will
dominate
the colour
movement for years ahead. It’s stable,
comfortable
’’ and well liked.
any other colour in the spectrum. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the colour of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. It’s also the colour of growth, renewal and prosperity – no other colour conveys regeneration more than green.” Resonant names Pantone sells codes that manufacturers use to replicate colours precisely on a variety of materials, from plastic to paint. The company has named thousands of colours – often with culturally resonant names like “solar power,” a yellow with a hint of orange, and “stretch limo,” one of more than 20 shades of black in its colour guide. Pantone determines the “in” colour each year in a process that is more survey work than prognostication. It polls industrial, fashion, interior and other designers and brands about the colours they’re already working with. A colour committee made up of Pantone executives and clients makes a pick based on the surveys, sales of colour swatches, and the educated opinion of people like Ms Eiseman. By the time Pantone unveils the colours; many brands are rolling the products out in stores.
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
More carefree Jackie Jordan, director of colour marketing for Sherwin Williams, singled out a minty-toothpaste aqua called “Aloe” (SW 6464) as their colour of the year. Why? She said: “It takes people back to the ‘50s, a time that was a little more carefree. The colour is fresh, fun, optimistic and hopeful. It’s not downbeat. We’re done with downbeat.”
Ms Jordan goes on to say, “This is no ordinary pastel – Aloe is funky and glamorous, demure and free-spirited. While Aloe’s vibe can verge on retro, when paired with caviar blacks, crisp whites or soft grays, suddenly Aloe has a new soul and attitude. And Aloe is highly adaptable, making it a perfect pick for everyday spaces such as a breezy sunroom or a well-dressed living room.” Benjamin Moore is calling out Lemon Sorbet (2019-60) as the 2013 colour of the year. According to Sonu Mathew, Benjamin Moore’s senior interior designer, yellow has always represented a sense of optimism, “and as the world seems to be gradually turning the corner on recessionary times, this whispery tint of the colour is timely and evocative of the uptick. As for the move to pastels,” she continued, “they convey innocence and typically have a calming influence.” The Pantone Colour Institute, recently announced their colour of the year selection – “Emerald” (Pantone 17-5641). Leatrice Eiseman, executive director, describes the colour as “the most abundant hue in nature – the human eye sees more green than
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
i n s i d e r
r e p o r t
The Colour of the Year selection is a very thoughtful process. To arrive at the selection, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for colour influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, travelling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socioeconomic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact colour, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention. Pantone blurs the line between predicting a trend and setting one. Once they determine the colour of the year, a chain reaction occurs worldwide. Christina Binkley, fashion columnist for the Wall Street Journal, says: “Diamonds may be forever, but emeralds are for 2013. The annual Pantone colour proclamation is closely followed by the design industry, and emerald is already starting to show up across a wide swath of products – clothes, dishes, furniture and even cars”.
40
‘‘ It would be
easy to feel a little violated by the colour gods if they weren’t so
good at what they do. Tangerine Tango from last year was a nice
change of pace and worked extremely well for a wide variety of products.
Deep greens took off on fashion runways in the spring 2013 collections at labels including Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Marni and Roland Mouret. Emerald is a major colour for JCP’s bedding collections, Le Creuset’s cookware, and Waterford glassware. It is a new paint colour for Tollens, a popular brand of paint in France, and it is popping up in Oliver Peoples sunglasses and Hublot watches. General Motors unveiled a Chevrolet Camaro convertible ZL1 concept car (pictured) in Las Vegas this fall in a rich colour the company calls “un-ripened green.” Celebrity help “It’s really a throwback to the 1980s,” says Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone’s colour specialist. The WSJ columnist pointed out that Emerald may have gotten a little help from celebrities late in 2011. Emerald looked retro-fresh when Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis, and Catherine Zeta-Jones all donned emerald gowns for the 2011 Golden Globes. Their much-publicised images may have played a role in green’s return.
For marketers, of course, renewal means consumers shopping to replace outmoded things – such as products in tangerine tango, the 2012 Pantone Colour of the Year. The vivid orange – which was in line with the mod ‘60s feel of some décor and apparel styles – popped up in coats, couches, dishware and rugs. But now, that fiery colour is starting to look like forced good cheer. Enter the more relaxing emerald. It would be easy to feel a little violated by the colour gods if they weren’t so good at what they do. Tangerine Tango from last year was a nice change of pace and worked extremely well for a wide variety of products. If you don’t believe me, keep your eyes peeled for one of those new Ford Ranger pick-up trucks in that colour … gorgeous vehicle. And, emerald green does give me a feeling of renewal and nostalgia at the same time … totally relaxing. So now that I know some experts are out there worrying about what colour my world will be, I can get on with the task of enjoying it. Bart Walters
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Intimate touch is Gala winner
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
This year’s Gala Movers & Shakers event in Pattaya sponsored by Heights Holdings brought rave reviews from those in attendance. The organisers, headed by Cees Cuijpers, the MD of Town & Country Property, have pulled off the trick of improving the event year-on-year. This time the networking evening was staged at the Matra Restaurant which is part of the Amari Pattaya hotel complex. The restaurant interior provided for a more intimate atmosphere, allowing guests to feel much closer to the on-stage action. A mixture of crowd-pleasing competitions, top quality music acts and superb food and drink were key to the evening’s success.
Photographs on these pages are courtesy of Chaianan Rohloff (yellow edges);Peter Kraemer (black edges) and Alain Muhleman (white edges).
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
Good company in stylish surroundings
Movers & Shakers Best for monthly corporate networking in Bangkok at all the top venues
Tune-in at facebook.com/Moversshakerscharity for the next event announcement Further information and bookings: Emanuel Mekel emanuel@moversshakerscharity.com | 081 848 1258 www.facebook.com/Moversshakerscharity
b a r s t o o l
d e b a t e
Can soccer can learn from American Football?
W
explore the things that UK soccer might learn from America Football and the things the NFL do that are maybe best kept between the Atlantic and the Pacific. First the good. I’ve already mentioned the ability to stage big half-time entertainment but that’s not really about the sport, is it? I think the draft system in American Football is a great idea even if it gets abused and manipulated by the teams – I refuse to call them franchises. Sport involving more than one person is played by teams! I won’t pretend that I understand all the workings of the draft system but I do know that the intention is to balance the sides up to ensure that two or three teams do not win everything all the time. English soccer please note. First pick to worst team At its most basic the draft gives the first pick (the best player to emerge from college football) to the team with the worst record from the previous season. So have a rubbish year one year then it may get better next year because you have the pick of the bunch coming through. At least that’s the theory – and it seems to work. I started taking a real interest in American Football in
This year’s Super Bowl will be in the New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome (above) on Sunday 3 February with kick off at 6.30pm ET (that’s 7.30 on the morning of Monday 4 February here). Many bars stage Super Bowl parties so if you are attending one in a few weeks’ time watch out for the half-time show because it stars a lady you might have heard of – Beyoncé (below)!
1983 when the then new Channel 4 in the UK started covering it. That year Super Bowl was won by the Washington Redskins of John Riggins fame who beat the Miami Dolphins 27-17. Since that Skins win no fewer than 14 other teams have lifted the Super Bowl Trophy. In the same year Liverpool won England’s soccer championship. Since then only seven other teams have finished on top. Figure it! Other good things about the American game? Plenty of referees on the pitch and a willingness to use TV technology to try to ensure they make the right call. Cheerleaders – enough said. Not so good things? The games take way too long – more than three hours for 60 minutes of play. And I don’t much care for the idea that teams can up sticks and move to a different city. There are many instances of this in American Football. I don’t care for it. The Packers can only play in Green Bay, the 49ers in San Francisco and so on. That said, in soccer Wimbledon tried moving to Milton Keynes in the UK but it didn’t work. I think UK soccer can learn lots from American Football. Apologies for referring to football as soccer. I did it to avoid confusion. Dave Buckley
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PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
hat do the following acts have in common – Madonna, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Sting and U2? Answer? They have all appeared on the half-time show of American Football’s Super Bowl since the turn of the century. Why do I draw your attention to this? Well, the latest staging of Super Bowl is just around the corner and it got me thinking about how our American friends organise one of their best-loved sports. It seems to me that when Americans want to describe anything as “super” they are willing to put their money where their mouth is. Look back at that list of names in the first paragraph. Whether you are a fan of those acts or not you have to say that it’s a very impressive (super?) line-up. I like the brashness of American sports in general and their brand of football, in particular – a brave statement perhaps in an age where it is becoming common to mock or dismiss all things American. The theme of this page is barstool debate so to get the discussions among readers going I thought it might be an idea to
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New direction for motor sport
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PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
otor sport in Asia has a reasonable long and stable background, but nothing like the history of the sport in Europe or America, even though China did host the Peking-to-Paris event in 1907, writes Dr Iain Corness. Asian motor sports have developed in the individual countries independently, and these separate countries have introduced their own local rules, which have more or less worked, but only allows competition at the national level. However, in today’s global village, it is necessary to branch out beyond national borders. We have just had the Bang Saen motor sport spectacular, organized by the Pattaya Mayor’s elder brother (and member of parliament) Sontaya Kunplome. That week long event saw Thailand coming of age with new Lamborghinis, Ferrari and
Porsches all competing at the GT3 level. These cars are expensive, but drivers have realised that to compete at a top level, you need top cars. With the chance of a Grand Prix in Bangkok in 2015, there will be events for supporting categories, and if a driver wants to be noticed by the international racing community, you have to be able to step up on the podium. And that will certainly need the right machinery. More circuits to come Malaysia is also building another Grand Prix style circuit, and that alone has been enough for the ‘powers the be’ in Thailand to sit up and take notice. Thailand will be building more circuits, and the rumour is for a full facility circuit to be built in the Chonburi province. And I believe it will happen. With politicians now interested, with the majority shareholding
‘‘ ’’ Increased interest in motor racing rubs off on the minor categories, too.
in Red Bull being in Thailand, with the Bhirombakhdi (Singha) family heavily involved as drivers, and more well heeled families joining the racing circus (and circuits), the only direction for Thailand’s motor sport is up. So where does that leave us in the Retro class? The good news is that we are not being left behind. The increased interest in motor racing rubs off on the minor categories, too. This coming year I know of three new Retro cars being built in Pattaya and more in Bangkok. We have also been invited to three “away” races as well as the ones at the local Bira circuit, with one in Kaeng Krachan and two in Khorat at the new Bonanza circuit. It is an exciting year ahead for the sport, and for our Ford Escort Retro race car and team, we cannot wait, with the first meeting being March 8-10 at Bonanza. Watch this space!
Proud sponsors of the Securitas Retro Escort +66 38 354 019 48
Coffee break answers two-minute trivia
1 Frank Lampard (8); 2 Joe Louis (25); 3 Queen Anne (1702-7); 4 Lawrence of Arabia 5 Henry III (1216-72); 5 Quito, Ecuador (15 miles). NUMBER CRUNCHER AND SUDOKU 1
×
+
2
+
-
4
6
+
8 4 3 5 9 6 1 7 2
1 7 6 4 2 8 3 9 5
2 9 5 3 1 7 6 4 8
7 2 9 6 4 1 8 5 3
5 8 1 2 7 3 4 6 9
3 6 4 8 5 9 7 2 1
9 5 8 1 6 4 2 3 7
4 3 2 7 8 5 9 1 6
6 1 7 9 3 2 5 8 4
‘Indolence is a delightful but distressing + × × state; we 5 + 6 + 8 19 must be doing something to 15 -16 60 be happy’ Multiply and divide before adding or subtracting. The – Mahatma second column down is therefore 3 x 6 = 18, 2 - 18 = -16. Gandhi 9
÷
3
-
7
-4
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Best Supermarket North Pattaya Road close to the Dolphin Roundabout for all your shopping needs
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
Find us at The Village shopping centre where Chaiyapruk meets the Sukhumvit Road
D J Y A U Y P M F B K K G U O B
p h o t o
f i n i s h
PATTAYA LIVING • 01/2013 • Issue 25
The view from a condo overlooking Ban Amphur beach. This photo was taken by Peter Kraemer, who can be contacted on +66 (0)84 864 9370 or at mail@kraemerphotoart.com www.kraemerphoto art.com
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sports FOR mid-january mid-february 2013
Soccer – Chelsea V Arsenal • Sunday 20 January • 8.30pm
Super Bowl XLVII • Monday 4 February • 7.30am
The Lion Pub is the newest Sports Bar in Pattaya where sports fans get together to watch live games on 8 big-screen TVs. Our state-of-the-art satellite system ensures you can watch any sport from around the world. We have ice cold beer and a complete range of spirits.
Rugby Union – Wales V Ireland • Saturday 2 February • 8.30pm
Our kitchen serves a large selection of your favourite bar snacks and Thai food, all served in a relaxed, fun and air-conditioned bar environment by our friendly hostesses. 380/81-84 Moo 10, Soi 17, Suksabai Villa, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20260
Golf – Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship • 17-20 January • tba
T: 038 301 030-3 E: info@lionpubpattaya.com W: www.lionpubpattaya.com Bar and kitchen open 10am until late
Tennis – Australian Open final • Sunday 27 January • 3.30pm
check out our 18-room guesthouse above the bar
pattaya living Tuesday 1 January New Year’s Day Monday 25 February Makha Bucha Day Monday 8 April Substitution for Chakri Day (Saturday 6 April) Monday 15 April Songkran Festival Tuesday 16 April Substitution for Songkran Festival (Saturday 13 April and Sunday 14 April) Wednesday 1 May National Labour Day Monday 6 May Substitution for Coronation Day (Sunday 5 May) Friday 24 May Wisakha Bucha Day Monday 1 July Mid-Year Closing Day Monday 22 July Asarnha Bucha Day Monday 12 August HM the Queen’s Birthday Wednesday 23 October Chulalongkorn Day Thursday 5 December HM the King’s Birthday Tuesday 10 December Constitution Day Tuesday 31 December New Year’s Eve
Dates shown are accurate to the best of our knowledge
Visit www.remthai.com or ring 087 988 0799