pattaya living No 33 • september 2013
a supplement of real estaTe magazine
world No3 will head the line-up for thai open
and top snooker stars will show skills in pattaya events & promotions • quiz • health matters • attractions & golf • bars & restaurants
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TGI stands for transparency By the time you read this I will have been to the first get-together of the newly formed TGI organisation who run fun events for charity. It’s an initiative that
Real Estate Magazine is happy to sponsor and, if you attended the first one, I hope you enjoyed it. A few months back I wrote a column anticipating the possible demise of the Lighthouse Club events in the city. Unhappily it seems my fears were well founded as LHC seems to have disappeared from the Pattaya social scene. Organisers of the tongue-in-cheek-named TGI don’t want to be thought of as filling the void left by LHC – “we’re not claiming to be a networking event,” said one of the organising team. Fair enough, their future plans suggest that they are not going to be an “exchange business cards over a beer” sort of event. But I do think it is likely that some will view TGI as the new LHC. A press release issued in advance of the first event at the Access Inn on Third Road said: “The team that make up TFI are a group of local businessman, Paul Strachan, Matt O’Sullivan, Nigel Quennell, Joe Cox and Earl Brown, who are all well known in the community. All their work is done on a voluntary basis with any expenses fully tabled on the accounts.” TGI Charity Events, to give it its full title, puts a lot of store in the transparency of its dealings. “To this end the organisers will listen to the sponsors and the attending guests regarding needy causes in and around Pattaya. TFI will not be handing over any money but will rather furnish a wish list for the beneficiaries. All transactions will be clearly noted on the website :www.TFI-events.com.” I wish them success.
Dave Buckley
Managing Director, Pattaya Property Consultants, publishers of REm
All photos courtesy of mydestination.com/pattaya
pattaya LIVING is a supplement of
REALESTATE ine magaz
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.
Are Pattaya expats really expats?
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By dan cheeseman
E
very month the challenge for me, as a writer, is to come up with an interesting topic and the easy subject matter is Pattaya related – but have you ever stopped to think how much have you really changed your life by becoming an expat in Pattaya? My life seven years ago was based in the UK and I was very much part of the rat race on my daily commute into London, and I can only describe it as predictable and comfortable; I liked my life but knew I wanted more. Break the norm What exactly happens in our minds that one day we decide not only to break the norm but up sticks and move to Pattaya, Thailand? We all, as expats, share that one trait that we have taken the decision to come and live abroad; however different we all are – we share that one bond. But are we really that different from our fellow compatriots still living in our home countries?
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When I moved I remember the feeling of empowerment and control, I had well and truly broken the grasp of society’s noose and escaped to a new country, with minimal concerns about the financial implications. It was as liberating as it was satisfying to realise we can all make decisions irrespective of the pulls trying to stop you, such as mortgages, jobs, friendships and families. But, was it really that bold? As I sit back in my leather chair at my office desk, with all the comforts I would have had back in the UK, I have to beg the question – have I really become an expat and become different for the experience or am I merely an Englishman residing in another
Speaking to a fellow English expat he admits he likes it when it rains in town and thinks it is because, in some small way, it’s a creature ‘comfort’ from back home.
’’ Rain in Thailand – does it provide a ‘comforting’ reminder of home? Or when it really lashes it down do we wish we had stayed there?
country? And yes, I think there is a difference, as I think the big step we all make from our home countries is not really as big as we think. Let’s put it another way. Do you watch Thai Television? Of course you don’t! Do you still enjoy food from your home country, like the odd fried breakfast or burger on the BBQ? Who do you socialise with, I bet it’s people from your own country rather than elsewhere? We relocate but we don’t change; so have we really left the norms of our life before? Speaking to a fellow English expat he admits he likes it when it rains in town and thinks it is because, in some small way, it’s a creature ‘comfort’ from back home; and I have to admit somewhere in his wisdom I think he has a point. Easiest step Arguably being an expat in Pattaya – with all that the city has to offer – is the easiest step anyone can make moving from their home country. The city is awash with fellow expats and tourists, and in many Sois I see a greater ratio of foreigners to Thais. That’s pretty startling. Let’s not finish on what could be construed as a negative point, as it’s not meant to be. We have been able to become expats in Pattaya with minimal disruption to how we are used to living our lives. We can eat, drink and socialise in the same way; only in Pattaya it’s just that much better than how we remember it when we lived in our home countries. But, our bold moves to relocate to Pattaya probably aren’t as bold as some of us might think.
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L O C A L
a t t r ac t i o n s
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. 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.
Here we list just a few of the things tourists and expats can do to make their time here more enjoyable ...
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.
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Andy Murray tops the bill at Thai Open
A
ndy Murray, who in July became the first Briton in 77 years to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon, will be top seed at the Thailand Open, which will be played at the Impact Arena in Bangkok’s Muang Thong Thani district from September 21-29. Murray, the world No 3, will be joined by three other players in the top 11, including Czech Tomas Berdych, the world No 6 who has beaten Murray in their last two encounters, Milos Raonic from Montenegro, ranked No 10, and Frenchman Richard Gasquet, the defending champion and world No 11. Twenty-eight players will compete for US$631,500 in prize money with qualifying matches being played on September 21 and 22 from 11 am each day. First and second round matches will be played between September 23 and 26 with two sessions daily, the first starting at mid-day and the second at 7.30pm. Quarter-finals will be played on September 27, again in two sessions starting at mid-day and 7.30pm, and the semi-finals on Saturday, September 28 will start at 1pm. The finals will be played on Sunday, September 29 – the doubles at 1pm and the singles not before 3pm. Tickets for the qualifying rounds cost between Bt300 and Bt900; for the first and second rounds between Bt500 and Bt2,500; for the quarter-finals between Bt600 and Bt3,000; and for the semi-finals and finals between Bt800 and Bt4,500.
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Tickets are available from www. thaiticketmajor.com; the ticket call centre at 02-262-3456; major Cineplex outlets and Tesco Lotus. Here in Pattaya, two superstars of the green baize, Ken Doherty and Jimmy White, will be demonstrating their snooker skills in a series of exhibition matches in September. Dubliner Doherty, now also a TV presenter, is the only player ever to have been both world amateur champion (1989) and world professional champion (1997). He was also World Under-21 champion in 1989. He will be at The Kilkenny Bar on Soi LK Metro on Sunday, September 8, for some exhibition snooker starting at 8pm.
Andy Murray, the British world No 3, is top seed for the 2013 Thailand Open Tennis Tournament which starts at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani on Serptember 21. Murray is the reigning US Open and WImbledon champion, having become the first Briton in 77 years to lift the title at the All England Club in July this year.
Sportsman Pub The following evening, he will be joined at the Sportsman Pub on Beach Road, Soi 13, by Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White, the six-time world championship runner-up whose list of achievements include winning the world amateur title, the UK championship and the Masters. He is also a former world doubles champion with Alex Higgins and has won the World Cup twice and Nations Cup once with England. For Bt1,200 snooker fans can get the chance to play against White or Doherty at the
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Sportsman, have their photo taken with the pair, get a table-side seat and enjoy finger food all evening. Tickets are limited so if you wish to take part you should phone Dave on 081-1376-138 as soon as possible. The event gets under way at 8pm and all proceeds will go to the Father Ray Foundation. It’s time for the Pattaya Players to tread the boards again and, in a departure from their normal productions, they will perform Broadway Under The Stars – appropriately under the stars at the Baan Souy Resort poolside in Jomtien at 7pm on Saturday, September 21. The all-singing, cabaretstyle programme will feature musical theatre standards and contemporary favourites and will serve as Pattaya Players’ annual fundraising event for next year. Tickets are Bt1,600 per person, inclusive of the show, a welcome drink, a gourmet buffet dinner and a limited-edition, exclusive goody bag. In addition, there will be an extensive lucky draw raffle featuring a wide range of exclusive items, services and gift vouchers donated from various local businesses. Theatregoers may also be interested in visiting to Bangkok to
Two snooker stars will visit Pattaya during September for a series of exhibition matches at the Kilkenny Bar on Soi LK Metro and at the Sportsman Pub on Beach Road Soi 13. The pair are Ken Doherty (top), former world professional and world amateur champion, and Jimmy White (below), six-time world championship runner-up. the events & promotions section of pattaya living is produced in association with
see the play with the longest initial run of any play in history – Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. 25,000 performances The Mousetrap opened in the West End of London in 1952, and has been running continuously since then with its 25,000th performance taking place on 18 November 2012. It is the longest running show of any type in the modern era. The play is also known for its twist ending, which the audience are traditionally asked not to reveal after leaving the theatre. The Mousetrap is on at the Aksra Theatre King Power, Bangkok on September 27 (8pm), 28 (2pm and 8pm) and 29 (2pm). Tickets cost Bt2,000, Bt3,000 and Bt4,000 and are available from the ThaiTicketMajor outlets listed above. Returning to the music theme, two solo singers from opposite ends of the pop music spectrum – and at opposite ends of their
careers too – will be performing in Bangkok during September. Justin Bieber, the Canadian teenager who catapulted to stardom as a 12-year-old when a video he posted on YouTube received 10 million hits, will perform his first official concert in Bangkok on September 26 at Impact Challenger 3, Muang Thong Thani. It will be the star’s first pitstop on the Asian leg of his global tour, Justin Bieber – Believe Tour 2013. At the opposite end of the music spectrum is Tony Bennett, the 87-year-old jazz and standards singer whose first chart hit was more than 60 years ago. Bennett will be performing in a charity dinner concert at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Royal Ballroom, Bangkok, at 8pm on September 15. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the HRH Princess Sirindhorn Foundation for Chitralada School. Tony Bennett is a 17-time Grammy Award winner. He is one of the all-time most successful jazz artists, beginning his career with his No 1 hit, Because of You in 1951. Fans can expect to hear hits such as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Cold, Cold Heart, In the Middle of an Island, Stranger In Paradise, The Good Life, Fly Me To The Moon, Rags
The Pattaya Players are back in the spotlight with their latest production, Broadway Under the Stars, at the Baan Souy Resort, Jomtien. Canadian teenage sinbging sensation Justin Bieber (centre) and Tony Bennett (right), who first topped the charts more than 60 years ago, will be performing in Bangkok. The original Jersey Boys – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons – will be in concert at CentralWorld Live, Bangkok.
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to Riches and The Shadow Of Your Smile among other evergreens. Tickets for the charity dinner cost Bt20,000. Justin Bieber tickets cost between Bt2,500 and Bt6,500. Both are available from the ThaiTicketMajor outlets listed above. Frankie Valli Almost rivalling Tony Bennett in the longevity stakes are Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons who will be in concert at CentralWorld Live in Bangkok at 7pm on Sunday, September 8. The Four Season, fronted by Frankie Valli, shot to fame in 1962 with Big Girls Don’t Cry and Walk Like A Man and followed them up with a string of hits, including Rag Doll, Dawn, December 1963 (Oh, What a Night); Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and Take Good Care of My Baby. The Tony-winning musical Jersey Boys, which chronicles the life and times of Frankie and his legendary
group, has led to a resurgence of interest in The Four Seasons. Tickets for the event cost between Bt2,500 and Bt4,500 and are available from the ThaiTicketMajor outlets listed. The Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive, which was established in 1998 to provide children in need with educational opportunities for a brighter future, have two Pattayabased events in September well worth supporting. The first is a Children’s Fair on Sunday, September 8 from 10am to 6pm at The Regent’s School, and the second is a Kids Gala Party Night at Amari Orchid Hotel, Pattaya on September 21 from 7pm until late. Tickets for the event cost Bt2,200. For more details and tickets phone 038-361-720 or 038-362-010. Local sporting action sees Pattaya United play five football matches in the Thai Premier League during September – home to Suphanburi on September 1; home to BEC Tero Sasana on September 7; away to Bangkok Glass on September 14; home to Chainat on September 22; and away to Sisaket on September 28. All kick-offs are schedule for 6pm. At Bira Motor Racing Circuit, round four of the six-round Nitto 3K Saloon Car Championship takes place between September
e v e n t s / p r o m o t i o n s
ďƒ? The Thailand Pro Racing Series returns to Bira Circuit in September. 6-8, and the third of the four rounds of the Thailand Pro Racing Series will be contested between September 27-29.
the events & promotions section of pattaya living is produced in association with
Wheel-to-wheel action Nitto 3K racing draws together a wide variety of cars with reasonably limited levels of preparation to contest a number of different races and classes with many of the cars able to contest more than one race over the weekend or with more than one driver sharing the wheel. It is a low-cost club racing format with plenty of wheel-to-wheel action in cars that are mostly equal in performance. The Pro Racing Series is organised by GPI Motorsport and aims to offer budding racing drivers a level playing field to advance their careers, giving them a first step on the ladder. Seasoned professionals also go head to head. The three main classes are Pro Car, Pro Truck and the headlining Thailand Touring Car events. There are also races for classic and 4x4
cars on the multi-programme. Offshore, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club’s Monsoon Series Final for catamarans and dinghies takes place over the weekend of September 21-22 while the keel boats will be in action the previous weekend in the Ocean Marina Dick Sanders Memorial Weekend. Dinghies will compete in the RS Vision match racing competition on September 7-8 while the junior sailing division competes for the Future Cup. Finally, the juniors will join the catamaran and dinghy sailors over the weekend of September 28-29 for the OktoberFest Regatta. 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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The ones that got away
1. Which 18th Century British burglar and thief escaped from prison four times before being executed in front of 200,000 Londoners? 2. Britain’s biggest mass breakout occurred on September 24, 1983 when 38 prisoners escaped from which penal institution? 3. What was the name of the tunnel through which 76 Allied prisoners of war escaped from Stalag Luft III in 1944 in what became known as The Great Escape? 4. In 1962, Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin became the only convicts to escape from which ‘inescapable’ prison? 5. What were the names of the two Great Train Robbers who escaped after being sentenced to 30 years in jail in 1964, one from Winson Green Prison in Birmingham, the other from Wandsworth Prison, London? 6. Born William Henry McCarty, how was the convicted murderer who escaped from Lincoln courthouse, New Mexico, on April 28, 1881, better known?
Britain’s biggest mass prison break-out occurred 30 years ago this month. Do you know where it was? The answer to this and our other questions about famous escapes are overleaf.
7. What was the name of the 1978 Oscar-winning film about 23-year-old student Billy Hayes who escaped from Imrali Island Prison on a rowboat in 1975 when his sentence for hashish smuggling was increased to 30 years? 8. What was the name of Germany’s ‘escape proof’ WWII prison (pictured above) for ‘incorrigible’ Allied officers, from which 30 of 130 escapees eventually managed to reach friendly territory? 9. Nicknamed ‘Houdini’, what was the name of the safe cracker who escaped three times – from Nottingham Prison, the Old Bailey and finally from Chelmsford Prison – in the 1950s?
10. From which impregnable British fortress did Jesuit priest John Gerard become one of only a few known successful escapees in 1597? 11. Pascal Payet, currently incarcerated in France for murder, escaped from prison in 2001 and again in 2007, and even went back in 2003 to help free his accomplices, each time using what piece of hijacked equipment? 12. In the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne uses a poster of which movie star to conceal the escape tunnel (pictured below) he dug in his cell? 13. Which 18th Century womaniser, imprisoned for ‘public outrages against the holy religion’, escaped from the Doge’s Palace, Venice, by gondola with a renegade priest? 14. Oberleutnant Franz von Werra had a unique distinction among WWII PoW escapees. What was it? 15. Who used a fake gun made of wood and shoe polish to escape from Crown Point, Indiana county jail on March 3, 1934?
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1. It was Jack Sheppard, the first known escapee to use knotted bedclothes to make his getaway. After his fourth capture, he confidently showed his jailers how he could free himself from a horse padlock using a small nail.
Charlie Wilson (above) and Ronnie Biggs (below), the only two Great Train Robbers to escape jail.
2. The Maze Prison in Northern Ireland was the scene of Britain’s biggest mass breakout. Within a few days, 19 Provisional IRA prisoners were captured while the remaining 19 were shuttled to safe houses and some were sent to the US and other countries.
The Old Bailey from where Alfie Hinds made his second escape by locking his two guards inside a lavatory.
3. More than 600 PoWs worked on three tunnels, nicknamed Tom, Dick and Harry, but only Harry was completed. Of the 76 men who escaped through it, all but three were recaptured. 4. The three escaped from Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay. Though the prison claimed the men drowned at sea, their remains have never been found and the US Marshal Service maintains an active case file. 5. Charlie Wilson escaped from Winson Green and Ronnie Biggs from Wandsworth. Wilson was recaptured on 25 January 1968 and Biggs voluntarily gave himself up in May 2001. 6. McCarty was Billy the Kid. According to legend, he killed 21 men, but it is generally believed that he killed between four and
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Billy Hayes, author of Midnight Express, who escaped from a Turkish island prison in 1975 on a rowboat. Alcatraz, the former island prison in San Francisco Bay, from where, in 1962, Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin became the only escapees. But opinion is divided on whether they survived the bay crossing.
nine. Sheriff Pat Garrett shot and killed him on July 14, 1881. 7. Midnight Express. Hayes wrote the book about his experiences in a Turkish jail from which he escaped when his original four year sentence was extended by 30 years within weeks of his scheduled release. 8. Colditz Castle near Leipzig. Escapees had tunnelled, disguised themselves as guards, workmen or women, sneaked away through sewer drains and even planned to use a glider to get over the wall. 9. It was Alfie Hinds, who tried to proclaim his innocence by repeatedly walking out of prison. He was eventually able to gain a pardon using his knowledge of the British legal system. 10. The Tower of London. Gerard escaped on a rope strung across the Tower moat during the night of October 4, 1597. He even arranged for the escape of his friendly jailer who he knew would be held responsible for the jailbreak.
11. A helicopter. In his third and most dramatic escape, armed accomplices hijacked a helicopter from Cannes and landed it on the prison roof. 12. Dufresne used a poster of Raquel Welch to conceal his escape tunnel. He had previously used posters of Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe. 13. Giacomo Girolamo Casanova. Some contend that Casanova’s tale of escape is implausible, and that he simply bribed his way to freedom. 14. Franz von Werra was the only German PoW to escape from imprisonment in Britain during the Second World War. His story is told in the 1957 film The One That Got Away. 15. John Dillinger. Dillinger’s wooden pistol was modelled after a Colt .38. He tricked a guard into opening his cell, took 17 men hostage, used Deputy Blunk to lure the guards back to the cell block one at a time, locked them in his cell, and fled with another inmate.
Coffee break
This month in history September 28, 1066: The Norman conquest of England began. September 2, 1666: The Great Fire of London started. September 29, 1829: Sir Robert Peel launched the Metropolitan Police force in London. September 7, 1940: The London Blitz began. September 30, 1955: Actor James Dean was killed. September 5-6, 1972: Eleven Israelis were killed during an attack on the Olympic Village in Munich.
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CRYPTOGRAM Answers to all the puzzles appear on Page 29
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Six of the best
Pine Valley – best course?
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15 24
Decode this Bob Hope quote by deciphering the missing letters. We’ve given you two to start.
NUMBER CRUNCHER Fill in the missing numbers using 1-9 to complete the equation. Each number is used once. Multiplication and division are performed
6
-15 ×
+ -4
14 77
Two-minute trivia
1. Who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in 597? 2. In which sport do participants compete for the Cowdray Cup? 3. What is the largest landlocked county in the UK? 4. Byzantium is a former name of which modern day city? 5. Which musician has the nickname ‘Slowhand’?
The world’s best golf courses according to Golf Magazine: 1. Pine Valley (New Jersey, USA, 1918) 2. Cypress Point (California, USA, 1928) 3. Augusta National (Georgia, USA, 1933) 4. St Andrews Old Course (Fife, Scotland,1400) 5. Royal County Down (Northern Ireland,1889) 6. Shinnecock Hills (New York, USA,1931)
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SUDOKU 3
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4 5 6 2 9 5 6
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E S G F G Q B G M H D A P M Y R N S J R G F S O P J T R I D W B F U Y P A V K X B C B C A Q Y M K A J D D H U N E W H V T Y W I D R B N A L A S T A I R C O O K X T B M R F V M E D A L I Z B E G S E K Z P K L G W N S L U E G N W Z D S B V O E O B S L I C A O E X T D A W T B M O G D P S T T R V N U E S P R P T C J Y F T T D M G R C X T D Z H H H G D I U N H T E B U T C K A O F D I N H A T L R P E T E R M A Y W I G N W A R L G I T Y R N J L V J N E C R Q P L E S T A N S Y C T Z L M Q R S B U U Z T I N Y N N X Find the names of these 12 England cricket captains:
6. Where will the 2014 Ryder Cup be played?
Alastair Cook Alec Stewart Andrew Strauss
7. Which UK Prime Minister was assassinated in 1812?
David Gower Graham Gooch Ian Botham Len Hutton
8. Who was the Nine Days’ Queen?
1
Bob Willis
Michael Vaughan Mike Gatting Peter May Ted Dexter
P A T T A Y A
G R A F f I T I
al t u r b t s mo t a h T : e arn, e l Experienc u o y ut B . s r e h c of tea rn. a e l u o y is do – C S Lew my God s that I made decision took I regret, and I ing them as learn I’m experiences ... erfect, human, not p else. like anybody
h – Queen Latifa
Any film, or to me any creative endeavour, no matter who you're working with, is, in many cases, a wonderful experience. – Martin Scorsese
Going to a party, for me, is as much a learning experience as, you know,
Experience is the child of thought, and thought is the child of action. - Benjamin Disrael
i
edom is A sense of fre t, happily, something tha e and comes with ag . life experience
– Diane Keaton
sitting in a lecture. - Natalie Portman
It’s my experien ce that you really can’t lose when you try the tru th.
- Sharon Stone
a new s i y a d Every and I experience comes. it take it as ac Effron -Z
at h t y it r u c e s l a e r The only world is h t in e v a h n a c a man ge, d e l w o n k f o e v r e is a res ility. experience and ab rd I don’t care how
– Henry Fo
I know it's an experience that I need to have if God's putting me throug-hLilitW. ayne
smart a kid you a re.
The only way you
learn what’s not ri ght
is from experience .
- Cameron Diaz
I like big casts. working togethe The experience of - those are my rr, that human contact oots, professio nally.
- Chris Noth
Is there a nyone so w ise as to learn b y the expe rience of others ? - Voltaire
that k in h t t s I ju tive the collec e of experienc see a going to ething m o s is m fil create. e r 't n a c you raig - Daniel C
I'm not one aspect of the human experience - none of us is. - Jennifer Aniston
Experience special: From an idea by Bart Walters
t h a i l a n d
NI G HTLI F E
one nite in bangkok
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Trying to reason with monsoon season
I
t was another Saturday night in Bangkok. On my way out the door I stopped to stare at my umbrella collection. A total of six Bt99 umbrellas leaning in the corner of my apartment mocked me … dared me to head out without at least one of them under my arm. Since the rainy season started, I’ve been caught across town with no protection at least half a dozen times. This time of year there is no rhyme, reason or warning of torrential downpours that come out of nowhere. But, I really hate carrying anything with me on a night out; it cramps my style. What’s more, I usually end up leaving the damn thing in some bar and get wet on the way home anyway.
Fast changing weather I checked the moonlit sky from my balcony one more time for signs of precipitation. Not a cloud in sight. Sometime during the 30-second ride in the lift down to the lobby, the weather threatened to turn. By the time I crossed the car park, passing our security guard, I
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could hear thunder in the distance. “Fon tok” the grinning uniformed idiot informed me, “Ow rom mai?” He stood there offering me his bright blue Pokemon umbrella and repeated his warning one more time, “Foon tok maak maak”. I knew he meant well, but I wanted to tell him where to stick it. It wasn’t raining yet, so I declined his offer and opted instead to take my Saturday night entertainment close to home. The kind of rain that comes this time of year not only ruins your hairdo, it can snarl traffic for hours. It is too easy to get stuck somewhere you don’t want to be. Feeling the need to feed, I turned the corner off Soi 33, crossed Sukhumvit and walked the 30 metres up Soi 22 to my new favourite “go-to” feeding tree, the “No Idea Café and Gastropub”. For you old Bangkokians, No Idea is located where the old Larry’s Dive Bar used to be. The owner/manager, known only to me as “Kiwi Dave” poured a significant amount of money into the renovation of this old dive and it is now an elegant yet
Big-ass Aussie burgers, tasty thin-crust pizzas and some really high-end gourmet dishes (the lamb shank is to die for).
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casual two-storey eating, drinking, sports watching emporium. There is always a nice eclectic crowd and the service is impeccable. I choose No Idea for several reasons. First off, they have great wines by the glass; none of which come out of a box. The music is a kooky nostalgic mix and never played too loud. Most importantly, the variety of food available is some of the best in town. High end gourmet Big-ass Aussie burgers, tasty thincrust pizzas, some really highend gourmet dishes (the lamb shank is to die for) and always some surprising specials on offer. On this night the special was kangaroo filet. But, this early on a Saturday night, I didn’t want to get too weighed down, so I perused his well-constructed tapas menu. I chose the marinated Kalamata olives with feta cheese and a small bowl of Mediterranean mussels. It was the perfect match for the chilled Chardonnay I was quaffing and exactly the right amount of food to serve my purpose; namely
laying down a base for some heartier alcohol consumption. Around 9pm I noticed some patrons arriving with the telltale sign of water spots on their shirt. Apparently the sky had not ripped open yet, but I knew it wouldn’t be long. Stepping onto the Soi 22 sidewalk, I could literally smell the rain approaching. Lucky for me, the next stop is only about 15 seconds away; Titanium Club and Ice Bar. Easy to disregard Titanium has been a staple of Bangkok entertainment for a long time. Many visitors not in the know walk right past it without a second glance. It would be easy to disregard it as just another of Bangkok’s ubiquitous “hostess” bars. There is indeed a bevy of stunning young Thai ladies dressed in traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai dresses sitting near the door and welcoming any passersby with friendly smile. But you really can’t judge this club by its cover. Step inside, let your eyes adjust and you’ll soon realise this club is very well conceived and executed. It is anything but a typical Bangkok hostess bar. The lights, the sound, the music all combine to take you somewhere else. It feels like a club in New York, London or Miami. In fact, the hostesses are there mostly to make sure you don’t get thirsty and ensure your involvement in nightly party. I’m not an Ice Bar kind of guy, so I can’t comment on the little chamber upstairs where patrons can slam Finlandia vodka shots in
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sub-zero temperatures, but I hear it can be quite invigorating. I am, however, a fan of high-end vodka and entertaining bartenders … and Titanium has both. The selection of vodkas is unrivalled in Bangkok. They offer Grey Goose, Sky, Finlandia, Stolichnaya, and my favourite, Ketel One. The five-man team on duty this night are quite obviously veterans on the bar scene and they really know how to pour a drink. I ordered a Ketel One martini with three olives slightly dirty. This order will totally befuddle your average Thai bartender, but not the boys at Titanium. In fact, my barman prepared this cocktail with such flair and panache, the Japanese guy sitting next to me decided to have one. I tried to warn him about 100 proof liquors. Later, I could tell he did not take me seriously. On the way to the restroom, his world had become a sea of furniture. The real draw at Titanium is the famous all-Thai-girl rock band known as Unicorn. As 10 o’clock drew near, the bar started to fill up with expats, girlfriends and clusters of young ladies out for a night with the girls. Unicorn took the stage to thunderous applause and proceeded to tear into a long set of pop, rock, soul and even some reggae tunes. The funny thing about Unicorn is, they aren’t just some novelty all-girl band. These girls can really rock, and they’ve been doing it a long time. Pardon my hormones, but there’s just something sexy about a hot Asian girl playing an electric guitar. The first set was mostly filled
The fiveman team on duty this night are quite obviously veterans on the bar scene and they really know how to pour a drink.
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with modern pop and rock, but later in the evening we were treated to some old Blondie and Pretenders tunes that felt like time travel for us older guys in the crowd. Halfway through my fifth, or sixth or ninth martini, I peeped the door and detected no moisture. I bid the world’s most dangerous bartenders adieux and made a beeline for my home soi hoping to make it home dry and forage for a little midnight snack. Most of the street vendors on Soi 33 had called it a night, so I popped into a little known secret spot called “Barfly”. Oh, Barfly is a well-known watering hole, but most people don’t know they have great food all day and night. I had their Buffalo Wings on my mind all the way down the street. Perfectly prepared After taking the last bit of perfectly prepared chicken off the last wing and paying my bill, I heard a clap of thunder and stood in the doorway. It was raining like a cow peeing on a flat rock. I looked across the soi and could see the brightly coloured Bt99 umbrellas for sale inside the Family Mart ... mocking me. I stomped home completely unprotected from the deluge. Drunk, full of fried chicken and soaking wet, I opened the door to my apartment and stared at my umbrella collection … mocking me. Some nights there is just no way to reason with monsoon season. For more information visit: www.titaniumbangkok.com
w i n i n g
&
d i n i n g
the chow hound Hunting down meals and deals ...
Mata Hari ... reliable elegance
The American Pacific coast oysters chilling under glass looked irresistible
Some readers criticise The Hound by saying, “Hey Hound, you never give any bad reviews” to which The Hound replies, “Oh I eat some bad food, but who wants to read about that”? But when The Hound wants to leave nothing to chance, he finds his way down Thappraya Road to visit Mata Hari. Founded in 1996 and run by its gracious Dutch host Louie, Mata Hari has been the “go to” place in Pattaya for a long time. The Hound set out on a Friday night, focused on having a great meal with satisfaction guaranteed and ended up chatting with Louie in the classy bar in the front of Mata Hari. The American Pacific coast oysters chilling under glass looked irresistible and The Hound didn’t even put up a fight. Half a dozen oysters and two glasses of Proseco later, The Hound found himself gravitating to the dining room for the full treatment. Mata Hari is like Goldilocks finding that third bed in the Three Bears fairy tale; it’s “just right”. The décor is an eclectic mix of European and Asian influence. The music is classic and tuned to just the right volume. The staff are attentive without hovering. The menu offers incredible variety without being overwhelming. The wine list is friendly in selection and price. The Hound chose a moderately priced Malbec and the rocket salad with goat cheese. When the salad arrived, it took The Hound five minutes to write down all the ingredients. Rocket leaves, goat cheese, tiny little grapes, blackberries, cherry tomatoes, quail eggs, walnuts, a sprig of
dill, and a just the right sized slice of warm parmesan toast topping it all off. It was the most well-balanced salad this Hound has tasted in a long time. For the main course The Hound selected a rib-eye steak. Now some folks go in for this new fancy Japanese waygu-style beef, but not The Hound. This gorgeous hunk of Canadian beef was charred to perfection, medium rare inside and tasted like a steak is supposed to taste. Attention to detail Lightly dipping each mouthful into the brandy and green peppercorn sauce, The Hound howled with satisfaction. He also appreciated the attention to detail paid to the elegant bundle of steamed veggies wrapped up in a thin slice of zucchini squash as they were flawlessly al dente. On this night, as on most others, the clientele is a real mixed bag. A large party seated in the middle of the main dining room was a business dinner including Americans, Chinese and Brazilians (I know … only in Thailand right?) Another table was a charming couple from India treating their aging parents to a sumptuous feast. Anyone who has lived in Pattaya for a while knows about Mata Hari. It doesn’t matter if it’s an anniversary dinner with your spouse, an important business affair, or you just want a restaurant that serves up the perfect dining experience every time, Mata Hari is The Hound’s choice for reliable elegance. Check it out on your own at: www.mataharirestaurant.com
Coffee break answers two-minute trivia
1 St Augustine; 2 Polo; 3 Shropshire; 4 Istanbul; 5 Eric Clapton; 6 Gleneagles; 7 Spencer Perceval; 8 Lady Jane Grey. NUMBER CRUNCHER AND SUDOKU
Multiply and divide before adding or subtracting. The middle row across therefore is 2 x 9 = 118; 3 -18 = -15.
‘A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you do not need it.’ – Bob Hope
i n s i d e r
r e p o r t
The fabric of life
Talk to any expatriate about the advantages of living in Thailand and you’re likely to get a laundry list several pages long; the weather, the food, the friendly people, and so on and so on. But, talk to an expatriate who builds houses or works with interior design and chances are that list is a little different. Last month I was in an extended conversation with a fellow interior geek who also happens to be a local builder of extremely fine homes. Availability You could see the light in his eyes as we talked about all the materials available in Thailand that we either can’t get or can’t afford back in our home countries. Tiles, bathroom fixtures, wood flooring … we are truly blessed. As I slipped under the covers that night it occurred to me we left one very important item out of our conversation … fabrics. I
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don’t know how we forgot. As I wallowed around in my 650 thread count Pasaya sheets I cackled when I thought about how much they would cost in the US. In fact, I cannot think of a single shop in my hometown that would even stock such a luxury item … special order for sure. Fabric and textile production has always been a mainstay of many Asian economies. When you were a kid learning about nomadic merchants and travelers like Marco Polo transporting and trading goods from one region to another, silks and woven textiles from the Far East are always high on the luxury list of wealthy European households. The importance of textiles in Thai culture is mirrored by its importance to the Thai economy. Around 50 per cent of all handicrafts produced in Thailand are textile based and National Thai development policy has encouraged its development
‘‘ ’’ Fabric and textile production has always been a mainstay of many Asian economies.
from a self-supporting role into an income generating activity. The North of Thailand is the focus of the Thai textile industry. It is in this region that almost 200,000 people are engaged in either cotton growing, silk producing or in small businesses engaged in textile processing, trading and supplying. Production Local cotton is grown, spun, dyed and processed by smallholders in the countryside throughout the North, while silk yarns and fabrics are produced in the Northeast and Lower North. In fact, silk, the “Queen of Fabrics” has an ancient history. While the Pharaohs of Egypt were wearing Nile Delta cotton and the Royals of Europe were clothed in wool and linen, the silkworms of Asia and the Orient were spinning threads to make the most beautiful and sensual fabrics to clothe the Siamese and Chinese courts. According to legend, silk
was first discovered in China by Empress Si Ling Chi when she was sitting under a mulberry tree in the palace garden. Suddenly a cocoon fell from the tree into her tea cup. Attempting to remove it, she was fascinated to discover a very fine thread start to unravel. Many wars have been fought throughout history in an attempt to control the production and export of silk. It is the most wonderful of natural materials, which scientists have tried to emulate with synthetic substances but have never quite matched its qualities. Light, strong, hard wearing and long lasting; Thai silk has always been regarded as of the best quality and Chiang Mai produces some of the best in the world. But this is 2013, so scrub those visions of native women sitting in a room full of manual weaving looms. Oh, there is certainly a lot of that still going on in Thailand, but the Thai textile industry has a competitive modern face as well.
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It doesn’t matter whether you are looking for bed linens, curtains for your living room or upholstery for your favourite chair; Thailand is home to manufacturers of some of the highest quality and most innovative designs in the world. Here are my top three: Pasaya Very few people outside of Thailand have heard of Pasaya. The production company was originally established in 1986 with a handful of weaving machines and less than 50 employees. The company was started by Schle Wood-Thanan, a graduated textile engineer from Philadelphia in the US. The Pasaya brand was founded in 2002.The factory is located in Bang Pae District, Ratchaburi Province, in a 640,000 sqm facility. The Pasaya brand is completely vertically integrated with in-house designers, yarn processing, weaving, dyeing, finishing and sewing all happening under one roof.
Light, strong, hard wearing and long lasting; Thai silk has always been regarded as of the best quality.
You’ll know Pasaya when you see it. The trademark patterns almost look stamped onto the material. The colours are bold, yet muted and they send a message to your brain that they are soft even before you touch them. Pasaya bed linens and throw pillows are available at many fine department stores. Pasaya also makes curtains, pillow cushions, table cloths, napkins and rugs. The best place to see the full array of their wares is at their design centre in Siam Paragon. Lucky Pattaya residents can shop at the Pasaya Outlet Store on Sukhumvit Road between Pattaya Tai and Pattaya Klang. Check them out on-line: www.pasaya.com Jaspal Jaspal & Sons are celebrating a significant milestone in the company’s history – the 60th anniversary of their inception. Starting out with only one retail
i n s i d e r
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store, the company is today the market leader in the bed and bath product industry and enjoys a worldwide reputation for quality and service excellence. The powers that be at Jaspal learned early on to satisfy European sensibilities, they would need to advance their production techniques to adapt. Now Jaspal produces its mega-luxury bed and bath linens on European machinery. So, patterns meant to be printed on a king-size sheet are done in one piece, not spliced together like lesser local suppliers. This company is also totally vertically integrated, completely controlling every aspect of production from design to stitching. Jaspal Home stores are unmistakable by their always inviting displays. When you walk by a Jaspal Home store, the perfectly made bed on display just calls your name. If you’ve never had the pleasure of sleeping on 600 thread count Egyptian cotton, treat yourself
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‘‘ This company is also totally vertically integrated, completely controlling every aspect of production from design to stitching.
to a set of Jaspal bed linens. Last year I gave my brother a set for Christmas and he complained … “How the hell am I supposed to go back to regular sheets after I wear these out?” You can find Jaspal Home stores in all the upscale malls like Central Festival, Central World and Siam Paragon. Check them out on-line at: www.jaspalhome.com Jim Thompson Silk Easily the most famous and storied fabric manufacturer in Thailand, the Jim Thompson Silk Company is synonymous with fine Thai silk. Thompson was a Princetoneducated American who served in the OSS (pre-runner of the CIA) during WWII. After the war he settled in Thailand and is regarded as the man responsible for the rebirth of the Thai silk industry. Jim Thompson stores are also unmistakable as their displays of incredibly colourful and unique designs stop anyone walking by.
You can enjoy this company’s designs on everything from bedspreads to beanbag chairs. JT stores are located in most major shopping malls in Thailand, but my favourite is the big outlet store near Big C in South Pattaya on Sukumvit Road. Rows and rows of bulk fabric standby for selection as curtains, duvet covers or even sofa upholstery. The Jim Thompson story is quite intriguing, fraught with rumour and mystery. A tour of the Jim Thompson House in Bangkok is a must for tourists and residents alike. Read about it for yourself at: www.jimthompsonhouse.com Every year around Christmas time I start getting requests from family members. They know the names of the really good Thai fabric manufacturers, sometimes going on-line to select gifts for themselves and others. My sister calls me “The Silk Santa”. Just another perk of living in the Land of Smiles. Bart Walters
Family Pub & Restaurant
Barry Upton LIVE!!
Every Saturday 6.30-9.30pm Barry Upton’s unique Family Style Entertainment with music from the 60’s & 70’s Situated on the second floor of The Avenue Shopping Mall on Pattaya’s Second Road, The Acorn offers something for everyone. A complete range of ice cold imported and local beers, lagers and ciders. A secure and fully supervised kids soft play area with sweets and soft drinks at the Little Acorns Bar. Computer games for the teenagers too.
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 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
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
g o l f
d e s t i n a t i o n s
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
Whatever standard you play to you will find a course to suit within an hour’s drive. Here are just some of them.
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 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
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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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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.
What a choice! A blood test or the ‘educated’ finger? Came across some interesting stuff at the weekend. Apparently Australia has the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world. So as well as the most poisonous snakes in the world, Aussies have the highest rate of prostate cancer. I think I was lucky to have escaped to Thailand at the right time! One of the problems when talking about prostate cancer is that we have not developed a “Go - No Go” test for it. What we have are some ‘pointers’ but nothing so easy as a positive or negative. Buyer resistance Now the principal indicators are the educated finger in the anus (called the Digital Rectal Examination or DRE) and the PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood test. The problems with the DRE include buyer resistance, and there is a very limited amount of information that can be felt by the magic finger. No matter how clever its owner. The problems with the PSA
‘‘ One of the problems when talking about prostate cancer is that we have not developed a ‘Go – No Go’ test for it.
’’
result is that it is not a positive or negative either, but a large number of men think that it is. I often get worried chaps coming to see me at the hospital because their PSA is above the “normal range’ and they are quite sure they have only weeks to live. We are talking about levels of say 5, where the so-called “normal” range is zero to 4. My response to this is: “Tell me when it gets to 10, and then again when it gets to 100, then we might have to do something.” You see, the vast majority of carriers of prostate cancer die with it – not from it. The reason for this is that most of the prostate cancers are very slow growing so it takes decades before it becomes a real problem. According to the most recent data, when including all men with prostate cancer: The relative fiveyear survival rate is nearly 100 per cent; the relative 10-year survival rate is 98 per cent; the 15-year relative survival rate is 93 per cent, so you can see you would have to be unlucky to be in the seven per cents.
Here is the latest data which came from Associate Professor Sikaris who said too many men are being unnecessarily worried about prostate cancer because no clear testing schedule exists. Reassured and retested Professor Sikaris says men with a low PSA test result (lower than four) should be reassured and retested only every four years. Those with a PSA reading over 10 should see a urologist but also be retested in case the high reading is caused by an infection or benign growth. Those with an ambiguous PSA result of between 4 and 10 should be monitored every two years. “Trials have shown if you retest every two years you won’t miss out on any interim cancers,” he said. So there you are. Do get yourselves tested, but don’t be frightened. You are most likely in the 93 per cent group, alive and kicking 15 years after the PSA went up!
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Drivers for 2014 So here is what we know so far: Supposedly confirmed 2014 F1 drivers: Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull-Renault (Confirmed until the end of 2015) Fernando Alonso – Ferrari (Confirmed for 2013, with options for 2014 and beyond?) Jenson Button – McLaren-Mercedes (Signed ‘multi-year deal’ in October 2011) Sergio Perez Mexico – McLaren-Mercedes (Signed ‘multi-year deal’ in October 2012) Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes (Deal expires at end of 2015) Nico Rosberg – Mercedes (Signed ‘multi-year deal’ in November 2011) That is just six of the 22 drivers. So here’s the unconfirmed drivers: Felipe Massa – Ferrari (Deal expires at end of this year) Kimi Raikkonen – Lotus (Signed two year deal in November 2011, second year was an option) Romain Grosjean – Lotus (Signed deal for 2013, contract length not announced - CLNA) Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber (Signed deal for 2013, CLNA) Esteban Gutierrez – Sauber (Signed deal for 2013, CLNA) Paul di Resta – Force India (Signed deal for 2013, believed to be a one-year contract) Adrian Sutil – Force India (Signed deal for 2013, believed to be a one-year contract) Pastor Maldonado – Williams (Signed deal for 2013, CLNA) Valtteri Bottas – Williams (Signed deal for 2013, CLNA) Daniel Ricciardo – Toro Rosso (Signed deal for 2013, CLNA) Jean-Eric Vergne – Toro Rosso (Signed deal for 2013, CLNA) Charles Pic – Caterham (Signed ‘multi-year deal’ in November 2012) Giedo van der Garde – Caterham (Signed deal for 2013, CLNA) Max Chilton – Marussia (Signed deal for 2013, CLNA) Jules Bianchi – Marussia (Signed deal for 2013, CLNA)
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Musical chairs in F1 The F1 circus has had its mid-year holiday, allowing crew and drivers time to rest, go home to families, (or see what ‘secrets’ they can sell). ;-) Now comes the time of rumours and innuendo (that’s not an Italian suppository, by the way). There are plenty of F1 seats available, and some you don’t even have to pay for! So who is going where for the 2014 season? Top seat available The wonderful uncertainty has come about because one top seat became available when Mark Webber (Red Bull, above) announced he had had a gutful and was going to Porsche to race sports cars. So now comes the discussion as to who will move into that seat, and leave another vacant? Sebastian Vettel is already confirmed at Red Bull, while
McLaren and Mercedes look set to field an unchanged line-up going on what has been previously announced by both teams. So to the Red Bull vacancy. Kimi Raikkonen (below) and Daniel Ricciardo are the favourites, although Fernando Alonso has also been mentioned. Alonso and Vettel would be interesting, as I am sure the Spaniard would dislike Vettel even more than Webber does. Will there be a vacant seat at Ferrari? Massa must go, but if Alonso also goes there could be two seats up for grabs at the Scuderia. How about Kimi Raikkonen in one and Nico Hulkenberg in the other? And then there is Paul di Resta, currently in the Force India and telling everyone he is available? If Kimi goes to Red Bull, or Ferrari, then maybe diResta could fit into Kimi’s seat at Lotus?
cheer on your favourite sports in comfort – AUGust 2013
AFL (Aussie Football League) – Grand final • September 28 • 11.30am
Soccer – Man City V Man Utd • September 22 • 10pm
The Lion Pub is an established 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.
American Football – Ravens V Broncos • September 6 • Repeats
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
Tennis – US Men’s singles final • September 9 • check times
T: 038 301 030-3 E: info@lionpubpattaya.com W: www.lionpubpattaya.com Bar and kitchen open 10am until late
Cricket – England V Australia ODI • September 6 • 4pm
check out our 18-room guesthouse above the bar
now it all fits!
THE CUBE HAS THE ANSWERS NEW CONDO PROJECT COMING TO PRATUMNAK FROM THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT YOU TUDOR COURT
081 5700 110 Call now for the best prices www.cube-pattaya.com