Pattaya living august by Pattaya Property Consultants

pattaya living No 32 • August 2013

a supplement of real estaTe magazine

Football Vs football – the uK/uS debate

pet shop boys feature in big month for music events & promotions • quiz • health matters • attractions & golf • bars & restaurants

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Great time for Brit sports fans Can a sporting feelgood factor influence politics? Some say the UK Labour party won the 1966 general election on the back of England’s soccer World Cup win; others feel the party lost in 1970 because England were booted out of the World Cup four days before polling day. It’s one of those debates that can carry on ad infinitum without ever reaching a satisfactory conclusion. All that said, I would bet that, albeit fleetingly, it crossed the mind of UK Prime Minister David Cameron to call a snap election as he watched England’s Test cricketers demolish Australia at Lord’s recently. I mean ... how much of a feelgood factor do you need as a politician to try to get re-elected? In the weeks preceding the Lord’s Test UK sportsmen had won the US Open at golf (Justin Rose), seen the British and Irish Lions triumph Down Under at rugby and then, of course, there was Andy Murray producing the tennis goods at Wimbledon. And let’s not forget that on the same day as the cricketers were winning the second Test Chris Froome landed the 100th Tour de France cycling crown. Add in last year’s Olympics and I can’t remember a better time to be a British sports fan ... though it comes hard on the heels of years of expecting the worst and rarely being wrong or disappointed. I recall looking across the table at my mate’s son when Australia got back to within three points of the Lions in the deciding rugby Test and exchanging a familiar “here we go again” glance. We feared the usual collapse, but we were pleasantly surprised! It may be low season in Pattaya but it’s been high season for British sports fans ... and long may it continue! Excuse my bias.

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.

Step aside London

Bangkok is the number one tourist location for 2013

‘‘

By dan cheeseman

ave you ever felt you were in the right place at the right time? Sure Thailand has had its issues in the past from military coups, heightening exchange rates to Tsuanamis, but it has, to coin a footballing phrase, ‘bouncebackability’. It appears nothing can prevent Thailand, and Bangkok in particular, from going from strength to strength. For, according to MasterCard’s new Global Destination Cities Index, Bangkok will be the number one destination for tourists in 2013. The annual report forecasts estimated arrivals of foreign visitors, as well as how much they are expected to spend in total. The numbers are based on data from tourism boards, number of flights in and out of the country, and the amount of reservations at paid accommodations in the city. So it can also be assumed that Pattaya and its growth have also impacted on this result. It’s a performance made even more staggering in light of another

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Could it be Bangkok

and Pattaya

recent accolade Bangkok received from Agoda travel when it was voted the number one nightspot in the world by its members (Pattaya came a very high fourth). On the up Bangkok beat out major destinations like London, Paris, New York and Dubai with an anticipated 15.98 million international arrivals and spend levels in the upwards of $14.3bn in 2013. With Pattaya very much in the ascendancy and new attractions continuing to grace these Eastern Seaboard shores, such as two new water parks, combined with emerging tourist markets from China and India that continue to have a positive impact on tourist

are at last

unshackling the traditional view of bars girls and coyote dancing? It

’’ very much

appears so.

figures; it would appear Bangkok’s new number position may remain for many years ahead. It seems in every corner you look there is good news being reported for the global tourist market. Take golf for example. In 2012 Pattaya was voted the number one golfing destination in Asia and Australasia which was followed this year by the largest golf convention in the world coming to Pattaya at the Royal Cliff Resort’s Peach Conference Centre. Could it be Bangkok and Pattaya are at last unshackling the traditional view of bars girls and coyote dancing? It very much appears so. But with all these changes could there be some casualties? Will bar owners be forced to close as market dynamics change and how will the traditional tourist/ expat of 10 years ago respond to a different tourist emerging around them? Bottom line is these changes are all for the best and you can’t knock the multiple awards Bangkok and Pattaya continue to win and be recognised for globally. The winners in this city will be the ones that respond accordingly…

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L I M O U S I NE

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Importers and Distributors of fine quality Beverages, Meat Products and Dry Goods for Thailand

Acorn Distribution Co.Ltd., Jua Lee Building, 159/113 3rd Floor, Moo 5, North Pattaya Road Naklua, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150, Thailand. Tel: +66 (0) 38 489 290 Fax: +66 (0) 38 489 295 E-mail: sales@acorn.co.th www.acorn.co.th

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.

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.

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August full of sports and music

here’s something in store for just about every sports and music fan during an August chocfull of events on the Eastern Seaboard. Hard on the heels of visits by UK football giants Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool come the mighty Catalans of FC Barcelona, accompanied by the world’s best player, Lionel Messi. During Barca’s first trip to Thailand in 11 years, the four times European champions will take on the Thai national team on Wednesday, August 7, at the Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, kick-off 7pm. Tickets for the Chang-sponsored match cost between Bt1,000 and Bt4,500, each with a limit of six per application. They are available from www.thaiticketmajor.com, major Cineplex outlets or by phone from 02-262-3456. Soccer skills of the highest order are also likely to be on display at Pattaya’s indoor sports stadium on Soi Chaiyapreuk when the annual four-day Pattaya Sepak Takraw Cup competition gets under way on August 16. Last year 105 teams, each of three players, took part representing Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and several other Southeast Asian countries. The game – also known as Asian football – is a variation of volleyball played with the feet and head but not the hands and, although growing in popularity worldwide, is still dominated by Thai players. A feast of music awaits pop, rock and classical music fans with

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the Pet Shop Boys, The Platters, Placebo, Jason Mraz, rock guitarist Steve Vai and the Bangkok Charity Orchestra all performing live in the capital during August. Music festival The three-time Brit Award winners and six-time Grammy nominees Pet Shop Boys will headline a oneday Sonic Bang musicfest at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani on August 24 when more than 30 artists will perform on six separate stages. The Pet Shop boys will be joined by British alternative rock band Placebo, who have had six top 20 albums in the UK, and American singer songwriter Jason Mraz, who has had three albums chart in the top five in America. Sonic Bang will feature nonstop music by Western and Asian artists from midday to midnight in air-conditioned comfort. Regular tickets at Bt4,000 and VIP tickets at Bt5,000 are available from www.thaiticketmajor.com, major Cineplex outlets, Tesco Lotus or by phone from 02-262-3456. American rock guitarist Steve Vai, who worked with Frank Zappa, collected three Grammy awards and whose eight studio albums have sold more than 15 million

 Lionel Messi, the world’s best footballer, is in Thailand with FC Barcelona.  Heads I win...exponents of the art of Sepak Takraw will display their skills at the Pattaya Sepak Takraw Cup competition which gets under way at the indoor sports stadium, Soi Chaiyapreuk on August 16.  The Pet Shop Boys, the UK’s most successful ever pop duo with 50 million record sales credited, will join Placebo and Jason Mraz at the one-day Sonic Bang music festival at the Impact Arena, Bangkok on August 24.

Family Pub & Restaurant

op w o n

Sunday Carvery Extensive range of Premium Imported Beers and Ciders on draught and in bottles & cans Guest Beers Kids secure soft play area Full European and Thai menu Computer games zone Full sports TV coverage Pool Table

Imports On Draught: STOWFORD PRESS CIDER BRAINS SA SMOOTH BITTER BRAINS BLACK STOUT PHUKET EXPORT PREMIUM LAGER Situated on the second floor of The Avenue Shopping Mall on

e v e n t s / p r o m o t i o n s

 Body art takes centre stage at the Pattaya International Tattoo festival. copies worldwide, will perform at CentralWorld Live on the eighth floor of CentralWorld, Bangkok, on Tuesday, August 6. Showtime is 9pm and tickets costing Bt1,490 and Bt2,490 are available from the Sonic Bang ticket outlets listed earlier. The Platters have been performing in one guise or another for around 60 years. Famous for hits such as Only You, The Great Pretender, Magic Touch and Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, The Platters have sold more than 100 million records over the years. The latest incarnation of the group will perform live at the Thai Cultural Centre, Bangkok, on Sunday, August 18 at 2pm. Tickets costing between Bt500 and Bt2,500 are available from the same outlets listed above. Charity concert Finally on the subject of music, classical lovers should make a diary note of Friday, August 9, when the Bangkok Charity Orchestra, conducted by Chulayuth Lochotinan, will perform Wagner’s Prelude to Die Meistersinger; Bruch’s Violin Concerto No 1 in G Minor; and Dvorak’s Symphony No 9 (New World), at the InterContinental, Bangkok. The concert, organised in association with the Movers & Shakers networking group, begins at 7.30pm and will feature soloist Anna Sowanna Takedo. Tickets cost Bt800 each for adults, Bt500 for students and are available from the InterContinental Hotel. Reservations

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can be made by phoning 02-2599900 or by emailing reservation@ charityorchestra.com. All proceeds from the concert will go to the Triam School Foundation. Love them or loathe them, there’s no getting away from the fact that tattoos are popular here in Pattaya. Tattoo enthusiasts and the finest exponents of the art will gather at the Hard Rock Hotel when the Pattaya International Tattoo Festival kicks off on August 24. AIM Global Service Co and the Pattaya Technician Association will host the two-day convention, the third to be held in Pattaya since 2009. The event enables tourists and tattoo lovers alike to view body art and even get their own. Also on offer will be information on health, the history of tattoos, tattoo trends, cleanliness and equipment. There will also be a children’s drawing contest and art contests. The final day will see awards presented for outstanding body art in several categories. It’s fair to assume that airline staff know a thing or two about shuttle service, but just how good they are at serving shuttlecocks remains to be seen.

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.

e v e n t s / p r o m o t i o n s

All will be revealed on August 24 when airline workers gather at the CAT Sports Club on Pattaya Third Road for the 2013 World Airline Badminton Championship. Organised by the TG Badminton Sport Club and Thai Airways, the four-day event is split into two categories: Category 1 is for airline staff only and will consist of men’s singles, men’s doubles, men’s doubles 30, men’s doubles 45, men’s doubles combined 100, ladies’ doubles, mixed doubles and mixed doubles combined 80. Category two is for other staff in the airline industry and will consist of men’s doubles, ladies’ doubles and mixed doubles. Originally scheduled to take place the weekend of July 13-14, rounds three and four of the Thai Super Series 2013 will now be held at Bira Motor Racing Circuit between August 15-18. Races one and two of the eight race competition were held at the Sepang circuit in Selangor, Malaysia in May with rounds five and six scheduled to take place on the weekend of October 5-6, again at Bira.

 Pattaya United play six league games in 21 days in August.  The Singha Motorsport team on the grid at Sepang.  Airline workers test their badminton skills in Pattaya.  UK group Placebo will join the Pet Shop Boys and Jason Mraz at the Sonic Bang musicfest. Three time Grammy Award winning rock guitarist Steve Vai will perform in concert at CentralWorld Live, Bangkok.

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The championships will culminate with the final two rounds at the Bangsaen street circuit on December 14-15 during the annual Bangsaen Speed Festival. The Thailand Super Series consists of separate events for Super Car, Super 2000, Super Pickup, Super 1500 and Super Production vehicles. Busy Dolphins August promises to be a busy month for the Dolphins of Pattaya United Football Club in the Thai Premier League. Following a visit to Army United on August 4, kick-off 6pm, they entertain local rivals Chonburi at Nongprue Stadium on August 7 (ko 7pm). It’s then back on the road to play Ratchaburi on August 11 (ko 6pm) and Muang Thong

Thani on August 17 (ko 6.30pm). Following another home game against Bangkok United on August 21 (ko 7pm), the Dolphins visit TOT on August 24 (ko 6pm) before entertaining Suphanburi at Nongprue Stadium on September 1 (ko 6pm). The local cricket season draws to a close in August when the touring Chiang Mai Cricket Club take on Pattaya in a friendly over the weekend of August 17-18 at the Thai Polo Club, Horseshoe Point. The International Riding School at Horseshoe Point is gearing up for the annual President’s Cup dressage and show jumping competitions over the three days of August 23-25. For more information visit www.ridingschoolasia.com or phone 038-248-026. Hundreds of healthcare professionals from across the globe will descend on Pattaya in August for two important healthcare conferences. The first is the fourth International Conference on Nutrition and Physical Activity (NAPA) in Ageing, Obesity and Cancer with the theme of

e v e n t s / p r o m o t i o n s

 A PEACH of a venue for an international healthcare conference. Biomodulation of Health-Beauty with Nutrition and Exercise. The event will be held between August 14-17 at the Centara Grand Mirage. The second is the 21st IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion to be held at the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH) on Prathumnak Road. The conference aims to contribute to the development of equality and social justice across the globe by offering a unique platform for dialogue on the best investments for health between participants from various sectors from all over the world. Guest speakers include Dr Sania Nishtar; Federal Minister of the Government of Pakistan; Ms Taru Koivisto, Director of Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland; Dr Viroj Tangcharoensathien;

the events & promotions section of pattaya living is produced in association with

Senior Advisor on International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand; Prof Anne Mills, Vice Director & Professor of Health Economics and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK; Dr Dasho Karma Ura, President of the Centre for Bhutan Studies, Bhutan; and Prof John Frank, Director, Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy. 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.

 Sixty years old and still going – The Platters are to perform in Bangkok.

b a r s t o o l

d e b a t e

Football vs Football

it on a stool in any Pattaya pub long enough and you’re bound to hear the great football debate. This discussion usually involves an American defending his national sport to a UK native about allegations that it’s quite sissy with the “armour and all” while then going on to attack the “beautiful game” with statements like “You can’t use your hands … what kind of sport is that?” I’ve heard it and been involved in it. Today I’m here to settle it once and for all. The fact is, comparing American Football (NFL) and English football (soccer) is like comparing apples to lawn chairs. It’s really no debate at all. These two sports aren’t even in the same category. First of all, the objectives of these two games are completely different. The American game is based on military conflict. The “offence”, commanded by their “field general” called the quarterback drives his team down

With soccer’s Premier League due to start again this month and America’s NFL kicking off in early September, the debate about which football deserves to have the name rears its ugly head again.

the field invading the opponents “territory” using his “offensive weapons”. This involves a relentless “ground attack” using his running back as well as an “aerial assault” with passes to his wide receivers. A long forward pass downfield is known as “throwing the bomb”. Player’s positions are highly specialised and their skills at particular elements of the game honed to razor sharpness. Violent dance The strategy is immensely complicated with a playbook hundreds of pages long orchestrating a violent dance to the “end zone”. And what does one find marking this zone? “Flags”. There is even a plan of retreat called the “punt” where you move backwards and give up territory to your opponent. Defence is predicated on neutralising the opponents’ “weapons” and launching “counter attacks” to gain the “offensive”. We are the most warlike people on the planet. Why wouldn’t

our favourite national pastime be based on that? The English game, while still employing a huge amount of strategy, is much more free form and dynamic. Player’s positions are specialised somewhat (like the goalie), but for sure they have to be much more “total football athletes” than their American counterparts. I don’t know how many kilometres an average player runs during the course of a game, but I’m sure it is more than an American footballer runs all year. The English game is about endurance and opportunity. The American game is about controlled explosiveness. The element that truly separates these two sports is the running clock. The clock in the English games rarely stops for anything. The American game takes every opportunity to stop and new rules seem to emerge every year to stop it more. Why is that? Simply put, the business models are different. When Americans are home

watching a game on TV and the clock stops for whatever reason, fans are bombarded with advertisement from a variety of vendors, most of them breweries. The clock doesn’t stop because of an injury or time out … it stops to sell beer. A 30-second TV ad during the Superbowl is now approaching US$3m a shot. Bold logos Fans of English football get the luxury of non-stop action because their team negotiated the main endorsement contract long ago and it is printed in bold logos on their jerseys. I have no idea how much AON pays Manchester United, but I’d bet there are a whole bunch of zeroes after it. Misconceptions about both games exist on either side. English fans who mock the helmets and padding American players wear have most likely never seen a game live. The players are gigantic, with offensive linemen in the

NFL averaging more than 135 kilos. Even the finesse players are huge. What’s more, they are involved in collisions that sound like car wrecks. They don’t wear the “armour” because they are afraid. They wear it so they can get a 30-metre running start and launch themselves at another player. Any Englishman who has seen an American Football game live immediately understands. Americans don’t understand a game that ends in a tie; we are “loser leaves town” kind of people. Nobody remembers who lost the Superbowl last year. The idea of an “aggregate score” over the course of a season is totally alien to us. Again, the English game is about the long haul. The American game is about instant gratification. And, as far as the American charge about a “sissy game where you can’t use your hands” … I’d say that fact is trumped by the fact using your head (without a helmet) is encouraged.

‘‘ Americans don’t understand a game that ends in a tie; we are ‘loser leaves town’ kind of people. Nobody remembers who lost Superbowl last year.

These two games are not, however, without their similarities. Both American and English fans are rabidly loyal to their teams. Both put star players and coaches up on towering pedestals paying them ridiculous sums of money to play a children’s game. Elaborate jig And when you English fans cringe at the sight of some star forward flailing around on the ground like he’s been shot, even though nobody touched him … well we feel the same way when some wide receiver is performing an elaborate jig in the end zone after a touchdown. “Man, just play ball will ya?” My point is, if you take away the word “football” and look at these two games both technically and theoretically, they shouldn’t even be in the same sports category. A game of violent explosive sprints versus a game of unending dancelike flow … what’s to debate? Bart Walters

P A T T A Y A

G R A F f I T I

kest r a d r u ing o r u d s i st It u m e w that s t n e m o m ight. l e h t e e s Onassis focus to – Aristotle the If you accept f expectations o lly others, especia then negative ones, l you never wil tcome. change the ou

We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone.

- Ronald Reagan

– Michael Jord

In order to succeed,

your desire for success should be greater than

your fear of failure.

- Bill Cosby

Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces

cess Money and suc eople; don't change p mplify they merely a y there. what is alread

- Will Smith

smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. - Abraham Lin

coln

Nothing is , the impossible says word itself ble’! ‘I’m possi Hepburn - Audrey

ous e g a r u o c t o n is o He wh l il w s k is r e k a t o t enough life. in g in h t o n h is l p accom med Ali - Muham

Learning how to be

fines I believe that one de on. To oneself by reinventi nts. To not be like your pare ds. To not be like your frien urself be yourself. To cut yo out of stone.

still, to really be still

and let life happ en

- that stillness

becomes a radia nce.

- Morgan Freeman

As kids we’re no t taught how to deal with succes taught how to d s; we’re eal with failure. If at first you d succeed, try, try on’t again. If at first you succeed, th en what?

- Henry Rollin

– Charlie Sh

een

If you’re going through hell, keep going . - Winston Churchill

yourself, e b s y a lw A yourself, express urself, o y in h it have fa out and o g t o n o d l uccessfu s a r o f look ty and personali it. duplicate ruce Lee -B

I believe there's an inner power that makes winners or lose rs. And the winners are the ones who really listen to the truth of their hearts. – Sylvester Stallone

Motivational special: From an idea by Bart Walters

Everest, roof of the world 1. Everest (above) may be the highest point on Earth, but is it the world’s tallest mountain? 2. At what temperature does water boil at the summit of Everest? 3. How high is Mount Everest? 4. When Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay (below) became the first humans to reach the summit on May 29, 1953, what did they bury there? 5. Who was the first climber to reach the summit alone and also the first to reach it without oxygen? 6. When did climbers first attempt to scale Mount Everest? 7. More than 200 people have died attempting to climb Everest, and 1996 was the deadliest year. How many people died trying to climb the mountain that year?

Sixty years ago this year Mount Everest was successfully scaled for the first time. Here we put your knowledge of the world’s highest mountain to the test. All the answers appear on Page 24.

10. What nationality was the first woman to reach the summit and in what year did she do it? 11. How old was the oldest person to reach the summit? 12. How did Mount Everest get its name? 13. Who was the leader of the 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition? 14. Which two climbers from the same expedition made an unsuccessul attempt to reach the summit three days before Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing? Now test your news knowledge: 15. Which unlikely group gathered outside the Vatican was blessed by the new Pope at a Sunday mass in June?

16. Why was Morris, a domestic cat, which earned 130,000 ‘likes’ on Facebook, entered as a candidate in mayoral elections in Veracruz, Mexico? 17. A Division Six cricket match in Wales had to be abandoned after the Crymych team took offence. What were they cross about? 18. Barack Obama reportedly called Chancellor George Osborne by the wrong name three times at the G8 summit. Which name did he use? 19. Four Nigerian soccer teams involved in two play-off matches have been suspended for what reason? 20. A beach town in New Jersey is passing a ban on the wearing of what item of clothing on its boardwalk?

8. Tibetans and Sherpas call Mount Everest Chomolungma. What does it mean?

21. What caused Australian endurance athlete Chloe McCardel to abandon her swim from Cuba to Florida after 11 hours?

9. Who famously replied “Because it’s there” when asked why he wanted to climb Everest and whose body was discovered on the mountain 75 years later?

22. Which politician described herself as a ‘pantsuit aficionado’, ‘hair icon’ and ‘glass ceiling cracker’ on her newlylaunched Twitter account?

n e w

e n t e r p r i s e s

The cool place to be

he recently opened Booze Lounge on Soi Khaotalo is a cool place in pretty much all senses of the word, writes Dave Buckley. It is as I prefer my bars to be ... enclosed and air conditioned. Those are big plusses in my book given that I am prone to getting hot and bothered rather quickly when drinking in the Land of Smiles. And it’s cool in the other, more modern sense – the cool of my son’s vocabulary - in other words, neat or awesome or swell. Yes the young have certainly turned language on its head in this age of SMS messages and tweets. So, as one who lives on the Dark Side (as East Pattaya is affectionately known), having another enclosed bar there is a bonus, I feel. Until now the choice has been comparatively limited when viewed against the number of open air bars. Not knocking others However, I don’t want to turn this article into an Open V Closed bar debate. The Booze Lounge has enough good things going for it not to need to get involved in trying to raise its profile by knocking others.

Booze Lounge is on Soi Khaotalo about 1.5km from Sukhumvit Road. Cross the railway and keep going past the DiaCut factory. It is just after a 7/11 near the entrance to Ekmongkon 4 on the left hand side.

The bar area there has been given a recent comprehensive facelift with a clean black and white colour scheme on the walls and modern and eye-catching lighting illuminating just about everywhere you could imagine. A pool table is there for the enjoyment of customers and there is no shortage of seating around the bar and throughout the room. Some folk just go there for the quality of the music played. The Booze Lounge opens at 1pm and stays open until late. A happy hour runs for the first three

hours and the non-happy hour prices are very reasonable, too. For example a cold Leo or Chang costs Bt49 per bottle, hostess drinks are just Bt85 and top name ciders are among the most reasonable in town at Bt159 a bottle. This drops to Bt149 on Cider Sundays when there is a free lunchtime buffet. The transformers The Lounge’s website motto is: “Transforming the Dark Side of Pattaya.” After just a few short weeks I think they are making a good job of it.

OPEN DAILY FROM 1PM • For more information call +66 (0)87 747 8555, +66 (0)89 250 5691 or email info@boozeloungepattaya.com

q u i z

a n s w e r s

1. Actually, it isn’t. Mauna Kea, an extinct volcano in Hawaii, is the world’s tallest mountain. It rises 33,474 feet (10,203 metres) from the ocean floor. Landbased Everest is the highest point on Earth.

 Japan's Junko Tabei on her way to becoming the first woman to reach the summit.

2. The boiling point is about 70C. It’s because of the difference in the air pressure at the top compared to ground level.

 Another Japanese, Yuichiro Miura, who at 80 is the oldest man to climb Everest.

3. It’s 29,035 feet above sea level according to official measurements taken on 11 November 1999. However, Everest is only the fifth tallest mountain measured from the centre of the Earth at 3,965.8 miles, the tallest being the 20,565 foot Chimborazo in Ecuador, which is 3,967.1 miles from the centre of the Earth. 4. Candy and cookies as a Buddhist offering to the gods. 5. Italian Reinhold Messner became the first person to climb Everest without oxygen or a radio on August 20, 1980. 6. In 1921 after Tibet had opened its borders to foreigners the previous year. Before that the local Sherpas refused to scale the mountain because of its religious significance. 7. Fifteen, eight of whom died on a single day in May 1996 after being caught in a blizzard and raising questions about the commercialisation of Everest.

 Reinhold Messner, the first to summit solo and also without oxygen.  Nearly men: Exhausted Bourdillon and Evans after their failed attempt to reach the summit first.

8. Chomolungma means ‘Mother Goddess of the Earth’. Sherpas are a people of Tibetan ancestry who migrated to Nepal about 600 years ago. 9. George Mallory who attempted to climb Everest with Sandy Irvine in 1924. 10. In 1975 Japan’s Junko Tabei became the first woman to reach the summit after being buried by an avalanche and rescued by Sherpas during a previous, all-female expedition. 11. Aged 80, Yuichiro Miura of Japan in 2013 became the oldest person so far to reach the summit. 12. Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society upon a recommendation by Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India. Waugh named the mountain after his predecessor, Sir George Everest.

13. Brigadier John Hunt who was knighted by the newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth II on his return to London. 14. Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans turned back 300 feet from the summit when Evans got into severe difficulties. 15. Bikers celebrating the 110th anniversary of Harley Davidson. The Pope blessed the bikers without referring to them directly and accepted two white Harleys for the Vatican police force. 16. His owner claimed people were tired of voting for rats so should vote for a cat. 17. They were told not to speak Welsh. 18. Jeffrey – Jeffrey Osborne is one of Obama’s favourite R&B singers. 19. The teams were suspended for ‘outrageous’ scorelines after Plateau United Feeders beat Akurba FC 79-0 and Police Machine FC beat Bubayaro FC, 67-0. Promotion to the next division was likely to be decided by goal difference. 20. Low-slung trousers hanging three inches or more below the hips. 21. Jellyfish stings. 22. Hillary Clinton.

w i n i n g

d i n i n g

the chow hound Hunting down meals and deals ... A friend with a hotel

In fact, when visitors ask me, “where can I get some really good Thai food,” I send them to Lisa’s.

When The Hound lived in the US, he was the “friend with a truck”, destined to help family members move and pull friends out of the ditch. Lisa Hamilton is The Hound’s “friend with a hotel”. Whether he’s down to Pattaya for the weekend or in the doghouse with Missus Hound, Lisa’s Guesthouse always has a room for The Hound. And, lucky for The Hound, Lisa’s also has some really good food. In fact, when visitors ask me, “where can I get some really good Thai food”, I send them to Lisa’s. The reason is Lisa’s flexibility. She can light you on fire, so don’t ask for “Thai pet” if you can’t handle it. Or, she can make it as mellow as you like. Her dishes are as authentic as it comes, but she has become accustomed to a wide variety of nationalities eating her food. Lisa and her Scottish husband Gavin returned from Saudi Arabia last year after Gavin retired. She spent five years in Dubai running her own take-away Thai restaurant serving all nations. “Everyone is different, but everyone can enjoy good food,” says Lisa. The Hound was invited to the grand opening party last month and a feast to end all feasts was put on. The traditional roast pig under the balloons in front of the hotel greeted guests. But, the real food inside was all prepared by Lisa and her staff. The giant buffet steamed with all manner of cuisine. The larb gai and biryani rice had The Hound returning several times. The little chicken wings were like deep fried popcorn … The Hound just couldn’t stop popping them in his mouth.

Last week The Hound stayed a night at Lisa’s Guesthouse. The Hound and Lisa had a few glasses of wine at the bar (as we are prone to do). She said she’d been training a new Thai chef and wanted me to try some of his dishes. A simple test The Hound always uses is to ask for tord mon goong (shrimp cakes). It is brutally easy to make, and even easier to mess up. If Thai chefs have a weakness it is usually their ability to fry consistently. The cakes were perfect with just the right amount of seasoning. Now The Hound couldn’t stop popping those in his mouth! Another dish The Hound applauded was a chicken curry. It was a very unique combination of a masaman curry and a red curry. Savoury, sweet and a little bit spicey … just like The Hound likes it! Looking great Next door in the restaurant, The Hound could see a Russian family working their way through several of Lisa’s European dishes. Everything looked great, but The Hound couldn’t get past the great Thai food. The Hound first met Lisa in Phuket many years ago, when she was managing a successful hotel in Patong. Her years of experience there and most recent ventures in Saudi Arabia are an excellent resume for a boutique hotel owner in Jomtien. The music is right, the aircon is cold and the staff well trained. And most importantly, Lisa is usually on the premises all day, every day. Stop in for a cappuccino or glass of wine; Lisa just might become your friend with a hotel.

t h a i l a n d

NI G HTLI F E

one nite in bangkok The man with jazz in his genes It’s a strange question, but if you’ve got one night in Bangkok … “what DO you do?” The choice of places to spend your time in the most livable city in Asia is mindboggling; and therein lays the problem. There is just too much to do in Bangkok. You almost need to go home and lock the door to keep from being entertained. What do you want? But what do I really want? I want something fun and unique. I want something I haven’t seen before. I want something I don’t expect. I want something classy and cool. I want something I’m going to talk about all day the next day. The indecisive are doomed to a night in a pulsing go-go bar or a hotel lounge with a Filipino cruise ship band. Last week I stumbled upon my number one pick for what to do with “one night in Bangkok”. Creep all the way down

‘‘

Sukhumvit Soi 33 to Black, The Jazz Spot. I suggest you get out of the taxi at the top of the soi and just follow the music. Black is on the second floor of a shop house style building just past Basilico Italian Restaurant. Manager John Pickard has strategically placed high quality speakers on the roof and cool bebop jazz emanates up the street. Black opened in mid-January this year. The design of the club is startlingly minimalistic. Literally, the entire club is black with the glowing golden bar near the entrance. Low comfy seating and tables are also black. Moon-like globes hover above the listening room dimmed to perfection. The stage is located right in front of the full length storefront window looking out onto the streetscape of Soi 33. All the sound and light in the room are coming from the same direction.

The club’s owner and band leader Idrees is the real draw at Black.

’’

It has a pleasingly theatrical effect and is why I choose to call this place a “listening room”. Don’t get me wrong … it’s a full bar with easily the best collection of top shelf vodkas, bourbons and scotches I’ve seen in Bangkok. The wine list is an eclectic mix of Italian, American, Chilean and New Zealand. For big spenders, they do carry some high end champagnes for special occasions. The club’s owner and band leader Idrees is the real draw at Black. Idrees has been pleasing lucky listeners all over Asia for more than a decade. Originally from Harlem in New York City, he has a jazz pedigree that is hard to match Trumpet player Idrees’ father is Al Barrymore, aka Talib Dawud, a trumpet player who immigrated to the US from The West Indies. He played with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter and Dizzy Gillespie. Idrees’s

grandfather was also a trumpeter and his grandmother a singer. Idrees thrived in the IT business for a while until his jazz genes kicked in. The self-taught horn player settled in Thailand because it was a cheap place to live with a big city to preach the jazz gospel to. And, after taking to Idrees, that’s really what he’s all about … the preservation of the classic American jazz art form. In fact, the club is dedicated to the famous jazz guru Art Blakey. Art Blakey was the godfather of bebop jazz with his distinctive dominant drumming style. He formed the legendary Jazz Messengers, a group known to mentor dozens of jazz superstars much like The Miles Davis Group of the same era. Jazz royalty Blakey played and recorded with jazz royalty like Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. Art Blakey was inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001; he is the very definition of a jazz legend. Idrees’s father was a close personal friend of Art Blakey and somehow the connection has been transmitted through his genes. Now Idrees is committed

to establishing a jazz musician incubator right here in Thailand. After watching his band at Black, I can see his process at work. To date I’ve seen three Thai piano players; all of them good … all of them different. His drummers range from a wild young slasher from Cameroon to a cool and collected Thai technician. It isn’t a “band” as much as it is a rotating roster of jazz talent. What I see mostly is the leadership of Idrees. “Some of these guys have never had a band leader,” says Idrees. “Sometimes that’s what they need the most to get better.” The young Thai players are responsive and enthusiastic. When I look around the audience at Black I observe a true melting pot. I see four Japanese guys quietly sipping on whiskey and bobbing their heads to the music. I see a couple of extroverted Scandinavians tapping their toes and shouting out “yeah … genius!” I see a group of young Thai ladies testing the wine list and staring in wide-eyed wonder when Idrees puts down his horn and sings a romantic old Nat King Cole tune. Only good music brings together an eclectic crowd like this. During the band’s breaks, new-

‘‘ When no musicians are on stage vintage jazz acts play on the big flat screen displays hanging from the ceiling.

comer to Thailand Maurice Girard from the US takes the stage just to make sure we all wish we’d taken piano lessons as a kid. Maurice got out of the pressure cooker of the restaurant business in California to travel Asia and play music. He’s found a home here at Black. Vintage jazz When no musicians are on stage vintage jazz acts play on the big flat screen displays hanging from the ceiling. The music never stops at Black, and I think that is the whole point. This club isn’t trying to be a sports bar/restaurant/ pub/music-as-an-afterthought kind of place. For Idrees and the staff at Black, The Jazz Spot, it’s all about commitment to the appreciation and preservation of a classic American art form. Idrees and his band play Wednesday thru Sunday and usually start about 8:30pm. If you get there before 8:30 the nominal Bt200 cover charge is waived. Next time you’ve got one night in Bangkok, I recommend you head down to Soi 33 to the see the man with jazz in his genes.

i n s i d e r

r e p o r t

The last paint job

So, I’m out looking for an apartment to rent and my favoUrite candidate has everything I want in a living space. Light, airy, wood floors and plenty of room to run around in. Opposite the long list of positive features there exists only one entry in the “negative” column; “needs paint”. The fact I needed to move in quickly combined with the painful expression on my future landlord’s face when I mentioned it had me in a bit of a pickle. I wanted the place and I wanted it painted, but the probability of that happening quickly and with any modicum of style was pretty slim. Statement of fact From somewhere in the depths of my machismo, a voice that sounded strangely like my own blurted out “I can paint it”. I said it as a statement of fact, not making the connection between having the ability and actually painting an entire 125 sqm apartment by myself.

Indeed I have painted many a house, both interior and exterior, but not for at least 10 years. I had forgotten how much patience, time and energy such an endeavor can eat up. After the first room I made a solemn promise to myself that this would be my last paint job. For any other do-it-yourselfers out there, I offer the following tips and recommendations to make your experience, if nothing else, survivable. Painting a room is kind of like cooking Thai food; it’s mostly about preparation. The amount of time actually spent painting is much less than the time spent cleaning, filling holes, sanding and a taping. Choose the room you want to paint and take everything out of it. Ideally, you should be in an empty room. If this isn’t possible, crowd whatever is left into the middle. It is important to understand the paint you will apply needs to stick to a clean, non-glossy surface. Give your walls a damp sponge bath top to bottom, especially in

‘‘ Painting

a room is

kind of like cooking

Thai food;

it’s mostly

’’ about

preparation.

kitchens and bathrooms. If you need to fill in holes or cracks, make sure to sand the filler down to an even surface. Scrape it down If the surface of your wall has damaged and flaking paint, it is advisable to scrape as much as possible off and sand the surface down so a primer can be applied. Many people are tempted to skip putting any primer on the walls. Without a doubt, applying a coat of primer will ensure your paint properly adheres to the wall and brings out the paint’s true colour. Primer is also useful for hiding stains, covering dark colours and will make your new paint job last longer. I painted the first room of my apartment without primer and the old concrete walls sucked it up like a sponge. I used more than twice the paint it should have taken in that room. Remove all wall plates for light switches and electrical sockets and

tape off the device for a cleaner look. Use plastic sandwich baggies over door knobs as they are notorious for catching paint splatter. If you use tape (and I highly recommend it), try to find painter’s tape. It is usually blue or green and identified as painter’s tape. If that’s not available, a good quality masking tape will do. Apply it in overlapping strips and press down firmly along the edge to ensure a crisp line. Get the right stuff Once you’ve prepped the room, you need to assemble all the tools and materials it takes to begin painting or applying primer. Painting walls is best accomplished with a roller. Make sure to get one with the attachment for a pole to keep you off of a ladder. Don’t get cheap on the roller covers as the lower quality versions leave fuzzy lint balls in your paint and produce a ragged edge. Trim is more easily painted

‘‘

with brushes. A 2.5” angle brush is a good multi-purpose tool. Other materials you’ll need include painter’s tape, a drop cloth, sandpaper, a lint-free damp cloth, a stir stick, an edging tool (if you’re like me and can’t paint a straight line). Choose a paint finish that is appropriate for the room and application. Semi-gloss is good for trim, eggshell for kitchens and bathrooms, and flat for all other rooms. Glossy finishes are the most durable, but flat finishes help to hide imperfections. Most paint finishes now, even flat, will hold up to a little cleaning. I’ve always used water-based latex paint as it dries quickly, emits less fumes and is easy to clean up. You can paint latex over oilbased paint, but you’ll need to use a primer first. Choosing colours is mostly about personal preference, but I think it a good rule to follow is: Don’t pick a colour and then ask for half-strength or lighter version.

I’ve always

used waterbased latex paint as it dries

quickly, emits less fumes and is easy to clean up.

Many people swear by this technique, but I recommend just choosing a lighter colour instead. That way you’ll know exactly what you’re getting. Most people prefer a slightly muted (tinted with gray or brown) colours as opposed to a pure primary colour. White ceilings are not mandatory. If your wall colour isn’t too dark, use it on the ceiling as well. Getting on with it Now that your walls are prepared and your materials assembled you can finally get on with it. Select a dry day to paint as moisture in the air keeps water-based paint from drying. It is important to remember, a wall needs to be dry before you apply a second coat. Stir your paint before beginning and don’t paint straight from a can. Obviously you would pour paint into a roller tray if using a roller, but consider using a small bowl when painting with a brush. It is easier to hold, and decanting paint

i n s i d e r

r e p o r t

‘‘

will keep the can free of impurities like dust, wood particles, etc. your brush may pick up as you work. Whether using a roller or a brush, always keep a wet edge; that is to say painting from dry to wet. This minimises brush and roller marks. Don’t try to stretch your paint. Scrimping will produce a patchy and/or blotchy paint job. Paint the areas to be “cut in” first like along the trim, ceiling and corners with a brush. After that has dried use a roller for the walls. Paint in long continuous strokes. Not doing so is one of the most common mistakes of amateur painters. When using a roller, aim for covering a three foot wide section at a time. Midway point Professional painters usually go from ceiling to midway point, load more paint, and then go from the midway point down to the floor. Then move left or right to the next section, always keeping a wet

Paint the

areas to be ‘cut in’ first like along the trim,

ceiling and corners with

’’ a brush.

edge and working from dry to wet. When using a brush, only dip about a half or quarter of an inch into the paint, then wipe off one side on the edge of the container. This helps to avoid paint runs from using too much and keeps your brush in good condition as well. Don’t dab the paint or move your brush in a short back and forth motion. You can paint with the brush left and right (or up and down) to apply the paint, but then take one long finishing stroke from the dry side and tapering off into the wet edge. After all that preparation and all that concentration of painting, that first coat may look fantastic; but trust me … it’ll look even better with a second coat. With dark or vivid colours you may need three or four. Let the paint dry fully between coats. Usually the container will have instructions telling you how long to wait. Do not pull off painter’s tape until the wall is finished. Use a razor blade to crease any stubborn

paint that wants to come off with the tape. Probably the best advice ever given to me about painting was “don’t look back”. Once you’ve painted an area and it starts to dry, leave it alone. Going back over it can leave marks and colour variations you did not intend. Still not done It took hastily finishing one room to remember all the things I had forgotten about painting interiors. I violated every painting rule I’d ever learned. The room looked better than when I started, but terribly amateur compared to the next room I finished. As things come back to me, my work is getting better. Now I remember why painting is so hard; because it takes patience. Hopefully, by the time I get to the living room I’ll get a decent paint job. For sure it will be the last one that includes me in a “hands-on” role. Bart Walters

This This month month in in history history

Coffee break

August 26, 55BC: Julius Caesar invaded Britain. August 22, 1485: England’s King Richard III was killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field, Leicestershire. August 15, 1620: The Mayflower departed from Southampton, England for America. August 22, 1922: Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins was assassinated in West Cork. August 6, 1991: Briton Tim Berners-Lee revealed his concept for the World Wide Web.

O S S S ___ O O S _ __ ___ _ _____ ______ _____ __ _ _____ S O __S _ ______ ___O _____S __ ______ 4

25 6

17 21

CRYPTOGRAM Answers to all the puzzles appear overleaf

25 4

15 4

before

addition and subtraction.

× ×

-1

4 -

5 -8

Two-minute trivia

1. Logan International Airport serves which US City? 2. Which deceased UK pop singer was born Ronald Wycherley?

3. Which famous former UK wrestler died on May 22 at the age of 93? 4. Bo is the nickname of which world leader? 5. What was the South Sea Bubble of 1711? 6. Who wrote The Hunchback of Notre Dame? 7. In 2010, Bhutan became the first country to institute a total ban on what? 8. Who was the Iron Duke?

24 1

12 21

11 15

Six of the best

London – best holiday city?

1 15 15

Decode this Nelson Mandela 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

17 14

The world’s best holiday destinations according to the 2012 Travellers’ Choice Awards: 1. London, United Kingdom 2. New York City, New York, USA 3. Rome, Italy 4. Paris, France 5. San Francisco, California, USA 6. Marrakech, Morocco

21 17

17 24

18 12

21 23

25 4

17 9

17 13

SUDOKU 6 1

3 9 8 5 6 4 2 7 8 7 3 1 6

4 2 3 7 8 9 5 6 4 7 5 3 5 8 2

M H T M B H K M Q A L N A N O W R A Y E A P I C I Z E H T O K Z A V S N N S Z N M W Z J O R L N O I R S S N R S H Q B A K T A I A O N O A O E A V G O G A H H B T P U I F C M S A X E T D C O X B R I I G P H N S D K H H A M Q I Y L T S R G U E E M E T R A B P A A H L Y I H S G E Y U O W H C W I I I M E V D E Y S O L G T Y R Q D O H H J T P T L S I J S E Z G L H A A P S S L T Z N E Q L O U I S I A N A T E X S A Z P A A M Y R B M D A S V W F I H T R T R U K I F T X Y K I W Z J G A I N A V L Y S N N E P A B T O Find the names of these 12 states in the USA:

California Louisiana Massachusetts Missouri New Hampshire North Carolina Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Dakota Tennessee Texas West Virginia

Coffee break answers two-minute trivia

1 Boston; 2 Billy Fury; 3 Mick McManus; 4 Barack Obama; 5 A financial crash; 6 Victor Hugo; 7 Tobacco; 8 Duke of Wellington NUMBER CRUNCHER AND SUDOKU 9

× 1

× -

+ 3

-1

8 0

6 -8

2 6 1 5 4 7 8 9 3

7 5 9 6 8 3 4 2 1

4 3 8 1 2 9 6 7 5

6 7 5 4 9 2 1 3 8

1 8 2 3 7 5 9 4 6

3 9 4 8 6 1 7 5 2

5 4 3 9 1 8 2 6 7

9 1 7 2 3 6 5 8 4

8 2 6 7 5 4 3 1 9

Multiply and divide before adding or subtracting. The first row across therefore is 2 x 5 = 10; 9 -10 = -1

‘I am not a saint unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.’ – Nelson Mandela

M R A O A T B I P C Y E L A R A

H A V I O P R Y A W R Z O A T I

T Y S R N U I L A I Q G U M R N

M E N S O I I T H I D L I Y U A

B A N S A F G S L I O H S R K V

H P S N O C P R Y M H A I B I L

K I Z R E M H G I E H A A M F Y

M C N S A S N U H V J P N D T S

Q I M H V A S E S D T S A A X N

A Z W Q G X D E G E P S T S Y N

L E Z B O E K M E Y T L E V K E

N H J A G T H E Y S L T X W I P

A T O K A D H T U O S Z S F W A

N O R T H C A R O L I N A I Z B

O K L A H O M A W G J E Z H J T

W Z N I B X Q B H T S Q P T G O

Real Divers are a British family run PADI 5 Star diving center in Jomtien, Pattaya. We offer a full range of scuba diver training courses from the beginner course the PADI Open water diver right up to the professional levels of PADI Dive Master, PADI Instructor and Diving internships. We also offer daily Wreck / Coral diving and snorkelling trips to the Pattaya and Samae San islands on the majority of these dive you can’t fail to see turtles, angel fish, rays, moray eels and puffer fish P.S no big sharks. If you’ve never tried scuba before we do have a 1 day introduction course where you get to experience the magic of a coral reef on a shallow scuba dive under the close supervision of a PADI dive Instructor. For more information telephone our friendly staff and you could be scuba diving, snorkelling or just having a great day out at the Islands tomorrow.

Phone; 038232476 or 0876021411 Soi Welcome, Jomtien, Pattaya

www.real-divers.com

10% OFF WITH THIS ADVERT

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

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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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.

Passive smoking – should we take it passively? I used to smoke. It was in the days before the scientific community really accepted the fact that smoking was one of the greatest threats to good health. As the evidence mounted, I began to get more and more embarrassed that here I was telling my patients to give up, and I still had a packet of cigarettes and an ash tray in the bottom drawer of my desk. So, having accepted the science, the only sane response was to give up. It was American Independence day 1981 at 10 in the morning, not that I’m counting or anything. I thought there might be a couple of bad days, but make that a couple of weeks of following smokers down the road, sniffing for the secondhand smoke! Stopping is not an easy task, once you have become a committed smoker. Stopping requires dedication and commitment, and I congratulate all people who have given up smoking. You have done your

‘‘ Stopping is

not an easy task, once you have

become a

committed smoker. Stopping requires dedication

’’ and

commitment.

health profile in the future a great service. While smoking cigarettes does not mean you will automatically get lung cancer, or other smoking related illnesses, becoming a non-smoker does guarantee that your chances of getting the above conditions are very much less. Public knowledge And before the cigarette smokers out there start waving their arms (or cudgels), the evidence is in the arena of public knowledge. Read it. And please do not mention atmospheric pollution to me when you are happily inhaling cigarette smoke into your lungs 25 times a day. However, there is one more aspect of smoking, which I should mention. That is “passive” smoking. So what exactly is passive smoking? In essence, it is breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke, which the scientists break up into two parts – “sidestream” smoke from the

burning tip of the cigarette which the scientists say accounts for 85 per cent of the smoke in an enclosed area, and “mainstream” smoke that has been inhaled and then exhaled from the lungs by the smoker. I usually refer to this 15 per cent as “second-hand smoke”. The situation associated with passive smoking has been well investigated by the scientific communities of the world, and the following information was extracted from the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) in the UK. For example, is tobacco smoke a simple compound? No, tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals in the form of particles and gases. The particulate phase includes tar, nicotine, benzene and benzo(a)pyrene. The gas phase includes carbon monoxide, ammonia, dimethylnitrosamine, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and acrolein. It has been estimated that tobacco smoke contains as many as 60 substances which cause – or are suspected of causing – cancer. And many irritate the tissues of the respiratory system. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the USA has classified environmental tobacco smoke as a class A carcinogen - ranking it alongside asbestos and arsenic. You don’t need to be an academic toxicologist to understand that formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are hardly among the compounds that are “good” for you! Give up cigarettes today and avoid second hand smoke as well.

m o t o r i n g

n e w s

One-make series – for and against

‘‘

Every country has dabbled in the one-make series concept. Some of them have been very successful, while others have waned after a couple of years. Examples of this include the Queensland Gemini Series in Australia, which is still going 25 years later. However, the Soluna OneMake series of around 15 years ago has quietly died, replaced by the Vios One-Make series and the Honda Jazz One-Make series and the Honda Civic One-Make series and the Isuzu pick-up class.

Close race The attraction of one-make series comes with the tight controls over them, meaning that the cars should all be of equal performance, giving close racing for the spectators, and experience for the drivers to race in close company, and finally an opportunity for a hot-shoe to show his/her skills and then hopefully move up to another higher category. Of course, the other major factor in one-make racing is a ceiling on expenses. When the Vios and Jazz categories first arrived, the cars were kept by the manufacturers, and the ECU

‘Piggy back’ ECUs could be secretly plugged in

when the car

was in the pits, allowing for more revs and power. With

one of these the so-called ‘level playing field’

’’ was decidedly

compromised.

was a lucky dip, so there should be no electronic ‘fixing’ of power and revs. The costs were then known at the beginning of the series and were a fixed entity. Hopeful drivers knew how much money they needed for the season, making it easier to attract sponsors to a known, fixed amount. However, all these one-make series struck a snag very early in the piece. Even though the cars were still being held by the manufacturers between meetings so could not be fiddled with, after they were delivered to the teams, it was a different matter. In the quest to get to the top of the one-make tree, inventive methods began to be used. ‘Piggy back’ ECUs could be secretly plugged in when the car was in the pits, allowing for more revs and power. With one of these, the so-called ‘level playing field’ was decidedly compromised. For those using older technology, there was always Nitrous Oxide (Nox) which could be stored inside fire extinguishers, with tubing that could be disconnected on the slowing down lap. Motor racing legislation is the mother of invention!

The second snag came after the one-make series cars were returned to the owners/drivers at the end of the season. For the next season, the cars had become miraculously quicker. Was it just the tender loving care they were receiving? Or?????? Three series which are being run at the Bira circuit and others venues in Thailand, which are very appealing include the ‘Retro’ series, the Isuzu pick-ups and the BMW E30 series. Racing life Racing “classic” vehicles (pre-1985 for ‘Retro’) gives an opportunity to extend the racing life of race cars that became superseded in the classes they were originally built for. The technology that was around at the time, is still available today. Take Mk 1 Ford Escorts, for example. The UK has a vast number of engineering shops turning out everything for these cars. Supply is no problem, and it is amazing just how many Mk 1 Ford Escorts are still around today in Thailand, and can become race cars. I race a 1973 Mk 1 Escort in the ‘Retro’ series –the first ‘Retro’ car with a ‘Retro’ driver! Dr Iain Corness

cheer on your favourite sports in comfort – AUGust 2013

Community Shield Man Utd V Wigan • Sunday 11 August • 8pm

Tennis – US Open • August 26 - September 8 • Times vary

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.

Formula 1 – Belgian Grand Prix • 23 - 25 August • Times vary

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 – US PGA Championship • 8 - 11 August • Repeats next day

T: 038 301 030-3 E: info@lionpubpattaya.com W: www.lionpubpattaya.com Bar and kitchen open 10am until late

Cricket – England V Australia 3rd /4th Tests• 1 and 9 August • 5pm

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