Pattaya Living - June 2013 by Pattaya Property Consultants

pattaya living No 30 • June 2013

a supplement of real estaTe magazine

wine you can try before you buy

bargains in store at property auction

nite owl out on a pub crawl events & promotions • quiz • health matters • attractions & golf • bars & restaurants

What You really want!

Fine Furniture Products Custom Kitchens Built in Furniture Home Office Bedrooms Living Rooms Carpets Interior Design Lighting Complete Renovation Developer Supplies

Visit our New Showroom on Sukhumvit

www.euro-design-furniture.com

Is networking not working? It’s difficult to know how to write this column without upsetting someone. But I can 200 per cent guarantee that this is not my intention. My aim is to spark an open debate about the best way forward for one particular – and popular – networking event in Pattaya. What’s the problem, you may ask? Well, it’s my belief that one of the top networking events in this city – at one time probably

the networking event – is in danger of disappearing. I’m referring, of course, to the Lighthouse Club of Pattaya. If I’m wrong to think that its future is threatened then I’ll be very pleased. But I doubt if I am wrong and I know that many other devotees feel the same way, but don’t want to say too much. In fairness, if someone is prepared to put their hand up and help organise events such as Lighthouse Club, the last thing they want - or deserve - is criticism. So I don’t wish to be critical, but I do wish to try to speak up before it’s too late. In many ways Lighthouse Club Pattaya is a victim of its own success. When I started attending its meetings a company could sponsor the event for three or four barrels of beer plus snacks. I recall a figure of Bt15,000. Admittedly the events were low-key affairs held in pubs where you could not be sure if you were standing next to a meeting attendee or a pub regular. The same crowd always showed up, but it was a good crowd. Now to sponsor an event there is little or no change out of Bt100,000. Several recent meetings have been “sponsored” by the Club itself. It’s a situation that can’t continue, I feel. Maybe a return to the “good old days” in the pubs is the way forward. Maybe not. I believe I have attended every LHC over the past two or three years. It will be a great shame if I cannot continue.

Dave Buckley

Managing Director, Pattaya Property Consultants, publishers of REm

All photos courtesy of mydestination.com/pattaya

pattaya LIVING

mid-month edition of

REALESTATE ine magaz

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.

A Fun Day in every sense By dan cheeseman

After the final bungee had been jumped, last burger consumed and final drop from the last bottle of San Miguel Lite lovingly drunk; the Inspire Fun Day felt in every sense of the word a fun day for all. For all the parties and events in town it genuinely felt like, certainly for the expat contingent here, that a straight forward fun day with great venue, bouncy castle, food, drink, live band, and stacks of beer has been glaringly missing in this pure simplicity right here in party town Pattaya. Why was such a simple day (with lots of planning mind you!) met with such great satisfaction from the guests? The Inspire Fun Day did have an agenda, and that was to launch the new Inspire App which has been designed to make all our stays here in Pattaya and Bangkok a better one (look up ‘inspire emagazine’ on play store or iTunes); but what really stood out was the pleasant atmosphere with everyone there to have a good time. It could not have gone better

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

and Inspire now very much plans to make this an annual event. Let’s look at an earlier trend that started showing an inclination that expats in Pattaya have been searching for more straight forward, fun events. What other events? The Northern Soul quarterly event is packed with well in excess of 200 revellers on each occasion and even attracts people whom have no interest in this particular music genre. It begs the question, what other events could Pattaya host for the

local expats living here that would be equally well received? Could it be that multi-national Pattaya is starting to unite? Traditionally different nationalities in Pattaya have kept themselves in their own groups, but I sense this could all change, I really do. At the Fun Day there was a good mix from different countries such as the English, Australian, Thais to even a scattering of Russians – and it worked. Even the local Thai and Russian TV channels turned up to cover the event. This article isn’t motivated as a cheap plug to celebrate how well the Inspire Fun Day went, it is to celebrate and embrace the fact that a simple Fun Day here in Pattaya worked very well. For all that Pattaya has to offer the feeling from many guests leaving the event was that it was one of the best things they have done all year. Now that’s some accolade given we live in a town like Pattaya and we must all take this as an indication of what this town’s expats are looking for.

Tel: 021 070 143

L I M O U S I NE

For Bookings Email: reservations@imagelimothailand.com Website: www.imagelimothailand.com

Welcome To Image Limousine, Thailand's Premier Limousine Company Image has been a limousine service provider for the past 14 years in Thailand. We specialize in 5 star quality limousine services with experienced chauffeurs and managed by expat professionals who understand what your needs are. Our fleet is made up of the stunning Nissan Teana’s which are luxuriously appointed and perfectly maintained to ensure our clients arrive at their chosen destination safely, relaxed, comfortable and happy. Our in-car services help complete the perfect journey.

VIP Fast Track

VIP Welcome & Fast Track Services at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport

Are you an overseas worker and a frequent traveler? Want to get back home to Pattaya quickly? • • • •

Buggy transfer from aircraft gate - DON’T WALK Fast track at immigration - DON’T QUEUE Straight to your limousine - DON’T WAIT Back home in style safely - DON’T WORRY

Mention DD No.121 to our staff to receive a 10% discount

Destination Thailand We can chauffeur drive you anywhere in Thailand, all you have to do is contact our office or utilize our online booking facility. You book and we will deliver. For our Rates and Services please see our website at www.imagelimothailand.com © Copyright Image Limousines 2012. All rights reserved.

a corn DISTRIBUTION

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.

realestate e magazin YOU ADVERTISE • WE DELIVER

+66 (0)879 880 799

For the well read ... www.remthai.com 8

Family Pub & Restaurant

op now

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

Have fun and shape up

etting fit for the summer is a key theme of Pattaya’s June activities with scheduled events that include walks, runs and even a pop concert where members of the audience can tone their bodies while listening to music! The fast-growing sport of trail running returns to the area with the fifth staging of the Columbia Trail Masters event taking place at Khao Mai Keaw on June 16. Open to all, participants can take part in 50km, 25km or 10km trail runs or a 3.5km fun run or walk in various age categories for men and women. The Columbia Trail Masters offers exciting routes that take in scenic trails which explore the hills, farmlands and open spaces of the Pattaya area. For details of how to register visit www.ama-events. com. A slightly more informal form of exercise is on offer from the Pattaya Hash House Harriers, now in its 30th year of ‘hashing’ in Pattaya. The Hash House Harriers is an international group of noncompetitive, social running clubs. On June 3 the Pattaya branch will stage a Betty Boop Run in which the hares and hounds should be dressed as girls. Participants in drag will be allowed to run – or walk (with

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

occasional drinks stops) – free of charge! The Pattaya Hash House Harriers meet at 3.15pm on Second Road near the Lek Hotel and Family Mart between Soi 13 and 13/1 and opposite McDonalds in The Avenue Shopping Mall. The bus will depart at 3.30pm and the run will start after sign-ups at approximately 4.30pm. About 80 runners take part in the hash runs each Monday. For more information visit www. pattayah3.com. Walk-run events The YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Centre and the Pattaya Running Club are jointly staging two walk-run events, the second of which is on Beach Road from Soi 6 to Walking Street on June 15. Up to 1,000 are expected to take part in the Charity Walk-Run for Women and Children, the proceeds of which will replenish the association’s charity coffers. The competition will be divided into categories for women, men and co-ed teams which must incude at least one woman per team. Entrance is Bt350 per

 The fast-growing sport of trail running returns to the area with the Columbia Trail Masters Event.  Social runners the Pattaya Hash House Harriers are set for their Betty Boop run.  FaT98 brings the Thin Festival and a novel way to stay in shape while listening to music.

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

 After Psy and Gangnam Style we have G-Dragon and One of a Kind. person. Winners in each category will receive an HRH Princess Soamsawalee Trophy. To register, contact the YWCA located on Soi Town in Town at 038-716-316 or email ywca_pattaya@ hotmail. com. The latest pop concert at Silverlake Vineyard on June 1 will provide members of the audience with a novel way of keeping in trim – interactive bicycles at the side of the stage on which riders can control the stage lighting! Organised by FaT98 Radio, Bangkok, the Thin Festival will feature The Yers (5.30pm); Singto Numchoke (6.20pm); Greasy Café (7.10pm); Armchair (8pm); Two Days

 G-Dragon in concert.

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

Ago Kids (8.50pm); Flure (9.40pm); Suharit and Gene Kasidit (10.30pm); T-Bone (11.20pm); Burin (12.10am) and Lipta (1am). Tickets cost Bt800 and are available from www. thaiticketmajor.com; by phone from 02-262-3456 and from major Cineplex outlets. Staying on the musical theme, South Korean rapper G-Dragon will perform two concerts at the Impact Area, Bangkok, to promote his first EP and latest release, One of a Kind. The album was critically and commercially acclaimed, selling more than 210,000 copies as well as being nominated for the 10th Korean Music Awards among others, winning accolades such as Record of the Year from the Seoul Music Awards. The G-Dragon 2013 1st World Tour: One of a Kind is a 2013 worldwide concert tour which visits Bangkok on June 7 (8pm) and June 8 (3pm). Tickets range from Bt1,500 to Bt6,500 and are available from the outlets listed above. The Pattaya Players will showcase their 2013 season production on June 14 and 15 at the Eastern Grand Palace Hotel, Soi Khao Talo, with Divorce Sale - a

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

comedy by Linda Stockham. Each performance starts at 7pm and will be preceded by a dinner buffet at 5.30pm. Divorce Sale centres on a soonto-be divorcee who holds a garage sale with her neighbour’s help. In the process, their marriages get the comic once-over. Tickets are on sale now for Bt1,000 and include an all-youcan-eat buffet. Further information about the theatrical troupe can be found at www.pattayaplayers.org. To purchase tickets online with a credit card or Paypal, visit The Pattaya Players Box Office. Visiting shopaholics will be pleased to hear that the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale will be repeated at leading retail outlets, starting on June 15 for two months. The sale offers the ultimate in shopping and dining with a chance to win grand prizes. Every Bt500 spent with a Visa card will entitle the holder to two lucky draw coupons offering a chance to win a Miracle 30 Day in Thailand travel package worth Bt3.5 million. This promotion is available to international tourists only. Former Manchester United stars Denis Irwin, Andrew Cole,

 The big cats of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club are primed for a busy month with a full schedule of racing each weekend in June.  Saloon car racing returns to the Bira Main Circuit with the first two of eight races for the Pro Car Racing Championship of Thailand, 2013.  Three days of intense equine activity are in store for Horseshoe Point with the annual Invitational dressage and showjumping.

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

Lee Sharpe and Clayton Blackmore will visit Thailand for a series of charity black tie and golfing events organised by Legacy of Legends in Pattaya and Bangkok from June 6-12. Gala dinners and golf Gala dinners will be held in Bangkok on June 6 and at the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort in Pattaya on June 8, with the former players appearing as guest speakers at both. Price is Bt2,500 per person for each event. Celebrity golf days will also be held with the stars on June 7 and June 12 at a price of Bt5,000 per player. All money raised from the events will be donated to the Mechai Foundation, Camillian Centre Rayong, Operation Smile, and Women With a Mission

charities. For more information call 08004 44050, email info@ legacyoflegends. org or go to www. legacyoflegends.org. Equestrianism is centre stage again with the annual Horseshoe Point Invitational being held between June 7 and 9 at Horseshoe Point. The draft schedule sees warmup showjumping in the 50cm, 70cm and 105cm classes starting at 4.30pm on June 7. Dressage, Pony Challenge, Power and Speed and Young Rider Showjumping classes start early afternoon June 8 and the event culminates on June 9 with a programme that includes Dressage, Pony Challenge, Accumulator and Senior Open, all starting around midday. For more information visit www.horseshoepoint.com, www. ridingschoolasia.com, or phone 03-805-1676 or 08398 87860. Saloon car racing returns to Bira Circuit on June 29 and 30 with the first two rounds of an eight-race series for the Pro Racing Thailand Championship 2013. Practice day is June 28. With four matches scheduled in the Thai Premier League, the

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

 This year’s International Dog Show is expected to attract 50,000 dogs. Pattaya United Dolphins will be looking to put their poor start to the football season behind them and hoist themselves out of the lower reaches of the table. Pattaya visit Songkhla United on June 2 before hosting highflying Buriram United at Nongprue Stadium on June 9. Following a visit to Chiangrai United on June 23, they end the month with a home fixture against Police United on June 30. All matches are scheduled to kick off at 6pm. The cricketers of Pattaya CC have just one game scheduled in June – a friendly match against the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand at Horseshoe Point on the 9th, starting at 11am. Cats and dogs Offshore, the catamarans of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club have a busy month with club coached races on June 8 and 9; the Summer Series Part 1 on June 15 and 16; the Scheske Cup competition on June 22; the Varuna Pursuit Race on June 23 and the Summer Series Part 2 on June 29 and 30. Keel boats will compete in the Ocean Marina Regatta 6 on June 8 and 9. Dog lovers will no doubt head

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

for the Impact Arena, Bangkok on June 27 for the start of The Kennel Club of Thailand and Thai Pet Product Industries Association’s Thailand International Dog Show 2013. The four-day event will be staged at Impact Exhibition Centre Hall 5-6. The Thailand International Dog Show is considered one of the top events of the year and has been staged regularly for the past 12 years. Organisers are expecting more than 50,000 dogs and 200,000 local and international pet lovers. The Championship Dog Competition is expected to attract 5,000 entries from across the globe. For more information telephone 02-833-5109, 02-833-5125 or visit www.thailand-dogshow. com or www.facebook.com/ ThailandInternationalDogShow. 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.

the smart people

have a masters

Studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments in the heart of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most exclusive address...

PRATUMNAK HILL Fully furnished with prices from

THB980,000 A development by

THAI & ENG:

081 5700 110

n e w

e n t e r p r i s e s

‘Try before you buy’ is the way to overcome confusion about wine

ver stood in the wine lane of supermarket faced with 200 different labels and wondered which one to pick? Not easy is it? The wide array of choice and prices can be confusing however much you know (or think you know) about wine. I confess that when it comes to Bacchus’s favourite tipple I’m something of a philistine. I know that most white wines are best served chilled and most reds should be drunk at room temperature, writes Dave Buckley. But, after that the font of knowledge dries up. Put Chardonnay on a label or Rioja and I’ll probably give it a go. But, even then, it’s all a bit hit and miss. So, given my novice status, I was pleased to receive a call from Rainer Roessler introducing me to his new Wine Direct company. Put simply, Rainer lets you taste before you buy. What better way to choose a wine than to actually try it? Home visits He, or one of his associates, will visit your home at a time to suit you and let you sample up to 10 of the 20 wine varieties they currently stock. “We expect to have 50 different wines on offer by the end of the year,” said Rainer. Rainer makes his selection of 10 based on what the client tells him they like but always includes one or two “wild cards”. “Frequently people will tell me that they only like dry red wine, for example,” said Rainer. “I will take a sweet white along with me just for them to taste. Many times people who say they only drink ‘dry’ end up liking a sweet one. It happens surprisingly often.” It should be made clear that Wine Direct do tastings. Their service does not equate to a cheap night on the booze at someone

‘‘ Many times people who

say they only drink ‘dry’

end up liking a sweet one. It happens

’’ surprisingly often.

else’s expense. “The vast majority of customers understand this,” said Rainer. “Only one or two seem disappointed when we don’t fill the glass up.” He added: “We position ourselves as wine consultants. We only seek to sell to private individuals, not restaurants or supermarkets. We want to be regarded as exclusive so it is better if our wines are not visible somewhere else.” Rainer and his Bangkok-based partner have their sights set on attracting interest from middle class Thais across the country as the market to foreigners outside the main cities is limited. I asked him what goes through his mind when he sees a red wine bottle taken out of the fridge and its contents poured over ice? He looked to the skies before saying: “Yes, we see part of our consultancy role as educational. We want to advise people about the best ways to enjoy wine. “At one time only the rich, elite drank wine in Thailand. But now it is becoming much more

fashionable and accepted by the emerging middle classes.” At present, wines from France and German dominate Wine Direct’s offering but the plan is to introduce even more choice as each new pallette-load reaches these shores. They do not stock table wines or country wines. Prices start at Bt690 for a litre of German dry white wine rising in Bt100 increments as the quality of the wine increases. “We ask for minimum orders of a case which holds six bottles,” said Rainer. “I deliver these personally.” Seeking staff Rainer is looking to recruit a network of consultants to take Wine Direct to all points within the Kingdom. “The work would be well suited to those with previous experience in property sales because their contacts are just the sort of people we expect to sell to,” said Rainer. l Want to know more? Please contact Rainer on 089 776 3490 or you can send him an email at rainer@logo-trade.com.

BUY AA TICKET TICKET OR OR TABLE TABLE AND AND BE BE ENTERED ENTERED INTO INTO OUR OUR LUCKY LUCKY DRAW DRAW ON ON THE THE GALA GALA DINNER DINNER NIGHT NIGHT BUY BUY AATICKET Signed & Balls from Man Utd Team TABLE VIPDRAW Tickets to UtdGALA vs All Star XI 13th July 2013 BUY TICKET ORShirts TABLE AND BE2013 ENTERED INTO• BUY OURA LUCKY ONManTHE DINNER NIGHT BUY A TICKET Signed Shirts & Balls from 2013 Man Utd Team • BUY A TABLE VIP Tickets to Man Utd vs All Star XI 13th July 2013 BUY A TICKET Signed Shirts & Balls from 2013 Man Utd Team • BUY A TABLE VIP Tickets to Man Utd vs All Star XI 13th July 2013

MANCHESTER UNITED UNITED MANCHESTER

LEGENDS GALA GALA DINNER DINNER LEGENDS IN THE PRESENCE OF FOUR PAST STARS IN IN THE THE PRESENCE PRESENCE OF OF FOUR FOUR PAST PAST STARS STARS

HOSTED AT THE WORLD CLASS HOSTED AT THE WORLD CLASS HOSTED AT THE WORLD CLASS

CENTARA GRAND GRAND MIRAGE MIRAGE PATTAYA PATTAYA CENTARA CENTARA GRAND MIRAGE PATTAYA SATURDAY 8TH JUNE 2013 SATURDAY SATURDAY 8TH 8TH JUNE JUNE 2013 2013

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE NIGHT * WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE NIGHT * Registration 6pm ON & pre-dinner drinks WHAT TOfrom EXPECT THE NIGHT * Registration from 6pm & pre-dinner drinks 5Registration course Galafrom dinner: vegetarian / fishdrinks / beef 6pm & pre-dinner 5 course Gala dinner: vegetarian / fish / beef Free-flow beer,dinner: red orvegetarian white wine,/ soft 5 course Gala fish /drinks beef Free-flow beer, red or white wine, soft drinks Renowned stand-up comedian compére Free-flow beer, red or white wine,&soft drinks Renowned stand-up comedian & compére Charity auction, silentcomedian auction & &grand raffle Renowned stand-up compére Charity auction, silent auction & grand raffle Speeches several of the&legends Charity auction,bysilent auction grand raffle Speeches by several of the legends Live band to rock out the night Speeches by several of the legends Live band to rock out the night Live band to rock out the night

2 500 500 2 2 500

25000 000 25 25000

, THB OR , THB , with THB , OF TEN THB ry Logo Tagline PER TICKET TABLE OR , with THB , THB yy Logo Tagline OR TABLE PER TICKET OF Logo Tagline PER TICKET OF TEN TEN * Detailswith subject to change. Visit website forTABLE latest information.

IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL CHARITIES IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL CHARITIES Four local charities will benefit from IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL CHARITIES Four the localevent charities will benefit from and they include Four local charities will benefit from the event and they include theMechai event and they include Foundation Mechai Foundation Mechai SMILE Foundation Operation Thailand Operation SMILE Thailand Operation SMILE Thailand Woman With a Mission Woman With a Mission Woman Social With aCenter MissionRayong The Camillian The Camillian Social Center Rayong The Camillian Social Center Rayong

0800 444 444 050 050 LEGACYOFLEGENDS.ORG LEGACYOFLEGENDS.ORG 0800 CALL / SMS FOR TICKETS BOOK ONLINE • CASH • ATM TRANSFER 0800 444 050 LEGACYOFLEGENDS.ORG CALL / SMS FOR TICKETS BOOK ONLINE • CASH • ATM TRANSFER CALL / SMS FOR TICKETS Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal

* Details subject to change. Visit website for latest information. * Details subject to change. Visit website for latest information.

OTHER INFORMATION OTHER INFORMATION Dress OTHER code will be smart. No shorts. INFORMATION Dress code will be smart. No shorts. Photo sessions signings only Dress code will and be smart. Noare shorts. Photo sessions and signings are only available via auction and raffle. Photo sessions and signings are only available via auction and raffle. OTHER EVENTS DETAILS ONraffle. WEBSITE available via-auction and OTHER EVENTS - DETAILS ON WEBSITE Thursday 6th June - Gala Dinner Bangkok OTHER EVENTS - DETAILS ON WEBSITE Thursday 6th June - Gala Dinner Bangkok Friday 7th June Golf Day Bangkok Thursday 6th June - Gala Dinner Bangkok Friday 7th June - Golf Day Bangkok Wednesday 12th June - Golf Day Pattaya Friday 7th June - Golf Day Bangkok Wednesday 12th June - Golf Day Pattaya Wednesday 12th June - Golf Day Pattaya

BOOK ONLINE • CASH • ATM TRANSFER

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE CALL EMY 0818 481 258 SPONSORSHIP SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE AVAILABLE CALL CALL EMY EMY 0818 0818 481 481 258 258

www.pattayamail.com www.pattayamail.com

O O

www.pattayamail.com

IT Y S E R V

F F

UR I A PR T OM U IT Y S E R VI DUC A PR ISE R IT Y S E R V E CON CT A NDU T S A PROMISE F PRO TEC TION & E CO DUC OM F ISE PR SA CON F P O T E C TI O N & S A E R OT E C TI O N & O

www.ceaprojects.com www.ceaprojects.com www.ceaprojects.com

CE CE C S S ES

DED FEENFD ENEFEN

C S E S E CS E C

LAL NAL AN IO IONIO

INTERNA CE TER T N NA I CE INTERNAT T CE

8 10 8 10 BAR 8Pool & SPORTS 10

Legends Legends Legends 9 9

Pool & SPORTS BAR Pool & SPORTS BAR

usic m z z for ja s i s a b bass e h hole t w e t h a t So act th f e h t ment n u o r t d s e n s i a is b lay his p ist t o n d Jazz bass l h c u e z o C c , s v Vitou player - Mirosla

P A T T A Y A

G R A F f I T I

ined I wasn’t a tra Mickey Mouse . club performer I played in d jazz clubs an restaurants

The thing to judge in any jazz artist is, does the man project and does he have ideas -Miles Davis

- Norah Jones

Boxing is like jazz. The better it is, the less peop le appreciate it

, s just that I It : on e id G , Michelle t n do y h , Dad. W keep wondering d again? you get marrie , d n t get marrie oe Gideon: I do J , - George Fore man t find n ca I e s u ca again be enough to anyone I dislike d of torture on The jazz I love is sweet inflict that kin That Jazz – Scene from All and pure with raw elements,

which is exactly what the good hip-hop is doing now - Amy Winehouse

Jazz has borrowed from other genres of music and also has lent itself to other genres of music - Herbie Hancock

s fine. i d r o h c One s are d r o h c o w T Three . t i g n i h pus u’re o y d n a s chord d -Lou Ree into jazz

Blues and soul and jazz music have so much pain, so much beauty of raw emotion and passion - Christina Aguilera

e jazz So cool, she was lik on a summer,s day et, Music, high and swe way then she just blew a

So much for yo ur promises; They died the day you le t me go; Caught up in a web of lies; But it wa s just too late to know

e Winwood

– Valerie, Stevi

- Johnny Hates Ja zz Shattered Dreams

u o y , e t u in m a it a w , e t u Jack Robin: Wait a min ! a y l l e t I , e t u in m a ait W ! t e y ’ in h t o n d r a e h ’t ain t, o o T “ r a e h a n n a w u Yo ’! You ain’t heard nothin n o d l o h , n o d l o h t, h ig r Toot, TootsieSi”ng?erAoplenling line of the first ‘talkie’ film spoken by Al Jolson - The Jazz

Many jazz artists go to L.A. seeking a more comfortable life and then they really stop playing - Sonny Rollins es my What mak special is approach different o d I t a th do jazz, I . s g in h t ntry blues, cou so forth. d n a ic s mu all, like a m e h t o d I y man good utilit

es -Ray Charl

When I star ted

recording, I

thought I’d b e

able to do all

kinds of reco rds:

jazz, country , dance – an d I’ve always wanted to do a gospel alb um -Tom Jo nes

Jazz special: From an idea by Bart Walters

n e w

e n t e r p r i s e s

New style property auctions aim to offer top value and bargains

Pictured at the press conference to announce the launch of Pattaya Property Auctions are (from left): Paul Strachan of PPA; Paul Sutton of Powerhouse; May Watson from Matrix; Lorenzo Perez de Tagle from Global Top Group; and John Collingbourne of PPA. ith more than 30,000 units for sale in Pattaya, many would regard this as a buyer’s paradise. But how do you highlight some of those hidden gems in existing units when competing against the massive amount of off-plan developments? A new company has been set up that is looking at changing the way we market these completed (but sometimes forgotten) condo units or villas. Pattaya Property Auctions (PPA) is a new quarterly event that will act as a conduit for those looking for a great investment opportunity and for those who want to free up capital so they can reinvest into different markets. They work with a variety of developers and the private sector, offering the buyers a wide range of investment opportunities from

studios to one- and two-bed units, penthouses, townhouses and villas. PPA are working with wellregarded developers who have a track record in the city and they are focusing on the projects that are completed or are in the final stages of completion. They also list and sell individual condos or villas meaning buyers can browse between developers, unit types, location and private sales. Comprehensive campaign All properties in the upcoming auctions are listed within their website and they also utilise social media such as Facebook and Zeens coupled with a comprehensive advertising campaign. PPA’s website enables them to not only showcase the current properties for the next auction but also allows the buyer to keep up to date with new units or villas that are listed as the auction approaches.

PPA’s pricing structure allows enough leeway that the owners of the properties can put them up for auction at a price they feel truly reflects the market and their circumstances whereby they can offer a sizable discount. This enables those attending the auction to see genuine savings, in a city where prices always seem to be on the rise. The first auction, with more than 50 properties coming under the hammer from well respected developers such as Nova, Matrix, Global Top Group and Powerhouse will be held at the Holiday Inn on Pattaya Beach Road on Sunday June 16. Full details of the event and how to buy on the day are listed along with the properties on the website www.pattayapropertyauctions. com or to get a taste of what’s on offer take a look at their Facebook page, Pattaya Property Auctions.

Stranger things at sea... 1. A legendary ghost ship that can never make port and is destined to sail the oceans forever is said to be is a portent of doom to those who see it. What is its name? 2. Crew members William Clark and Violet Jessop (pictured above centre) both survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, but they also share another unusual link. What is it? 3. Robin Walbridge and Claudene Christian died when the replica of a famous sailing ship (pictured below) sank off the coast of North Carolina on October 29, 2012. One of them had an eerie connection with the original vessel. What was it? 4. The General Belgrano, an Argentine Navy cruiser, sank during the Falklands war with the loss of over 300 lives. What was unique about its sinking? 5. What cargo was the AngloAmerican merchant brigantine Mary Celeste carrying when she was found abandoned on December 4, 1872? 6. What unwanted distinction did Germany’s former cruise ship the Wilhelm Gustloff earn when she sank on January 30, 1945 in the Baltic?

They say stranger things happen at sea. Test your knowledge of maritime myths, disasters and some of the more unusual nautical events. The answers appear overleaf.

7. The Valencia was a ghost ship that wrecked near Vancouver Island, British Columbia in 1906 with an almost complete loss of life. What unusual discovery was made relating to this event 27 years later? 8. Which former famous ocean liner (above left) has been slowly sinking off the west coast of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands for the past 18 years? 9. What was unusual about the fate of the Russian battleship Persevet? 10. The greatest maritime disaster in United States history occurred on April 27, 1865 when the Mississippi steamboat Sultana exploded, killing an estimated 1,600 people. But the event hardly made the headlines. Why?

Now test your news knowledge: 11. Which popular actress has recently been named most beautiful woman in the world by People magazine? 12. How did a study by academics at the University of Manchester find that David Beckham (above right) is “getting posher”? 13. A US judge has held himself in contempt of court and fined himself $25. Why? 14. Documents revealed that Winnie the Pooh author AA Milne worked for top secret MI7b during World War I. What did he do for them? 15. What did President Obama tell his daughters he’d do if they got a tattoo? 16. Washington State has banned gender specific terms in state documents. What will replace the word ‘fisherman’? 17. What unusual action did members of New Zealand’s parliament take after voting for same-sex marriage? 18. Maybe it was a half-baked idea, but what form did UK airport worker Chris Holmes’ resignation letter take?

q u i z

a n s w e r s

1. It’s The Flying Dutchman. The legend started in 1641 when the ship began to sink off the Cape of Good Hope. Captain Willim van der Dekken exclaimed: “I will round this cape even if I have to sail until doomsday”! 2. They each survived a second maritime disaster. William Clark survived the sinking of the Empress of Ireland in 1914 in which 1,012 people died, and Violet Jessop survived the sinking of the Titanic’s sister ship, Britannic, which sank in 1916 with the loss of 30 lives. 3. The replica was of HMS Bounty and Claudene Christian was the five-times great granddaughter of mutineer Fletcher Christian, sailing master of the original HMS Bounty. 4. The General Belgrano was the first ship to be sunk by a nuclear powered submarine. 5. The Mary Celeste (not ‘Marie Celeste’ as stated by Arthur Conan Doyle) was carrying commercial alcohol. The most plausible explanation of her abandonment is that some casks broke open and the ship was abandoned temporarily while the fumes dissipated. 6. More than 9,000 people died when The Wilhelm Gustloff was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine, making it the greatest loss of life ever caused by the sinking of a single vessel.

 American Judge Raymond Voet got so annoyed by mobile phones in court that he banned them. But when his own phone started to chime during a prosecutor’s closing remarks he held himself in contempt and fined himself $25.  Chris Holmes’ resignation cake which he baked himself and sent to his employer at Stansted Airport, Essex.  Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, was named by People Magazine as the world’s most beautiful woman.

7. One of the Valencia’s lifeboats was found floating in the ocean, still seaworthy, 27 years after the ship sank. It is now on display at the Maritime Museum of British Columbia. 8. The America, sister ship of the Atlantic Blue Riband holder SS United States, ran aground on the west coast of Fuerteventura in 1994. It has been slowly sinking ever since and finally slipped beneath the waves in 2013. 9. The Persevet was sunk twice by two different enemies. First sunk at her moorings by Japanese Army artillery during the Siege of Port Arthur in 1904, she was raised and repaired and sunk a second time by German mines outside Port Said in 1917. 10. John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Lincoln, was cornered and killed the previous day, overshadowing America’s greatest single maritime disaster. 11. Gwyneth Paltrow. Kerry Washington was second while Freida Pinto and Adele Adkins also made the list. 12. Beckham now drops fewer h-sounds. Academics studied the way the Beckhams spoke before and after their move to the US in 2007 and found Beckham dropped the ‘h’ in words such as ‘him’ and ‘has’ 80 per cent of the time before the move, but only 20 per cent of the time afterwards.

13. Judge Raymond Voet posted a policy stating electronic devices causing a disturbance during court sessions would result in the owner being cited with contempt. When his smartphone began emitting sounds during a prosecutor’s closing argument he held himself in contempt. 14. Milne wrote newspaper propaganda about British war heroes and German atrocities. 15. Obama said he would get an identical tattoo. “Mummy and me will get the exact same tattoo in the same place,” he told NBC. “And we’ll go on YouTube and show it off as a family tattoo.” 16. A ‘fisherman’ will now be a ‘fisher’ in Washington State. The ban on gender specific words in state laws will also turn ‘freshman’ into ‘first year student’. Political correctness gone mad! 17. MPs sang a Maori love song called Pokarekare Ana. A red square with a pink equals sign recently became the de facto logo of supporters of gay marriage on social media after a campaign. 18. It was a cake. Border Force worker Chris Holmes quit his job at Stansted Airport by baking a resignation ‘letter’. Chris sees his future as ‘Mr Cake’ in the cake baking business.

w i n i n g

d i n i n g

the chow hound Hunting down meals and deals ... The Hound likes Mexican food because it brings back childhood memories of home.

The mexican deCISion – tequila reef cantina

Tequila Reef Cantina is located where a Mexican restaurant should be … amid the bedlam and chaos of Pattaya Beach Road, Soi 7

The Hound makes no apologies for his love of Mexican food. And it should be noted; The Hound feels a real Mexican cuisine experience isn’t just about the food … the atmosphere has to be right. This month The Hound returned to an old favourite that never fails to bring back childhood memories of Friday nights with The Hound family back in the good old USA. Tequila Reef Cantina is located where a Mexican restaurant should be … amid the bedlam and chaos of Pattaya Beach Road, Soi 7. The eclectic collage of restaurants, beer bars and pubs mirror the colourful atmosphere waiting inside. Sitting at the window booth, sipping on a cool handshaken margarita, The Hound lamented, “This could be a Mexican joint anywhere in the world”. Uplifting hues of yellow and red and green … a giant Mexican flag hanging over the bar … a silly shark sculpture suspended from the ceiling … Latin music playing throughout … The Hound describes it as a “carnival atmosphere”. The menu at The Reef has two faces. One is classic Mexican fare, complete with tacos, burritos, chimichangas, fajitas and of course “build-your-own” combinations. The other face of the menu is decidedly American with big sloppy burgers, assorted Cajun dishes and slabs of pork ribs that have become a house specialty. The Hound always has a tough time choosing what to eat. The problem stems from the fact his default dish is so

tempting. The Carne Asada (marinated skirt steak served with rice, beans and a cheese enchilada) is to die for. Second on The Hound’s favourite list is the Coca-Cola glazed pork Carnitas. Succulent slowcooked shredded pork served with fresh tortillas and fixins’ fajita style to wrap up your own little bite of Mexican perfection. According to The Hound, it is important to gauge just how hungry you are before ordering at The Reef. Trying to take it lite? The Hound recommends the mini-taco platter or a bowl of steaming tortilla soup. Three item combo Are you ravenous? Without a doubt, the corpulent East LA Burrito or Frisbee-size beef quesadilla will fill you up. On this particular occasion, The Hound was so hungry his stomach thought his throat had been cut, so he dug into a three item Mexican combo with chicken burrito, cheese enchilada and crunchy beef taco. A pet peeve with The Hound in a Mexican cantina is the quality of tequila. A place named “Tequila Reef” shouldn’t depend on a bottle with a plastic hat on it. At The Reef, connoisseurs will not be disappointed. A complete menu of premium tequila offerings is posted on the wall. Tacos, burgers, ribs, hoagies, salads … The Hound recommends you take a trip down Soi 7 and wallow in your own indecision. Don’t worry … it’s all good … and you can always come back.

P A T T A Y A

N I G H T L I F E

the nite owl Swooping on the best venues

Crawl around city’s top pubs It’s summer already and I still hadn’t accomplished anything on my Spring Cleaning list. Up at dawn on a Monday morning, I dusted and sorted and scrubbed and mopped all day. It’s the kind of menial labour that sets a person‘s mind free and works that body as hard as an aerobics class. Watching the sun go down; salty, sweaty and tired, I stood in the middle of my sparkling clean condo. It suddenly occurred to me: “I am badly in need of a beer”. And not just any beer will do. I want it the perfect temperature. I want it in the right glass. I want it poured with expertise from an ornate tap by a smiling and friendly bar maid. I deserved a beer like that. A proper pub Furthermore, I didn’t want it in a bar, or a tavern, or a bistro, or an eatery. A proper beer is served at a proper pub. “Pub” … three letters that are much greater than the sum of their parts. In the US, we think “pub” means the same thing as “bar”. A real pub has food. Add food in the US and we have to add words to the name like “Bar and Grill”. So I set out on a balmy Monday evening with my crusty old English navigator and

wingman Simon. “We’ll ease you in slowly mate,” he chuckled as we slid into a fortuitous parking spot in front of Punch & Judy Pub on Thepprasit Soi 8. Punch & Judy looks like a Hollywood set of a pub. Dark wood, burgundy walls, shiny beer taps and a well-lit pool table. Simon pointed out that, although well-established already, P&J is a relatively new pub. “It’s just starting to get broken in,” he added. What I truly appreciated about the atmosphere and décor was that nothing is contrived. Nobody brought in a container full of memorabilia and bric-abrac to hang on the walls to make this place seem old. It is building its patina the old fashioned way. For some, P&J may be the “anti-pub” because of how neat and tidy the whole place is. No clutter, no dust, pictures hung straight … I’m quite sure the pool table is perfectly level. Vintage rock-n-roll from the 70s and 80s creeps out of the ample sound system at just the right volume. The air conditioning is so cold that I literally did not age during my visit. Pub perfection? The ladies working behind the bar at P&J are friendly and even a little playful. But when I ordered my pint of Stella

‘‘ For some, P&J may be the

“anti-pub” because of how neat and tidy the whole

’’ place is.

Artois they were all business and managed to pour it with style and finesse … perfectly. We perused the menu and watched as a few meals came out. A wide assortment of hungerstopping comfort food including various English pies, lasagna, bangers and mash, big sloppy burgers and quite a well-rounded breakfast menu all looked good. We chose an appetiser of homemade chicken liver paté served with toast; just what we needed to take the edge off our appetites. Atmosphere and food By the time we were leaving, two of the big booths were occupied with families, the big round table had been reserved and a couple was playing pool. I would characterise Punch & Judy as a modern pub. It’s not the all-male, good old boys sanctuary I envision when I hear the word “pub”. The emphasis is on atmosphere and food. And they do pour a mean Stella. Next stop was a gamble. For years I have frequented Shenanigan’s in Jomtien and in fact regaled their merits in a previous Nite Owl. Unfortunately for those Pattayans located more centrally, the Shenanigan’s Pub on the second floor of The Avenue on Second Road was the polar

opposite. Bad food, slow service and total lack of personality have plagued this place for a while now. Simon had heard the place had changed hands and names and is under new management. We decided to give it a go and found ourselves being welcomed to the new and decidedly improved Acorn Pub. The Acorn Pub is a well-designed sprawling mega-pub with big tables, booths and gorgeous bar right in the middle. There were more patrons on a Monday night than I had ever seen in total under the previous management. Boys out for a night … couples having a quiet dinner … families occupying big booths; every segment of the pub-going Pattaya public was represented. Too many large flat screen TVs to count played sports on a half dozen different channels. Cool R&B music serenaded us in the background. Suddenly the place had a “din”, and atmosphere and personality; all it had needed was people. Huge playground Subtle changes had been made. The pool table was relocated to a raised area in the middle of the main dining room. Workers were busy placing outdoor tables and installing those fans that blow cool mist. The old billiards room had been converted into a section of family-style booths and the wall taken out to expose a huge playground for kids complete with a slide and ball pit. The staff was attentive and friendly. We were greeted by Steve Graham, the new owner. He gave us the run down on the ownership

change. Acorn Distribution (also owned by Steve) are major food processors and distributors in Thailand, supplying restaurants, hotels and resorts. They bought the old Shenanigan’s with the plan of turning this spectacular facility into, for lack of better words, a retail outlet. I nodded with comprehension. Vertical integration in the food and beverage business is a growing trend in Thailand. Steve reviewed the menu with us and pointed out how the new arrangement had affected prices in a friendly manner. The menu offers all the comfort food I expected, with an extensive board of Thai fare. “Pub grub,” rumbled Simon … “We want pub grub”. Snatching up the snack menu from the bar top, he rattled off several items to the waitress. He got a Stowford Press cider and I settled on one of the seven wines by the glass offered. When our order came I checked my phone to make sure I had the number of my cardiologist stored. First came battered and deep fried sausages with English mustard sauce. They were instantly addictive. Then came similarly beer-battered giant prawns. “The word batter comes from the Latin word for pub grub,” Simon informed me. We finished off with a short stack of baby back ribs that were finger-licking good. Slightly buzzed and stuffed with triglycerides, we thanked Steve for his hospitality and waddled on. “So mate,” Simon said, “We’ve seen a modern pub … we’ve seen a

‘‘ ’’ Old, dark, cluttered with real

memorabilia and trophies of past

conquests.

family pub … are you ready to go old school? Jameson’s it is then.” Jameson’s is an established pub located at Nova Park in Central Pattaya. It is what comes to mind when I hear the word “pub”. Old, dark, cluttered with real memorabilia and trophies of past conquests. It is appropriately “junked up”. A dozen TVs hang from everywhere playing sports from all over the world. A long bar occupied by seasoned patrons; 99.9 per cent male. Biblical proportions The menu is of biblical proportions as is the food I saw coming out served on huge cutting boards. A steaming bowl of lobster bisque wafted by and I was almost hungry again. Dark wood and used leather booths combine with a sea of tables custom-made for leaning an elbow on. There are no windows. It’s like drinking in a well-worn wallet. In my opinion, that’s a pub. We chose our poison to settle our bloated bellies. “Double Jameson’s on the rocks,” Simon ordered. It just seemed like a natural choice. We watched the late dinner crowd swell from the crusty old bar and soon became involved in an intense discussion of Rugby League vs Rugby Union with a group of senior Aussies. Leaning back on the bar and well into his third double Jamie, Simon breathed in the atmosphere and whispered to me, “A proper pub mate … proper.” Nite Owl Out

i n s i d e r

r e p o r t

Stumbling upon a home repair gem

ll home owners in Thailand, at one time or another, have shared a similar experience. Something has gone amiss in the home and you don’t know who to call. The hot water heater stopped working … there’s a leak in the ceiling … a whole room of lights stopped working … monsoons flooded your condo and warped the baseboard. Unless you “know a guy”, you are at the mercy of some jack-ofall-trades fix-it person, probably recommended by your maid. Frustrating time My experience has been hot and cold with this solution. Unfortunately, most Thai handy men aren’t trained anywhere specific and their skills can range from spectacular to nonexistent. Combine that with their unwillingness to admit the limitations of their skills and you could be in for a frustrating time. The maintenance guy/handy man at my building in Jomtien is apparently unable to repair

anything without cutting a hole in the ceiling first. And, if you are in the market for more extensive repairs or total renovation, the selection process can get even trickier. There are plenty of self-declared design and renovation firms in town. They range from expensive luxury fitout specialists to two guys with a truck. Most of these outfits are run by expatriates utilising Thai labour. Some actually have very few workers and sub-contract jobs out to a variety of specialists like tile installers, painters and electricians. Again, I’ve met with hot and cold results. Just because someone speaks English doesn’t mean they know how to put down a hard wood floor or paint a ceiling. The sub-contractor model leaves me too far from the control of what’s happening in my home. In the end, if I wouldn’t recommend the company to a friend, I know I’ve failed to find the right firm. Last month I found myself once again in the position of needing some work done on my condo. It has been five years since

‘‘ As is the custom here, I

queried several

friends in businesses that should have knowledge of such providers

a major renovation and my needs ranged from electrical to plumbing to paint. I also had a cracked wall mirror segment and some warped baseboards. I sat in the living room of my aging domain wondering “who do I call?” Recommended companies As is the custom here, I queried several friends in businesses that should have knowledge of such providers. I figured I would probably end up hiring three different contractors. Armed with a fistful of phone numbers, I set up appointments with several recommended companies. Two were no shows, and one spent two weeks promising to give me a bid that never came. So then I did what any other homo-sapiens walking around of planet earth would do, I consulted the oracle … I Googgled it. Using the keywords “home maintenance Pattaya”, I found various a sundry listings for this service or that. Ultimately I followed the link on one of Thai Visa’s community boards and discovered

I was not alone in my frustration. Literally dozens of members had expressed similar difficulty locating professional home maintenance help here. More than one member responded to these pleas for help with the name “EPS”, European Painting and Electrical Services. After visiting their website at www.eps.co.th, I called to make an appointment. Thai foreman At exactly the appointed time and date, my doorbell was rung by Anders Justaal and Peter Bjurqvist from EPS. After about 15 minutes of conversation I released an inner sigh; “ahhh, English-speaking Swedes with years of expertise”. Peter and Anders patiently listened as I explained the work to be done while their Thai foreman took meticulous measurements. In a few minutes their Thai plumbing expert showed up to assess the situation. In a few days I received three separate and detailed bids; just the way I asked for them. Much to my surprise was how reasonable

the quotes were. What’s more, it was easy to see from the bid how the amount was arrived at, broken down by man-hours and material. One thing I did not expect was an extra bid on the electrical work with an explanation from Jan Persson, co-founder of EPS. Jan explained to me that the lighting system currently installed in my home was typical for renovations five years ago, but the transformer-based halogens were burning out sections at a time. The estimate he had given me included changing out bad sectors and replacing them with the same system. He also let me know I could expect more problems with the older segments. The second electrical bid he sent was for replacing all 60 or so fixtures with state-of-the-art LEDs. Several switches and a long stretch of LED snake-light also had to be replaced and were included in the bid. Last year I wrote an article about the marvels of LED lighting, so I already knew the benefits, but I also knew the objections. Every light in my place is dimmable, and I

‘‘ Literally

dozens of members had

expressed similar difficulty locating

professional home maintenance help here

like it that way. And, LED lighting is generally regarded as an expensive option, with a payoff in energy savings five years or so down the road. Jan pointed out that he had bid this job with new, dimmable LEDs with warm white light. And, the bottom line was much less than I expected. The entire LED replacement project was estimated at Bt26,000. So, I pulled the trigger to see what EPS could do. Started working At exactly the appointed day and time, a crew from EPS showed up with several boxes of material and started working. Six hours later, they cleaned up, demonstrated all the lights working and politely left. The efficiency of the whole operation was astonishing. The next day a plumber showed up, stayed 20 minutes and fixed both my toilets and stopped a hot water heater from leaking. What I thought might be a major plumbing problem cost me a whopping Bt1,200. The bigger bid included

i n s i d e r

r e p o r t

replacement of all the baseboards in a 150 sqm condo and a total paint job. I was pleased to see all the smaller repairs like stuck sliding doors and a cracked wall mirror appear on the bid with an estimate of cost. The overall cost is about Bt70,000; much less than I expected. What’s more, I have no doubt that EPS will be able to accomplish the task expeditiously and perfectly. With the revelation of sourcing a contractor I could trust, several projects on the back burner just moved up my priority list. I considered asking EPS to bid on a major renovation of another condo I own in Jomtien.

‘‘ ’’ Most of the Thai staff

they have

were with

them in the beginning

I called Peter to find out if there were any examples of their work in Pattaya I could look at. Jan Persson called me back and invited me to his house; apparently it is a showcase for the talent of EPS. Jan began the tour of his house in the garage where he showed me his house’s “brains”. He beamed as he explained: “This box houses the internet connections. Every room in the house is wired with Category VI cable offering super high-speed internet throughout. This box controls the lighting which can be manipulated from one master location in the house or even from your iPhone. This box controls the CCTV cameras which can also be worked and monitored from anywhere.” Groping for a reference, I told Jan I had only seen something like that at Silver Hills, a Swiss project in Bang Saray. Jan just grinned: “So you know our work then?” He then rolled off a list of a half dozen other local businesses that had the good fortune of hiring EPS. Akavit hoteland restaurant, News Café in Jomtien, and Beefeater restaurant in Pattaya are just a few. Jan’s house is designed with excellent use of the indoor-outdoor living style in Thailand. His outdoor living room is floored with this cool tile that looks like planks of wood. Warmth, luxury and durability all rolled into one. Of particular note is the high gloss black and white kitchen. It is expertly designed and executed

with form and function; just like a kitchen is supposed to be. The thing that left a lasting impression with me was the wireless-ness of this house. All the major rooms have a flat screen TV mounted somewhere, connected to an Apple Mini computer. Stereo and surroundsound emanates from speakers mounted and in the ceiling; and not a wire in sight. It is pretty obvious to me that this is both a passion and a specialty with the boys from EPS. Full-service The three Swedes began EPS in 2006 and initially just wanted to do some painting. They ended up with the job of renovating three condo units and the business took off from there. They specialised in painting and electrical work, but soon found themselves offering full-service maintenance and renovation just to make projects up to their standards. Peter pointed out that most of the Thai staff they have were with them in the beginning. “Training our staff and word of mouth advertising has been the key to our success,” says Jan. The next time someone puts me on the spot, and asks for a recommendation for some home maintenance service, I’ll have no problem being the “mouth” part of word-of-mouth. Everybody needs to stumble upon these guys. Bart Walters

Coffee break

This in history Didmonth you know... In June 1903, Aida de Acosta, 19, becomes the first woman to fly a powered aircraft solo. In June 1933, all non-Nazi political parties are outlawed in Germany. In June 1953, Queen Elizabeth II is crowned. In June 1973, The Greek military junta abolishes the monarchy and declares a republic. In June 1993, John Wayne Bobbitt has a vital part of his anatomy cut off by his wife.

I L I L __ _ ______ _____ ___ ______ ___ ______ ___ L L ___ ____ L ____ L L ___ ___ ___ ______ I L ___ ___ ____ 16 10

26 23

17 15

CRYPTOGRAM Answers to all the puzzles appear overleaf

16 15 10 14

before

addition and subtraction.

Six of the best

÷ +

-11 ×

× -

8 -

× 1

17 20

Two-minute trivia

1. How is Portuguese West Africa now known?

2. Who won the first FA Cup Final to be played under a roof? 3. What was closed down by the UK’s Marine Offences Act of 1967? 4. Which actor did John Travolta exchange faces with in the 1997 film Face Off? 5. In 1953 Alice was the first official name given to what? 6. What was the first pop single to sell more than two million copies in the UK? 7. What was the name of Steptoe and Son’s horse?

17 16 10

4 10

Sports Illustrated’s greatest golfers of all time: 1. Jack Nicklaus (born 1940, 18 majors) 2. Tiger Woods (born 1975, 14 majors) 3. Bobby Jones (1902 -71, 13 majors) 4. Ben Hogan (1912-97, 9 majors) 5. Sam Snead (1912-2002, Jack Nicklaus - greatest golfer 7 majors) 6. Arnold Palmer (born 1929, 7 majors)

Decode this Somerset Maugham 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 peformed

17 9

SUDOKU 5

7 8 9

3 5

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

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

Alexandr Pushkin Empire Windrush Empress of Canada Great Eastern Laconia Lusitania Mauretania Oriana Queen Mary Titanic United States Windsor Castle

Coffee break answers two-minute trivia

1 Angola; 2 Arsenal (in 2003); 3 Pirate radio stations; 4 Nicholas Cage; 5 A hurricane; 6 Mull of Kintyre (Wings); 7 Hercules. NUMBER CRUNCHER AND SUDOKU 8

+ 6

÷ ÷

+ 1

2 1

-11

× ×

Multiply and divide before adding or subtracting. The bottom row across is therefore 2 x 8 = 16, 1 + 16 = 17.

‘At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely.’ – Somerset Maugham

pick up a copy of REm at ...

Friendship Supermarket South Pattaya Road near junction with Third Road

To advertise in the LIVING section

087 988 0799 (English) 087 535 8096 (Thai)

Find us at The Village shopping centre where Chaiyapruk meets the Sukhumvit Road

T R E P E T X E G R E P V Q S L

R G O Z L H X L R Z M B O O E E

O C U H T O Y J E L P D M M T B

S D H Q C N X J A I I Y P N A Y

N Q M R H Z K M T L R R T Z T U

O X A L C O N R E U E A M J S Y

S V U T V G C K A S W M I F D U

B W R X D G W H S I I N V Z E B

O O E T Q T K O T T N E U O T N

Q N T I W A F A E A D E L C I R

Z F A T N C B H R N R U U W N D

Y C N A A W Z W N I U Q W W U M

U W I N D S O R C A S T L E K I

J R A I N O C A L T H O R P I H

O D Y C G S U D X D A N W D F L

A L E X A N D R P U S H K I N N

BEST SUPERMARKET

Best Supermarket North Pattaya Road close to the Dolphin Roundabout for all your shopping needs

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

realestate e magazin YOU ADVERTISE • WE DELIVER

+66 (0)879 880 799

For the well read ... www.remthai.com 36

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.

An older lifestyle still possible here in Pattaya

‘‘

Pattaya is the tourist city where you can expect the unexpected. But I believe in rituals, where nothing is unexpected. Especially in the mornings. Being a night person, mornings are not greeted with pleasure or alacrity, but can be muddled through by applying the age old principle of rote. Leaving one’s clothes in the same place for the morning dressing means that one can actually greet the new day wearing a semblance of correct clothing, but God help the person who shifts my toothbrush. Feeding is an important part of the morning ritual, an accomplishment which is well beyond the somnambulistic capabilities of the prebreakfasted night person. The answer lies in training someone else to do this for you. For me, it is the noodle shop lady down the road, who now automatically places a bowl of “kwiteo” in front of me and a cola with straw beside me. This transaction requires no words. She understands. Noodle shop ladies are truly special people.

Much

bartering and

haggling

ensued until an amicable agreement had been reached and money

’’ changed hands.

This morning, while staring out over the rim of my noodle soup and trying out the focus capabilities of my eyes I came across another ritual. Pulling up outside was a decrepit, battered motorcycle with sidecar and a rider of the same genre. In a large black plastic bucket were squid. Shoals of them. Several noodle shop ladies descended upon the squid seller. Squid were selected carefully after much detailed examination. Now, for me, all squids look the same (though they might say the same about us) and I am sure that Mother Squid cannot pick out her own squidlets in the shoals, but these squid were examined minutely. Somewhat overkill Considering that each one would end up chopped into little coiled rubbery bits that live in the bottom of a bowl of Tom Yum Talay, this appeared to me to be somewhat of an overkill situation. But the ritual was not yet over. Much bartering and haggling ensued until an amicable agreement had been reached and money changed hands. My noodle lady returned

smiling. The bargain must have gone her way this morning. By this time, the combination of cola and “kwiteo” had begun its job of clearing the grey fluff from the grey matter and I began to realise that what I had witnessed was not a “one-off” situation, but was a ritual that has been played out since the days when King Taksin and his army of 1768 marched through en route to Ayutthaya. The ritual of the squid seller with the traders and housewives has been part of Pattaya for all that time. With cognitive thought now becoming possible, it slowly dawned on me that even though we live in a tourist resort city with five-star hotels, discos that seat (?) stand 6,000 people and chauffeurdriven Benzes, if you open your eyes there is still much evidence of a simpler lifestyle around us. A lifestyle where the most stressful part of the day may be selecting the best squid. We should not forget this with our ceaseless quest for sophistication. Several generations of squid sellers cannot all be wrong!

m o t o r i n g

n e w s

May the best driver win!

The pinnacle of motor sport has always been F1, at least since 1950 when the first F1 race was held at Silverstone in the UK. Compared to today’s motor racing, it was all rather primitive, with some cars cobbled together in a back street mews somewhere, far removed from the high tech industries producing F1 cars in these days. Back then, the driver sat high, exposed to view, the spectators able to see man wrestling machine. Drivers were also killed. Several each year. This in turn led to legislating safety features into the cars, which saw the driver sink lower in the chassis, and it was no longer possible to see the driver manhandling his machine. Encourage passing The next time the FIA (the governing body of world motor sport) really became involved was via an effort to ‘spice up’ the racing, and encourage passing. This led to the KERS (kinetic energy recovery system), which is

‘‘ KERS (kinetic energy

recovery system),

which is like an electric

motor to give the petrol engine an 80 BHP boost to assist in passing.

like an electric motor to give the petrol engine an 80 BHP boost to assist in passing. Unfortunately, if the car being passed had a fully charged KERS as well, then no passing occurred. Nothing daunted, they introduced another acronym – DRS, or Drag Reduction System. This was an attempt at giving the following car a speed advantage by opening the rear wing. This was an artificial way of upping speeds and passing opportunities, but all that happens is the passed car can then open his wing and re-pass. So the next bright idea was to get the tyre supplier (in this case Pirelli) to manufacture tyres that wore out quickly, so there would be lots of pit action. This has led to the now totally ludicrous situation of Pirelli tyres that last 10 laps – if you’re lucky! These tyres are so finicky, that tyres that are two laps younger than those on another car, gives the driver with younger tyres the edge, and then some.

The two top place getters (Alonso and Raikkonen) have stated that the tyre situation is ruining the sport at present, and they should not be ignored. Stop meddling Neither should the FIA ignore the increasing clamor for the sport’s ruling body to stop meddling and allow 100 per cent racing by the drivers. And Pirelli should not gloss over the fact that their tyres are falling to bits regularly and wear out in 10 laps. With the average number of pit stops for tyres being four, with some drivers taking up to six, this is ridiculous. I even received an email from one chap who wrote, “I wouldn’t buy Pirelli tyres for my car.” I am sure there are many others forming that opinion. Pirelli should think about their reputation. It is time we returned to men and machines pitted against one another! Dr Iain Corness

cheer on your favourite sports in comfort – JUNE 2013

Golf – The US Open • 13-16 June • Repeats the following day

Tennis – start of Wimbledon • Monday 24 June • 7pm

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.

Basketball – start of NBA Finals • 6 June • 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

Cricket – England V Australia ICC Champions Trophy • 8 June • 4.30pm

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

Cycling – start of the Tour de France • Saturday 29 June • Check times

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