Sun
Thailand comes out top in Bloomberg poll
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happiest place in Confusion the world reigns on pattaya
i n c o r p o r at i n g pat taya o n e
Mid-monthly digest of news in Pattaya No 4 • 16 March 2015
the roads
SINCE the start of building work on the Sukhumvitto-Pattaya Central underpass hardly a day has gone by without some adjustments being made to the layout of roads in the surrounding area.
For a while some roads in East Pattaya between the Sukhumvit and the railway lines were almost totally blocked off by concrete barriers – notably in Siam Country Club Road and Soi Nern Plub Wan. But soon the barriers were taken away, probably as a result of protests from businesses in the area.
Good sense These businesses could see their livelihoods disappearing fast and its appears that good sense has prevailed with the removal of the obstructions. But these ‘concessions” haven’t stopped the question of roads, diversions and traffic jams being the subject of much debate among the expat community. A lot of new road markings were put down and numerous forced left turns were introduced monitored by an increased presence of traffic police. However, when the police are not around the unwillingness of anyone to “give way” is resulting in an increased number of snarl-ups A image that sums up how the rest of the world sees Thailand. or double lock-ups especially around the roads crossing the rail track (see below). In our example both cars A and B are at fault. If A stays where C is (or B where D is) and “gives The prospect of a ferry service linking A few years back a bold plan to way” until there is a clear space Pattaya to the opposite coast of the Gulf launch a catamaran service (pictured to drive into some semblance of of Thailand has been raised again by right) to Hua Hin was launched and order can be maintained. Thailand’s deputy transport minister dropped after a matter of months. according to a report on ThaiVisa. It is our opinion that for such a The suggestion this time is that it service to work the craft needs to be big C A will link fun city to Cha Am which lies enough to carry cars thus opening up the approximately halfway between Hua south-west of the country to motorists Hin and Petchaburi. who wish to trim a few hours off their Details are fairly scarce and no journey, avoid the misery of negotiating indication has been given about the their way through Bangkok and enjoy a B D potential size of the ferry. sea journey. Will it happen? TiT!
ACCORDING to a survey published by Bloomberg News at the end of last month Thailand is the happiest place in the world. No need to check again. We have not been smoking dodgy substances.
But some caveats apply. Bloomberg, as one might expect, tend to concentrate on a country’s economy when considering “happiness”.
Perhaps it might be more accurate to say that Thailand is bottom of their “misery index” (score: 1.6) which by a country mile is topped by Venezuela (86.5). Nearest “rival” to Venezuela is Argentina on 36! The lower the misery index the happier the economy is.
Misery scores Main factors taken into account are considerations such as unemployment levels and low inflation. Thailand currently tracks at less than one per cent in terms of unemployment which Bloomberg described as “unusually low”. It could be contended that this figure is driven by necessity as much as anything. Bloomberg says: “To be sure, the Land of Smiles, currently under martial law after a military coup last year, has a long way to go before it comes close to the living standards of developed economies.” Three other Asian countries feature in the top five for happiness – Japan, Korea and Taiwan with Switzerland the only European representative in second place. Completing the top 10 in order (from No 6 down) are Denmark, China, the USA, Norway and the UK. The survey only covers 51 countries with no African states evaluated. Other notable rankings are Malaysia at No 14, Germany (15), Netherlands (16), Hong Kong (17) and Australia (24). In terms of straight wealth seen as per capita gross domestic product (GDP) the top five are: Norway, Hong Kong, the USA, Switzerland and Netherlands.
Ferry nice idea, but who will use it regularly?
At your service ...
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six-year-old drowns in spa pool tragedy It is alleged that youngster was left unattended while his parents used the sauna
The tragic incident occurred at the Tara Sauna in Soi Nongyai where Khun Apichart, aged 44, and his wife, Khun Sudjai, 40, had gone with their son.
It is thought the child was left in the children’s swimming pool which has a depth of just 50 centimetres. This is located next to the adult pool, which has a depth of 1.5 metres. The parents went to use the sauna and left their child with strict instructions to remain at the children’s pool. Moments later the parents heard screams and the seemingly lifeless body of the boy was pulled from the water and CPR was administered. The child was taken to the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, but he passed away soon after. Witnesses say that a life guard was on duty at the time and police are now investigating to see if any charges should be brought against the guard if he is found to be at fault.
By Photostudio Pattaya (fb.com/wowsabai)
Bt50,000+ in wallet and lucky Briton gets it back
A six-year-old child has died from drowning after he was reportedly left unattended at a swimming pool.
With the assistance of Banglamung Police and thanks to the honesty and kindness of a minimart owner based in North Pattaya, a British engineer was re-united with his wallet which contained more than Bt50,000 in Thai and Indian currency. Adam Morris, aged 39, who works for an engineering company in nearby Rayong, was in Pattaya for a few days before he flew back to UK for a holiday. He based himself in Soi Potisan in North Pattaya and before he took a taxi to the airport in Bangkok, Morris decided to stop for a beer at a minimart, owned by Khun Petnoi, aged 47. He finished his beer and entered the taxi and began his journey to the airport.
The only mystery in life is why the kamikaze pilots wore helmets. – Al McGuire Basketball coach
Man pocketed watch without paying for it
Missing When he arrived, he realised his wallet was missing and he was unable to pay for the taxi. He still had time to return to Pattaya and search for his wallet. He arrived at the minimart and was told that the owner had already taken the wallet, full of money, to Banglamung Police Station. In front of station chief Police Colonel Chonapat the wallet, containing Bt55,000, 4,950 Indian Rupees and Morris’s credit cards, was returned to the immense relief of the engineer, who offered Khun Petnoi a cash reward for ensuring his wallet was kept safe and secure. Morris thanked everyone and hopes his story serves as an example of the kindness and integrity of Thai people.
Sun
fun in the
Page May’s good looks bubble over Three Lady WE know it’s only March but we thought you might like to see May (Macky) a young lady who ought to be a fan of West Ham United because she is forever blowing bubbles! To be absolutely honest we don’t know a whole lot about May other than she is rather easy on the eye and she makes bubble gum blowing something of an art form.
Sales of bubble gum in the USA (it was invented in Philadelphia) peaked in 2009 but have been in decline ever since. You could say that its bubble has burst over the past five or so years!
Bikers in bar bust-up Three patrons and an Australian bar manager were injured in a fight which occurred inside the Showgirls Bar in Soi LK Metro off Soi Diana Inn just before 4am on a day when it should have been closed due to a religious holiday requiring bars to close at midnight. The three foreign patrons, who are members of a motorbike club, refused to give police their names or nationalities. They had facial injuries which were
Holy day aggro 1 thought to have been sustained as they were forcibly ejected from the bar by security guards, due to an earlier altercation. Australian bar manager Ronald Kingsnorth, aged 71, was also injured when he attempted to diffuse the situation. Police arrested the bikers and noted the bar was open well after midnight which means investigations are on-going.
Police were called to a popular market in Soi Buakhao after vendors had detained a man accused of stealing a watch from a market stall. Officers arrived at the Grand Hall Market and arrested Russian Dmitri Chekulaev, aged 41, who denied allegations of theft, despite the watch being found in his trouser pocket. The market vendor, Khun Piyapong, aged 35, reported the case at Pattaya Police Station and confirmed the value of the watch was Bt1,500. He said he was serving another customer when the suspect approached the stall and took the watch without making any attempt to pay A group of vendors managed to detain Chekulaev until the police arrived.
Bar owner is arrested
After much difficulty which included being sworn at police arrested a 49-year-old female bar owner for selling liquor to members of the public on a holy day when the sale of such items are prohibited under Thai law. The Army had to be called in to use their powers under martial law to detain the woman after she had refused to be taken away by the police. The incident occurred at the Everybody’s Inn in Soi Welcome
Holy day aggro 2 off Jomtien Beach Road at 9pm three hours before the 24-hour ban on sale of liquor expired. Police entered the licensed premises and spoke with the owner, Khun Papitchaya, who they described as intoxicated and confrontational. Officers took pictures of alcoholic beverages in front of foreign patrons, who were told to pay their bills and leave. Pattaya Sun • March 2015 • 3
Sun
IT MADE US SMILE think
pattaya
Into reverse?
Of course it’s easy to be wise after the event but as I sit here today I feel the strong urge to ask: Is it too late to scrap the underpass linking the Sukhumvit Road to Pattaya Central? Stick it in reverse gear, put the flower beds back and let’s pretend it never happened, huh? Seriously, before the diggers move in (or am I already too late?) how about taking stock and considering if the improvement to traffic flow – that’s if it will improve the traffic – is really going to be worth all the upset and angst over the next three or more years? I realise that it would result in a loss of face for those who came up with the idea in the first place – and Thais are very anti losing face – but the new traffic flow systems are going to put people out of business. That’s not an if, but or a maybe. I believe it is a certainty and I’m not talking about the odd noodle stall having to shift elsewhere. I’m talking about long established businesses which, until a few weeks ago were doing quite nicely thank you. Imagine that you’re the owner of a business in Pattaya Central which is now blocked off at several points. Who can visit you without taking a major detour? Indeed, maybe even Foodland itself, the supermarket which is one of the expats’ favourites, may feel the pinch. People I speak to say they will still visit but by bike, not car, which is guaranteed to reduce the size of their shopping basket. Pattaya Sun is published in association with Pattaya Property Consultants, the publishers of Real Estate Magazine – Thailand (REM) and www.pattayaone.net under licence No 5/50/2553. The editor-in-chief: Singhanart Rullapak Printer: Royal Siam Printing Services Co Ltd 68/5 Jomtien Villa M1, Jomtien Beach Road Na-Jomtien, Chonburi 20250 E: info@thepattayasun.com T: 087 988 0799 W: thepattayasun.com
You’re in safe hands
When you consult Pattaya’s most experienced agents 215/15-18 Pattaya Second Road (Opposite Royal Garden Plaza and Marriott Hotel) Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20260 Tel: 038 426 242 or 038 425 836 Email: info@realestatethailand.com
www.realestatethailand.com 4 • Pattaya Sun • March 2015
bbc’s fly-on-the-wall documentary series shows air travellers in a less than positive light
Ever wondered why we are not very welcome? sometimes I joke that we live in the Land of Snarls – an attempted play on words about the tourism ad campaign calling Thailand the Land of Smiles. I’m sure I stole the line from someone.
I would not say that our hosts are any more or less xenophobic than any other nation. But behind the smiles a degree of xenophobia does exist. That, of course, does not apply to everyone it needs to be made clear.
Actually, I’m not entirely sure that xenophobia is even the right word for it.
Xenophobia is defined as “the unreasoned fear of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange”. I don’t think Thais are fearful or that they consider their feelings to be unreasoned. If you saw a BBC TV series tucked away on Channel 3 which was filmed at Suvarnabhumi called Bangkok Airport you might start to think they have a point. I have just seen an episode which made me wonder if I it is a good idea to admit that I come from the UK. Airports, I know, are stressful places and people do things which two hours later, when seated on the plane they look back on and ask themselves: What possessed me to act like that? In the programme the Thais working at the airport emerge very well. Perhaps this should come as no surprise. They knew they were being filmed and that what they said or did could impact on tourism. So they were on their best behaviour even when faced with boorish tourists. But what excuse is there for the Brits who appeared on the
programme? They also knew they were being filmed and that they were “representing” the UK. I’ll show my ignorance here and wonder aloud if the people who appear on these programmes have to sign some form of “release” saying they are okay about appearing.
Why agree? If that is the case why oh why did they agree to let the programme include them? No one emerges from it too well. I will give you a few examples:
One young blonde lady, the epitome of what Brits have come to know as an “Essex Girl” had lost her passport. She struggled to remember what an overhead locker was called; she complained about how the airport police were taking care of her saying: “There is no sympathisation (whatever that is) here.” The following day, after missing her flight and reporting the loss of her passport to the British Embassy, she finds it tucked inside a tablet cover! Two slightly chubby London
Automatic immigration machines I have read that automatic immigration machines are due to be introduced at Suvarnabhumi by July (make that October). Eight machines will be placed at both arrival and departure halls (so 16 in total) for use by pre-registered foreign residents, whatever they are. It is claimed this will half processing time to 20 seconds. No mention of how the passports get stamped. Given some of the airport queues I have encountered this sounds like a step in the right direction but what may have been overlooked is that not everyone is tech savvy. I need to hold up my hand and say that retrieving a prebooked ticket from a machine at Heathrow tests me more than a tad. For 20 seconds ... make that two minutes and then some.
girls with rings through their nostrils struggle to convert Bt2,400 into pounds but later they proclaim that they spent about five and a half grand (£5,500 or approximately Bt275,000) on their holiday.
Final sum Given that they struggled to convert Bt2,400 that final sum could have been anything. And let’s not forget the Scottish oil worker who spends four weeks in Norway and four here with his girlfriend. He got so drunk that he tried to leave the airport after passing through immigration to go back to his girl in Hua Hin. Technically he had left the country and was stopped. So, after much difficulty in finding the departure lounge, he fell asleep behind a partition. Workers found him just in time to get on the plane. He was so soused they probably should never have let him on. Just another normal day at Bangkok Airport! Dave Buckley
News stories appear courtesy of www.pattayaone.net
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Pattaya Sun • March 2015 • 5
Calls home behind suicide attempt? Drowsy Slow Loris lived up to its name Pattaya police have arrested a 23-year-old woman who was offering tourists the chance to have pictures taken with a Slow Loris in front of Central Festival Pattaya Beach. Police received complaints about the woman and the fact she was exploiting an endangered and protected animal for the purpose of financial gain. Khun Nalumon was taken to Pattaya Police Station along with her Slow Loris, who appeared to be in a dazed state.
Medics rushed to a house in East Pattaya to assist a 40-year-old Japanese man who it appeared had attempted to hang himself using computer cables. Medics attended the house inside the Raviporn Village off Soi Khao Noi and began administering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to Shuichiro Hirata, who is thought to work as a firefighter in Japan. Hirata always stays with the house owner Khun Thanacha, aged 39, during his regular visits to Thailand. She was aware of problems he was encountering in Japan which required him to make regular telephone calls to his mother.
Although she was unsure of the details of the conversations given they were conducted in Japanese, Khun Thanacha assumed the apparent suicide attempt was made as a result of these calls. She discovered Hirata hanging from a wooden partition at the rear of the house in the kitchen area and was able to remove the cable from around his neck. She shouted to neighbours for assistance who in-turn contacted rescue services. Hirata was revived, but was admitted to an ICU (intensive care unit) in a critical condition. The Japanese Embassy has been informed.
guide does a bunk after fleecing chinese tourists Group say they were left high and dry after stumping up extra Bt138,000
Medication It is a common practice for the animals to be given medication which leaves them drowsy and easy to work with so they can be used for tourist photos without any issues with the animal occurring. The Slow Loris was seized and will be taken to a nearby zoo where it will be cared for. The woman, who charged tourists Bt100 per photo with the animal, was charged with multiple offences under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1992.
Police are hunting a tour guide who is alleged to have abandoned a group of 33 Chinese tourists after they made extra payments to her.
The group of 31 adults and two children had pre-paid for their trip in China. They had paid the equivalent of approximately Bt12,000 each for their package holiday.
The group reported the problem to police at Dongtan Police Sub-Station on Jomtien Beach. There was initial panic throughout the group as they were unsure if they could now return to China after checking out of their Jomtien Beach hotel.
Bewildered tourists stand outside their hotel wondering if they would get home safely.
Through an interpreter one of the tourists explained that the group had entered Thailand in the middle of February and arrived in Pattaya two days later. The New Gen Tour Company based in Chiang Mai organised the tour and one of their representatives was called to the police station. The Chinese Guide was named as Miss Ya Wharn Phing, aged 20. It is alleged she demanded extra payments of Bt6,900 from each of the group. Some 20 paid the money while the rest refused claiming their initial payment made in China covered the entire trip. Group members say Phing abandoned them and left with the extra Bt138,000 she had collected. The tour company accepted responsibility for the guide’s the child did stop the suspect actions and promised to refund and the young mother decided the money paid to her. They said to exit their home for a period they would also ensure the group’s of three hours leaving the child return to China as planned. unattended. Police are hunting the guide When the pair returned the who they suspect is working child had died and initially the illegally in Thailand. They also suspect claimed the boy had told the tour company they fallen downstairs. But a post- would face legal action if they mortem indicated the earlier failed to fulfil their promises. strikes to the body of the child fun in the had caused a ruptured spleen which led to his death. Police have charged the suspect over the incident and he awaits trial.
Step-father, 19, held over death of boy, 2 Police have announced the arrest of a 19-year-old man who is suspected of causing the death of his two-year-old step-son. Khun Kajonsuk (right) was arrested at an apartment in Sriracha District. He is accused of causing the death of the toddler who had been struck multiple times in his chest and back when he would not stop crying, the suspect is alleged to have said. Kajonsuk was said to have been in a relationship with the 16-year-old mother of the child and hospital records indicated the child had been taken for treatment on many occasions, suffering from cuts and bruises. There seems to been no followup by welfare officers despite reports indicating the injuries were caused by a third party. Khun Kajonsuk confessed to striking the child many times as he would not stop crying. When
Sun
Italian, 73, is found dead The body of a 73-year-old Italian was found in his rented apartment in Nine Carat Condominium in Soi Arunothai. Police and medics were called by staff who became concerned when a foul odour emanated from the third floor apartment. They gained entry to the unit via a neighbouring balcony and the body of Antonio Cavaliere was found lying fully-clothed on the bed. It was estimated he had been dead for between four to five days and evidence suggested he had suffered an acute medical problem.
The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it. – Sir Terry Pratchett who died recently
All news stories from www.pattayaone.net 6 • Pattaya Sun • March 2015
Pattaya Sun • March 2015 • 7
sax in the City at Havana bar AT THe end of this month the Holiday Inn Pattaya will present a special evening of entertainment at their Havana Bar & Restaurant which fronts onto the beach. Called “Sax in the City”, it will feature saxophonist and flautist Mitch Frohman (right) from New York in what the hotel is describing as the biggest Latin party to be held at the bar.
Hit TV show theme Many people know Frohman’s work perhaps without realising it. He is the sax soloist on the theme tune to the Sex and the City hit TV show. He has also worked with or recorded alongside artists such as Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, David Byrne (Talking Heads) and Blood, Sweat &Tears. The date is Saturday 28 March from 8pm to 1am and the bar will be candlelit for an hour starting at 8.30. For reservations call 038 725 555.
at the cinema ++ at the cinema ++ at
no long but stil no official reason why speedy word is dropped but sensitivity after star’s death seems likely
THE film that was still in production when one of its stars – 40-year-old Paul Walker – met his untimely death in a road accident will launch on the first of next month under a revised title – Furious 7. The film had been due out several months ago under the name Fast & Furious 7 and no one connected with the film appears to have publicly declared why they made the name switch.
If you stay longer in Thailand for holidays or making business. You should learn Thai. Only 80 hours you will be able to read, write and speak Thai approximately 4-5 Thousand Thai words. Directed by Dr. Damronk Konpearn Ph. D.
However, it seems reasonable to suppose that, given Walker met his death in an incident where it has been decided that “unsafe speeds” had caused the collision, the word ‘Fast’ was probably removed to display some sensitivity about the nature of his passing. Fast had appeared in each of the previous film names. Walker had been travelling as a passenger in a Porsche Carrera GT driven by friend and financial adviser Roger Rodas when the accident occurred at 100mph in Los Angeles (see pictures left). Walker and Rodas were the owners of a motor racing team and Rodas was also a professional driver. After Walker’s death several scenes were rewritten and his stuntman brother, Cody, 25, stood in to help to complete the making of the film. There is talk that Cody may join Universal Picture’s biggest franchise on a permanent basis in a new character.
Muted promotion Understandably several to the F&F franchise’s stars find it difficult to talk about Walker and promotion of Furious 7 is comparatively muted as a result. Asked how the first day back on set after Walker’s accident felt Vin Diesel replied: “I had to call on strength I never had to call upon just to make it back to the set.” Diesel says he couldn’t shoot the first scene which needed him to sit in the car Walker had introduced him to. “I went through three boxes of tissues,” he said. Another star Jordana Brewster said: “It’s a loss that I still feel to this day. It’s a huge tragedy and a loss, very difficult to process. It’s never going to be the same without him.” Other stars in Furious 7 include Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris. 8 • Pattaya Sun • March 2015
t the cinema ++ at the cinema ++ at the cinema ++ at the cinema ++ at the cinema
ger fast... ll furious beer giant’s chief held for ransom
THE day after the totally fictitious Furious 7 hits the screens in Thailand yet another “based on a true story” tale will be released – Kidnapping Mr Heineken – and the title tells all. Back in November 1983 Freddy Heineken, chairman of the board of directors and CEO of the brewing company Heineken International, was kidnapped along with his driver Ab Doderer. They were imprisoned in a quonset hut in a business park in the Amsterdam harbour area. The kidnapping was two years in the planning and the hut was prepared in advance by the creation of a double wall on one end, with two soundproof cells with a hidden door. This made the 42 metre long hut shorter on the inside by four metres, which went unnoticed. The pair were held for three weeks and released when the ransom of 35m Dutch guilders (it was another 16 years before the Euro made its debut) was paid. The ransom, which equates to about E16m (a little less than Bt600bn), is said to be the highest ever paid for an individual.
Caught and jailed The kidnappers Cor van Hout, Willem Holleeder, Jan Boelaard, Frans Meijer, and Martin Erkamps (the actors are pictured above) were eventually caught and served prison terms and nearly a quarter of the ransom was never recovered. That excellent Welsh actor Sir Anthony Hopkins (below) plays Freddy Heineken. The real Freddy is credited as being the man who turned the amber delight from an essentially Dutch brew into a worldwide brand. His grandfather had founded the company in 1864 and Freddy joined it during World War II in 1941 when it was no longer a family concern. Over the years he bought back stock until the family regained control. At the time of his death in 2002 he was one of the richest people in the Netherlands with a net worth of 9.5bn guilders.
Pattaya Sun • March 2015 • 9
TRULY A NEW WAY OF LIFE
10 • Pattaya Sun • March 2015
Fun in the sun Dingbats A touching moment dingbat_Layout 1 04/03/2015 11:17 Page 1
Can you decipher the three well-known phrases or sayings represented by the Dingbats below?
ME MO
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White elephant dingbat_Layout 1 04/03/2015 11:23 Page 1
JUMBO BLONDE o
Fair and Square dingbat_Layout 1 04/03/2015 11:43 Page 1
A question of colour MR Black, Mr Brown and Mr Green were dining together at a restaurant. Each one was wearing a coloured tie. The ties were coloured black, brown and green. Suddenly the man wearing the green tie said to the other two: “Did you notice that our ties are the same colour as our names but no one is wearing a tie similar to his name?” “Strange, indeed,” said Mr Black. Can you work out which coloured tie each man was wearing?
WordWheels
8 7 6
2
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5 4 3 2 1 A
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White to play and checkmate in four moves
ALL THE ANSWERS APPEAR ON PAGE 14
Can you find a nine-letter word and at least 25 words of five letters or more in the wheel above. Each word must contain the hub letter.
Replace the question mark with a letter that will complete an eight-letter word reading either clockwise or anticlockwise.
SUDOKU
Which letter replaces the question mark in the last circle?
Clock puzzle_Layout 1 04/03/2015 13:50 Page 1
A F K
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F O
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TWO-IN-ONE CROSSWORD Use the grid for the cryptic or easy clues, but not both – the answers are different!
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS 1. Brags about clutches (5) 6. Gun generally produces slime (5) 9. Asian religious holiday to the north (7) 10. A bit of a fight? (5) 11. Ale is upset in between the seats (5) 12. These pages often have big print (5) 13. Tangled cords on bare-faced fliers (7) 15. A wooden diary? (3) 17. Sore around the rocks! (4) 18. You could find this creature in summer in Ottawa (6) 19. Lacks confidence, dim and it’s confused (5) 20. Some carpet, rolled, is vital for some vehicles (6) 22. Notice the absence of her (4) 24. Elite airline? (3) 25. Letter I screwed up to change name (7) 26. When these are crossed confusion prevails (5) 27. It’s mixed with bad company, impassive (5) 28. Silences, not in minutes (5) 29. Barricade or a soldier and his dog (7) 30. Could it contain fish, trimmed celery perhaps? (5) 31. Pointless warped veneer, not at all (5)
7. Predominantly untidy, confused individual (4) 8. A quantity of ale consumed by Donegal loners (6) 12. Delicate key liar returned (5) 13. If you noted this body, it would be a dead one (5) 14. Jay and Robin hang out in these (5) 15. Brink, partly feel I’m on it (5) 16. Bird goes around with duck (5) 18. Explosive shafts? (5) 19. Optical distortion is newsworthy (7) 21. Eaters chewed eggs at this time (6) 22. Small time? (6) 23. Devious elves, noted, for the record (6) 25. Review from venture capitalists (5) 26. Remove one on mucky pew (4) 28. Grown-ups in Parliament? (3)
EASY CLUES ACROSS
DOWN
1. Break glass (5) 6. Grasp (5) 9. Wheeler dealer (7) 10. Own up (5) 11. Birthplace of Muhammad (5) 12. Ask strongly (5) 13. Make up (7) 15. Garden tool (3) 17. Architectural curvature (4) 18. Learning place (6) 19. Seasoning (5) 20. Vine fruits(6) 22. Quote (4) 24. Senior citizen (3) 25. Jumper (7) 26. Pilfer (5) 27. Snipe (5) 28. Artist’s medium (5) 29. Purported (7) 30. Incline (5) 31. Hesitate (5)
2. Fruit (6) 3. Swap (6) 4. Belt (3) 5. Girl’s name (5) 6. Affair (7) 7. Looked at (4) 8. Bird (6) 12. Objects used on stage (5) 13. Tropical fruit (5) 14. Small piece (5) 15. Get lost! (3,2) 16. Young eel (5) 18. Glower (5) 19. Washington state city (7) 21. Another girl’s name (6) 22. Country (6) 23. Sport 6) 25. Kept (5) 26. Type of opera (4) 28. Gusto (3)
Which card replaces the question mark?
DOWN 2. In correct order, There’s a good chap! (6) 3. These are grown, warm heartedly, in beds (6) 4. Initially pass up, gradually weaken (3) 5. Awakens when article is removed from stairs (5) 6. Admittedly you leave, argued Tony wrongly (7) Pattaya Sun • March 2015 • 11
Dave’s Favs pop Music with Dave D
Car collides with underpass barriers
Ocean’s successes came in wave after wave ... Billy Ocean is a Trinidad-born recording artist who was the most popular British R&B singersongwriter of the early to mid1980s. After scoring his first four UK Top 20 successes, seven years passed before he gained a series of transAtlantic successes, including three US number ones. In 1985, at the age of 35 Ocean won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his worldwide hit, Caribbean Queen, and in 1987 was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male. Ocean was born as Leslie Sebastian Charles in Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago to Hainsley Charles, a Grenadian musician and his wife Violet. They moved to Romford, Essex, when he was eight. During his teenage years he sang regularly in London clubs while also working as a tailor in Savile Row. He was discovered by his first manager, John Morphew, who recorded a double A side single at Pye Studios in London with a full orchestra. However, the ballad singing style of Les was going out of fashion and Morphew was unable to get any major label to release it. It remains unreleased.
International success Ocean’s period of greatest success began in 1984 with the releases of the album Suddenly and its main single, Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run). The song’s title and lyrics were changed for different regions, such that the song is also known as African Queen or European Queen. The song won Ocean Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 1985 Grammy Awards. The album’s title track also became a success, peaking at No 4 in both the US and the UK and the song Loverboy, while also being a No 2 US success in 1985 was also featured in the first scene of the popular UK BBC One TV series, Casualty, in 1986. Ocean appeared at Live Aid in 1985, singing Caribbean Queen and Loverboy, from the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. His 1993 album Time to Move On failed to produce any major successes, but his 1989 Greatest Hits collection has been a steady seller over the years, and his 1997 compilation Love Is For Ever made No 7 on the UK album chart. In 2004, Caribbean Queen was re-released as a digital single for its 20th anniversary, shooting up to No 25 on the Billboard digital singles chart and garnering radio play across the United States and UK. A remix of the single by will.i.am was released in 2005. His most popular songs include Suddenly; When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (from the Jewel of the Nile movie soundtrack); There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry); Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car and Red Light Spells Danger. The going is tough, but Ocean, now 65, is still touring.
A car driven by a 20-year-old student from Sriracha hit cement barriers bordering the Sukhumvit Road Central Pattaya underpass construction site. Police and medics went to the scene and attended to the driver of a Black Honda Civic, Khun Tannawit. Four passengers sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital as
a precaution. The driver told police that he was on his way home and was unaware of the recent changes to the Sukhumvit Road in Central Pattaya, where the underpass is being constructed. As he approached the area, Tannawit reported seeing a motorbike and its driver, cut across his path. He took evasive action
to avoid the motorbike and ended up running into cement barriers designed to protect motorists from the construction site. Khun Tannawit said he was angry at the poor lighting in the area and decided to take pictures of the site with a view to possibly claiming damages from Pattaya City Hall in the future.
brothers aRrested after dRive-by killing of man
Police have arrested two men in connection with the recent drive-by fatal shooting of a man outside a store owned by a former mayor of Pattaya. The incident occurred outside of a shop owned by Khun Niran, the former mayor, who had just left when the shooting took place.
A white Toyota Yaris containing the shooter and at least two others, was driven past the shop and a rear seat passenger shot the victim, Khun Wachara aged 34, a total of 10 times. Wachara was declared dead soon after arriving in hospital.
One of the brothers, Khun Chayut (seated in picture left), was arrested in Pattaya after police got a warrant. He denies involvement. His younger brother, Khun Prawat, aged 37, was arrested in Chiang Mai Province and was caught with a car matching the description and a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. It is understood the shooting took place as an act of revenge because the victim was involved in an altercation over an illegal gambling den with an employee of Khun Prawat.
Saying ‘no’ twice to pot seller earned Russian split upper lip In the early hours of the morning a Russian tourist was assaulted by a Thai man who was reportedly angry that the Russian had refused to buy marijuana from him several times. The incident occurred in front of the Siam Bayshore Hotel at the Southern end of Walking Street. Maksim Fedim, 36, was walking back to his hotel when he was approached by the Thai man who attempted to sell him the illegal substance.
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Mr Fedim refused to buy the drugs and was then approached for a second time with the same result. At this point, Fedim claimed the seller became extremely angry and punched him in the face. It is thought that the seller was wearing knuckle dusters which split Fedim’s upper lip in two. Police are searching for the attacker and are examining security camera footage in the hope of identifying him.
Condo fall claims life of elderly woman, 75 Police and rescue workers were called to a five-storey condo in Jomtien where a 75-year-old German woman was alleged to have jumped to her death. The incident occurred at the Majestic Jomtien Condominium. Officers arrived and inspected the
body of Mrs Frieder Hornsteiner. Close-by was her husband, Dulof, who is now living with his Thai wife, Khun Yupa. The three lived together and Khun Yupa told police she cared for the victim who had severe mobility issues and other
Sun
fun in the
medical problems. She told police that earlier she had taken food into the victim’s room and all appeared normal. Khun Yupa left for work at 8.30am and then received a call claiming that the elderly woman had committed suicide.
“Politics is the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen.” – Winston Churchill
the buck a mixed bag of views
stops here By DAVE BUCKLEY
PC stands for pretty crazy I don’t know about anyone else but I positively cringe when I hear the two words “politically correct” uttered. It is one of my pet peeves and the range of nonsense that is “justified” by being PC beggars belief.
Let’s be clear on what I’m talking about here. According to Wikipedia “political correctness or political correctitude (adjectivally, politically correct; both forms commonly abbreviated to PC) is an attitude or policy of being careful not to offend or upset any group of people in society who are believed to have a disadvantage”.
As such I could make out a case to suggest that PC is a well-intentioned philosophy. But it is being misused and abused. So how does this manifest itself in the modern world? Let me give you some The changing face of Darlie. First just the name changed, then the illustration and up-to-date on right. examples. The pupils couldn’t wear their like you to be our new chair.” Did l Some London branches of l It seems acceptable, almost country’s flag in their own country, the old one get broken? compulsory if you are a rapper to Domino’s Pizza no longer serve lest it offend someone celebrating Postman became post person; use the “n” word that rhymes with toppings like pepperoni, sausage the holiday of a different country. a chimney boy became a chimney bigger. But this is no longer the or ham because they are not Halal. l Throughout several US young person; delivery man l Spotted Dick – the classic case if you are pilot Guy Gibson councils and organisations, any became a delivery operative. Nuts! in The Dam Busters because when English dessert has been renamed terms using the word “man” as a l Closer to our adopted the 1955 film is shown now, his to avoid embarrassment. The prefix or suffix have been ruled home, of course, we have the faithful black dog’s unfortunate traditional pud has been given the as not being politically correct. example of Darlie Toothpaste that title Spotted Richard, after UK name is often bleeped out. “Manhole” is now referred to as used to be called Darkie. I don’t much care for the council bosses feared the original a “utility” or “maintenance” hole. The toothpaste started in word but I think if that’s what the name might cause offence. What a l The BBC has dropped the Shanghai in 1933 and its maker, bomber ace decided to call his bunch of Richardheads! Man oh man Hawley & Hazel Chemical l A UK recruiter was stunned use of the terms Before Christ dog in pre-PC times why try to reI first encountered this “man” Company was bought in 1985 by when her job advert for “reliable” (BC) and Anno Domini (AD) write history? l Then there is the debate over and “hard-working” applicants on one of their programmes and insanity when designing the Colgate-Palmolive. Five years later CP decided whether one should say “happy was rejected by the job centre as decided that the terms “Before newspaper for the employees of holidays” not “merry Christmas” it could be offensive to unreliable Common Era” / “Common Era” the Blue Circle cement company to be PC and change the name to are more appropriate. So we are in the UK. avoid any racial misunderstanding. presumably so non-Christians and lazy people. living in 2015 Common Era. The editor I worked with However, the Chinese name don’t feel slighted. Really? Some Brainless What tosh! decided that the word “man” had for the tooth cleaner “黑人牙 US schools now have a “holiday l Administrators at a high no place in a journal aimed at both 膏”which, when translated, l A UK council has banned tree” every Christmas, rather than means Black Person Toothpaste, the term “brainstorming” – and school in California sent five male and female readers. a Christmas tree. The chairman became the has remained unchanged. A school in Seattle renamed replaced it with “thought showers”, students home after they refused Is it PC to applaud them for its Easter eggs “spring spheres” as local lawmakers thought the to remove their American flag “chair person” or simply the to avoid causing offence to people term may offend epileptics. T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo, the “chair”. So how does being the sticking to their guns (or should Mexican Day of Independence. chair of a company sound? “We’d that be gums)? I think not. Presumably they brainstormed it. who do not celebrate Easter.
GOING GAGA OVER THIS LADY I like Lady Gaga. There, I’ve said it. Confession is good for the soul, I heard somewhere in my Catholic upbringing. I’ve even got her song Bad Romance as the ringtone on my phone. The choice was between that and Poker Face. Can it get much worse? Well, it could ... I could also find her attractive. I don’t, but I wouldn’t imagine for a nanosecond that this news would unsettle or upset her. No, I like several of her songs and the other night – at the Oscars – I saw her in a whole new light when she performed a medley of tunes in tribute to the 50-year-old Sound of Music movie. Like her or not she did justice to one of the great film musicals. Her appearance was one of the highlights in an otherwise damp squib of an Oscars ceremony. A friend of mine makes a point of trying to watch all films nominated for the main best film award. He was underwhelmed by the winner Birdman – “difficult to understand” – and Boyhood, “biggest waste of two-and-a-halfhours of my life”. His assessments, not mine. By the way if you need more convincing about Lady Gaga look up her performances with Tony Bennett on the net.
Is Jose playing double bluff?
Second, and maybe more important, Maurinho is helping to create a situation where referees might feel intimidated into either not giving fouls where the Blues are in the wrong or giving more fouls in favour of the Blues when perhaps little or no harm had been done. Which ref is going to whistle up for a penalty against Chelsea if he is not absolutely sure? I’ve watched that tackle by Burnley’s Ashley Barnes on Nemanja Matic and think Maurinho was right to describe it as a tackle that could have ended Matic’s career. Did he really need to describe it as criminal? Maybe not. But it looked a bad one just the same. Could it be Jose is taking a leaf out of the book of old adversary Sir Alex Ferguson to be the new mind games master? Years ago SAF questioned to step in on average less than whether Leeds players would every four-and-a-half years – battle as hard against title less than the life of parliament rivals Newcastle as they had in the UK or a little more than against his team. one term of a US President. The resulted in the famous Disney built in Hong Kong “I would love it if we beat where the Chinese bosses of the them” outburst from Newcastle Special Administrative Region manager Kevin Keegan. chipped in most of the up-front Is Jose doing a similar cash. Who could Disney do a number on referees? And does similar deal with here? he need to? I think his players I love visiting Disney or are good enough to be champs Universal so would be more than without manager mind games. happy to be proved wrong.
LEAGUE CUP winning Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is a pretty shrewd cookie. At the time of writing this he was engaged in an “everyone is against us” campaign mainly directed at referees and the Football Association. Is a sense it doesn’t really matter whether he sincerely believes there is some form of conspiracy against his team. The fact that he is drawing attention to it achieves a couple of things. First, he is building a siege mentality in the minds of his players. This “everyone is against us, we will overcome” attitude could help his team and I have no problem with that provided the ‘all for one’ team spirit does not spill over.
A Mickey Mouse proposition
EVERY now and then I see headlines on the internet suggesting Disney or Universal are considering building one of their resorts in Thailand. Cribbing the words of the great tennis player John McEnroe all I can say is: “You cannot be serious!” Would there be enough interest? Absolutely. Would it boost the country’s tourism industry? Certainly. It it likely to happen? Not on your nelly!
Is anyone really suggesting that a major US entertainment group will consider investing billions of dollars in a country where they can’t be sure if the military or civilians will be in charge from one year to the next? Since Siam became Thailand in 1932 there have been 25 general elections and 19 attempted coups d’état of which 12 have been successful. This means that in 83 years the military have felt the need
Pattaya Sun • March 2015 • 13
Winners of our hotel vouchers IN last month’s issue of the newspaper we offered hotel vouchers worth Bt5,000 to those who sent in a picture of themselves reading the Pattaya Sun. So we are pleased to announce that the winners are John Buscher (right) and David Kerič whose arty colour picture did not, we feel, look so good
Sun
fun in the
Fun in the sun ANSWERS
in black and white. Indeed it would have looked as though our printer had had a funny turn. John is pictured with his young daughter Johanna who appears to be kicking out at the newspaper – a not uncommon reaction! Congratulations to both and we will be in touch shortly to get those vouchers sorted out.
Dingbats: 1. A touching moment; 2. White elephant; 3. Fair and square. A question of colour: Mr Black has the brown tie, Mr Green has the black tie and Mr Brown has the green tie. Chess: C1-C8 check, E6xC8; A6xB6 check, C8-B7; A7-C6 check, B8-C8; B6-D8 checkmate.
gang of four facE sex assault charge The Region 2 Police Commissioner has announced the arrest of four people wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a man and woman and the sexual assault of the female victim in South Pattaya on 22 February.
“It was a woman who drove me to drink, and I never had the courtesy to thank her for it.” W C Fields
Police Lieutenant General Tanaert announced the arrest of Khun Suchart and Khun Bunalat, both aged 20, and the arrest of two 17-year-old boys who are too young to be named. The two older suspects were arrested in Nontaburi Province, close to Bangkok.
They are accused of the armed robbery of a 20-year-old man and the sexual assault of his 18-year-old girlfriend at the helipad area on Pratamnuk Mountain.
Circles: The missing letter is X. In each circle, start with the top left segment, and move clockwise around the other segments. The value of each letter increases by 5 for the first circle, 6 for the next, then 7, 8 and 9. Cards: Jack of Spades. There are two sequences in the grid – one determines the value of the card, and one determines the suit of the card. Starting on the top left and moving right, then down one row and to the left, then down to the final row and to the right, cards are arranged in order, with their value increasing by four each time. To calculate the suit of each card, start on the top left and move down, then right one row and move up etc. Cards are arranged in the order Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades. WordWheel 1:
Apart from the alleged sexual assault on the female a total of Bt4,000 was stolen from the pair as one of the men appeared to hold a gun. The suspect later confessed it was a plastic bottle, which in the remote and poorly lit area, had a shape similar to that of a gun. All four suspects have been charged with serious offences and await trial.
WordWheel 2:
Some words of five letters or more containing the hub letter G – Acting, agent, aiming, citing, eating, enigma, ENIGMATIC, gametic, gamic, gamin, gamine, genic, genii, giant, icing, ignite, image, imagine, incage, ingate, making, magic, magnet, magnetic, mange, mating, meting, mintage, taming, teaming, tegmina, tieing, timing, tinge.
Beethoven’s Fifth will be performed at Tiffany’s
Cryptic Crossword: ACROSS – 1 Grabs; 6 Gunge; 9 Eastern; 10 Scrap; 11 Aisle; 12 Front; 13 Condors; 15 Log; 17 Ores; 18 Merino; 19 Timid; 20 Petrol; 22 Miss; 24 SAS; 25 Retitle; 26 Wires; 27 Stoic; 28 Mutes; 29 Parapet; 30 Creel; 31 Never. DOWN – 2 Rector; 3 Beards; 4 Sap; 5 Stirs; 6 Granted; 7 Unit; 8 Gallon; 12 Frail; 13 Corps; 14 Nests; 15 Limit; 16 Goose; 18 Mines; 19 Topical; 21 Easter; 22 Minute; 23 Sleeve; 25 Recap; 26 Wipe; 28 Men.
On May 2 at 2 in the afternoon, the Silpakorn Summer Music School (SSMS) will give a performance of Beethoven’s 5th at the Tiffany Theatre. SSMS is one of the country’s most prestigious summer music schools. Each year about 100 young talents, chosen among thousands of young Thai musicians, attend with a mission to further their knowledge in music. Before the event, the young musicians take part in master classes to aid and improve themselves, in addition to practising the symphony they will be playing.
Easy Crossword: ACROSS – 1 Smash; 6 Reach; 9 Wideboy; 10 Admit; 11 Mecca; 12 Plead; 13 Mascara; 15 Hoe; 17 Arch; 18 School; 19 Spice; 20 Grapes; 22 Cite; 24 OAP; 25 Sweater; 26 Steal; 27 Shoot; 28 Paint; 29 Alleged; 30 Slope; 31 Pause. DOWN – 2 Medlar; 3 Switch; 4 Hit; 5 Della; 6 Romance; 7 Eyed; 8 Cuckoo; 12 Props; 13 Mango; 14 Scrap; 15 Hop it; 16 Elver; 18 Scowl; 19 Seattle; 21 Rachel; 22 Canada; 23 Tennis; 25 Saved; 26 Soap; 28 Pep. Sudoku:
Top conductor
Open : 8:00am to 10:00pm
Thanks to generous support from Siam Commercial Bank, maestro Hikotaro Yazaki, an internationally acclaimed conductor, will once again take the baton for this performance. He is much in demand throughout the world, and the organisers say they are privileged to have him in Thailand for the performance. Tickets are priced at Bt800 downstairs and Bt500 in the mezzanine. Student tickets are Bt300 but only for seats in the mezzanine.
All news stories from www.pattayaone.net 14 • Pattaya Sun • March 2015
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