Rem December 2015 by Pattaya Property Consultants

REm

thailand • pattaya edition

Riviera Group Luxury Interiors Now available to buyers Issue 174 175 | November December 2015 | www.remthai.com

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who is who • commentary

Publisher/Editor Mesiya Watson may@realestatemagazinethailand.com Sales and Marketing Pure Phanthong Tel: 087 618 6486 pure@remthai.com or purephanthong@gmail.com Wongduan Roberts Tel: 087 535 8096 duan@remthai.com or realestatemag@hotmail.com Office/Accounts Tel: 038 406519 or 08 6335 2474 dear@remthai.com Web address: www.remthai.com Publisher Pattaya Property Consultants Co Ltd 21/27 M5 Soi Nern Plub Waan Nongprue • Banglamung Chonburi 20150 Tel: 038 406519 or 08 6335 2474 Printer Royal Siam Printing Services Co Ltd 68/5 Jomtien Villa M1 • Jomtien Beach Rd Na Jomtien • Chonburi 20250 Publication Licence Number: 2/2549 Disclaimer: All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the editor. The publishers are not responsible for any error contained within the magazine. They also accept no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers or writers. The views of correspondents are not necessarily those of the magazine. Articles are produced containing upto-date information to the best of our knowledge. However, we accept no liability for information contained within any article. Copyright © Real Estate MAGAZINE Thailand 2015

A year to forget? Well was it an annus horribilis as Britain’s Queen Elizabeth described 1992? Not totally, is my summing up. But one wouldn’t want much more to go awry to make it so. When the Queen made her famous speech in London’s Guildhall she was reflecting on a year in which her eldest son, Charles, had separated from his wife Diana; Anne, the Princess Royal, had divorced; the Duke of York’s freshly estranged wife, Sarah, was pictured topless in the tabloids having her toes sucked; and just to round things off a fire almost destroyed her main home – Windsor Castle. Not a good year by anyone’s standards! So how was 2015 for those living and trying to do Dave Buckley business in Thailand? Fairly indifferent, I think. looks back Several things happened that had the potential to on 2015 with deter tourists. The trial of the two men accused of the Koh Tao murders from 2014 rumbled on throughout the very mixed year and continued to attract media attention, especially emotions in the UK where the two dead backpackers hailed from. Then, of course, there was the bomb explosion in Bangkok in which 20 innocent people died. Not exactly guaranteed to entice tourists, huh? And just last month an insensitive police chief put the rape of a British woman in Chiang Mai down to her being “drunk and senseless” and said that the bar she was drinking in had stayed open too late. So can we conclude that if the bar had shut on time this incident wouldn’t have happened? Lob in the rouble dropping in value thus meaning many Russians could not visit here. Add a decline in investment from outside the country due to perceived political uncertainty and the picture doesn’t look too bright. But, hey, what’s going on here? Isn’t this magazine meant to talk things up ... even when the outlook is bleak? Well, we don’t live in a vacuum and this magazine is not immune to the problems affecting others. That admitted, can we think of anything positive to say? Sure, no problem. First let’s all remind ourselves that as certain as eggs is eggs what goes down must come up. It’s just a fact of business life. Pattaya will recover from set-backs. It always has and always will. Why? Because when you strip all the bad news away it’s still a nice place to be. The beach and the sea aren’t about to disappear any time soon. Do a poll among the foreigners who call Pattaya home and ask them: Do you still want to stay here? My hunch is that most people will say “yes” because they continue to prefer being here to “back home”, wherever that is. For all its flaws Pattaya is still preferable to many other spots on the world map. There’s no denying that plans are being developed to make Pattaya an easier place to get to. Highway 7 has been a great help for Pattaya and the new motorway will open up Jomtien and Na-Jomtien all the more. I’m especially enthused by what seems to be happening at U-Tapao arirport. At one time is was a case of “we’ll take you anywhere you like as long as it’s Samui or Phuket”. Now more and more routes are being added including Singapore and Macau. A new terminal is due to open there next year which makes U-Tapao a real positive in an otherwise ropey year. Merry Christmas everyone and a happy – and prosperous – new year!

3 REM 12/2015

Managing Director Dave Buckley Tel: 087 988 0799 dave@remthai.com

Our team

Since 2001 – Thailand’s first English language property magazine

contents • leisure

cover story

off-beat

A look behind the Riviera scenes

Flying Solo suits Harrison

47 • back in star wars: Harrison Ford has returned to Star Wars as Han Solo but the actor, who is an avid pilot, was not always so keen on the role.

Winston Gale, boss of the Riviera Group, is full of praise for all

16 • santa has an

his staff. This month we feature an interview with his wife Khun

official airport:

Sukanya who gets special endorsement from her husband.

And

other

such

official nonsense is examined by Dave Buckley who takes a swipe at the idea of many companies seeking

official

approval from others.

4 REM 12/2015

18 24

Bang Saray is on the up and The Willows is ready to benefit.

Construction costs are just tip of the iceberg according to O-I-A.

Coastal were one of

20 • an issan odyssey: Bart Walters takes a trip

the first to see potential

outside Pattaya to discover a little about the farming

of the Chinese market.

community that exists outside Fun City.

advertisers • page numbers

AAAA Property

Arise Asia

Arcadia Beach Continental (HH)

BBX Thailand

Biz House

Centara Avenue Residence & Suites (Tulip)

30-31

Centara Grand Hotel (Tulip) Inside back cover, 63 Centara Grand Residence (Tulip) The Orient (Matrix and Nova)

52-53 Card flap facing 41

Coastal Real Estate

Dusit Groups

Back cover

Euro Design

FARANG Services

4-5

Gio Home Kitchen

Global Property

Golden Tulip Hotel & Residence (Tulip) Green Field Villas 5

58-60

Hyla

Lake Side Court 5

Matrix Group Murphy’s Bar New Nordic

card flap facing 40 28 44-45, 56

North Beach (Nova)

Office for Interior & Architecture

Palm Drive

Pattaya Realty

PFS (Pattaya Foreigner Services)

39, 62

Real Estate Broker Association

76-77

Real Estate in Pattaya

Real Radio Thailand

Riviera, The – Jomtien

Riviera, The – Wongamat

Sands Condominium

Sedona Villas

Siam Oriental

inside front cover

Town & Country Property 6 REM 12/2015

8-9

Waterfront, The (Tulip Group) Willows, The

21 42-43 46

news • property

Savills make two appointments Savills Thailand are pleased to announce and welcome two appointments in the Savills Pattaya office effective from the 1st November. The first is the appointment of Mark Bowling, who assumes the role of associate director – head of Eastern Seaboard. Mark will lead the well established Savills property management business within Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard. Furthermore, he will be responsible for developing a team specialising in residential sales and leasing throughout the Eastern Seaboard.

Prior to joining Savills, Mark spent more than six years as associate director with Colliers International (Pattaya), successfully leading the firm to three consecutive wins as Best Agent (Eastern Seaboard) at the prestigious Thailand Property Awards in 2010, 2012 and 2013. Outstanding achiever He was also awarded a Colliers International Award of Excellence as an Outstanding Achiever in 2011. Mark is currently serving as Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT), Eastern

Seaboard and as a regional panel judge for the Thailand Property Awards. The second appointment is Warisa Raktham (Joy) who joins them as sales manager, Residential Sales & Leasing in Pattaya. Prior to joining Savills, Joy worked alongside Mark Bowling at Colliers International as sales manager having joined them a year earlier than Mark. Joy will be seeking new opportunities to develop their corporate leasing and residential sales. Savills intend to open a new office on the 1st Floor of Royal Garden Plaza towards the end of this month.

Top name hotel opening soon Executive team (from left): Banchong Banthuraprayuk (Pattaya City Council spokesman), Phornpinit Phornprapha (president and CEO of Siam@Chonburi Co Ltd), Dr Phornthep Phornprapha (president of Siam Motor Co Ltd), Andrew Langdon (senior vice-president Asia, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts), Hayden Edgtton (general manager, Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya). Below: The hotel is the slightly shorter of the two towers.

8 REM 12/2015

Benchmark has closed

Another prominent name on the city’s brokerage scene – Benchmark in Soi Post Office – has closed its doors and owner Gareth da Silva is believed to have returned to his native Sri Lanka. Benchmark was a member of the Real Estate Broker Association – Eastern Seaboard (REBA-ES). They will still feature in this issue’s brokers directory at the back of the magazine because it was pre-printed.

In the middle of this month the Swiss hotel management company, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, will bring their unique international standards to Na-Jomtien with the opening of Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya. Owned by Siam Motors Group, the hotel is, according to a spokesman, “poised to usher in a new era of upscale hospitality experiences on the pristine Na-Jomtien beach with an elite beachfront accommodation, gourmet cuisine and superb destination experiences such as yachting and island exploration”. Located next to Ocean Marina Yacht Club the 262-room resort is the first five-star beachfront property in Na-Jomtien as it leads a trend that is fast turning Pattaya into a supreme family-focused destination. “We are delighted to announce our opening in December (15th), our fifth hotel in Thailand,” said Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts senior vice-president Asia, Andrew Langdon. “We have a long and successful track record in Thailand and are firmly committed to the destination in the long term.” Siam Motor Group President and Siam at Chonburi Co., Ltd chairman, Dr Phornthep Phornprapha said at a press conference to announce the launch he is confident the destination will be an attractive draw, especially

with Mövenpick managing the hotel, as it is a brand that truly represents quality – a hallmark of Swiss hospitality – and one which would resonate well with guests. “Mövenpick is a high-quality international brand and in everything they do there is a natural sense of hospitality,” said Dr Phornthep. “This is efficient, consistent and creative, and a perfect match with genuine Thai service. Add to this the culinary flair of Mövenpick and we are very well suited.” Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya will offer spacious room accommodations, all with panoramic sunset views of the Gulf of Thailand. There are a total of three gourmet dining outlets and signature culinary services, such as the daily Chocolate Hour when complimentary Swiss chocolate is featured for guests to enjoy. An attractive outdoor lagoon pool lies in the midst of tropical gardens, with total rejuvenation to be found at Wave Spa. Also, the Kids’ Club provides a full range of fun and educational activities indoors and outdoors. Meanwhile, the hotel also offers a watersports centre, fully equipped fitness centre, golf concierge, island cruises, deep sea fishing tours and regional excursions.

www.coastalrealestatepattaya.com

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We have customers from around the world currently looking to buy or rent property in the Pattaya area.

If you have a property in the Pattaya area that you would like to sell or rent. We would like to list it on our website or feature it in our monthly newsletter.

Please contact us at:

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038-190-925 Mobile: 081-269-0742 (English) 080-222-4560 (Thai) 519/163-4 Moo 6, Siam Country Club

events • promotions

What a mix at Wonderfruit

12 REM 12/2015

t’s December and – as ever – the thoughts of foreigners and quite a few Thais (who like receiving gifts) turns to Christmas and the buildup to the New Year. But before that early in the month – on the 5th and 6th – the Thai Airways International Jet Ski World Cup 2015 will be held at Jomtien Beach. Close to the middle of the month there’s an event that has all the potential to dominate it – the Wonderfruit Festival – which will be held on land not far from the Siam Country Club Waterside golf course. Take the side road that runs next to the Bira Circuit and follow signposts. Wonderfruit lasts four days starting on the 17th. It’s a mixture of arts, music, good food, health and wellness, talks and workshops and natural adventures. Visitors will be able to camp there each night or bring your RVs (recreational vehicles). There is plenty for children to do and if you really want to make it an experience for the whole family you might even be able to buy a dog pass (no cats!). The number of musical acts is mind-blowing. Indeed the list of things you can do at Wonderfuit is way too long to try to do it justice on this page. When you have 15 minutes to spare (actually make that 25) visit www.wonderfruitfestival.com and take a browse through all the events. There are 10 different passes for visitors and the non-transferable wristband you will receive is your method of paying for things. No cash

will change hands though you will be able to “top-up” the wristband. Just to give you an idea on prices ... for an adult attending all four days the pass costs Bt5,500; for a family (two adults and two teenagers) the figure is Bt14,300 with Bt800 on top if you wish to bring the family hound along. Note dog numbers are limited. Six adults can attend for Bt28,050 and there are adult passes covering the Saturday and Sunday (Bt4,500) or just the Sunday (Bt3,500). Teenagers aged 12-20 will all enjoy reduced prices. Full ticket details from Thai Ticket Major. Unfortunately the time for registration has passed for the U-Tapao Ripley’s Run but spectators should have a spookily great time on Sunday December 13 from 4am through until 2pm. The event’s sub-title is Running With the Devil, and participants, many of them dressed in ghoulish zombie-like gear will set off from the airport and cover trails close to it. The term running scared takes on a new meaning. Just about every hotel and major restaurant in the city will be holding special events relating to Christmas and the New Year. Mantra, for example, will be hosting three big events – Christmas Eve six-course set dinner for Bt2,999++; Christmas Day Brunch for Bt1,999++ (wine brunch is

 The Wonderfruit Festival will offer an opportunity to chill out and get back to nature for four days out near the Siam Country Club Waterside golf course.  Running scared on the trails around U-Tapao airport. Fun runners try to put the frighteners on fellow participants.  Concerts will be held to welcome in 2016 at Bali Hai Pier.

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.

extra Bt1,490++); plus a Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve Party for Bt4,299. All prices are for adults. Children aged between 6-12 are approximately half price and kids under 6 eat free. It seems Boxing Day (the day after Christmas Day for those who do not hail from British Commonwealth countries) will come early this year because a Charity White Collar Boxing Event will be held at the Pattaya Boxing World Stadium on December 12 staring at 6pm. Tickets at Bt1,000 each are available from many venues including Alcatraz, Crystal Club, Retox Sports Bar, Pattaya People’s office, Legends, Megabreak, Paradise, Sportsman Pub and Nightwish Bar. The evening is presented by Silverback Promotions and the main beneficiary will be the Hand to Hand Foundation. By the way the “boxing” of Boxing Day has nothing to do with pugilism. It refers to gift boxes that employers traditionally hand out to their staff. Glad the tradition has not caught on here! From Christmas Day through to the end of the year events will be held as part of Pattaya Countdown 2016. As is customary these will staged at the Bali Hai Pier close to the end of Walking Street. There will be a fair all week long with merchants selling delicious foods from all over Thailand as well as souvenirs and crafts all along Beach Road. However, the main highlights are the many concerts from famous Thai artists and celebrities. Have a good Christmas and New Year everyone!

cover story • dave buckley

Driving force behind the scenes in Riviera Group Boss Winston Gale has nothing but praise for his team – especially his wife!

14 REM 12/2015

Opening night of Riviera Jomtien with The Palm partners.

Winston and Sukanya at The Palm, their first Pattaya project.

ften in commercial life it’s easy to overlook the real workings of a business and all the things that contribute to making it successful – usually the people in the background making things tick. Whenever I speak to Winston Gale, the head of The Riviera Group, he is always quick to praise his strong team that works with him towards the same end goal. But when you scratch the surface a little more and ask him to name names, his praise very often turns in the direction of his wife, Sukanya. “If there is a smarter, more hard working woman around, I’ve not met her yet,” said a proud Winston. “She really is one of a kind.” Asked about her role, he laughs then states: “Well, where to begin, pretty much everything. There simply isn’t anything she doesn’t do and do very well. “Since The Palm started in 2010, she has been at the very nerve centre of it all. She’s worked with our banks, City Hall, EIA, architects and every other consultant imaginable and there are so many.

“Then she’s built and shaped the sales and marketing teams, the construction teams and liaised with every building supplier imaginable. “If that doesn’t sound like much, she’s also contributed heavily on design ideas as well as holding the complete three projects accounting teams together – that’s a combined value of more than Bt10bn-worth of real estate business. And just to round things off, she’s still a dedicated mum to three children.” Almost unreal even for the most energetic and talented of us out there? But this is not the first time I have heard Winston and members of the team talking about Sukanya so warmly and, this time, so frankly. “Such is the contribution she makes, the Riviera Group would not be where it is today without her,” he continued. Key player So she is a key player in the success of the Riviera Group so far? “Definitely and without question. You can’t just talk about The Riviera Group. She’s been key many times in The Palm, too – hence me talking

Setting out The Riviera Showroom.

Model shoot for billboards.

about three projects. There are so many complications and generally difficult problems to solve on a dayto-day basis,” Winston replied. “Add to this that Thais also have their own delicate way of sorting out problems, circumnavigating them and coming to a satisfactory end for different parties with different agendas. She has been our ‘fix-it’ person so many times, for many years now on some very potentially tricky issues. “For example, it took us eight months to get our Bt800m loan for The Palm. What no one knew was that she was the lead negotiator during those months, helping me get the deal over the line which wasn’t easy in any way whatsoever.” So she really is the power behind the developer assisting you in what seems like everything? “Precisely. One day she may go out there and do her own development without me,” Winston said laughing. So how really did all this evolve and come about? Best to go ask the lady herself! Overleaf is a rare interview with Khun Sukanya Gale.

Sukanya Gale at the Riviera Wongamat showroom she helped design.

15 REM 12/2015

Central Festival opening with daughter and brand ambassador Kathy.

cover story • dave buckley

Being interviewed in the showroom for The Riviera, Wongamat.

Long busy days...

When it comes to the design part,

16 REM 12/2015

REm: I hear you are a very busy lady Khun Sukanya, how did all this start for you? Sukanya Gale: Very busy yes, seven days a week I guess, but I do enjoy it. It all started when Winston and I had a small old villa on the beachfront to sell The Palm out of. We had no systems in place, very few staff and then CBRE came on board but kind of did their own thing. It was hard to organise and manage to start with but the opportunity was there and together we shaped that small villa to contain a small team with two laptops, two desks and a lot of passion. Motivated by passion REm: So you are motivated by the passion for this business then? SG: Definitely. I always loved real estate, but when I got the opportunity to get involved at the very heart of it, from the developer’s viewpoint, it gave me more and more hunger to learn the business in as much detail as possible. I was lucky in that I had Winston to learn from, but the speed that everything moved by was such that, if I hadn’t learned quickly, I would have got left behind. As the months went by, the project and stages just kept changing, the pace of it was incredible. I identified that he really needed my assistance

from the beginning with so much that could go wrong with the language difference. I was just pleased I was there at the time. REm: What were your earliest memories of cutting your teeth in this business? SG: Well, after watching Winston spend almost three hard years trying to get The Palm started, at the time, it was just very exciting seeing it finally launch and how quickly it sold. Every day presented new challenges and we were working at home usually after midnight most evenings. It was almost all new to me and very different compared to what I’d done before. I remember particularly the first Siam Paragon Luxury Exhibition we attended in 2011 where we spent the entire night setting up the booth. In those days, it was all very new and interesting to see how exhibitions are put together. The next day I remember trying to encourage Winston to join the other developers on stage in the evening’s opening ceremony, but we were both exhausted having had no sleep for two nights. Since then, we have done many more exhibitions through the night but you remember the first high profile one the most. REm: I remember the Riviera Jomtien

I identified that he really needed my assistance from the beginning with so much that could go wrong with the language difference. I was just pleased i was there at the time.

Exhibition in Central Beach, Pattaya. Was that the same kind of experience? SG: Yes. We went to Bangkok many times to help organise and personally design the booth and then it took us two full nights to set up in Central, Pattaya. Fortunately the event was a huge success, but it was even harder for me personally as I had only left hospital two months earlier having giving birth to our third child, our daughter. A workaholic? REm: I recall the first Movers & Shakers Riviera hosted at the Holiday Inn. Both you and Winston were noticeably absent and then it was announced the two of you couldn’t attend as you were in hospital having your daughter. So you really are a workaholic then? SG: I guess so, yes. It’s a family business though so I support Winston every way I can. That really was a big exhibition in Central and again on the night, we were both completely exhausted mentally and physically but we managed to smile for the cameras anyway on the opening evening, hiding how we really felt. REm: So you are deeply involved in the accounting side of the business as well as the design side. In fact, according to Winston, you’re involved in pretty

Sukanya with the model for The Riviera Jomtien.

At The Palm showroom in 2011.

I think I enjoy that the most ....

From within I learned quite early on and quickly that if you want something a little special, a bit different, you won’t get it from designers you employ. You only get it from within yourself, given that’s where the deep passion to succeed comes from. We both love design anyway so it’s an enjoyable hobby to develop as time goes by being ready for the next design challenge that comes along. REm: So why have we not heard much

about you before until now? Why stay quietly in the shadows so much? SG: I’m not one for attention. I just like to build teams and get the job done supporting the team all the time. I did an interview for a Thai magazine a few months ago and the whole Riviera team were really thrilled to see me in a magazine spread, which really surprised me, as I hadn’t thought about what I do in that way. They’re now trying to encourage me to come out more which is why I’m doing this now. REm: Given your contribution to the company seems vast, it’s surprising that the property market really knows little about you until now perhaps. SG: That’s been deliberate from my point of view. Winston has long encouraged me to be less quiet and more outspoken about my passion for what I do, but I’m quite happy being myself. We are very similar. We like to let our actions speak louder than our words. It’s easy to say this and that; it’s a lot harder to actually walk the talk. Someone said to me recently that we really do run a family business and that they could see a family spirit in all we do. I felt proud when I heard that kind of feedback as, in reality, it’s true. I think I realised then that maybe it was okay to occasionally do the odd interview as I represent the

These are high quality furniture pieces which you can see in our showrooms. They were quite hard to find which makes the packages quite special compared to the fully furnished packages you often see.

team also and they want to see this from time to time from me. REm: Maybe Winston’s right, credit where credit is due. It’s okay being the silent type, but nice to get credit for all that you do from time to time isn’t it? SG: Well, yes, true. The people that matter to me already know and that’s enough for me”. Luxury furniture package REm: The front cover of this month’s magazine says you’re letting buyers buy the luxury furniture. Am I safe in assuming you hand-select the pieces together then? SG: Yes, we did it together. It took along time and yes, we are now offering fully furnished packages with all rear units now in The Riviera Jomtien. These are high quality furniture pieces which you can see in our showrooms. They were quite hard to find which makes the packages quite special compared to the usual fully furnished packages you often see.” Well, it was pleasure interviewing a woman with such humility. There is no shortage of egos in the property game. Certainly it’s not so obvious discovering how things are done, sometimes secondguessing is the best one can do. At least the next time I see a Riviera billboard (and there are many), I will know more about how things came about in their property world.

17 REM 12/2015

much everything. Is there any part of the business you prefer to work in? SG: I enjoy it all to be honest, but when it comes to the design part, I think I enjoy that the most. We have often had certain design and landscaping ideas, which seemed too difficult to do at the time, but then when we managed to do them, it was incredibly rewarding. I still love accounting, but with design, I can get to see ideas come to life. REm: So when we see these showrooms, marketing materials and gardens, there’s a lot of you in all these and not just the work of designers and, of course, Winston? SG: Yes. We bounce ideas off each other and enjoy building those ideas. It doesn’t always work out great to begin with but somehow we end up making it work.

one man’s view • dave buckley

the buck stops here ... a random selection of stuff and nonsense (Pt 1)

Santa’s official airport

18 REM 12/2015

Home for Christmas, I’m thinking I’m giving some serious thought to going back to England for Christmas and the New Year. Are you glad that I shared that with you? I suspect not. Among the reasons is the fact that Christmas in Thailand does not work for me. Popping down to 7-11 on Christmas Day in your shorts and flip flops is just a no-no. You have to plan your purchases at least a week in advance and go shopping in Tesco’s at 2 in the morning in the (stupid) belief that the check-out queues will be more manageable. The clothes you go shopping in must include at least two jumpers, one of which can be removed when inside the store. On Christmas Day the roads are deserted by midday and everyone eats and drinks too much while watching repeats of Only Fools and Horses on the telly. Ah Christmas in England. It’s the only thing I miss.

or the life of me I don’t know how I happened across this morsel of useless information but it appears that Santa Claus has an official airport – Rovaniemi in Finland. Were you aware of this? No? Nor was I. Apparently the Arctic Circle passes through its runway, but I saw no mention of when sleigh flights take off. One to look up on Expedia, maybe? I mention this not because I wish to criticise my Finnish friends. Indeed, given that even at my ripe old age I remain something of a fan of Mr Claus, I quite like the idea of him having an airport. However, I wish to explore the modern day concept of describing anything as being “official” to another thing, product or individual. Somewhere in the mix I suspect royal families must take part of the “blame”. In the UK, for example, Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to tradespeople who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The royal warrant enables the supplier to advertise that they supply goods to the issuer; thus conveying prestige to the supplier. Example? Well let’s look at mustard. In 1866 Coleman’s was granted the Royal Warrant

as manufacturers of mustard to Queen Victoria. Her Majesty’s household still uses Colman’s today. You can see the Royal crest towards the top of the tin pictured above. Being able to claim you are the official supplier of the Queen’s mustard is okay, though a tad bizarre. But now, being “official” has gone just crazy. Official carrier? Let’s look at some examples. Manchester United have a five year deal going with Russian Airline Aeroflot who they describe as their official carrier. What tosh! The wording on the official United website says that Aeroflot will “provide the (then) English Premier League champions with strategic advice on travel for the team and club representatives”. Aeroflot can’t fly United anywhere (perhaps with the

exception of their recent trip to play CSKA Moscow) but they will offer advice. How does that make them an official carrier? Travel adviser? Perhaps. Carrier? No way! If the club were to sign up with, say, British Airways, who would be able to fly them to many places, I could understand it. Did you know that Chelsea football club have an official supplier of formal wear until next year? Doesn’t exactly set the pulse racing, does it? Yes Hackett London produce the players’ suits for when they need to be suited and booted. Wimbledon tennis has a whole host of official suppliers, many of which make more sense than Aeroflot’s relationship with Man U. As part of the longest partnership in sporting goods history (since 1902) Slazenger are the suppliers of the balls. Robinson’s squash has been the official soft drink since 1935. Other officials include IBM for IT, Hertz, Lanson Champagne, HSBC Bank, Evian Water, Jacob’s Creek Wine, Lavazza Coffee, Jaguar and Land-Rover and they even have an official beer, Stella Artois that well known English (sorry, Belgian, but made under licence in UK) brand. Has the world gone crazy – officially?

More on Page 40

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special report • dave buckley

Why Bang Saray is on

20 REM 12/2015

aybe the weather was trying to tell me something a few weeks back. I was sitting in the restaurant close to the northernmost end of Bang Saray’s beach road in bright sunshine but when I looked down the coast to my right Pattaya had a big black cloud hanging over it and the city was being deluged by rain. Of course, the good thing about black clouds is that after a while they move on, but it did set me thinking. Is the sun shining on the Bang Saray area just now, I mused? From a limited and none-too-scientific survey of the area it would appear that the answer is: “Yes”. Housing projects are cropping up with great frequency and condos close to the beach are gaining interest as the Pattaya shoreline fills up. I was sitting in the restaurant having a late lunch after meeting Adam Rhodes who is the managing director and Atirach Amornpansiri, head of sales for The Willows project in Bang Saray. I chatted with Adam about the positives of the area and we concluded that there were quite a few already with more around the corner. But more about them shortly.

The Willows lies inland from the beach in the shadow of picturesque hills not far from the Plutaluang (Navy) course which many golfers will be familiar with. Driving from Pattaya you take a left turn at the Che junction and travel three kilometres before hanging a right. Travel 300 metres down on the right and you’re there. It’s a quiet spot completely suited to those who have enjoyed the best (and worst) of downtown Pattaya and are looking to stay close to the city but not too close.

Developers

Three house types The Willows has three house types, each with the option to have a pool added to any of the 22 plots. The showroom is for the single storey three-bedroom villa. In addition there is a five-bedroom twostorey design or a townhouse option with three bedrooms. The townhouse has a starting price of Bt3.9m sitting on 42.5tlw rising to Bt10.75m for the largest two-storey on 165tlw. Both prices are for unfurnished. Add Bt1m to the townhouse, Bt1.2m for the single storey and Bt1.5m to the two-storey for fully furnished options. “People like what they see so we

interest.

of The Willows are ready to offer 50 per cent finance over three years at 0 per cent

Want to know more? You can contact Adam on 092 472 5743 or Atirach on 089 249 7047 for Thai speakers. Email: info@willowsbang saray.com. Web: www.willowsbang saray.com.

favour selling the plots furnished, but we have retained the unfurnished option,” said Adam. The furnished villas include a pool, a kitchen, air conditioning units, built-in wardrobes and tropical plants in the landscaping. The Willows sits opposite another housing project and prospective buyers tend to visit both. Adam is happy when this happens – especially if the house hunters visit across the road first. “We feel the quality of what we offer here compares very favourably,” said Adam. “We use the best materials at The Willows and we try to make things as maintenance-free as possible. Our designs are built to last.” In the showhouse the room sizes are generous. The en suite in the master bedroom even features a bespoke built-in bench unit with towel rack and sink. One of the most distinctive features of the showhouse is its stunning outside lounge/dining area which has an unsupported cantilevered roof, thus eliminating any structural pillars creating a larger open space for entertaining around the pool. Its positioning means more room in the combined lounge and kitchen.

the up Area positives And what of the positives of the immediate area mentioned earlier? “We are about 30 minutes away from Pattaya here,” said Adam. “The rapidly developing U-Tapao airport is a mere 15 minutes in the opposite direction. “We are surrounded by stunning beaches, golf courses and The Cartoon Network water park is minutes away and another water park is being built near Silverlakes which in itself is an attraction. Nong Nooch gardens are close, too. I also find it encouraging that a new BMW-Mini dealership has been set up close by!” The Willows will occupy seven rai and the developer holds many other plots in the area which are likely to be progressed further down the line. “You could draw the conclusion we are very committed to – and believe in – the future of the Bang Saray area,” Adam added. |

21 REM 12/2015

All the units in this round-the-clock CCTV-protected, gated community have a very modern, retro look. If you are in a position to put 50 per cent of the asking price down the developers will fund the balance over three years at 0 per cent interest.

irregular columnist • bart walters

American journalist, licensed realtor and property investor Bart Walters has lived in Thailand for more than 13 years, in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya. Bart publishes his inside views on the Thailand property market in various print and online publications including International Living and Escape From America. He can be contacted at bkkbart@gmail.com

Issan Odyssey

Thailand’s all right once you get past city limits

22 REM 12/2015

while back I wrote an article called “The Other 92 per cent” about what else is going on in Thailand besides tourism. Sometimes here in Pattaya Paradise we get tunnel-vision about how things are going. I’ve never met a business owner of any description in this city that was getting the amount of business they wanted. The chant, “economy no good … mai mee customer” has been going on for decades. Tourist-farang The other month I broke out of our little farang bubble and ventured into real Thailand for the first time in more than 10 years. What I observed was uplifting. My position on the “How Thai are you living?” curve was recently brought to my attention when my

on-again-off-again wife pointed out that in 10 years of tumultuous enchantment, I had never made the trip up-country to meet her family. (I know … it’s like a really predictable movie plot … but hang with me.) She called me a “tourist-farang”. My expatriate pride severely injured, I was easily drawn into her trap. If I never see her face again, I just can’t let her go around saying that I am a “tourist- farang”. I rented a Toyota Fortuner, loaded up with a girly-music playlist, bottled water and an assortment of Thai snacks. Then we set off on a three-day Issan Odyssey; my ex-wife, her 18-year-old daughter, and one broken-hearted friend just along for the ride. What could be better? As the driver, I was immediately impressed by how good the roads are all the way to what should be no-man’s land. I live here in Pattaya

All morning I was amazed by a sixlane asphalt ribbon cutting through the verdant countryside.

Pictured: A rice paddy and road alongside it in Chayapum.

… a resort city of more than a million people and our roads don’t compare to some I drove upcountry. All morning I was amazed by a six-lane asphalt ribbon cutting through the verdant countryside. And the people … Thailand is packed with people. Where I come from, you can drive from state to state witnessing miles and miles of absolutely nothing; truly vast expanses of wilderness. Not in Issan Not in Issan, buddy. The hustle and bustle started in Bowin just outside Pattaya and did not stop. We drove five hours to Buriram, in the heart of Thailand’s agricultural breadbasket, and never … ever … were we out of touch with a village or town full of living and working people. Now I know where most of

24 REM 12/2015

irregular columnist • bart walters

the population of 70 million lives. One bustling place after another, separated by big rice fields and cassava plantations, Thailand seems fully occupied. The closer we got to Buriram, the more industry I saw. There were three massive cassava processing facilities, a big paper mill, several concrete plants and dozens of small industrial parks housing one type of assembly plant or another. Once we arrived in the village, the neighbours dropped by one by one, according to their status. The grandma was appropriately placed on a pedestal and the little children were entertained by the great farang bear. When we went to the market to buy food for dinner, a shopping party of five was called for. Hey, when you live in an Issan village, that trip might be the highlight of the week. The market was hopping and full of people at 2 in the afternoon. We shopped for fresh everything while withstanding a serenade of Issan music blasting from two-metre high speakers. So, we spent Bt700 at the open air market and Bt300 at the beer store. The spread we put out fed 13 people with pork left over for the rice porridge in the morning. When was the last time you had a threehour dinner party for 13 people and it cost you less than US$30?

My sometimes in-laws all sat in a circle chattering about their respective enterprise. Sister and brother-in law own about 300 rai of cassava, mangoes and now making a go of a Tahitian lime grove. The little brother and wife both full time employees at a sugar cane processor running three shifts a few kilometres away. The golden nephew is fresh out of university working as a junior engineer at a vehicle assembly plant. And grandma just stays home and watches all the children.

When was

Village awake We were awakened at 5:30 by the village loudspeakers playing more kooky Issan music followed by some old guy talking about the market price of cassava, and then more mind jangling Issan music. After the morning announcements, all I could hear was roosters crowing and tractors making their way down the road to the farm. The village was awake; the day had begun. And virtually everyone was going off to work. The next day we drove three and a half hours to Chayapum dropping off my step-daughter, the depressed friend and meeting more grandparents. All the old Thai ladies in the neighborhood had to come check me out. They said I

30 dollars

the last time you had a three-hour dinner party for 13 people and it cost you less than

US?

Pictured: A dinner fit for 13 people and the Pattaya sunset that greeted our return to Pattaya Paradise.

was handsome and had nice skin … compliments I cherish. Once again I was shocked at the amount of industry and business that go on in Thailand. It seems there is no place in this country you will not see a semi-tractor trailer or cement mixer. In the morning we ate fried chicken for breakfast and grandma loaded us up with mangoes, okra and two dozen eggs … because she has a chicken farm. The come-and-go wife and I sorted some issues one-on-one during the seven-hour drive home. The words “tourist” and “farang” were conspicuously absent from our conversations. Seafood sunset We ended up eating seafood at sunset on the beach back in Pattaya and reflecting on what we had seen. First of all, I’ve never actually gone 72 hours without seeing a single foreigner or speaking English. It was strangely liberating. I don’t know what I expected. What I found was a whole bunch of friendly people, working hard, eating well and sleeping sound at night. Nobody seems to be living in “poverty”. For sure no one is hungry. I am happy to report back to the good folks of Pattaya World: “It’s all right out there”. Bart Walters Jomtien Beach

MBA-IB ,CIPS , CRS

Negotiate price & Investment

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green issues • office for interior & architecture (O-I-A)

After a break of a few months REm owner Dave Buckley has resumed the series of articles in which he talks to Elmar Kleiner (right), the head of the Office for Interior & Architecture company, about how green issues can, or should, influence modern architecture and how we live. Here we look at project sustainability.

Construction costs just tip of iceberg

26 REM 12/2015

can’t claim to know Elmar Kleiner, the boss of the Office for Interior & Architecture (O-I-A) company, especially well. But he strikes me as the kind of man who would do MENSA tests just to give his grey matter a bit of a workout. As he puts it: “Some people shy away from addressing problems of a complex nature. For me, it’s fun!” We were discussing how many projects in Thailand seem to suffer because the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. “Taking a holistic approach to putting together a project is not all that new to those from Western cultures,” said Elmar. “But here in South-East Asia the practices have evolved differently over time.” He went on to list a whole host of experts who have become part of the process here in Thailand. He said: “There is little doubt buildings have become much more complex than in the past. At one time, in Europe, a good architect could cover most of what was needed. Not any more except, perhaps with a very small project.” Elmar’s company holds the strong belief that the best results for an enterprise will be achieved when conducting professional services step-by-step following the idea of

Holistic Integrated Planning and Implementation (HIPI). Elmar says: “A holistic project requires the co-ordinated integration of the various disciplines ideally supervised by a Holistic Integrated Services (HIS) manager – something that is not very popular in Thailand. “The HIS manager would supervise master planning, architecture, engineering, landscape design, interior design, lighting design, project management, quantity surveying, construction management and construction implementation, including post-construction services.” Solid foundation According to O-I-A’s philosophy the Holistic Integrated Project Process is a solid foundation and is a must when looking at the long-term costs of a sustainable business. Life Cycle Cost (LCC) planners are responsible for a substantial investment into a building’s implementation and even much more its operation over its lifetime. Elmar said: “Our goal is to optimise value for money over a project’s lifetime, thus help clients and users with their investments in the right place and at the right time. “Consequentially an essential part of our services is a life cycle

Some people shy away from addressing problems of a complex nature. For me, it’s fun!

cost analysis (LCCA), which is a tool looking at the cost of a project over its lifetime. Important in this context is to understand that the construction of a building accounts for only 10-40 per cent of its cost over lifetime (see also REm January). The majority of cost is operation and that is what we aim to reduce significantly.” He went on: “A very easy to relate to – and equally successful example – is one of our refurbishment projects, a private beachfront apartment of approximately 200sqm, where the electricity bill of the previous owner was sometimes in excess of Bt10,000 per month. “By improving shading and cross ventilation with a more open plan, alteration of window openings and energy saving appliances (LED light, water heating, multi-inverter air conditioning system, and the like) we managed to save more than 60 per cent of the electric bill (under frequent use of air conditioning) and even more than 90 per cent when making smart use of the improved natural ventilation and ceiling fans instead of mechanical air conditioning 24/7.” Next month: Passive and Active Design Criteria.

health • dr iain corness

Dr Iain Corness (left) 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.

Alzheimer’s: All hope is not lost

28 REM 12/2015

have stopped worrying about Alzheimer’s Disease. I discovered some years ago that between Google and my then nine-year-old daughter, I could find anything. In the mornings when I left home, there is Little Miss, with index finger outstretched, showing me just where I parked the car last night. And Google, the patron saint of writers, is always there to remind me of the words I had forgotten. Now all I have to do is get my brain hot-wired into a wireless network and I can meet the world head on. However, we’re not quite there yet, so we (you and me) we have to retain as much cerebral function as we can. And it turns out that it is not all that difficult. We have known for some time that if you don’t use your muscles, they waste away. By not using your hands for physical work, the skin on your hands gets thin. However, we also know that

Enter Modafinil. This is a ‘wakefulness’ drug which appears to be able to stimulate the brain. It may be the answer we are looking for.

if you use your muscles again, the muscle tissue builds up and becomes strong once more. If you use your hands again, the skin builds up and becomes thicker. The message is that all is not lost! Recovery is possible. However, we were always told that the one organ of the body that could not reverse the wasting process was the Central Nervous System. Once it started to fail, that was it. Dementia was just around the corner. Results comforting That view has recently been challenged and the results are comforting, to say the least. Tests have been carried out that show that when stress is induced in an animal it results in chemicals being released. This on its own was nothing new, but what was new was the fact that some of these chemicals produced a difference in the brain’s anatomy! The idea that the brain could not

change was incorrect! It could be ‘short-circuited’ resulting in a new wiring pathway. What was even more exciting was that if the animal was restored to its own ‘safe’ and nonthreatening environment, then the brain reverted to its pre-stressed anatomy! It was possible to ‘rewire’ the brain. In turn this has led to much research into the effects of stress and its reversal, and then on to Alzheimer’s Disease (if I have remembered to spell it correctly)! And now it seems possible for its reversal too! Enter Modafinil. This is a ‘wakefulness’ drug which appears to be able to stimulate the brain. It may be the answer we are looking for. Not available in Thailand, but my overseas contacts are raving about it. I’ll let you know when I’ve managed to get a trial arranged!

EY house

Security

hyla • advertorial

Hyla – a breath of clean air!

Air washing machine A Hyla cleaner doesn’t simply suck up dirt and dog hairs. It also serves to clean the air. One promotional video I saw for it described it as an “air washing machine” ... but don’t go looking for where to put the powder and conditioner in. Although you are urged to add some great fragrances to the water. Larus, along with his wife Bualian Kantiwong, is in the early stages of setting up Hyla in Thailand. Hyla

operates on what many of us would describe as a franchise system. Larus and Bualian are, for want of a better term, the franchisees of Hyla for the kingdom. “At present we are looking to set up distribution points around Thailand and to recruit sales people for our products,” he said. “It’s early days here, but I headed the set-up of Hyla in Denmark and I am confident we can enjoy similar success in Thailand.” Larus is an Icelander. A carpenter by trade. But it was when he was recovering after a construction accident that he became involved with Hyla. “A friend asked me to help him with his Hyla sales,” said Larus. “I saw a demo of what the machine can do and I was hooked.” Larus gave me a bit of a demo. At times I thought I was witnessing some form of conjuring trick as filters were inserted here, there and everywhere to show, among other things, just how much dust and other unpleasantness is in the air we breathe. Once you see what the machine is capable of it is very difficult to say “no” to it. What right-thinking person, when shown a filter full of dust and another with nothing on it is going to choose the dust-filled one? “I’m happy that the air I’m breathing is full of dust,” is just not a sane response. The success of Hyla is very much based on word of mouth testimonials. They don’t go in for big

 Larus with his wife Bualian.

 Combatting the dust mites that lurk in the home.

 Hyla also markets an Water Air Freshener which removes fine dust, gases, animal and other bad smells, allergens and mites. Hyla says it supports the health of adults, children and allergy sufferers and enables people to beathe deeply again while making the room fragrant.

ad campaigns, they do go in for inhome demonstrations. At present Larus is looking into offering vouchers that will give prospective clients a free vacuum for a single bed mattress. “Beds are real breeding grounds for dust mites and other bugs the eye cannot see. We shed a lot of skin while simply lying in bed for them to feed off,” said Larus. See the results He is happy to give away a mattress cleaning demonstration because he is confident that when folk see the results the machine will pretty much sell itself. Larus likes people to have a demonstration first and talk prices afterwards. “It’s important that people see how much the Hyla can do to improve the quality of the air they breathe and, therefore, how much healthier they can be,” he said. He believes his products can be life changers for those who buy them but also for those who sell them. “We are looking to recruit people who really want to change their lives. We feel our commission structure is generous and selling Hyla can be a real game changer.” In future issues we will look in a little more depth at the health aspects of Hyla. l If you want to know more ring the office in Soi Khao Noi on +66 (0)38 376 337 or email: hylagroupthailand@ gmail.com.

31 REM 12/2015

hen I asked Larus Palmi Magnusson who is the target audience for the Hyla products he aims to market in Thailand I received an answer I wasn’t expecting – “everyone who breathes,” he said. His demeanour was very dead pan. Not a hint of flippancy. I was waiting for him to say farangs or hi-so Thais or something similar but “everyone who breathes” was his answer and for the next few paragraphs I will attempt to tell you why. First I need to explain as best as I can what Hyla is about. The company was set up a quarter of a century ago and now is represented in 65 countries worldwide. At its core Hyla is an air and room cleaning system. Its flagship product looks awfully like a vacuum cleaner and can act as a vacuum cleaner but to describe it as such is only to scratch the surface.

mystery columnist • our man at large

A the year draws to a close we asked our mystery correspondent to reflect on the ups and downs of 2015. “Don’t make it too despondent,” we told him. He didn’t!

That was the year that was

ith another year drawing to a close we can look back at 2015 here in Pattaya and, without too much “spin”, we can probably take quite a few positives from it. It is certainly fair to say that with the falling Russian rouble plus the rapidly falling price of oil towards the end of the previous year, 2015 had everyone fearing the worst. While the number of Russians coming to Pattaya in particular, and Thailand in general, has fallen significantly those of the Chinese have more than made up for them.

34 REM 12/2015

Brits coming The next bit of good news on the increasing number of visitors coming to Pattaya came in the form of the Brits, who according to some reports, have increased by around 58 per cent from the previous year! How much faith we can put in

I don’t think I have seen people posting positive remarks on Facebook about Immigration before this year. Work on the Sukhumvit ‘flood system’ aka the tunnel into Pattaya Central. viewed from the footbridge.

these figures is perhaps another question but I think those of us from Blighty can take some form of pride from the fact we came over just when we were needed. Were I writing this after downing several beers I might even say that we “saved” the situation, but given that the number of Chinese tourists is quoted at 2.2 million and the number of Brits is 43,000 – that might be over-egging the custard! So what improvements have we seen in and around Pattaya? Dependent on your viewpoint many people believe the changes on Jomtien Beach Road are improvements. Although some of the older trees have been removed which is definitely a shame the area will be far easier to walk along. Other improvements include those to the 90-day reporting process at Immigration. This used to a process that used to fill people with dread, but it seems our friends down at Jomtien Soi 5 appear to have got

their act together and made it rather less painful. I don’t think I have seen people posting positive remarks on Facebook about Immigration before this year! Flocking in Infrastructure in and around Pattaya has started to improve. U-Tapao is soon to become Bangkok’s third airport, making it easier for people to get to Pattaya and businesses are going to appreciate this so they will be flocking in. The long-awaited high-speed rail link between Bangkok and Rayong (but passing through Pattaya) has been well … err … discussed and allegedly agreed upon. That on top of the fast tracks that are being made with the Sukhumvit ‘flood system’ (the tunnel into Central) means things are certainly starting to look promising. We have been told the levels of corruption in country have fallen during 2015. The figures for this

36 REM 12/2015

mystery columnist • our man at large

were given to the TV presenter announcing it on the back of a brown envelope so we are all relieved about that. In fairness, the new ‘government’ does appear to be making attempts to reduce corruption so this should certainly be applauded. The value of the baht has also fallen against many currencies this year making the goods that foreigners buy in Thailand cheaper. Obviously you need to be bringing money in from overseas for this to be the case, but you get the idea! In 2015 the Thai economy has grown and apparently the country is fast turning into a developed country – something that I think most of us who have been here for any length of time can certainly see. Maybe the combination of these factors is why Pattaya is still a very popular destination and somewhere that many people from around the world want to come to. Another possible reason why people probably want to come to Pattaya – and something that is a major positive for me in 2015 – is that beer prices have remained largely unchanged!

Water ‘tube guns’ – hopefully a thing of the past.

Another possible reason why people probably want to come to Pattaya – and something that is a major positive for me in 2015 – is that beer prices have remained largely unchanged!

This may not be across the board but in the places that I drink they certainly have and for this I am truly grateful! I am not sure why my bar bills have increased but it is clearly unrelated to the price of beer! Songkran, now there is another positive for Pattaya in 2015. As always people came to Pattaya in their droves to celebrate the main days and most bars felt the benefit. End of tube guns Like pretty much every other Songkran it was a very wet affair but one real positive I took from it was the fact that they had finally decided to ban the ‘tube guns’ that were quietly frankly dangerous. Let’s hope that this move continues into the 2016 celebrations. Loosely connected to Songkran is the news that Thailand is using rainmaking planes to solve the problems with water shortages. This type of plane has been judged as ineffective by most other countries but anyone who was in Bangkok or Pattaya in September or October could quite clearly see that they were working given the torrential rain and flooding we had.

I must admit I didn’t see any of the planes over the skies of Pattaya though but what else could have caused the rains? Whatever anyone thinks or whatever some people might say we always have good weather here in Pattaya – well certainly better than in Northern Europe. Regardless of the year I know that this is where I would want to be and I think that most ‘long termers’ would probably feel the same way. We are sure to have the ups and downs and that some years are going to better than others, but allin-all 2015 hasn’t been a bad year for many of us. As always space is running short. I hope that you have enjoyed my slightly tongue-in-cheek review of the past year and have maybe had a little smile at some of the things that have gone off. It is sometimes too easy to remember the bad things and forget the good, but we are living in great part of the world and most of us feel lucky to be here. I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a prosperous New Year! So until next time, keep enjoying the Land of Smiles.

motoring • dr iain corness

Will Mobileye save me?

38 REM 12/2015

I have just fitted a Mobileye system to my daily driver, as part of an on-going test for the next couple of months. So what’s a Mobileye? It is a box of electrotrickery which looks down the

road, with the same point of view as me as I view the road from the driver’s seat. The difference between it and me, is that it has been preprogrammed to warn me of

danger situations, such as me moving out of my lane without indicating, travelling too close to the vehicle in front of me, and rolling into the car in front while stopped at traffic lights. Which I did fairly recently, trying to find something while I was theoretically stopped. All of those scenarios are ones any driver has experienced. Mostly luck keeps you out of trouble, but not always. That is where the Mobileye is better than me. It pre-warns me, not the other way around. Actually it is very clever the way it is set up, with the distance between me and the car in front given with a continuous read-out with the scale being in seconds, at any particular speed, and not distance in metres. Obviously if you are travelling at 120 km/h, the time left before you run into the other vehicle is less than a couple of seconds. However, if you are dribbling along at 30 km/h, the time is quite different as you are moving so slowly. Time is

then a much better indicator of the likelihood of a crash than distance. The Mobileye gives visual and audible warnings with brightness and volume under the control of the driver, as well as the designated “action” distance/time. The working of the Mobileye is quite complex, with the unit wired into the electronics of the car itself. If approaching another vehicle, but you already have your foot on the brake, the Mobileye “understands” that you have seen the situation and are already driving within the situation. If, however, you are rapidly closing on the vehicle in front and there is no brake input, the Mobileye unit will start to scream loudly to alert you to the potential problem. I can see that it is a driver aid that one should get to know and adjust to suit your driving style. That I will be doing over the next couple of months and will report back here in this column, so you can follow my progress.

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offbeat • bartwalters

The holidays in Thailand ... they kinda understand them

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olidays are something most people don’t think about when moving overseas. Then again, most people don’t live in Thailand. I’ve always lived in an area heavily populated by foreigners, either as residents or tourists. Most retail and hospitality businesses make an attempt to accommodate what they think we want at certain times of year. Make no mistake; it is not an attempt to have a cultural exchange moment. Holidays are money-makers in any country. But, I must say, after a lifetime of the same old boring holiday traditions, the Thai take on the antics of foreigners is comically refreshing. When it comes to celebrating our holidays, Thai people tend to wrap all holidays into one; donning costumes that are quite confusing. Apparently, devil horns that light up are proper attire for all holidays, including Christmas and St Valentine’s Day. The best representation of Thai holiday sensibilities is at Halloween. Because it is the only holiday expressly calling for a costume, they use all their farang-holiday stuff from the entire year. Capes, horns, fairy wings and bunny ears … if it’s about a holiday they don’t understand, Thais will wear it. This Halloween I attended a party held in my local pub. The bar was all superbly decorated with jack-olanterns and witches. And, the staff

had gathered together all the theatrical gear they would need. The costumes boiled down to two; zombie vampires and zombie vampires with light-up devil horns. When I pointed this out to the bar manager Lek, he ran to the back and came out with a goofy pirate hat strapped on his head. “Jack Sparrow,” he beamed. When I asked my bartender what she was dressed as, she said: “I don’t know … scary”. Easily the most entertaining time of year is Christmas. A couple of weeks ago we will have started seeing Santa, and candy canes and reindeers … a lot of reindeers. For some reason Thai people are really taken with the flying deer concept. Christmas Carols But again, they tend to mash things together. Last Christmas I was stomping around in Pattaya’s beautiful beachfront Central Festival mall, searching for some last minutes gifts. The mall was expertly decorated all Christmas style. When I heard what sounded like Christmas Carols being sung, I couldn’t resist tracking down the minstrels. When I found them on the third floor, I could see it was a big group of ladyboys from the local transgender cabaret show in full costume and voice. The costumes they sported ranged from a glitter-covered Elton John to a disturbing elf covered completely in a red body-stocking.

The costumes they sported ranged from a glitter-covered Elton John to a disturbing elf covered completely in a red body stocking.

They were drawing quite a crowd and I had to applaud their enthusiasm. They almost knew the words to several old Christmas classics. The ultimate irony was the Muslim women taking pictures with them. It’s just what you want when you’re 10,000 miles away from home at Christmas … a little homesickness … and a good laugh. I’ve celebrate a few Thai holidays every year. Most people know about “Songkran” that takes place in April. It’s a country-wide drunken water fight. It’s fun the first time. For the past 10 years I’ve taken a flight to the Philippines and waited it out. The duration of the “festivities” can be as short as two days (like in Bangkok), or like in Pattaya where it starts early, lingers late and could disrupt any plans you have for nearly two weeks. My favourite holiday in Thailand is Loy Kratong that took place on the full moon in November. It’s kind of mixture of Thanksgiving and New Year’s celebrations. Thai families get together and send thousands of individual little boats called “kratongs” floating on the water or launch candlelit lanterns called “com-fi” climbing to the moon. There are things I miss about my old traditional holidays, but I’ve discovered it’s more important for me to understand the locals’ customs than vice versa. Bart Walters Jomtien Beach

one man’s view • dave buckley

the buck stops here ... a random selection of stuff and nonsense (Pt 2)

Throw-away adjectives

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Time to KISS big words goodbye Ever tried to use a clever word and ended up making an arse of yourself? I’m guilty of this on more occasions than I care to admit to. Years back in the NUJ (National Union of Journalists) chapel at the Daily Express we had an FOC (Father of the Chapel) who was a photographer. One day when he was proudly announcing to a packed room the new deal he had “won” for us he said he had managed to negotiate a four-week sabbastical for every fifth year of service. Of course he meant to say sabbatical (no “s”) but it did leave me wondering what the management of the paper must have thought about dealing with this chap. One of the earliest tenets I picked up on as a journo was the acronym KISS which, as many know, stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid. At the time I thought it was pretty good advice. Maybe I should remember it more often.

n a recent issue one of this magazine’s regular contributors wanted to describe Pattaya in the pre-Vietnam war era. Yes, you’ve guessed it ... he called it a sleepy fishing village. I deleted the word sleepy quickly. Why? Well, I guess it was a reaction on my part to seeing an all-too-familiar adjective trotted out once too often. Am I guilty of similar “crimes”? You bet, how else do you think these pages get filled? Not all fishing villages are sleepy. Though quite a few are! I considered inserting the word tranquil. I like tranquil. It’s smacks of onomatopoeia to me. You know ... when the word sounds like what you are describing. Other examples: Plop, oink, thump and so on. Back to adjectives and nouns trotted out as a pair... is gloom always Stygian? Again, it can be, but deep gloom pretty much covers it. Do you know where Stygian comes from? Nor did I. I wasn’t even sure how to spell it. Ain’t Wikipedia great? Stygian refers to the River Styx in the Hades underworld of Greek mythology. Seems it was pitch-black. There, who said this magazine can’t be educational? Trying to get onto my subeditorial high horse made me

cast my mind back to my days as a 21-year-old deputy chief sub of the Kent Messenger. I got promoted up-table for my design skills, not my English! At the KM we had a senior sub who put together a style book for the paper which was fully printed for our reference. To be frank I thought some of the things he put in there were bordering on the pedantic but I was too chicken to tell him. Let me share a few examples with you. We were not allowed to describe a building as being gutted by fire. That’s what happens to fish the style book said. Fires destroy properties, not gut them. Also we were not a permitted to use the word decimated. Growing up I had always thought that the word “decimated” meant close to

being wiped out, or to remove a large proportion of. As in the Light Brigade was decimated by Russian cannons when they made their ill-fated charge. But at the KM we were guided by the historical meaning which is to kill one in 10. It seems the Romans were quite keen on this as a way of sending out a message to soldiers who deserted (see below). Does all that sound a little sinister? Well an archaic meaning of sinister is “of or towards the left-hand side”. Latin does come in helpful sometimes. On that basis Ryan Giggs was a sinister footballer. Would you describe an attractive young woman as being nubile? Of course you might! But it literally means “ready for marriage”, which may well be true, too. Another word often misused nowadays is depending. People often use it when they mean dependent. I hope this sentence helps explain the difference: My ability to travel was dependent on the weather clearing up but I knew my family were depending on me to come. Will you stop using depending when you mean dependent? Guess much is dependent on how important you think language is.

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star interview  by piers manning / The Interview People

or years, Harrison Ford bemoaned his legacy as Han Solo in George Lucas’s immensely popular Star Wars saga. There was no love lost between movie star and his interstellar alter ego and he has spent the last three decades generally disavowing all knowledge of his Solo self. Ford and Lucas often clashed on set and Harrison once griped to his boss: “You can type this shit, George, but you sure can’t say it.” Ford so hated Solo that he tried to persuade Lucas to kill off his character in Return of the Jedi: “He’s certainly a much less interesting character than Indiana Jones ... he’s dumb as a stump!” Dumb or not, audiences will have a chance to see an older and possible wiser Han Solo in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, directed by J J Abrams. Somehow Harrison Ford was persuaded to surrender to nostalgia and revisit the role alongside Carrie

Fisher (Princess Leia), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and many other old Star Wars figures in the latest rebooting of the venerable and fabulously successful film franchise. Ford might have wanted to reconsider his decision after his leg was badly broken in an accident on the set of Star Wars VII in June of last year. The injury required surgery to install metal plates in his leg while production was halted for eight weeks to allow Ford time to recuperate.

Han Solo’s

Plane crash His fortunes continued to take a downward turn when he crashed his vintage airplane on a Venice, California, golf course in March that saw him sustain a concussion and other relatively minor injuries. In the meantime, the 73-year-old Ford is hale and hearty again and even consented to grace this summer’s Comic-Con convention with a surprise appearance that saw him bring delight to the thousands of fans who turned

dumb as a

certainly a much less interesting character than Indiana Jones ... he’s

stump!

out for an advance preview of the first of three new Star Wars installments. Said Ford of his return to the fold: “It should have felt ridiculous! Here I was, doing something I did so long ago. But I will tell you that it felt great. I was proud and grateful to once again be involved.” When not indulging his passion for flying – he remains utterly fearless as a pilot despite several brushes with death – Ford lives in Los Angeles with his third wife, actress Calista Flockhart, 50, and their adopted 14-year-old son, Liam. Harrison is currently preparing to shoot the sequel to Blade Runner and is reportedly going to be returning to yet another iconic role, that of Indiana Jones, when shooting begins on the fifth chapter in the Spielberg-directed franchise. Ford’s films have grossed more than US$6bn (Bt213bn) over the course of five decades. l Overleaf is an interview with Ford in which, among other things, he comments on some Loves and Hates.

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Why Harrison Ford went back to playing Han Solo

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star interview  by piers manning / The Interview People

Piers Manning: Mr Ford, you’ve enjoyed one of the most successful careers of any actor in the history of film. How gratifying is that to you? Harrison Ford: I’m not really concerned about my legacy as an actor. I’m all about right now and what’s ahead. I don’t really think much about the past, except that I do reflect on and understand the enormous luck that I’ve had ... I’ve had a pretty good run. PM: Is it hard to find roles that live up to the iconic characters you’ve played in the past? HF: I’m lucky that, from time to time, there’s a good part for somebody of my relative age ... where there are fewer opportunities to be the leading man. But that’s OK - if something goes wrong on the set I can tell me people, ‘hey, I just work here - ask that other guy over there’. I’m quite happy to work a little bit less. Flying planes is what I do for fun. Acting is my job – otherwise there aren’t many surprises left. PM: Is it important for you to keep on working? HF: A real man should never rest on his laurels. He should prove his mettle every day. That has nothing to do with being macho, but with taking responsibility for yourself and your family. With all my experiences, I have to say that I still struggle with a lot of the same problems and frustrations I’ve always had in life.

But I do know how to better manage it all and approach problems and make my way through life with a little more grace and honour. PM: What single quality, if any, has been most responsible for the kind of success you’ve enjoyed in your career? HF: The thing that makes me good at what I do, if I’m good at all, is not feeling special, not feeling different, so that whoever I’m talking to doesn’t feel as if he’s with someone who thinks he’s on a higher plane because he happens to be in the film business. Your accomplishments PM: But you must have some sense of your accomplishments as an actor? HF: Yes, but I don’t live in the past. My approach to life is that I’m all about right now and what’s ahead. I don’t really think much about the past, except that I do occasionally reflect on and appreciate the enormous luck that I’ve had. I don’t feel like a movie star when I’m on a set although I do use my standing to try to help make the best film possible. I feel I’ve done enough and learnt enough from the process to know what I’m doing and contribute to the process. And when I come home from work I don’t feel like a movie star, either ... it’s a seamless process. You work, you come home. You may have a few things to say to your son if you feel he’s behaving oddly. (Smiles)

was terrified at first, and that made me a little angry at myself, and so I was determined to get over that kneeknocking feeling of panic and develop some fearlessness. And when I did, I also found that what I was engaged in, with people trying to tell a story, was something that felt better than any other thing I’d ever done before. It felt like I had found some kind of purpose in being part of storytelling and finding an outlet to work with other people. Heroic figures PM: You tend to play heroic Everyman kind of figures. Does that suit your nature? HF: I don’t know if I would describe very many of my roles as heroic. I think of them more as ordinary men who have remarkable levels of courage and character and vulnerability. Someone who’s had his share of pain or difficult times and who can face up to challenges and overcome whatever obstacles stand in his way. An heroic figure for me is someone who has the determination and perseverance to triumph over adversity when the odds are stacked against him and lesser men would have given up or fallen apart or died as the case may be. I like to imagine myself as having some of those qualities or aspirations and so that’s the kind of guy I like to play.

Pictured above: The way we were ... a very youthful Harrison Ford playing Han Solo alongside Chewbacca back in the late 1970s. And how they look in the up-coming film. Perhaps not surprisingly Chewbacca doesn’t look a day older! Far left (top): The Ford family – caught a little off-guard by a member of the paperazzi exiting a restaurant in Brentwood, Essex, England. Far left (below): Harrison Ford and his actress wife Calista Flockhart (best known for her Ally McBeal role on TV) strike a much nicer pose for the cameras at an event.

LOVES FLYING: It’s incredibly exciting and challenging to be up in the air by yourself and enjoying the solitude and freedom you feel from being in the sky and surveying the horizon and the landscape below. I love the skill and discipline that flying a plane demands of you. It’s also something very different from my day job that takes me out of my usual routine. Flying gives you a different perspective on the world when you’re high above a mountain range or looking down on the desert. There’s an undeniable exhilaration you experience from that. Flying is like good music: it elevates the spirit and it’s an exhilarating freedom. It’s not a thrill thing or an adrenaline rush. It’s engaging in a process that takes focus and commitment ... I far prefer to fly myself. I’m not afraid, I’m a do-it-yourself kind of guy. JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING: I have what they refer to as a ranch. I have a piece of land in Jackson, Wyoming, that is largely forest rather than cleared for pasture. It’s full of wildlife and streams and the like. It’s on the Snake River and it’s much the same as it was 150 years ago. I discovered it when I was looking to move outside of California and my wife at the time and I rented a car and

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PM: What kind of advice do you offer to your youngest son, Liam? HF: This is my fifth time around (he has four other children). Kids are forever. Part of the process of raising children is that you help them think their way through their life as much as you can and not tell them too much, not demand too much, but being there, supportive of them. Every time you do it, you probably can’t help but get a little better, though. PM: When did you first realise as a teenager that acting was something you wanted to do with your life? HF: My father was in the advertising business and he produced and directed radio and television commercials. And I was fascinated by Sky King, until I went to the studio one day with my Dad and met a pudgy little man (actor Kirby Grant) who didn’t fit my image of Sky King. But I think that tweaked my interest in the whole business of show business. PM: But you went to college to study philosophy as it turned out? HF: Yes, I was a philosophy major and I wasn’t doing very well. In an effort to try and find something in the course book that sounded like it was a cinch to help bring my grade point average up, I picked drama. (Laughs). Having failed to read the course description all the way through, I didn’t realise it involved standing up on stage and acting. (Laughs) I

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star interview  by piers manning / The Interview People

drove toward Jackson. I’d only heard about it, and we saw it for the first time from Teton Pass. I was blown away. We knew immediately that we wanted to be there. When I became a landowner there, I felt a sense of stewardship for the Earth.” (Ford has donated nearly 400 acres of the ranch to the Jackson Hole Land Trust). SHOOTING THE SWORDSMAN IN INDIANA JONES: “I was anticipating a three-day shoot of the world’s most elaborate sword versus whip fight. I was in no mood to do that because I, along with 90 per cent of the crew, was suffering from dysentery. My time spent outside of the trailer with my pants up was about 10 minutes. I was ready to get out of there. We had already shot a whip fight so I felt the tempo and the phrasing of (another) fight was repetitive. After riding in a car on the way to the set with Steven (Spielberg) for about 45 minutes, I said to him, after thinking about it for a long time, “Why don’t we just shoot that son of a bitch?” We both arrived at the same conclusion so we could get out of there and thought it would be a good character stroke. CARPENTRY: (Ford was once known as the “carpenter to the stars” and built houses for many famous celebrities before his acting career stared paying the bills). “I don’t do it any more but it was always a source of satisfaction to me ... what I miss most is the kind of concentration and skill you bring to bear when you’re building a table or

a bookshelf or constructing a house. The kind of concentration you need or at least that I need as an actor is very much the same that you bring to the kind of work you do as a carpenter. I’m grateful that I developed those skills and was able to earn enough money so that I could take care of my family and not take acting jobs I would have really hated to take. Some people in Hollywood even still have some of the stuff I built for them way back when!” STUNT WORK: “I like running, jumping and falling down. I like to do physical acting because I want people to feel the pain. You can’t feel the pain if the camera is focused on a stunt man. I want audiences to see the fear and experience the rush of a good action scene. HATES CHEWBACCA (AKA “Chewie Han Solo’s former co-pilot): Ford made a guest appearance on TV chat show Jimmy Kimmel and confronted Chewbacca for having slept with his wife. (He) betrayed me. I’m done with that Star Wars crap and I’m done with you. She was my wife! She’s still spitting up hairballs! the DESTRUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT: “I’m a father and I’m seeing the world around me degraded and misused and wasted for short-term profits. Time is short and nature is at a tipping point ... our

Above, left: Also making a return in the next Star Wars film are Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher who reprise their roles as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. They are seen at a promotional event for the film. Above, right: New stars in film are John Boyega, an actor from Peckham, southeast London (Del Boy country) who plays Finn, a redeemed First Order stormtrooper. Plus Daisy Ridley, also born in London, who plays Rey, a self-sufficient scavenger on the desert planet Jakku. Her greatuncle was Arnold Ridley who played doddery old Godfrey in Dad’s Army. The two are seen on a promotional poster.

health relies entirely on the vitality of our fellow species on Earth. My work with Conservation International (a major environmental protection organisation) is a good use of whatever celebrity I might have to draw attention to important problems. I have the same responsibility as everyone to reduce consumption and to teach children to respect the environment...What we do today will set the course and the example for generations to come.” THE FILM BUSINESS: “I don’t know anything about it. I just work here. I have tried very hard not to give a rat’s ass about the business part of it because to me it’s the wrong way of looking at it. I have always looked at movies as a job. PUBLIC SPEAKING: “I hate it. Acting on a large set with lots of people around you is one thing... but I still have a great deal of difficult in getting up and talking in front of a crowd ... speaking in public is a mixed bag of terror and anxiety. GIVING INTERVIEWS: “It’s no worse than a day of waterboarding.” BULLIES: I was constantly being beat up and harassed in school because I was very shy and small... I was a puny little guy and I didn’t have the strength or courage to do anything. But I outlasted the bastards.” INDEPENDENT MOVIES: “I have nothing against those movies from an artistic standpoint. But I simply have no particular yearning to do the same work for less money. |

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wining • dining

food freak 003 . . Bacco Beach italian bistro, jomtien

BB is a tapas lover’s dream venue I hate to admit this, but I’m a tapas guy. I have always loved the idea of ordering small plates of a wide variety of dishes and sharing. Tapas is the kind of dining format you judge by time and number of plates stacked tableside. And now it’s all the rage as a worldwide “food trend”. I don’t want to be trendy, I’m not a hipster. To buck the trend, I satiate my small-plate cravings at restaurants that don’t bill themselves as “tapas” eateries. I struck gold when I found Bacco Beach Italian Bistro in NaJomtien. Bacco Beach is on the water about a kilometre north of the Ambassador City complex adjacent The Glasshouse.

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Massive circular bar Everything about this place screams “Big Ass Italian Restaurant”, but it’s so much more. Walking in through the giant wine barrel entrance I’m not sure which way to look. On the left is a walk-in dream wine cellar. On the right is a long display of fresh catch fish, crabs, shrimp, oysters and various goodies from the sea. Down the middle is a massive circular bar with wines displayed all the way to the roof. An incredible amount of indoor, outdoor and on-the-sand seating is available. My eating partner and I have sampled this place three times and prefer sitting inside on the rail overlooking the beach; a perfect place for tapas at sunset. One clue a menu can be “tapas-ized” (just made that word up) is the presence of bruschetta on it. Bacco Beach serves a dazzling display of the Italian bread-based snack, from traditional garlic and oil to heartier dishes like the Salmon Bruschetta. My favourite is the Mediterranean version with chopped olives, anchovies and capers. They go great with a bold Italian Red from the bottomless wine cellar. Because Bacco Beach has its own in-house deli, more “tapas-izing” can be accomplished when you get to the antipasti/parma ham/charcuterie section of the menu. Let the chef assemble an assortment or create your own. Olives, sundried tomatoes, artichokes, salami, pepperoni and a favourite of my wife, the parma and pita platter. Lovers of Italian cheeses will lose their minds. Salad menu And not to be overlooked while on a tapas tear, the salad menu at Bacco Beach offers a multitude of ways to order fresh creations like the avocado and rock lobster salad and the traditional Mediterranean Salad served in a crispy pita bowl. The only dish I’ve tried at Bacco Beach that even resembles a main course is a beautiful presentation of angel hair pasta tossed with a seafood medley. My wife likes to order it a little spicy. The blend of Thai chilies with Italian basil gives the whole dish a unique fusion quality. Desserts are traditionally a good meal to share, and Bacco Beach comes through with huge selection of Italian ice creams and sherbets. The pistachio ice cream with an espresso and Sambuca are a great finish to an evening of tapas-izing.

v e t! i y f lef l on its un

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t las

advertorial • green field villas

d e t n i r p e r pGreen Field Villas – e m i t t s new variations on a la

Above: The A-type four bedroom, five bathroom style house.

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Below: The large lounge and kitchen featured in the A-type.

successful formula

ucked away in the quiet eastern Pattaya suburb of Nongplalai is the fifth offering from Green Field Villas – an exclusive development of just 30 homes which ooze luxury and space to spare. Despite its rural setting, nestling as it does in the angle formed by the intersection of highways 7 and 36, Green Field Villas 5 is nevertheless a mere 15 minutes by road from the centre of Pattaya. Behind its 2.5 metre perimeter wall lies a development of one and two-storey properties brimming with elegance and luxury. With construction now entering the final phase, demand for these spacious properties has been brisk

with Green Field Development Company benefiting from its hardearned reputation for high quality, European-standard construction acquired by its four earlier projects in the Pattaya area. House types Green Field Villas 5 consists of 17 ‘A-type’ two-storey homes, each offering a huge 256sqm of living space, and 13 ‘B-type’ bungalows, nine of which are a new, L-shaped variation of the company’s popular and well-proven design. A-type houses each consist of four bedrooms and five bathrooms, a car port for two vehicles, openplan kitchen and landscaped garden. All have uPVC windows and

The B-type bungalow has three- or four-bedroom options. Below are two of the B-type interiors.

doors imported from Germany and concertina-style flyscreens. Master bedrooms feature built-in, walk-in wardrobes and all bathrooms are fully-fitted with rain showers. Other features include ceramic tiled floors, Cotto sanitary ware, granite staircases and CPAC tiled pitched roofs. Optional extras include a swimming pool, air conditioners and security alarms. The few remaining A-type units are being offered for sale with free, fully-fitted European kitchens. Plot sizes range from 156 to 212 talang wah (624-848sqm). B-type bungalows feature an L-shaped variation. The top-of-therange B-type is constructed to the same high standard as the A-type with three and four-bedroom options,

each with three bathrooms and a twovehicle carport. Living space varies between 189 and 192sqm and plot sizes are 156 talang wah (624sqm). The L-shaped variation has twobedroom, two-bathroom and threebedroom, three-bathroom options occupying between 60 and 127 talang wah (240-508sqm) and feature built-in furniture, fully-fitted kitchens, uPVC windows and doors, a one-vehicle carport and a landscaped garden. Prices for two-storey houses start at Bt11m while top-of-the-range bungalows start at Bt10.7m. L-shaped bungalows start at Bt4.5m. The development also features a clubhouse, communal pool, gymnasium, 24-hour security, CCTV, city water and underground electrics.

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d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t s la

advertorial â&#x20AC;˘ green field villas

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t s a l

Here and below: The L-shaped bungalows exteriors and an interior.

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The people behind Green Field Villas are British architect Paul Barrett and his wife, Jan, who formed the company a little more than 10 years ago to develop and build Green Field Villas 1, a 57-unit village in Nongprue. Open spaces Its success inspired Green Field Villas 2, located between Soi Khao Noi and Soi Nernplabwan. The project has plenty of greenery, open spaces and a well-maintained communal area reflecting the family feel that you get on all Green Field villages. Green Field Villas 3 on Soi Siam Country Club offers a slight shift in design, reflecting changing customer requirements resulting for the 2008 global economic downturn when

the site was being developed. With 92 properties from shop houses and townhouses to three-bedroom bungalows, it is the largest of the five Green Field villages, although plots are generally smaller in response to the demand for lower prices at the time of construction. Green Field Villas 4 is the most recently completed project. It is in Nongprue near the temple at the eastern end of Soi Nernplabwan and is the last word in luxury living with underground fibre optic internet cables to all properties. Houses range from three-bedroom bungalows to luxurious two-storey, four-bedroom family homes, all of which are built on large plots with private swimming pools. |

l The head office of Green Field Villas Development Co Ltd is on site at Green Field Villas 5. Address: 53/23 Moo 2, Nongplalai, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150. T: 038 068 575/6; 086 788 3953; or 083 994 2373. F: 038 068 575 E: greenfield@greenfieldvillas.com W: www.greenfieldvillas.com

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sightseeing • attractions 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 15km 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

Crocodile Farm: lies a 15 minute drive from central Pattaya. It features an exotic zoo, and crocodile, fireswallowing and magic shows, as well as the garden and stone park. Open 8.00-18:30. 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 ...

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 11.0023.00. Tel: 03871 0294/8.

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t las

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

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Stone

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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.

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.

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t s la

bars • restaurants

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 Booze Lounge: situated on the Dark Side in Soi Khao Talo this airconditioned bar combines low prices with good music. Tel: 087 747 8555, email: info@loungebarpattaya.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@caddyshack-pattaya.com

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. Tel: 038 421 258 Blue Olive: Slightly tucked away off Thepprasit Soi 8 this restaurant it worth digging a little to find. Mediterranean food is the speciality. Chef also produces Mexican food. Tel: 038 416 285, email: blueolivepattaya@hotmail.com

Murphy’s Bar: described as a family sports bar and restaurant on Soi Khao Noi in East Pattaya. One of the few bars on the Dark Side to serve draught Guinness. Tel: 084 100 9016, www. murphysirishpub.asia. 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 well-trained staff. 217/34 Moo 10, Pattaya City. Tel: 038 361 315, Fax: 038 361 272, email: info@pigandwhistlepattaya.com

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t s la

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@ jamesons-pattaya.com

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Metro: an air-conditioned sports bar boasting free pool tables and numerous screens on which to watch top sports events. Soi LK Metro, 33/8536, Moo 10 close to Soi Buakhow. Tel: 038 425 874, email: info@metroapartments-pattaya.com

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@brunospattaya.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. Tel: 086 3145819

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

Punch & Judy: this is a London-style pub with good food and competitive prices. Frequent promotions. Almost opposite the Caddy Shack in Soi 17. Tel: 038 413255

JJ Pizza Bar: authentic pizza cooked in wood fire ovens, reasonably priced. 325/85 M10, Soi Pattaya-land 2, Pattaya Beach Road. 038 424 128

Shamrock: fun and lively Britishrun ‘family’ bar, an oasis of sanity among the bars of Pattayaland, South Pattaya. Tel: 038 425 417 email: pattayashamrock@yahoo.com

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

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

Mata Hari: close to the Thappraya Road turn-off towards Pratumnak. Specialises in fine European and Thai cuisine at prices less than you might expect. Tel: 038 259 799, email: info@ mataharirestaurant.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-can-eat 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: bar and restaurant serving traditional Irish pub-style fayre and drinks with daily food specials. In Jomtien Complex which also has daily promotions such as “Toss the Boss”. If he loses the drinks are on him. 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, open: 07.00-24.00

golfers • guide 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 four-star, 36-hole, par 72 course. The Eastern course suits up-and-coming golfers, while the Western challenges the more experienced. Reserving a tee-off time is advised. Tel: 038 372 700-1

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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

Whatever standard you play to you will find a course to suit within an hour’s drive. Here are just some of them.

designed this in conjunction with the late Desmond Muirhead. Many holes test accuracy, not length, of drive. Tel: 038 941 111 Great Lake: is a 36-hole, par 72, Nick Faldo design to the east of Pattaya. The 120 bunkers, water hazards and lovely setting make this a challenging course at moderate prices. Tel: 038 622 630 Greenwood (formerly Noble Place): is well designed 27-hole, par 72 course. A well-kept course with few water hazards allows good scoring for high handicappers. Tel: 081 484 9066, 081 484 9069 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 Pattana Golf and Sports Resort: Three nine-hole course – one of which features a par 6; another starts with an intimidating drive between two stretches of water that catches out many a high handicapper. 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 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

Pattavia Century (formerly Century Chonburi): Designed by Nick Faldo, this 18-hole, par 72 course, has recently undergone remodelling on some of the holes. And there is a new clubhouse to enjoy. Tel: 081 304 1545

The Emerald: Close to Bang Chang, Emerald is another course where Nick Faldo has left his mark. He

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: not far outside of the city this offers a five-star clubhouse and a four-star, 27-hole, par 72 course which is found between Pattaya and Sattahip in a well marked turning 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 36hole, 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 fourstar clubhouse and a five star price. Gentle hills with large trees give it the feeling of Western golf courses. Host to the LPGA tournament early each year. 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

THE COOL BAR ON SOI KHAOTALO OPEN DAILY FROM 1pm • For more information call +66 (0)87 747 8555, + 66 (0)89 250 5691 or email info@boozeloungepattaya.com

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special report • dave buckley

A balanced approach – that’s the way forward for Coastal Real Estate

70 REM 12/2015

o the best of my knowledge Coastal Real Estate were one of the first brokerages in the city to see potential in the Chinese market and do something positive about it. Now the company, which started more than five years ago, has three full-time staff members who can speak Chinese and for managing director Kevin Mattson the decision to take them on has definitely paid off. “Like anything the market goes in streaks,” said Kevin. “In recent weeks things have been going well but over the next couple of months ... well, who knows? It may be that we will have to wait until Chinese New Year (in February) for our next big boost.” It’s true to say that the value and potential of the Chinese market has left brokers in the city split. Naysayers will tell you that most of last year’s 4.5m Chinese tourists who came to Thailand last year (three times as many as the Russians) never stepped

foot outside their hotel unless it was to get on a tour bus. They also claim, with justification, I feel, most of the money they spend stays in mainland China. “I see many parallels with how the Russian market developed here,” said Kevin. “The Russian tourists were not too adventurous at first. But they came, liked what they saw and returned independently with money to invest.” Kevin is confident that Chinese tourists will follow the same pattern. “But if they don’t, we’ll adapt and move on,” he said. Conscious decision Cynics might say that the naysayers are usually the ones who have not got, or are struggling to get, any Chinese speakers on board. The naysayers will claim it is a conscious decision. Some of the “antis” also feel that companies like Coastal may be in danger of over-committing to the pursuit of the Chinese market.

I see many parallels with how the Russian market developed. The Russian tourists were not too adventurous at first. But they came, liked what they saw and returned independently with money to invest.

At Coastal their three Chinese speakers represents a fifth of the total staff working out of their two offices in Soi Diana and Soi Siam Country Club. “I wouldn’t call that an overcommittment,” said Kevin. “I’d say we are well balanced. If the Chinese market doesn’t develop as we expect, we’ll look at other trends. Our Chinese speakers are also very proficient in English. But we very much believe the Chinese market will come good.” Most Chinese buyers do so as an investment. Some will look to stay in their units either for holidays or looking to some time in the future on a more permanent basis. Many, frankly, view it as a form of insurance policy to not have all their money invested in the same place. What prompted Coastal to pay attention to the Chinese market? “More than a year back, maybe as much as two, I started reading information from different sources about the changes taking place in

Coastal’s Chinese-speaking sales managers

Carol Chang Sales Manager Mobile: +66(0)9307-37989 Line ID: carolcml WhatsApp: +65 9797 0235 Email: carolchang@coastalrealestatepattaya.com

Thai tourism,” said Kevin. “That got me starting to notice the large number of tour buses in the city with Chinese writing on them.” At the time the Russian market was still in the ascendency with few clues about the collapse of the rouble currency that was to follow. But Kevin decided to pursue the Chinese route. “Our biggest learning curve has been to adapt to the Chinese culture. It’s quite different. Some things we say in all innocence can appear quite rude to them. It’s been a challenge,” Kevin admitted. Coastal’s Chinese speakers – Carol, Cherry and Tom – each have their own contact groups in mainland China. But the customer base is not just from the mainland. Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore all feature. “Up until now all our sales have been condo units,” said Kevin. “Just now we are looking at sealing our first deal on a house. Again, it’s developing much as the Russian market did.”

Those Chinese seeking pure investments are favouring condo units that are fairly central. “When we show them units in Jomtien they very much like what they see and they like the layout of the whole area. But if they are solely looking at investment – not to live in themselves – they seem to favour units that are more central,” said Kevin. “We get a lot of interest in the Tulip Group’s projects behind The Avenue shopping centre, for example. Very central, easy to get everywhere and, thereby, easier to rent out.” First office is a bonus Of course, Coastal having their first office nearby in Soi Diana is seen by many owners as a bonus. “It means that we are well placed to both sell units, but then get them rented subsequently,” said Kevin. Coastal’s ability to help buyers extends beyond just selling and renting. “We are not just looking for the

Chinese customers are always keen to secure a deal ... so the recent lowering of transfer fees from 2 per cent to 0.02 per cent should give the market overall a big and muchneeded boost.

quick sale, then move on. We want clients, of any nationality, actually, to view us as a one-stop solution. With our Chinese clients we can find ourselves helping them to open bank accounts and even aiding with mundane things like hiring taxis or making hotel bookings. We like to help as much as we can. But, of course, it does help if they are buying through us,” Kevin added with a smile. Many of the sales to Chinese clients are off-plan but a recent development at the land office is likely to boost sales in units that are already built in Kevin’s opinion. “It’s our experience that Chinese customers are always keen to secure a deal,” said Kevin. “They like to feel some element of gaining a bargain in their financial dealings. So the recent lowering of transfer fees from 2 per cent to 0.02 per cent until April should give the market overall – not just in sales to the Chinese – a big and much-needed boost.” |

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Cherry Fu Sales Manager Mobile: +66(0)99 303 0182 Wechat ID: tongf123 QQ account no.: 2837490192 Email: cherryfu@coastalrealestatepattaya.com

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broker & developer directory

The Riviera Jomtien is offering luxury furniture packages on its rear facing units. Riviera – in particular their staff – are this issue’s cover story.

Your at-a-glance guide to some of the major players in the Pattaya property market. We do not claim this is a comprehensive list of all the brokers and developers who can provide a service but we hope readers will find it helpful.

Sponsorship of this directory is now available. If interested to know more please contact Dave on

087 988 0799

agents agents •• directory directory AAAA Properties Jomtien Plaza Condotel 406/37 M12 Jomtien Beach Road T: +66 (0)38 756 370 F: +66 (0)38 757 015 M: +66 (0)86 144 1312 E: info@aaaaproperties.com W: aaaaproperties.com Principal: Louis J Van den Bergh ACI Enterprise Co Ltd (incorporating ACI Ocean Properties) 672/20 M5 Soi 18, Naklua Road next to Northpoint, Wong-Amat T: +66 (0)38 41 6060 F: +66 (0)38 41 6061 M: +66 (0)81 762 2627 E: info@aci-enterprise.com W: aci-enterprise.com and pattayaoceanproperties.com Principal: Markus Probst Memberships: CRS, REBA (Thailand), REBA-ES, RETS (Thailand), NAR, CIPS

glossaRY The following are among the trade organisation memberships or qualifications held by some of the agents. Note that, in some instances, the qualification is with the individual employee – not the company overall. AIPP: Acronym stands for The Association of International Property Professionals which is a not-for-profit organisation whose aim is to improve the standards of professionalism in the international property market, helping both the industry and the public. Members have voluntarily signed up to follow the AIPP Code of Conduct.

Bizhouse Co Ltd 324/22 Moo 9 Central Pattaya Road near junction with Third Road T: +66 (0)38 416 322 M: +66 (0)89 0924593 E: info@bizhouseproperty.com W: bizhouseproperty.com Principal: Richard Arthur Century 21 – B2 Real Estate 315/2 (Soi Lengkee 1) Moo 9, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 T: +66 (0)38 421 652 M: +66 (0)83 603 7989 E: century21@b2realestate.com W: century21-b2.com

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t s a l All Siam Properties M: +66 (0)87 068 5159 E: info@allsiamproperties.com W: allsiamproperties.com Membership: TREA Arise Asia 415 Pratumnak Hill Soi 6 T: +66 (0)38 075 610 M: +66 (0)85 228 8911 (Thanya) E: info@ariseasia.com W: ariseasia.com Principal: Thanyamai Totharong (Thanya) Memberships: CRS, REBA (Thailand), REBA-ES, RETS (Thailand), NAR, CIPS Benchmark Asia Property Co Ltd Soi Post Office T: +66 (0)38 304 133 M: +66 (0)81 792 9486 E: info@benchmarkthailand.com W: benchmarkthailand.com Principal: Gareth De Silva Memberships: CRS, REBA (Thailand), REBA-ES, RETS (Thailand), NAR, CIPS

CRS: Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) is the top professional designation awarded to REALTORS® in residential sales. Held by fewer than five per cent of all REALTORS®.

NAR: National Association of Realtors is North America’s largest trade association representing more than 1.2 million members. Members can call themselves REALTORS®. NAR also functions as a self-regulatory organisation for real estate brokerage. TREBA (Thailand): This is the nationwide Thailand Real Estate Broker Association with affiliation to the international Council of Residential Specialists. REBA-ES: The Real Estate Broker Association for the Eastern Seaboard.

RETS (Thailand): Real Estate Training School (Thailand) – brokers seeking membership of REBA must have staff attend and pass their test.

Coastal Real Estate 216/62 M10, Soi 13 (Soi Diana next to Mega-Break) and 519/163-4 Moo 6 Soi Siam Country Club T: +66 (0)38 421 580, +66 (0)38 412 169 M: +66 (0)81 269 0742 E: info@coastalrealestatepattaya.com W: coastalrealestatepattaya.com or coastalrealestatepattaya.asia Principal: Kevin Mattson East Coast Real Estate Co Ltd Office 1: 414/19 M12 Jomtien Complex T: +66 (0)38 267 030-1 F: +66 (0)38 267 029 M: +66 (0)81 862 8034 Office 2: 485/4 M10 Second Road T: +66 (0)38 723 615-6 Office 3: 223/22 M 6 Soi Siam Country Club T: +66 (0)38 730 352-3 F: +66 (0)38 426 624 E: eastcoast@thaiproperty.com W: thaiproperty.com or thaiproperty.net Principal: David Gray

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Alan Bolton Property Consultants Unit C102 The Avenue Shopping Mall Second Road near Villa Market T: +66 (0)38 416 728-9 F: +66 (0)38 416 730 M: +66 (0)81 996 2489 E: info@pattaya-property.net W: pattaya-property.net Principal: Alan Bolton Memberships: REBA (Thailand), REBA-ES, RETS (Thailand), TREBS

CIPS: Certified International Property Specialist – this is a members-only group which is for international practitioners of the National Association of REALTORS®.

Century 21 – Seven Stars 157/523 Pattaya-Naklua Road next to Lumpini Ville Condo project T: +66 (0)38 410 510 E: info@travelnfp.com W: travelnfp.com Principal: Suradej Sroyrungrueng

xxxxxxxx• •directory agents xxwriterxxxxx

glossaRY

Farang Property Services 223/32 M9, Third Road T: +66 (0)38 052 495 F: +66 (0)38 052 496 M: +66 (0)89 938 7433 E: info@farang-services.com W: farang-services.com Principal: Manfred Ehrenheim Advertisements: Pages 4 and 5 Five Star Villas & Condos 315/5 Moo 9, Soi Leng Kee, Pattaya Third Road M: +66 (0)81 938 8391 Robert or (0)809 16667 Mesiya E: sales@fivestarvillasandcondos.com W: fivestarvillasandcondos.com Principals: Robert and Mesiya (May) Watson Memberships: CRS, REBA (Thailand), CIPS, REBA-ES, RETS (Thailand), NAR, TREBS

RICS: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors – an independent body which regulates the conduct of property professionals and surveyors in the UK and other sovereign nations. RICS provides education and training standards, protects consumers with strict codes of practice and advises governments and business. TREA: The Thai Real Estate Association aims to be the hub of the real estate profession here by encouraging entrepreneurs to operate to standards of quality and ethics; to create the maximum benefits for developers, government and consumers altogether.

JLL (formerly Jones Lang LaSalle) The Village Shopping Centre, Sukhumvit-Pattaya Road Services: Property sales and leasing; property management; consultancy; project management; and valuation T: +66 (0)38 074 663-5 E: info.thailand@ap.jll.com W: joneslanglasalle.co.th W: jllresidential.in.th Principal: Adam Bell

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t s a l

Gecko Properties 420/146 Soi Buakhow Moo 9 (street with Asia Backpackers on corner) T: +66 (0)38 412 150 M: +66 (0)846 564 846 E: info@gecko-properties.com W: gecko-properties.com Principal: Steve Scholey

Gl bal Property Pattaya Co., Ltd

REM 11-12/2015 • Issues 174 and 175

Global Property Pattaya Co Ltd 565/56 Moo 10, near Big C South Pattaya T: +66 (0)38 426 231 F: +66 (0)38 426 232 M: +66 (0)81 838 1390 E: info@globalpropertythailand.com W: globalpropertythailand.com or global-property-pattaya.com Principal: Rainer Heinzmann Memberships: REBA-ES, CIPS Golden Homes Real Estate Co Ltd 33/39 M9 Soi Diana Inn T: +66 (0)38 720 892-3 M: +66 (0)86 826 8821 E: info@goldenhomespattaya.com or Ploy1@csloxinfo.com W: goldenhomespattaya.com Principal: Yupaporn Sangpagdee (Ploy)

TREBS: The Thailand Real Estate Broker School provides training for real estate professionals. The course includes real estaterelated laws, broker law, broker ethics, listing and sales techniques, reconciliation techniques, property evaluation, property transfer procedure and tax calculation.

Knight Frank The Village Shopping Centre where the Sukhumvit meets Soi Chaiyapruk M: +66 (0)81 550 4099 E: anchalee.kasemsukthawat@ th.knightfrank.com W: knightfrank.co.th North Shore Property Co Ltd 315/414 M12 Thappraya Road T: +66 (0)38 303 825-6 M: +66 (0)87 833 5066 or (0)86 323 4607 E: info@ns-property.com W: ns-property.com Principal: Mesa Wongsida

Homes Direct Asia 99/34 Soi Khao Noi T: +66 (0)38 068 956 F: +66 (0)38 068 957 M: +66 (0)811 429 0111 or 0890 160 077 E: info@homesdirect.asia W: homesdirect.asia Principal: Matt O’Sullivan

One Stop Real Estate 219/14 M9, Soi Yamato T: +66 (0)38 710 699 or (0)38 710 725 M: +66 (0)819 454 845 E: onestop@realesthai.com W: real-estate-thailand.com Principal: Mark Welch Memberships: CRS, REBA (Thailand), REBA-ES, RETS (Thailand), NAR, CIPS

Hometown Property Pattaya Soi Khao Talo opposite Eakmongkol 4 T: +66 (0)38 332 334 M: +66 (0)85 793 4898 or (0)85 6981023 E: info@pattayabaan.com W: pattayabaan.com Principals: Todd Richer and Steve Arthur

Pattaya Bay Real Estate 338/24 Moo 12 Pratumnak Road T: + 66 (0)38 250 944 M: + 66 (0)811 580 065 (English) + 66 (0)861 566 346 (Thai) E: info@pattayabayrealestate.com W: pattayabayrealestate.com Principal: Mal Patterson

Jomtien Property 315/185-6 Thappraya Road near entrance to View Talay 2 T: +66 (0)38 303 243 M: +66 (0)86 108 6575 E: info@properties-in-thailand.com W: properties-in-thailand.com Principal: Stu Sutton

Pattaya Jomtien Property 75/49 Soi 5 Immigration, Beach Road, Jomtien (75m from Immigration Office) T: +66 (0)90 132 1891 M: +66 (0)85 129 5657 (Thai); or +66 (0)85 056 9880 (English) E: sales@pattaya-jomtien-property.com W: pattaya-jomtien-property.com Principals: Kevin and Chanram Hurst

agents • directory Pattaya Paradise City Property Chokchai Village 7 and 99/391 T: +66 (0)38 376 145 M: +66 (0)81 761 3238 E: pattaya@paradisecityproperty.com W: pattaya-property.biz Principal: Gavin Perfect Pattaya Prestige Properties 2/28 Ground Floor, View Talay 7 F: +66 (0)38 059 632 M: +66 (0)870 217 014 E: info@pattayaprestigeproperties.com W: pattayaprestigeproperties.com Principal: Jan Nuyten

Rightmove Pattaya 369/1 M9, Units 8&9 PS Bowl, 2nd Road T: +66 (0)38 361 212 M: +66 (0)89 253 5607 E: info@rightmovepattaya.com W: rightmovepattaya.com Principal: Craig Turner Memberships: REBA (Thailand), REBA-ES, RETS (Thailand), CIPS Savills Thailand 1st Floor Royal Garden Plaza T: +66(0)85 2828 120 E: MWBowling@savills.co.th W: savills.co.th Principal: Mark Bowling

Town & Country Property 63/10-11 Pattaya Tai T: +66 (0)38 374 136 F: +66 (0)38 374 137 Russian: +66 (0)84 873 7425 E: info@towncountryproperty.com W: towncountryproperty.com Principal: Cees Cuijpers Memberships: CRS, REBA-ES, NAR, CIPS Advertisements: Page 21 Vauban Real Estate Chateau Dale T: +66 (0)38 251 728 F: +66 (0)38 251 745 M: +66 (0)9 27 900 962 E: laurent@companyvauban.com W: companyvauban.com Principal: Laurent Gras

www.pattayarealty.com T: +66(0)38 059 537

F: +66(0)38 059538 Pattaya Realty E: info@seaboard-properties.com 420/185 Moo 9 Soi Buakhow 15 W: seaboard-properties.com T: +66 (0)38 412 301-2 Principal: Eddie Buehler M: +66 (0)89 833 6175 or (0)90 465 4563 E: info@pattayarealty.com Siam PropertiesHS8611 W: pattayarealty.com 18,000,000 HS9736 HS6871 Sale ß24,950,000 Sale ß9,000,000 Siam Royal View House 4 beds (private pool) Mabprachan (Jomtien Park Villa) beds House 4 beds 313/27 M10 Pattaya Tai Principal: Stuart Daly T: +66 (0)38 415 490 Memberships: CIPS, REBA (Thailand), F: +66 (0)38 414 693 REBA-ES, RETS (Thailand), NAR M: +66 (0)81 861 1907 (Heiner) or Advertisement: Page 17 (0)81 821 7045 (Porn) Russian: +66 (0)89 245 2890 (Vera) Powerhouse Properties Co Ltd ß 35,000/month CR10009 Rent ß ß60,000/month Rent CR7760 E:30,000/month info@siamproperties.net View Talay Residence 4 CR5893 Pratumnak Central Pattaya Condo 1 bed Condo 2 beds 3 beds 3 baths Central Pattaya W: siamproperties.net 489/2 Jomtien Soi 5, Pattaya, 20150 Principals: Heiner and Porn Moessing T: +66 (0)38 059 635 Memberships: CRS, REBA (Thailand), M: +66 (0)81 945 8002, +66(0)90 398 REBA-ES, RETS (Thailand), NAR, CIPS 6643 E: info@powerhousepropertiesltd.com Thailand-Property-Gate W: powerhousepropertiesltd.com HS9957 6,500,000 Sale ß22,000,000 Sale ß78,000,000 HS9060 CS8856 (We(private Can pool) Do ItPratumnak Co Ltd) Principal: J. Bernard beds (private pool) East Pattaya Naklua House 5 beds Condo 2 beds (sea view) 50/2 Moo 6, Huay Yai Memberships: REBA-ES, REBA M: +66 (0)81 835 9923 (Thailand), RETS (Thailand), CIPS, NAR, W: thailand-property-gate.com CRS, RESMA Principal: Stefan Matter Premier Homes Real Estate Co Ltd 240/21 Rent Jomtien Beach Road CR10007 ß120,000/month CR7116 ß50,000/month ß50,000/month CR10010 Rent Thailiving beds (private pool) East Pattaya House 4 beds (private pool) Mabprachun Condo231 1 bed931 (sea view) Wong Amat 306/90-91 M12 Thappraya Road T: +66 (0)38 T: +66 (0)38 364 514 M: +66 (0)81 634 2915 M: +66 (0)81 862 7405 E: premier@loxinfo.co.th E: info@thailiving.net W: premierinternational.com W: thailiving.net Principals: Clayton and Supap Wade Principal: Supaporn Persson (Sara) Memberships: CIPS, RETS (Thailand), NAR

Thai Properties M: +66 (0) 855-166-041 ce address 420/185 Moo.9 Pattaya 2nd Road 15, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 E: paul@thaiproperties.asia 412301/038 412302 Email: info@pattayarealty.com Principal: Paul Johnson W: thaiproperties.asia GPS:Location 12.928045,100.883015

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REM 01-12/2015 • Issues 174 and 175

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t s la Contact Seaboard Properties Co Ltd

Eng: 089 833 6175 View Talay 7 Lobby Thai:505/31 090 465 4563

REAL ESTATE BROKER ASSOCIATION â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EASTERN SEABOARD

ticks all Members of REBA-ES are respected

Member companies in REBA-ES are part of an established and respected real estate organisation which has the support of the Thai Government

professional

Clients of REBA-ES members can be confident that they are dealing with honest, reputable and properly trained real estate professionals

ETHICAL

The high standards we set conform to internationallyapproved rules, regulations, strict codes of ethics and dispute resolution policies

INFORMed

Our members network closely, giving all of them access to the Eastern Seaboardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest real estate association

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t s la

For comprehensive property listings and professional real estate consulting contact our members at www.rebaes.com

REAL ESTATE BROKER ASSOCIATION – EASTERN SEABOARD

the boxes ... Sponsoring REBA-ES members Contact

Eng: 089 833 6175 Thai: 090 465 4563

www.pattayarealty.com

Mark Welch +66 (0)81 945 4845 info@1stop-pattaya.com www.real-estate-thailand.com

Stuart Daly +66 (0)38 412 301-2 info@pattayarealty.com www.pattayarealty.com

Markus Probst +66 (0)81 762 2627 info@aci-enterprise.com www.pattayaoceanproperties.com

... if your answer is ‘yes’ to all, check out the REBA-

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t Gl bal t s a l Sale ß18,000,000 House 4 beds

Sale ß24,950,000

HS9736

(Jomtien Park Villa)

House 4 beds

HS6871

Siam Royal View

Sale

ß9,000,000

HS8611

House 4 beds (private pool) Mabprachan

Rob Watson Gareth De Silva Heiner Moessing +66 (0)81 938 8391 +66 (0)81 792 9486 +66 (0)89 499 1000 sales@fivestarvillasandcondos.com info@benchmarkthailand.com CR10009 Rent ß35,000/month Rent ß60,000/month Rent ß30,000/month CR7760 CR5893 info@siamproperties.net www.fivestarvillasandcondos.com www.benchmarkthailand.com Pratumnak Central Pattaya Condo 1 bed Condo 2 beds Condo 3 beds 3 baths Central Pattaya www.siamproperties.net

Property Pattaya Co., Ltd

Rainer Heinzmann Sale ß6,500,000 3 beds (private pool) +66 (0)81 838 House 1390 info@globalpropertythailand.com www.globalpropertythailand.com

HS9957 East Pattaya

Craig TurnerCS8856 Sale ß22,000,000

Condo 2 beds (sea view)

Naklua

Sale

+66 (0)89 253 5607 info@rightmovepattaya.com www.rightmovepattaya.com

HS9060 June Bernard +66(0)38 059 635 info@powerhousepropertiesltd.com www.powerhousepropertiesltd.com

ß78,000,000

House 5 beds (private pool) Pratumnak

You can trust Rent

ß50,000/month

House 3 beds (private pool)

CR10010

East Pattaya

Rent

ß50,000/month

Condo 1 bed (sea view)

CR10007 Wong Amat

Rent

ß120,000/month

CR7116

House 4 beds (private pool) Mabprachun

GPS:Location 12.928045,100.883015 Our of�ice address 420/185 Moo.9 Pattaya 2nd Road 15, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 Tel: 038 412301/038 412302 Email: info@pattayarealty.com

Advert: Zen Grafix

www.rebaes.com

agents • •directory xxxxxxxx developers xxwriterxxxxx • directory Blue Sky Developments Co Ltd 933 Ruamtanuthai Building, 11th floor, Mahachai Road, Wangburapapirom, Phranakorn, Bangkok T: +66(0)81 8180874 E: pornthepchawla@gmail.com W: blueskydevelopments.co.th Principal: Pornthep Chawla (Dev) Boutique Corporation 170/67 21st floor, Ocean Tower 1, Soi Sukhumvit 16, Ratchadaphisek Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 T: +66 (0)86 378 7777 E: pattama@boutiquecorporation.com W: boutiquecorporation.com Principal: Pattama Piyamaneeporn

Dusitpattaya Co Ltd Soi Wat Yan off the Sukhumvit near Ban Amphur Projects: Baan Dusitpattaya and Dusit Grand Condo View (Jomtien) T: +66 (0)38 343 586 F: +66 (0)38 343 585 M: +66 (0)81 0584 930 (English and Thai) M: +66 (0)868 486 704 (Russian) E: baandusit@gmail.com W: baandusitpattaya.com or domvtae.su Principal contact: Darwan Bunting (Meam) Global Tower Group Co Ltd Banglamung Soi 16 Project: Paradise Ocean View M: +66 (0)8 222 66 077 E: info@paradiseoceanview.com W: paradiseoceanview.com

Modus Group 292/1-2 Moo 5 Soi 12, Pattaya-Naklua, Naklua, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 Project: Modus Beachfront Condo T: +66 (0)38 225 999 or (0)38 252 635 M: +66 (0)89-092 1333 E: info@moduspattaya.com W: moduspattaya.com Principal: Pimpinan Namthep New Nordic Occupies a large area of Pratumnak. Soi 4 and look for the orange signs Current projects: New Nordic Suites, New Nordic VIP Condominium I, II and III and IV are planned T: +66 (0)38 250 025 M: +66 (0)89 605 4114 E: sales@new-nordic.com W: new-nordic.com

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t s la

Bravo Thai Lifestyle Co Ltd Projects: The Vineyard I, II & III M: +66 (0)89 8677 969 E: terry@siamdevelopments.com W: siamdevelopments.com Principal contact: Terrence Allen Collins

CSP Projects Chaiyapruk 2 over rail track on left opposite The Ville Projects: Coconut Grove, Coco Palms and Palm Grove T: +66 (0)38 076 285-6 E: md@csp-construction.com W: csp-construction.com Principal contact: Tom Coglan

REM 11-12/2015 • Issues 174 and 175

Colossus Group Co Ltd 187/115 M7 Soi Nong Ya, Bang Saray, Sattahip, Chonburi, 20250 Project: The Willows M: +66 (0)92 472 5743 E: adam@willowsbangsaray.com W: willowsbangsaray.com Principal contact: Adam Rhodes CW Asset Co Ltd 212/13 North Pattaya Road Project: Bang Saray Beach Condominium T: +66 (0)38 414 405 M: +66 (0)85 272 8338 (English) or +66 (0)85 272 8228 (Thai) E: info@cwasset.com W: cwasset.com or bangsaraybeachcondo.com Principal: Ms Imorn Luekhamharn Membership: TREA

Habitat 5 Co Ltd Sales Office: 172 Soi Chaiyapruk 2 Projects: The Ville Jomtien and X2 Vibe Pattaya SeaPhere M: +66 (0)81 450 0001/2 E: chane@habitat-5.com W: TheVillePattaya.com

Heights Holdings Co Ltd Thappraya Road next to Bruno’s Italian Restaurant Projects: Park Royal I, II & III, Pattaya Heights, Club Royal, Laguna Bay I , II and III (The Maldives), Laguna Beach Resort Jomtien I & II, Laguna Heights, The Peak Towers, Wong Amat Tower, Water Park Condominium, C-View and Arcadia Beach Resorts I-IV (Pattaya, Naklua and Jomtien x 2) M: +66 (0)85 282 6454 E: oliver@heights-holdings.com W: heights-holdings.com Principal contact: Oliver Nabarro Matrix Developments 352/202-3 M12 Pratumnak Road Current projects: Art-on-the-Hill, Paradise Park, Sunset Boulevard, The View, The Vision, Amazon Residence, City Center Residence and The Orient T: +66 (0)38 250 120-1 F: +66 (0)38 250 008 M: +66 (0)87 607 8880 E: info@matrix-developments.com W: matrix-developments.com Membership: AIPP

Norwegian Properties Group 315/175-180 Moo 12, Nongprue Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 Project: VN Residences 3 T: +66 (0)38 303 310 F: +66 (0)38 252 548 M: +66 (0)89 936 6741 (Eng) or +66 (0)89 834 7664 (Eng and Rus) E: jeanette@vnresidences.com or liene@vnresidences.com W: vnresidences.com Principal contact: Jeanette Eiksund Heltne Nova Group Nova Park, 80/164 M9, Soi Sukrudee (Soi AR) near Jameson’s Pub Projects: Amari Residences, The Cliff, Nova Ocean View, Novana Residence, The Palm, Nam Talay, Serenity Wongamat, North Beach and The Orient T: +66 (0)38 415 304-8 F: +66 (0)38 415 309 M: +66 (0)85 282 6454 E: info@nova-thailand.com W: nova-thailand.com Principal contacts: Rony Fineman and Keith Storey Petch Property Development Co Ltd Projects: The Cove and Prima Residence Main office: 44 Soi Sukhumvit 59, Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 T: +66 (0)27 143 872 M: +66 (0)89 991 1999 E: info@ppd.co.th W: ppd.co.th Principal: Itthi Chavalittamrong

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agents • directory

Where you can get a copy of REm

Robin’s Nest 33/42-44 Moo 10 Soi Diana Inn T: +66 (0)38 720 194 W: robinsnestpattaya1@gmail.com

Mantra Restaurant & Bar Pattaya Beach, Pattaya T: +66 (0) 3842 9591 E: email@mantra-pattaya.com W: mantra-pattaya.com

Starbucks Coffee Company Avenue Pattaya Royal Garden Pattaya Stylo Pattaya Beach Road Tuk Com South Pattaya Central Festival T: 038 710 087 E: customercomment@ starbucks-thailand.com W: starbucks.co.th

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t las Sportsman Pub & Restaurant Soi 13, Pattaya Beach Road T: +66 (0)38 710 609 or +66 (0)86 834 3729 W: sportsmanpub.com

Star Books Soi Khao Noi 087 605 4326 E: books@starbookworm.com W: starbookworm.com

Holiday Inn Pattaya 463/68 Pattaya Sai 1 Road, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi T: +66 (0)3872 5555 W: holidayinn.com/pattaya

The Village Shopping Centre Junction Soi Chaiyapruk and Sukhumvit Road T: 038 074 647-8 W: thevillagepattaya.com

Shenanigans Irish Pub Jomtien Complex Condo Thappraya Road, Jomtien T: 038 303 490 E: info@ shenanigansthailand.com W: shenanigansthailand.com

Bangkok Hospital Pattaya Highway 3, Naklua T: 038 259 999 Emergency: 1719 E: inquiry@bph.co.th W: bangkokpattayahospital.com

Tequila Reef Cantina Soi 7, Pattaya Tel: (038) 414-035 E: info@tequilareefpattaya.com W: tequilareefpattaya.com

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REM 01-02/2015 • Issues 164 and 165 REM 11-12/2015 • Issues 174 and 175

Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa Beach Road, Pattaya T: 038 412 120 E: pattayamarriott@minornet.com W: marriott.com/PYXMC

agents • •directory xxxxxxxx developers xxwriterxxxxx • directory Powerhouse Properties Co Ltd View Talay Residence 4 489/2 Jomtien Soi 5, Pattaya, 20150 T: +66 (0)38 059 635 M: +66 (0)81 945 8002, +66(0)90 398 6643 E: info@powerhousedev.com W: powerhousedev.com watersedge-pattaya.com skylightjomthien.com habitusjomthien.com Principal: J. Bernard Memberships: REBA-ES, REBA (Thailand), RETS (Thailand), CIPS, NAR, CRS, RESMA

Tulip Group Co Ltd 88/58 Moo 4, Bowin Sub District, Siracha, Chonburi Projects: Centara Avenue Residence & Suites Pattaya and Golden Tulip Hotel & Residence (both behind The Avenue), Centara Grand Residence Pattaya (Na-Jomtien), Waterfront Suites & Residences (Bali Hai), Royal Tulip Suites T: +66 (0)38 959 180 F: +66 (0)38 959 508 M: +66 (0)83 718 0005 E: jason@tulipgroup.co.th W: tulipgroup.co.th Principal contacts: Kobi Elbaz and Jason Payne

Raimon Land PLC 22nd Floor The Millenia Tower, Bangkok Projects: Zire Wong Amat and Unixx South Pattaya T: +66 (0)26 519 601 M: +66 (0)81 3717 888 E: info@raimonland.com W: raimonland.com

d e t n i r p e r p e m i t t s a l

Ratanakorn Asset Co Ltd 300/6 M10 Pattaya Tai Current Projects: Life Star City Tower, Pattaya Klang Center Point, Ratanakorn Park View, Ratanakorn Villages 12 and 13, R-Con Residence, TW Garden Hill, TW Jomtien Beach Resort, TW Park View, TW Wong-Amat Beach Resort Condominium, Vela Casa. T: +66 (0)38 421 534 or +66 (0)38 421 274 M: +66 (0)81 762 6080 E: marketing-ratanakorn@live.com W: ratanakorn.com

REM 11-12/2015 • Issues 174 and 175

(The) Siam Oriental Trading Co Ltd 267/4 M12, Pratumnak Projects: Siam Oriental Condominium, Siam Oriental Garden, Siam Oriental Twins, Siam Oriental Elegance, Tropical Garden, Siam Oriental Plaza T: +66 (0)81 305 3071 or 085 085 8284 E: siamoriental@mail.ru W: siamoriental.net Principal contact: Anastassiya Konchaphat Town & Country Property 63/10-11 Pattaya Tai Projects: The Meadows, The Residence and Whispering Palms F: +66 (0)38 374 137 Russian: +66 (0)84 873 7425 E: info@towncountryproperty.com W: towncountryproperty.com Principal: Cees Cuijpers

Tudor Villas Co Ltd Showroom Pratumnak Hill, Soi 2 Projects: Tudor Court and The Cube M: +66 (0)81 863 0201 E: tudorvillas@yahoo.com W: tudorcourtthailand.com Principal: Simon Ditchburn

Universal Group Thailand 324/90 Moo 12, Thappraya Road Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150 Projects: Seven Seas, Savanna Sands and Seven Seas Cote d’Azure T: +66 (0)38 074 625 E: universalplus@ymail.com W: universal-thailand.com Principal: Sonia Punjabi

(The) Urban Co Ltd Projects: Acqua Condominium, The Gallery, SP Townhomes, The Urban, The Urban Suites and Aeras T & F: +66 (0)38 231125-6 M: +66 (0)86 323 1908 E: theurbanproperty@gmail.com W: thegallerycondo.com, theurban pattaya.com, theurban-property.com

VKK Real Estate Co Ltd Sukhumvit 87 just before the rail track and the new road Projects: Porchland I, II, III (The Blue Residence), IV (The Time), V (La Santir), VI (The Feelture), VII (Del Mare) T: +66 (0)38 757 375-7 M: +66 (0)82 444 1147-8 E: theblue@porchland.com W: porchland.com

Western Seaview Co Ltd Pure Sunset Beach, 225, Moo 3, Sukhumvit Road, Soi 48, Najomtien, Sattahip, Chonburi, 20250 Project: Pure Sunset Beach T&F: +66 (0)38 238 583 M: 083 096 22 24 E: contact@pureNajomtien.com W: pureNajomtien.com Principal: Nicolas Büchler

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