“Big Mouth Returns”

by Jeep Hotlhaus

I finally made it back from Bangkok late last night after a high powered and trying week that should positively impact on our "old to new computers project" for the kids.

The week started with an all day session at the US Embassy on Monday which saw many interesting and influential people in attendance. Representing Pattaya were myself, Jim Montgomery (President of the Pattaya Sports Club), Craig Lewis (our treasurer), and Catherine Bond (President of the Pattaya International Ladies Club.) After opening sessions with Alice Moore (Consul General) and an informative hour with Ambassador Itoh, we spent the rest of the day hearing from the director of United States Information Service, Director Regional Security Officer, Head officer-Foreign Commercial Service, Political Counselor, Economic Counselor, Vice Consul for Chiang Mai, and all of the officers of the consular section. All of these officers were very knowledgeable and informative and I, for one, learned much about the affairs of the US embassy I did not know about before. During the day we made friends and valuable contacts. Throughout the day I explained to everyone who would listen about our projects’ successes and problems. Hence the start of the me and my big mouth scenario.

At 6 p.m. that evening we were invited to a hosted reception at Ambassador Itoh’s residence. Your chief cook and bottle washer, Lek (resplendent in a new dress her #4 sister made for her), dazzled all present with her computer knowledge and heartfelt feeling to help the kids. Your PSC president (Jim Montgomery) and your club treasurer (Craig Lewis) conducted themselves admirably. At the reception we continued to make contacts with VIPs in Ambassador Itoh’s small home of about 12 rye of land in the heart of Bangkok almost on the corner of Sukhumvit and Wireless Road. A very nice house with great servants. I presented Ambassador Itoh with his lifetime honorary membership card in the Pattaya Computer Club and invited him to attend our chaotic meetings any time he was in Pattaya. I also explained what we are doing for the kids and why I needed his and his staff’s aide in pursuing our goal. I then explained some of the benefits of his membership card in the computer club; i.e. 10 % discount on pirated CD’s, etc. That got a lively response from various US agencies present. Which did help to open the door of opportunity to talk to all the departments and further explain what we are doing. My big mouth once again that led to being invited to a large meeting on Thursday at the new Marriott Hotel to present our case to a meeting of all the IT professionals and Thai government ministries on trying to "wire" the Thai schools and give the "normal" Thai kids an avenue to open their minds.

The next morning, Tuesday at 9.30 a.m., I needed only 10 minutes with the Ambassador to obtain his fullest cooperation commitment of his staff for our project since he had already been briefed and actually read our Pattaya Sports Club Quarterly Magazine and our Computer Club monthly newsletter. (For those counting, that is my big mouth #3). I might add that Ambassador Itoh is a very impressive man and a credit to the United States. He is an easy to talk to person and puts forth an aura of caring. I would also like to point out that he is NOT a political appointee, rather a person who worked his way up through the ranks, and I respect that.

Lek returned to Pattaya Wednesday morning in order to be able to open the bar so Navy Dave could watch TV and the Oosik could come drink coffee and tell lies. I spent the entire day sitting by the pool composing my 20 minute pitch to the business men and Thai government officials for the Thursday morning meeting. (No big mouth on Wednesday.)

Thursday morning I showed up at the Marriott Hotel’s 4th floor business center prepared to push our cause. I was actually wearing a suit and shoes. I was the first person to arrive in a room set up for about 30 people. Within 30 minutes while waiting and talking to arrivals, I met more influential people when many Thai police arrived on the scene and escorted us downstairs to a large room on the 3rd floor set up for 100 plus people. There were more police there, with numerous elephants and stars on their shoulders, than I have ever seen even in a donut shop. They were all generals and the golf courses must have lost a fortune that day. Tony Waltham (editor of the Bangkok Post Database) spotted me and came over to ask me what I was doing talking to the competition (The Nation newspaper). After I thanked him for his help in publishing my letter explaining our project, I asked him what he was talking about re: "The Nation". I then found out that the editor of "The Nation" had obtained a one hour interview with Lek in Pattaya on Wednesday night, while I was still in Bangkok. That came as quite a surprise and I have since read her interview and she explained better than I could, what we are doing.

It seems the gist of the meeting I spoke at was centered around the current regime’s commitment along with businesses to try and open the minds of the Thai children in the IT area. All the CEO’s of the IT industry were present and all the government ministers (Education, Finance, Commerce, Customs, Immigration, etc.). I presented our cause in front of them and found that of all the people in Thailand who are talking about helping, we are the only one’s doing it! I closed my presentation with the words of Chiang Kai Shek: "A nation that doesn’t expand the minds of its children, is a nation in reverse". I then said, "It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine the impact of that statement when looking at the difference of Taiwan versus mainland China, and there is at least 95% of the Thai children whose minds are going to waste"! I received a standing ovation and was swamped after the meeting by everyone trying to find out what we are trying to do and what problems we had encountered so far. (Here comes Big Mouth again). While explaining our customs problems, (I did apologize in advance for stepping on anyone’s toes) I learned that the general to my immediate right was the Director of Customs. Then I went on about Thailand never being able to advance if they didn’t get their communications section privatized. Thereupon ensued a blaming session where customs blamed the port and airport authorities, CAT blamed TOT and vice versa, and they both blamed MCOT. I stopped them by saying if they would all quit blaming and start doing, maybe we could get some of their kids educated. They all came to a halt and started listening to the big business’s present and community leaders with Mr. Peter Fischbach (VP of the American Chamber of Commerce) and President, International Systems Management, standing out with his questions to commerce, immigration and customs about how to liberalize their regulations in order to advance Thailand in commerce and education. It appears that what everyone is trying to do will help the country and the kids and at least (unlike Thai Parliament) everyone stayed awake. I have been invited to join their "Thailand’s IT Heaven Team" which is just forming as a result of this meeting and I have to go to Bangkok many more times for more meetings. (Big Mouth again). Also I have been invited to go to Phuket this fall to speak to a combined meeting of IT heads in Asia which may include Bill Gates, Andy Grove (Intel), Jim Barksdale (Netscape) et. al. I also received a positive response from Khun Tippawan Prueksawan, Director of Business Systems, Thailand and Philippines, Information and Technologies Dept. Seagate Technologies, who said she might have a few spare hard drives lying around to donate.

Dr. Rom Hiranpruh, Director of (NECTEC) National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Ministry of Science Technology and Environment, who has just returned from a head to head with Bill Gates, then took me aside and gave me his home phone # and said any imports we may have coming in can be sent through him in order to alleviate customs problems. The Director of Customs also gave his nod of approval as did the US Director of Foreign Commercial Service. He then asked me if I was doing anything this afternoon and could I stay and go talk to some more people. I told him I was way behind in my obligations to the computer club by staying in Bangkok for 4 days, but would welcome the opportunity to present our case further. At that point we were whisked off to the Oriental Hotel in the stretch Mercedes Limo with police escort of Police Lt. General Chidchai Vanasatidya, Ph.D., Commissioner of Immigration Bureau, accompanied by his Deputy Commissioner Police Major General Chalermdej Jombunud. Upon arrival at the Oriental Hotel, I was escorted to a large room overlooking the Chao Phya River where I was allowed to present our case to the Prime Minister, Chuan Leekpai. The rest is history, as anyone watching any of the 5 Thai TV Channels saw me making our pitch to the PM.

After that meeting, I did my Superman changing act in the limo on the way up Sukhumvit (surprising how fast you go with police escort), took off my tear away tie, put my suit jacket in my bag and donned my old trusty 400 Baht tennis shoes purchased from the Malhotra family and arrived at Ekamai bus terminal. I received some funny looks from the local populace when arriving by limo I purchased my 77 Baht bus ticket and then proceeded to bounce my way back home to Pattaya.

I forgot to mention that I did find time to stop by Pantip and buy 4 towers with power supplies for 700 Baht each for our project. Now we can get back to the business of building computers for Pattaya School #4, and will be further ahead in our goal of 10 computers, so we can start our program which is now definitely under national scrutiny.

Other than the entire concept of what we are doing, the fact that most impressed everyone was our plan to use Father Ray Brennan’s Redemptorist Center students to teach the Thai Teachers prior to turning them loose teaching the kids about computers. This is something that will now be studied nationwide because the lack of Thai computer teachers is seen to be a major problem throughout Thailand. I have also received a commitment from Dr. Rom (NECTEC) to study the possibility of taking some of Father Brennan’s handicapped students under NECTEC’s wing to aid in their advancement. I have not yet received Father Brennan’s blessings for this idea as he has not been available, but I hope to speak with Father Ray in the very near future. Catherine Bond (president Pattaya International Ladies Club) has also given me assurance of their full support of our project and support of my idea to combine all the local organizations’ charity chairpersons into a cohesive group.

This has been a hectic and trying week and I hope (and expect) to see some positive results come out of it. We shall wait and see and in the meantime continue our efforts as before, un-impeded by naysayers.

Miss Pattaya 1998

by Teetha Clench
Pattaya Mail’s Fashion Editor

Hi! Hi! Hi! How are all you ‘little’ people out there? Teetha is feeling marvelous and sated, as she just came from a demonstration of the latest in beauty care, ‘Eat Your Cosmetics!’ Do not try this without taking the course first. There are many little tricks involved, which Teetha can’t reveal due to copyright laws. More about that soon.

The competition is now narrowed to 10 finalists. We were holding our breath, wondering who would win.

Teetha remembers her promises almost as well as she does her debtors. We promised to bring you a photo layout from the very first ‘Miss Pattaya’ contest, and here it is!
It’s a bit of a shame that one only gets to see these lovely ladies in swimsuits. One can see this on the beach every day. And some of the evening gowns were sooo lovely.
Mr. Sansak Ngarmphiches, crowned the ‘Miss Pattaya, 1998’

The ‘Miss Pattaya’ contest was held despite considerable difficulty. As we all should know, it was scheduled to be held during the earth-shaking Pattaya Festival, with an eye to making big baht for everyone. Due to a tiny administrative adjustment, the pageant had to be postponed.

It's so nice to have father figures around! It helps the contestants feel safe. Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, Mayor of Pattaya, presents a cash award of 20,000 Baht to the winner of ‘Miss Beloved of Pattaya’.

No matter. Teetha has decided that it is now fact that Thai women are truly lovely, seen sooner OR later.
Teetha, not wanting to outshine the contestants, yet still make her own fashion statement, dressed as the ‘Fairy Godmother’ from ‘Cinderella’. This gave her a lot of leeway in choosing glittery fabrics and rhinestone embroidery. Teetha’s friend and genius designer Mince Aphai also made her a most alluring set of gossamer wings.

From left: A true ‘Triple-Gem’ of beauty: Ms. Kanokorn Rordphan, 1st runner-up, Ms. Mayurin, the lucky Miss Pattaya 1998 and Ms. Paccha Laohavaravuthikul, 2nd runner-up.

The outfit complete, Teetha knew the contestants could shine in their way and Teetha in hers. But no matter what she does, Teetha cannot stop people paying attention to her. Being fascinating is such a curse, sometimes!

Khao Kheow Open Zoo a natural bastion for exotic animals.

The Khao Kheow Open Zoo, under the patronage of Royal Zoos and the Prime Minister’s office, is located on the Khao Kheow and Chomphoo mountain ranges. These mountains are a wildlife conservation area, and make up the only forest left in Chonburi.

The Khao Kheow Zoo is located on 5,000 rai of land. Parts of the zoo are located in Ban Bung, Sriracha, the Bang Phra Reservoir, the Ban Bung reservoir, the Nong Keu Reservoir and other estuary areas.
The zoo is home to 7 protected species of Thai animals; Gurney’s Pitta, the Eastern Sarus Crane, the Brow Antlered Deer, the Serow, Fea’s Barking Deer, the Marbled Cat and the Malayan Tapir. All are listed in the 15 species of animals published in the Royal Gazette of 1992 with the purpose of wild life conservation, study and research.

The Areas of the Zoo
The Exhibit and Public Service Zone has an area of 1,500 rai. This is a research area and breeding area for animals and is similar to the animal’s natural habitats. It is open to the public and they may come in close contact with the animals. It is also a rest, eating, reservoir, educational, and botanical area. It has an all purpose Gazebo.

The Research Zone covers 3,500 rai and also resembles the animal’s natural habitat. The area is being reclaimed and many different types of forest are being planted there. This is to make the area as much like the animal’s natural habitat as possible. It is also to be used as a research and breeding area for animals that breed with difficulty or are rare. Some of the animals in this area include: a rare type of crow, and pelicans being returned to nature. The area has been designated as the animal training project to return them to nature, and the wild animals research program.

Interesting things at the Khao Kheow Zoo
The only twin elephants in Thailand, Jum and Jim, are housed at Khao Kheow Zoo. They are the symbol and on the logo of the Amazing Thailand years.

The zoo’s animal hospital, the largest in Asia, has all the latest equipment needed to keep our zoological friends of every kind in tip top health. It will serve as a centre for helping animals coming in from the wild. It is also a rest area for animals who are put on show for people in general.

The biggest animals the hospital takes care of, the Asian elephants, are some of the most difficult of animals to treat medically. However, the hospital thinks that the elephants will soon receive complete care. To help ensure this, the zoo has recently received funds for an elephant X-ray machine.

The hospital will also act as a ‘gene pool’ in which eggs and sperm from rare animals will be stored. The genes will be stored in liquid nitrogen for future use, and stocks may be kept up to 100 years.

There is also another area reserved for all types of wild cats, bit cats, water fowl, and a botanical garden, but the project is not yet finished.

Vehicle Service
The zoo is now in the process of organising a transportation system for tourists, including larger parking lots and gates, which should be ready for use in December of 1998. The whole tour of the area will take approximately 30 minutes.

Khun Prida Julamonthon, a former champion cyclist on the national level, is also donating mountain bikes for tourists’ use at a nominal fee. This will also lower levels of pollution and noise which can disturb sensitive animals.

Thai Animals for Youth Project
The Thai Animals for Youth Project has invested more than 20,000,000 baht in construction to allow Thai children and young people to learn about Thai wildlife and the importance of conservation.

International Wildcat Centre
The International Wildcat Centre will feature all wild cats, including those that are nearly extinct, such as the Thai Marbled Cat, the Pantheria Tigris Balica and the Panthere Tigris Sondaica from Indonesia. The area is under construction and emphasises the similarity to the cat’s natural habitat.

The Malayan Tapir, a Thai animal, is a new member of the zoo. At present there is only one of these animals there. On March 16, 1998, the Khao Kheow Zoo opened to the public participation in naming the animal. You may send your suggestion to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, PO Box 6, Tambon Bangphra, Amphoe Sriracha, Chonburi, or call (038) 338-390 or 298-187-9.

Jungle Treks
Khao Kheow Zoo has designated an area for people who like trekking in the jungle. The trek is approximately 1.5 kilometres and takes 2 hours.

The salt water crocodile pond
The salt water crocodile pond houses some of these beasts, known to be the largest species of crocodiles in the world. The crocodiles were generously donated by the Thai Phibulchumporn Co. Ltd.

The Amazing Zoo Ostrich Project
The Amazing Zoo Ostrich Project is home to many Ostriches originally from southern Africa. These birds reach a weight of 150 kilograms in captivity.

Conclusion
This zoo hopes to be a haven for the preservation and propagation of Asian and international wildlife species with which we share the earth. We have contributed much to their dwindling numbers and it is now our responsibility to help them regain their rightful place in nature.

How to get there
The zoo is 40 kilometers from Pattaya and is a 45 minute drive. On Sukhumvit Road, drive until you reach highway 36 and see the zoo’s signs.

From Bangkok, take the Bang-Na Trat highway. Turn left into bypass no. 36 and travel another 120 kilometres. You will see signs telling you how to reach the zoo.

Pattaya Jesters MC visits Banglamung Home of the Aged.

The friendly neighborhood Jesters MC Thailand donated over 77,000 baht to the Banglamung Home of the Aged on Saturday, May 2nd. The donation was in the form of goods requested by the elderly, such as 20 dining room tables, a washing machine, a stereo/karaoke hi-fi system, a water pump, a lawn mower and some cash.

The police-escorted motorcycle procession from Pattaya consisted not only of 20 members from the Jesters, but also some Immortals from Bangkok, and Ad and Lek from Thailand’s popular Carabao Band.

Photo: Jesters and friends gather in front of the Assembly Hall at the Banglamung Home for the Aged.

Refreshments, a brief ceremony and presentation of the purchased goods followed the thunderous arrival at the old folks’ home. The highlight was one of the elderly ladies in attendance joining Ad Carabao in a duet of a classical favourite.

Afterwards, the residents enjoyed milling around the bikes and posing for photographs while sitting upon them. A touching farewell was the two ladies standing on the curb vigorously waving to each motorcyclist as they departed.

The Jesters would like to thank everyone at the Home of the Aged for the warm reception and everyone else who participated. Within the last month, the Jesters have been responsible for nearly 170,000 baht in donations, which includes moneys raised for the Phuket Special School during the annual Bike Week.

Automania: Volvo hits a home run!

by Iain Corness

The nice people at Volvo invited your Automania correspondent up to Bangers last week for a hustle and hospitality session at the Radisson.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t join the other motor noters in the big smoke, so they sent me a fax to tell me all the news I had missed. However, their ten page fax was all in Thai, so by the time I’d managed to have it translated we’d passed the dead-line for last week’s issue. I suppose I shouldn’t complain - it could have been in Swedish!

Never mind, I’m sure you’d like to know what’s coming up (or in this case "down") at Volvo. The good news is that Volvo has been granted approval for a parts exchange under the Asean Industrial Cooperation Scheme. Now, isn’t that title a mouthful! No wonder they shortened it to AICO.

This is a scheme that allows a goods exchange between member ASEAN countries at preferential tariffs (generally less than 5%).

For Volvo it means they can ship parts around between their supply companies in Malaysia (Swedish Motor Assemblies SDN, BHD) and Thai-Swedish Assembly Co., Ltd. in Thailand. The reality of all this should be cheaper parts for the S70, V70 and S90 models - with a similar deal for parts for the S40 and V40 models coming later in the year.

Now whether this will mean cheaper Volvo’s on the showroom floor is another question. Vice President of the Volvo Car Asia Pacific Industrial Centre, Mr Christer Olsson, was playing his cards a little close to his chest, and not being too specific. We can but hope, I suppose.

Volvo were also proudly chest beating having attained ISO 9002 - if it means better cars for you and I then applause all round.

However, I don’t know about you, but I have some reservations about the world-wide ISO mania. Sometimes I wonder if the 9000 numbers refer to the number of people who have to be paid to get the rating! (Did I really say that! Hush my mouth!)

Autotrivia goes International!
Perhaps one of the best morale boosters of the last week was a couple of emails that came through the editorial internet connection. These were from a couple of guys wishing to enter our weekly quiz. Now it’s a bit hard sending a glass of beer by post, so I’ve had to send Bruno Buergi of Switzerland a "virtual beer" over the ‘net, because he was the first completely correct answer to the Rotary engine question.

Not only did the Swiss connection get it right, but he corrected me too! The company to first make rotaries available was not Mazda (that much I DID know) - in any of their cars, RX series or Cosmo (Sorry, Jim Ganaha). It was, in fact, NSU. Now I thought NSU’s first rotary was the RO 80, but I was wrong (as was Bob Howlett)! NSU bunged a little rotary in the "Spyder" in 1963. So thank you for that and I suppose I’d better buy Bruno two "virtual beers" for catching me out as well! It was only after NSU’s not very successful attempts that Mazda came into the act and made the rotary engine a commercial long running reality.

My first experience with rotary engines was in 1980 when I threw away the Lotus Twin Cams I had powering my racing Ford Escort in Australia and put in the early 12A series. The engine costs went from $400 a meeting to $400 a year and they delivered about 60 BHP more! I have been a fan of the little rotaries ever since.

For those of you going overseas, or returning to your home country after holidays, remember that you can continue to get the Pattaya Mail every week on www.pattayamail.com.

Autotrivia Quiz
Now with the best automotive brains in Europe, as well as those on the Eastern Seaboard, ready to jump on my every slip-up lets see what we can come up with this week.

Last week’s question related to the EMW’s used by the police in Hanoi. These were, of course, BMW based motor cycles built in East Germany after the Iron Curtain divided the country. EMW stands for Eisenacher Motoren Werke, which is where the original BMW factory was. EMW built several cars and motor cycles, based on original BMW designs.

This week’s question is not as difficult as it first appears. What manufacturer built its first cars in 1904 with unconventional cast aluminium chassis’ and ran the world’s first turbine car? They still produce motor vehicles today and are well liked by dog lovers! As usual, a free beer on me for the first correct answer faxed in to the editorial office (427 596) and a "virtual beer" for the international emailers.

Local Motor Sport
This Saturday, the Ferrari Club is having a Sprint meeting at the Bira Circuit. I have been promised a steer in one of the Ferrari Cup cars, so we should be able to bring you a "from the seat of the pants" track test in a couple of weeks. Ferrari Clubs, the world over, are renowned for putting on excellent "social" motoring events, and I am sure the Thailand one will be no different!

On Sunday there will be the next round of the very popular Quarter Mile Thailand Championships. These events regularly attract more than 250 entries and should be fun for the Drag Racing dudes. Look for the world’s wildest Toyota Corolla complete with "hair dryer" hanging off the side of the engine and a very large bottle of nitrous oxide! My favourite, however, is the "Godzilla" bitumen stomping Nissan GTR which blitzed everything last meeting, only to be disqualified on a technicality.

The following weekend should be the second round of the Pra Tum Nak Hill Climb Championship, so take your picnic lunch to Fitness Park on Sunday afternoon. Close to the first right hander as you go up the hill is the most spectacular viewing point. Be there!

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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