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Family Money: Reasons
why not
By Leslie
Wright
Over the past couple of weeks we’ve looked at what
amounts of capital might be required to provide a certain amount of
regular withdrawals, for one purpose or another.
I’ve also advocated the wisdom of starting up some
sort of regular or irregular capital-accumulation program to ensure the
capital is there when you need it.
Many people balk at the idea of savings programs, for
various reasons.
Timing
Some people who have been contemplating starting some
sort of investment savings plan may have been put off by the recent
uncertainty in stock markets around the world.
They argue that it’s better to wait until it’s
clear that the markets have recovered and are going up nicely before
venturing into risky investments like stocks and shares and things which
they don’t really understand too well... After all, you can easily lose
money on the stock market, can’t you? Better leave it in the bank for
the meantime where it’s nice and safe and earning interest.
The fact that local bank deposit interest rates are now
lower than the current inflation rate - so in real terms your money is
depreciating every day - doesn’t seem to have occurred to them... if
they can follow this counter-argument from B to C.
The Federal Reserve has been raising its interest rates
precisely to cool off the overheated US stock market, and other nations
have followed its lead - even though in the case of the UK, the stock
market is not particularly overheated, and has performed rather
disappointingly of late.
Sterling has also dropped in international value by
some 10% in recent months, so Sterling bank deposits will have lost more
in international buying power than interest gained.
Emerging stock markets have been depressed mostly by
sentiment and the ripple effect from the US. Some of these markets are now
viewed by many analysts as good buying opportunities.
Many analysts also believe that a global rally will
happen in the second part of this year, and investors who have bought in
at or near the bottom will be well positioned to benefit from this.
As to whether you should wait to start your savings
program until the markets have sorted themselves out and are halfway up
the cycle again, well, if you’re planning to put something aside
regularly and invest it for any period longer than a couple of years, it
really won’t matter too much what the market’s doing right now, will
it? Because between now and the end of your savings plan you’ll have
averaged out your unit buying price, and so long as the price when you
cash in your units is higher than the average you paid for them, you’ll
make a profit and what happened to the markets in between will be
relatively meaningless. (This is the principle of Unit-Cost Averaging,
which benefits regular savers and negates the fears of market timing so
critical to capital investors.)
Indeed, you may find a few years hence that the price
now was the lowest you paid for your units, and wished you’d bought more
of them while you had the chance!
Charges
Some people don’t start up a savings plan because
they believe that these plans always carry heavy charges, to which they
are fundamentally averse.
While it is true that many investment plans on the
market do incur charges which at first sight may seem onerous - especially
if you stop them early - this is by no means always the case.
Of course you might argue that keeping your money in
the bank you don’t suffer any charges or penalties for getting your
money out.
Oh really? If you withdraw your money from a term
deposit before its maturity date, you typically lose all the interest.
That’s not a penalty for early withdrawal?
And having instant access to your money through a
passbook or ATM card means your money is earning something like 3%-4% less
than if it were on time deposit. That’s not a penalty for having
accessibility?
And the difference between the minimum lending rate and
the best deposit rate is still around 6-7%. That’s not a charge levied
on your money?
The banks may not be so open as some other financial
institutions in declaring what their charges are, but rest assured you are
paying them, one way or another.
Any financial institution - be it a bank, a mutual fund
company or a unit-linked insurance company - is a business which expects
to make a profit. It incurs costs in administering and managing your
money, which it has to recoup.
In the highly competitive industry that international
financial services has become, the institutions concerned have worked out
very carefully what they need to get back, and how much they can forego to
remain competitive.
This is reflected in the differing charging structures
of the wide variety of investment plans available nowadays.
There are short-term plans with no fixed term and no
penalty for taking your money out whenever you wish.
There are medium-term plans with a high degree of
flexibility and “loyalty” bonuses for longer-term investors.
There are a variety of longer-term plans, with various
charging structures designed to suit every type of savings investor. Your
financial advisor will be able to help you select the ones most
appropriate for your particular needs and circumstances.
Some plans do indeed have quite hefty penalties for
discontinuing them in the early stages; but offset these by granting a
very high degree of flexibility down the road. These are ideal for someone
who wants to build capital over the longer term and believes he’ll be
able to continue the plan through to maturity, but prefers to leave his
options open, “just in case.”
Other plans spread the charges throughout their whole
term, and are ideal for someone who feels able to make a long-term
commitment to regular contributions. Most of these plans are still highly
flexible.
Certain other plans have more rigid structures, but
these are imposed to comply with regulations which would enable the
capital to be drawn down in their home country at maturity with either a
reduced or zero tax liability. Rigidity equals tax efficiency.
It’s always a trade off.
The more flexibility you require, the more it might
cost you. The more accessibility you require to your money, the higher the
charges or lower the bonuses.
It really boils down to horses for courses, and
cost-effectiveness.
At the end of the day, it is not so important whether
you’re paying charges at the beginning, middle or end of a plan; what is
important is whether it is a suitable plan for your particular needs and
circumstances, and whether it’s cost-effective.
Let me give you an example.
A plan pays for itself
An investor contributes $500 a month into a typical
offshore savings plan for a period of 12 years. Over the full term, he
will have saved $72,000 into this plan.
At the industry “standard” annual compound growth
rate of 10% (a realistic figure for medium-risk US$ denominated funds over
the term in question), it is reasonable to expect such a plan to be worth
about $125,000 at maturity.
At that time, our investor wants to start drawing down
a regular income stream. He elects to draw down just the growth each year,
leaving the capital intact.
At 10% compounded annual growth, he can reasonably
expect to draw down about $12,500 a year.
In the next six years he will have drawn out $75,000 -
$3,000 more than he contributed into the plan, and his newly-generated
capital of $125,000 remains untouched. Quite simply, the plan has paid for
itself.
How relevant now are the charges?
Leslie Wright is Managing Director of Westminster
Portfolio Services (Thailand) Ltd., a firm of independent financial
advisors providing advice to expatriate residents of the Eastern Seaboard
on personal financial planning and international investments. If you have
any comments or queries on this article, or about other topics concerning
investment matters, contact Leslie directly by fax on (038) 232522 or
e-mail [email protected]. Further details and back articles can be
accessed on his firm’s website on www.westminsterthailand.com.
Editor’s note: Leslie sometimes receives e-mails to
which he is unable to respond due to the sender’s automatic return
address being incorrect. If you have sent him an e-mail to which you have
not received a reply, this may be why. To ensure his prompt response to
your enquiry, please include your complete return e-mail address, or a
contact phone/fax number.
The Computer Doctor
by Richard Bunch
Well, in case you hadn’t noticed, the rainy season is
with us again. At this time of year thunder and lightening are a common
occurrence, and the lightening is of particular interest to us. It is this
that can cause devastating damage, not only to your communications devices
(phones, fax machines and modems), but for the luckless, also cause
internal damage to your computer.
There are a number of things that can be done to help
reduce the risk. The cheapest of all is to disconnect the telephone cable,
which is fine if you don’t need to receive incoming calls, and relies on
you remembering to disconnect every time when it is not in use. I’ll
take a bet that the time you forget is the time lightening strikes. Since
PC’s are what we are primarily concerned with here, there is something
else, which I firmly believe in, and that is external modems. With
internal modems, whilst it is true they are cheaper to buy, if lightening
tracks down the telephone line you stand a far greater risk of not only
having the modem ‘fried’ but also the internal PC components as well,
commonly including video cards, com ports and hard disks. Then it
doesn’t look like such a good buy. With external modems, it is very rare
for damage to the PC to occur. Another reason I like external modems is
that they are easier to hear, and the lights are a useful indication of
what is or isn’t going on.
My preferred favourite is a device manufactured in
England by Sollatek, it is called FaxGuard. Don’t be misled by the name,
it will protect all your communication devices, modems, faxes, etc. It
costs around 4-5,000 baht depending on the interface, a small price to pay
for peace of mind. It provides protection from lightening on the telephone
line, surges and spikes on the telephone, lightning on the power line,
surges and spikes on the power line, over voltage on the power line, and
back-up surge on the power line. Bear in mind that power and telephone
lines will conduct high-energy electrical charges, such as local lightning
strikes, and power surges which can reach right to the heart of your
expensive equipment, often with lethal effects. Even machines that are
switched off can be damaged; this damage can range from data corruption to
total system destruction. Remember, prevention is better than cure and is
much cheaper both in terms of hardware damage/replacement and lost
production due to data loss. For the technically minded, the specification
of the electrical side of the unit is: 5 Amps and 1.2 kVA, more than
adequate for the devices we are talking about. The only real requirement
to use the FaxGuard is an effective earth or ground. This has to be the
real thing, not ‘Thai style’, as it relies on this to discharge the
lethal charge to. If your premises doesn’t have one already you will
need to get a competent electrician to install one first. Don’t use the
water pipes, even if it is metal where you see it, likely as not it will
change to plastic at some point. This product is highly recommended.
Admittedly, some UPS’s have a pass through for the
telephone line. Once again these need a good earth, and I still prefer the
separate unit. Whilst on the subject of UPS’s, these are an accessory
that every computer should have. I do not regard them as optional! They
provide the computer with continuous clean power, protecting it from over
and undercurrent (brown outs) and a limited amount of power from their
batteries in the event of a power cut. This allows for a structured close
down; Windows doesn’t like to close other than by its shutdown
procedure. An unstructured shutdown can destabilize the system and the
damage may not be initially apparent. Personally I have never found the
locally made units to be particularly reliable and I recommend both APC
and Chloride units.
Whilst protection from lightening damage is more
important during the rainy season, protection for both the telephone line
and power line should be regarded as an essential all year activity.
Send your questions or comments to the Pattaya Mail at
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, 20260 or Fax to 038 427 596 or
E-mail to [email protected].
The views and comments expressed within this column are not necessarily
those of the writer or Pattaya Mail Publishing.
Richard Bunch is Managing Director of Action Computer
Technologies Co., Ltd. Providing professional services which include
website design, website promotion (cloaking) turnkey e-commerce solutions,
website hosting, domain name registration, computer and peripheral sales
service and repairs, networks (LAN & WAN) and IT consulting. Please
telephone 038 716 816, e-mail [email protected]
or see our website www.act.co.th
Successfully Yours: Sutee
Vatanathum
by Mirin MacCarthy
Khun Sutee Vatanathum, who looks like a shorter version of
Yul Bryner, is so American in his speech and mannerisms that it hurts, yet
thinks of himself proudly as “One hundred per cent Thai, ma’am!”
With an introduction such as that, there had to be an
interesting story behind his smiling face. It turns out that Second Petty
Officer Sutee Vatanathum, U.S. Naval Reserves, is the official Thai
interpreter for the Task Group Commander, Commodore Joseph Natare, and indeed
for the CARAT 2000 exercises themselves.
Sutee was born in Ladprao, Bangkok and finished his
schooling at Yanaawa High School. However, Sutee had his future mapped out.
The eldest of five children, with his father a flight engineer for Thai
International and an uncle a retired admiral in the Royal Thai Navy, it was no
surprise that at eighteen he was encouraged to go to the USA to further his
education.
His first stop was Los Angeles English School for a year
where he learned to speak perfect American! Then Sutee studied Electrical
Engineering for 4 years at the Fresno State University of California.
Being as he put it, being “100% Thai” he did the
‘right thing’ and met a Thai girl, marrying Jerdjun, there in 1976.
Together they opened a Thai restaurant called Thai House, a career move that
was to have quite some bearing on his future.
Ten years after this, and still resident in the USA, Sutee
became a United States citizen in 1986 and then joined the U.S. Navy reserves
in 1989. He said proudly, “ I couldn’t believe it. My English was a bit
broken but I passed the test to become part of the U.S Navy. I am a Persian
Gulf War veteran too. I was involved in operation Delta Storm in 1990-91 as a
cook in Bahrain for 6 months. My parents were just so proud of me when I came
home in U.S Navy uniform.”
I asked him if he had any regrets about choosing the Navy.
“I like to do something to be a part of the U.S Navy. I have been in the
Navy 11 years and have been around the world. The Navy has taught me how to be
a leader, how to be a decision-maker. The important values it has given me are
being part of a team.”
He went on to describe success as, “Being a team player,
because you can not live alone in this world.” This, of course, is something
that fits in well with Thai society.
When Sutee is not travelling the world on Navy ships or on
reservist training, which is one weekend per month and two weeks per year
minimum, he is helping his wife in their Thai restaurant in California. His
plans for the future are to continue doing just what he is doing - he loves it
so much.
One can’t help wonder how he survived the basic boot camp
training that turned a gentle Thai in to a jump-to-attention, saluting Navy
man. Sutee laughed, “No ma’am, I just loved the training ma’am.”
It was interesting that even the U.S forces can have a
jewel in the ranks, but pass it over until some time later it is discovered.
Sutee had joined the reserves in 1989 but it wasn’t until nine years later
that the powers that be discovered he could speak and write Thai!
It was in 1999 that he was sent on his first mission here
as an official Thai interpreter for CARAT. Now back again this year, Sutee
just hopes they send him back to Thailand every year. He loves doing it and
considers it an honour in spite of not having much free time. It is a huge
amount of work, additionally translating all the documents involved in such a
huge exercise.
Sutee does have advice for other would be marines from
Thailand - “The U.S Navy is a very good career, but you must become a
citizen and permanent resident of the U.S. before you are accepted.” And of
course, that is not quite so easy!
However, Sutee has found a way to be paid to wear a uniform
and travel the world as part of a team. What could be closer to a Thai’s
heart, even if he had to turn himself into an Americanized Yul Brynner to do
so. When I walked away, I realized that the happy “American” I had been
talking to was, as he said, “One hundred per cent Thai, ma’am!”
Snap Shots: Sports
Photography
by Harry Flashman
So you want to be a sports photographer?
Everyone at some stage does a little sports
photography. Generally it is a shot of sons or daughters competing at a
school function. Generally the results are so bad you never show the end
results to anyone. Disappointment registers heavily on the face of the
young family athlete and Mum and Dad are not invited to the next sports
day!
 All
this is the result of bitter experience, after number 3 son was the star
of the interschool rugby and his mother did not get one decent shot.
The first rule of good sports photography is to get as
close as possible to the action. If you can’t be ‘right there’ your
end result will be unsatisfactory. Now with many sports, you the spectator
are restricted to being on the edge of the outfield. This is why you see
the professional sports photographers with 300 mm plus lenses so large you
screw the camera on to them, not the other way round. These lenses also
tend to be fearsomely expensive, and unless you are wishing to make a
career of sports photography, then you don’t need one. There is another
way.
For the ball sports such as soccer, rugby, softball
there are times when you can get close enough to the action to take the
shot with just a ‘portrait’ lens. Any lens greater than 100 mm will
get you a decent shot of a scrum close to the sideline. Line outs are
again something you can get close to. With football you will get a good
shot standing behind the goal keeper, and even shooting through the net
will add to the atmosphere of the shot. However, beware if you are using
an autofocus camera because it will tend to autofocus on the net, rather
than the action 20 metres in front of the net.
To capture the spirit of athletics is again a difficult
task, but you can manage to get some good shots without the 300 mm monster
lens. Try to position yourself as close as possible to the finish and
pre-focus on the actual finishing tape itself. As they break the tape a
gentle squeeze and the shot is yours.
Softball and baseball are also difficult to get close
enough to the action to get a decent shot without a big telephoto lens.
Here you have to be even more crafty and try and get your “star” to
pose before he or she goes out onto the playing field. Most athletes will
even stop for you when they go out to the field if you call out. All of
them have large egos.
Golf is a particularly popular sport here, and one
where you will again get good shots with any camera. You can get close to
the tee off (just don’t get too close or you’ll be wearing a number 2
wood) and the putting green. Do not worry too much if you do not have a
fast or adjustable shutter speed in your camera, a little “blur” to
the club head will give the shot more impact.
With exceptionally fast sports such as motor racing and
motorcycle auto cross, you really do need the special cameras and lenses
to get shots while the race is in progress, but you can get some great
“atmospheric” shots with just a humble fixed focus, fixed lens, point
and shooter.
All that this needs is a little persuasive talking from
you to get into the pits and you can get some wonderful shots of riders
lying on the ground gasping, mechanics frantically working on race
machinery and even drivers sitting in their cars before they go out onto
the circuit to race. There is an additional bonus as well when you get
into the pits - these two sports attract gorgeous girls like bees to honey
- and they all love to get their picture taken (or else they wouldn’t be
there)!
Modern Medicine: Depression
by Dr Iain Corness
In my article in Vol. VIII, No. 25 I mentioned the fact
that the whole gamut of emotions experienced by us all are part of
“normal” emotional life. Highs and lows are part of normal living and
we should expect that these will come and go as we go through every day,
week and month. I did also say however, that there was a difference
between being temporarily depressed (normal) and deep unrelenting
depression (pathological). A very big difference.
One person who has experienced the pathological side
and the emotional trauma that this produces has taken the time and written
to me, and I share that letter with you.
“I should like to put the other side of the story to
that described by Dr. Iain Corness in his article. Thirty five years ago I
was given ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy) at the age of seventeen. For
the following twenty years I received a variety of treatments which all
proved useless. For the next fifteen I just learned to live with
depression and treat it as any other incurable disease.
Early this year, however, I decided to have one more
go. Now, after five months treatment with paroxetine at the Bangkok
Pattaya Hospital, the change is remarkable. It is difficult to put into
words, but it is rather like the disappearance of a permanent unwelcome
guest.
It is a pity that the same word is used for normal
reaction to life’s misfortunes (as described by Dr Corness) and a
condition, which has little in common with that. Consequently the sufferer
is unable to confide in even close friends who do not understand the
distinction. Comments like “everyone is depressed from time to time”
are as inappropriate as saying “everyone has cancer from time to
time”. Happily, at least in my case, there appears to be a cure. Thank
you BPH.”
I also thank that person very much for describing in
such poignant terms the agony of pathological long term depression. To
have lived, or rather ‘endured’ the problem for so long, it must
certainly have been like heaven to have the dark veil of depression lifted
by modern medication. However, I must stress that this was the condition
of a deep-seated and unrelenting depression, not the relatively short
lived depression after life’s misfortunes or adverse events.
It is also interesting to see how modern medicine
progresses with its understanding and treatment of various disorders. ECT
was, in my mind, particularly barbaric and not based on any well
understood physiological principles. Before that they even used a
treatment called ‘Insulin Coma’ where the poor unfortunate patient was
rendered unconscious by administration of insulin! Yes, we have come a
long way since then!
And while the newer medications are much better than
what we had before, there will be even better ones coming in the future.
The research into and understanding of pathological conditions will
continue for many years to come. That’s the good news!
 Dear
Hillary,
I have an embarrassing problem with wind. After a good
night out, I find I am very windy the next morning, so much so that I am
totally bloated and cannot do up my trousers. Have you any suggestions for
me?
Windy Willy
Dear Windy Willy,
Of course Hillary has a suggestion for you. Don’t go
out at night and the problem will be fixed - it must be the night air that
causes it. Or perhaps you need larger trousers? Seriously, there can be a
couple of medical conditions that can cause this, especially the bloating.
Hillary says you should go and see your doctor, that’s a good boy!
Dear Hillary,
What can you do with someone who is bad tempered? My
girlfriend will sometimes just snap and rants and raves with such ferocity
that I get worried she might pop her foo-foo valve or something. Will she
grow out of it? She’s only 47.
Tantrums
Dear Tantrums,
Only 47 whats? Inches? Years? Hillary just hates these
ambiguities! Grow out of what? Her clothes? At 47, I doubt it. Hillary
also doubts if she’ll stop throwing tantrums either. It is too late for
retraining, though you could try the nearest K9 training school. Sounds
like she’d fit in quite well.
Dear Hillary,
I never thought I would ever end up writing to an agony
column for advice, but here I am doing just that, as you seem to know the
Thai side of things. My problem probably comes from the fact that I cannot
speak Thai and I am unsure of some Thai customs. I have been here for
almost one year and have had a live-in girlfriend for the past seven
months. She is a delightful girl, great housekeeper and cooks well. The
problem I have is with the telephone. She just doesn’t hear it!
Honestly, Hillary, I can be in the shower and it will ring and ring and
ring and Lek never picks it up, and when I say why not, she just shrugs
her shoulders and walks off. Is this normal behaviour for Thai girls, or
is she loopy or something? She hears people speaking OK so it’s not as
if she’s really deaf. Tell me Hillary, is this the usual thing or should
I take her for treatment or what?
Alexander G. Bell
Dear Alex,
See what you started! Now then about Lek’s little
problem and your big problem (with Lek’s little problem). Thai people
very often do not hear telephones. They are not at all deaf, it is just
that they don’t want to hear it, so they don’t. This is particularly
so if their English is not too good, as they do not want to show that they
cannot ‘poot Angkrit geng’. All you can do is to tell her that you
want her to answer the telephone if you cannot get there first, and then
just tell the caller to ‘sakru kha’ and then come and get you. Best of
luck!
Dear Hillary,
I am thinking about buying a motorcycle but all the
reports about theft has stopped me. Is it really as bad as people say? Is
it worse than the UK for example? Have you any ideas on how to make a
motorcycle “thief proof” or should I just stick to Shank’s pony?
Shank.
Dear Shank,
Motorcycle theft is really no more prevalent here than
it is anywhere else. In fact, Hillary believes that theft is so
commonplace in the UK that right now you would be very lucky if you
didn’t get your car or bike stolen at some time. The answer is to be
vigilant and lock the bike securely. Mind you, you can never be 100%
secure. One friend in the UK chained the front wheel of his expensive
sports car to a lamp post but when he returned the car was gone. The front
wheel was still chained to the lamp post, as all the villains had done was
jack the car up and put on the spare wheel and drive away! With bikes you
have the additional problem of it being easy to throw it in the back of a
pick-up. A good chain and a stout padlock and attach it to something solid
seems to be the answer. But not to the car parked next to you!
Dear Hillary,
I live in Jomtien and my garden is becoming a mess, but
I do not seem to be able to find a gardener who will come regularly to the
house. Is there anyone out there who has a reliable gardener who could do
one day a week for me? Every odd-job man I have had lasts a couple of
weeks and then doesn’t bother coming back. I’m desperate.
Desperate of Jomtien
Dear Desperate,
You do have a problem. One day a week isn’t enough to
keep any gardener going, so if they get the offer of more days, then
they’ll take it. But if someone has such a chap down Jomtien way,
Hillary will be pleased to pass it on. Contact Hillary through the
Editorial fax, 427 596.
GRAPEVINE
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Bangkok unbound
A flabbergasted Italian tourist has been
found gagged and handcuffed in the standup closet of his hotel. A maid
discovered 45 year old tourist Lorenzo Vivaldi when she was checking
whether anything was missing from the mini bar. Alas both his wallet
and cash, which he had put into cold storage for safekeeping, had been
stolen. Lorenzo later told hotel security staff that he had picked up
a girl who may have misunderstood what he had said. “I told her to
take a shower and to help herself to anything she fancied in the ice
box.” He was also charged 40 baht for the Seven Up which the girl
had apparently consumed as she committed her nefarious act.
An icy reaction
In a related cold story, a British visitor
to Pattaya is blaming the mini bar in his hotel room for the failure
to catch his flight home. On arrival, he carefully placed his passport
in the deep freeze section of the fridge for security reasons and
proceeded to enjoy the intellectual stimulation of our fair city for
two weeks. Only minutes before the minibus was due to leave for the
airport, he tried to retrieve the passport but it was stuck solid to
the bottom of the freezing compartment. Unfortunate Kenneth Almond
suggested he take the fridge with him to the airport by which time the
passport might have become unstuck. But the hotel manager turned down
this idea, pointing out that too many electrical appliances had
already been stolen by farangs this year.
Best food deals
The 145 baht nightly buffet at the White
Night bar, Soi 17, needs some beating for value for money: salads,
varied Thai and farang dishes (the cottage pie is a house specialty)
and a choice of sweets with coffee to finish. White Night attracts a
mainly gay clientele, but absolutely no hassle whatever you are. The
inclusive price entitles you to a discounted drink on your next visit.
Meanwhile, the best breakfast in town could well be the 75 baht daily
special at the Apex Hotel down on Second Road. Hit it whether your
style is eggs and bacon or Thai cuisine. A very attentive staff at
both places ensure there’s a constant supply of hot food with prompt
refills as and when necessary.
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Take note
Our eagle eyed readers report the following
notices seen around the country. At a small airport, “You are not
allowed to pilot a private plane without a driving license.” On the
beach, “We can take you to Pee Pee Island and your wife to almost
any place.” Near the Burmese border, “If this sign is covered by
the waters, it is not safe to proceed.” At the Laos border, “You
must pay in American money or Sir Charge will arise.” In a Pattaya
condo, “You must not hang anybody on the private balcony.” In the
same condo, “Loud music is always quiet after 6 p.m.”
KL tips
Visa runner LR wants you to know a couple of
things about Kuala Lumpur. Bear in mind there’s a lengthy one hour
plus taxi journey from the airport into town. Expect to pay around 900
baht equivalent one way. He confides that the Thai consulate does not
give non immigrant visas without a pile of relevant paperwork. Tourist
visas are single entry only and may be refused if the officer believes
you are “living” in Thailand. LR told them he needed a non
immigrant visa to request a retiree permit here, but he was informed
he must apply “in Bangkok”. This, of course, is wrong information.
Without a non immigrant visa from abroad, you can’t start the ball
rolling here.
Readers’ queries
When tragedy strikes and you have lost your
house keys, reader SA asks where you find a locksmith in Pattaya. Any
unit offering a key cutting service may be able to help. But there’s
usually a reliable and prompt service available at the one on Third
Road, just a few doors up from the South Road intersection traffic
lights going north. Farangs should take a Thai speaker. Expect to pay
200 - 300 baht for a locksmith to open your front door. And you’ll
be surprised how quickly the deed is done... Also on the disaster
front, YT asks where you find the cheapest, good value outpatient
medical treatment for minor ailments in the Pattaya area. Grapevine
recommends Banglamung (government) hospital in Naklua which is well
signposted from Sukhumvit Highway. This is also the place to head if
you need a medical certificate of any kind when dealing with Thai
bureaucracies.
Farang judgment
Overheard in a bar. “Thai food would be OK
if they didn’t ruin it with all that rice and noodles.” |
Dining Out: The
Orchard Café - Cheap Japanese Food?
by Miss Terry Diner
The general consensus of opinion with respect to Japanese
food is that it is a brilliant form of cuisine, but tends to be an expensive
night out. However, if you are prepared to drive a little way outside Pattaya,
the Dining Out Team can point you at an “All you can eat Japanese Buffet”
for 155 baht. Interested? Read on!
We heard about the Kanary Bay development in Sri Racha - a
set of serviced apartments, very similar to the sister development in Rayong
where we reviewed their restaurant a few weeks ago. The Rayong restaurant had
been one of Thailand’s better kept secrets. The one at Sri Racha has been
even more so!
Kanary Bay Sri Racha is on Soi Jerm Jompon 1, easily
reached from Sukhumvit Road, just past Robinson and in the same soi as the
police station. The Orchard Caf้ is their restaurant, and is bright and
airy, with high ceilings, white tiles on the floor, cushioned cane chairs and
central buffet bars.
The rationale behind the Japanese cuisine becomes evident
as around 80% of the long stay residents in the complex are Japanese, and
while the chef is Thai, he has been trained by the Japanese to produce
authentic food.
The “All you can eat” buffet is actually more than just
Japanese, with Chinese and Thai as well. The central buffet bar centres on the
Chinese, with steamed and fried rice, a double boiled fish maw soup, two
styles of whole fish, roasted chicken with saut้ed four vegetables,
marinated fish maw, a roasted pork and assorted salads. At the far end of the
main area is the Thai food. A noodle soup bar, some deep fried items like
spring rolls, roast suckling pig and pork and a selection of Yum Thai salads.
However, it was the Japanese corner we had come to review.
This buffet section begins with Miso soup which you serve yourself into
lacquer ware dishes. Next to that is a glass topped ice chest with the Sushi
items - prawn and salmon. There was a never ending stream of diners helping
themselves to this section! Next was the container with the pungent green
Wasabe “mustard” and the Kikkoman soy sauce. Further down there were hot
boxes with saut้ed beef with stir-fried vegetables, some shell fish in a
special Japanese sauce and some deep fried nibbles. There are also new, shrink
wrapped Japanese chopsticks to take back to the table.
Miss Terry asked if there was any Singha Gold - and there
was - and at a special price on buffet nights of only 45 baht! Madame chose a
glass of white wine and we attacked the buffet.
 One
of my pet annoyances, experienced at many buffets, is lukewarm soup. In
contrast, the Miso soup was piping hot, so it was full marks to Orchard Caf้
there. Miso, for those who have not tried it, is like an Occidental version of
minestrone.
On my second trip up, it was to the sushi bar and a plate
of prawn and salmon came back with me, plus a large dollop of Wasabe and soy.
Now, those who do things correctly, mix a little Wasabe in the soy and
decorously dip the sushi into that. Miss Terry, however, is hooked on Wasabe
and tends to spread it on the sushi and go from there. The pungency and
power-packed wallop in the back of the nose is just addictive!
After that it was into the beef and saut้ed
vegetables (very nice) and then return to the sushi and Wasabe, and some more
sushi and Wasabe, another Singha Gold and some sushi and Wasabe to round out
the evening. Fabulous!
This had been a Japanese evening par excellence but
remember the buffet is held on Wednesday and Friday nights. However, the
restaurant does individual Japanese dishes on the other nights of the week at
reasonable prices too! Highly recommended and worth the twenty minute drive.
Animal Crackers:
Seahorse
by Mirin
MacCarthy
Animal Quiz
What is the only male creature that is capable of being
pregnant and giving birth? It also has the a pouch of a kangaroo, eyes like
a lizard, the tail of a monkey, with the snout of an aardvark, the ability
to change colours like a chameleon and to wrap its tail around things, as
well as spines like a puffer fish, a head of a horse and an armor plated
body like Stegosaur and it swims? Answer - it’s a Sea Horse!
 It
is an interesting creature with every one of the above features having an
important function. The lizard like eyes mean one eye looks left while the
other eye looks right, quite independently. This allows the seahorse to look
for enemies with one eye while searching for food with the other.
The sea horse tube shaped aardvark snout sucks up
microscopic sea shrimp. It is made of an upper and lower jaw, both of which
are toothless, much like an elephant’s trunk! Seahorses usually ambush
these tiny shrimps as they swim past.
Maybe the Stegosaur loaned the seahorse its bony plate of
armour. This covers its entire body and consists of many bony plates that
interlock throughout and are arranged into “rings”. The joints where the
armour interlocks have spines like the puffer fish. These two features
provide protection from predators.
The prehensile monkey’s tail is also very important and
not just decoration.. They have to wrap their tales around coral, sea grass
or any other convenient anchor on the ocean floor to stop themselves being
swept away by the current’s undertow.
The sea horse relies on its ability to change colour to
camouflage itself for protection against predators like large fish, birds,
crabs and sea turtles.
Did you know that the male sea horse carries the young
and that when a male and female sea horse mate during the full moon, it’s
for life! They normally go through a series of courtship rituals that lasts
several days. This ritual involves such things as color changes and
synchronized swimming. The female makes between 200 - 600 eggs which she
then deposits in the males brood pouch where he fertilizes them and lets
them grow. The developing embryos are oxygenated and maintained for 3 - 6
weeks. When the male gives birth, he may actually experience birth pain.
When they hatch, the baby sea ponies are about 1 centimeter long and they
must fend for themselves because the male will not care for them. Those who
survive the initial period will live for about 4 years.
The Chinese, Indonesians, Central Filipinos and Thais use
sea horses in their medicines as cures for illnesses, as aphrodisiacs,
decorations and even for food.
All you potential exotic pet owners, have a re-think on
having sea horses as pets. Unless you are rather experienced at maintaining
a salt water aquarium, forget it. They need to be fed three times a day on
microscopic shrimp and maintained in a particular marine environment with
narrow pH and nitrogen levels and without other fish. It is possible for the
dedicated - but not very practical here in Pattaya.
Down The Iron Road:
Bulleid of The Southern
by John D.
Blyth
Oliver Vaughan Snell Bulleid, born in Invercargill, New
Zealand, of Devonian parents, seems a less than likely candidate for fame as a
British locomotive engineer. Yet it was to be so, with Oliver entering his four
apprenticeship in early 1901.
Other than a spell with the Westinghouse Brake Co. at
Freinville (‘Braketown’), near Paris and a period serving his country with
distinction in the 1914 war, Bulleid remained in Great Northern Railway (GNR)
service under H.N. Gresley who was appointed to the top job, with Bulleid as his
assistant.
 Diagram
of the ‘Bulleid-Walschaerts’ valve gear as fitted to the Bulleid
‘Pacifics’.
Only 6 years separated the ages of the two men, and so
Bulleid, were he to be the successor, would only hold the post for a short time.
But he has not expected a call from Sir Herbert Walker, Chairman of the Southern
Railway, to tell him that Richard Maunsell, head of that railway’s locomotive
department, was about to retire, and if Bulleid cared to apply, the job would be
his. He did so, and took office in 1937, but was a little shocked at the
Board’s disinterest in the line’s 1,200 or so steam locomotives, and only
more electrification raised interest.
Bulleid did manage to get approval for new small schemes of
modernisation, but failed to stir the Board until he said, pointedly to known
keen horseman, John Elliot, ‘Replacing half the horses in cavalry regiment
with armoured cars does not make the remaining horses any younger’. He got all
that he wanted, including progressing a new more powerful locomotive for the
heavy Boat Trains serving the Channel Ports, and also for the heavy trains to
the west. More immediate action was to re-cylinder the ‘Lord Nelson’ 4-6-0s,
then the biggest on the line, and fit them with an exhaust system based on the
French ‘Le Maitre’ - which transformed their performance.
 Bulleid
‘Merchant Navy’ Class 4-6-2 No.21C (Southern Railway numbering), almost as
built, at Salisbury in 1949. Only smoke deflecting arrangement at the front have
been modified.
Gradient suggested eight coupled wheels for the ‘big-mixed
traffic’ locomotives now in Bulleid’s mind; a 4-8-2 would be too long for
the turn-tables, a 2-8-2 frightened the nervous Civil Engineer, even when the
fitting of the German Krauss-Helmholtz truck at the front end to ease them round
curves was offered. Two engines, ‘for trials’ was all that Bulleid could
get, and the idea of just two locomotives being ‘tried’, for an unspecified
period did not appeal, so he had to come back, unwillingly, to a ‘Pacific’
(4-6-2), with an adhesion weight of 61 tons.
Like most British ‘Pacifics’ they proved to be seriously
prone to wheel-slip at starting, due at least in part to some of the adhesion
weight being transferred to the rear carrying wheels when a strong pull was
made. This was serious in the case of the Bulleid engines and was never totally
cured.
A locomotive of startling originality eventually appeared, in
the depth of war, from the Eastleigh works. The boiler, one of the best
steam-raisers ever on a British engine, had an all-steel welded firebox in place
of the usual riveted copper one. Semi-disc wheels, patented as ‘Boxpok’ were
thought to give even more support at the rims and were fitted throughout. Taking
the view that if it could be done on petrol and diesel engines, it ought to be
possible to totally enclose the valve gear, so the middle connecting rod and big
end, disappeared into an oil-bath. It was found that access was quite often
needed to attend to this gear.
 Bulleid
Class ‘Q1’ 0-6-0, in original black livery and numbered ‘C1’, as built
in Brighton in 1943. All non-essentials have been removed!
The valve gear itself was another Bullied patent; based in
the familiar Walschaerts gear, the movement was supplied by chains, supposed to
remove inaccuracies from vertical movement of the axle-boxes, wear on the chains
and a tendency to stretch produced worse troubles. The chains, horizontal and
angled, can be seen in the diagram. The final movement was by a rocker, not
pivoted at the mid-point but of a ratio 3 to 8, multiplying not only the motion
but also the effects of wear in that ratio!
No believer in streamlining, Bullied covered much of the
engine in an ‘air-smoothed’ casing, which made for easier cleaning, but no
help for access. So eventually welcomed by crews, when they had used to their
funny ways, especially the unpredictable performance of the steam-operated
reversing gear, the reception by maintenance staff was very cool. The limited
outlook from the cab was eventually improved and the smoke-lifting also, after
some experiments.
Had they been simpler they would have been a boon for wartime
traffic; the slipping made them almost useless for freight work on which they
got over the teething period, but they were eventually good on passenger work
for which they were really designed. They were expensive to run and the later
British Railways, rather than scrap them undertook a far-reaching rebuilding -
which made them look more like locomotives! Bulleid, long into retirement, was
not pleased...
Bulleid also had the task of building a real ‘war-time’
locomotive for freight work. 40 of the ‘Q2’ 0-6-0s were built, and as can be
seen from the picture, almost everything not absolutely vital was removed and
the spare weight usefully employed in giving the biggest boiler possible within
weight.
Based on an earlier Maunsell design, the ‘Q’ Class, every
dimension in the boiler other than the tube diameter was increased, some by
almost 50%, with no increase in overall weight. Reaction from the casual
observer was almost always one of horror and shock that such an object could be
allowed to run, even in wartime, and William Stanier, still in charge on the
LMS, on being shown a photograph, said first ‘I don’t believe it’, and
then, recalling the clockwork models of his childhood, added ‘Where’s the
key?’
One becomes used to almost anything, and over the years the
practical merit of the curious ‘Q.1s’ was realised to the extent that one
has been preserved for all time in working order, and is a cherished performer
on the ‘Bluebell Railway’ in Sussex.
Coins of the Realm:
Thailand to issue millennium commemorative coins
by Jan Olav Aamlid
President House of the Golden Coin
http://www.thaicoins.com
The Treasury Department, Ministry of Finance in Thailand has
authorized the Singapore Mint to strike millennium commemorative coins. Year
2000 marks two great celebrations for the Royal Family, first the 50th
Anniversary of Succession to the Throne for King Bhumibol Adulyadej and
secondly, the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Wedding of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
and Queen Sirikit.
The Singapore Mint and the Treasure Department in Thailand
are now accepting reservations for the new coins. Delivery is expected to take
place in end of July.
Eight different coins are to be struck, four in silver and
four in gold. Three of the silver coins are 50 Baht coins weighing 20 grams and
to be struck in 925 silver. The motifs are Thai Royal Dragon, Thai Serene Dragon
and Thai Joyful Dragon. The mintage is limited to 4.500 for each of the coins
and the price for each coin is set at S$ 55.
 A
5 oz silver coin with a face value of 200 Baht will also be struck. Only 1500 of
these coins will be showing the Thai Joyful Dragon on the reverse. All the coins
will have the portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the adverse.
The price for this big and heavy silver coin is set at S$299 and is said to have
special colour effect.
If you have a lot of money available you can also buy the
gold 5-oz coin. This coin will have special holographic effect, face value is
8.000 Baht, and only 500 will be struck. According to the information I have at
time of printing, the gold coin is only sold together with the 5 oz silver coin,
and the price is set at S$ 5999. Knowing that the metal value is less than 1/2
of the selling price I hope that there are at least 500 collectors willing to
spend this much for a modern coin.
This is not the heaviest Thai gold “coin” struck. In 1951
a 1.000 Baht coin weighing 173.879 grams was produced. This was made to give
holders of Government internal Bonds issued in 1943 the choice of being paid
back in gold coins, gold bars or some other form. It is not often that you will
see this coin offered for sale, but the price in nice condition is close to
300.000 Baht. The metal value is about 65.000 Baht, so in this case collectors
accept that the metal value does not have much to do with the market value.
Two 1/2 oz gold coins and a 1/4 gold coin are also offered in
the Thai millennium collection. They have face values of 250 Baht, 150 Baht and
100 Baht. The price for the 250 Baht 1/2 oz gold coin is set at S$ 525 and
minting limited to 1.000. This is a popular size for jewellery, and knowing how
many ladies around who would appreciate a beautiful coin close to the heart it
would not surprise me if this coin is quickly sold out.
Copyright 2000 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek, assisted by
Boonsiri Suansuk. |
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