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Around Town : Surfing
into the sunset
by Lesley Warner
As I drove along Jomtien Beach Road late one afternoon
the sun was low and as I gazed across the sea I saw a lone windsurfer
gliding across the water. It was surreal and like looking at a picture in
a travel book, too perfect to be true. It passed through my mind that it
was me on the board but only very briefly.
 Deecha
and Alek - ready to show you the waves
I decided to find out about the sport and went to D.C.
Windsurfing on Jomtien Beach Road (past the Grand Jomtien Hotel). The
manager of this club is Deecha Homanee, the former windsurfing champion of
Thailand. He also makes Star boards, so it seemed a good place to start. I
was guaranteed to find Daisy Vogt there at the weekend, as I know she’s
an enthusiastic windsurfer and an ideal person to explain the sport to me.
I asked Daisy what was involved for a beginner at this
sport and she told me that they have a special teaching board, called a
‘start board’. In Daisy’s words, “It’s huge - you can’t fall
off!” Absolute beginners can try out their balance on the board, set up
on land, and practice turning right and left and moving around on the
board. There are two English-speaking instructors and one will always stay
with you until you feel more confident. Daisy said, “It usually takes
about 1 hour to learn the technique, then it’s practice.” If you are
already a confident windsurfer D.C. can also cater for your needs.
 Daisy
is already becoming quite experienced at windsurfing
I tried to lift up a sail and had to admit that I am
incredibly ‘weedy’, after seeing the size of the sail Daisy uses I
asked her how she manages. She explained to me that you do get stronger
the more you practice but experienced windsurfers use a harness to keep
their posture correct, enabling them to manage a bigger sail.
I decided to forgo my romantic dream of surfing into
the sunset and found someone else to fill in for me. Brendan was a good
sport and jumped on the start board. Unfortunately he did fall off
(remember Daisy’s words?) and ended up going back to work wet (I’m
sure he’ll get me back one day).
 Alek
makes it look so easy
At the club is ‘Choke D’ bar for refreshments and
an ideal place to meet old friends and make new one’s. It’s open from
about 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
As for costs, to rent a board for 1 hour it costs
300bht; 1 hour rent + instructor is 400bht; and 1 day rent = 4 hours up is
1000bht.
There is also a repair service if you have your own
equipment, price determined by damage.
If you would like to try windsurfing or are an
enthusiast already, call Alek 01 861 3362 or e-mail: [email protected]
The British are
coming!
Coming? They’re here already!
 Namaoy
& Tim are there to greet you at The Lobby Bar
The latest English invasion is on Soi Buakhow at the Soi
Diana T junction (next to the New Buffalo Grill), where Tim and Trevor have
opened The Lobby restaurant and sports bar. This is designed to be an English
“retreat” where the patrons can consume 100% British food in the mezzanine
floor restaurant and then saunter downstairs to watch their favourite British
football team on the big screen TV, while quietly enjoying the odd ale.
The Moonlit Night Charity Ball
The energetic ladies at the Pattaya International Ladies
Club (PILC) are at it again, raising money for the Redemptorist Street Kids
Home for Girls. This time it is the proceeds from their Moonlit Night
Charity Gala Ball on the 24th of November which are being used.
The PILC balls have always been splendid affairs, and on
the “must attend” list for anyone who is anyone in Pattaya and the
Eastern Seaboard. This really is the time to break out the finery as the
dress code is formal, though jacket and tie is acceptable for gentlemen.
The ball will be held at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s
Siam Ballroom. Starting at 7.15 p.m. with photo opportunities, the four
course dinner with wine will be served at 8.15 p.m., followed by the drawing
of the lucky door prizes and then a charity auction. Dancing will carry
through till 2 a.m. to make it a truly romantic evening.
Tickets for the ball are available from Arlette Cykman
(038 300 325) or Julie Garratt (038 306 150) or can be purchased at any PILC
events. The cost is only 1,500 baht per person and are available
individually or reserved in tables of eight.
The PILC also thanks the sponsors of this charity event -
Volclay Siam, Foster Wheeler, SCC-Dow, BHP Steel, Laem Chabang International
Terminal, Pattaya International Hospital, PIC Kitchen, Sugar Hut, Four Winds
Group and S&P Syndicate.
UK Club gets the dates confused -
again?
The active UK Club in Pattaya held another function for
its members at Henry J Beans Bar and Grill. In July, they celebrated Xmas at
Hanks, a full five months before the rest of the planet, and this time they
celebrated Halloween, almost getting it right, being only four days before
everyone else.
 Eileen
and Norman from Yorkies Pork Platter in Jomtien “starring” as Morticia
and Uncle Fester
Secretary and vice president, Malcolm Boden explained the
discrepancy by saying that the majority of the club members were in
employment and the mid-week October 31st date did not fit too well with the
working week. Consequently, the club decided to hold the event on the prior
Saturday.
The Henry J Beans personnel buckled in too, and the venue
was suitably spooky, as were the waiters and bar staff. Executive chef
Stefan Heller got in the swing of it all too, producing such culinary
masterpieces as “Nightmare” - a tomato-mozzarella terrine; Vampire’s
Enemy - a garlic and potato soup; Devil’s Eyes made from a lime sherbet
with raspberry coulis to give the bloodshot look; with the main course
christened Krueger’s wedding meal which was a sliced duck breast (done
with chainsaw) presented on a beetroot sauce for maximum effect.
Some of the members came in costume, with Eileen and
Norman from Yorkies Pork Platter in Jomtien “starring” as Morticia and
Uncle Fester, complete with disembodied hand.
Once again, the UK Club appeared to have stolen a march
on the other organizations around time. Congratulations!
Bangkok Pattaya Hospital lends a
helping hand to the Computers for Thai Kids Charity Project
by Lesley Warner
Recently it came to the attention of the Bangkok Pattaya
Hospital that Glenn “Jeep” Holthaus and his wife Lek were looking for
computers for the Computers for Thai Kids Charity Project that they have
devoted their time to.
 (L
to R) Lesley Warner, Lek and Jeep Holthaus, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital
director Dr. Pichit Kangwolkij, and Assistant Director Neera Sirisampan at
the benevolent handover of computers from the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital to
the Computers for Thai Kids Charity Project.
Dr. Pichit Kangwolkij, the director of the Bangkok
Pattaya Hospital presented Jeep and Lek with 15 computer screens, 37
CPU’s, keyboards and accessories to be used for the Computers for Thai
Kids Charity Project. I asked Dr. Pichit how the hospital came to find
themselves with so many computers to donate, and he told me that the
hospital has recently upgraded their current hardware and software systems
to accommodate the new MedTrak - a medical service recording and tracking
program. The new system will enable the hospital to keep all patient records
in one file, from registration, date of treatment, diagnosis, test results,
x-ray, prescription and any other pertinent information.
Assistant Director Neera Sirisampan said, “The hospital
has always been interested in the welfare of children and is very happy to
be able to help the Computers for Thai Kids Project.”
Jeep and Lek said they were very pleased and would find a
good use for the equipment. Some of it will be sent up to Nakhorn Phanom,
where there is a Buddhist Wat, with a farang monk that will appreciate these
computers to help him teach the children.
If you have any computer equipment that you no longer
need, please donate it to this worthy cause. Telephone Jeep on (038) 723 273
or e-mail [email protected]
Updated every Friday
Copyright 2001 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
Updated by
Chinnaporn Sangwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.
E-Mail: [email protected]
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