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Snap Shots: Electronic marvels - but brain beats batteries every time!
by Harry Flashman
Since the industrial revolution, mankind has been
involved in building better machines. At first it was bigger and better
trains, ships, planes etc, but these days it is building better and
smaller machines - phones, CD players and even cameras. From the old box
brownie of 80 years ago, we now have the all singing, all dancing,
electronic marvels of today. Cameras that will even “think” for you
and work out the required shutter speeds for the kind of shot you are
going to take. With this sort of equipment we should all be award winning
photographers. Unfortunately we are not.
 The
reason for this is actually very easy to understand. While the modern
camera can get the exposure close enough and the shutter speed correct for
the type of shot, it cannot arrange the items to be photographed in the
correct position. Nor can the camera position itself in the right place
relative to the subjects to be photographed.
To illustrate what I mean, take a look at these two
shots. The brief is to photograph a house (in this instance it is The
House Restaurant in Chiang Mai, for all the northerners with sharp eyes).
The electro-trickery in the camera has managed to handle the exposure
settings, so that each photo is correctly exposed. Each shot has the
subject in focus, but the lower shot is much better. Why? Because in the
upper shot there’s a tree, pathway, gravel, a shed and, oh yes,
there’s a building in the background! But by walking several metres
closer, in the lower picture the photographer has made the building the
“hero”. The brief has been accomplished - photograph The House, but
this was done by the photographer using his brain, not by the supposed
smartness of the modern cameras.
One of the principal “rules” of photography is to
remember just who or what is the “hero” in the shot. This is one thing
the camera as a piece of equipment does not know. It is not a mind reader.
You have to arrange the items and compose the shot to make the subject the
hero. Always remember the rule, “Walk several metres closer” and do
it. More good shots are rendered useless by being too far away from the
camera, than by being too close to the lens.
Another classic situation, where the camera has
absolutely no idea of what you are doing, is the holiday shot where you
want to get your friends in front of the hotel, or in front of a temple or
whatever. You know what you want, but nine times out of ten, the amateur
photographer comes away without the definitive shot. Here is how to avoid
the shot of the Wat Benjomabopit with several little people standing in
front of it, so small they are unrecognizable!
With these “people in front of a special place”
shots, before you begin to position the humans, first you have to compose
the background of the picture by moving the camera into a position so that
you have all you want of the special building. Only after having done
that, now is the time to put your subjects into the frame. You will
instantly note that they will immediately move backwards to be close to
the building, making sure of ruining the shot for you before you begin! To
get round this behaviour, what you have to do is while looking through the
viewfinder call the people forward till they fill the viewfinder. Even go
for a waist-up view to get the person even larger in the photograph if you
wish. The people are the real “heroes”, not the building. It just
shows where you were.
With this approach you will get shots that can be geographically
placed, and the people in the shot can be recognized. The photo you had in
your mind all along! The technology may belong in the camera, but the
“eye” is yours. Just remember to use it!
Modern Medicine: High Blood Pressure - and how to fix it!
by Dr. Iain Corness, Consultant
“Blood Pressure” is not a disease, but can lead to
strokes, coronary heart disease, kidney disease, heart failure and death. So it
is an important condition.
Unfortunately you do not know if your blood pressure is up,
as it does not give you any warning symptoms until it is ready to blow the top
of your head off. That being the case, I do suggest that rather than wait for
that catastrophic event, it is a better idea to get your blood pressure checked
at least once a year.
Now here’s the first problem - blood pressure is a dynamic
measurement, and it goes up from many factors, including when you last had
coffee and a cigarette, or even sex. So what is your “normal” or “usual”
blood pressure? That figure can only be estimated after several readings. A high
reading this morning is not necessarily the same this afternoon. A high reading
today is not necessarily a high reading next week. Even the medical fraternity
is in disarray over this, with for example the Australian Heart Foundation
suggesting that the pressure should not be taken within two hours of a
cigarette, because it “produces acute increases in blood pressure.”
Considering a one pack a day smoker never goes two hours without a cigarette -
when do you measure his pressure not within two hours? When he is asleep
perhaps? So what really is his “usual” pressure? The one under the influence
of nicotine in my book!
So what is “high”? Blood Pressure (BP) is given as
Systolic over Diastolic. As a very rough rule of thumb, anything over 140 mm Hg
(mercury) systolic is too much, as is anything more than 90 diastolic. This is
written as 140/90.
Let us now imagine that your BP has been found, over several
random measurements, to be greater than 140/90. What should be done? The answer
is the mnemonic SNAP. That stands for Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical
activity.
Here then is how to deal with high blood pressure. First off,
stop smoking. As I pointed out (above) if you smoke anything more than eight
cigarettes a day your BP is being continuously elevated. End of story. By the
way, note that smokers have three to four times the risk of heart attacks and
strokes than non-smokers.
Nutrition. If you are overweight, it is time to reduce. You
are overweight if your Body Mass Index (BMI) is greater than 25. To find out
your BMI, divide your weight in kg by the square of your height in metres. (I
weigh 78 kg and my height is 1.8 metres. My BMI is 78 divided by (1.8 x 1.8)
giving 24.) For every kg of weight loss you can expect a 2 mm fall in BP.
That’s worth striving for!
While still in the Nutrition area, increase the vegetarian
section of your diet, and even go totally vegetarian if you like. Thai food is
high in plant-based foods and very plentiful in this country! And don’t add
salt to your food. You’ll get used to it.
Alcohol. You don’t have to become a teetotaller but limit
your drinking to two drinks a day and give yourself one alcohol free day (AFD)
each week.
Physical Activity. Regular physical exercise protects the
heart, as well as lowering BP. 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day is all that
is needed - walking, swimming, cycling or gentle aerobics. Half an hour a day -
even you can find that time!
A simple story with a simple fix. Over to you!
 Heart to Heart with Hillary
Dear Hillary,
Regarding “Not a Footy Fan” in issue December 27, in your column that is
mainly meant for amusement, you sometimes show a certain degree of wisdom that
one wonders if you maybe are a male. However, in your answer to the young
“Not a Footy Fan” lady you show a regrettable female way of thinking. You
support that girl in her theory that refusing her boyfriend is a way of
“teaching him a lesson”. Obviously the lady is a young inexperienced girl
that deserves a serious answer as follows: different interests are normal in a
partnership. Let him watch football if it makes him happy and be happy for him
as long as he does not force you to watch together with him. No partner can
possibly love you every minute of the day. So try to be tolerant towards his
interests as long as it does not harm you. You are not selfish if you fall
asleep while he watches TV. But it is childish to pretend. If you feel angry
(even without a real reason) you can tell him so. Preferably by saying, “I
feel frustrated” instead of scolding him. If you are not in the mood you
should not make love with him, like in any other situation. But never, never
use the refusal of your body as a punishment for your partner. Physical love
should be a rewarding pleasure for both partners. It should not be a tactic nor
a weapon nor a reward among lovers.
Not a TV-Fan either
Dear Not a TV-Fan either,
I am so glad that male chauvinism is not dead, my precious, I had become afraid
that political correctness had stamped you all out. If I show “wisdom” in
my words of advice and solicitude, then I am “male”, but if you do not
agree with the counsel, then I am showing a “regrettable female way of
thinking”! Make up your mind, Not a TV-Fan either - or am I perhaps a
lady-boy? That would fit your sexist descriptions admirably. What you have
missed is the fact that the young lady’s footy mad boyfriend expects her to
be awake and accommodating when he returns (but it takes a regrettable female
way of thinking to understand it). As you yourself have written, “If you are
not in the mood you should not make love with him,” and I agree. I also
advised, “Tell him you are not interested in football, but it’s fine if he
wants to watch quietly on his own,” which you have echoed with your, “Let
him watch football if it makes him happy and be happy for him as long as he
does not force you to watch together with him.” The lesson she wanted to
teach her Footy “Fan” (using the Thai meaning of the word here) is that
there is no guaranteed golden goal, just because the match on TV is over.
Dear Hillary,
In your response to Angry (December 27) concerning SPAM, you stated,
“There’s not much you can do, Petal.” Actually there is something you can
do, if you are not using a service like Hotmail. There is a program available
called K9. I’ve been using it for a few months now and it traps over 95% of
the SPAM I receive, with no false positives. I should state for the record that
I have no financial interest in K9. I do however enjoy your column very much.
Sugarloafer
Dear Sugarloafer,
I am wondering what kind of service you are using where K9 traps 95 percent of
your SPAM. Are you sure we are talking about the same thing? I went to K9.com
and got a wonderful fluffy puppy dog website with adverts for dog food. Do you
feed your dog SPAM, perhaps? This is a very expensive way to nourish your pet,
when they do just as well with scraps from the table. Our local K9’s are very
partial to rice and curry, and trap 100 percent of the scraps. Please let me
know. I too have no financial interest in any K9’s!
Dear Hillary,
Have you any ideas for a Christmas present for my aged mother living back in
the States? Every year I send her a book or a calendar, but would like to do
something different this year.
Undecided
Dear Undecided,
Aren’t you the dutiful son? Christmas was held back in last December, if you
weren’t quite sure, my Petal. You will also find that it has been held on
December 25th for about 2003 years, so it isn’t really something new.
However, I will surmise that you meant Christmas 2004 and you are just shopping
early. What to get your aged mother? I always believe it is good to give
one’s relatives items that are indigenous to here (means it’s from
Thailand, Poppet). With all the publicity given to OTOP goods (One Tambon - One
Product), you should easily find something for her at the local fairs which
specialize in Thai produced items. Silk items are easy to post and do not have
problems with being prohibited imports such as elephant hide or snake skin.
With 11 shopping months to go, even you should manage to get something off in
time. Hope mum likes it!
Personal Directions: A little bit of training
can go a long way!
by Christina Dodd
Towards the end of last year I met up with a group of
people who were preparing for the holiday celebrations and whilst they were
all gathered in a group at a local restaurant, they were also chatting about
the year and all the things that went wrong. And amongst the things that
went wrong I noticed a few were talking about the fact that once again they
are “going to have to change maids”. Now this subject is one I hear all
the time being discussed around luncheon tables and I can’t recall over
the years I have lived in Thailand the number of times it has held
center-stage.
The stories that abound from such conversations always
lead me to think of the maid who is on the receiving end of such chatter and
accusations which, in most cases, result in the fact that the maid just
can’t seem to do things right or is a bit lazy and doesn’t complete all
her duties in the day. But with this chatter, which may appear innocent on
the surface, comes negative and destructive forces as the chatter turns the
tone of the conversation into blame and disregard for others. We may not
realize we are doing this but we are. We may not intend to do this, but we
do it. We all are guilty of this behavior whether we admit it or not and it
is really not a nice place to be!
When this kind of “debate” rears its head I always
have to stand-up for the “underdog”. It is just how I am because coming
from a background in training I can very confidently say that most people in
this kind of situation have not given full thought to their actions and have
not fully and fairly examined the possible source of the problems that are
presenting themselves.
For example, if this is a situation you are currently
experiencing, be it in the home with your existing maid or even in the
office or business that you run with some of your staff, ask yourself some
very basic questions, beginning with the kind of training that you provided
in the very beginning. Did you provide any training to start with? What did
the training involve? Did you give the training? How well was it received?
Did you do any follow-up? How did you measure the results?
Let’s take the example of the maid and really take a
close look at it. In most cases that I know of, very rarely does the maid
have a proper chance to show her ability. She is usually expected to
understand and to know what to do because it is considered that the duties
are so simple and that they are ones that she has grown up with herself or
that she has done for years. This is a common mistake that is made and one
which leads to a lot of misunderstanding and miscommunication.
Every person, no matter the nature of the tasks they are
performing, needs to have time devoted to them in the initial stages of
their training. The maid, even though she is doing household chores, needs
to have you spend time with her, showing her in detail the various aspects
of her job. Break each job down simply so she can grasp each part and know
it well. Take her through each step, even though you may think it so easy,
take her through it so she clearly knows the procedures. Ask her along the
way if she has a question. Don’t bellow the duties at her, explain them
and have her gather a sense of pride about doing them in a complete and
proper way. All of this is so extremely important - after all - it is your
home she is cleaning and looking after!
A little bit of training like this can go a long way.
Show her by example if you can’t explain it in words. Have fun with the
experience but don’t make the mistake of thinking that once and quickly is
enough. You will have to repeat the task so it sinks in and over the next
few times she does it watch that she is doing it correctly. Give her a
helping hand along the way and encouragement and praise where warranted.
Think of yourself as a coach, and then your role will probably become much
clearer.
So many people living here think that a few minutes
darting into each room of the house speaking in a combination of words and
hand signals provides a clear and adequate picture to the maid of what she
is expected to do - and that it is enough for her to perform her tasks. I
have seen this all too frequently and then when something is not done
properly it is the maid’s fault. It really does require every person in
charge of the maid and the household to look at the way they are going about
this. To look at themselves and examine their whole approach.
Many people sit and have a good chat about maids and
their inabilities, but for a moment, consider the maid and her thoughts and
feelings she has about you. Consider that regardless of the job, it is a job
for her that she is dependant upon. She is a person within her own right who
may enjoy being in your house and helping you take care of it, and helping
to take care of you. If you show her how to do it well and provide her with
positive feedback and encouragement, then she will, in most cases, try to do
it very well. She will be positive back to you and there are the beginnings
and foundation for a very happy and successful relationship.
As I said, a little training can go a long way and at the
end of the day, both sides win. First up stop laying blame. It is the
easiest thing to do but quite often the wrong thing to do. Take a look at
yourself and how you are tackling this task right now and if you need any
help, please get in touch with me.
For those of you would like a presentation on our
training or life-coaching services, or any of our other professional and
life skills programs, please contact me at Christina.dodd
@asiatrainingassociates.com
Until next time, have an inspiring week!
Social Commentary by Khai Khem:
Smiling tourists give Pattaya the ‘Thumbs-up’
I want to congratulate the ‘powers that be’ for
performing what I deem to be some absolute miracles! Thirty days ago our city
and its environs were a mess. I blinked and looked again. The Christmas and New
Year holidays inspired a whirlwind of productive activity and provided the
motivation to showcase the best our city has to offer.
As the holidays season approached most potholes were filled
or repaired, streets were cleaned, and construction in many areas was completed.
Even the rubble had been cleared away. Flowers planted in public areas bloomed
in a dazzling array of color, shrubs were trimmed and sculptured, and - dare I
say it - the beaches and footpaths had been swept clean. Our city-sponsored
celebrations were lavish and impressive. And in the ‘Land of Smiles’ our
visiting tourists in Pattaya were wearing the broadest grins.
Hotels, restaurants and tourist venues went all out this year
to cater to our ‘honored guests’. Okay, that’s to be expected since they
are in the business of pleasing, but Thai-style hospitality is hard to beat
since it combines a sincere desire to please with a flexibility that addresses
the individual needs of visitors around the globe. Sometimes it’s the little
things that count the most.
I stole away from my keyboard on New Year’s Day to have
lunch with friends at one of our most famous 5-star seaside resort hotels. As my
friends and I dug into the lavish buffet and ate at a poolside table, I caught
an amazing scene out of the corner of my eye. A lone tourist baked in the sun as
he lost himself in what must have been an enthralling book. Completely absorbed,
a long ash grew from his smoldering cigarette and as just as it was about to
fall into his lap, the hotel’s pool boy cupped his hands and caught the
falling debris in mid-air. That is what I call attentive service!
There is a movement to change Pattaya’s Four ‘S’
reputation of Sun-Sea-Sand-Sex and replace the forth ‘S’ with Sports and the
policy is gaining tremendous support and momentum. This is good for Pattaya and
all of us who live here, not because sex will disappear from the landscape, but
because sporting events will add a healthy and vibrant dimension to our already
diverse region. Sex may never be removed from our equation - it is part of the
human condition. But I do think we have already long passed the point where
cheap and sleazy sex is our sole selling point. Pattaya is not only growing,
it’s maturing into a well-balanced city endowed with an enviable lifestyle.
It’s true that there is always room for improvement. What
city in the world doesn’t have its ‘ups and downs’? Rapid growth means
keeping abreast of public needs and rising expectations. Meeting those needs
will demand teamwork and commitment from all of us. Although we cannot rely on
government to do all the work for us, we can insist that their leadership heads
us in the right direction. The rest is up to us.
Last year’s tourist season was disappointing due to a
number of outside factors beyond our control. Still, we, as a community, managed
to rise above those setbacks and emerge stronger.
Most tourists I encountered were extremely impressed with our
city’s improvements. Complimentary comments obviously included the lavish
Walking Street/Bali Hai display and New Year ‘countdown’, but our cleaner
beaches and swimming areas in Central Pattaya and Jomtien also received raves.
The Europeans I spoke with were obviously the ‘Sun and Sand’ crowd. Tanned
and glowing, they were happy to have escaped a grim winter. As one woman from
Sweden said, “I saved for years for a holiday in Pattaya, and this is pure
Heaven. Sun and fresh vegetables in January! My friends back home are pea-green
with envy.”
Yes, I did meet a few Western men who had fallen in
‘love’. But since their gorgeous girlfriends were so attentive and the
gentlemen seemed so blissful, (even though I knew it was temporary) I joined the
conspiracy and wished them well. You never know. Life is full of surprises and
all South Pattaya bar girls do NOT have horns and cloven hooves.
One of the things I did notice during the holidays is the
vast number of motorcyclists driving with their lights on. However, almost none
of the riders and their passengers were wearing helmets. I assumed police were
turning a blind eye and giving them 50% credit for ‘doing the right thing’.
I figured since it was the holiday season, law enforcement officers were making
merit and hoping for good karma by not spoiling someone else’s ‘sanuk’.
Pattaya rang out the old year and brought in the new with
real panache. All dressed up and looking good, we got our act together and the
effect was dazzling. I personally think TAT should keep their slogan ‘Amazing
Thailand’ for indeed, when we all put our minds to it, we can pull off some
truly amazing things.
As I stood in line one day at the post office, I watched with
awe as tourists formed a line out onto the sidewalk to post gifts they had
purchased for friends and family back home.
I brazenly asked what was in the packages and to my surprise,
the presents were not fake watches and bogus brand-name clothes, but Thai-made
originals - many of which were products sold through the One Tambon One Product
scheme. As a woman from France put it, “We can buy the real thing in Europe,
but some of the things we see here are unique to Thailand. These are things our
friends really value.” I flashed back to the many police raids on markets in
the city that are still selling fake goods. Their days are numbered. The French
woman had given me a glimpse of the future. Market forces and changing consumer
mentality will turn the tide.
I did encounter a few disgruntled tourists whose perfect
holiday eluded them. I’ll save their sad stories for a later column. I’m
gonna quit while I’m ahead.
Roll over Rover:
Are large breed dogs a risk for small children?
by
C. Schloemer
Sooner or later your kids are going to ask you to get
them a dog. Parents must assess their home situation and time limitations,
and maybe a gold fish or a turtle will be the most they can manage in some
circumstances. But kids and dogs are made for each other and the question
is bound to come up eventually.
I get a lot of inquiries from parents who do want to
acquire a family dog, but aren’t quite sure as to which breed and in
particular, they often question the safety factor with large breeds and
small children.
Recently a man told me he wanted to get a
medium-to-large breed dog for his family, but was worried because he’d
heard so many stories about dogs biting children. “How can I be sure
that it will be safe for my kids?” he asked. “I’m a little
uncomfortable because my three children are still toddlers.”
This is a valid question. Statistics show most dog
bites causing serious injury involve medium to large sized dogs and
children under the age of five years. The dog is usually known to the
child or is the family’s pet.
To understand how these bites occur, what causes them
and how to prevent them, the owner must be aware of the nature of dogs and
the nature of small children.
A dog’s temperament is first inherited - then
modified by events in his life and proper training. Some breeds and
certain bloodlines within breeds are friendlier and more adaptable to
training because they were bred to be that way. A responsible breeder
wisely puts emphasis on good temperament when selecting breeding stock.
A dog’s basic temperament, instincts and training
have the biggest effects on how that dog reacts to the world around him
and his levels of tolerance.
A dog always bites with provocation - even if it exists
only in the dog’s mind. Most of their actions are instinctive. A dog
will react to situations according to what his instincts tell him unless
these instincts are overridden by the consistent training he needs to
receive from his owner throughout his life.
Here is one of the most commonly reported scenarios in
a bite case: A very young child sees a pretty dog and wants to pet him.
But the dog may not want to be petted. The dog’s first instinctive
reaction may be a warning growl. Something more unpleasant will follow if
the warning isn’t heeded.
The type and number of warnings given can vary. Many
dogs faced with a child like this would just walk away. Walking away is a
warning. If the child keeps trying to pet the dog, he will start to growl.
Some warnings are more subtle - a stiffening of the body, for example. Few
dogs bite without giving some indication beforehand.
Very small children don’t recognize a warning when
they see or hear one, and don’t know what a growl means. The child
continues to pet or follow after the dog even though the dog has now
clearly told him what will happen if he doesn’t stop.
Dogs instinctively set up an invisible “fight or
flight” boundary around themselves. The size of this boundary depends on
his level of confidence and tolerance. A fearful dog will give itself a
wider area than a more stable dog. When the dog perceives someone as
threatening enters that area, the dog has two choices -it can run or it
can defend itself. If it feels that it can’t run away, it will fight
instead, no matter how afraid it might be. There are also many dogs that
will choose to fight rather than run.
A small child that’s petting or hugging a dog has
already intruded within the dog’s safety zone. Unfortunately, a
child’s innocent action, petting the dog, can be a reason for
provocation when seen through the eyes of the dog, and he may bite.
Running, playing, screaming kids can also trigger an
instinctive predator-prey reaction in some dogs. Children who roughhouse
and wrestle with dogs unknowingly encourage them to use their teeth.
Startling a sleeping dog or petting him when he’s eating can also
provoke a bite.
So how can we prevent dogs from biting children? First,
owners must understand that almost any dog will bite under the right
circumstances. Socialization and obedience training are essential for a
family dog.
The dog needs to be taught to obey commands under all
conditions no matter how distracting. Just as responding to the command to
“come” could save the dog’s life someday, an immediate response to
the command “leave it!” could save a child from serious injury.
As children need to be taught how to be well-behaved
around other people, they also need to be taught to be well-behaved and
respectful toward animals. They must learn what kinds of games are
appropriate, how to touch the dog properly, how to interpret the dog’s
body language and when the dog is not to be disturbed. When they’re old
enough to understand, kids should be involved in the training process.
They must learn to give the dog commands and be able to enforce them.
Adult supervision is a must. Small children should
never be left alone with any dog, no matter how reliable the dog has been
before. A responsible adult needs to be on the scene to prevent any
aggressive behavior by the dog and to keep the child from putting him or
herself in danger. Remember that young children don’t recognize when
they may in trouble. It’s up to the adult to keep them safe from the dog
and to keep the dog safe from the children.
The Massage In The Moon: Sun in Sagittarius/Moon in Cancer
The cautious romantic
by
Anchalee Kaewmanee
In this combination, the adventurous, freedom-loving
and optimistic spirit of the Sagittarius Sun teams with the guarded and
shrewd Cancer Moon. Calm, assured and sympathetic, these natives have
great depth and sharp perception. In contrast to most Sagittarians, these
individuals usually look before they leap and rarely throw caution to the
wind or act purely on impulse.
Individuals born under this sign display a confident
bearing. The Sag-Cancer learns quickly because of a highly developed
emotional nature, and is receptive to other people’s needs and feelings.
A broadminded view of life encourages tolerance and sensitivity towards
others and friends and associates see them as so competent and well
informed that they often come to them for advice and counseling.
This Sun-Moon sign is refined and sophisticated.
Language and culture fascinate these natives, as does anything that hints
of the exotic and unexplored. Although blessed with a fine mind and keen
intellect, the Sag-Cancer does not have leanings toward scholarly
endeavors. This is a highly emotional sign that relies more on feelings
than intellectual deductive reasoning. When faced with a choice of fact or
gut instinct, these individuals will usually follow their hearts.
These natives are all dreamers and sometimes have
trouble separating fact from fancy. The vivid Cancer imagination can be
put to use in great ventures, but it can also be a source of phobias and
delusions. It is important to keep it within bounds. This sign is endowed
with great potential, courage and curiosity and the call of adventure is
strong. Famous writer Joseph Conrad is a good example of the highly
perceptive and creative Sagittarius-Cancer.
These people’s great charm and adaptability win them
respect and much admiration since others sense that sincerity and are
grateful for the sympathy. They can excel in any field they put their
heart to and are often drawn to specialized careers such as medicine, law,
engineering or fields in which they can put their creative abilities to
use such as writing, teaching, exploration, art and theater. Business is
not the best career for this group of people since it rarely gives them an
outlet for their dreamy nature.
In love, the Sag-Cancer is a romantic. Generous, loyal
and erotic, this native must choose a partner who is willing to give much
love and attention to the relationship. Cancers are moody, and often
interpret a lover’s neglect as something sinister. The Sagittarius is
fiery and sensual and sexy. A domestic life filled with stress and discord
can sink this combo into depression and even alcohol and drug abuse. Often
too tender-hearted and responsible to just walk away, a few Sag-Cancers
may stay in a bad partnership forever, and will brood and flirt with self
destruction rather than call it quits. These natives must settle into a
stable family life to satisfy their emotional needs. Fortunately their
uncanny sense of preservation usually saves the day.
Wine: Royal Cliff Wine Club hosts the first Romanian wine dinner in Thailand
Ranjith Chandrasiri
Romania’s winemaking industry, unknown to many, has been
around for centuries. This South-east European country is geographically
blessed with close proximity to the Black Sea, which has provided it with
varied soil and climate. All these factors, aside from its hillside
vineyards sharing the same latitude as France’s Bordeaux region, put
Romania at an advantage over its east European neighbours where grape
growing is concerned.
 Some
of the impressive wines from the Dealu Mare region that will be featured
at the wine dinner.
The country’s harsh continental climate is tempered by
influences from the Carpathian Mountains and the Black Sea, creating ideal
conditions for grape growing. Soils vary from the sandy plains to the
limestone hills. Add to that blistering hot summers taunted by
bone-chillingly cold winters, Romania certainly makes its vines suffer. On
the bright side, however, current and ancient history has proven a common
adage in wine circles to be true: “Masochistic vines make great wines”.
Archaeological finds and historical documents place the
beginnings of wine culture on the present territory of Romania some 4000
years ago. In more recent times, four phases of Romanian history have had a
great influence on the country’s wine industry; close links with France
during the 19th century, equally close links with Germany and Austria in
the inter-war years, the establishment of communist rule in 1948, and the
liberalization of the economy in the post-1989 period.
Its links with France were strong not only during the
19th century, but right up to the outbreak of World War 1. When philloxera
hit Romania in 1884, it was natural that Romanian viticulturists would seek
advice and practical help from the French. The result was that much of the
replanting post-philloxera was carried out using “French” vine
varieties, like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay,
Sauvignon Blanc and others. It was in the 1950s and 1960s that new vines
were planted to replace the lost vineyards. Thus, these varieties have been
in Romania for almost twice as long as in most other East-European
countries. Because of its location and aspect, Romania has been very
successful with these foreign varieties, most notably Cabernet Sauvignon,
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
One of the consequences of the shift in cultural ties in
favour of Germany and Austria in the period between the World Wars, was the
introduction into Romania of the “spritzer”; wine mixed with sparkling
mineral water. Even today, this remains a popular way for Romanians to
drink wine, which, in turn, has led to a tendency for Romanians to prefer
(and wine-makers to produce) white wines with toned-down fruit flavors,
since these, rather than strongly fruity wines produce the best spritzers.
In Soviet days, Romanian red wines were purposely made
sweet and geared for its Russian market. However, the recent years saw a
dramatic transformation of its wines catering to a more varied and
expansive market, particularly towards the West. A point in case is that
Romanian Cabernets and Pinot Noirs are now made clean, distinct and
non-overweight.
It is the native grape varieties of Romania, though,
that deserve special mention. Three quarters of consumption in Romania is
of white wine; more than just a mouthful to pronounce, Feteasca Alba and
Welschriesling are most widely planted but four other white varieties of
character are locally important; gloriously named Feteasca Regela,
Frincusa, Grasa and Tamaioasa; the last two make excellent fragrant sweet
wines.
King among the reds is the Feteasca Neagra (Black
Feteasca, or Young Maiden’s grape, presumably due to its youthful
characteristics). In Valea Calugareasca it yields cherry red to sultry,
gamet coloured wines that attract the nose with an appealing perfume. The
fruit is soft and very clear, balanced by a good tannic structure and firm
acidity. Another vital red is Baberasca for its big production and light
wines.
The biggest wine-producing region is Moldavia with
plantations of over 180,000 ha, or almost two thirds of Romania’s
vineyard area. The most distinguished white wine from this region is
‘Cotnari’ which, like ‘Tokay’, is made from nobly rotted grapes in
a sweet nutty dessert style. While Tokay struggled through socialism to
re-emerge in splendour, Cotnari, which used to appear in Paris restaurants
as “Pearle de la Moldovi” faded from sight. It is now being
resurrected. Cotnari is a natural white dessert wine; pale, delicate and
aromatic; the result of botrytis attacking the indigenous Grasa and
Frincusa, perfumed with Tamaioasa and Feteasca.
Romanian wines are increasingly accepted as being both
good and good value. One of the major obstacles to harnessing the true
potential of Romanian wines is lack of investment in temperature control
equipment and bottling lines. Further improvements and investment in new
technologies and better vineyard management should enable this country to
capitalize on its, as yet unrealized, potential.
Personally, I can vouch for the superb quality of most
Romanian wines. I found the Prahova Valley ‘Special Reserve’ 2000, a
barrel matured Feteasca Neagra from the Dealul Mare region to be
particularly delightful, with its distinct aromas of vine leaf and
freshly-baked bread, complemented by smoked plum and creamy oak flavours
that would complement any red meat.
And if you want to know more on Romanian wines - better
yet, a first-hand experience - then I suggest that you join the Romanian
wine dinner on the 23rd January, when the Royal Cliff Wine Club in
association with Landolt Wines (S.C. Bangkok Marketing Co., Ltd.) offers
several notable varieties for the first time in Thailand.
Worth mentioning also is the fact that this Wine Club
event would be Thailand’s first formal introduction to Romanian wines. I
intentionally wrote “formal” in quotation here because the diners not
only get to taste and enjoy the wines but also benefit more through
knowledge, facts, anecdotes and personal experiences unselfishly imparted
by the connoisseurs and experts who will be attending the event.
This forthcoming Romanian Wine Gala Dinner in the Grand
Ballroom (Baht 1500 net per person inclusive of a glass of each of six
premium Romanian wines, six-course gourmet menu, VAT and service charge)
for instance would be graced by no less than the Romanian Ambassador to
Thailand, His Excellency Cristian Teodorescu. Ambassador Teodorescu, is
himself a wine connoisseur, who would be sharing entertaining and
informative facts not only on Romanian wines but also on his country as
well.
Ranjith Chandrasiri is the resident manager of the Royal Cliff Grand
& Spa and president of the Royal Cliff Wine Club, Royal Cliff Beach
Resort, Pattaya, Thailand. Email: [email protected]
Website:www.royalcliff.com/rcwineclub.htm
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