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Grand Sole holds annual thank-you party
Suchada Tupchai
The Grand Sole Hotel in Pattaya threw a bash on April 2
to let staff members know how much they are appreciated. Santsak
Ngamphiches, advisor to the tourism and sport minister and chairman of the
Grand Sole Hotel, presided over the opening ceremony. Over 100 guests of
honor and hotel employees attended the happy gathering, which took place
outside in the hotel’s car park.
 Santsak
Ngamphiches presided over the ceremony.
The yearly event is held to reward employees for their
hard work over the past year and to celebrate hotel achievements. These
parties are also great morale boosters. Everyone had a good time dancing and
singing as well as ingesting plenty of food and drinks.
Awards were also presented to three outstanding employees. Malee Tubtim,
Sunthorn Srisawat and Chanthana Nuksiengdee were acknowledged for their
honesty. All three had returned valuable belongings to the hotel’s
customers who were most grateful and very impressed. The Grand Sole Hotel
takes great pride in its well-trained staff and honesty is a vital factor
for those who work in the service industry.
Tax headaches?
Relief is coming!
Fifteen senior officials at Chonburi Revenue Office number 2 (Jomtien and
Sunee Plaza offices) have just completed an intensive 60-hour English for
Business Communication course at AUA Language Center.
Some tax
people can now use the English language to explain why they are taking your
money.
The project is part of a nationwide initiative to provide
better and friendlier service to foreigners. It is not a one sided problem
either; up till now the poor revenue staff have had a hard time explaining
the why and wherefore of their complex and often baffling rules and
regulations. Don’t expect miracles and make sure you’re actually
conversing with one of the specially trained staff.
For those of you who want to really make sure all the t’s are crossed
and i’s dotted, why not learn Thai? As the saying goes, “If you can’t
beat them join them!” The term, for both English and Thai courses at AUA
Language Center, starts on April 26 at 11.30 a.m. Pattaya Bazaar 1st fl.,
Dolphin Roundabout, 038 414634/5.
Rotary Club of Pattaya holds fellowship party
Rotary Club of Pattaya, led by club president Don
Maclachlan, recently hosted a festive fellowship party for its members. Held
at the Susiri Restaurant, the gathering also gave members from other Rotary
clubs a chance to congratulate newly elected regional governor for Rotary
International district 3340, Jin Srikasikorn.
 Former
Rotary district governors Premprecha Dibbyawan (left) and Prasert Chaimano
(right) congratulated Jin Srikasikorn (center), district governor elect of
Rotary International district 3340.
Although it was a memorable occasion, the atmosphere was fun and relaxing
and the dinner featured healthy vegetarian food. Entertainment was provided
by the band ‘Farang’, aptly named, since the 9 musicians are foreigners
from USA, Canada, German, Australia, Japan and Africa.
Local hospital provides expat club with free bone density testing
Bangkok Pattaya Hospital orthopedic
department, under the direction of Dr. Narin, provided free bone density
testing, a 1,200 baht value, and gave a practical presentation on bone
density and related medical conditions to the Pattaya City Expats Club at
Henry J. Bean’s last Sunday morning.
Dr. Narin stressed that osteoporosis can occur at any
age, although it is most common among people, particularly women, over 50.
This ailment is a condition many people are unaware they have and yet often
is a contributing factor to people’s death after breaking a joint in the
leg, arm or hip.
 How
thick are your bones? Dr. Narin from Bangkok Pattaya Hospital provided free
bone density checks to members of the Pattaya City Expats Club.
Dr. Narin said that at the beginning of last century,
life expectancy was about 40 years; by the end of the century it was 80 and
the projection for the end of this century is 120-years-old.
The longer we live the more problems we are likely to
encounter and the quality of life will decrease, including bone quality. Any
fracture of a bone affects quality of life, but the spine and hip create
rather more serious problems. For an 80 year-old person there is a 50%
chance they will have a hip fracture; of those people 20% will die within a
year and half will never return to a full quality of life.
Most anyone over 40 and postmenopausal ladies will have
problems. Other medical conditions and diet can also create osteoporotic
conditions. Diabetes and its treatment can affect bone density, as can
consumption of coffee and alcohol.
Members of the club were given the opportunity to have a
bone scan free, instead of the usual 1,200 baht, courtesy of the Bangkok
Pattaya Hospital. The results of this surprised many of the members.
Dr Narin indicated in his talk that as with all medical
problems, individuals have their own differences in body structure and by
testing the one area may not give an accurate result. Some have strong
ankles and week wrists and vice versa. Diet and exercise again go
hand-in-hand with good health. However, when treating osteoporosis, swimming
was not the best form of exercise and space travel was definitely out.
Jogging or mountain climbing were seen as the best forms of exercise;
unfortunately Pattaya does not seem to have the right geographical features
for mountain climbing and I doubt the members will be leaving to vacation in
the Himalayas to counteract the condition; rather they will take up another
special offer from the hospital of a new drug and supplement calcium
tablets.
The Bangkok Pattaya Hospital Orthopedic Department is open from 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings 8-noon. Staff are available to
give further advice on these conditions, to conduct testing and treat bone
problems.
Amazing Thailand Grand Sales 2004
Shop till you drop with huge discounts
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently held a
conference on the kingdom’s annual grand sales extravaganza, also known as
the Amazing Thailand Grand Sales, which comes under the Amazing Thailand
project. The main supporter is Visa International Co. Ltd. Many topflight
shopping malls will join this grand promotion.
 From
left: Niti Kongrut, director of Thailand Tourism in central region, Udom
Methathamrongsiri, director of Tourism Investment Department, Visanu
Chareonsin, director of Thailand Tourism Business Department.
This year, Amazing Thailand Grand Sales (ATGS) is
scheduled from June 1- July 31, aiming to attract foreign tourists to shop
in Thailand during the low season as well as urge Thais to buy domestic
goods which will create a good image of Thai products to serve the slogan:
The Shopping Paradise.
TAT asked for cooperation from all associated sectors to support the
Amazing Grand Sales 2004 project. Tempting bargains will be hard to resist
since discounts from 10-50% percent will be on offer at participating
department stores, shops and tourist attractions.
Numchai Home Electronics & Appliance celebrates grand opening
Suchada Tupchai
Numchai Home Electronics & Appliance Co Ltd, the
largest electrical appliance center on the Eastern Seaboard, spared no
expense to publicize the opening of its newest shop on Sukhumvit Road. A
famous Thai singer, plus an elaborate dance troupe were part of the day’s
pomp during the April 2 grand opening celebration.
Chanyuth
Hengtrakul, (center) advisor to the minister of tourism and sports and his
wife Wilawan (2nd right) presents a bouquet of flowers to the company’s
executives (from left) Wirat Chawalitnititham, Prasong Chawalitnititham,
(and far right) Duangsuda Chawalitnititham.
Some of the area’s top businessmen and political
leaders attended the ceremonies to give the business a grand startup.
Amongst them were Pattaya’s new mayor, Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Chanyuth
Hengtrakul, tourism and sport minister consultant, Thai recording artist
Praew Kanitkul and other famous teenage Thai singers.
 Niran
Wattanasartsathorn, Pattaya’s next mayor, tries out one of the products on
display.
The company’s executives, Prasong Chawalitnititham,
Wirat Chawalitnititham, Duangsuda Chawalitnititham and Yongyuth
Techasettana, jointly presided over the ceremony.
Numchai Home Electronics & Appliance Co Ltd has been
an agency of top shelf electronic appliance brands such as Sony, Samsung,
Panasonic, Philip, Mitsubishi Electric, Whirlpool, Siemens, Electrolux, and
LG for over 15 years. The company is involved in sales and service of these
appliances, and offers free internet services. They’ve also set up a
coffee corner from Bon Cafe to serve customers.
Opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Check out their
website at www.numchai.com
The
elaborate dance show spelled out Numchai and lured customers to come on in
and have a look.
Royal Cliff Wine Club to host another splendid wine gala dinner
Fine dining and wine enthusiasts in
Pattaya are once again at the onset of another exciting wine event, as the
Royal Cliff Wine Club offers a Winemaker’s Gala Dinner featuring
Thailand’s homegrown Chateau de Loei wines on April 30.
The event, to be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Royal
Cliff Grand, will again showcase a six-course gourmet menu from Royal Cliff
Beach Resort executive chef Walter Thenisch and his team. 1700 baht
net per person, all inclusive (price includes 6 varieties of reception,
dinner and dessert wines, royal canap้s, six-course gourmet dinner,
service charge and VAT).
The Chateau de Loei label, which has quietly and steadily
made giant strides in its winemaking capabilities, growing in both
production and reputation, will be featured at this event. Although this
might be the first time most of you will taste these excellent varieties,
don’t be too surprised if it’s not your last and the next bottle you
reach out for in a restaurant or at home may very well be a Chateau de Loei.
Ranjith is excited to announce also that the winery’s
prominent consultant, Dorham Mann will be joining him as the
event’s guest speaker. He is a respected figure in the Australian wine
industry having served as consultant to the Western Australian Department of
Agriculture for 10 years. He has received numerous awards and citations
earning the respect and admiration of the international wine industry - a
great accomplishment for the eldest son of the late legendary winemaker Jack
Mann.
As always, limited seating will be offered for the
dinner and prior reservation is essential. For enquiries, contact
[email protected]
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