The guest speaker at the Pattaya City Expats Club meeting on Sunday February 5, will be the acclaimed Thai author Pira Canning Sudham. Pira, though born and brought up in an Isan village in Buriram Province, after studying literature in Victoria University in New Zealand and later in Australia and England, chose to write in English. His writings stem partly from defiance of having lived a suppressed life in the 1960’s-70’s under despotic regimes and partly from a driving force, having first-hand experiences of dire needs and social injustice in Thailand. This should be another do-not-miss meeting where Pira can explain more of the background to his books and his choosing to live a solitary life back in his home village where he sets up funds to provide scholarships to needy students and teaches impoverished children in and around the district of Napo at a private school he built in 1997. Pira’s books have become a powerful voice of the powerless. He has published 2 books under the collective title of Shadowed Country – “Monsoon Country” and “The Force of Karma.” He has also published “Tales of Thailand” and “The People of Esarn” The meeting will, as usual, have an update of forthcoming events and reports on the regular mid-week activities. Meetings take place every Sunday at 10.30 a.m. at Henry J. Bean’s in the grounds of the Amari Orchid Resort on North Pattaya Beach Road. Meeting freely open to all, buffet breakfast available from 9.30 a.m. More details visit www. pattayacityexpatsclub.com

The BCCT is delighted to offer members the opportunity to sponsor the first big 60th Anniversary event of 2006. The British Ambassador has kindly consented to host an evening reception at The Residence on February 7, 2006. Over 200 guests are expected at what will be one of the last opportunities to see the British Embassy compound as it is before construction begins. There are two categories of sponsorship - Gold (exclusive) and Silver (non-exclusive). Please book on-line at the BCCT website - www.bccthai.com you will need a membership number and password to book via this method. If you do not know your membership number or password please contact either the BCCT’s webmaster David Quine [email protected] or [email protected]

Valentine’s Day at the Montien Hotel, Pattaya. Dazzle your loved one on February 14, with romantic ambience coupled with a rose, chocolate hearts and dimly-lit candles at La Mer restaurant. Impress your sweetheart this lovers’ day. A five course candlelight set dinner accompanied by gentle piano music. Baht 1,900.-++ per couple. Includes a complimentary glass of Kir Royal each. 6.30-11 p.m. For reservations call 038-428155-6 ext. 1620 or 1621 or E-mail; [email protected]

Valentine’s Day at Thai Garden Resort. Enjoy a romantic candlelight dinner on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday February 14. Our gourmet dinner for lovers will be served from 6-10 p.m. at the Lanna Coffee Shop and at the Moon River Pub & Restaurant. The five course Western set menu is available at Baht 999,-net per couple or Baht 600,-net per person. For reservations: 038-370 618 extension 6666, or email: [email protected]

The strawberry season is upon us and Amor Restaurant is offering the following strawberry delicacies: Strawberry pork fillet pan fried with a sauce of fresh strawberries and crushed black peppercorns flamb้ed in brandy, strawberry chicken breasts pan fried with a sauce of fresh strawberries and crushed black peppercorns flamb้ed in brandy, fresh strawberries and cream with whipped, pouring or ice cream, French strawberries with Grand Marnier and whipped cream, Irish strawberries with Jameson’s and whipped cream, strawberry yoghurt smoothies, fruit shakes, and fresh strawberry milk shakes.

Art Café Pattaya introduces Menu Gastronomique - created by guest Chef Thierry from France. Savor an exquisite and thrilling 6-courses-menu plus a half bottle of Boccacino wine from Sicily. For more information or reservations: 038 367652 or mobile: 01 8326031.

At the Bay Italian Restaurant, Dusit Resort, Pattaya, Italian Chef Giuseppe Zanotti presents a light and healthy antipasto buffet 6-10 p.m. every evening except Saturdays. The Saturday night BBQ buffet continues to enthrall food lovers to fully satisfy the heartiest of appetites. 7-10 p.m. For reservations: 0 3842 5611-7 ext. 2270. The Peak now has inspired dim sum creations such as abalone stuffed with shrimp and ebiko roe, morel mushroom stuffed with shrimp and ebiko roe, crab claw stuffed with shrimp curry sauce, and sea cucumber stuffed with shrimp and ebiko roe. Also try chef recommended dishes: stir-fried king Phuket lobster with XO sauce and Hong Kong noodles, and lotus roots stuffed with sticky rice and honey plum. For reservations: 038 425611-7 ext. 2276. At the Dusit’s Cascade Café enjoy the new theme buffets. Every Wednesday night try Tex-Mex dishes. Friday nights are reserved for all curry lovers.

Casa Pascal Restaurant offers a new gourmet set menu including house champagne (Amuse Bouche), white wine (Angove’s Chalk Hill Blue, Colombard Chardonnay, Australia, 2003), rock lobster salad with avocado, walnuts and crab roe sour cream, green pea soup with sun dried tomatoes, goose liver stuffed duck breast on cranberry sauce and apple calvados sherbet. Red wine: Butterfly Ridge Shiraz Cabernet Australia, 2003. Seabass fillet เ la proven็ale with basil and tomato coulis or flamed pork mignon on blue cheese and pine nuts sauce. Spanish cr่me br๛l้e with orange fillets or selection of premium French cheese, coffee or tea. Calvados, Grappa, Remy Martin, Williams.

Jameson’s the Irish Pub has a host of Daily Specials! Don’t miss out on Jameson’s Wednesday night Curry Special. Enjoy the Sirloin Steak Night Thursday Special. Also at Jameson’s: famous British beers, Old Speckled Hen on draught and Newcastle Brown Ale by the bottle. Located at Soi Sukrudee (Soi A.R.), Pattaya, email: [email protected] Website: www. jamesons-pattaya.com

Mercure Hotel Pattaya presents P&P all you can eat pasta and pizza at the Cappuccino Terrace every Wednesday night. Contact: 038 425 050.

Sang’s Western Food is now open in Ban Chang: western food supplies for bacon, sausages, pies, pastries, cooked meats, etc. In association with Yorkies of Jomtien. Located in Soantakard Village near Pala.

Fusion Cuisine, The Tide Resort will present a new special promotion for spring with a Tropical Fruit Season for February. Tasty dishes such as tropical melon boat, salad of cantaloupe, melon and rock lobster, and grilled chicken breast with rambutan sauce. Also every Saturday evening, try the international buffet dinner, and the Tide Bakery breakfast stets. Bangsaen Beach Road. For more information call: 038 399200.

Tropical Bert’s can now be found in its brand new home on 2nd road across from the Bangkok Bank just before Soi 6 / 1. They now have a fully air conditioned bar and restaurant along with their traditional outside beer garden, and they are also the only bar in Pattaya offering Draught Bass Bitter, not only that but also 6 luxury rooms to rent all with cable and satellite T.V, kitchenette, lounge and all you would expect from a first class establishment. They still have their golf every Tuesday and Quiz on Sundays along with great specials every day, for instance on Sundays you can have, soup of the day, roast beef, lamb or pork along with all that goes with it followed by apple pie and custard, and if you want more please just ask. Worried about parking, No problem they have their own car park that you can enter from 2nd Road or Soi 6 / 1. Call in and start your day of with a great breakfast or end it listening to the antics of Parsons Corner.

This year’s Super Bowl Party at The Haven on Soi 13, February 6, starting around 6 a.m. features 2 rooms, 2 huge TVs, hosted by the ‘original survivor’, al fresco or air conditioned, all you can eat and drink and a chance to win prizes, what a deal! Everyone is welcome to come along and join the party.

Tequila Reef is holding its annual American Football League Super Bowl Party on Monday February 6. Door opens 5:30 a.m. with game starting at 6 a.m. All You Can Eat breakfast buffet with eggs, bacon, ham, potatoes, French toast and more. Also, ‘Double’ Bloody Mary’s, Mexican and Irish coffee. There will also be pools, prizes and much fun.

Jameson’s The Irish Pub will be showing Super Bowl XL on Monday February 6, starting at 5.30 a.m. Served with the traditional full breakfast will be a large Bloody Mary to prepare you for the game.

A New Year Concert in celebration of HM The King’s 60th anniversary ascension to the throne. D&M Music Studio and Robinson Piano are proud to present a recital of four pianists, performed by celebrated pianists from Singapore: Rena Phua, Ong Lip Tat, Thomas Hecht and Paul Liang. Saturday, February 4, at 8 p.m. on the 6th Floor of CCT Auditorium at 328 The Church of Christ in Thailand, on Phyathai Road next to Asia Hotel or Ratchathevi BTS Station. Tickets are priced at 800, 500, 300 and 200 baht for students available at D&M 02-718-7300, Asia Books 02-252-4373, Robinson Piano Showroom 02-658-1080-1 and the Harp Shop 02-261-6769. For more information or advance booking please call Khun Mongkol at tel: 01-682-8000.

Travel in comfort with Dusit Hotels & Resorts’ new shuttle service, the Dusit Sprinter, bringing guests between Bangkok and Hua Hin or Bangkok and Pattaya daily. The Dusit Sprinter leaves Dusit Resort, Pattaya to the Dusit Thani, Bangkok at 10.30 a.m. and returns leaving Bangkok at 2 p.m. Another Sprinter leaves Dusit Resort, Hua Hin at 11.15 a.m. and returns leaving the Dusit Thani at 3 p.m. Contact details: Lalana Santos, director-corporate PR & communications email: Lalana @dusit.com or visit www.dusit.com or www. leonardo.com/dusit