OUR COMMUNITY
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

10 Carrefour customers win motorcycles during anniversary celebrations

PCEC learn about stroke and its signs

Open house at Ursula’s Antiques

Salsa dance award goes to local dance studio personality

New Thai and foreign artists get their chance at Liam’s Gallery

Ho ho ho it’s time for Santa to feed the fish

10 Carrefour customers win motorcycles during anniversary celebrations

GM Michael Richards (center) and staff cut the cake in celebration of Carrefour in Central Pattaya’s third anniversary.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Carrefour in Central Pattaya celebrated its third anniversary on December 10, and as part of the celebrations handed out 10 JRD motorcycles to lucky raffle winners.
General Manager Michael Richards led the management staff in cutting a huge cake and distributing it to customers.
The raffle, which saw 10 new JRD model 110cc motorcycles as the prizes, was organized by the store presenting one coupon for every 500 baht spent by a customer.
Prizes were also awarded to customers who submitted photos for a Father’s Day competition organized in conjunction with Sophon Cable TV and held between November 1 and 30. Twenty prizes each valued at 1,000 baht were handed out to the winners.


PCEC learn about stroke and its signs

Dr. Montsi Luxuwong, a neurosurgeon from Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital, presents the PCEC with valuable information about stroke and how to try to avoid it.

The Pattaya City Expats Club’s (PCEC) meeting on Sunday December 17th at Henry J. Bean’s consisted of another full and varied morning.
The week’s MC Roger Fox started the proceedings with Gary Brown, who provided an update on the Christmas Gift Appeal for the Redemptorist Centre. Gary, surrounded by a veritable mountain of gifts, thanked the attendees for their kind response. The gifts were delivered to 187 underprivileged children who live at the Centre on Christmas Day.
Each month the PCEC welcomes a medical specialist from Bangkok Pattaya Hospital who provides an insight into medical matters of concern. In the United States, stroke is the third leading cause of death and the number one cause of adult disability. This week, Dr. Montsi Luxuwong, a neurosurgeon from the hospital, provided an excellent insight into this debilitating subject.
Dr Montsi described the two kinds of stroke, the first where blood stops flowing to the brain and the second where bleeding occurs in the brain. The effects on the body that these conditions would have were then described. Dr Montsi explained the factors which could increase the risk of stroke which are a higher than normal blood pressure, oncoming old age, and a family history of stroke and smoking.
Dr Montsi then described the symptoms which would indicate that a person had suffered a stroke. These are general weakness; inability to move the arm, face or move the eyes; sudden change in vision; numbness, tingling; sudden change of character.
The action to be taken in the event of a suspected stroke was then described. To reduce the chances of severe disability a patient should immediately seek professional medical attention within three hours. After three hours, it is increasingly difficult to remove a blood clot should it have been formed.
Stroke prevention takes the form of annual health checkups; a low fat and carbohydrate diet with a minimum of sugar; a high intake of protein, fibre and vegetables; giving up smoking; regular aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming and cycling; general weight control.
Dr Montsi summarised by saying that the above stroke preventative measures were relatively easy to implement but an effective cure once a stroke had occurred was not. The PCEC greatly appreciated Dr Montsi’s clear account of this important health topic.
David Meador, PCEC secretary, provided further details of the new special interest group to be called the ‘How Do They Do It’ group which will undertake short tours to local manufacturing plants and factories. Approximately 20 PCEC members have expressed interest and the first tours are expected to take place soon, probably on a monthly basis.
Following the highly successful and enjoyable PCEC tour to Kanchanaburi, club chairman Andre Machielsen then provided initial details of the next tour. This will be another 3 day trip, this time to Chantaburi and it is scheduled to take place during the second half of January. Full details will be provided at the Sunday meeting very soon.
The popular monthly visits to the driving licence centre have now resumed, when both motor bike and car licences can be obtained. Hans Stroosnuder provided the latest information.
The regular Open Forum was then underway, led by John Lynham, the Writers Group host, and this proved to be the usual lively and entertaining session.
For more information regarding, not only PCEC Sunday meetings but also the varied mid week activities, please see the Community Happenings section of Pattaya Mail or, for more details, visit the club’s website at pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
The PCEC wishes all Pattaya Mail readers a Happy and Prosperous New Year.


Open house at Ursula’s Antiques

Ursula Rothstein invited all her old, new and potential costumers to visit her beautifully decorated antiques furniture house on Third Road. As usual Casa Pascal with a few waiters was on hand to serve the many guests with wine, champagne, and snacks. Ursula, her husband George and all the guests were already in a festive mood and much last minute shopping was done, with more than a few generous husbands planning to surprise their wives with a beautiful antique piece.


Salsa dance award goes to local dance studio personality

Well known local Salsa Latin Dance instructor, Samantha Moore of SalsaAmante Dance Studio in Pattaya (Sam to her students and friends), has won a gold medal for her Salsa dance performance at the recent West Coast Salsa Congress held in Perth, Australia from 1st to 3rd December.

Sam and her dance partner for the completion, Ben, proudly display their gold medals.

Sam, who was invited to participate in the congress by prominent a Latin dance instructor in Perth, took part in the 3 day congress which consisted of daily workshops, dance exhibitions, dance parties and shows, developed and choreographed by some of Australia’s most successful and experienced instructors and Latin Dance experts.
One of the instructors, who provided dance exhibitions and was an instructor at a number of the workshops, was none other than the well known and famous Latin dance professional and Australian television star, Jamie Jesus, who is probably best know as one of the judges on the Australian TV series “Strictly Dancing”, which can be seen here on Australia Network TV. Jamie and his partner “Little Liz” as she is affectionately known, principals of Latin Dance Australia, have spent the past 2 years touring the world teaching other instructors how to teach.
Other professional instructors included Juan Rando, the principal of Juan Rando Dance Academy, probably the most famous Latin dance academy in Perth. Juan and his partner Amanda are famous for their expertise in Salsa and Tango technique.
The Salsa dance competition held on the closing night of the Perth congress was open to all participating dancers attending the congress, except for instructors, who acted as the judges. Both Jamie Jesus and Juan Rando participated as judges for the competition. Sam teamed up with Ben, one of Juan Rando’s leading students, as her partner for the evening competition to take part in the event, which was for non-professional dance couples and both Sam and Ben were delighted with their win. It was Sam’s first major dance award in the international Salsa scene and she is obviously very proud of her achievement.
Sam attended the congress accompanied by her husband Graeme, who are now contemplating attending, again by invitation, the prestigious Sydney Salsa Congress in Australia, to be held over the Australia Day Long weekend from 25th January 2007. This event, organised by Australia’s most successful Salsa instructors, performers and entrepreneurs, will attract over 1,000 dance couples and will be presided over by many international Latin Dance stars and instructors from Australia, New Zealand, USA and the UK. Music for the shows and dance parties will be provided by the cream of Australia’s Latin dance bands and musicians. The Sydney Salsa Congress will be held at the Sydney Olympic Pak State Sports Centre from 25 to 28 January 2007.


New Thai and foreign artists get their chance at Liam’s Gallery

Liam Ayudhkij, owner of Liam’s Gallery introduces the 150 unique works.

A visitor shows interest in one of the works on display at Liam’s Gallery.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Liam Ayudhkij, owner of Liam’s Gallery, has collected more than 150 works by new artists and put them on display as a New Year exhibition, which will last until February.
The concept is to display works by new artists who have never been exhibited before. The exhibition not only comprises works by talented new Thai artists, but also includes works by foreign artists from China, the Philippines, and America.
Works by famous artists such as Natee Utarzt of Venus fame and Kasemsak Tranuchairat of the Human Touch 030 (3EA) 2004 are also on display.
Liam’s Gallery is located at 352/107 Soi 4 Pratamnak Road, tel el 038-251808. The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays and national holidays.


Ho ho ho it’s time for Santa to feed the fish

Santa took a dive into the tanks at Underwater World to give the fish a special Christmas feeding.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Santa had an unusual job on December 21, diving into the tank at Underwater World to feed the fish.
To the great surprise and delight of the visitors, who were able to watch through the glass walls of the 105-meter-long tunnel that forms the centerpiece of Underwater World, Santa climbed into the water with his sack and handed out a treat to the many species of fish there, although presumably the goodies did not include mince pies.
This show will be running through to December 31. Feeding times in Zone 1 are 10:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The shark and rays in Zone 2 are fed at 11:30 a.m., 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.