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Relaxing luncheon for PILC
Kavita Singh
The Woodlands Resort with its relaxed tropical ambience was the venue for
the Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) luncheon for the month of
March. The lunch, held on Tuesday, March 6, was a great success with over 90
ladies attending. Before the more formal proceedings for the day started,
the ladies got a chance to mingle with each other, catch up with news and
meet new people.
 On
behalf of the PILC, President Rosanne Diamente (left) says a fond farewell
to Sheila Bagnall who is leaving Pattaya to go back to her home in South
Africa.
President Rosanne Diamente extended a very warm welcome to all present. She
reminded the ladies of the various trips organized by the Trips and Travel
chair, Nonie Malhotra and asked those that were interested to sign up. The
Family Beach Day to be held on the 25th of March especially promised to be a
fun packed day for all, said Rosanne. Next she updated everyone about the
Welfare activities, the tours and the ICU programme. There is going to be a
drop box available at every luncheon for ladies to drop in their old or
unused spectacle frames which can be put to good use for the programme.
It is never easy to say goodbye to friends. On behalf of PILC, Rosanne bid a
sad farewell to Sheila Bagnall who is leaving Pattaya to go back to her home
in South Africa. Sheila was a very active member of the club. She helped to
organize some wonderful trips for the PILC last year as co chair for
Activities. A very enthusiastic traveler, Sheila did not miss a single trip
organized by the club. We wish her all the very best in all her future
endeavors.
Rosanne then welcomed three new members to the club before she invited the
speaker for the day, Steve Johnson to the floor. Johnson is a practicing
yogi with many years of extensive study and practice. He gave an informative
talk about his introduction to yoga, the life changing effects it has had on
his life, the books that inspired him and his journey through different
forms of healing like Reiki and Tai Chi. He also spoke about his time with
the yoga master “Shanti Gowans” and his amazing journey to the yogis in
India as part of her group. Johnson then led the ladies through a 10 minute
relaxing meditation exercise. He pointed out how everyone’s breathing had
slowed down after the exercise. Indeed everyone did feel a lot more relaxed
after the experience.
Guests were then invited to help themselves to the magnificent spread laid
out by Woodlands Resort. Once again, the hotel had outdone itself. The food
was superb and the service extremely gracious. Such a wonderful lunch could
only be followed by something equally special. The raffle draw was a great
success as a quite a few ladies took home some great prizes. The ladies had
bought the raffle tickets generously as all proceeds go to charity.
Mixed media artists show their works at Gallery Opium
Peter Nordhues
On show at Gallery Opium until March 24 are the works of mixed media artists
Panuwat “Nueng” Hoonbamrung and Wittaya “Taem” Pised.
 Wittaya
Pised poses in front of one of his works. He and Panuwat Hoonbamrung are
displaying their art at Gallery Opium until March 24.
The opening of the exhibition was held on March 3, conducted by Liam Ayudhkij,
director of Liam’s Gallery, who introduced the artists by saying that their
nicknames Nueng and Taem translate as “One” and “Point” and that consequently
the name of the exhibition is “Only One Point.”
Both artists are masters of mixed media techniques. Panuwat’s works comprise
designed furniture, glassblowing, sculptures, costumes, ceramics, body paintings
and corrugated sheet metal. He has already won awards at several art
exhibitions.
 Panawat
Hoonbamrung
Wittaya studied political science before he started to teach himself how to
paint. With the help of some popular Thai artists, he was soon able to
participate at shows in San Francisco, New York, Amsterdam, London, and Zurich.
While he also paints on corrugated iron, the main motive of his works is the
lotus. The inimitable manner of representation became to be known as his
trademark.
Somkiat Sae-Sue Tee from Silpakorn University was the guest artist of the
evening.
Elaine Poole from the Pattaya International Ladies Club said that on April 28,
Gallery Opium would make their premises available for a special auction of 40
drawings from children. All pieces will be selected by Alan Kirkland-Roath,
director of Gallery Opium, and by Liam Ayudhkij. The revenues will go to
underprivileged children from youth centers in and around Pattaya.
Bikes for Tykes continues
Rick Bevington’s Bikes for
Tykes project continues to grow. Here, 12 children from School #7 were the
happy recipients of a new bicycle.
A programme started by Rick Bevington four years ago
continues to grow. The concept is to reward children with a bicycle for
community work or by being helpful in their school, home or anywhere that
good deeds are welcomed.
The children are selected with the assistance of Mercy Ministries, the Full
Gospel Ministry and the Pattaya Sports Club. Rick and many of his friends
support the project financially. They have plans to expand in the future by
introducing a bicycle road safety programme into local schools.
On this occasion, 12 children from School #7 were the happy recipients of a
new bicycle [complete with helmet and lock & chain supplied by PSC].
A further presentation of 10 bicycles was made on Friday 9th March at the
Pattaya Full Gospel Ministry.
Rick hopes to have his own website operating soon, in the meantime the
Pattaya Sports Club website charity section has details of the Bikes for
Tykes programme. Anyone interested in helping can contact Rick via the PSC
Charity Chairman.
Filter system for drinking water installed at school in Krasang
Marliese Fritz,
Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard president
On January 31, my husband and I went to see Nittaya Patimasongkroh and Peter
Rottmann from the Rotary Club Krasang, an Isaan-based affiliated club of the
Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard. Together we commissioned the installation of a
filter system for drinking water at the Ban Soong Neon School.
 The
kids enjoy the fresh tap water at their school for the first time.
The new pump could be installed immediately. After the pipelines and all
electrics were laid and connected, the water could be run into both tanks.
The only thing missing now was a good filter system for the children to be
able to drink the water without any worries. We asked the principal to set
up a “water bar” so we could assemble the filter system on our next stay.
After another three weeks, on February 20, it was ready at last. Toy and
Steve Ryser, Aad and Witha Scholtes with their friends Micki and Hans, and
our friend Reinhard Beckhaus again came with my husband and me to visit the
school in Krasang.
The principal, teachers, and students gave us a warm welcome, and
immediately they proudly accompanied us to the completed facility for the
water distribution. All we had to do now was to assemble the tap and the
filter system to the pump, which took only a matter of minutes. Then,
upcoming Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard president Steve Ryser gave
instructions on how to maintain the pump and the filter system, and he
explained that the tap water is not only intended for being used by the
students but by all villagers.
Subsequently, everybody celebrated the successful installation with a
delicious dinner.
Navy League donates wheelchair to slum dweller afflicted by leprosy
Baan sits in his new wheel
chair for the first time. Priest Sanay Srisa-ard, Steve Burton, the
chauffeur (who did not state his name), Bobby Brooks, generous donor Hans
Schaad, Rainer Rössler, and Peter Thorand are happy to help.
Elfi Seitz
Baan, who suffers from leprosy and lives in a slum area behind the Chinese
cemetery in Banglamung, was presented with a wheelchair by Hans Schaad, a
member of the Rotary Club Taksin Pattaya and member of the US Navy League.
 The
kids enjoy the ice cream whilst observing the proceedings.
Hans had read in Pattaya Blatt how Baan, who had lost his feet, part of his
legs, and some of his fingers through leprosy, could move only by crawling
on the ground. A wheelchair was desperately needed, and Hans went out and
bought one immediately.
The handover on March 3, was witnessed by Sanay Srisa-ard, priest of the
Gospel Church, Bobby Brooks, president of the Navy League Thailand Chapter,
Peter Thorand, past president of the Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya, as well
as USNL members Rainer Rössler, Steve Burton, and donor Hans Schaad.
Marliese Fritz, president of Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard and Toy Ryser also
came by to see how they might possibly be able to help the slum dwellers.
Volunteers of the LIFE Foundation Lee Ann Sidebottom and Suchada Nanthawong,
and World Vision helpers Jarudon Dindaeng and Jiraporn Jantarawong were also
there helping the children, and everyone was impressed at how well some of
the youngsters had taken to painting and drawing.
Everyone seems happy after the
ice cream party: (back from left) Toy Ryser, Liz Parker, Lee Ann Sidebottom,
Suchada Nanthawong, Jiraporn Jantarawong, Jarudon Dindaeng, Marliese Fritz,
and priest Sanay Srisa-ard.
New wheelchair for paralyzed slum dweller
Elfi Seitz
The Plauderstunde ladies visited the slum area of Klong Peat in Naklua on
February 13 to present a wheelchair to 63-year-old Khun Taeng, who became
almost completely paralyzed three years ago and hadn’t been outside of his
room since then.
 Cordi
Schläpfer delivers the wheelchair.
The wheelchair was donated by a woman who had presented it to Plauderstunde
member Cordi Schläpfer.
Father Sanay Srisa-ard, Bernie Tuppin from the Pattaya Sports Club, Peter
Thorand, Bobby Brooks and couple Norman and Brenda Nichols were present as
Monika Podleska, Gina Herning and I handed over the wheelchair to a happy
Taeng. Once seated he immediately asked to be wheeled to the beach.
There was also a lot of food, clothing and gifts handed to the slum
residents. Christina and Malcolm Boden with Kevin Fischer spared no efforts
and organized a delivery van packed with needful things.
Afterwards we visited the slum behind the old Chinese cemetery in Naklua
where we also handed out many goods to the residents. We talked to the
grandmother of the two girls whose mother had taken her own life on the day
of our first visit, and it became apparent that the two girls also have a
brother.
We offered their grandmother a housekeeper job at Father Sanay’s children’s
home, so she and her grandchildren would have a regular income.
Plauderstunde, my meditation group Soul-Searchers, Norman and Brenda Nichols
as well as the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard would jointly take care of the
salary payments. Grandmother said she needs a few weeks for consideration,
since she found temporary employment that will end soon.
After a stop at a third slum in South Pattaya, we all went to Father Sanay’s
children’s home to see the kids there. Father Sanay told us that he is
forced to relocate the home, although he has already found a new one.
(L to R) Kevin Fisher, Malcolm
and Christina Boden have a delivery van packed with food and presents for
the slum residents.
Taeng (center) is happy to be
able to get out and about again.
In remembrance of Dieter Floeth
Dieter Floeth was born on February 13, 1945 and died
shortly after his 62nd birthday, on March 4, 2007 in a tragic car accident
between Pattaya and Maptaput. His family, friends and everyone who knew him
still cannot believe his abrupt death. Dieter Floeth was unique. Well known
for his jokes, his sometimes cheeky nature, which always displayed a lot of
humor and humanitarianism, his helpfulness and generosity for people in need
will remain unforgotten.
 Dieter
Floeth
February 13, 1945 - March 4, 2007
Dieter was Germany’s youngest air force captain. Over twelve years, he
served mainly in Munich but also in other parts of the world, until some 35
years ago, he decided to relocate to Thailand. At first, he worked as a
teacher in Bangkok before he shifted into the restaurant business. Together
with a partner he opened the “Haus München”, which soon became a meeting
place for all foreigners in the Thai capital. There, he also met his future
wife Pat, with whom he was married for 29 years until his untimely
departure. They have three children: Heidi, 27, Michael, 26, and Steffi, 18.
After some time, Dieter turned his back on Bangkok and moved to emergent
Pattaya. Together with Dick Schröter he opened the “Biergarten”. After a
fire, the restaurant had to be re-erected and was renamed “Alter
Biergarten”. On his own initiative, he opened another restaurant, also at
Beach Road, the “Haus München”. Like its forerunner in Bangkok, this
restaurant also became a venue for the German speaking community. It was
something of a must for all tourists to pop in at least once. Dieter even
offered fishing trips on his self-renovated boat “Moby Dick” and its dinghy
“Moby Dünn”. All participants were assured to catch fish, because Dieter
knew the Pattaya and Sattahip waters by heart.
It was around that time when Dieter and another partner opened the “Moby
Dick” restaurant. And since the work never outgrew him, he opened yet
another one, the “Deutsches Haus” at the Beach Road. After he sold the other
restaurants, “Deutsches Haus” developed to be a new meeting point for all
Germans, Austrians and Swiss. Again, Dieter bought himself a boat, the
oceangoing “Seeadler”. Of course, he renovated it himself and upgraded it
with all kinds of gimmicks, so he could use it for shark hunting. People
fancy these adventurous trips up to this very day.
With the resources of fish decreasing, Dieter sold his boat and got himself
the “Old Germany” restaurant in the industrial region of Maptaput. He also
built a marvelous house in the midst of a golf course and used his scarce
free time to indulge in his new passion: playing golf.
Soon, the Swiss-German Golf Club was founded, with Dieter serving as press
spokesman and secretary. He provided his “Deutsches Haus” restaurant to be
the club’s favourite pub, initiated a monthly golf competition and the
“Deutsches Haus Cup” and took care of just about everything. His generosity
showed when he splashed out draught beer or meals at the winner’s party.
Even on the golf course, Dieter pampered his team mates with his mobile
“Wurstbude”, schnaps – and with his jokes, for he always had one in store.
Death wrested Dieter Floeth from his family and friends as he was traveling
home to Maptaput. Even in his exit, which occurred suddenly, he had a happy
smile on his face.
After a Catholic benediction by Father Patin, Dieter Floeth’s body was
cremated on March 11 at Wat Chonglom. Many friends showed up to pay their
last respects to him.
Rest in peace, Dieter, you will be remembered by all of us.
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