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A day at the races benefits kiddies’ cardiac fund
The “Pattaya Connection” (L to
R): Janis Cottrell, Tascha Franklin, Monika Podleska, Cindy Logue, Judy
Hoppe, Rosanne Diamente and Elfi Seitz.
Australian Ambassador H. E.
William Paterson (2nd left) and his spouse Helen (3rd left) are honorable
guests at the Melbourne Cup 2007 party at the Amari Watergate Hotel. Also
pictured are General Manager Pierre Andre Pelletier, ANZWG President Jill
Whitelaw, John Whitelaw, Carol Douglass, Paul Inwood and Resident Manager
David Cummings.
Elfi Seitz
The Melbourne Cup is a 145-year-old tradition, and one of the most
popular horse races in the world. All of Australia comes to a stop at this
time. And the spectators not only come to see 21 horses run in circles but
also to get answers to questions that concern fashion.
Melbourne wasn’t the only place that saw elegantly dressed women with
extravagant hats gather to see Australia’s highest endowed horse race. High
society ladies from Bangkok also came wearing stunning, and sometimes crazy,
headwear.
This event was held in the comfort of the Amari Watergate in Bangkok, where
guests were welcomed by general manager Pierre Andre Pelletier and ushered
into the hotel’s air-conditioned ballroom. Out in Melbourne, 102,411
spectators had to make do with jostling each other on the terraces.
Jockey Michael Rodd rode his horse Efficient to victory in the Emirates
Melbourne Cup. Damien Oliver on Purple Moon and Stephen Baster on Mahler
took second and third respectively. It was the first major victory for Rodd
and horse trainer Graeme Rogerson. Efficient is now the first horse after
Phar Lap to win the AAMI Victoria Derby in one year and the Melbourne Cup in
the following year.
The race was really exciting. Purple Moon took the lead from Mahler, who had
been leading for most of the run. Then in a burst of speed Efficient
overtook both on the outside lane and crossed the finish line ahead of all
others.
The after party in Bangkok was the second highlight of the day. The ladies
from the Australian-New Zealand Women’s Group (ANZWG), led by president Jill
Whitelaw performed a great show before Australian ambassador William
Paterson and his spouse Helen. The garbs and hats were judged, and even men
were allowed to compete in a sorted category. All contestants received
well-deserved applause.
Of course, bets were placed with the income going to a cardiac foundation
for children.
Several members from the Pattaya International Ladies Club, led by president
Roseanne Diamente, had traveled to Bangkok to join this spectacle.
By the way, the horse I bet on came in second. Maybe I should place bets on
horse races more often.
Full weekly programmes
continue at PCEC
Laurie Mcloughlin undergoes
diagnostic analysis.
There was a noticeable full house which attended the Pattaya
City Expats Club (PCEC) meeting on Sunday November 11th at Henry J. Bean’s, as
the series of full weekly programmes continued.
This week’s MC, Richard Silverberg started the proceedings by introducing the
familiar figure of Thor Halland. Thor reminded the attendees that November 11th
was commemorated as Remembrance Day throughout the world. He provided a brief
history of the day and asked for contributions to the welfare fund organised by
the British Legion by way of the purchase of a poppy. A brief moment silence was
held in respect of those who lost their lives in the wars of this century.
The meeting continued with the introduction of Gavin Waddell, head of the
International Relations and Marketing Department of the Phyathai Hospital in
Sriracha. A group of PCEC members had visited the hospital previously and had
been most impressed with the available facilities.
Accompanied by medical officers from the hospital, Gavin recognised that there
were currently concerns for effective healthcare and pricing and that the
hospital aimed to address these issues. The hospital offers a broad range of
products including a check-up and wellness centre. Gavin quoted that the single
VIP room daily rate was 3800 baht which included all charges such as nursing
costs and food. Recognising that Sriracha was some distance from Pattaya, Gavin
explained that transport facilities to the hospital were being investigated and
that an announcement was expected soon.
Gavin took many questions from the floor regarding the facilities and the
treatments available. The website of Phyathai Hospital is www.
phyathai-sriracha.com/Eng
The meeting continued with Chairman Richard Smith providing the latest details
of the club trip to the Elephant Round Up in Surin. He also confirmed that the
Photography Special Interest Group was scheduled to meet on the 12th November at
1 pm at the Markland Hotel.
Richard also reported that he had had the pleasure of being interviewed by Kuhn
Yui, the DJ with 101.25 Radio, located on the 8th Floor of the Mike Shopping
Mall. Richard introduced Yui to the club.
Board Member Stuart Saunders announced that the How Do They Do It Special
Interest Group was planning to visit Metalex at Bitec, Bangkok. He suggested
that anyone interested in metal processing or engineering in general may wish to
join the group for this visit.
Vice Chairman Andre Machielsen then introduced Michael Owen from the USA, who is
the director of two Bangkok companies, Tionbiotech and Bio-Consult. He spoke
about bio resonance and medical diagnosis, specifically a machine developed by
Russia for use in their space program. The machine, which can now be used as a
health diagnostic tool was demonstrated with Laurie Mcloughlin having
volunteered for this process.
The regular Open Forum was conducted by Bob L’Etoile whose comedy partner Sig
Sigworth had now returned to resume his position as butt of all jokes! As always
it provided an opportunity for questions about living in Thailand with an
emphasis on Pattaya to be asked. The Open Forum again 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.
Bovlei’s 13 bottles
bowls over the critics
Miss Terry Diner
The South African wine invasion of Thailand continued unabated with
the Bovlei wine tasting at Manhattans Steakhouse, apparently buoyed up by
South Africa’s success in the Rugby World Cup, according to Maurice Bromley,
president of the South African Chamber of Commerce.
 Reni
Hildenbrand
The MC for the evening, Alan Riddell, introduced the manager of Bovlei
Winery, Marius Erasmus, who spoke enthusiastically about the Bovlei range
and the 13 bottles the throng was about to sample. He then invited Reni
Hildenbrand from the Hildenbrand Estate winery, situated in the Landgoedwyn
region, to say a few words about the Wellington area, where Bovlei has
harvested its grapes for the past 100 years. Bovlei is not a newcomer in the
wine industry.
Guests who were new at the ‘tasting’ game very quickly found that the
glasses of wine they were given for tasting were too large, and were
flagging by the fifth bottle, but the old hands were following the small sip
and savor method and managed to get to the end in one piece!
Fortunately, Manhattans had also prepared much finger food, to keep the more
enthusiastic tipplers on the right side of sobriety, or close to it at
least.
Wine tasting is always an individual experience, but there were three wines
that I found impressive. The Bovlei Sauvignon Blanc was full-bodied and
delivered a good after-taste and would be very suitable with some Thai food.
The Bovlei Grand Rouge was another delivering a good after-taste, as did the
Bovlei Cabernet Sauvignon, which would go down very well with an aged
Australian steak (which Manhattans does so well). Mention should also be
made of the Bovlei Brut sparkler (methode champenoise for the purists) which
was a wonderfully refreshing reception wine.
Unfortunately there was no indication given as to the price structure of the
imported South African wines, but if they can be kept towards the
lower/middle region, Bovlei could become a popular vineyard.
The eagle-eyed amongst the guests seized upon a natty wine tasting guide
from the Z-Card people, which folded up into the size of a business card,
and had a wealth of information for those embarking upon ‘professional’
tippling.
A spectacular night, albeit a heavy one!
Tom Viccario |
Alan Riddell |
Marius Erasmus |
Maurice Bromley |
Local Skål club canters in for lunch
Dr. Iain Corness
With the dynamic Mrs Rabbit (Deborah Bundityanond) at the helm of the Skål
International Pattaya and East Thailand, the members have been rewarded with
some different styles of meetings.
 Jate
Sopitpongstorn, the MD of Horseshoe Point.
The latest lunch meeting was held at the Rabbit Resort itself, and it was
well attended, with several new members, including Anthony Chapman, the MD
of Blue Wave Water Sports, seen signing up with the Skål International
secretariat’s Joan Sarasin.
The speaker was Jate Sopitpongstorn, the MD of Horseshoe Point, assisted by
the ever-smiling Ko Nakornmuang, the Jockey Club manager. One of the
centerpieces of Jate’s address was the fact that for the first time, a
private venue will be used for the forthcoming SEA Games equestrian events.
These will be held on December 8 and 9 at the Horseshoe Point and include
dressage, show jumping and eventing.
To make the equestrian events even more attractive, Horseshoe Point has
organized the first Thailand Horse Festival which will be held in their
spacious grounds, to be held concurrently with the SEA Games events. This
Thailand Horse Festival is designed for families, with children very much
catered for with pony rides, clowns and family games.
The local Skål Club International members agreed that events such as this
will help Pattaya raise its image in the international tourism arena, and
Jate received rousing applause after his illuminating address.
The next Skål event will be on December 8 and will be the annual Xmas Cruise
aboard the Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s Island Dream catamaran. Full details
can be obtained from Deborah Bundityanond at the Rabbit Resort on 038 251
730 or email [email protected]
Deborah Bundityanond (right)
leads the Skål International Pattaya and East Thailand meeting at the Rabbit
Resort.
Gallery Opium opens new season
with works by van der Heyden
Alexandra Specht
Gallery Opium, located at Thepprasit Road, opened Pattaya’s new
exhibition season on November 3 when director Alan Kirkland-Roath invited
art lovers to view the works of Belgian born Ingrid van der Heyden, who has
been living in Pattaya for several years now.
 Ingrid
van der Heyden and Konrad Oehler pose for a snapshot at the exhibition.
The artist was introduced by Konrad Oehler, a Swiss architect at the
Confederate Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, who taught at Mongkut
University for four years.
“When Ingrid emigrated to Thailand, she brought along a rich and well
equipped treasure - her gifted nature, skilled by a long term educational
process and well versed by a lot of experience,” said Oehler.
Indeed, van der Heyden can look back on an impressive career. Following her
art studies in Belgium and the USA and a perennial ceramic course, her works
were soon displayed at several group exhibitions and other contemporary art
projects. In 1999, van der Heyden moved to Thailand where she established an
art group and organized more group exhibitions. She soon obtained a
reputation among local art experts.
 “They’re
Watching” (50 x 100 cm, mixed media on canvas)
From 2000 on, van der Heyden lived in China for three years, studying
traditional Chinese painting with Gao Xingkui, which she also taught after
her return to Thailand. She participated in the “Art Raising Thoughts” group
exhibition - one of the first professionally organized shows that would
point the way to the future of Pattaya’s art scene. With “Chi, Breath of
Life”, she presented her first solo exhibition in November 2005, which at
the same time was the inauguration of the Gallery Opium.
“Sea within Me” is van der Heyden’s latest project. It presents her point of
view on the critical connection between humanity and nature. She emphasizes
the importance of the element water on which all global life depends. The
artist appeals for a responsible intercourse with the seas and points out
the effects of environmental pollution caused by mankind.
Van der Heyden’s exhibition also has a charitable theme. The profits from
her quadripartite art piece “Fish Market”, which will go into the possession
of the ones who have offered the highest bids by the end of the exhibition,
will be transferred to a foundation of late French oceanographic technician
Jacques-Yves Cousteau. The money will be used for the conservation of marine
resources.
“Sea within Me” runs until November 24, Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5
pm. All art works on display can be purchased. You can find more information
on www.galleryopium.com or by calling 038 303 040.
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