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YWCA and friends host lunch for Khao Maikaew students
Khao Maikaew Community School
students are having a good day.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Chicken soup, takraw and haircuts were on the menu last week at Khao
Maikaew Community School when the Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya Center, Pattaya
Sports Club and Jutamas Beauty School pitched it to brighten the day for its
740 students.
 Some
of the students ham it up on stage.
Nittaya Patimasongkroh, Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya chairwoman, said the
outreach program is one of many the organization has done to help parents by
providing lunches for school children. The Y.W.C.A. was assisted by Bernie
Tuppin, charity chairman of the Pattaya Sports Club and Pattaya Christian
Club. Jutamas offered the free haircuts.
Students enjoyed a tasty meal of steamed rice, chicken soup and ice cream,
then dived into a new box of two dozen takraw balls and nets worth more than
20,000 baht.
School officials said Khao Maikaew, which teaches children from kindergarten
through secondary school class 3, finished second in two different takraw
competitions last year.
“This kind-hearted act from the Y.W.C.A. will make Khao Maikaew a
youth-training powerhouse for future regional and national competitions,”
said school Deputy Director Nikom Khanto.
Students enjoy steamed rice
and chicken soup.
All kids love ice cream.
Free haircuts were provided by
Jutamas Beauty School.
Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya
Center members offer students lunch
at Khao Maikaew Community School.
Lunch and takraw equipment -
what could be better?
The Pattaya Christian Club
entertains the students.
Students, teachers and
benefactors cheer on a good day.
Become a tourist for the weekend
Samet ferry
Dr. Iain Corness
It is no secret that tourist numbers have fallen in Thailand. The global
recession and its fall-out has hit the hospitality sector severely, but
actually, we can all help. Now is the time to tell your friends overseas to
come for a visit. The weather is great (even in the rainy season it only
rains for an hour), and there are no red/blue/green/yellow shirts to be seen
and if we are truthful, the only time we really saw them was on TV!
However, why should your friends have all the fun? Become a tourist yourself
again, and enjoy Thailand’s legendary welcome, and while you are
experiencing all the fun of travel, you can feel good knowing that you are
also helping Thailand’s tourism industry. A win-win situation.
Samet Park
We decided on Koh Samet for a family weekend. The closest
mainland town is Ban Phe and it is only a little over an hour from Pattaya,
a straight run on the Rayong Highway 36, running into Highway 3. Our
destination was the Sai Kaew Resort (one of the Samed Resorts group) which
had been selected as being one that was good for children, and with Little
Miss (five going on fifteen) and Little Mister (three and a half and will be
lucky to make four if the tantrums continue) with us, the decision was not
difficult.
The route instructions were simple, drive straight ahead on Highway 3
continuing past the first green and white Main Roads sign to Ban Phe. After
one km turn right, at the sign “Ao Phe”. At the end of that road is a T
junction and diagonally across to your left is Seree Pier. Drive in and the
Samed Resorts people take charge of everything. And that includes 24 hour
secure parking.
 Sai
Kaew reception
Ferries leave Ban Phe at 11 a.m., 1.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and leave on time. A
tram takes you out to the ferry, so your holiday has started from the minute
you checked in at Seree Pier!
The ferry is a short trip, and the seas are not at all rough, but for those
of a nervous disposition, there is a life jacket on every seat.
After arrival at Koh Samet, we were met by transport to take us, and the
luggage, to Sai Kaew Beach Resort, and we were housed in the new double
storey development overlooking the two swimming pools - one for adults and
the other for children.
The accommodation was excellent, teakwood everywhere, a large bedroom and
large bathroom and plenty of hanging space. Two children also need plenty of
room to move!
A brief foray of the neighborhood showed that there were plenty of local
shops including a 7-11 (is there anywhere in Thailand that doesn’t have a
7-11, I wonder?), and some noodle ladies plus a quaintly sign-written shop
proclaiming it was a “LUANDRY” at B. 50 per kg. These were all near one of
the official entrances to the national park.
Going in the other direction, we wound along a track through the detached
bungalows, also belonging to Sai Kaew Beach Resort, and found the breakfast,
overlooking a wide expanse of white sandy beach and wonderfully blue water.
Sai Kaew resort pool
Now at the risk of being ceremoniously drummed out of
Pattaya City and then burned at the stake, I have to say that the beaches
here (and Jomtien) are nothing compared to the beaches at Koh Samet. Wide
tropical beaches with palm trees, white sand, clear water and no hawkers.
That certainly does not describe Pattaya Beach, I’m sorry. The continuous
round of people trying to sell me something has driven me away from the
local beaches, but the beach at Sai Kaew was totally restful. I could have
stayed there all day if it were not for the danger of sunburn, and the
attention span of children. “We’ve been swimming in the sea, Daddy. What’s
next?”
“What’s next,” was fun in the children’s pool at the resort. The two pools,
adult and children’s are separated by a sunken bar, complete with water
level stools. This way, parental pool duty could be comfortably carried out
with the addition of a cold beer. It really did begin to feel like a
holiday, and that was the first day! I decided I enjoyed being a tourist
again, even with children!
Sai Kaew beach again
A later exploration of Samet Island showed it is
interesting but in some areas down near the water, it is in danger of
becoming totally built out. This is changing, we were told by the GM of the
Samed Resort Group, Hans Spoerri. As the land prices escalate, the rental
for the land increases accordingly, and the back-packer accommodation is
phasing out. Bad news for backpackers, but good news for families and other
slightly more up-market tourists.
However, I could not say that the Sai Kaew resort we stayed at was
expensive, with their “Chill Out” packages starting under 8,000 THB which
included two nights accommodation and breakfasts and the ground and sea
transfers. These packages are only until the end of September, by the way.
The Ao Prao Resort also has discount packages between now and the end of
September again starting at 11,000 THB for two nights accommodation and
transfers.
The island’s resorts have also been moving themselves upwards, and ones such
as the Paradee Resort boasting private villas, private pools, with two
private beaches, a Sunset Bar right on the point and an international
restaurant is probably the top for the island. Special rates are available
for stays of a few days, with four nights from 35,000 THB for example. More
on these resorts can be found on the group website www.samedresorts.com.
Since Koh Samet is a national park we were told you will find some wonderful
birds, such as hornbills, just flying free. Taking a look into the trees
soon showed that this was so. However, I have to admit that I was looking
more at relaxing, and the pool bar was winning; for me it was no contest.
The next day saw us attack a great breakfast buffet, and the Sai Kaew Beach
Resort certainly has a good bakery. Several fresh breads and croissants and
toasted raisin bread is one of my favorites. Plenty of substantial choices
for the big breakfast folk and a happy little man on the egg cooking station
kept the children happy.
That day was really a repeat of the first with children and beach and
swimming pool, and relaxation for parents.
Unfortunately our time as tourists had to come to an end. The children cried
on leaving and the parents were misty eyed as well. Tourists do get looked
after so well by the Thai hospitality industry.
Become a tourist yourself and experience it, and we can recommend Sai Kaew
Beach Resort if you have children. Look at the website for more details.
Sai Kaew Resort Beach
British Chamber returns to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya
Dr. Iain Corness
The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) held its May
networking evening on the Roof Terrace of the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s
Beauty Center Building. Those who attended were welcomed by the hospital’s
deputy director, Dr. Narin. Many of the hospital’s doctors were also
present, giving an opportunity for the BCCT members and guests to meet the
specialists, and the hospital also provided free mini-checkups done by the
nurses.
 (L
to R) Theerawat Pheumsawasdi, sales representative for Europe-Thai Car Rent
Co., Ltd. and Charoentham Buddhasathaboon.
The turn out for the event was not as large as was hoped by the BCCT, with
Vice-Chairman Graham Macdonald saying that there had been quite a few
networking nights recently, so that may have kept the numbers down. However,
as was pointed out by quite a few people, in this difficult time, it becomes
even more important to make commercial contacts, and that was what
networking evenings were designed for.
One of those who did benefit from the evening was John Howarth the senior
consultant for Montpelier (wealth management and tax planning), who won a
check-up package in the lucky draw. MC Dr. Iain called it out as a sex
change operation, but John was relieved to find that it wasn’t!
 (L
to R) Arrna Ayres, sales & marketing manager of Europe for the Royal Cliff
Beach Resort and Susan Joyce from the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Asian
University.
Others making contact were people such as Theerawat Pheumsawasdi from the
world-wide Europcar group and Sebastien Le Guyader from the One
Villas-Pattaya developers, Isawan Saenhiran, GM of Thai Thani Management and
Juthapa Siriphol from Meyer Aluminium.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a networking evening without Peter Smith of AA
Insurance Brokers and Barry Main from Thai Visa dot com.
 (L
to R) Sebastien Le Guyader, Real Estate Division marketing manager for
Pacific Rim Rich Group Co., Ltd.; Steve Duckworth, general manager of Waste
Management Siam Ltd.; and Rabin Visavakul, regional sales and customer
relations manager - Eastern G4S Security Services (Thailand) Limited.
There were some other BCCT members who perhaps should have popped in for a
consultation on the ground floor of the Beauty Center first, but rather than
being sued, I shall refrain from naming names, but I will say that the
gorgeous KK from the Sheraton and Amy from Major Developments did not need
any assistance from the hospital’s cosmetic surgeons!
In many ways it was a disappointing evening for the BCCT, and one that they
will have to address for the future.
(L to R) Renita Bromley,
committee member and treasurer of the Chiang Mai International Cricket
Sixes; Okko Sprey, director of Macado Co. Ltd.; Maurice D. Bromley,
president of the South African-Thai Chamber of Commerce (SATCC).
(L to R) Korkaew Korwatana,
assistant director of sales for Sheraton Pattaya Resort; Dr. lain Corness
and Juthapa Siriphol from Meyer Aluminium (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
(L to R) Dave Buckley, Real
Estate Magazine Thailand; John Black,
managing director, Real Estate Magazine Thailand; and John Howarth,
senior consultant, Montpelier (Thailand) Ltd.
(Front row, L to R) Kanjana
Poolsawat, senior sales executive for Major Development Public Company
Limited; Jittma Phromyothi, sales manager for Major Development Public
Company Limited; and Thadha Zomchart; (back row, L to R) Nitit Warayanon;
and Somtawin Kritchanchai, assistant sales manager for Major Development
Public Company Limited.
(L to R) Prasan
Stianrapapongs, M.D. with certificates in family medicine and sexual
counseling, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya; Jatuporn Pisalvald, managing director
of Thai Thani Management Co., Ltd.; Amporn Thamniya, secretary for Thai
Thani Management Co., Ltd.; Neil Maniquiz, marketing executive in the
International Marketing & Communication Division of Bangkok Hospital
Pattaya.
RLC, PILC help with
annual charity yard sale
Kavita Lamba
The Rayong Ladies Circle and the Pattaya International Ladies Club
joined forces to help with the annual garage sale at Phu Luang. On the
Friday morning, at least twenty ladies from both clubs came to together to
sort through all the bags and boxes of donations of unwanted goods for sale.
There was a wide variety of items, ranging from clothes, books, toys,
household items and even computers.
 Gillian
Thom, president of PILC, hard at work.
There is quite a history behind the garage sale. Fifteen years ago, Tiew and
Sharon Churchill from the Rayong Ladies Circle came up with an idea of a
Family Fun Fest which involved all the local schools. The schools could put
forward a request for any items needed and in return they would come and
perform at the Family Fun Fest, a Muay Thai demonstration, singing or
dancing. Vendors were invited to come sell their products and asked to
donate to the cost of holding the Family Fun Fest, which they happily did.
With the help of sponsorship and manpower, there would be a bouncy castle,
candy floss, pony rides and even a noodle stall, serving the best noodles
ever, by Tiew’s sister. The whole event took place over two days and ran for
quite a few years.
 Tiew
discusses matters with her husband.
News spread about the noodles and the local Thai people living nearby also
came, and the event grew. Tiew was happy for this, as it provided an
opportunity for foreigners and Thai people to come together, and more
importantly, give less fortunate children a chance to taste candy floss or
have a ride on a pony, which they would not have been able to otherwise.
Tiew’s mother became ill and the Family Fun Fest had grown so big, it was
time to stop. After two years, Tiew and Helle Rantsén, who was welfare
chairperson for Rayong Ladies Circle and Pattaya International Ladies Club,
came up with the idea of a garage sale. This way, people have a way of
donating unwanted items and everyone, including local Thai people, have a
chance to buy items which they would not normally be able to afford.
This is the fourth year the garage sale has taken place and has managed to
raise a total of 57,000 baht in proceeds in spite of the rain. Tiew is a key
member of the community and has links with many organizations; with her
support, the garage sale will continue to bring everyone from the local
communities together.
Robyn Opperman, RLC secretary
helps set up the garage sale.
CPN opens new branch in Chonburi
(3rd left to right) Sonthaya
Kunplome, former Tourism and Sports minister, Chonburi Gov. Senee
Jittakasem, Central Group Board President Wanchai Jirathiwat, Sutthichai
Jirathiwat, president of the CPN Board of Executors, CPN Managing Director
Kobchai Jirathiwat and the Central Group board members open the Miracle
Fountain 2009
Pramote Channgam
Fresh off January’s opening of Pattaya’s Central Festival shopping
mall, Central Pattana Public Co. Ltd. late last week launched the largest
retail complex on the Eastern Seaboard, Central Plaza Chonburi.
Spread across 62 rai along Sukhumvit Road in Chonburi, the 2.4 billion baht
development features just more than 100,000 sq. meters of retail space
accented by a striking glass façade and a “Miracle of Water” architectural
theme. Anchoring the more than 200 retail outlets is a 9,000-sq. meter
Carrefour supermarket, Robinson’s Department Store, Tops Supermarket, Power
Buy, Office Depot, B2S, Super Sports and SF cinema and bowling complex. The
project also includes 1,500 parking spots spread over 48,000 sq. meters.
Central Pattana, or CPN, marked the opening of its 10th shopping mall May 29
with a lavish ceremony featuring a high-tech light, water and robotics show.
The Miracle Fountain 2009 show features German-made jellyfish and penguin
robots that swim underwater and light up, all to a musical score. The
exhibits run on the mall’s first two floors of the five-storey center
through June 7.
CPN Managing Director Kobchai Jirathiwat said that unlike tourist-oriented
Central Festival Pattaya Beach, the Chonburi mall is aimed at local
residents, employees at nearby Laem Chabang Port and Bangkok shoppers.
“Chonburi has never had a modern shopping plaza, which was an important
factor in investing in this project,” Kobchai said. “Central Plaza’s main
customers will be Chonburi residents, including foreigners working and
living in the area.” He added that planners expect to also draw shoppers
from the more than 3.1 million residents of Samut Prakam, Chachoengsao,
Chantaburi, and Rayong.
The mall opened with about 80 percent of its retail space leased and
planners expect 92 percent occupancy by December, CPN said.
Actors and actresses joined
the opening ceremony.
Central Plaza Chonburi - the
largest retail complex on the Eastern Seaboard.
Guests, employees look back at
9 years at Diana Millennium House
Pramote Channgam
After serving tourists from around the world for nine years,
employees and frequent guests of Pattaya’s Diana Millennium House bid
farewell to the Soi Buakhao guesthouse, which was recently sold by the Diana
Group to raise funds for the construction of a new convention center.
 Diana
Group Managing Director Sopin Thappajug bids farewell to the Diana
Millennium House.
More than 200 guests raised their glasses and sang a farewell song at a May
23 party. The guesthouse and restaurant will continue to operate under a
different name and ownership. Its 28 employees were transferred to other
Diana Group companies.
Previous Millennium House guests said they enjoyed their stay over the years
with some likening it to a “second home.” Mats Sundin of Sweden, who often
stayed up to six months at a time, said he considered the House’s employees
family. George Fletcher of Australia said he came to the party to thank the
employees for making all his stays there enjoyable.
Diana Group Managing Director Sopin Thappajug said proceeds from the sale
will be used to build a new meetings center at the Diana Garden Resort
capable of hosting 300 attendees as well as improve other Diana Group
properties. The Diana Group operates the Diana Inn, Diana Garden Resort,
Diana Driving Range, and Green Bottle Pub.
Diana Millennium House
employees share their memories of the past nine years.
The group poses for a
memorable photo as a souvenir.
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