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PCEC members experience hypnotizing meeting
The Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club got
underway on August 9 at the Amari’s Henry J. Bean’s Restaurant when Master
of Ceremonies John Fishback welcomed Bruce Quinby, the first speaker.
 Honorary
British Consul, Barry Kenyon, advises PCEC members of new changes in
Immigration regulations for tourists and retirees.
Bruce, who is a hypnotherapist, last spoke to the club on Sunday, November
9, 2008. Emcee John mentioned that he has personally had several sessions
with Bruce and highly recommends hypnotherapy.
Bruce started his presentation by calling on an individual that Bruce has
previously hypnotized. Bruce said he could call on anyone, but in the
interest of time, he had asked Lutz, a former German policeman, to help him
with his demonstration as Lutz was very susceptible to hypnosis.
Bruce pointed out that highly intelligent people were easier to hypnotize.
Further it is only those of marginal intelligence, schizophrenics, or those
who fear hypnosis that cannot be hypnotized. He said all others can be
hypnotized.
Bruce then placed Lutz under hypnosis noting that Lutz would be fully
cognizant of his surroundings. He then demonstrated some aspects of the
power of hypnotic suggestion by having Lutz make his arm as rigid as steel,
believe he was in freezing temperature, and, with apologies to everyone,
react to the suggestion that the audience was giving off a strong
disagreeable odor.
Bruce said that the act of hypnosis itself is therapeutic because it makes
the body very calm and relaxed. Bruce explained that under hypnosis the
information being received is bypassing any critical factors that a person
would normally apply. The subject is no longer comparing incoming
information to what he knows and doesn’t question it, in essence acting from
imagination.
 Today’s
first speaker, Master Hypnotist Bruce Quinby, demonstrates to PCEC members
the power of hypnosis. He has hypnotized his subject, Lutz, to believe that
his arm is as rigid as steel.
Bruce explained that hypnotherapy involves taking a person back in time to
when they first had the trauma that caused them to fear something or begin
overeating or smoking, etc. - often a time before they were 7 years of age.
Bruce said that it doesn’t matter if what they remember is accurate because
to them it is what caused their trauma.
He said in using hypnotherapy to overcome phobias or over eating or smoking
depends on the subject. With some it can be one or two sessions; with others
it can be multiple sessions. Bruce concluded by bringing Lutz out of his
hypnotic state and then opened it up to questions from the audience of which
there were many.
Emcee John then called on our second speaker, Barry Kenyon, Honorary British
Consul in Pattaya. Barry said he wanted to provide an update to any recent
changes to Thai Immigration policy or practices.
He mentioned that all Immigration Offices receive periodic circulars from
Bangkok, but each office may interpret or implement them in different ways.
For example, he mentioned the time money has to be on deposit when someone
uses the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank to qualify for renewing their
retirement extension. Pattaya Immigration had not implemented requirements
that the funds had be on deposit for 90 days before applying for a renewal.
However, some recent instructions came from Bangkok that clarified the
requirement. Consequently, Pattaya Immigration has now started to require
one to have the money on deposit at least 90 days before renewal, if using
the funds in bank rather than income to qualify for the retirement
extension.
Barry then mentioned that if one enters Thailand at a border checkpoint
using the visa exemption rules, they get only a 15 day stay whereas they
still get 30 days if entering through an airport. He pointed out that if you
have a visa, you will get the time permitted by the visa (60 days for
tourist and 90 days for non-immigrant) whether you enter at a land border or
an airport.
Currently, when you apply for a tourist visa at a Thai Embassy or Consulate,
they are free - no fee. However, when you apply to extend your 60 day stay,
you do have to pay the 1,900 baht extension fee at the Immigration Office.
Barry also said that if one is applying for a one year extension based on
marriage, the 400,000 baht on deposit in a Thai bank cannot be a joint
account. In the case of a married foreign couple applying for an extension
of stay based on retirement using the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank, only one
needs to have the 800,000 baht on deposit. However, if it is a joint
account, Thai Immigration will consider it represents 400,000 baht for each
spouse and thus does not meet the qualification requirements.
Emcee John thanked both Bruce and Barry for their presentations. He then
updated everyone on upcoming events in and around Pattaya and called on
Richard Silverberg to conduct the Open Forum. The Forum affords everyone
with the opportunity to ask question or make observations about living here
in Thailand, recommend a good restaurant or movie, or even pass on a few
jokes.
Dusit Thani Pattaya celebrates success of the Thai-Chinese Business Forum
Dusit Thani Pattaya general
manager Chatchawal Supachayanont (3rd left) welcomes VIPs and delegates to the
recently concluded Thai-Chinese Business Forum. Also seen are Lu Junqing (4th
left), chairman of the World Eminence Chinese Business Association; Sorayut
Phettakul, assistant Minister of Industry, Liu Younghao, New Hope Group Chairman
and CEO and Pinit Jarusombat, vice-president of the Thai-Chinese Culture and
Economy Association.
Chatchawal Supachayanont, general manager of Dusit Thani
Pattaya has expressed appreciation to all the management and staff of the
five-star resort for their dedicated support in ensuring the success of the
recently-concluded Thai-Chinese Business Forum held in Pattaya.
The event, hosted by the Ministry of Industry gathered some 260 Chinese
investors from 50 top-notch companies associated with the World Eminence Chinese
Business Association (WECBA).
The two-day meeting was also attended by some 500 Thai businessmen who worked
together to bring in major business prospects into the country as well as
investment deals worth $6.2 billion.
Also present were representatives from the Board of Investment, Industry
Minister Chanchai Chairungrueng, Pinit Jarusombat, vice-president of the
Thai-Chinese Culture and Economy Association and VIPs from Pattaya City Hall led
by Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also graced the event and expressed great
optimism in future business cooperation between China and Thailand.
YWCA prepares to
award 388 scholarships
Nittaya Patimasongkroh (center),
chairwoman of the YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center and members take a break from the
meeting.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
The YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center will distribute 388 scholarships worth
618,000 baht to bright, but underprivileged Pattaya primary- and
secondary-school students Aug. 25.
The YWCA’s scholarship drive went into its home stretch as Chairwoman Nittaya
Patimasongkroh, past chairwoman Dujduan Ruangwettiwong and members met at the
Green Bottle Pub and Restaurant Aug. 11 to plan the 10 a.m. presentation
ceremony at Mike Shopping Mall.
Nittaya said 352 scholarships worth 1,500 baht will be given to middle school
students and 36 awards valued at 2,500 baht will be granted to high school
students.
Pattaya students with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher and can demonstrate
need qualify for the scholarships. Nittaya said large numbers of applications
are submitted each year and that YWCA members will visit winners later to track
their progress.
Pattaya’s Floating Market expands
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The Pattaya Floating Market is expanding to showcase facets of
traditional Thai culture not usually seen in the Pattaya area.
 The
8-rai expansion to the Pattaya Floating Market focuses on rice farming and other
agricultural techniques.
The 62-rai market south of Pattaya on Sukhumvit Road opened its new 8-rai
traditional products village Aug. 1 with a host of public officials in
attendance.
The new village is a showcase for both traditional and modern Thai agriculture
and culture. For example, visitors can see how rice and seedlings are
traditionally planted and transplanted in rural parts of the country.
The village also allows tourists to shop for handmade goods like baskets as well
as purchase plants and other agricultural goods.
Supab Tantiyaporn, chairman of the Pattaya Floating Market, said the attraction
has proven popular since its opening last year. The main market features 114
teak boats with vendors selling all manner of goods.
Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit (2nd
left) and Supab Tantiyaporn (2nd right), chairman of the Pattaya Floating Market
experience the harvest.
Dining like a Maharani
(Seated, from left) Sue of PMTV, Chitra Chandrasiri,
Mohan Rau,
and Pat Burbridge. (Standing) Ranjith Chandrasiri his team were
on hand to supply guests with great wine.
Sue K
After a few months of renovations, the Maharani Indian restaurant is now
open again. They invited us to taste authentic Indian food and feel the relaxing
ambience by the sea.
The lunch menu included lamb curry, spinach and cheese, Okra and onions,
eggplant delight and yogurt, followed by Indian dessert and Masala tea.
The group decided to go home and take a nap after the meal.
Maharani Indian Restaurant is located in the main building of the Royal Cliff
Resort Pattaya.
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