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PCEC members treated to jumbo meeting
Master of Ceremonies (Emcee) Les Edmonds welcomed
everyone to the regular Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club on
September 6 at the Amari’s Henry J. Bean’s Restaurant. After the usual
announcements, he introduced the guest speaker, Sam Fang. Fang is a well
known author. He has written six books including Thai Elephants - Tourism
Ambassadors of Thailand. He has also written over 300 stories on various
subjects that have been published in newspapers and magazines including the
Bangkok Post and the Straits Times.
 In
an informative and expressive presentation, Sam described the life of
elephants in Thailand today, and the many threats to their existence.
In addition to being an active coordinator on elephant welfare, he is also
involved in other non-profit activities including water conservation for
Royal Check Dams of the North (Thailand), working with Karen Hill Tribes of
Mae Win, and with internally displaced persons of Burma (Myanmar).
Fang’s topic was about Thai elephants and their plight. He noted that they
are an endangered species. While most creatures have some natural enemies in
the animal world, this is not the case with elephants. He said the most
dangerous enemy for elephants is man. Although hunting for ivory has
contributed to the decline in the elephant population, the destruction of
the forests, which is the elephant’s habitat, has had the most adverse
effect. One reason is it has adversely impacted on the elephant’s ability to
procreate. Fang said that there is a particular herb that grows in the
forest that the elephant needs to improve their reproductive ability. Thus,
even if areas should be reforested, it does not replenish this needed herb.
 MC
Les Edmonds introduces ‘The Elephant Man’ Sam Fang to share with PCEC
members his experiences with elephants.
He then described how elephant’s mate including the male elephant’s unique
sexual organ, some 2 meters in length and elastic like a snake. He explained
this was necessary because of the location of the female elephant’s uterus.
Fang noted that if a female elephant does not find a particular male
elephant to her liking, she will simply sit down to prevent him from mating
with her. He said whenever there is a new baby elephant, he is very happy
because this is another addition to the depleted elephant population. He
said that the gestation period for an elephant is from 21 to 22 months.
Fang then commented on the intelligence of elephants. He said that this is
amply illustrated by a group of elephants that create paintings noting that
he had personally observed one that was a picture of two elephants mating.
He further commented that elephants are used for work as well as
entertainment such as playing football or polo.
 Sam
kindly provided a copy of his earlier book, the definitive work on Chatuchak
Market, for raffle amongst the members and guests.
He described in detail the “hunting ritual” of Thais before going on an
elephant hunt, which involves the ritual killing and boiling of a chicken.
If the results of the ritual are good, then the hunt will begin. This
consists of two men on a domesticated elephant. They will use a buffalo hide
rope to lasso the wild elephant’s hind leg, tie it to a tree, and wait till
it becomes exhausted. They will then perform another ritual in slashing the
tree while saying, “Let the tree die, not the elephant.” Fang noted that it
takes five buffalo to provide sufficient hide to make one rope.
After answering many questions from the audience, Fang concluded his talk
with a photo slide show depicting elephants mating as well as working,
painting, and playing polo. The slide show also included pictures of the
hunting ritual he had previously described. He also brought several of his
books for sale at a discount. He said that the proceeds from the sale of his
books fund his non-profit activities.
Emcee Les then called on Richard Silverberg, the club’s internet guru, to
share with everyone his latest website find. Richard recommended two web
sites. One, www. enjoythaimovies.com, is a website that provides information
and trailers about current Thai movies - in English. So, when your Thai wife
or partner wants to drag you off to the movies, you can find out what you
are in for. The other recommended site was similar, but relates to Thai
music. This site, www.ethaimusic.com, has many of the latest popular songs
showing the lyrics in Thai script and transliterated roman letters.
Emcee Les then brought everyone up to date on upcoming events. Roger Fox
announced that he is working on a couple of trips. One to the Surin Elephant
Round-up in November. The other is a trip to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. He
expects to announce details soon.
To wrap things up, Emcee Les called on his better half, Judith Edmonds, to
conduct the always informative, interesting, and sometimes humorous Open
Forum where questions are asked and answered about living in Thailand and
Pattaya in particular.
Elvis sighted - twice - at Green Bottle Pub
“Jib” Vasu entertains guests with
his rock & roll Elvis.
Jaluk Viriyakit shakes his hips to
the Elvis beat.
Saksiri Uraiworn
Elvis sightings in Pattaya have reached new heights as the Green Bottle
Pub & Restaurant this month celebrates the “King of Rock & Roll” with its
“Remembering Elvis” concert.
Jaluk Viriyakit and Vasut Sangsinkeaw delighted fans with impersonations of
Elvis Presley at the Sept. 5 show, which marks the 32nd anniversary of the rock
legend’s death.
The three-hour show highlighted by two Elvises will surely keep people swearing
Elvis is still alive for many years to come.
(L - R) Boonrung Boonkaew, manager
of Diana Inn, Jaluk Virikit,
Sopin Thappajug, managing director of the Diana Group,
Vasu “Jib” Saengsinkaew, and Komson Srisam, general manager
of the Diana Group take a breather after an exciting show.
Farang, The Sequel,
debuts in Pattaya
Dr Iain Corness poses with his
family and Jameson’s landlord Kim Fletcher at the release of Farang, the Sequel.
“Farang The Sequel”, the latest book from our own Dr.
Iain Corness, and the follow-up from his best seller “Farang”, was
introduced to Pattaya at a small function held at Jameson’s Irish Pub last week.
One of the first to have read the new book was Jameson’s energetic Landlord Kim
Fletcher who said, “The first book was good, but this one’s even better!” Kim is
even taking a number over to the UK to give as Xmas presents.
As a book to give people “back home” a little understanding of the lives of a
‘farang’ in Thailand, this publication does teach more than any travel book of
the area.
With the stocks of the first book now becoming low in Thailand, many people have
been getting the two as a set, as one definitely complements the other.
Both books are available through the Bookazine shops at B. 495 each.
Promoting the
Pattaya Cross Bay Swim
The 6th Pattaya Cross Bay Swim is
promoted at the Children’s Fair.
Graham Hunt-Crowley
At the Jesters Fair on Sunday, the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya used
their stall to promote the 6th Pattaya Cross Bay Swim, which will take place on
Sunday Nov. 15, 2009.
The money raised at this event is used for the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya
Children’s Fund projects. Meanwhile, more sponsors and swimmers are wanted.
Full details can be found on www.crossbayswim.com or by ringing Graham
Hunt-Crowley on 08 1340 8852, or email: [email protected]
Test drive with a difference
Beautiful cars lined up and ready
for testing.
Paul Strachan
One of the world’s most prestigious car makers, Lexus, brought fifty
customers from Bangkok September 5 for a very special ‘test drive’ at the Bira
race circuit.
Fifteen cars were all immaculacy prepared including the Lexus IS250, GS300,
RX350, RX450h (Hybrid) LS460, and LS460L.
Before letting the eager customers loose on the track they were given a briefing
by a professional motor racer, Nattavude Charoen-sukha-watana.
He informed them that the track had been specially laid out to show the
capabilities of the cars, including a slalom section and a part of the track
that had been purposely flooded to demonstrate the car’s ability to easily cope
with aqua plane situations.
The guests then took to the track and were able to test out the acceleration,
cornering and handling of these fine motor cars.
Afterwards they were all treated to a yacht cruise at Ocean Marina and a party
at the Sea Sand & Sun resort. There was even a touch of glamour at the event
with celebrity Miki Hutasingh and her boyfriend Kipsan Beck.
This event was hosted by Sunchai Tichit, general manager of Lexus Group
Department, Toyota Motor Thailand and proved to be a fun, high octane day out
for these motoring enthusiasts.
BCCT reviews its performance
(L to R) Alain Deurwaerder; John
Hamilton; Mike Walton; Kevin Fisher; Dr. Iain Corness; James Howard; Graham
Macdonald; and Pratheep Malhotra.
Paul Strachan and Dr Iain Corness
An extraordinary meeting initiated by Vice Chairman Graham Macdonald of
the Eastern Seaboard branch of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT)
was held September 3 in the offices of Nova Park recently. It was extraordinary,
as the last time they held a similar assembly was some 10 years ago.
Graham Macdonald chaired the meeting to discuss new ideas and initiatives to
keep the BCCT at the forefront of doing business in the Eastern Seaboard.
He was joined by Kevin Fisher from Cranes Asia, John Hamilton from Waste
Management Siam, Peter Malhotra, MD of Pattaya Mail Media Group, Dr Iain Corness
from the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Mike Walton from Regents School, Jimmy Howard
and Alain Deurwaerder (Katoen Natie).
Many proposals were discussed and some new initiatives were presented. Items
included sponsorship fees, timing of events, meetings away from Pattaya but on
the Eastern Seaboard, involvement with tourism and promotion of businesses,
tours of manufacturing plants, official guests and many more.
The proposals made at the meeting will now be fed back to the board in Bangkok
and ties in nicely with a questionnaire launched by the BCCT, which shows that
the chamber as a whole is doing its utmost to cater for the ever-changing needs
of its members.
Whether these extraordinary committee meetings in Pattaya will become a regular
event remains unanswered. However, due to the positive feedback, surely it won’t
be another ten years before another one is held.
PILC Annual Holiday Bazaar coming soon
Thousands of items will be on sale
at the PILC Annual Holiday Bazaar.
Kavita Lamba
A date for diary: One of the major annual fund raising events organized
by the Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) is the Annual Holiday Bazaar.
This year the bazaar will be held at the Peach Exhibition Center, Royal Cliff
Hotel and Resort on Saturday October 3rd.
PILC would like to thank the kind sponsors of the 2007 bazaar: Bechtel, Transpo
and Foster Wheeler. Last year the bazaar raised just under half a million baht,
which has been used to support charities in the Pattaya area. It is hoped that
this year even more money will be raised.
Vendors come from all over Thailand to sell their wares and there are also
several stalls where you can buy direct items made by charitable organizations,
so helping a particular cause. As always, there will be a selection of items of
sale which have been exclusively handmade by PILC ladies. It’s a great place to
buy some Christmas presents!
One of the highlights on the day is the raffle draw. Tickets are now available
from PILC members. This year there are some excellent prizes to be won including
weekend getaways to Samui and Phuket, one night stays here in Pattaya; dinner
vouchers at some of the finest restaurants in Pattaya; spa and beauty treatments
and many, many more fabulous prizes. All prizes have been kindly donated for
this charity raffle.
The bazaar will open at 10.00 a.m. The 120 baht entrance fee (under 13’s free)
is a direct donation to charity. There is a children’s play room sponsored by
Wiggletown for parents to leave their children to play while they shop. So put
the date in your diary and get ready to shop till you drop!
If you would like more information about the bazaar please contact Chantal
Oldaker at [email protected] or phone 087-824-5268.
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