Events
The next meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) will be held on Sunday, May 28. Rosemary Bensley, author of “It’s Not All Rosey” will talk on the topic of ‘How to write your memoirs.’ The program starts at 10:30 am with a buffet breakfast available from 9:00 to 11:00 am on the 4th floor of the Holiday Inn’s Executive Tower, located behind the Holiday Inn’s Bay Tower on Beach Road.
The annual Toyota Pattaya Triathlon and race festival will take place over the weekend 27-28 May in front of the Hard Rock Pattaya Hotel on Beach Road. Some 1,300 triathlon competitors are expected to take part on course that includes a 1500m swim at Pattaya Beach, a 40km/25km cycle on flat roads through the Sukhumvit highway and a 10km/5km run through Pattaya city and its environs. For more information and late race registration, go to website: http://thailandtrileague.com.
A stamp market is held every Sunday from 10.00 a.m. till 3.00 p.m.at Rahnpintang Moe Kata Restaurant, Panji Place, on Soi Ponphraphanimit 7 (200m from the Bangkok Highway underpass). Here can you exchange stamps from the whole world. Call 089 091 3418 for more information and directions.
Dining
The chef’s special this week at Yupin’s Restaurant in Jomtien Complex is beef bourguignon with an elegant touch of fusion. Large portions of well cooked beef and vegetables simmered in garlic and red wine sauce, served with Yupin’s roast red cabbage and a Thai spicy sauce for only 395 baht. Follow up with Yupin’s own chocolate pudding for 195 baht. For more information or reservations, call 038 303 155 or visit website: www.yupins.com.
The Thai Garden Terrace Restaurant offers nightly dining presentations with different themed “all you can eat” buffets at the resort poolside: Monday – Italian buffet; Tuesday – BBQ buffet; Wednesday – multi-cuisine buffet; Thursday – German buffet with roasted pig; Friday – Thai buffet; Saturday – international buffet; Sunday – steak & skewers buffet. The buffet starts from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. All this for just 399 baht net per adult, 199 baht net for children under 12 and free for children under 4. What you see is what you pay, no additional service charges or VAT. For reservations call 038 370 614 or make your booking at www.thaigarden .com under “buffet reservation”. Thai Garden Resort is located on North Pattaya Road, 200 meters from the Dolphin roundabout and 200 meters before Tesco Lotus.
The legendary Somsakdi Restaurant has been in operation in Pattaya for almost 40 years. Proprietor and Chef Somsakdi is still cooking and running his amazing restaurant at 78 years of age. The menu is probably the largest in Pattaya, with 374 individual items. Each dish is in Thai with an English explanation underneath. Rather than be swamped by choices, let Somsakdi guide you. After all, who knows his dishes better than he? Somsakdi Restaurant, Pattaya Soi 1, tel. 038 428 987, 038 423 284, 038 429 869, limited parking plus on-street parking in the soi. Hours 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., seven days.
Super saver deal & moonlight dining at AVANI Hotels & Resorts Pattaya: Garden Café invites you to an international & BBQ seafood buffet from 8:00pm – 10:00pm priced at THB 650 net including one free soft drink. Sala Rim Nam authentic Thai restaurant meanwhile offers a ‘moonlight dining’ promotion from 8:00pm – 10:00pm. Any customer who comes during these hours will receive a 20% discount off their bill. For more information and reservations, call 038 412 120 or Email to: [email protected].
The Bay Grill & Buffet at Dusit Thani Pattaya: Dine with a sea view and enjoy seafood and meat barbecue accompanied by Thai and international items from soup, appetizers and main courses to dessert for only THB 900++ per person. Free flowing beverage for additional THB 599++ per person. The Bay is open daily from 18:30 – 22:00. Call 038 425 611-7 ext. 2149 0r 2150 for more information and reservations.
Gourmet pizza baked at Oasis restaurant: Enjoy the perfect pizza at Oasis any time of the day or evening throughout May. Mascarpone Pizza is a thin-crust pizza topped with a creamy Italian mascarpone cheese and priced at THB 320++. Ricotta Spinach Pizza is an oven-baked folded pizza that is filled with the rich yet delicate combination of Italian ricotta cheese and spinach, and priced at THB 350++. For THB 380++, the Meat Lovers Pizza has a thin crust topped off with two types of cheese and a heaping of bacon, ham, pepperoni and hot sausage. Oasis restaurant is located at the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya and is open from 06.00 to 23.00 hrs. For reservations call 038-714981.
Linda’s Restaurant is large with seating for 200 people, with a covered al fresco verandah outside for those who wish to smoke. Inside, in air-conditioned comfort, there are comfortable chairs and decent sized tables, with white starched napery. The menu is large and covers northern European items, Scandinavian dishes and several pages covering Thai cuisine. Linda’s Restaurant, 315/177-180 Moo 12, opposite the Jomtien Complex. Thappraya Road, Jomtien. Open seven days from 7.30 a.m. until late. Tel: Reservations: 038 252 726, www.lindasrestaurant.com , street-side parking. Email [email protected] . GPS 12.901655 N 100.869.
Jameson’s Pub weekly 3-course special menu 395 baht (net): Available Mon-Sat from midday to midnight. Starters include homemade prawn bisque with garlic bread, or mushrooms, tomatoes and garlic on toast, or egg mayonnaise. Main course options include rib-eye steak with all the trimmings, Abbott’s Lancashire hotpot, or Jameson’s famous fish & chips. This week’s dessert is apple pie with custard, or a selection of ice creams, or Irish coffee. Fabulous roast dinners with all the trimmings also available every Sunday, priced from 340 baht – 400 baht. New to Jameson’s is a complimentary car service which picks you up from your home and takes you back again in a chauffeur driven vehicle. Jameson’s is located on Soi Sukrudee (Soi A.R.) in Central Pattaya. Call 038 361 874 for more information or visit website: www.jamesons-pattaya.com.
Big Fish restaurant at Siam@Siam Design Hotel Pattaya presents a ‘Business Lunch Set’ with a 3-course menu from which to choose your own favorites: Thai set (marinated Thai chicken satay with peanut sauce, chicken yellow curry with onion, potatoes, roti and jasmine rice and mango sticky rice with coconut milk), Western set (crab with smoked salmon salad with basil lime chili sauce, Cumbo’s crawfish etouffee with chili, tomatoes and steamed rice and mango Panna cotta) or Fusion set (creamy pumpkin soup with grilled marinate prawn, grilled beef outside steak with potato wedges and gravy kaffir lime sauce and lemon crème brûlée with vanilla ice cream). Served every day from 11.30 am – 2.30 pm at Big Fish restaurant on the 6th floor of the hotel. Price: THB 350 net/person. For more information or reservations, call 06-3903- 9754 or [email protected]
Hilton Pattaya introduces a variety of special menus featuring ‘barometer earthstar’, a local ingredient well-known for its unique crunchy texture and only found in May and June in northern regions of Thailand. Flare restaurant on level offers barometer earthstar salad in Isaan style and steamed barramundi with barometer earthstar in banana leaf at THB 550 net and barometer earthstar grilled prawn and croquette with Japanese sauce at THB 350 net. Drift Lounge & Bar on level 16 offers barometer earthstar and seafood chowder fettuccine (THB 450 net) and crispy shrimp and barometer earthstar gyoza with tom yam sauce at THB 300 net. Horizon Rooftop Restaurant on level 34 serves up veal and barometer earthstar wellington served together with deep fried enokitake at THB 1,100 net. For more information or reservations, call 038-253-000 or visit: www.pattaya.hilton.com.
Yamato Restaurant located on Soi Yamato has been around for more than 35 years and the soi was named after its oldest tenant. Just look for the Japanese characters on the blinds outside. You cannot miss it. The menu is pictorial, which is a must when trying a different cuisine/language. This is a restaurant to take a few people with you. The prices are certainly not over the top, and the quality is superb. Yamato Japanese restaurant, 219/51 Soi Yamato (13/1), close to Beach Road end, telephone 038 429 685 or 038 421 618. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner. On street parking (or do some shopping in the Avenue or Royal Garden Plaza).
Spa Promotions/ Wedding Services
Two hours of rose-scented bliss await couples at Spa Cenvaree, in Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, with the Rose-Infused Ritual for Couples, a spa journey conducted in the privacy of a spa suite for two. Priced at THB 2,999++ per person (a saving of 30 percent on the price for singles), the session includes a free rose water face mist and rose body lotion gift package to take home. For reservations call 038-301234 Ext 4333 or send email to: [email protected] , website: www.spacenvaree.com .
Entertainment
Ben’s Theater Jomtien will host “Words & Music”, a theatrical and musical event on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 June. This is the first production of Phoenix Performers of Pattaya, a new theatre company founded by Ben Hansen and Tweed Harris. Its aim is to bring Western style theatrical and musical culture to the community. The second part of the program will be a musical tribute to famous artists and composers. Reservations strictly by email: [email protected] . Tickets THB 600 per person include admission and a free drink of choice. Please state in your email your name, number of tickets required and mobile number.
The 8th installment of the popular Samet In Love music festival will be held Saturday, June 3 at Sa Kaew Beach on Koh Samet. The event will feature a variety of Thailand’s most popular pop, rock, dance, hip-hop and reggae acts. The event starts at 12 Noon and lasts until midnight. Entrance cost is THB 1500.
Enjoy great music from Thomas Reimer, one of the most famous European Jazz guitarists, playing live every evening (except Thursday) from 6.00 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Sugar Hut restaurant on Thappraya Road, call 038 364 186 for details.
Community Services
The North Star Library on Sukhumvit Road, north Pattaya holds regular Thai language classes Mon – Fri from 10.30 till 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. Cost of admission is 100 baht per session for library members and 200 baht for non-members. Private lessons are also available for 200 baht per hour. In addition, the library also holds Yoga training every Tuesday from 1 – 2 p.m. at the Father Ray Foundation. Cost is 1200 baht for 6 sessions (first session free). For more information, call 081 575 4854 or email [email protected]
Groups & Associations
Post 12146 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America (Ban Chang – U-Tapao – Rayong, Thailand) meets the second Saturday of each month at 13:00 on the second floor of the Camel Pub in Ban Chang. If you are interested, please contact Membership Chairman Dan Morgan at banchangvfw [email protected] or visit website: www.banchangvfwpost12146.org.
The Royal British Legion Thailand meets the last Saturday of every month from 2 p.m. at the Tropical Bar on Soi Khao Noi (Watboonsampan near the Temple entrance) in East Pattaya. You do not need to have served in the Armed Forces to become a member and can join in the many social events arranged throughout the year. The Legion’s primary aim is the care and welfare of those who have served and/or their dependents. For general enquiries send email to [email protected], www.rblthailand.org.
Al-Anon Family Group. For more info, call the Helpline 092 674 4109 or John 089 933 7227.
Alcoholics Anonymous: The Pattaya Group meets Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. All meetings are closed (alcoholics only) and are held at Soi Skaw Beach (off Pattaya 2nd Rd). Contact Carl 08-456-31-671. The Good Morning Pattaya Group meets 9 a.m. every morning. All meetings are ‘open’: contact 084 564 8479. The Jomtien Group meets every day at noon at Jomtien Long Stay Hotel: contact: Warren on 086 158 9688, Andy 080 570 1404 or Henk 086 070 6684, Thai contact: Somchai 081 445 3302. The Scandinavian Group meets on Tuesdays and Fridays 6 p.m. at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church, Thappraya Road Soi 7: contact Hans 085 135 7755 or Rune (Rayong) 089 754 9515. 10.30 a.m. meetings every day at Satree Pattana Centre on Soi Skaw Beach off Second Road. Call 084 564 8479.
The Samaritans of Thailand English Help Line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support to the expatriate community. English-speaking staff, trained in crisis intervention will provide active, non-judgmental and empathetic listening services on the phone. All calls will be handled on an anonymous basis and are free of charge. (02) 713-6791.
Overeaters Anonymous – The ‘Up to You’ group meets Wednesdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the housing area just behind Pan Pan Restaurant in Jomtien on Thappraya Road. Call Steve at 038-364-207(h) or 089-250-1359 (cell) for directions or more information.
Narcotics Anonymous – Hotline: 082 811 2686. 3 English speaking meetings in Pattaya near Central Festival and 2 in Jomtien each week. Also regular Thai speaking meetings at 12 noon every Sunday, and Persian Farsi speaking meetings at 5.30 pm on Thursdays. Please call the Hotline for details.
