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February 2015
Asia Tour and European Stars Bring Firepower to Inaugural Thailand Classic
Kvik & Tee Time Chinese New Year Invitational Hosted by Banyan Golf Club Hua Hin 19th - 20th February 2015 2 Ball Better Ball Eclectic Tournament Page 14
for 2015 is on Thursday 19th February Page 8
Romantic Beach Dinning Around Town your special day of love at one of these romantic settings by the beach can be any day of the year Page F6
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3 Contents
Editor’s Note
February is the month of love and even if June started with a special wine dinner at you don’t believe it has changed our mood the Centara Beachaseed it. beautiful and made usGrand see things more and more colorful.Best TheRegards, influence is clearly obvious as our newspaper now is full in Eleni color and we love it. Check out our new Entertainment page with puzzles, cinema and books, the new design of our Events & Promotions Calendar and our romantic places to go in Food & Wine Lovers. The Chinese New Year on the 19th of the month is bringing some more Asian tourists, with hotels, restaurants and shops ready to give them a great experience. Inside you will read more about why and how they celebrate Chinese New year in China. It’s not very often that we receive compliments from our readers, at least not in writing, but here are some recent bouquets. From Maurice, after a story about the ex-pat football competition; “I read the Hua Hin Today yesterday. Nice article! As a result a complete new team turned up last Monday.” From Khun Monica; “Thank you for your swift response, I have already read over I like all the words on the article. Thank you so much for your kindly help us.” (sic.) From Ric, after an article about his boxing experience: “I saw the Cha Am newspaper yesterday and I really liked the way you wrote it.” From Paul about the same story; “I like it! Nice article.” We are eager to ensure Hua Hin Today gives the best information, news and interesting stories to make it a ‘must read’ publication. Of course, correct English is also a priority! We’re not perfect, just better. Before I sign off, there is one more change I should mention-and that’s our office moving to a new place which is much more spacious. So now you ‘ll find us on the main Hua Hin to Pranburi Road just south of town, opposite the Vana Nava. Easy to find and very accessible.
04 News 08 Cover Story 11
14 Golf 16 Wellness 21 Cha Am Today 26 Ultimate getaway holiday 28 Legal, Economy 30 Spa & Health 34 People Today 36 Motoring 38 Entertainment INSERTS : Food & Wine Lovers Property Today
Best Regards, Eleni
Who is in charge? General Manager:
Eleni Mastronikoli
eleni@huahintoday.com Consultant:
Michael Van Doornewaard
Editor:
Pol. Maj. Gen. Noi Wannapaiboon
Sales Manager: sales@huahintoday.com advertising@huahintoday.com Assistant to the editor: Rotjana Saitakam (Nok) ea@huahintoday.com Graphic Designer:
Grit Promprasert, Nicolas Cheimonidis
Accountant: accounting@huahintoday.com Journalists:
Chamnan Puengjoh, Supansa Kraiwaad, Soravit Eiam-Aek
Where to find us! Hua Hin Today Co., Ltd Address:
62/69 Soi Moobaan Hua-Na, Phechkaseam Road,
Nongkae, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan Thailand 77110
Tel. 086 338 2203 / 090 435 8306
Website: huahintoday.com Facebook: facebook.com/huahintodaynews Twitter: twitter.com/huahintoday
Wedding Season
Some Important Regional Contacts Organisation Hua Hin Cha-Am Police 191 (Emergency) 191 (Emergency) 032 511 027 032 471 321 Highway Police 1193 Tourist Police 1155 Fire Station 199 (Emergency) 199 (Emergency) 032 511 666 Ambulance 1554 Medical Emergency 1669 Electrical Call Centre 1129 Alcoholics Anonymous 089 587 682 Bangkok Hospital 1719 033 616 800 San Paolo 032 532 576 Cha Am Hospital 032 471 808 Hua Hin Hospital 032 520 401
Transport Bus Station Railway Station
032 514 477 032 512 770
032 471 159
Government Muncipality Immigration Tourist Info Centre Water Supply Post Office Power Board
032 511 047 1132 032 522 656 032 511 047 032 471 005 032 511 677 032 477 646 032 511 063 032 477 252 032 512 215 032 472 069
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
4 News Prachuap Khiri Khan to upgrade Singkhon border crossing Prachuap Khiri Khan province aims to upgrade the Singkhon border crossing into a trade and investment centre of the ASEAN Community, said the Governor. The governor of Prachuap Khiri Khan Weera Sriwatanatrakul revealed that the province has created a development strategy for the Singkhon border crossing that includes infrastructure development, public utilities development, urban planning, and landscape development.
He said the Singkhon border crossing is envisioned to be the golden gate of ASEAN that pushes the economy forward and will bring prosperity and a stable income to the society by functioning as a tourism destination and a centre of trade and investment of ASEAN. To achieve the goal, the Singkhon border crossing must be upgraded to a permanent border crossing to accommodate the increase in travel and enhance its
connectivity to every ASEAN country, said the Governor. He has also mentioned that the province will be waiting for the conclusion of the Thailand - Myanmar Joint Border Committee for the certification of the border line between both countries at the Singkhon border crossing area. It is expected that the Singkhon border crossing will be officially announced as a permanent border crossing within early this year, said the governor.
Thailand Tourism Ideas Discussed - Once Again Ideas, discussions and meetings to promote tourism in Thailand and more specifically our Region are constantly in the news. Changing and contradictory statistics about tourist arrivals are presented and recent reports have again been received with yet another round of ‘good ideas’.
The report included comments from Dr Therdchai about the ever changing European tourism prospects, the Asean market and the Chinese as a main target group. Road and train travel benefits were discussed and it was stated that the long awaited Hua Hin to Pattaya ferry service was again being considered.
It has been reported that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in cooperation with the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), invited local hoteliers and guesthouse owners to brainstorm effective ways to improve Thai tourism in 2015. On 12th January, this gathering was chaired by the Director of TAT’s central office Mr. Somchai Chomphunoi, the Director of TAT’s Hua Hin office Ms. Orasa Awuthkhom and lecturers Assoc. Prof. Dr. Therdchai Chuaybamrung and Dr. Phaithun Monphanthong.
This was a gathering of small and medium enterprises invited by the TAT to attend. However many more operators were totally unaware that this was taking place. In a separate report, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Mr. Khajorn Weerajai has called for a meeting with tourism business owners and entrepreneurs and introduce them a new tourism policy in which four southern Provinces are upgraded as the Royal Coast.
Although described as a new policy, the notion of the ‘Royal Coast’ has been on the drawing board for some time. To date there has been no noticeable implementation of this ‘re-badging’ of these Provinces; named as Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khirikhan, Chumphon and Ranong. Mr Weerajai is quoted as saying “In 2015, we would like all the four Provinces to formulate plans with public offices and business people. The plans will be proposed to MOTS for any assistance. However, one urgent thing that local entrepreneurs should do is to work with the others to boost their business quality, improve their
brand and innovate their product to serve the need of tourists, especially products about traditional culture and local activities which are the major selling points of the four provinces.” Reports about meetings of this nature can only lead to bewilderment at the apparent fragmentation of tourism planning and marketing. The notion that local entrepreneurs should be ‘working with others’ and ‘boosting their business quality’ goes without saying. However the responsible agencies appear to be uncoordinated and present only confusing ideas.
Hua Hin School Launches English Programs The Hua Hin School is going to launch a special program taught in English, following the curriculum of the Ministry of Education. The program will which accepts only 30 students, will also promote Thai culture and identity. According to the head of the school’s English Programs Ajarn Phairod Rangsimarat, the school’s Director Mr. Sawad Saohong is planning to launch the project. Students who would like to participate need to pass an entrance exam
in February. The classes will start in March. The aim is to equip students with high level English communication skills to enhance career and advanced education prospects. The participants will attend classes on a normal basis. Additionally they will have the opportunity to take a field trip to study in Vietnam, the Philippines or Singapore. The field trip will enable them to broaden their experiences living overseas and studying with foreign students away from Thailand.
Parents who would like their children to attend the English Programs should inform teaching staff of the Hua Hin School. Besides the English Programs, the school is now considering upgrading and enhancing its teaching capacity and learning opportunities in preparation for the ASEAN future. Thai students should possess high quality education, particularly knowledge of the English language. The Hua Hin School has been produced many highly qualified students, particularly in the
areas of the military, civil service and sport. There are 2,118 students at the school, 1,212 of whom are studying at the lower secondary level while 906 are at the higher secondary level. Of the 115 teachers, 12 are Thai teachers of English and 5 are English native speakers. Apart from the English Programs, the school offers Thai culture education and recognises that students should understand how important their own culture is in an increasingly global society.
Shark Fin Soup – Nolberto Solano It’s Definitely off The Menu! to help Hua Hin FC Fin Free Thailand hosted the Hua Hin Blue List Sign Up at the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, to welcome new hotels to the shark-friendly Blue List. The Blue List refers to businesses that are committed to being 100% shark fin free. The Hua Hin Municipality School students, Centara staff and Fin Free Thailand are united in their pledge to protect our oceans and sharks. The day included some welcoming remarks by Khun Peter Nilsson, the Centara General Manager and Fin Free Thailand Ambassador, Cindy-Sirinya Bishop. There was also a presentation of Blue List plaques to Blue List hotels.
Former Newcastle United midfielder Nolberto Solano has agreed to become the new manager of Thai regional side Hua Hin FC.
A ‘Fin Free Thailand’ presentation was made by Fin Free Thailand student ambassadors. There was also a classroom session for local students about shark and ocean conservation. Other student activities included making drawings with under the topic of “What can we do to help project the wildlife, ocean and environment?” They also participated in shark sand sculptures at the beachfront. More information: http://www.finfreethai. org/ includes the ‘Blue List’. Shark fin soup? It would be a very naïve and unpopular restaurant in Hua Hin which keeps this on the menu!
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
The 40-year-old will soon sign a contract to take charge of the team which compete in the third tier of domestic football. No financial details or length of contract were disclosed. The deal was completed after financial backing was secured with unnamed sponsors, Siam Sport quoted Hua Hin team manager Rujipas Pinkaew as saying.
Solano became something of a cult figure at Newcastle after spending almost a decade at the club in two spells. He also played for a number of other sides in England, including Aston Vila and West Ham United, and represented Peru on more the 90 occasions. The free-kick specialist quit playing in 2012 to embark on a coaching career at home and in Canada and had been linked with some managerial positions in England’s lower leagues before agreeing a deal with Hua Hin.
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6 News Ascent Of The Royal Garuda Centara Grand Beach Resort Villas Hua Hin Bestowing the Royal Garuda emblem to a company is considered one of the highest honours in Thailand.
The Central Plaza Hotel Company was the first hotel company in Thailand to receive the Royal Warrant of Appointment from His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in late 2013. As a flagship property, the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, now proudly displays the symbol of this appointment from the rooftop. On 30th December, the ceremonial installation was attended by members of the company-owning Chirathivat family, with representatives of government at all levels, Company management and employees.
Asean Open Skies Set to Go Ahead Despite Year of Disasters in 2014 The recent crash of Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501 in the Java Sea will not deter Indonesia’s aviation industry from embracing the opportunities offered by the Asean Open Skies policy, a scheme to liberalize the regional aviation market that came into effect on Jan. 1. Under the new policy, Southeast Asia’s skies will be transformed into a single aviation market, part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (Asean) Economic Community commitments that have been agreed upon by heads of the 10 members states of bloc. Asean Open Skies, set to be fully effective by the end of the year, is expected to boost connectivity and people’s movements in the region, and in turn spur regional economic growth. Three major tragedies afflicting Southeast Asia’s aviation sector last year — the loss of two Malaysia Airlines flights and the AirAsia tragedy — have raised questions as about whether Asean will remain on track for its Open Skies plan. On Sunday, Indonesian Transportation
That interest came out of a meeting of Transport Minister Prajin Juntong and UK Ambassador Mark Kent. Prajin will propose to the Cabinet the development of Pak Bara Port, which could be promoted as Asean’s logistics hub. Ports slated for improvement are Map Ta Phut in Rayong, Laem Chabang in Chon Buri, Pak Bara in Satun and Songkhla 2 in Songkhla. The Da Wei Deep Sea Port’s development is also included.
Ministry spokesman J.A. Bharata said the policy was still on course. “We’re currently revamping our airlines, evaluating their compliance with existing regulations to further improve passengers’ safety,” Bharata said, adding that the moves were conducted to support Indonesia’s implementation of the policy. The renewed scrutiny comes in the wake of the crash of Flight QZ8501, which went missing shortly after departing from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya on Dec 28, en route to Singapore with 162 people on board. The Transportation Ministry has since declared that the carrier did not have permission to fly that route on a Sunday, although Singapore officials say it was cleared at that end for the flight.
Recently, the government approved the national transportation and logistics strategic plan with an investment of Bt3.4 trillion over eight years. Prajin said his ministry would ask the UK government representative to discuss with its deputy permanent secretary and the State Railway of Thailand about the parallel-track railway project in detail and with Airports of Thailand Plc about the improvement of Suvarnabhumi Airport. The Marine Department has been asked to proceed with the Pak Bara Port project’s strategic environment assessment and economic and social impact analysis. The project’s proposed budget is about Bt50 million and construction is expected to commence next year. The construction of both sea ports - Pak Bara and Songkhla 2 - is part of the government’s logistics strategy, which includes the two ports, railway, road and land bridge linking the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea, to promote it as Asean’s sea-transport hub. However, there are reportedly protests from social activists and communities over likely adverse impacts from the construction of the ports and heavy industry at marine tourism spots.
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
Footnote: No chances being taken with either the safety of attendees or success of the installation. We noticed a weight limit of 3,000 kilograms on the sling being used by the giant mobile crane for the lift!
Thailand Ranks World No.2 in Road Fatalities Danger-prone road conditions and recklessness of motorists have made Thailand become one of the three countries with the highest numbers of traffic fatalities in the world. Based on the statistics of the World Health Organization and University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, Thailand is ranked second in terms of traffic fatalities with 44 deaths per 100,000 per year.
UK shows interest in Thai mega-projects The United Kingdom is keen on investing in Thailand’s mega-transportation projects, ranging from double-track railways and airports to seaports.
The ceremony included paying homage to Thai Royalty, past and present, anointing the Garuda image and seeking blessings according to Buddhist ceremonial traditions. The event added yet another chapter to the proud history of the Centara which goes back to its origins in 1927.
Coming first and third are Namibia and Iran with 45 and 38 fatalities per a population of 100,000 respectively. According to the global statistics, the average number of people died in road accidents is 18 per 100,000 per year. Analysts said the high number of fatalities not only resulted from motorists’ carelessness alone. Accident-prone road conditions were also to blame for the tragedy. The Ministry of Public Health meanwhile revealed that nearly 500
accidents occurred at U-turns over the past year. The so-called seven dangerous New Year holidays that ended on 5th January saw 2,997 road accidents happened, resulting in 341 deaths and 3,117 injuries, the Road Safety Center has announced. Last year, the seven dangerous New Year holidays saw 366 people killed and 3,345 injured in road accidents.
Thailand Travel Mart 2015 An Opportunity to Promote Hua Hin Tourism The Thailand Travel Mart, the country’s largest annual tourism and travel trade event, has been set for 3 – 5 June 2015, and opened for early-bird registration by buyers and sellers. To be held at the IMPACT Muang Thong Thani Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event will be organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in cooperation with the Tourism Council of Thailand, Thai Hotels Association, Association of Thai Travel Agents, Thailand Incentive and Convention Association, Thai Eco Tourism and Adventure Travel Association and tourism business sectors. It is designed largely to showcase the emerging generation of creative small and medium sized enterprises to give them an opportunity to network with international buyers. Hua Hin tourism operators are expected to take a keen interest in the event. The event is expected to be attended by more than 400 quality sellers across Thailand. In line with the TAT’s strategic marketing plan, the four major nichemarket segments — Ecotourism, Health and Wellness, Wedding and Honeymoon and Experience Thainess — will be highlighted in a special pavilion. Buyers will also be able to get a complete range of product updates, educational forums and take part in pre- and postevent tours to many new destinations being opened up around Thailand.
TAT Governor Thawatchai Arunyik said, “This year will be an especially important event because of the extensive changes and improvements taking place in the entire regional operating environment.” “We encourage buyers, especially those with a proven business track record, to take advantage and establish contacts with the many new products, services and facilities that will be exhibiting. We believe it will help them design creative and valuefor-money tour options for many different customers.” Further details about registrations for both buyers and sellers are as follows: Sellers Registration Now – 13 February 2015, Early bird registration (30,000 THB / Booth) 14 February – 31 March, 2015, Normal Rate Registration (35,000 THB / Booth) Buyers Registration Hosted Buyer, 300 USD (9,600 Baht) International Buyer, 200 USD (6,400 Baht) Domestic Buyer, 100 USD (3,200 Baht) On-site Buyer, 150 USD (4,800 Baht) Date of registration: 12 January – 31 March, 2015. Online application at www. thailandtravelmartplus.com
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8 Cover story CHINESE NEW YEAR – Are You a Wood Goat?
Chinese New Year is celebrated worldwide to mark the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year and celebrations can last for about 15 days. The Chinese New Year for 2015 is on Thursday 19th February and marked the start of the ‘Year of the Goat’. More specifically the Year of the Wood Goat, the last Year of the Wood Goat was in 1956.
Red envelopes, known as hong bao in Mandarin, are small packets filled with money that are given to young children by their elders. These red envelopes represent good luck, happiness and abundance. In some cases, it is also given to unmarried and unemployed adults to give them hope and encouragement.
Preparations
Modern Chinese New Year
Homes are thoroughly cleaned before the New Year in order to remove any traces of negativity and start over with a clean slate. The New Year is also a time for family to come together. Food is an integral part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, particularly on the Chinese New Year’s Eve. It is one of the most important family gatherings, and is often hosted by the most senior member of the family.
While modern day China celebrates January 1st as the first day of the year, the traditional Lunar New Year is still very much observed as well as in countries with a large population of those with a Chinese heritage, including Thailand. These countries also consider this a major holiday, but not necessarily a public or official one. Celebrations of the Chinese New Year all over the world take its cue from the traditional Chinese customs and practices.
Dragon Dance The Chinese consider themselves as descendants of this mythical and majestic creature who represents prosperity, good luck and good fortune. The dance itself, dating back to the Han Dynasty, was believed to be a harvest tradition and brings about good health, prosperity and good luck.
Mythical Origin One of the most popular stories tells of the beast Nian who would attack villages at the start of the New Year, eating their crops and people. To appease Nian, the villagers would prepare food and place it at the doors of their homes. It is also believed that Nian feared the colour red and loud noises, which are now prominent symbols of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
consumption is considered to be good luck. Its name sounds like a phrase that implies one being prosperous year after year.
Red Envelopes
Chinese New Year begins with the new moon and is the biggest festival on the Chinese calendar. As throughout the region, Thailand’s Chinese community celebrate this occasion in grand fashion. The Chinese community celebrates the Chinese New Year with parades, typical dances, traditional food and fireworks. For the celebration in Hua Hin the Mayor and administrative officials dress in ancient Chinese costumes. After the official opening all parades move a long Phechakasem Road to Chat Chai Market on Pechakaem Road then around the market back to Phonkingphet Park.
of the rising occurrence of accidents, many countries have banned the public use of fireworks. Instead, big displays are organized for the public to view.
Firework With its loud explosions and bright lights, fireworks are believed to scare away evil and negative spirits. Fireworks have been an integral part of the Chinese New Year celebrations for many years, but because
Food for Good Fortune The foods that are prepared and served are often chosen because of how similar their names sound to things that are auspicious and good. For example, mandarin oranges are a popular fruit not only because it is in season but also because its name sounds close to the word that means “luck” or “fortune”. Chicken based dishes are also served in the belief that all families, no matter their social or economic standing, should be able to afford this meat.
Year of the Goat Chinese New Year 2015 will be the year of the goat. For people born in the year of the goat (1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003), 2015 is considered an auspicious year. “Goats” are said to like to be in groups. They are honest, intimate, and can be easily moved by the misfortune of others. Those born in the year of the ‘Wood Goat’, said to be amicable, gentle and compassionate.
Fish dishes are also served, but usually left for last and often not eaten in its entirety. This is because the word “fish” sounds like “abundance”, and leaving some of it for the next day means that the family will receive abundant blessings in the coming year. Niangao or New Year cake is a glutinous rice delicacy that is traditionally most popular during this season because its
Chinese Horoscope 2015 Predictions Rat. You should focus on maintaining balance and equilibrium in all aspects of your life. Since Rat is the first sign in the Chinese zodiac, you are pretty adaptable with everyone around you. Use this to your advantage in matters of the heart, career or health. Ox. You need to make the most of the opportunities that come your way both in love and career. For people born in the year of the Ox, this is the year when you need to choose the right path. Your choice will have a great impact on your future life. So think wisely before you make any decision. Tiger. It’s predicted that this will be a lucky and enthusiastic year for the tigers. As long as you are focused on your goals, success will be yours. You show the courage to step up to any challenge, thus making you a natural born leader. Be it love, finance, career or health, you need not worry about anything in 2015. Rabbit. This is a year of activity for you. HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
Do not sit still in one place. Maybe your social activities will come down quite a bit. But that does not mean you don’t follow your creative pursuits. If you fall idle now, it won’t be hard to lose track of your goals and ambitions. Dragon. The dragon is known for its high flying personality while the goat is pretty calm and demure. The right mix of both these personalities can make you truly successful. Do not let your creative aptitude and hard work go to waste. Instead, rein in your extra energy and use it wisely in both your professional and personal life. Snake. The 2015 snake horoscope foretells a difficult year, but this is also a year of learning and rectifying your past mistakes. This is going to be a time when every small thing is going to take tremendous effort. But this will only help build your inner strength and confidence in the long run. Horse. The 2015 Horse horoscope predicts
a harmonious and stable year. People born under this sign have big dreams but do not have the focus to reach their goals. But in the year of the goat, you will have the ability to implement your ideas and dreams. You have worked hard enough for it. So now that you are getting the opportunity, just go for it! Goat. This is the 8th sign in the Chinese zodiac and the number 8 is considered to be very lucky. So if you make the right choices, there is nothing that can stop you from reaching your goals. But that also means you build on whatever you have worked for instead of beginning something new from scratch. Monkey. The 2015 monkey horoscope predicts a favorable year. If you have a good game plan in place, it won’t be very difficult for you to move ahead at a good pace in life. The sun symbolizes power and this is what is seen in your horoscope this year. Be constructive and use your excess
energy for something useful instead of wasting it on mundane tasks. Rooster. The 2015 Rooster horoscope warns that being restless and dejected might not get you anywhere closer to your goals. Be positive, put in your efforts and you will see the results in no time. So what if it takes more time, more work and more patience? You will be the winner at the end of the day! Dog. The 2015 Dog horoscope predicts that overall this will be an entertaining year for you. Just don’t give up, keep doing your best. It won’t be long before success and prosperity comes knocking on your doors. Pig. The 2015 Pig horoscope predicts that this is a year when you can make your dreams come true only through your sheer hard work and dedication. Be it love, career or health you will see a lot of activities on all fronts. For details, visit http://www.sunsigns.org/ chinese-horoscope-2015-year-of-sheep
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10 Fashion & life style Oh Valentine’s Day!!! Gift For Couples
print it out, put it in frame and offer it to your beloved one.
Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it, and we have some ideas to get you ready!
CICADA MARKET:
I have never been a fan of this commercial event… It put way too much pressure on men, Restaurants are raising up their prices for the occasion, and when you think Christmas was not so long ago. I really feel it is unnecessary to spend more money. So below, I will be sharing with you my cheap & Unisex gift Ideas:
SELFIE SELF:
You can place all items in a basket and start the night cosy and romantic at home. STARBUCKS are doing a lovely Valentines collection with their Cups. Go and have a look, you might find the perfect His and Hers Morning Mugs.
Two interesting booths caught my eyes while I was doing my Christmas shopping couple of months ago. The first one is making Key Holders in leather and you can customise them with love messages or initials, or anything that might cross your mind! Be creative -less than 200 THB. My CHEAPER option is to get blank ones from the 60Baht shop of the basement of Market Village (Daisoo) and get marker pen to write your love messages…
The other one is to make pieces of jewelry personalised , you can emboss your names, or messages.
If you have COOKING skills:
MASSAGE:
Bake a cake with the shape of a heart and decorate it as you wish; icing, candies, chocolate…
For bigger purses: THE 5 SENSES GIFTS:
I Absolutely LOVE this idea! Take pictures of yourself forming a heart shape and
-Taste: buy icecream, yummy chocolates, cakes or candies -See: get a movie to watch together, make photos of you or drawings, be arty -Touch: buy massage lotions and soft/ squishy things, sexy lingerie -Smell: get candles, fragrances, and/or bubbles bath soap -Hear: a mix-tape, voucher to purchase on I tunes.
Book a couples room in one of those Spa in town and pamper yourself.
Beauty Tips of the month Do’s and Don’t
Fine brows were hot in the 90’s But these days, thick eyebrows are on trend. Several models and actresses have embraced this trend with style. Fuller eyebrows accentuate and attract the eyes on your
· Lime/lemon juice (1/2 tsp) · Tea tree oil (1 tsp) · Coconut oil (4 tbsp) Mix these ingredients in a glass jar and shake well. Apply this tonic and massage it for 10 minutes and leave on for half hour and wash it with cold water. Store this mixture in a cool place and continue to use this tonic for 6 to 8 weeks for effective results.
Other solutions: -Take an egg yolk. Beat it. Apply with a cotton swab, on your eyebrows. Hold for 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water. Over times and excessive tweezing and plucking, our eyebrows end up becoming thinner than what they were. An interesting new formulation, which is known to boost brow growth naturally, is shared below. All ingredients used in are easily available at home which include Lemon / Lime Juice, Tea Tree Oil, and Coconut Oil. HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
-Apply Vaseline petroleum jelly (we shared this one in a previous issue regarding the eyelashes) twice a day. Use it continually for one month. You will surely notice the positive results. -Rub aloe vera gel on your eyebrows. It will not only thicken the brows, but also make the brow’s skin shiny and soft.
face. But, each of us is not blessed with fuller eyebrows. So if you crave for thick brows, the Beauty tips that we share this month, will assist you a lot!
In Celebrities’ World last January. White might be the color of innocence, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s always angelic. And as the stars walked the red carpet at prestigious Golden Globes’Night last month, it quickly proved to be the most sexy and daring shade of the night.
In their plunging gowns, actresses Jennifer Lopez, Kate Hudson, Reese Witherspoon and all rocked variations of white and embellished with sequins, glitter and jewels, their choices were anything but boring.
Wedding Season 2015 11 Wedding Gown Trends Can you believe 2014 is already over? But a new year means a new beginning, maybe some of you got engaged over new year and are planning to wed this coming year! That is why, with the Weddings Fair Season coming soon I have created the ultimate list to follow. From wedding gowns, to groom’s outfits, bridesmaids dresses, beauty tips and ideas on themes and colours, suitable for a Beach Wedding in Hua Hin. The list is Long so there’s no time to waste. Take a look below:
quite beautiful. Request that cups be sewn into the dress so you don’t lose any support.
Spring Wedding Dresses
The Slit Remember when Angelina Jolie wore that gorgeous black dress to the 2012 Oscars, and her leg were shown out of a very high slit? Well, you could do that too on your big day! Show off those gorgeous legs.
Crop & Cut Out Remember what I said about showing a little skin last year? Crop tops took over everyday wear this past summer and now they’re taking over the bridal runways. Although it might sounds daring, cutouts and crop tops have trended at Bridal Fashion Week for two seasons now. I want to get married again just for this trend!!
Bohemian You’ll find plenty of easy, comfortable silhouettes, lace appliques, and sheer fabrics. Brides aren’t afraid to show a little skin this year.
Sexy Backs The lower the better. If you want to show a lot of skin on your big day, this is the ideal way to do it. Low backs are sexy without being vulgar.
Anniversary Gifts by Year Although it is purely optional, listed below are the traditional materials matching each wedding anniversary year.
Marsala Lips Pantone’s Colour of the Year is Marsala. While it took me some time to like it, It has interesting neutral with burgundy tones, perfect for dramatic lips.
Whether you choose a romantic, fun, sentimental, or practical gift, using a traditional material can add creativity, meaning, and forethought to your choice!
The Groom Beige Suits or white linen are a must for beach weddings. Bridesmaids in Floral Patterns Very new this season are fabulous floral print bridesmaid dresses! They’re bold, but gosh are they gorgeous.
Beach Wedding Theme. (Perfect for Hua Hin) From seashells, sand to starfish decor, there are so many fantastic ideas that will only work at this idyllic setting.
Bridal Beauty
Deep V-Necks Plunging necklines are something you’ll find on a lot of Bohemian dresses. This cut is flattering and
Will you Dare Wear the Jumpsuit Wedding Gown? This season sees a trend that I honestly never thought would make its way into the world of weddings, but I have to say I love it!!
Flower Crowns & Braids Braids have been a part of bridal beauty for a while and it looks like they’re sticking around. Add on flowers crown with it and you will get the hottest look.
A must!! floating lanterns - An ancient Asian tradition used at weddings to represent luck and prosperity.
It’s Disadvantages 1. The Fit: Jumpsuits tend to suit taller women, so if you have short legs, consider a pretty short or knee length dress. 2. Practicality: There won’t be other ways to take out everything when you need to go to the bathroom!
3. Tradition: Some people simply won’t be able to accept modern trends. While others will admire your courage and uniqueness, others will frown upon such a style for your big day! So better think twice for this one!
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
12 GOLF Asia Tour and European Stars Bring Firepower to Inaugural Thailand Classic
The top stars from the Asian Tour along with many highly ranked European players are tipped to make the US$2 million Thailand Classic a nail-biting affair when the inaugural tournament gets underway this month. The Thailand Classic is the first tournament in the Kingdom to be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour in eight years and will see 144 players from both continents as well as the US and Australia, battling for supremacy at the awardwinning Black Mountain Golf Club from February 12-15. Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, a three-time Asian Tour number one and ranked 38th in the world, will spearhead the local charge
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
alongside leading compatriots Thaworn Wiratchant, Prayad Marksaeng, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Prom Meesawat and Chapchai Nirat. The six Thai players have a combined 47 Asian Tour victories. Newly-crowned Asian Tour Order of Merit champion David Lipsky of the United States will be looking to claim another tournament victory at a co-sanctioned event, similar to his heroics at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland last season. The 26-year-old battled tooth and nail with India’s Anirban Lahiri for the prestigious Merit crown and proved he was worthy of matching up to the game’s best on his day. Other Asian Tour stars ready to prove their mettle include flamboyant Filipino Angelo
Que, Singapore’s veteran star Mardan Mamat and India’s Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh, both former Asian Tour number ones. Charismatic Spanish veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez, who captained Team Europe at the EurAsia, is expected to be another strong contender for the Thailand Classic along with a host of European Tour players including France’s Victor Dubuisson, England’s David Howell and Tommy Fleetwood, Scotland’s Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher, Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg and from Australia Scott Hend. Apart from the prize money and the ‘Pride of Thailand’ trophy a 10 million THB luxury town house at Black Mountain is on offer
for a hole-in-one at the 14th hole Par three. The Thailand Classic has received great support from the PTT Group, Black Mountain Golf Club, Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), Thailand Professional Golf Association (TPGA), Chang, Bangkok Hospital, Titleist and the Intercontinental Hotel & Resort -Hua Hin. Tickets for admission on Thursday and Friday are 400THB or 800 THB for the last two days. A four day pass is 1,200 THB. Seniors (over 65 years old and the younger spectators under 16 years are free. For more information see www.golfthailand classic.com
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14 GOLF The 2015 PGA Merchandise Show
Mondo Vino 4th Annual Charity Golf Here are the details: Mondo Vino Charity Golf Tournament Format: Texas Scramble, Teams of Four, shotgun start – amateur golfers only Where & When: Banyan Golf Course, Saturday 28th February, tee-off 11.am. After The Game: Wine Dinner and presentations from 17.30. Costs: 14,000 THB per team, 3,500 THB for individuals. This includes green and caddie fees, cart, golf shirt, wine dinner and prizes. Prosecco Gold is also provided on course! Contact: email – peter@mondovino.co.th, phone 0818447308.
The Show was held in Orlando Florida 20th – 22nd January and offered the latest innovations in golf. Here are just some of the products that stood out. 1. The Perfect Putter Sometimes the best training aids don’t look all that glamorous. Players can use this stimpmeter-looking device to find exactly how much a putt breaks. Once you’ve found out what the perfect putt looks like, you clip on the accompanying alignment aid and remove the stimpmeter-thing. Now, you can practice putting knowing if you hit it with the right speed, it’ll roll straight into the hole. 2. Switch Grips Every year, something pops up at the PGA Merchandise Show that’s so weird it’s actually cool. SwitchGrips is so named because they’re designed to screw on and off through a plug that sits at the top of the grip. In addition to polyurethane and t ra d i t i o n a l - l e at h e r models, SwitchGrips offer an exotic line including Snakeskin, Stingray, Alligator and Pigskin, all real.
3. Izzo Swami GT Instead of a GPS distance-measuring device or a tour-grade stat-tracking gadget that calculates how far you hit each of your clubs, the Swami GT offers both functions in one. The integration of the two comes into play with its E-Caddie feature, which suggests what club you should use from certain distances based on your personal stats history.
4. Aeroe GolfPod The square, hard-shelled design looks a bit clunky, but the functionality of this hybrid golf bag is hard to argue with. Less than a foot wide and deep, it’s waterproof and has plenty of room for clubs, balls, accessories and apparel. Put on the top and it doubles as a travel bag that can be checked as luggage at an airport. 5. Arm-lock Converter Putter Grip This grip was created as an alternative for those who use an anchored-putting stroke, which will be banned starting in 2016. The converter grip replaces a regular grip on a putter, with the bore in the grip angled so that the shaft can aligned with your HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
forearm. The design increases the effective loft of a putter by 2 degrees, alleviating the need for a forward press.
Kvik & Tee Time Invitational 6. Arccos Stat Tracker If you really want to improve your game, you have to track your stats. This is system of 14 sensors (one that pairs to each club) that instantly tracks every shot in real time using GPS and Bluetooth technology. Attach the sensors to the grip-end of each club, download the free Arccos app, pair the sensors to your phone, then play. The app track stats like average and longest drives, club usage and distance, greens in regulation and putts per hole. You can glance at your phone during the round if you’d like to see these stats in progress. 7. DST Golf Compressor club The DST ($99) isn’t your typical warm-up club. For one thing, it’s not weighted like most others in the category. Oh, and it has a bent shaft, which is what makes it truly unique. The bend mimics the position that a traditional shaft takes at impact, helping you naturally align your hands forward. If you’re able to get into that position, it means you’ll be hitting down on the ball, the best way to make solid contact.
Peter Kirketerp, the owner of Mondo Vino has invited amateur golfers to join the 4th Annual Charity Golf Event. The will be another fun day of Golf Texas Scramble, a lot of laughter and a great opportunity to mingle with friends and friends to be and to demonstrate your generosity towards the charity objective. Prosecco, an Italian sparkling white wine will be flowing on course as perhaps an additional ‘handicap’! Officially the closing date for registrations was 31st January and in the past the event has been more than fully booked. However if you have a team of four, it may still be worthwhile contacting Peter just in case. Of course sponsorships are always sought. If you have an idea about how you can participate in any way then there are opportunities.
Cha-Am Golf Club Award To The Outgoing President The Cha-Am Golf Club recognised the outstanding contribution of the President of the Club at the 2015 Annual General meeting with an award to Paul Graff (Left).
For more information visit: www. Chaamgolclub.com
Paul has been the President for the last four years and was recognised for his contribution to the Club which now plays a major part in the Club being a very important part of the Cha-Am golfing community. X vibrates when the laser locks in on a target, and it comes with two faceplates: a black version that restricts the device to measuring actual yardages to conform to the Rules of Golf and the red version, which reads the actual yardage, slope percentage and calculated yardage. Also, a toggle on the Tour X allows you to switch between reading red numbers (which are easier to see early/late in the day) and black numbers (which are easier to read under sunny skies).
8. Big Max I Dry How many golfers use push carts on rainy days and come in with the bottom half of their bags soaked because theirs umbrella didn’t cover them. They have to take out the clubs out to dry the grips and let the bags dry, annoying stuff. The cover’s top is see-through, making it easy to find the proper club being picking it out. Where was this when I was caught in the rain? 9. Sun Mountain Two 5 I love the idea of a Sunday bag because it’s so light. But laying one on the ground is inconvenient, and when the grass is dewy, everything gets all wet. The Two 5 bag seems to have the best of both worlds: super lightweight (2.5 pounds) and a kick stand. The handle and hard plastic ring
around the bag’s top are super sturdy, with the entire top flared to make it easier to take clubs in and out without making the bag bigger. 10. Bushnell Tour X Why (and how) could any golfer play without a laser rangefinder? The Tour
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16 Wellness Vaccination Campaign Aagainst Diphtheria & Tetanus The Department of Disease Control (DDC) is launching a vaccination campaign against Diphtheria and Tetanus for people aged between 20 and 50 years old throughout Thailand. In Hua Hin, the vaccination service is provided for free at the Naeb Khehas Public Health Centre from 9.30 a.m. to 12 Noon until 30 April 2015. The service is also provided at other local communities in the Region. Anyone who would like to receive the vaccination should present their I.D. or other equivalent official document; foreigners should bring their passport or other official document issued by Thai authorities. For more information, please contact the DDC at the Hua Hin Municipality tel. 032 511 999.
Reading A Tablet At Bedtime It’s Not Good For Sleeping A serious scientific study has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which claims that reading an electronic book could actually be keeping you awake and making you more sleepy the next day. Until now, nobody had conducted any indepth scientific research on the matter. But the boffins running the study revealed what
some people have suspected for some time – it’s better for your body and sleep to read a paper book. Reading on a tablet is bad for your health According to the authors, as quoted by the Washington Post, “A lot of people think this is psychological. But what we showed is that reading from light-emitting, e-reader devices has profound biological effects.” So, it’s all to do with the light, rather than anything else such as keeping your brain active or getting cramp in your arm. The study sent 12 lucky participants to a dedicated sleep research lab for 14 days, where they read from an iPad for 5 days and then for 5 days from an actual book. The researchers monitored melatonin levels, REM sleep and various other complicated-
sounding scientific metrics. It turns out that the iPad readers took 10 minutes longer to fall asleep, had less REM sleep and less melatonin in their blood, consequently causing them to be more tired the next day. According to the Wall Street Journal: “Many people read things to help them fall asleep. They probably don’t realize that this technology is actually making them less likely to feel sleepy.” It turns out then, that if you are going to read in bed, you’re better off with a paper book.
Oatmeal For Clearer Skin
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
All day long we make decisions, but what to eat for breakfast may be the most important one for flawless skin.
it doesn’t cause the blood sugar spikes that more refined breakfast cereals, blood sugar spikes are linked with skin flare-ups.
Oatmeal is an ideal skin-friendly breakfast food because it is an antioxidant and fiberrich whole grain that is absorbed slowly, so
Think about a simple oatmeal start to the day if a clearer skin is one of your health priorities.
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nch a r b w e n ic’s st or of n i l C b o p Nad e 1 Flo h t 3 n o n e 9 910 103 op is now
alon Tel.08 S ir a H t u ol C e near Ko g la il V t e k The Mar
18 Events & promotions Calendar
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
19 February 2015
Bapu – Love For The Nation Exhibition An exhibition on two great personalities, Mahatma Gandhi and His Majesty the King, is concurrently on show at the Sirindhorn International Environment Park Cha-Am, from 31st January until 28th February. Presented by the Ministry of Culture, India and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, the “Phor-Bapu: Love For The Nation” exhibition highlights the immense contributions made by Gandhi and HM the King of Thailand to their people. Both revered figures are recognised as the fathers of their respective nations. In India, Gandhi is affectionately called “Bapu” (Hindi for father). HM the King’s birthday is Father’s Day in Thailand, which is on Friday. Gandhi is an international icon who represents truth and non-violence. His birthday, Oct 2, is commemorated all over the world as the “International Day Of Non-Violence”. Gandhi provided steadfast leadership during India’s struggle for independence and helped develop self-sustaining communities. His simple lifestyle set an inspirational example for many. HM the King has initiated countless national development programs to remedy the
people’s problems. These projects have focused on benefits to the population through sustainable development. HM the King has also concentrated on reducing
inequality in remote, rural areas. The exhibition is presented in an interactive digital format, featuring touchscreens. An “Engagement Wall” will lead visitors
through the exhibition. On the wall, valuable messages from the leaders are imparted through quiz and video displays.
Community Based Health Care The Mayor of Cha-Am, Mr. Nukul Pornsomboonsiri has chaired the opening ceremony for a training project about health care systems for Cha-Am in 2015. The opening ceremony was attended by the Municipal management and staff as well as
training participants. A report was presented by the Deputy Mayor Mr. Suphasek Phunlap. The main objective of the training was to promote understanding and knowledge about public health services and enhancing the capacity of staff who work in this area,
particularly public health volunteers. The project also aimed to create unity amongst the volunteers. They are the key persons who provide basic health care. In the municipal area of Cha-Am there are 395 health care volunteers, each of whom takes care of 15 to 30 households. The training project this year focused on encouraging all participants to share and express ideas on cooperative public health care. Most of the trainers were from the Cha-Am Hospital.
Petchaburi HM the Queen Encourages ‘Sea Farm’ Practice A ‘sea farm’ project is being developed in the coastal province of Phetchaburi under the initiative of Her Majesty the Queen to solve the problem of dwindling marine resources. Privy Councilor Palakorn Suwannarat led his team to monitor the progress of the demonstration farm in Tambon Bang Kaeo, Ban Laem District, where Her Majesty has granted a land piece of 82 rai donated to her by a charitable proprietor, for use as the demonstration site of the project. The sea farm under the royal initiative is
scheduled to be operational during 2015 to 2017, in order to demonstrate to interested farmers how to raise aquatic animals by using zero-waste closed-farm techniques. It is intended to be the prototype of sustainable marine farming to be developed in other parts of Thailand. According to the Privy Councilor, Her Majesty the Queen wished the ‘sea farm’ would be an alternative way to catching marine animals in the high sea – which is the fuel-wasting practice that also damages the environment.
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
20 Bridge-ing The Gap Giving a man his physical, the doctor noticed several dark, ugly bruises on his shins, so he asked, “Do you play hockey, soccer, or some physical sport?” “No,” he answered. “I play bridge with my wife.” There is just something about bridge that seems to be addictive. If you are one of these addicts there’s no need to go ‘cold turkey’ in either Hua Hin or Cha-Am. You can get your fix at three sociable and welcoming Bridge Clubs in the Region. As a strategic ‘trick-taking’ card game, bridge is one of the world’s most popular card games. Bridge has a loyal following of players who compete in competition at all levels, from just socially minded friends though to clubs and even world championships. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Bridge is the English pronunciation of a game called Biritch, which was also known as Russian Whist. The oldest known Biritch rule book is dated 1886. Bridge is a card game for tables of four persons. Each players gets a name depending on their location at the table, so that NORTH is partner with SOUTH, EAST is partner with WEST. These partnerships are playing against the opposite side (eg. North/South against East/West). It’s played with a regular deck of cards, so all 52 cards are divided amongst the players with each getting 13 cards. The game itself is about getting as many points with your partner. “Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don’t have a good partner, you’d better have a good hand.” - Woody Allen
Hua Hin Bridge Club plays at 3.00 PM at the Jasmine Room of the Thipuria Hotel. There’s no joining or Membership fees just a game day cost of 100 THB per player. Here are the details of these Clubs. Hua Hin International Bridge Club
Hua Hin Bridge Club
This is not the place for a full explanation of the Rules of Bridge. They can be found online at many different websites and these days there are also online bridge competitions if you want to practice or learn the strategies of the game.
Location: Cool Relax Restaurant
Location: Thipuria Hotel, Jasmine Room
Where:
1/14 Sasong Road
Where:
8/5-7 Soi Kanjanomai Poolsuk Rd
If you are an eager Bridge player without a game and this is a ‘gap’ in your life, here is how you can play.
When:
Tuesday & Thursday at 2.30M
When:
Tuesday & Thursday at 2.30M
Cost:
100 THB per player
Cost:
100 THB per player
Bridge In Hua Hin? There are two Bridge Clubs in Hua Hin, both playing on Thursday and Sunday afternoons.
Contact: Ben 0893780834,
The Hua Hin International Bridge Club plays at 2.30PM at the Cool Relax Restaurant. The
Contact: Richard 0877524366,
Magnus 0890003224
Internet: http://huahinbridgeclub.com
Betty 0868122668
Internet: http://www.bridgewebs.com/huahin/
Bridge In Cha-Am? The Cha-Am Bridge Club was founded in January 2011 by some Scandinavian bridge players. Every Tuesday at 2.00 PM the club plays at Max Restaurant on the second level. Scandinavian players tend to dominate but everyone interested in the game is welcome. It’s about a friendly, though competitive afternoon of Bridge; a great way to meet others with a passion for the game. Where: Max Restaurant, Beach Road North, Cha-Am (top level, talk to Gunnar) When: Every Tuesday until March; 2.00 PM Cost: 100 THB per player Contact: Ottar – 0948083154, Nils – 0843941971, Stein – 0833132285, Thomas – 0895483404. Internet: www.cha-am-bridge-club.com Just in case you were wondering, Bridge is not about gambling, there’s nothing illegal about the game. Bragging rights rather than money is what the players aim to win! Footnote: An unnamed Cha-Am Bridge Club Member asked me not to mention that when Members of his Club play against Hua Hin Club Members, Cha-Am players dominate. That’s something that we can’t repeat!
A Cool Evening, A Warm House and A HOT PARTY! In the Western world, house-warming day is typically a subdued celebration. Maybe close friends and family calling by to wish the new home owners well with a drink or two and a gift, but not really a party. In Thailand it’s likely to be much bigger than that. There are really two parts to the day. In the morning it’s about Buddhist blessing ceremonies with monks in attendance to encourage good fortune and prosperity for the new dwelling and its inhabitants. Then in the evening the party really gets underway. We were invited to a recent house warming in Cha-Am where the party was certainly not subdued and the family and friends were something like 500 in number. Luckily the house in question had been built in a new
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
estate so the owners were able to take over the next two empty building blocks for the night. We had a banquet of Thai food with the ‘team’ of helpers wearing a very 70’s look. Extremely colourful pseudo tied-dyed (or should that be ‘Thai-dyed’) dress was the order of the day. Very easy to know where your next drink was coming from! On the stage a Thai rock band and a group of some 15 dancers dressed in pink performed their own routines then encouraging the guests to join them on stage to learn some new moves. For the warming of a modest new home this was a party fit for a castle. Our thanks to Khun Joo and Khun Phum for the invitation. On a cool evening in Cha-Am, this was much more than just a house warming, it was a very hot party!
news 21 Cycling Event to Honour King The Petchaburi Governor Mr. Monthien Thongnit the opening ceremony of a cycling event to commemorate the 87th birthday anniversary of His Majesty, named ‘Cycling to our Father’s Home’. This event started from the Cha-Am lookout to the Chang Hua Man Royal Project in Tha Yang District. Apart from cyclists from several cycling groups and clubs, the opening also attended by the Cha-Am district chief Mr. Parinya Phothisat and the Mayor of ChaAm Mr. Nukul Pornsomboonsiri. ‘Cycling to our Father’s Home’ aims to express gratitude to His Majesty the King whose contribution has been invaluable for Thailand and Thai people. The cycling event also allowed participants to know more about the Chang Hua Man project area, enjoy the beautiful scenery of Cha-Am and realise how important good health is for everybody. The cyclists come from 13 cycling groups. The awards were in two categories; the most beautiful procession and the team with the most participants. Prizes were awarded to Wan Yen Phetchaburi Team, Boh Fai Hua Hin, Naresuan, Chom Tawan Thab Sakae, Ban Krud Cyclists and TOT Bike Hua Hin.
Thailand In The Top 10 Places Countries To Retire Thailand has been included in the World’s Best Places To Retire In a 2015 ranking list compiled by the International Living magazine due to its culture and low healthcare cost.
Thailand has been ranked at number nine on this list in 2014 and has dropped to number 10 this year. Thailand and Malaysia are the only two Asian countries to be featured on this list.
International Living, a North American magazine for the retired, has continued to put Thailand on its World’s Best Places To Retire In 2015 list on its website, based on opinions from expats living in European, Asian, and American countries in the previous year.
The complete top 10 list, sorted by the rank, are Ecuador, Panama, Mexico, Malaysia, Costa Rica, Spain, Malta, Colombia, Portugal, and Thailand.
From the list, Thailand ranks at number 10 with 84.6 Global Retirement Index score combined from buying and renting factor, benefits and discounts factor, cost of living factor, fitting in factor, entertainment and amenity factor, healthcare factor, infrastructure factor, and climate factor, which Thailand received full score on entertainment and amenity, followed by cost of living and healthcare. The key factors that put Thailand on this position is the low healthcare cost which is high in quality, the nation’s friendly attitude of locals toward retired expats, and the low cost of living.
Lost In the Woods
A search and rescue mission for a missing elderly Norwegian woman in Cha-am ended happily when a helicopter search crew spotted her under a tree near her hotel. Toskardal Schikora, 76, reportedly separated from her friends for a walk on the Cha-am beach became lost in the woods after injuring her leg. Her friends received a call from her at 7pm, in which Ms Schikora said she’d fallen over something near a tree and felt faint. The call was cut off and it is understood that the phone battery had failed. Her friends sought help from authorities and local Norwegian helpers who immediately launched a search that continued until the early hours of the morning, but did not find the woman. The helicopter search was deployed at first light then lead to her discovery under a tree behind her hotel. Ms Schikora was taken to Cha-am Hospital for treatment of exhaustion and an injury to her leg. HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
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New Petchaburi Administrative Court
The White House is Open for Business
The Administrative Court of Phetchaburi is now open, with jurisdiction for administrative cases in Phetchaburi, Prachuab Khirikhan, Ratchaburi and Samut Songkhram Provinces. On 19 January 2015, the Chair of the Supreme Administrative Court, Dr. Hassawuth Withitwiriyakul attended the opening ceremony. The event was also attended by many distinguished guests including the Deputy Chair of the Supreme Administrative Court Mr. Piya Patangtha, the Director General of the Administrative Court of Songkhla and Acting Director General of the Administrative Court of Phetchaburi Mr. Amphol Charoencheewin, Judges of the Court, the Phetchaburi and Prachuab Khirikhan Governors and the Mayor of ChaAm. As we have previously reported, the Administrative Court’s main jurisdiction is to settle litigation between private citizens and the State; including government ministries, departments and independent agencies. Although in no way limited to matters related to the environment, this is an area that the Administrative Court has chalked up its greatest successes on behalf of citizens hurt by sins of omission or commission by state agencies. Although in no way limited to matters related to the environment, this is an area that the Administrative Court has chalked up its greatest successes on behalf of citizens hurt by sins of omission or commission by state agencies. The Administrative Court’s main jurisdiction is to settle litigation between private citizens and the State; including government ministries, departments and independent agencies. The Administrative Court’s main jurisdiction is to settle litigation between private citizens and the State; including government ministries, departments and independent agencies. After the opening ceremony, Dr. Hassawuth told the media that the first Administrative Court was opened in 2001. The Courts are
considered to be crucial for Thai people. There are nine open based in Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Phitsanulok, Rayong, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, U-don Thani and U-bol Ratchathani, apart from the headquarters in Bangkok. The number of legal cases under the Administrative Court’s responsibility increases every year. The Petchaburi Court was established to reduce the workload of the headquarters and promote the convenient access to legal proceedings of local people. The jurisdiction is founded by Article 8 of the Act of Establishment of Administrative Court and the Legal Proceedings of Administrative Cases of B.E. 2542 (1999). Dr. Hassawuth said that people in the four provinces would now have ready access to legal cases and persecution with this convenient location in Cha-Am. There are forty staff available to deal with cases presented. There are also six Judges to deal with legal cases under this jurisdiction. They are supervised by Mr. Amphol Charoencheewin and the Director Mr. Chalermsak Lamaikhae. The contact phone number is 032 709 400. For more information: www.admincourt. go.th , Office of the Official Information Commission.
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Food & Wine Lovers, January 2015
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24 Khun Monica of ‘Manacha’ A Lady with Style “Apart from places in Thailand such as Phuket and Bangkok, I have also lived in England for 17 years, Spain, Portugal and Sweden. This has given me an international perspective and some extra language skills.” What is your business and professional background? “My interior design background began after studying in London. That’s the profession I have followed the most however being a Wedding Planner has been another string to my bow. In Phuket this was lots of fun with underwater weddings a Phuket specialty, however I managed to stay above the waves! I still enjoy this as a sideline in Hua Hin. I’ve also had experience as a restaurant Manager for a period”
Renovating or refurbishing your out of date or tired condo, town house or even new property can be a daunting prospect. Our plan is to soon look at a ‘before and after’ to give you some ideas.
“My son is involved in website design and media writer and is living in Bangkok. He’s designing our company new website for me, so that should be soon online.”
What brought you to Hua Hin? “Basically my husband and I wanted to get away from the European climate, so returning to Thailand was an easy choice. Hua Hin is growing fast and offers opportunities for my interior design skills, so I opened the business here two years ago.” We understood that you follow the Christian Faith, how does that work? “After always being a staunch Buddhist I discovered Christianity during my time in Phuket four years ago. My family has no problem with that change and everyone is supportive. In Hua Hin I attend the Victory Church which has an international congregation and is a very supportive and welcoming place for me.”
In preparation, we went to meet Khun Monsicha Westerlund (or Khun Monica), a Director of Manacha Co. Ltd., (the Company logo is her initials) to find out about the face behind the name of this interior design services business. Curtains and soft furnishing, including lounge furniture are specialties.
What else is important for you in Hua Hin?
Where is your family home and where else have you lived?
“I have a ‘hands on’ involvement with the Hua Hin Women’s Club. There is lots of work to be done helping people in Hua Hin through this group; i’s important for me to be involved in this community group.”
“My home Province is Prichit in central Thailand. That’s the home of the Thailand crocodile farming industry and something I remember from childhood.”
When you talk to Khun Monica, stylish is a word that immediately comes to mind; but also elegant with a multicultural and international perspective.
New Owners At Homeless Furniture! The previous owners of ‘Homeless’, Pisa Cheng and Max Hansson have handed over their business to the new owners Subphaton “Matt” Kaewprasitchok and Joachim Drewitz. Matt, a Thai national, studied English during a 2-year stay in Sydney followed by interior design at Raffles College in Hong Kong and Bangkok. He said that as a new General Manager of Homeless Furniture he is excited to have the opportunity to blend his skills as an interior designer with a personal interest in modern furniture. His business partner Joachim, a German national and former international corporate finance banker, wants to use his experiences in the strategic development of companies and sees in Homeless Furniture a great platform for expansion.
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
By combining Matt’s creative with Joachim’s business mind, the duo plan to turn Homeless Furniture into a more progressive company with a modern contemporary furniture range. A few interior and exterior changes will give the showroom a new face and by gradually replacing the existing product range with new fresh and functional products and stylish designs will give new life to theme of “dare-to-be-different”. Regular events with varying themes will inspire homeowners with new furniture ideas to enhance their lifestyle and comfort. Business owners will find new ways to create a more appealing atmosphere to customers. In a few months expect to see a makeover of Homeless Furniture, starting at the showroom and ending with a
website with additional functions for easy online preshopping. Further announcements can be expected in due course; stay tuned!Further announcements can be expected in due course; stay tuned!
Manacha Interior Design Services 25
Interior Design including contemporary, vintage, classic and modern styles. All furnishing requirements, including built-in furniture and appliances.
Call Khun Monica to arrange a home consultation with full design services. Stylish furniture and fittings create a memorable setting to enjoy with your family and friends Supply of Curtains & Sofas. Make your house a home with style, function and organisation. Whether furnishing a new home or apartment, updating your home, or purchasing new furniture and fittings, receive experienced advice, coordination and factory direct costs. Thai, English and Swedish language communications.
Contact Mobile: 0874 680 744 Email: monica23sthlm@gmail.com Home Office: Natural Hill 2 Village. Head west on Chomsin Road (Soi Hua Hin 70) and follow the signs for Pala-U. Soon after passing the Hua Hin Art Village (Baan Sillapin), turn left at the signs for Natural Hill Village. Ask at the gate for Khun Monica or phone her to meet.
26 ultimate Getaway Holiday A Road Trip To Chumphon – ‘Gateway To The South’ The shortest road distance between Hua Hin and Chumphon is close enough to 300 kilometres. For many Chumphon is just stop on the route heading south. Lonely Planet even describes it as a ‘transit point’ particularly to Kho Tao, Kho Samui and Kho Pha-Ngan and other islands further south.
often complain about road conditions in Thailand, but when the indicator and parking light lens of our fairly late model car ‘popped out’ of the surrounds because of the constant jolts and jars, you get the picture! After 200 kilometres of the main highway we headed towards the coast, it’s never far away. There are numerous ways of avoiding the highway from Prachuap Khiri Khan onwards. Heading for Bang Saphan is just one of the options. From here there are sections along an official scenic route with marked view points and a road which is only 2 years old, less travelled and in great condition. There is a dedicated bicycle lane along these sections and a favourite bicycling route for Dutch visitors; it’s easy to see why.
We chose Chumphon as a destination for a New Year road trip, not just a stopover. We also chose a more coastal route for the final 100 kilometres or so; there’s plenty of sights and places of interest for this phase of the journey and it’s an escape from the busy highway. What Can You expect? First the bad news! The main highway South is suffering from heavy traffic both in terms of volume and heavily laden vehicles with the road surface bearing the ‘scars’. Those ‘in the know’ stick to the outer lane to avoid the patched, bumpy and crumbling road surface although there is really little difference between the two lanes. Soon after travelling south of Hua Hin, even before Pranburi, the road surface deteriorates. We don’t
You may be slowed down by a the bends and turns and sometimes given choices of direction at intersections but generally following a southern direction will be a very pleasant and scenic way heading towards Chumphon. Some Highlights Getting Closer To Chumphon There are many sculptured bays and appealing beaches along the way. Sandy dunes also feature and shrimp farms dot the landscape. However for us there are three standouts; must see stops along the way. Kon Takiab You approach Kon Takiab along a 5 kilometre stretch of road off the
main route. It winds through palm oil plantations alongside towering cliffs until reaching the ocean. It’s really a dedicated small fishing village right on the beach of a tranquil protected bay with clear, calm water and an outlook towards hilly green headlands and off shore islands. This is probably the most beautiful place on the coastline of the Chumphon Province and rivals the most scenic locations in Thailand. A big difference is the absolute lack of development. Not one hotel, resort or restaurant in sight, only the fishermen’s needs are catered for, not the tourists’. I am sure that many a ‘would be developer’ has salivated at the thought of taking over such a pristine location, but this is a unique piece of Thailand’s traditional heritage worthy of preservation. Visit, look, but don’t touch! Wat Keaw Prasert Returning to the main route several kilometres further on and you’ll come across a magnificent temple complex on the inland side of the road. It’s set on a hillside and requires a steep climb partly by road and then by foot. You will find a combination of Chinese inspired buildings, more Thai traditional Buddhist places of worship and statues. There’s even a ship’s profile lookout named after King Rama VIII, pointing towards the coastline below. It’s a fantastic view back towards the bays and islands and overlooks of our previous stop. It’s clearly a favourite for Thai people with not a falang in sight but everyone is welcomed. We enjoyed lunch inside with a real Thai ‘buffet’, an honour system of payment and an expectation that you will wash your own dishes. Unfortunately for us, a sea mist from the prevailing onshore breezes meant a loss of clarity in the panoramic views. On a clear day this would be a photographers dream come true. Tung Wua Len You’ll pass through a number of small settlement and finally the town of Saphli before reaching Tung Wua Len. I first discovered this stretch of beach over five years ago and somehow feel compelled to return from time to time. This time the beach is about tourism, mainly Thai and those foreigners who accidently discover its charms. Tung Wua Len is named after the legend of a wild bull appearing on the beach without warning and being untouched by the spears of hunters. There’s a statue on the beach of this mythical creature to celebrate the story. You’ll find a narrow beach side road, separated from the blue waters only by a
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
few palm trees and a wide stretch of fine white sandy beach. Along the 3 kilometre strip you’ll find an eclectic mix of Thai and European operated bars and restaurants, often with a particular theme (the ‘Pirate’s Den’), bungalows and small hotels. If you stay for a day or two you can forget about your vehicle and just take an easy stroll to wherever you need to go. This is a very relaxing place to recharge the batteries and absolutely chill out. Although some of the accommodation and restaurants are on the ocean side of the road, beach access is not compromised or restricted. The Mali Blues Restaurant and Bar typifies the how to enjoy your stay. Phi (‘brother’) Boi and his family run a combination beach side bar (you can sit with your toes in the sand) or 15 metres away a Thai and European restaurant. There’s even a great cocktail mixer and a small art gallery on site.
The name ‘Mali Blues’ is an accurate description of what to expect. The patron, Phi Boi, is an accomplished musician (guitar, harmonica and vocals) offering semi-acoustic sounds from reggae and blues genres; renditions of Bob Marley and Bob Dylan often feature. We even heard 12 bar blues sounds with a Thai language vocal, that’s a first! Phi Boi’s mother said that he requested his first guitar at age 12. He has now travelled throughout Thailand and has been featured in music festivals in Germany. He presents an individual style with a voice sounding something like a laid back Eric Clapton with a Thai accent. A Final Word When you think about Chumphon we would suggest you don’t think about the city but concentrate on the provincial coast. The city is about 12 kilometres inland from Tung Wua Len and really a commercial hub. Sure there are reasons to stay overnight if you are just in a ‘transit south’ mode but that won’t really give you the flavour of the region.
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HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
28 Legal, Economy Thai Consumer Confidence Index Hits 18-month High Consumer confidence in Thailand hit an 18-month high in December, a university survey showed, helped by low inflation, reduced gasoline prices and government payments to rice farmers. The consumer confidence index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce rose to 81.1 in December from 79.4 in November. It was the highest since June 2013 when the index was 81.6.
In line with guidance from the military government and thanks to a drop in global crude prices, retail gasoline prices were trimmed in December. That helped lower the cost of living and raise consumer purchasing, the university said. The university also attributed higher consumer spending in the month to government subsidies to rice farmers. “Consumer confidence in December was the highest in 18 months and back to a level before the domestic political unrest,” Thanavath Phonvichai, an economics professor at the university that did the confidence survey, told a news conference. “Lower oil prices helped increase disposable incomes and people felt more confident to spend, especially during the New Year season,” he said. “Government’s acceleration of budget spending and investment could lift confidence in coming months.”
Yongyuth Chalamwong, the Director of the Thailand Development Research Institute, also says he’s confident the economy will grow by 4% in 2015 as a result of the military government’s investment projects and what he predicts will be a more stable political climate, state media reported. Director Yongyuth said he also believes new investment projects pursued by the military government will lower the unemployment rate to around 1%. Thailand’s economy, Southeast Asia’s second largest, expanded only 0.2 percent in the first nine months of 2014 from a year earlier due to weak exports and subdued domestic demand. The central bank last month slashed its 2014 economic growth forecast to 0.8 percent from 1.5 percent and 2015 projection to 4.0 percent from 4.8 percent. Consumption, which accounts for half of gross domestic product (GDP), is only slowly picking up, curbed by high household debt levels.
High debt is one reason the central bank has kept its policy interest rate on hold at 2 percent since March. Annual headline inflation in Thailand was a more than fiveyear low of 0.60 percent in December. The junta, which took power in May, is banking on big infrastructure projects to help the economy as sectors badly hit by prolonged political turmoil, such as tourism, are recovering slowly.
Restricted Alcohol Sale Times Throughout Thailand Alcohol beverages can now only be sold from 11.00 am – 2.00 pm and from 5.00 pm – 12.00 pm every day. An announcement has been made by the Prime Minister’s Office on the 2015 law regulating alcohol sales which took effect from 23rd January. At all other times, alcohol sales are strictly forbidden with the exception of at international airport terminals and legally registered entertainment venues which have laws that strictly govern the periods they can operate daily.
Director-general of the office of the Alcohol Control Committee Mr Samarn Futrakun stated the core substance of the new regulation remains the same in that the permissible duration for daily alcohol sales is capped at 10 hours. Airports however are given the same allowance as before while entertainment venues which in the past were allowed to sell alcohol from 9.00 pm – 2.00 am can only do so up to midnight. This means that in total, night time entertainment venues can only legally sell alcohol for 5 hours every day which in total.
Why does a Foreign Husband Rent the House from his Thai Wife?
every aspect. The new law however takes into account every type restaurant and other venues selling alcohol.
As for the reason for the new regulation governing alcohol sales, he stated that the old law was problematic as it did not cover
The old law allowed for wholesale purchase of alcohol in excess of 10 litres to be made at any time of the day while any purchase under 10 litres can only be made at the specified times. The new regulation does not allow for this, what matters now are the stated hours for purchase or sale of alcohol irrespective of quantity. Violation of the law is subject six months imprisonment and/or a 10,000 Baht fine.
Mandatory Registration of SIM cards in Thailand Mobile phone users in Thailand must register their SIM cards, according to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, the methods and rules for registration are becoming clearer, but thousands of people are still confused about what it means in practice.
ignored or failed to implement the proper registration procedures.
Some foreign husbands have been advised to rent their houses from their Thai wife (during their marriage) by making a 30 year Lease Contract and register it with the Land Office. The husband gave his wife money to buy the house and then he has to rent that house from her. It appears strange and does not make sense, but it may be the only way to protect the husband from an unexpected situation with his wife. To rent a house from his wife is not contrary to the law, it is enforceable. There are other ways for a Foreigner to protect his own interests when he marries a Thai woman. Eg; a Pre-nuptial Agreement / Loan Agreement between his wife and an assigned third person / Mortgage and other methods.
© Jatupon Cherbangkaew Executive Partner / Lawyer
www.actahuahin.com actahuahin@gmail.com +66 (0)92 427 3344
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
Registering SIM cards in Thailand The new rules come into effect on February the 1st, after which users will have 6 months to provide their personal details (name, ID, and of course the phone number in question) after which they will not be able to use their SIM. If you are a foreign citizen resident in Thailand, you will need to take your passport to register at any of the “subscriber information registration points” setup at Big C and Tesco Lotus, as well as 7-11 stores. Tourists who come to Thailand for a holiday and purchase a prepaid SIM card will simply need to show ID at the point of purchase in order to qualify as ‘registered’. This means a passport (valid for at least 6 months, which it should be anyway if you just travelled here) in order to register your SIM card. Even if you have previously provided such information when you bought a SIM card in Thailand, it’s highly likely that you are not registered because the mobile operators seem to have completely
How to register your prepaid SIM in Thailand Even if you think you already registered your SIM card when a similar policy was rolled out by a previous government several years ago, we’d still advise that you go into the local store of your network provider to double check your phone is actually registered. Alternatively, you could always try calling the customer service numbers below, but good luck with that.
Here are the customer service contact details for the mobile operators in Thailand: AIS: call 1175 from your mobile, or +66 2299 5000 from abroad. DTAC: call 1678 (press 7 for English) from your mobile, or +66 2202 8000 from abroad. True: call 1331 from your mobile, or +66 89100 1331 from abroad.
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HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
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Basic Knowledge About Allergies The weather often changes these days. It even rains during the winter time so please take care of your health. In this article we introduce you to one problem often related to changes in the weather; allergies. Allergies are caused by the body’s response to certain stimulants. Normally stimulants, such as dust mites, pollen, as well as the food we eat on a daily basis, would caused no harm to the human body. However, in case of an allergy, the body’s response to those substances is extreme and causes an inflammation to the organs exposed to the allergens. Allergies are caused by both genetic and environmental factors. If either the father or the mother has allergy, chances that their children might also have the allergy are up to 30-50%. If both the father and the mother have an allergy, the chances will be increased to 5070%, while children who come from families with no allergy record will have about only 10% chances of having allergy. Allergies can be catagorised accordingly to the body system; there are 5 types as follow: 1. Respiratory allergies such as asthma: The symptoms of the patient while having asthma include chest symptom, have dense dyspnea (shortness of breath); and whistling respiration. The symptoms may occur at any site. Symptoms may be alleviated with bronchodilators, but it usually works fully only in the beginning. After receiving medication for a certain time, the patient will have to receive the medication more often and with a higher dosage. Sometimes the symptoms may only be coughing at night; a chronic cough without the whistling sound, or during exercise. 2. Allergic rhinitis or sinusitis: There are different types for allergic rhinitis symptoms which are: Nasal discharge symptoms with itchy nose, sneezing, the flowing of clear nasal discharge. Stuffed nose symptoms A combination of these two with a chronic cough with phlegm in the morning; some may have chronic headaches, snoring, dry mouth, frequent sighing or itchy eyes. HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
3. Allergic skin diseases: The most common diseases which can be found are urticaria (a kind of skin rash) and allergic dermatitis. Patients with urticaria usually begin with itching, followed by swelling, which can occur throughout the body. Patient with severe symptoms may have swollen eyelids, lips or genitals. Patients with allergic dermatitis have symptoms which usually start during their first year of life. They will have a rash on their body and face with dry skin and skin inflammation. Young patients are at risk of developing respiratory allergies when they grow up. The major cause of allergic skin diseases in children is food allergies. Food allergies for cow’s milk, eggs, seafood and wheat flour are the most common in Thai children. 4. Eyes allergy: This is an inflammation of the conjunctiva and under the eyelids. Symptoms include itchy eyes, acrid, red and watery eyes and having gum in the eyes. This occurs when the eyes are exposed to the stimulants/allergens such as dust, pollen or animal hairs. Patients with an eye allergy may also have allergic rhinitis. 5. Anaphylaxis: This is an allergic reaction which may be life threatening. Allergic reactions can be severe and fast to occur, with many systemic symptoms. Symptoms include itchiness, urcitaria, swollen face and lip, constriction in the throat, sneezing, flowing of nasal discharge, and difficulty in breathing. The more severe symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, blood pressure decreased and can be fatal If not treated promptly. For those who have asthma, it might stimulate the existing asthma. The major causes of anaphylaxis are severe allergies in food, medicine and insects. Patients with anaphylaxis need to avoid such allergens. Patients who have severe allergic reactions such as shock are given adrenaline or epinephrine injections (medication to stimulate the heartbeat and increases blood pressure) and may need to have this medication with them at all times to prevent death before being able to see a doctor.
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32 Last Month The Annual Scholarship Donation Ceremony at Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin
Sheraton Hua Hin Prnaburi Villas A Nominee for The 2015 Hotel of The Year Awards
Happy New Year 2015 From The Bangkok Hospital
Peter Nilsson, General Manager of Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin (Back row, 7th left) offered scholarships and gifts worth a total of THB 51,892 on the annual scholarship donation ceremony.
Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas has announced that it has been shortlisted as a nominee for “The 2015 Hotel of the Year Awards” in the category of Best Hotel Service.
Sheraton Hua Hin Pranburi Villas has announced that it has been shortlisted as a nominee for “The 2015 Hotel of the Year Awards” in the category of Best Hotel Service.
The 2015 Hotel of the Year Awards are all based on each nominee hotel & spa being judged, scored and ranked based by a professional judge staying in each property to experience and critique the hotels facilities and service in order to gain a true guest experience. The overall rating is authentic in terms of guest experience & professional critical evaluation. It is this combination of guest experience & professional critical evaluation that makes these awards innovative & elevates standards in terms of worldwide hotel awards. The location for the 2015 Hotel of The Year Awards will be confirmed in October 2015 after the judging inspection visits, as each hotel will also be considered as a possible host for the awards ceremony to take place in late November 2015.
The 2015 Hotel of the Year Awards are all based on each nominee hotel & spa being judged, scored and ranked based by a professional judge staying in each property to experience and critique the hotels facilities and service in order to gain a true guest experience. The overall rating is authentic in terms of guest experience & professional critical evaluation. It is this combination of guest experience & professional critical evaluation that makes these awards innovative & elevates standards in terms of worldwide hotel awards. The location for the 2015 Hotel of The Year Awards will be confirmed in October 2015 after the judging inspection visits, as each hotel will also be considered as a possible host for the awards ceremony to take place in late November 2015.
Donations from Lions Club Hua Hin
A New Year, New Club Cars, New GPS system at the award winning Banyan Golf Club
The amount was donated by hotel guests during the Christmas Lighting Ceremony on December 18th, 2014. The donation is to provide educational opportunities for 50 underprivileged students from five schools of Hua Hin and Petchaburi such as Tessaban Khao Pitak School, Tessaban Baan Khao Tao School, Tessaban Samor Prong School, Baan Kok Chang Pattana School and Baan Nong Tachao School. The photo shows Nopporn Wuttikul, Lord Major of Hua Hin (back row, 8th left) who received the scholarship grant, as the representative of the five mentioned schools; Management of Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin; and the students and teachers representing their schools at the scholarship donation ceremony, recently held on January 8th, 2015 at the Colonial Hall of Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin.
Teamwork at The Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa
Members of the Lions Club of Hua Hin paid a visit to Hua Hin Hospital on 14th January 2015 to make donations to the Director of the hospital. The management of the Hilton would like to thank and congratulate their staff members of staff who have achieved success with the “Team Member Relations Best Practice Awards of Asia Pacific” This award is presented for exceptional best practice in the area of Team Member Relations based on innovation/ creativity, Team Member engagement/involvement, successful implementation and measurable results.
Putahracsa Hua Hin Celebrates Children’s Day
The visit was led by the Chair of the Lions Club Khanit Choksuchart. Donations of drinking water containers and air beds were presented to the Hua Hin Hospital’s Director Doctor Niran Chantrakul. The donated items will be used for medical treatment for hospital patients. The hospital Director gave the visitors a briefing on the medical treatment, the improvement of medical apparatus and service areas as well as human resources development.
Dusit Thani Hua Hin’s Silvery Moon Shines
It is no wonder Banyan Golf Club Hua Hin is one of the most popular golf courses in the country. The club has taken the golf experience to a whole new level and raised the bar for quality with a brand new fleet of Club Cars fitted with VISAGE GPS system to maximize your scoring chances with complete yardage accuracy. Installed with the latest touch screen technology the golf course map of the hole will pin point the distances to all hazards and landing areas as well as pin placement on the green in yards or metres. You can send messages to the clubhouse for first aid, emergency assistance, a marshal and notify everyone on the course your hole in one. A cool feature is the “easy to use” scorecard which can be emailed to you immediately after you have completed your round. Feeling hungry, try ordering your food and beverage half way round the course. Commercial advertising space is available for the holes of your choice to show your products and services on offer. For a quotation please contact club manager, Stacey Walton stacey@banyanthailanc.om for further information about on course advertising. Erik and Anna Guldevall, who won the door prize of air tickets from British Airways.
Children’s Day is celebrated with a great delight by doing, learning and teaching activities. The Putahracsa Hua Hin Team Members took this opportunity to share the day with the students of Darun Sueksa School. They organised and carried out various activities that the children thoroughly enjoy and at the same time were also able to learn from activities such as Mocktail Class, Bakery Class and Napkin Folding Class. Children’s Day is to do fun activities for and with children. They should also know how privileged they are to have a family and to be able to celebrate this day with their own parents, friends and teachers.
Mondo Vino New General Manager Mondo Vino has appointed Khun Santi Thongrit as General Manager. Khun Santi will focus on managing the Mondo Vino team and on boosting the wholesale area of the business. HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
The Dusit Thani Hua Hin drew quite a large gathering on the vast beachside lawn for its annual countdown party, this year themed “By the Light of the Silvery Moon”. Judges picked out candidates for the best theme outfit competition, who were called to the stage, as judges jotted down marks to find the winner. Cinching the prize in her sparkling silver gown was Marion Vanessa Morgan. Other lucky winners for the evening included Mikael Hans Khun Santi is 37 years of age, holds a Bachelor Degree in Political Science and a Major in Political Science. He has several wine certificates to his credit including F&B Wine and Spirits Trust and F&B Manager Wine Management by Mr. Lim Hwee Peng, CWS International Wine Specialist. He was also was the Runner up as Thailand’s Best Sommelier in 2013. His move to the hospitality industry came after part time work during university studies. He then realised this was his preferred professional direction. Khun Santi has worked for the Anantara Group of Hotels including Anantara
The highlight of the evening was a dance show by the Dusit Resident Acting Group (DRAG), comprising a few professional dancers with staff members who had somehow hung up their aprons or uniforms after a long day’s work to rehearse jazz and disco numbers. Guests were then drawn to the dance floor to dance off the excess pasta to disco music by Howling at the Moon vampire disco band. As fireworks lit up the midnight sky and the band played His Majesty the King’s song Phorn Pee Mai (New Year blessings), guests kissed and hugged and shouts of “Happy New Year” filled the air. Hua Hin as its Wine and Guru Manager and for other leading hotels in Thailand and abroad. His position with Mondo Vino has allowed him to return to Hua Hin, his home City. This appointment comes at a very convenient time for the owner Peter Kirketerp, who based will now be able to able to spend more time with his family together with wife Nee and be focusing more on the leisurely side of life, he’s hoping his golf handicap can be reduced. Peter has high expectation for Khun Santi and his Mondo Vino Team is pleased to welcome him to the Wine operation.
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34 People Today Your Country’s National Day If you are not Thai then you will probably want to acknowledge your home country’s National Day in one way or another. Try to find a restaurant featuring the cuisine and traditional activities familiar to you. Even if you have real connection to the country in question it’s worth dropping by and saying hullo. Chances are you will be even more welcome than usual and win some points by mentioning their celebrations. In February there are two prominent National Days.
In New Zealand, Waitangi Day commemorates the day representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs signed of New Zealand’s founding document – the Treaty at Waitangi in 1840. It is a public holiday in New Zealand on February 6 each year. The day was first officially commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974.
This is a day of Māori cultural performances, speeches from Māori and Pakeha (European) dignitaries, and a naval salute are all part of the official Waitangi Day celebrations at Waitangi, New Zealand. It’s a day that bubbles with ceremonies, music, sports and fun.
Sri Lanka’s Independence Day is celebrated on 4th of February, in accordance with Lipass/Joshua Louis Law to commemorate its internal political independence from British rule on that day in 1948.
The day is a national holiday in Sri Lanka. It is celebrated all over the country through flag-hoisting ceremony, dances, parades and performances. Usually, the main celebration takes place in Colombo, where the President raises the national flag.
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
An Interview Sukanya Poljak, ZuZa Fashion Designer Why did you decide to become a fashion designer? There are two key drivers that sparked me into embracing a career of a fashion designer. First, my mind just loves to dream about designs whether it is a house, painting, or a dress. Needless to say, I ended up designing exotic houses, drawing vibrant paintings, and creating many ZuZa dresses. Second, like many of my friends I just got tired of endless shopping trips without finding what I really want. I typically looked for elegant yet sensual quality clothes and what I usually found was either to common or way too expensive. I decided to try making elegant and sensual clothes by myself that was better value for money. After scoring some early successes like dressing Miss Singapore at Miss World 2014, I continued to get a lot of positive feedback including a strong following of celebrities, socialites and fashionistas. What is your favourite part about being a fashion designer? Individuality is the most exciting thing in fashion right now. However, to be different you need to be confident, and to be confident you need to have something unique to say to the world - I believe you can do it through your wardrobe, too. ZuZa is all about self-expression, helping fashion forwardthinking woman around the world express themselves and take the centre stage. I believe it’s special, for any given designer, to be a part of that. What were your inspirations for the designs you create Traveling is a great way to seek inspiration. World is booming with colour, forms and silhouettes, and they are constantly all feeding my creativity. With that in mind, inspiration for my last collection came from a trip around passionate, colourful, and sensual Spain. You will find rich and vibrant lace textures hand tailored into luxurious dream dresses. Lace is often a secret ingredient to my designs, because it is so inherently feminine and festive – it is ladylike, but also shows enough skin to make it party appropriate. Spring 2015 collection inspires to step out in show-stealing style.
How did you select the materials you used? I am always on the lookout for new, fresh and different materials, but the deciding factor for me is always that materials have to be of the highest quality and made to last. As I said, I love to travel, and this is one of the key ways I discover new materials. What are your plans for the future? My plan is to expand and make my creations accessible to more beautiful women around the world. After opening in Singapore I am keen to establish my presence in London and Moscow, two vibrant cities that love elegant and sensual clothes. Everything you do is produced here. Are buyers sensitive to this? I believe that there are three ingredients ZuZa success
relies on – unique and breathtaking designs, made-to-last quality and top level custom tailoring. While launching in Robinson’s, Singapore, a month ago, I realized a peculiar thing – Thai designers are rising, and rising fast, in the fashion world, dressing pretty much everyone from Michelle Obama to Jennifer Lopez in their loud, intricate, and more often than not, outrageous designs. We use a lot of Italian and French materials, they are often fused with rich prints and ornately embellished styles, but most importantly, they are first and foremost, made to last. Finally, Thailand is known for amazing tailors that are masters of their craft, and it’s a privilege having such a highly valuable asset helping us on our road to success. Was there anyone in your family who made you feel like designing? My husband Ivan. He is the one that made me realize that I can be a mother, wife and a designer, all at the same time and not sacrifice any of them along the way. I am grateful for my family as they give me inspiration and strength. At the same time, I am fortunate enough to have a job that I love and feel very passionate about. Who inspires you the most in fashion? Anyone who stands out? I would certainly single out Audrey Hepburn as an icon that influenced me and my designs the most. She was not only known for the style, but more importantly - for the silhouette, a feat that is perhaps the hardest to accomplish in fashion. And to top it off, her character was always shining through and that is the reason Audrey will always remain timeless and a style icon of mine. As for the contemporary personal style icons, i have a lot of respect for Victoria Beckham. She is multitalented and equally successful as a designer, singer, mother and a wife. Her style is immaculate. What is the best thing about being a designer? For me personally the best thing is that fashion designer is the job I love. When you love what you do, hard work, challenges, and many obstacles that inevitable come are much easier to overcome. Being a fashion designer helps me to express my dreams and make them a reality. It helps me to make this complex world a little bit more beautiful with my ZuZa designs.
Classifieds 35 Land for sale
Learn Thai or English
LAND HOMES
Almost 14 rais 8,000,000 THB / rai
hua hin soi 116
near Wat Phuttha Chaiyo. About 3 km from Petchkasem road
H H H H
Please contact:
H Day H Week H Month H Year
Land...1 rai..60x27m..only 2m baht Mountain side “View Lots”..1mil..rai 7.5 rai near Pranburi dam 175,000 per rai Business site (live in) 1.4 mil baht. 2 years to Pay
352 Kao Kuang Road N. Pranburi Thai 087 882 4453 Eng 089 911 6536 Email: sumvee@gmail.com
092-629-2528 Mai
House / Condo 15,000 – 30,000.For long term Please send Photo & Price at
conrad30@gmx.de, Tel. 080 0234 718
Fully accredited by the Ministry of Education
Education Visa for Eligible Applicants
Ground Floor 83/14 Wongchomsin Bldg. Phetkasem Road Hua Hin (between Soi 63/1 and Soi 65)
Covered Parking for 1 year Conrad30@gmx.de
( No Kao Takiab / No condo Chain) Looking to Rent Direct form the owner
The Learning Centre
Sirada The Learning Centre
Looking to Rent
Looking to Buy Direct from the owner Condo 1-3 Bedroom 3-8 Million Baan sanploen, Baan Sansaran
at Sirada
Phone: 032 532 650 083 801 1335
www.learningcentre.co.th Email: info@learningcentre co.th
FOR SALE
4 x 1 RAI BUILDING PLOTS • Sold Separately or as 4 Rai • Each Plot is already filled and ready to build on • Located alongside of Main Road • Utilities Near By • Backing onto The Mountain • 300 degrees Stunning Views to Sam Roi Yot and Burma • 10 Minutes South Of Hua Hin • 5 Minutes To The Local Beach
Springfield Golf Course
30 years Family Membership
Value: 450,000 for only 220,000 baht
086 170 6371 E or 084 678 1867 TH Lotushuahin@hotmail.com
Call For Further Information
086 106 4611
Brand New Mercedes GLA 200 SUV for Sale Due to relocation Only 3,000 km, Sept 2014 model Metallic Grey Color, in Pristine Condition Original Price: THB 2,490,000 Now THB 2,149,000 Contact: (English) 089 2557372
Why Advertise in Hua Hin Today? • 7,000 copies circulated each month • Coverage of Cha-am as well as Hua Hin • The only English language newspaper in the Region • Full design and proofreading services • Full colour available • Online advertising is available • Our readers want to know what is available in Hua Hin!
Call 0863382203 or 0904358306
Expatriate Tax Services
• US Income Tax Returns • FATCA & FBAR Reporting • Tax Planning • IRS Representation • Competitive Rates
Peter M. Bauer, CPA
Mob :+66 (0) 94 043 0892
petermatthewbauer@bangkokbase.com
HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
36 Motoring New Car Models - 2015 In the Year of the Horse (2014), many car manufacturers – big or small, well-known or least known – campaigned and promoted like never before with many new model cars.
Mazda 3 SKYACTIV is much favored by its customers in Thailand. We will soon know how much the Mazda 2 SKYACTIV costs.
The situation of last year does not mean that in the 2015 Year of the Goat, car companies will have nothing to lure customers. In fact, this is the year when various car models need to be modified. It is a time when the Thai economy is expected to grow more than in the past. Consequently, almost all of the car companies will be ‘fiercely’ battling their business competitors to earn some income lost last year.
Mitsubishi: The Mitsubishi will launch a new Triton pick up this year whereas, in the second half of the year, the customers will witness the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, a hybrid of the Triton.
MAZDA CX-3/Response JP: This one is expected to be on the road in the middle of this year. Also, let’s see whether Mazda CX-3 SKYACTIV Crossover, a sub-compact hybrid of Mazda CX-5 and Mazda 2, will appear on Thai roads or not.
Chevrolet: The US car company of Chevrolet, after launching some new cars in China, will amaze Thai customers with Cruz and Captiva. Both of them will undergo some design modification.
Toyota Vigo: The biggest car manufacturer in Thailand. This year it will become really big because of the new Toyota Hilux Vigo, which was to have been launched in the final month last year; will eventually be on the road. Reports are that this will be very similar to the Toyota Tacoma that is currently on sale in many countries worldwide. It is much favored by pick-up drivers because of its big size; however, the engine of the Toyota Hilux Vigo remains the same as the previous models’ because it is so effective. So, let’s wait for it at the Motor Show in March. For those who would like to buy one, bookings can be done in May or June at the latest.
Isuzu D-Max: Isuzu is preparing its Isuzu D-Max to show off soon. Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe: Being on the right track last year by introducing a special model of Dream Car, the company will launch famous C-class models which are manufactured in Thailand. In terms of the special car models, the company has introduced 2 of the Mercedes-Benz S 500 4Matic Coupe series, the luxurious coupes with high power.
Toyota Camry: The Toyota Camry may have a big minor change this year for a more eye-catching look than before.
Nissan Juke: The Nissan Juke 2015 was launched last year but recently modified with new front design and striking headlights.
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer: At least, the second series of Active Tourer, already launched in Germany, is going to come out soon. Of course, the external design of the car will maintain the BMW image with the circle headlight, the LED taillight and the chromium-coated bumper. Customers can choose from the two types of the car engine: benzene or diesel.
Ford Everest: Ford recently announced that its Ford Ranger will look as smart and serious as Ford Everest. The company had said that both would be showed at the Motor Expo, but not to be. Let’s see them at the upcoming Motor Show.
Honda CR-V: Honda is to make existing products more colorful, especially the CR-V which is now fourth generation. The front design of headlight of the CR-V will be as much striking as the recently launched Honda HR-V which enjoys huge favor right now.
Volvo XC90: The only Swedish car manufacturer in Thailand. This year, the Volvo XC 90, the genuine SUV of the second generation, will wow the fans with its luxurious design that exudes sportiveness as well. In cooperation with Apple, the Volvo XC 90 allows the use of Car Play and the GPS system at the same time.
Mazda 2 SKYSCTIV: Although it has just launched the new BT-50 Pro pick up, the company said that its new product would become more colorful. Besides Mazda CX-5, the HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
Suzuki Swift: The big compact cars company will introduce us to the newly modified Suzuki Swift, still the hottest eco car, apart from the special model Swift RX which is much favored by the customers.
Apart from the above-mentioned car manufacturers, there are many others that have not let the cat out of the bag yet. But, with the list of the new car models presented here, it can be predicted that the automobile market for the Year of the Goat will certainly be competitive, active and colorful.
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HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015
26 Entertainment 38 ENTERTAINMENT LOVE LETTERS LOVE LETTERS by Trip Payne by Trip Payne
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16 Angry if rule is broken 17 Corrects its fierce snarling
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joins raids 42 On a list in London Times, “die” is misspelled
25 Trio meets hero by mistake
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26 Health resort takes off excess rolls of fat (2 words)
1 Hear actress Dunaway yell “Makeup!” (2 words) 2 Actress Rogers’s entertaining a group of Native Americans
21 Arizona University: mostly red and blue 22 Arrest felt strange for sycophants
4 Plowed grounds turned up dirty fuels
28 Repudiate suggestion involving chief of Kenosha, Wisconsin (2 words)
5 Physical catches incipient nephritis of the kidneys
32 Song before number covered by Sade 33 Tony is wearing that helmet (2 words)
27 Men dread staggering order again 28 Pair of barbarians sketch repulsively colorful designs 29 One shall not start to imitate current R&B singer 31 Point to emergency room’s people who show a lot of care 35 Move a plant back to Peru for the most part 36 Recipient spent last of allowance
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23 Prime minister lies about no-good movie director 24 That guy edges away from bad position by a mountain range
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14 Prospector has left TV star Martin 15 Decide case ultimately against ne’er-do-well, upon reflection
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Find the solution of this puzzle on our facebookpage: www.facebook.com/huahintodaynews
30 Head of daily newspaper 20 Consume payment with 2 Actress Rogers’s page got high professor (2 words) entertaining a group of 32 Song before number Native Americans 23 Prime minister lies about Books read Movies to watch coveredto by Sade 3 Instrument beside Mr. no-good movie director 33 Tony is wearing that Conway containing bit of 24 That guy edges away To Kill a Fifty Shades of position by a helmet (2 words) unstable element from bad 34 You bet—that’sMockingbird a deadly 4 Plowed grounds turned Grey mountain range by Harper Lee Literature student sin 25 Steele’s Trio meets hero by up dirty fuels Anastasia life In the twentieth century, 37 Scout leaders partially mistake Physical catches changes forever when To Kill a Mockingbird 5 is she meets handsome, bake lasagna probably the most widely incipient nephritis of the yet 26 Health resort takes off tormented, billionaire read book dealing with Christian Grey. 38 Spanish womanrace is inalmost excess rolls of fat kidneys America, and its protagonist, Atticus Genre: Drama, Romance tardy during first class (2 words) 6 Knife fight has upset Finch, the most enduring Release Date: Feb 12 fictional image of racial 39 Spanish man brought drunk 27 Men dread staggering heroism. about debut of school 7 I never disturbed panel order again club (audio-visual, 28 Pair of barbarians sketch of prospective jurors perhaps) repulsively colorful 8 Outburst of heat from Pride and The Rewrite 40 Youngster conveying designs laser Flora blasted An Oscar-winning writer in Prejudice love to manager for 29 leaves OneHollywood shall not start to (2 words) a slump By Jane Austen to teach screenwriting at a comedian (2 words) 9 Liberators escape, imitate current R&B college on the East Coast, A novel of manners first where he falls for a single 41 Indeed, leader of rebelsin 1813. The running through sorry singer published mom taking classes there. story follows the main joins raids people 31 Point to emergency character, Elizabeth Genre: Comedy, Romance Bennet, as she deals 42 On a list in London 12 Grow weary portraying Release Date: room’s people who show Feb 05 with issues of manners, Times, “die” is upbringing, morality, Athena a lot of care education, and marriage misspelled 18 Really strange cook 35 Move a plant back to in the society of the landed gentry of the squeezes each piece of Peru for the most part British Regency. DOWN kiwi 36 Recipient spent last of 1 Hear actress Dunaway 19 Angles tip of nail into allowance HUA HIN TODAY, February 2015 HUA HIN JANUARY 2015 yellTODAY, “Makeup!” (2 words) pieces of wood ©2005 Trip Payne
The Penguins of Madagascar Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private join forces with undercover organization The North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it. Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy Release Date: Feb 19
Robot Overlords Earth has been conquered by robots from another galaxy and the human survivors must stay in their homes, or risk incineration. Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Release Date: Feb 26
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