Pattaya Mail - FRIDAY OCTOBER 5 - OCTOBER 11, 2018 (Vol. XXVI No. 40)

Established in 1993

VOL.XXVI No. 40

Pattaya’s First English Language Newspaper

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5 - OCTOBER 11, 2018

26th Year

30 BAHT

Over 1,200 dead in Indonesia quake and tsunami, toll still rising Pattaya Vegetarian Festival opens Oct. 8

The Pattaya Vegetarian Festival will kick off Oct. 8 in Naklua. (File photo from last year’s event.)

Jetsada Homklin The Pattaya Vegetarian Festival turns back up the heat after a quiet event in 2017, kicking off Oct. 8 in Naklua.

Last year’s festival intentionally was a bit blander than normal, with organizers cutting out entertainment

during the end of the royal mourning period.

This year’s 10-day event will return to normal at the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, starting with a ceremony to invite the Chinese gods to the party on kickoff day.

Continued on page 2

The magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi at dusk Friday, Sept. 28, and spawned a tsunami said to have been as high as 6 meters (20 feet) in places that left heart-wrenching scenes of destruction and human suffering. The toll of more than 1,200 dead is largely from the city of Palu and is expected to rise as areas cut off by the damage are reached. The regencies of Donggala, Sigi and Parigi Moutong - with a combined population of 1.2 million - have yet to be fully assessed.

(AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana) (Story and more photos on page 6.)

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Pattaya Vegetarian Festival opens Oct. 8 From page 1 A parade starting at 2:29 p.m. will snake its sway through Naklua and Pattaya, passing Wuthi Kha Watsadu, Sukhumvit Road, Sawangfa Road, Naklua New Market, the Old Market, Lan Po Public Park and to Pattaya Beach where a ceremony will be held to honor Kiew Hong Huk Jow, the Nine Emperor Gods and Bodhisattva.

On Oct. 9 more Emperor Gods’ ceremonies kick off at 7:19 a.m. while the Keng Ju Team will chant and perform an incense walk in the evening.

On Oct. 11 “Kee Yig Vegetarian Day” will see a respect ceremony in the morning and the Keng Ju chanting in the evening.

Following days will see more of the same, with the additional of ceremonies to spare animals, encourage

exercise and an early Loy Krathong commemoration.

On Oct. 16 the annual ceremony to pay respect to the dead who have no relatives to care for their graves will take place with chanting by Chinese monks and burning paper clothes and paper oblations to dedicate to the dead.

The closing parade takes place Oct. 18 at 6:19 a.m.

For more information, call 038-221-380.

Pattaya prepares lawsuit against Sukhawadee House Boonlua Chatree Pattaya’s outgoing deputy mayor spent his last day in office preparing the city’s lawsuit against Sukhawadee House for continued encroachment on public land.

Vichien Pongpanit spoke to the Pattaya City Council Sept. 27 to advise members that the tourist attraction had, at first, fully cooperated with efforts to remove encroaching structures but has, in recent months, stalled demolitions and even rebuilt structures on the affected land.

The lack of progress means the city now has little choice but to sue the tourist attraction owned by the head of poultry giant Saha Farms.

Vichien said the ostentatious Sukhumvit Road mansion can be charged with numerous offenses ranging from encroaching on public

The Pattaya City Council approved the spending of 197.4 million baht for 37 projects through 2019.

Council Chairman Anan Ankanawisan led the Sept.

26 meeting that covered projects that were budgeted this year, but funds were never spent. The council approved the rollover of unspent funds to 2019.

Pattaya steps up marine safety efforts during monsoon Jetsada Homklin Pattaya has stepped up security precautions for boat passengers during the monsoon conditions nearing the end of rainy season.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department was ordered to increase inspections during the final weeks of the monsoon season, as the waters between Pattaya and Koh Larn have been whipped up by repeated storms and wind.

Authorities are monitoring boats traveling between the mainland and island via closed-circuit cameras installed at Bali Hai Pier, Koh Larn and on passenger boats.

They also are working with private groups and boats

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department was ordered to increase inspections during the final weeks of the monsoon season, as the waters between Pattaya and Koh Larn have been whipped up by repeated storms and wind.

to respond to accidents or passenger emergencies.

Officers are patrolling the entire length of Pattaya Beach

to ensure passengers are wearing life jackets, schedules are followed, and those engaged in water sports also are safe.

Pattaya’s garbage crisis floods city Warapun Jaikusol

Pattaya’s outgoing deputy mayor spent his last day in office preparing the city’s lawsuit against Sukhawadee House for continued encroachment on public land.

land, building unlicensed structures and reclaiming land from the sea.

The lawsuit would cover three main areas, he said.

First would be intrusion on a beach footpath by laying artificial turf and putting chairs on an area already cited for encroachment.

Second, while Sukhawadee quickly demolished a cited

building on Banglamung Soi 8, it then fenced off the public road and allowed buses to park there.

Finally, there are 11 rai of public land adjacent to the beach that officials suspect was illegally reclaimed landfill. Soil testing will be done to confirm it. If so, the tourist attraction will be prosecuted for reclaiming public seafront.

Pattaya OKs 197.4 million baht for 37 projects Jetsada Homklin

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Among the 37 projects are improvements to Koh Larn’s Ta Wean Beach, the municipal office building, construction of a viewpoint at Ta Wean Beach, expansion of the Pukplub Canal in Naklua, and funding to continue the removal of 50,000 tons of excess garbage on Koh Larn and removal of encroaching structures at Sukhawadee House.

Council members bemoaned how money constantly is

budgeted, but foot-dragging and red tape mean that the projects never proceed and the money gets wasted when budget approvals expire.

Case in point, Councilman Thanet Supornsahatrangsi complained, was the already approved repair of the city council’s own sound system. Funds were approved three months ago and nothing has been done since.

Pattaya’s garbage crisis is never more evident than when it rains.

Throughout the city, plastic bags, foam containers, paper and bottles wash down and block sewers, preventing storm runoff from draining and exacerbating Pattaya’s already endemic flooding.

Residents on Soi Khao Noi, one of the hardest-hit areas, are sick of it.

Lukana Kerdjan said Pattaya must do a better job of picking up trash on time and campaign more to get residents to dispose of their waste correctly and stop littering.

But the city has garbage problems of its

Garbage, now more than flooding, is Pattaya’s No. 1 problem.

own, with overflowing dumps and few landfills left available. Garbage now regularly piles up on roadsides and neighbors around the overloaded trash-transfer stations erupt in protest.

Garbage, now more than flooding, is Pattaya’s No. 1 problem.

South Pattaya residents billed 350,000 baht to get running water Jetsada Homklin Despite Pattaya’s booming growth, some South Pattaya residents still don’t have running water.

Following a volley of complaints to the Pattaya Mail, a group of homeowners of Khopai Soi 11 got a visit from Sutat Nutchpan, director of the Provincial Waterworks Authority’s Pattaya office and his staff.

He was shocked to find out that numerous homes in the heavily developed South Pattaya neighborhood have not had running tap water for 20 years.

Sutat Nutchpan, director of the Provincial Waterworks Authority’s Pattaya office, and his staff pay a visit to a group of homeowners of Khopai Soi 11 where numerous homes in the heavily developed South Pattaya neighborhood have not had running tap water for 20 years.

But what he told them next didn’t make the neighbors feel any better: If they want water, it will cost them more than 350,000 baht.

Sutat explained that the water pipe running in the middle of the soi is too small to handle the demand from all the houses now built alongside it. To get water, new pipe would have to be laid to the Soi Khopai intersection, a distance of 210 meters.

The cost would be 700 baht

per meter for a total of 147,000 baht plus more than 200,000 baht to rip up and repave the road.

Needless to say, the homeowners don’t have that kind of money and believe Pattaya City Hall should foot the bill as it has to supply water to all residents.

Sutat said the project will be submitted for budgetary approval, but funding would not come until at least until next year.

Read more news at pattayamail.com

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Sonthaya rolls back clock in Pattaya mayor’s office appointed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha - for whom he has been serving as a political advisor - to make Pattaya the center of the government’s Eastern Economic Corridor project.

He said another role is to improve cooperation and unity between Pattaya and the central government in Bangkok and spearhead

Jetsada Homklin The return of the Kunplome family to the Pattaya Mayor’s office has rolled back the clock to 2015 at city hall.

Former cabinet minister Sonthaya Kunplome, older brother of former Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, took office Sept. 28 after being appointed to replace Anan Charoenchasri, who has shepherded Pattaya for most of the time since the terms of the city’s elected council and mayor expired in 2015.

He immediately named former Itthiphol Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh as deputy again, along with former Councilman Banlue Kullavanijaya. The other two deputy mayors named were Poramet Ngampichet, a former

Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome (seated, center) named (left to right) Ronakit Ekasingh, Poramet Ngampichet, Banlue Kullavanijaya, and Pattana Boonsawat as his deputies.

MP from the Palong Chon Party that Sonthaya heads, and Pattana Boonsawat, chairman of the Thailand Windsurfing Association of

which Itthiphol is president.

Together they paid respect to the King Taksin the Great monument at city hall before being welcomed by civil

servants, residents and business leaders.

In his opening remarks to the Pattaya City Council, Sonthaya said he was

Another black eye for Pattaya’s sewer system

After inspecting Wong Amat beach, Pattaya officials said there is nothing they can do currently to prevent sewage from flowing directly into the sea in Naklua during heavy storms.

Pattaya officials said there is nothing they can do currently to prevent sewage from flowing directly into the sea in Naklua during heavy storms.

The Chonburi Natural Resources and Environment Department ordered Pattaya sanitation and wastewatertreatment workers to inspect the hotel-dotted Wong Amat Beach Sept. 27 after a viral video showed black sludge draining into the sea.

Pattaya officials confirmed the sewer pipes shown were

not a private, stealthy attempt to dump wastewater illegally, but, in fact, part of Pattaya’s overburdened sewage system.

During heavy storms, runoff enters the sewer system and sewers back up, causing the two to mix and then drain into the sea.

Until Pattaya upgrades its infrastructure, there’s nothing that can be done.

Staffers tested the water to see if it posed a hazard to swimmers. (PCPR)

development of the EEC. Examples of that include solving Pattaya’s perennial flooding problems, which requires cooperation with the central government and the Department of Irrigation.

Moreover, Pattaya and surrounding sub-districts must work together on an overall water-management plan, Sonthaya said.

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Illegal Chinese tour guide arrested YouTube ‘actor’ claims million-baht theft, doesn’t return to ID thieves

Pattaya Tourist Police arrested an illegal Chinese tour guide and his employer for allegedly extorting customers.

Keng Na Songkhla Pattaya Tourist Police arrested an illegal Chinese tour guide for allegedly extorting customers for extra packages.

Li Wenyong, 33, and his boss, Pornpimil Senakan, 27, were taken into custody Sept. 24 outside the Pattaya

Floating Market where Chinese tourists complained they were abandoned when they refused to pay Li an additional 3,200 baht each to enter the tourist attraction.

Pornpimil, a guide with P.P.M. Travel Co., confessed she hired Li for 10,000 baht.

He was charged with working

without a permit and working as a tour guide without a license. She was charged with employing a foreigner without a work permit.

The tourists, left with little time to continue their sightseeing, were assisted by tourist police, leaving them feeling a bit better.

Police raid dice game, win sex drugs Boonlua Chatree

Police raiding an illegal South Pattaya dice game got more than they expected when they also found 317 boxes of sexual performance drugs.

Police raiding an illegal South Pattaya dice game got more than they expected when they also found 317 boxes of sexual performance drugs.

Pattaya officers arrested nine hardened gamblers who were ratted out by neighbors at their Soi Jaidee apartment house for making too much noise.

Police storming the apartment recovered dice, 1,000 baht and then found the 317 boxes of erectile dysfunction medications.

Noppadol Moonkam, Boonleang Chaichid, and Anurak Thongsuk were charged with stealing a bag dropped on Walking Street.

Teerarak Suthathiwong Two motorcycle taxi drivers and a transvestite were charged with stealing a bag dropped on Walking Street by a YouTube personality that supposedly contained more than a million baht in cash, jewelry and electronics he never came back to collect.

Taxi drivers Noppadol Moonkam, 52, and Boonleang Chaichid, 46, along with Anurak Thongsuk, 29, took the rap for “theft after dark” after scooping up some property belonging to Vincent Chan, who makes and acts in short videos on YouTube and also claims to be a martial arts choreographer in Hong Kong.

Police aren’t putting much stock in the YouTuber’s claims, however.

Chan went to police after getting in a fight with a ladyboy on Walking Street.

During the fracas, he dropped his backpack. He said the bag contained 120,000 baht, HK$5,000 (20,600 baht), a Rolex watch worth 520,000 baht, a diamond bracelet worth 400,000 baht, and 3 mobile phones.

Pattaya, Chonburi and Tourist police said they recovered only 4,000 baht, a single Apple iPhone X, the bracelet and his passport.

Then they tried to contact Chan and asked him to come down and identify the property and the bandits. He

didn’t show nor did he answer messages.

Noppadol copped to taking the bag and 4,000 baht, which he said was all that was inside. He tossed the bag aside, he said.

He said he didn’t conspire in the crime with Boonleang, who works from the same taxi stand. Boonleang said he took the bracelet, but found it on the ground alone and wasn’t even sure if it had real diamonds or not.

Police are skeptical that a Rolex was ever in the bag, nor the multiple phones or the amount of cash claimed, especially since Chan never showed any interest in coming back to discuss the theft report.

2 hurt in truck-motorbike crash

Fighting cocks die in fire Boonlua Chatree A fire at a Naklua chicken coop killed the fighting cocks kept inside.

Firefighters took only minutes to extinguish the flames that enveloped the wood shack with a metal roof on Naklua Soi 17 Sept. 27. But by that time it was too late.

Owner Nikorn U-na, 42, said he had built the shack to house his fighting cocks and a pair of prized breeders so they wouldn’t be stolen.

But he said he went out and left a candle burning inside the shack.

He returned home to find it in A fire at a Naklua chicken coop killed the fighting cocks kept inside. flames.

A Cambodian waiter and his date were injured when their motorbike was hit by a reversing pickup truck in Naklua.

Boonlua Chatree A Cambodian waiter and his date were injured when their motorbike was hit by a reversing pickup truck in Naklua.

Mong Su, 20, and an unidentified 35-year-old Thai woman were sent to Banglamung Hospital following the Sept. 25 collision on Naklua Soi 29/1.

Naris Lungnulee, 41, said

he was backing out into the street when Mong’s Yamaha Fino with the woman in a sidecar approached. He stopped to let them pass, but apparently not soon enough and they crashed into his Isuzu Dmax.

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Nongprue touts floodprevention successes

Navy marks Mahidol Day The Royal Thai Navy marked the founding of modern dentistry, pharmacology, nursing, public health and social welfare in Thailand on Mahidol Day, Sept. 24.

Warapun Jaikusol Nongprue is patting itself on the back for its efforts to dredge canals and unplug drains, claiming areas under its jurisdiction suffered no major flooding after a Sept. 24 storm.

Sanitation Department chief Bekchai Nilapanan said the two hours of rain did result in some backup, but the standing water was only a result of pipes being too small to accommodate all the water, not due to blockages.

He said residents reported no complaints and the water drained quickly.

Having said that, the sub-district acknowledged more work needs to be done, in particular regarding the San Ta Yai public aqueduct in on Soi Mabyailia, which takes water from Marb Tato, Puyai Kui Market and Pattanakarn Road.

Currently there are two closed, parallel pipes

Nongprue’s efforts to dredge canals and unplug drains resulted in no major flooding after a Sept. 24 storm.

about 1.5 meters in diameter. Next year, those will be replaced with an open culvert 3.5 meters wide and four meters deep.

Several other projects also are planned for 2019 to increase the size of existing drainage pipes so that water doesn’t pool waiting to go into the drains.

Sattahip Naval Base bids farewell to navy chief Patcharapol Panrak The Sattahip Naval Base bid farewell to the navy’s commander-in-chief in grand style at a pre-retirement ceremony.

Adm. Naris Pratumsuwan arrived at the base via helicopter Sept. 25 to join the ceremony on the deck of the HTMS Angthong before the HTMS Makut Rajakumarn performed a 19gun salute. Naris did one last fleet review was the HTMS Naresuan, Bangpakong, Tapi, Tai Muang, Surin, Talang, and Martra sailed by.

Naris thanked all the officers and conscripts for their duty, saying his has been proud to work his entire life under the Thai flag to make the nation strong.

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The Sattahip Naval Base bid farewell to the navy’s commander-in-chief in grand style at a pre-retirement ceremony.

He also urged the servicemen to work with strength and honesty for future commanders.

Patcharapol Panrak The Royal Thai Navy marked the founding of modern dentistry, pharmacology, nursing, public health and social welfare in Thailand on Mahidol Day. Rear Adm. Surasing Prapaipanitch, director of Queen Sirikit Naval Medical Center, presided over a Sept. 24 wreath-laying ceremony to honor Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkhla and the “father of Thai medicine” in front of the hospital.

Born the 69th son of King Chulalongkorn on New Year’s Day 1892, Mahidol was sent abroad after being named Prince of Songkla at age 13. He didn’t return to

Thailand until the outbreak of World War I. After resigning from the Navy after a nine-month stint, Mahidol was taken to Siriraj Hospital by halfbrother Prince Rangsit, a lower-ranked prince who felt the hospital needed a bigger presence to improve its quality. Shocked at what he saw, Mahidol agreed to help his brother improve the hospital and spent the next several years learning medicine in the United Kingdom and the United States.

During that time the prince personally bankrolled the education of two Thai students at U.S. medical universities.

One of those turned out to be 18-year-old Sangwal Talabhat, who would later

marry the prince and sire Thailand’s next two kings.

Mahidol died Sept. 24, 1929 of kidney failure, but his legacy remains. Many students sent abroad under his scholarships became key players in modern Thai medicine and helped establish new medical schools and universities. The Royal Medical College later became Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, a key faculty of the Medical University founded in 1943. In 1969, the Medical University became Mahidol University and Prince of Songkla University. Finally, the Prince Mahidol Award was created in 1992 and given to pioneers in medicine, public health, and social services.

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Over 1,200 dead in Indonesia quake and tsunami; toll may rise

In this Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, photo, villagers view a ship swept ashore by a tsunami in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. (AP Photo/Rio Mario, File)

health and religious reasons,” said Willem Rampangilei, head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. Most of Palu’s residents are Muslim.

The cries from beneath the Roa-Roa Hotel, which appeared to have toppled over with its walls splintered like pickup sticks, went silent by Sunday afternoon. Officials had estimated about 50 people could be inside.

“We are trying our best.

Time is so important here to save people,” said Muhammad Syaugi, head of the national search and rescue team. “Heavy equipment is on the way.”

Metro TV showed about a dozen rescuers in orange jumpsuits climbing over debris with a stretcher carrying the body of a victim from the modest business hotel.

Other rescuers worked to free a 15-year-old girl trapped under concrete in her house in Palu after it collapsed on her family during the magnitude 7.5 earthquake that spawned a tsunami.

Niniek Karmini Palu, Indonesia (AP) Rescuers struggled to reach victims in several large coastal towns in Indonesia that were hit by an earthquake and tsunami, and authorities feared that the toll of more than 1,200 confirmed dead would rise.

With the area largely cut off by damaged roads and downed communications lines, military and commercial aircraft were delivering aid and supplies to the hard-hit city of Palu on the island of Sulawesi, and others in the region.

But there was a desperate need for heavy equipment to reach possible survivors buried in collapsed buildings, including an eightstory hotel in Palu where voices were heard in the rubble. A 25-year-old woman was found alive during the evening Sunday, in the ruins of the Roa-Roa Hotel, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency, which released photos of the her lying on a stretcher covered in a blanket.

As of Tuesday, at least 1,234 people were confirmed killed by the quake and tsunami that struck Friday evening, Sept. 28, Indonesia’s disaster agency said, with nearly all of those from Palu. The regencies of

A motorbike passes the wreckage of a car following earthquakes and a tsunami in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, Sunday, Sept. 30. (AP Photo/ Tatan Syuflana)

Donggala, Sigi and Parigi Moutong - with a combined population of 1.2 million - had yet to be fully assessed.

“The death toll is believed to be still increasing, since many bodies were still under the wreckage, while many have not been reached,” said disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

Bodies covered in blue and yellow tarps lined the streets of Palu, and officials said they were digging a mass grave for at least 300 of the dead.

It was not immediately known when the burial would take place, but “this must be done as soon as possible for

In this Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, photo, people survey the mosque damaged in a massive earthquake and a tsunami. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana, File)

Unable to move her legs under the rubble, Nurul Istikharah was trapped beside her dead mother and niece.

Rescuers also tried to control water from a leaking pipe, fearing she would drown.

Istikharah was unconscious during part of the effort to free her, but rescuers kept talking to her to try to keep her awake. Others offered her food and water.

Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo toured Palu on Sunday and said rescuers were having difficulty reaching victims because of a shortage of heavy equipment.

“There are many challenges,” Jokowi said. “We have to do many things soon, but conditions do not allow us to do so.”

He said authorities were deploying more heavy machinery so emergency workers can help recover more victims Monday.

The stricken areas also needed medical supplies, fuel, fresh water and experts.

It was the latest natural disaster to hit Indonesia, which is frequently struck by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis be-

An Indonesia rescue team evacuates a women from damage, Sunday, Sept. 30. (AP Photo/Chandra)

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cause of its location on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. In December 2004, a massive magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra Island in western Indonesia triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries. More recently, a powerful quake on the island of Lombok killed 505 people in August.

In Donggala, the site closest to the epicenter of Friday’s earthquake, aerial footage on Metro TV showed the sugary blond sands of beaches swept out to sea, along with some buildings.

of people could still be buried in their homes.

“The ground rose up like a spine and suddenly fell.

Many people were trapped and buried under collapsed houses. I could do nothing to help,” resident Nur Indah said, crying. “In the evening, some of them turned on their cellphones just to give a sign that they were there. But the lights were off later and the next day.”

With hundreds injured, earthquake-damaged hospitals were overwhelmed.

People survey the damage of a shopping mall following the earthquakes and a tsunami in Palu.

(AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana, File)

Some buildings in the town were severely damaged, with plywood walls shredded and chunks of concrete scattered on the pavement.

Much of the damage, however, appeared limited to the waterfront.

Palu, which has more than 380,000 people, was strewn with debris from the earthquake and tsunami. A heavily damaged mosque was half submerged and a shopping mall was reduced to a crumpled hulk. A large bridge with yellow arches had collapsed.

The city is built around a narrow bay that apparently magnified the force of the tsunami as the waves raced into the tight inlet. Nugroho, the disaster agency spokesman, said waves were reported as high as 6 meters (20 feet) in some places.

Looters hit a badly damaged shopping mall, apparently unconcerned for their safety amid ongoing aftershocks and the structure’s questionable stability.

In one devastated area in Palu, residents said dozens

Nugroho said 61 foreigners were in Palu at the time of the disaster. Most were accounted for, but one South Korean was believed to be trapped in the Roa-Roa Hotel, while three others from France and one from Malaysia were missing. The survivors were to be evacuated to the Sulawesi city of Makassar in the island’s far south.

Communications with the area were difficult because power and telecommunications were cut, hampering rescue efforts. Most people have slept outdoors, fearing strong aftershocks.

Indonesia is a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands that span a distance that would stretch from New York to London. It is home to 260 million people. Roads and infrastructure are poor in many areas, making access difficult in the best of conditions.

The disaster agency has said that essential aircraft can land at Palu’s airport, though AirNav, which oversees aircraft navigation, said the runway was cracked and the control tower damaged.

In this photo released by the Indonesian Presidential Office, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, second right, talks with tsunami survivors Sunday, Sept.

30, 2018. (Agus Suparto/Indonesian Presidential Office via AP)

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Photos from Japanese space rovers show asteroid is ... rocky Tokyo (AP) - New photos taken on the surface of an asteroid show that it is (drum roll, please) ... rocky.

It may be no surprise, but Japan space agency scientists and engineers are thrilled by the images being

sent to Earth by two jumping robotic rovers that they dropped onto an asteroid about 280 million kilometers (170 million miles) away.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency posted the latest photos on its

New photos taken on the surface of an asteroid show that it is (drumroll, please) ... rocky. (JAXA via AP)

website late Thursday. They show slightly tilted closeups of the rocky surface from different locations.

“I cannot find words to express how happy I am that we were able to realize mobile exploration on the surface of an asteroid,” project manager Yuichi Tsuda said on the space agency’s website.

It took more than three years for the unmanned Hayabusa2 spacecraft to reach the vicinity of asteroid Ryugu. One week ago, the craft successfully dropped a small capsule with two rovers onto its surface. The rovers, each about the size of circular cookie tin, don’t have wheels but jump around the asteroid.

Hayabusa2 is scheduled to drop a German-French lander with four observation devices onto the asteroid next week. It later will attempt to land on the asteroid itself to collect samples to send back to researchers on Earth.

NASA satellite launched to measure Earth’s ice changes Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. (AP) - A NASA satellite designed to precisely measure changes in Earth’s ice sheets, glaciers, sea ice and vegetation was launched into polar orbit from California Sept. 15.

A Delta 2 rocket carrying ICESat-2 lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 6:02 a.m. and headed over the Pacific Ocean.

NASA Earth Science Division director Michael Freilich says that the mission in particular will advance knowledge of how the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica contribute to sea level rise.

The melt from those ice sheets alone has raised global sea level by more than 1 millimeter (0.04 inch) a year recently, according to NASA. The mission is a successor to the original Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite that operated from 2003 to 2009.

Measurements continued since then with airborne instruments in NASA’s Operation Ice Bridge.

Built by Northrop Grumman, ICESat-2 carries a single instrument, a laser altimeter that measures height by determining how long it takes photons to travel from the spacecraft to Earth and back.

According to NASA, it will collect more than 250 times as many measurements as the first ICESat.

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket with the NASA Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) onboard is seen shortly after the mobile service tower at SLC-2 was rolled back, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

The ICESat-2 mission will measure the changing height of Earth’s ice. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

The laser is designed to fire 10,000 times per second, divided into six beams of hundreds of trillions of photons.

The round trip is timed to a billionth of a second.

In addition to ice, the satellite’s other measurements, such as the tops of trees, snow and river heights, may help with research into the amount of carbon stored in forests, flood and drought planning and wildfire behavior,

among other uses.

The launch was the last for a Delta 2 rocket, United Launch Alliance said.

The first Delta 2 lifted off on Feb. 14, 1989, and since then it has been the launch vehicle for Global Positioning System orbiters, Earth observing and commercial satellites, and interplanetary missions including the twin Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity.

This Sept. 23, 2018 image captured by Rover-1B, and provided by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shows the surface of asteroid Ryugu.

(JAXA via AP)

How Apple’s Safari browser will try to thwart data tracking said Lance Cottrell, creator of the privacy service Anonymizer. “You can tell it’s a person and not a dog, but you can’t recognize a person’s face,” he said.

For instance, Safari will reveal only the fonts that ship with the machine, not any custom fonts installed.

Anick Jesdanun New York (AP) - New privacy features in Apple’s Safari browser seek to make it tougher for companies such as Facebook to track you.

Companies have long used cookies to remember your past visits. This can be helpful for saving sign-in details and preferences. But now they’re also being used to profile you in order to finetune advertising to your tastes and interests.

Cookie use goes beyond visiting a particular website. As other sites embed Facebook “like” and “share” buttons, for instance, Facebook’s servers are being pinged and can access your stored cookies. That means Facebook now knows you frequent celebrity gossip sites or read news with a certain political bent. Ads can be tailored to that.

Here’s how Safari is getting tougher in dealing with that.

No more grace period Safari used to wait 24 hours from your last visit to a service before blocking that service’s cookies on thirdparty sites. That effectively exempted Facebook, Google and other services that people visited daily. Now, Safari will either block the cookie automatically or prompt you for permission.

Apple says Safari will still be able to remember sign-in details and other preferences,

This March 19, 2018, file photo shows the Safari app on an iPad in Baltimore. New privacy features in Apple’s Safari browser seek to make it tougher for companies such as Facebook to track you. (AP Photo/ Patrick Semansky)

though some websites have had to adjust their coding.

Thwarting fingerprinting Browsers typically reveal seemingly innocuous information about your device, such as the operating system used and fonts installed. Websites use this to make minor adjustments in formatting so that pages display properly.

Browsers have historically made a lot of information available, largely because it seemed harmless. Now it’s clear that all this data, taken together, can be used to uniquely identify you. Safari will now hide many of those specifics so that you will look no different from the rest.

It’s like a system that digitally blurs someone’s image,

Masking web addresses When visiting a website, the browser usually sends the web address for the page you were just on. This address can be quite detailed and reveal the specific product you were exploring at an e-commerce site, for instance.

Now, Safari will just pass on the main domain name for that site. So it would be just “Amazon.com” rather than the specific product page at Amazon.

Closing a loophole Some ad companies have sought to bypass restrictions on third-party cookies - that is, identifiers left by advertisers - by using a trick that routed them through a series of websites. That could make a third-party cookie look like it belonged to a site you’re visiting. Safari will now try to catch that.

Many of the safeguards will be limited to cookies that Apple deems to be trackers.

That’s being done to reduce the likelihood of inadvertently blocking legitimate third-party cookies.

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018 9

They walk amongst us!

Following on from my article on blood groups came a “scientific” paper to claim that people who are Rhesus negative are descended from Aliens. This is nonsense and very poor application of statistics. However, DNA testing applied correctly can turn up some startling results.

Let’s begin with some medical facts: Bruises on a child’s body are often considered proof that a baby has been battered. A visible bruise on the buttocks, the shape of a hand and five fingers is almost ‘undeniable’ proof. In fact, there was a very celebrated instance of a GP in the UK having discovered that so many of the Asian babies in the practice were showing signs of being ‘battered’ that the children’s welfare people were called in and an enormous number of children taken away. However, the highly observant GP was wrong!

In Thailand, and the rest of Asia, a new-born baby with the ‘handprint’ bruise is very common, while child abuse is not common at all. The problem, or rather the condition, relates back to Genghis Khan and the Mongol hordes. It is a wonderful piece of folklore and also a fine example of applied genetics.

Let’s look at the folklore first, and you are going to have to dig very deep to get this tale anywhere else! A Mongolian baby, called Tanujin, was born just over 1,000 years ago, but did not breathe. His father, in desperation, held

his new-born son upside down and smacked him severely over the bottom, so much so that the baby drew breath and lived, but carried the life giving bruise for the rest of his days. That baby later became Genghis Khan (which means King of the Earth), and by the time he died in 1227 he was the ruler of a large chunk of it, including the area which later became known as Thailand.

History has chronicled that the Mongol hordes raped, pillaged and annexed countries from China to Persia. Famous cities were captured and looted such as Tashkent, Baghdad (still a good place to stay away from, thanks George) and Bokhara. The Mongols conquered northern India and Afghanistan. In 1222, they defeated the Russian and Bulgarian armies.

At the time of Genghis Khan’s death, his empire stretched from China’s Yellow River to the Dnieper, in Russia.

And now back to some interesting folklore. The descendants of Genghis Khan also showed the hand-shaped bruise on the buttocks, beginning with his four sons Ogdai, Jagatai, Juji and Tule, who were given one quarter of the empire each after their father died. They in turn passed on this ‘trademark’ and so this continues till today. If your “Luk Krung” children have the sign of Genghis Khan, called Mongolian Blue Spot, you can claim descent from the warrior king. However, there is quite a number of you, so I think there won’t be much left in Genghis’ estate by today.

Now Mongolian Blue Spot, as a clinical condition, is well documented, and I came across figures suggesting that at least one Mongolian spot is present on over 90 percent of Native Americans and people of African descent, over 80 percent of Asians, over 70 percent of Hispanics, and just under 10 percent of fair-skinned infants (Clinical Pediatric Dermatology, 1993). The distribution was followed through with DNA testing.

Medically we describe Mongolian Blue Spot as flat bluish to bluish gray skin markings that commonly appear at birth (or shortly thereafter) and scientifically they are called congenital dermal melanocytosis. They appear commonly at the base of the spine, on the buttocks and back. The medical text books also warn that occasionally Mongolian Blue Spots are mistaken for bruises and questions about child abuse arise. Obviously a text book that the UK GP did not read! Mongolian Blue Spots are birthmarks, not bruises.

So, for all of you with children with a peculiar blue birthmark on their bottoms, or for those interested in checking friends and neighbors (or the young ladies dancing in the chrome pole palaces), it seems fairly positive that the lineage is verified. You really have found descendants of the man who conquered more of the world than Alexander the Great. And guess what – my children have it too!

Ultrasound jiggles open brain barrier, a step to better care Lauran Neergaard Washington (AP) - A handful of Alzheimer’s patients signed up for a bold experiment: They let scientists beam sound waves into the brain to temporarily jiggle an opening in its protective shield.

The so-called blood-brain barrier prevents germs and other damaging substances from leaching in through the bloodstream - but it can block drugs for Alzheimer’s, brain tumors and other neurologic diseases, too.

Canadian researchers on Wednesday reported early hints that technology called focused ultrasound can safely poke holes in that barrier - holes that quickly sealed back up - a step toward one day using the noninvasive device to push brain treatments through.

“It’s been a major goal of neuroscience for decades, this idea of a safe and reversible and precise way of breaching the blood-brain barrier,” said Dr. Nir Lipsman, a neurosurgeon at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre who led the study.

“It’s exciting.”

The findings were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Chicago and published in Nature Communications.

This first-step research, conducted in just six people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, checked if patients’ fragile blood vessels could withstand the breach without bleeding or other side effects - it didn’t test potential therapies.

More safety testing is needed but “it’s definitely promising,” said Dr. Eliezer Masliah of the National Institute on Aging, who wasn’t involved with the study. “What is remarkable is that they could do it in a very focused way, they can target a very specific brain region.”

Alzheimer’s isn’t the only target. A similar safety study is underway in Lou Gehrig’s disease. And researchers are testing if the tool helps more chemotherapy reach the right spot in people with a deadly brain tumor called glioblastoma.

“We don’t want to broadly open the blood-brain barrier everywhere. We want to

In this March 23, 2017 photo provided by the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, patient Rick Karr is prepared for treatment at the facility in Toronto, Canada. Karr was the first Alzheimer’s patient treated with focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier. (Kevin Van Paassen/Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre via AP)

open the blood-brain barrier where we want the treatment to be delivered,” explained Dr. Graeme Woodworth of the University of Maryland Medical Center, who will lead a soon-to-begin brain tumor study.

Scientists have long tried different strategies to overcome the blood-brain barrier with little success. The brain’s blood vessels are lined with cells that form tight junctions, almost like a zipper. The barrier lets in select small molecules. Often, treatments for brain diseases are too big to easily pass.

The new approach: Scientists inject microscopic bubbles into the bloodstream.

Through an MRI scanner, they aim at a precise brain area. Then they beam ultrasound waves through a helmet-like device to that spot.

The pulses of energy make the microbubbles vibrate,

loosening those zipper-like junctions in hopes that medications could slip inside.

Within minutes, Lipsman’s team saw a medical dye appear on the Alzheimer’s patients’ brain scans - proof the barrier opened. A repeat scan the next day showed it was closed again. Patients repeated the procedure a month later.

Researchers reported no serious side effects, and no worsening of cognitive function. The study was funded by the non-profit Focused Ultrasound Foundation.

“It’s not painful or anything,” said Rick Karr of Everett, Ontario, the study’s first participant.

A retired truck driver and amateur musician, Karr was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011. Doctors made clear the study wouldn’t treat his memory problems, but “I feel privileged,” Karr said in

an interview. “I could help somebody else down the road.”

A French company, CarThera, is testing a different ultrasound technique for brain tumors, using an implant attached to the skull during surgery.

For the non-invasive ultrasound, device maker InSightec has Food and Drug Administration permission to begin the Maryland tumor trial and a small U.S. Alzheimer’s study.

This time, scientists will aim deeper into Alzheimer’saffected brains to a key

memory region, said lead researcher Dr. Ali Rezai of West Virginia University’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. And they’ll measure if simply opening the barrier could help the body clear away sticky plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s, after mouse studies suggested that’s a possibility.

But by far the bigger interest is in using ultrasound to deliver drugs - if the nextstep studies conclude it’s safe to try.

“The blood-brain barrier’s no longer off-limits,” Rezai said.

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Odds and Ends The Associated Press

$18M worth of cocaine found in bananas given to Texas prison Houston (AP) - Authorities say bananas donated to a Texas prison turned out to have nearly $18 million worth of cocaine hidden inside the boxes. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice says in a Facebook post that the drugs were found in two pallets of bananas that were donated because they were already ripe. The donation arrived Friday. The department says sergeants who picked up the boxes found a bundle of a white powdery substance under the bananas. U.S. customs officials were called to the scene, and authorities say 540 packages of cocaine were found in 45 boxes of bananas. The department says federal officials and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection are investigating.

Dense swarm of bats causes flap at Vienna airport Berlin (AP) - Birds are a well-known hazard for airport operators, but Vienna airport officials have had to deal with different winged intruders: a swarm of bats. Airport spokesman Peter Kleemann told the Austria Press Agency on Monday that the dense swarm of bats descended on one runway for about 45 minutes Wednesday evening. As a safety precaution, another runway was used for takeoffs and landings, affecting four flights and causing a few slight delays. Airport firefighters saw off the mammals by spraying a fine mist of water over the runway. Kleemann said Vienna airport hasn’t previously experienced a similar incident, and officials are looking into causes. He said that there was no risk to passengers. He was confirming a report in the Heute newspaper on the incident.

Walk into my parlor: Greek spiders spin giant web over shore Athens, Greece (AP) - It’s not quite the World Wide Web - but the spiders of Aitoliko in Greece have made a good start. Spurred into overdrive by an explosion in the populations of insects they eat, thousands of little spiders in the western Greek town have shrouded coastal trees, bushes and low vegetation in thick webs. The sticky white lines extend for a few hundred meters along the shoreline of Aitoliko, built on an artificial island in a salt lagoon near Missolonghi, 250 kilometers west of Athens. Experts told local media that the numbers of lake flies, a non-biting midge, have rocketed amid humid late summer conditions.

Spiders, which fancy the flies, reproduced fast to take full advantage of the feast. Residents say the extensive spider webs have another benefit: keeping down mosquitoes.

Crossword No 1314

VOL. XXVI No. 40

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Last week’s answers Across: 1 Show, 3 Defeated, 9 Uniform, 10 Virgo, 11 Great, 12 Narrow, 14 Remark, 16 Dallas, 19 Crooks, 21 Gusto, 24 Drive, 25 Elegant, 26 Migraine, 27 Heed.

Down: 1 Sluggard, 2 Olive, 4 Ermine, 5 Elver, 6 Turmoil, 7 Dhow, 8 Loiter, 13 Assorted, 15 Morning, 17 Argued, 18 Astern, 20 Omega, 22 Spade, 23 Adam.

Ten-Minute Sudoku An easy Sudoku puzzle that should not take long to complete.

The rules of Sudoku are simple. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Each row must contain one of each digit. So must each column and each 3x3 box.

Answer next week.

Last week’s answers:

No. 217 (Giannis Giannakopoulos via AP)

Flyers introduce odd-looking mascot, soak in the comments Philadelphia (AP) - The Philadelphia Flyers have introduced an odd-looking new team mascot - a 7-foot fuzzy creature named Gritty with a wild, orange beard. The character’s debut triggered an outpouring of comments online, including “Good luck sleeping tonight, Flyers fans” and comparisons to ZZ Top and the Muppets. Twitter users created memes with Gritty taking the place of horrormovie villains and splicing his head onto other disturbing images. The cross-state rival Pittsburgh Penguins tweeted, “lol ok” - to which Gritty responded, “Sleep with one eye open tonight, bird.” The reaction seemed to be exactly what the Flyers were going for. Gritty’s final tweet of the day included the message, “Goodnight, internet,” and a photo of the crazed-looking mascot squeezing what looked to be Champagne out of a squirt bottle.

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Answers next week.

VOL. XXVI No. 40

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

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11

Getting exposed The advance to digital has not been totally good. There is a tendency these days to think that the camera can do all the thinking for you and all you have to do is find your subject and pop the shutter. Hey presto! The world’s best photograph is yours. Unfortunately, the blurb sheet that came with your camera will also give this impression, no matter how incorrect it is! However, let me make things better for you.

You see, every camera, irrespective of how clever, how advanced its electronics or its auto-programmed multi-phasic metering, is still, in the end, just a piece of equipment that lets light fall on light sensitive diodes. It is a fancy black shoe box with a lens and pre-recorded electronic algorithms.

There are always times when the camera’s algorithms will get it all wrong.

This is because it is a machine, so it can’t think. Even more, it cannot mind-read so it has absolutely no idea what is the most important subject in the clutter of objects in the shot you are taking. It is worthwhile, if you have an SLR, taking more frames with what you think to be the correct exposure, rather than just relying on the camera’s inbuilt electronic gizmos.

It works like this - taking a shot of your favorite girlfriend on the beach, for example (or your wife if the girlfriend is indisposed) - the camera takes a reading from the blue sky, the blue sea, the yellow sand, the red beach umbrella and finally from your subject’s face. It puts the whole lot together, adds them up and divides by the number of readings and gets the average and applies that figure to the f stop and shutter speed. Even blind Freddie can see that if the background is exceptionally

Dear Hillary, I am writing to you with a sad cautionary tale. Briefly, a lady from Buriram who I met in 2003 worked as a masseuse in various shops and we became friends platonically. She was genuine (no extras) and with two sons to support I was glad for her when a Swedish man invited her to share his life in his Jomtien Condo in 2004. She could continue working but not late at night. I rarely met her and had not seen her for a long time so when we met by chance in a local Boots shop I invited her to visit me for a coffee and a chat after a daily English lesson at school. She was happy with her life and told me she had finally finished building a new home in Buriram paid for over time with her own money but had no cash left for any furniture. As it happened I had ordered a new settee due for delivery in a few days and I was in a quandary how to get rid of my current one which I inherited with the condo so I offered it to her free if she could arrange to collect it. No problem, two of her friends from school arrived and the settee had a new owner so we were both pleased. So far so good but this is Pattaya where the word TRUST is unknown!

Yesterday she sent an SMS requesting immediate help.

She and her Swede had visited her home and he had volunteered to buy some furniture for her very bare home but on seeing my old settee he became enraged and accused her of much wrong doing saying no one gives something for nothing in return! He returned alone and when she eventually arrived he told her to get out, she had no money and asked if I could give her enough to cover a month’s rent for a room, she would immediately look for work of course. I was glad to, what are friends for? The attitude of her guy

bright, the camera will be influenced by this and come up with the wrong exposure for the subject’s face - the reason for taking the shot in the first place. Remember, it cannot read your mind, no matter how many pixels your camera claims to have.

In these types of situations (and in Thailand with the bright sun, these situations often occur) the trick is to take the meter reading from the subject and forget the rest of the items in the shot.

In our example of the girl on the beach, walk in close and take the exposure reading directly from her face. With

some cameras you can “lock” that exposure in - you should look for the AE-L facility, or just twiddle your dials manually till you get the correct aperture and shutter speed. Now go back and compose the shot, leaving the same aperture and shutter speed settings. Do not be alarmed that the camera will try and tell you that the exposure levels are wrong. It is “averaging” everything out, remember. You know the settings are correct for your subject - you checked it yourself!

For an interesting experiment this weekend, try taking the shot above. Set the

gave me a sour taste, he assumed wrongly that as I had given her a present she had been playing around with other men - this after three years living as his wife. She was very philosophic about it all but who can SHE trust again? If you print this as a warning giving gifts sometimes brings a lot of grief.

JMS Dear JMS, Indeed a sad cautionary tale, but I believe there is more to all this than meets the eye. However, please do not think that I am sitting here as judge and jury, but I am trying to look dispassionately, Petal. The lady had been living in a marital situation for three years, but the trust between them was obviously simply not there. I wonder why, and what prompted the outburst from the husband? Perhaps there were other events leading up to this? You are only giving me one side of the story (the one you are being given by the lady), and in any relationship there are always two sides. You have not been made privy to the Swede’s side.

You also wonder whom this woman could trust again. She seems to be able to trust you, and you trust her, even giving her money for rent, so “trust” still exists in both of your minds. You say she is philosophic about it all and this could either mean that she is applying Buddhist principles to her life, or even the fact that there was little spark left

camera on Auto or Program or whatever your model and make call it. Take the shots.

Now go and do it the “manual” way and see what differences you get. Setting things up the way YOU want will produce a better exposed photograph (for the important subject) than just relying on the camera manufacturer’s ideas on what you should have.

With the increasing complexity of modern cameras there is a tendency not to

properly read through the instruction manuals. How many of you can honestly say you’ve read yours all the way through? Recently?

Perhaps as another interesting experiment, you should firstly FIND the book, and secondly, spend some time reading it and understanding the camera’s functions (and limitations). I have two instruction books. One stays in the camera bag, while the other stays in my drawer in the office.

between she and her Swedish husband. If there had been much communication between them, he would have known about the settee long before making the trip to Buriram.

Dear Hillary, Once a week I have a night out with the boys at work.

Usually this means I get home in the wee small hours (2 a.m. closing time these days) and sometimes I am a little the worse for wear as a couple of the lads are top drinkers. My girlfriend is starting to crack up a bit about this one night a week. I reckon she is being unreasonable, as I used to get home even later before the crackdowns. What can I tell her to make her see that this is just harmless fun with the lads and is a break for me from family responsibilities?

Glen Dear Glen, I want you to change roles with your girlfriend for one night. She is going to go out with the girls from work and is going to come home at something past two, decidedly the worse for wear. In other words, very drunk. Are you going to happily sit back and let this happen every week? Will you calmly sit at home and not wonder where she is? Will you sit there watching the Thai TV soap operas about cheating husbands and wives (that’s all there is on local TV) and not worry? Or are you going to crack up about it? It is only Scottish stags that are the “monarchs of the glen”. I think you should reconsider your responsibilities to the young lady. And some people told me that chauvinism was dead!

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VOL. XXVI No. 40

Bromsgrove International School hosts TISAC Secondary Choral Day

Jeremy Meddows-Taylors, Head of Music, Bromsgrove International School, conducts the whole choir during the practice for the choral day gala concert.

Choirs from different international schools around Bangkok joined together to practice and perform a variety of songs as a celebration for “International Peace Day”.

On Wednesday 26 September 2018, Bromsgrove International School Thailand (BIST) hosted a very successful TISAC Secondary Choral Day, featuring 180

students from international schools across Bangkok.

The event consisted of workshops and a gala concert which all students and teachers performed together.

They opened the concert with a beautiful rendition of the Royal Anthem of Thailand in three-part harmony.

School choirs from Regent’s, Traill and Bromsgrove then

World Vision recognizes child-protection campaigns

Students from Photisampan Pittayakarn School gave art and cultural performances during the event.

Jetsada Homklin The World Vision Foundation of Thailand is pulling out of Pattaya, but has left behind scores of communities and private organizations working to protect children.

Foundation President Sarawuth Rachasrimuang

presided over a Sept. 26 awards ceremony where Pattaya neighborhoods and charities were recognized for their aggressive efforts to protect kids from exploitation and drugs.

Plaques were presented to the Khopai, Chumsai and Marbpradu communities,

along with the Human Help Network Foundation Thailand, Ban Kru Ja Foundation, Ban Jingjai Foundation, and Fountain of Life Center.

The event, which marks the closing of World Vision’s Pattaya office, also featured booths where locally made products were sold.

Plaques were presented to the Khopai, Chumsai and Marbpradu communities, along with the Human Help Network Foundation Thailand, Ban Kru Ja Foundation, Ban Jingjai Foundation, and Fountain of Life Center.

took centre stage performing Shosholoza, Thriller and Fly Me To The Moon respectively.

The final section of the concert featured the full choir, directed by Mr Jeremy Meddows-Taylor, Head of Music of Bromsgrove, singing three songs chosen to celebrate the International Day of Peace on Friday 21 September. Firstly, John Lennon painted a picture of what it would be like to live in a world joined together in peace through a beautiful arrangement of his best-selling single, Imagine. The next song was an African-American spiritual called Peace Like A River, which uses water as a simile to describe peace, joy and love.

The final song of the concert was based on the West African proverb: “It takes a whole village to raise our children”. Joan Szymko’s It Takes A Village embodies this proverb for choir, with the four vocal rhythms taking on their own character and function, creating the unique energy and movement of our “village” when brought together.

Baritone singers practice their parts that will be combined with other sounds in the whole choir practice before the concert.

Soprano and Alto singers perform during the choral day gala concert.

GIS students help local children Mark Beales Garden International School (GIS) has helped a Pattayabased charity provide glasses to underprivileged children.

Students held a series of fundraising events, such as mufti days, to help the Hand to Hand Foundation and other locally-based charities.

As a result, 27,000 baht was collected for Hand to Hand.

On September 12, Ms Margie from Hand to Hand came to GIS to accept the donation.

This will be used to provide glasses to more than a dozen children in the Pattaya area who currently suffer from eyesight problems.

Ms Margie also met with GIS students who will help

GIS students present a cheque to Ms Margie from the Hand to Hand Foundation in Pattaya.

Hand to Hand this year. She gave the students the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the best ways that they could help.

Hand To Hand Foundation

is one of several charity projects GIS supports. GIS is based in Ban Chang near Pattaya.

For more on Hand to Hand, visit www.handtohandpattaya .com.

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1st private moon flight passenger to invite creative guests Christopher Weber Los Angeles (AP) - After announcing that he’ll take the first-ever commercial rocket trip around the moon, Yusaku Maezawa said he w a n t s company for the weeklong journey. The Japanese billionaire said he plans to invite six to eight artists, architects, designers and other creative people to join him on board the SpaceX rocket “to inspire the dreamer in all of us.”

The Big Falcon Rocket is scheduled to make the trip in 2023, SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced at an event Monday at its headquarters near Los Angeles.

Maezawa, 42, said he wants his guests for the lunar orbit “to see the moon up close, and the Earth in full view, and create work to reflect their experience.”

Musk said the entrepreneur, founder of Japan’s largest retail website and one of the country’s richest people, will pay “a lot of money” for the trip but declined to disclose the exact amount. Maezawa came to SpaceX with the idea for the group flight, Musk said.

“I did not want to have such a fantastic experience by myself,” said Maezawa, wearing a blue sports jacket

over a white T-shirt printed with a work by the late painter Jean-Michel Basquiat.

He said he often mused about what artists like Basquiat or Andy Warhol might have come up with if they’d traveled into space.

“I wish to create amazing works of art for humankind,” Maezawa said.

Maezawa didn’t immediately say who will be on his guest list for the spaceflight, but in response to a question from a reporter he said he’d consider inviting Musk.

“Maybe we’ll both be on it,” Musk said with a smile.

Musk said the BFR is still in development and will

make several unmanned test launches before it takes on passengers. The reusable 118-meter (387-foot) rocket will have its own dedicated passenger ship, and its development is expected to cost about $5 billion, Musk said.

The mission will not involve a lunar landing.

The average distance from Earth to the moon is about 237,685 miles (382,500 kilometers). Astronauts last visited the moon during NASA’s Apollo program. Twenty-four men flew to the moon from 1968 through 1972, and half of them made it to the lunar surface.

NASA is planning its own lunar flyby with a crew

SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk, left, shakes hands with Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, right, after announcing him as the first private passenger on a trip around the moon, in Hawthorne, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Destination LONDON

EVA HEATHROW EVA AIR ELITE ECONOMY THAI AIRWAYS BRITISH LON EDI MAN NCL GLA BRITISH LON EDI MAN NCL GLA ETIHAD AIRWAYS FINN AIR QATAR AIRWAYS

ECONOMY PRICE FROM VALID .

17000 37500 24000 13500 14000 7000 11000 11000

++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

3M 3M 21D 12M

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, right, looks at a monitor showing the BFR spacecraft. (AP Photo/ Chris Carlson)

around 2023. The space agency also aims to build a staffed gateway near the moon during the 2020s. The outpost would serve as a stepping-off point for the lunar surface, Mars and points beyond.

Maezawa, a former musician, founded the retail firm Start Today in 1998 and built it into one of Japan’s most successful companies. In 2012, he started the Tokyobased Contemporary Art Foundation to support young artists. He made headlines in 2016 when he paid more than $57 million at auction for an untitled work by Basquiat. A year later, he paid more than $110 million auction for another piece by the same artist.

BUSINESS PRICE FROM VALID .

82000 ++ 77000 28000 55000 71000 86000

3M

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12M

1M 1M 6M

75000 ++ 69000 ++ 52000 ++

12M 12M 2M

1M 12M

88000 ++ 91000 ++

6M 12M

7D BY 30 SEP 14D 1M 14D

12500 ++

1M BY 11 OCT 1M 12M

3M 12M 2M

ECO PREMIUM

DUBLIN/GENEVA /FRANKFURT FINN AIR (GVA) FINNAIR (DUB) GULF AIR (FRA)

13000 ++ 12000 ++ 7500 ++

SYDNEY MELBOURE BRISBANE THAI EMIRATES

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SINGAPORE/HONGKONG CATHAY (SINGAPORE) ROYAL JORDANIAN (HKG) EMIRATES (HONGKONG) SINGAPORE AIRLINES

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Musk outlined a somewhat different SpaceX lunar mission last year. He said then that two people who know each other approached the company about a weeklong flight to the moon and back.

Musk did not name the clients last year or say how much they would pay.

That original mission would have used a Falcon Heavy rocket - the most powerful rocket flying today - and a Dragon crew capsule similar to the one NASA astronauts will use to fly to the International Space Station as early as next year.

The era of space tourism began in 2001, when California businessman Dennis

Tito paid for a journey on a Russian rocket to the International Space Station.

The trip was organized by the Virginia-based company Space Adventures, which has since sent several more paying customers on spaceflights.

SpaceX already has a long list of firsts, with its sights ultimately set on Mars. It became the first private company to launch a spacecraft into orbit and safely return it to Earth in 2010, and the first commercial enterprise to fly to the space station in 2012 on a supply mission.

Musk’s successes have recently been overshadowed by his behavior and the struggles of his Tesla electric car company to deliver.

He recently criticized analysts during a Tesla earnings conference call, took a hit off an apparent marijuana-tobacco joint during a podcast interview, and tweeted that he had funding to take Tesla private but then announced the deal was off.

Two high-level executives announced departures from Tesla. Last month he told the New York Times he was overwhelmed by job stress.

Read more news at pattayamail.com

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PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 40

Cancer prevention is better than cure

C.V. Gaiki presents this slide showing Dr Otto Warberg, a Nobel recipient quoted as saying, “No serious disease including cancer can exist in an alkaline environment.” He went on to say that a cell that has not been starved of oxygen and has a perfect ph balance cannot become infected with cancer.

Our speaker was C.V. Gaiki, founder and member of MVG Cancer Foundation, whose topic was “Cancer: Prevention is Better Than Cure.”

Though not a medical doctor, Gaiki found himself a motivated researcher when a dear friend of his died from cancer. How and why did this happen spurred him on a 3 year plus serious study of the disease, compelling him to start his foundation and begin lecturing on the importance of prevention of this dreaded disease.

The Foundation’s mission is to educate people about cancer and explain how to take precaution by simply controlling their day-to-day living style. Their main aim is to increase the awareness of cancer and remove the fear of it from the mind.

After studying 3 years from different sources about cancer, he understood the chemistry of cancerous cells and how to prevent them. In his presentation, he explained about body chemistry and how to prevent a number of diseases including cancer by making certain changes in our life.

He has completed his postgraduate study in the Technical Chemistry field from Mumbai University India and Homoeopathy course form Trivandrum India. He is studying a Naturopathy course at present.

C.V. Gaiki noted that breathing and meditation are also important in cancer prevention. Here, he prepares to demonstrate some breathing techniques for his PCEC audience.

Starting with the startling statement that cancer was not a disease at all, but a preventable deficiency of vitamin B-17 and acidic body chemistry. He stated that with these two situations in control, cancers have little chance of developing.

Dr Otto Warberg, a Nobel recipient, was quoted as saying, “No serious disease, including cancer, can exist in an alkaline environment.” In the presentation, he went on to say that all cancer patients have an acidic body ph. In addition, he went on to propagate that cancer cells cannot survive or exist in an oxygen rich environment. He gave his opinion that a cell

Member Ren Lexander presents C.V. Gaiki with the PCEC’s Certificate of Appreciation for his interesting talk.

In another slide, C.V. Gaiki identifies foods which are powerful cancer fighters and immune boosters.

MC Richard Silverberg welcomes members and guests to the PCEC Sunday meeting, inviting those that are visitors for the first time to take the opportunity to introduce themselves.

that has not been starved of oxygen and has a perfect ph balance cannot become infected with cancer.

In the foundation’s platform can be found the concept that knowledge is the best remedy and prevention the best cure for cancers.

Gaiki proceeded to encourage good nutrition with lots of fruits and vegetables and little to no processed or fast foods, moderate exercise and a limitation on vices such as alcohol and smoking as a way to ensure a strong oxygen supply choking off the fertile ground needed for cancers to flourish.

He went on to explain about body chemistry and how to prevent cancer by making certain changes. He

demonstrated certain breathing exercises and meditation techniques useful to reduce stress and increase oxygen flow.

His four-prong plan for prevention included daily exercise (30 min), a breathing session of at least 15 minutes each day, 10 minutes of quiet meditation and the digesting of foods conducive to maintaining an alkaline body ph.

The list of anti-cancer foods (high in B-17) included the seeds of major fruits such as strawberries, watermelons, prunes, cherries and grapes, major legumes and nuts.

Cancer killers included broccoli, grapefruit, tomatoes, garlic, wheat grass, kale and eggplant.

Further, in conclusion, he mentioned that cancers love refined sugars, so avoid large quantizes of these including all those tempting desserts that they hide in.

His primary message was that it is the condition of the body that invites cancers so find your B-17 source and work on that alkaline ph.

The presentation was followed by updates on PCEC activities and the Open Forum, where questions are asked and answered or comments made by members and guests on Expat living in Thailand, Pattaya in particular. To learn more about the PCEC and their activities, visit www.pcec.club.

Speaker C.V. Gaiki is interviewed by Member Ren Lexander after his presentation. To view the video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVsVfJsVaiU&t=2s.

VOL. XXVI No. 40

PATTAYA MAIL

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018 15

Flow gently, sweet Afton

Bedrich Smetana.

Do you ever have that curious experience in which a word or phrase inexplicably floats into your mind without warning? It happens to me quite often but I have no idea what triggers these lexical arrivals. Sometimes they are trivial, like the brand name of some product or other, sometimes they are titles of books or songs and sometimes they are words I have rarely heard before. It happened again a couple of days ago when I was pottering about in the kitchen making food for the dogs. Suddenly, the words “Flow gently sweet Afton” drifted into my mind.

The words didn’t seem to have an obvious connection with dog food.

If you are au fait with Scottish literature you’ll realize instantly that Sweet Afton is a poem written in 1791 by Robert Burns. The poem was evidently inspired by a small

river in Scotland, the River Afton also known as Afton Water. My Scottish grandmother used to claim that she was a descendant of “Robbie” Burns as he is affectionately known to the Scots. I later discovered that nearly all Scottish grandmothers think they are descendants of Robbie Burns.

My grandmother also claimed that she was psychic. It’s possible that I’ve inherited her psychic powers, which explains why I can predict winning lottery numbers with such uncanny accuracy. Of course, I never actually do the lottery. When you know the winning numbers in advance, it takes all the excitement away. Now then, where were we? (I was beginning to wonder myself - Ed.) Oh yes, the poem by Robbie Burns is a lyrical, pastoral piece and interesting in that there are exactly eleven

syllables in every line of the poem. It was set to music in 1837 by a Kentucky lawyer and amateur composer named Jonathan E. Spilman who perhaps was also attracted by the riverine theme.

Laura Gilpin once wrote, “A river seems a magic thing … a magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself.”

Now you might recall that Laura Gilpin was an indefatigable American pioneer photographer. On the other hand, you might not. But she is remembered for her expressive portraits of Native Americans and for her strangely haunting photographs of south-western landscapes. “Life is like the river,” wrote Emma Smith, “Sometimes it sweeps you gently along and sometimes the rapids come out of nowhere.” Comparisons between rivers and human life are hard to resist. Some composers have been inspired by rivers, too.

Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884): Vltava.

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra cond.

Rafael Kubelík (Duration: 11:11; Video: 720p) In the 1870s Smetana wrote a set of six symphonic poems collectively entitled Má Vlast (“My Homeland”).

One of the works is called Vltava and it’s a musical description of the Vltava (VULL-tuh-vuh) River also known by its German name

Die Moldau. The “journey” begins at the river’s source in the Bohemian mountains and passes through the countryside to the city of Prague and beyond. The Czech name probably comes from an old Germanic expression wilt ahwa, meaning “wild water”.

The work begins with a musical impression of springs and bubbling water. It leads to the main theme of the work which is probably Smetana’s most famous melody, an adaptation of a Moldavian folksong which bears more than a striking resemblance to the Israeli National Anthem. There are musical snapshots of a hunt in the forest (02:40); dancing at a peasant wedding (03:39); waternymphs in the moonlight (04:51); St John’s Rapids (08:07); the triumphant arrival at Prague (09:51) and the concluding section in which the river flows away into the distance (10:41). This work normally runs for about fourteen minutes but Rafael Kubelík belts through it in just over eleven minutes at this exhilarating al fresco performance in Prague.

Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881): Dawn on the Moscow River. Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, cond. Pavel Smelkov (Duration: 06:21; Video: 480p)

Villains are vile and disturbing in ‘The Forbidden Door’ Jeff Ayers Jane Hawk returns and learns that her enemies are beginning to close in with plans to eliminate her as a threat in Dean Koontz’s latest thriller, “The Forbidden Door.”

Hawk was a well-respected FBI agent who lost her husband to a supposed suicide, but she knows better. Now she lives on the run, trying to destroy the organization that uses mind-control technology to achieve its goals.

At this point, Jane is the only roadblock to the organization’s domination. She has hidden her child from the group, but its reach exceeds that of the police and government and it quickly takes out the child’s guardians.

Jane has a backup plan, but she knows it’s only a matter of time before the organization finds her son’s new hiding place. The organization wants to force Jane out into the open and decides not only to continue to pursue her son but also to capture her husband’s

parents. The cat-and-mouse game continues.

Koontz takes the antagonists and moves them to the forefront of this story. The villains are vile and disturbing and their methods and goals are horrifying. When Jane or one of the cabal’s targets gains the upper hand, it will elicit cheers in the reader’s mind. Unfortunately, those moments don’t last for long.

Can Jane overcome such impossible odds and defeat an organization seemingly more powerful than any world government or enforcement agency?

Koontz continues the incredible saga of the robust character of Jane Hawk, and it’s as terrific as the others in the series. There is more to tell in her story, and it’s a bit frustrating with the novel ending without resolution. At this point, her story is so developed that starting with this book would be a bit confusing to newcomers.

Start with “The Silent Corner,” so his latest can be fully appreciated. (AP)

This evocative piece is the introduction to Mussorgsky’s opera Khovanshchina which he began in1872. He didn’t live to finish it, but RimskyKorsakov later completed, revised, and re-scored the entire opera. So many cuts and alterations were made that it was virtually a new work. In an attempt to recreate something closer to the original, Dmitri Shostakovich revised the work in 1959 using Mussorgsky’s original vocal score. This is the version that’s usually performed these days. Dawn on the Moscow River is often performed as a stand-alone

piece. Like the Smetana work, it begins quietly and contains some lovely music and captivating melodies before eventually fading into the silence where its musical journey began.

Oh yes, I’ve just remembered that Sweet Afton was also a brand of Irish cigarettes named after the Burns poem.

They were made in Dundalk and introduced in 1919 to celebrate the somewhat tenuous link between that town and Robert Burns. The brand was reputed to be the favourite smoke of the French philosopher, playwright and novelist, Jean-Paul Sartre.

To watch these YouTube videos, either use your Smartphone to read the QR codes or go to this article online, click on the “live” links and go direct to the videos. If you have a laptop, sound quality can be improved significantly by using headphones or external speakers.

16 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 40

In ‘The Nun,’ what evil lurks beneath a habit Jake Coyle Los Angeles (AP) - As frightening as the “The Nun” is, it doesn’t hold a candle to today’s real-life horrors in the Catholic Church.

But while a new generation of filmmakers has breathed new life into horror by embedding it with frightful and salient social commentary, the “The Conjuring” franchise — of which “The Nun” is a spinoff and the fifth installment — isn’t about anything so real. It’s about exhuming classic horror archetypes — creaky old

houses and creepy old dolls — with (mostly) old-school effects. And what’s more old school than a mean ol’ nun?

Set in 1952, “The Nun” is the origin story of Valak (Bonnie Aarons), a demonic nun who first turned up in “Conjuring 2,” as the pursuit of Vera Farmiga’s paranormal expert. This time, our protagonist is Sister Irene (played by Vera’s younger sister Taissa Farmiga), a novitiate who, just before her vows, is dispatched by the Vatican, along with Father Burke (Demian Bichir), an expert in unexplained phenomena (or as he says, “miracle hunting”), to a remote Romanian abbey where a young nun has just hung herself.

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Ingrid Bisu in a scene from “The Nun.” (Justin Lubin/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

The decaying, overgrown abbey and its adjoining covenant are suitably eerie. The place, handsomely crafted by production designer Jennifer Spence, has the feel of

a horror-movie set, complete with a foggy cemetery, and the action that follows has the almost comforting pattern of surprises and scares that’s to be expected. Entering the

gothic world of “The Nun,” built so sturdily on horror movie clichés, is to slide into a darkly fantastical realm that’s practically cozy it’s so familiar.

Crypts will turn into traps, apparitions will flicker in the mirrors and ancient Christian dogma will be used for all its sinister power. Certainly, anyone who goes anywhere at any time clutching a lantern will run into trouble.

But what distinguishes “The Nun” is its silky, sumptuous shadows. Directed by British filmmaker Corin Hardy (“The Hallows”) and shot by Maxime Alexander (who was also cinematographer on the “Conjuring” spinoff “Annabelle: Creation,” ‘’The Nun” shrouds

itself so much in darkness that it at times verges on becoming a nightmarish abstraction. You almost lose sense of what exactly is going on, as Sister Irene falls into a labyrinthine abyss.

The spell, of course, gets broken as the demands of plot and franchise return. And “The Nun” has little to offer beyond: Beware of spooky Romanian abbeys. But for a moment or two, it hangs suspended in a luxurious gloom, the kind that these days passes for a welcome escape.

“The Nun,” a Warner Bros. release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for terror, violence, and disturbing/bloody images. Running time: 96 minutes. Three stars out of four.

Dwayne Johnson backs film honoring Knievel jump Pat Graham Los Angeles (AP) - Before climbing into the cockpit of his steam-powered rocket and blasting off across the Snake River Canyon, daredevil Eddie Braun scribbled two things on his bare chest in marker.

Blood type: O positive.

Allergies: Penicillin.

Useful information for the paramedics — in case his jump on Sept. 16, 2016, didn’t go as planned.

Braun’s successful launch in an endeavor that nearly killed his idol, Evel Knievel, more than four decades earlier, serves as the backdrop for his new documentary titled “Stuntman.” The nearly 90-minute film is backed by Seven Bucks Productions, which is co-founded by movie star Dwayne Johnson.

The biography also features Braun’s life as a Hollywood stuntman, where he’s been a stunt double for actors such as Charlie Sheen and crashed vehicles in more explosive ways than he can count.

About that jump to honor Knievel: Scariest thing he’s done. He even saw odds on his jump in Las Vegas — 3-to1 against him making it across.

“Despite the odds, I was

quite confident I could pull it off,” Braun said in a phone interview.

A lifelong Knievel fan — he had a Knievel-themed lunch box as a kid — Braun named his rocket “Evel Spirit.”

It was nearly identical to the model Knievel used for his failed canyon attempt on Sept. 8, 1974. Braun’s purpose was to finish what Knievel started and prove he could’ve made it had his parachute not prematurely deployed.

Joining the undertaking were Knievel’s eldest son, Kelly, who was present the day of the crash, and rocket designer Scott Truax, whose dad constructed the original rocket for Knievel.

On his attempt, Braun’s rocket traveled about 2,900 feet into the air and went approximately a mile — easily covering the canyon near Twin Falls, Idaho. Braun deployed the giant red, white and blue parachute — homage to Knievel.

“This scared the hell out of me. But because I’ve been terrified doing stunts, I learned it’s OK be afraid,” Braun said.

“There was a familiarity, when I put the helmet on, because I’ve done that hundreds of times. It was like an old,

motorcycle scene. Eastwood was one of the first ones to arrive at his side.

“I was like, ‘Clint, Is my foot still there?’ He looked down at me and said, ‘It’s still there. But I don’t think you’ll make the wrap party,’” Braun recounted.

A good portion of Braun’s documentary features footage of his lead-up to the Knieveltribute jump, an idea initially In this Sept. 1, 2016, file photo, stuntman Eddie Braun sits in the cockpit of the “Evel Spirit”, a steam-powered rocket, at the team’s shop in Twin Falls, Idaho. (Drew Nash/ The Times-News via AP)

uncomfortable friend.”

He became a stuntman at 17 years old and has performed countless stunt scenes, proudly proclaiming: “I’m the face you never see, but you see what I do.”

His stunt work ranges from TV series such as “The Fall Guy” and “The Dukes of Hazzard” to movies like Clint Eastwood’s action film “The Rookie.” Braun actually suffered a compound leg fracture in a crash while darting in and out of traffic during a

hatched in the kitchen of Sheen. Braun and producer Steven Golebiowski were chatting about Knievel and what a moment it would be for Braun’s career to finish the jump — successfully. Golebiowski instantly liked the idea and director Kurt Mattila later got involved, with the trio forming Driven Pictures. Guitarist Slash of Guns N’ Roses got involved by recording Elton

John’s “Rocket Man” for the project. Johnson embraced the venture as well, along with his business partner and executive producer Dany Garcia.

“Having the opportunity to showcase Eddie’s career and this often overlooked line of work is an honor for us,” said Johnson, whose movies includes “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” and “The Game Plan.”

Fukunaga to direct next James Bond film for release in 2020 London (AP) — American filmmaker Cary Joji Fukunaga is replacing Danny Boyle as director of the next James Bond movie, producers have announced.

Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and star Daniel Craig said the still-untitled Bond 25 will start filming at London’s Pinewood Studios on March 4 next year, and will be released on Feb. 14, 2020.

Release was delayed from the planned November 2019 after “Slumdog Millionaire” director Boyle left the project in August over what producers said were creative differences.

Fukunaga won an EmmyAward for the first sea- U.S. film director Cary Jogi Fukunaga. son of TV series “True Detective” and wrote and (AP Photo/Christian Alminana) Fukunaga, 41, is the first American director in directed gritty war movie “Beasts of No Nation,” starring Idris Elba — often named as a potential the series, which began in 1962 with “Dr. No.” Wilson and Broccoli said Fukunaga’s “versuccessor to Craig as the suave superspy.

The new film will be Craig’s fifth, and likely satility and innovation make him an excellent choice for our next James Bond adventure.” last, performance as 007.

VOL. XXVI No. 40

PATTAYA MAIL

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018 17

Hawkwind: ‘Alien 4’ mott@pattayamail.com As ever, original space rockers Hawkwind go where nobody has gone before, not because of any particular enterprise, but perhaps because they don’t care if everybody else just thinks they are off their collective rockers.

This is a science fiction concept album in support of the oppressed people of the planet earth. (Does this sound a little pretentious to you?

Well it is, but I’m sure that the boys have got their collective hearts in the right place).

The music starts off with the arrival of the flying saucer to abduct our hero away, to find out why the human race is so hell-bent on self

destruction. This of course makes for total confusion amongst the aliens, leading us into a wondrous journey through the music of Hawkwind.

The earthling attempts to return to earth without blowing everybody’s minds, and what a journey it is. After the

rejection of all things alien we are whisked into “Blue Skin” territory where the multiple layers of vocals, synths, keyboards, and wave sequencers, sooth our worried brows before being propelled forward for more adventures, including the hilarity of a song called “Beam Me

Read more news at pattayamail.com

Up” (surely self-explanatory), and a meeting with the urban space dustbin man Sputnik Stan (well presumably it’s a job that somebody will have to do in the future, good tips in space at Christmas I hope).

We’re finally bought back to a festival where the first band on the stage are Hawkwind, so the album finishes with the first 3 songs of Hawkwind’s live set from 1996, leaving you with the final song “Are You Losing Your Mind”, which couldn’t be more apt, and has brought you full circle.

Confused yet? You should be and if you’re not you’ve obviously lost the plot and picked it up at the wrong spot.

This was a magnificent return to form by Hawkwind and is the first studio album to feature Ron Tree on vocals and in true Hawkwind fashion he virtually takes over, dominating most of the songs. He was fired by Captain Dave Brock the following year, but such is the life

of a Hawklord. Bring back Nik Turner I say.

If you want to go into cosmic interstellar overdrive and you’re never sure whether to wag your tail or nod your head, then this is the album for you.

Mott the Dog rating: 4 Stars Hawkwind: Dave Brock - guitar, vocals, keyboards, synths, FX Alan Davey - bass guitar, vocals, synths, wave sequencing, FX Richard Chadwick - drums, percussion Ron Tree - vocals Track List: Abducted Alein (I am) Reject Your Human Touch Blue Skin Beam Me Up Vega Xenomorph Journey Sputnik Stan Kapal Festivals Death Trap Wastelands Are You Losing Your Mind?

Dave Brock of Hawkwind.

Charles Aznavour, known as France’s Sinatra, dies at 94 Lori Hinnant Paris (AP) — Charles Aznavour’s performing career endured eight decades, with a prompter in his final years the sole concession to age — or to difficulty recalling a 1,000-song repertoire.

Known as France’s Frank Sinatra, the dapper crooner and actor, who got his start as a songwriter and protege of Edith Piaf, died last Monday at 94.

His versatile tenor, lush lyrics and kinetic stage presence endeared himself to fans the world over, but nowhere more so than in France.

He sang to sold-out concert halls into his 90s and said he wrote every single day.

“I throw most of it away.

You write first, judge later,” he said in a 2015 interview before the release of the album “Encores.”

Often compared to Sinatra, Aznavour started his career as a songwriter for Piaf, but it was she who took him under her wing, encouraging him to sing his own material.

Like her, his fame ultimately reached well outside France, including being awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017.

“What were my faults? My voice, my size, my gestures, my lack of culture and education, my honesty, or my lack of personality,” the 5foot-3-inch (1.6-meter) tall performer wrote in his autobiography. “My voice? I cannot change it. The teachers I consulted all agreed I

French songwriter and actor Charles Aznavour poses in Cannes, southeastern France in this June 6, 2015 file photo. Aznavour died Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. He was 94. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

shouldn’t sing, but nevertheless I continued to sing until my throat was sore.”

In his career, Aznavour wrote upward of 1,000 songs, for himself, Piaf and other popular French singers. The love ballad “She” topped British charts for four weeks in 1974 and was covered by Elvis Costello for the film “Notting Hill.”

Aznavour sold more than 180 million records, according to his official biography.

He broke an arm in May but was set to start a new tour in November in France, starting in Paris.

Liza Minnelli, who met Aznavour when she was a teenager and he was in his 40s, described following him to Paris.

“He really taught me everything I know about singing — how each song is a different movie,” she said in a 2013 interview. The two

remained close through the decades, often performing together. On Monday, she said in a statement: “Charles was my mentor, my friend, my love... I will miss him forever.”

He resisted description as a crooner, despite decades of torch songs that are now firmly fixed in the French lexicon.

“I’m a songwriter who sometimes performs his own songs,” was his preferred self-description.

But it was as a performer that Aznavour came most to life, expression vibrating from his thick brows to his fingertips.

“On stage, I don’t feel like I’m singing for the audience.

I’m singing for myself, and I give it to the audience. We share. If it’s not shared, it’s not good,” he said in 2015.

French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Aznavour’s “masterpieces, voice tone” and “unique radiance.”

“Deeply French, viscerally attached to his Armenian roots, recognized throughout the world, Charles Aznavour will have accompanied the joys and sorrows of three generations,” Macron said in a message posted on Twitter.

Shanoun Varenagh Aznavourian was born in Paris on May 22, 1924, to Armenian parents who fled to Paris in the 1920s and opened a restaurant. His singer father — whose own father was a chef to Russian Czar Nicholas II — and actress mother exposed him to the performing arts early on, and he acted in his first play when he was 9.

Aznavour, who cut the Armenian suffix from his stage name, decided to switch to music but still acted in films throughout his career. His movie credits include Francois Truffaut’s 1960 “Tirez sur le Pianiste” (Shoot the Pianist), Volker Schloendorff’s 1979 “Die Blechtrommel” (The Tin Drum), and Atom Egoyan’s 2002 “Ararat.”

That last film dealt with the 1915 massacres of up to 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire, an event that has strained relations between Turkey and Armenia for a century.

Aznavour campaigned internationally to get the killings formally deemed genocide.

Turkey vehemently denies that the massacre was genocide and insists it was part of the violence during World War I. Aznavour became a piano player, and toured in New

York after World War II with Piaf. There, he performed on stage with Minnelli. In 1963, he performed in a sold-out Carnegie Hall. In addition to the English-language “She,” other best-selling songs included “La Boheme,” ‘’For me, Formidable” and “La Mamma.” Other songs gained fame by their notoriety, including the seductive

“Apres l’Amour,”(After Love) which was banned by French radio in 1965 as an affront to public morals, and the 1972 “Comme Ils Disent” (As They Say) — a first-person narrative of a gay man’s heartache.

Married three times,Aznavour had six children. He is survived by his wife of more than four decades, Ulla.

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VOL. XXVI No. 40

Thai police THAILAND hand NEWS over 100 kilos of marijuana for research Kaweewit Kaewjinda Bangkok (AP) - Thai police on Tuesday, Sept. 25, handed over around 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of seized marijuana for medical research, as officials seek to produce pot-based medication.

Sophon Mekthon, chairman of the Government Pharmaceutical Organization, said researchers chose high-quality marijuana from police to conduct medical research, selecting from batches of seized imported marijuana and taking some local strains of cannabis that police had recently confiscated. He said the marijuana varied in quality and type so researchers could observe which characteristics are most suitable for medicinal purposes.

“The Government Pharmaceutical Organization intends to use marijuana, which is a plant that grows well in Thailand, for medical research and to develop it into medical marijuana extract and other pharmaceutical products of standardized quality,” Sophon said in a statement, adding that the organization hopes to make cannabisbased medicine available to a

Thai police handed over around 100 kilograms of seized marijuana to be used for medical research, as officials seek to Thai officers show some marijuana before a news conference Bangkok, Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) produce pot-based medication. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

wide range of people to replace other types of medicine that carry high prices.

Sophon said the roughly 100 kilograms of marijuana received Tuesday could produce around 10 to 15 liters (2.6 to 4 gallons) of concentrated cannabis extract that can be used for research and as medicine.

“We will use it for medical purposes and we will safely control it,” Sophon said. “It

is not for recreational use.”

Marijuana is still illegal under Thai law, including testing on humans, but officials anticipate that legal amendments could soon be enacted.

The government’s legislative body has held multiple talks over whether marijuana should be taken off the list of illegal narcotics to allow research and production of medical marijuana.

The idea has faced little resistance, but officials have expressed fear there may not be enough time for legal amendments to be enacted under the current military government, with an election tentatively scheduled for February next year. To legalize the drug, officials have deliberated using a special legislative clause that the junta gave itself when it seized power in a 2014 coup.

Withoon Danwiboon, managing director of the Government Pharmaceutical Organization, said researchers would also look at the work of other study groups to choose and develop marijuana strains that are sturdy and can effectively produce enough of the chemical component that can be extracted for medicinal purposes.

He said there are plans to make various forms of mari-

juana-based pharmaceutical products such as sublingual drops, transdermal patches, suppositories, creams and capsules.

It’s the first time Thai police have officially handed over seized drugs to another government agency. Police typically burn all illegal narcotics that it seizes on June 26 every year, to mark International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Thai businessman convicted of selling fake bomb detectors Kaweewit Kaewjinda Bangkok (AP) - A court in Thailand has convicted a local businessman of fraud for selling fake bomb detectors to the Thai government, five years after the head of the British supplier was sent to prison over the global scandal.

Thailand’s military drew criticism and ridicule in 2010 when the GT200 bomb detectors - which were claimed to also be capable of detecting drugs and other substances - were exposed as worthless pseudo-scientific instruments.

The devices were sold to the Thai army and other security forces around the world. Even after they were proven useless, they were used for a time in several countries, including hot spots such as Iraq and southern Thailand, where there is an active Muslim insurgency.

The devices also carried high and variable prices, raising suspicions of corruption in their purchases.

Thailand’s technology ministry had found in 2010 that the devices had a successful

detection rate of only 20 percent. Nevertheless, thenarmy commander Gen. Anupong Paochinda - the interior minister in the current military government - denied any corruption and lauded the device’s various “successes.”

Thailand had bought more than 700 of the detectors starting in 2004 at a total cost of about $21 million.

The current defense minister, Prawit Wongsuwan, defended the military’s handling of the affair Thursday, telling reporters the devices had been tested and found working at the time of purchase, so there had been no wrongdoing by the military.

Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich said Thai authorities had stopped using the GT200 devices “ever since foreign governments proved that they are ineffective” and that various military departments are gradually suing companies that sold them.

Sutthiwat Wathanakij, manager of AVIA Satcom Co. Ltd., on Wednesday was convicted of fraud for three GT200 sales contracts and sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment. He had already

In this Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, file photo, a soldier patrols with a mobile explosive detector GT 200 at a hotel in Cha-Am, a resort town in southern Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

received a 10-year prison sentence last week for selling the bomb detectors to the Thai army under 12 other sales contracts worth 600 million baht ($18.5 million).

The GT200 was one of several similar fraudulent devices sold by a loosely connected group of shady, mostly British, operators.

After Britain banned the

export of one of the similar devices in 2010, the scheme started to unravel as independent tests proved the devices were ineffective.

The United Kingdom banned the export of the GT200 devices in 2010 when it accused maker Global Technical Ltd. of fraud. British authorities that year raided the offices of Global Technical and two

other makers of similar fraudulent bomb detectors.

Global Technical’s head, Gary Bolton, was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2013 and ordered to pay over $1.6 million.

Some officials still defend the GT200.

Surasak Kirivichien, a member of the anti-corruption commission investigating

officials involved with the procurement of the GT200, recently said it is difficult to assess the value of the device, comparing it to the amulets many Buddhist Thais wear as lucky charms.

“This equipment was purchased for soldiers to be used as defensive weapons in a high-risk environment,” he said in an interview last month with Thailand’s PPTV. “People working in such areas are risking their lives. The equipment, even though it may not be efficient, has a high morale value.

It’s better than having nothing at all, that’s what people at the operational level feel.”

Wora-at Soontorn-apichart, lawyer for the convicted Sutthiwat, said he would appeal the verdict, arguing his client could not be blamed because the GT200 devices were turned over to the army as soon as they arrived in Thailand by air, so could not be tested by Sutthiwat’s company, which was just selling a device that met the contract’s specifications.

The court acquitted two co-defendants who were AVIA Satcom employees.

Sutthiwat was released on 900,000 baht ($27,745) bail.

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WORLD NEWS Hapless helpers recount own rescue by divers from Thai cave Kaweewit Kaewjinda Bangkok (AP) - There were a host of heroes in July’s dramatic rescue of 13 members of a youth soccer team from a cave in northern Thailand ... and then there were the hapless would-be helpers from the Thai Well Water Association.

It turns out that 17 people in all were rescued by the expert foreign cave divers who rushed to lend their unique abilities to save the boys and their coach.

The story of the first four people to be rescued barely reported and now mostly forgotten - was recounted Wednesday by the association’s president, Surapin Chaichompoo, who explained how he and three employees spent two days draining water from the cave in an attempt to help the rescue, took a nap, and found themselves trapped inside with the water rising.

He said that on their third day of being trapped, two British divers searching for the boys stumbled upon them and improvised a rescue, taking them out one by one after giving them a 30minute crash course in diving. Surapin said they made their way through the murky

In this Wednesday, July 4, 2018, file photo, a rescuer makes his way down the entrance to a cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach went missing in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. (AP Photo/ Sakchai Lali, File)

waters by swimming and sometimes walking, trying to avoid sharp obstacles in the low visibility.

Surapin said he was unable to contact them afterward, but would still like to thank them.

“I really owe my life to these two divers. They were here to help the 13 people but I got stuck first after I went in to work. If they didn’t save me that day, I wouldn’t be here today,” Surapin said by phone from

the northern city of Chiang Mai. “The same for the other three people. I really owe them, the two divers John and Richard. If they are abroad, I will fly over to personally thank them myself.”

The tale of the little-known first rescue resurfaced Saturday when Rick Stanton who with diving buddy John Volanthen discovered the four on June 28, and the cave boys on July 2 - gave a talk at the annual “Hidden

Earth” conference of British cavers in North Somerset in England, according to a report on the website Darkness Below, which carries news for underground explorers.

The two divers had arrived at the cave site just the day before they found Surapin and team.

“The foreign divers came here as volunteers. They are confident in their abilities.” said Surapin, who noted the amount of specialized

equipment they carried.

“You have to understand that these foreigners have a bit of crazy in them. They like to do crazy things. But they are very good at diving.”

Surapin and his group were part of an early group of helpers who rushed in before the rescue effort was properly organized. The others working inside the cave were apparently not as tired, however.

“When I woke up I thought to myself ‘Why is the cave half-flooded?’ So I ran out to look toward the entrance,” Surapin said. “I looked back and ran to the high mound where we were sleeping. It turned out everyone had left and it was only the four of us left. I told my guys ‘wake up, wake up.’”

Surapin said the group was not immediately worried if the waters did not rise further, because they had enough food and supplies to last a month.

Still, there were announcements to evacuate the cave and its surroundings because water levels began to rise again.

“I was telling my guys, if it can rise it can decrease. It will probably decrease in the

morning,” Surapin said.

“But no, the amount of water kept increasing.”

At one point, Surapin said, he began to hear clanking noises under the water that he later found out was the sound of the British divers and their oxygen tanks knocking against the cave’s walls.

“The sound was coming from the cave’s entrance and it was getting louder and louder,” he recalled. So he began throwing rocks into the water.

“The first rock I threw in didn’t get a reaction. The sound of clanking tanks was still soft,” he said. “So I threw another one. This time, the clanking noises got really loud and we heard clanking non-stop. After that I saw a flashlight begin to surface and told the guys ‘hey, there really is someone here.’”

He said when the divers found his group, “They thought they found 13 people.

I told them ‘no, it’s four.’They said ‘OK, oh my God.’” Surapin said his three employees now say they will never go near a cave again.

“If you want me to go up a tree, I’ll go up a tree,” vowed one. “But no caves anymore, they’re scary.”

Read more news at pattayamail.com

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VOL. XXVI No. 40

E-mail: socialscene@pattayamail.com

Dusit Thani Pattaya encourages eco-friendly tourism

Centara Group holds fire-fighting drills

Neoh Kean Boon, GM of the Dusit Thani Pattaya, together with Pramot Sothana, Director of Rooms, and hotel staff, in conjunction with the Green Hotel Association and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism (DASTA), and in co-operation with Koh Mak Tourism Community Enterprise, travel agencies, and local representatives, took part in “Koh Mak… Low Carbon” eco-friendly tourism activities where they participated in environment projects to develop the island by planting trees, and releasing sea turtles and marine life into the sea.

Austin Robinson (left), Group Director of Operations East Coast Thailand & Vietnam for Centara Hotels and Resorts, thanks the Banglamung firefighting brigade for training Centara Group’s hotel staff in theory and the real use of fire prevention and fighting techniques.

The fire drill was held at the Centara Pratumnak Hotel recently.

Yupins Restaurant receives yet another award

A Hong Kong based tour group recently presented Yupins Restaurant with a Certificate of Excellence and a recommendation to their Hong Kong tourists to visit and enjoy the cuisine. Yupin (centre) said, “I am honoured to be selected for such a prestigious award and I look forward to greeting our new diners from Hong Kong.”

JFCCT thanks Pattana Golf Club for their support

Firefighting training at Hard Rock Hotel

The Hard Rock Hotel with the cooperation of the Pattaya City Fire Fighting Department organised a firefighting drill recently. The management of the hotel said, “The safety of our guests is our No. 1 priority.”

Happy Birthday Khun Toy

Ngamjit Emmerson receives royal recognition

Sopin Thappajug, MD of the Diana group, assigned Pimpa Sukhkasem (2nd left) to represent her and all the staff in wishing Radchada ‘Toy’ Chomjinda (right), Director of the Human Help Network Foundation (Thailand) a happy birthday and to thank her for her dedicated work in looking after the welfare of underprivileged children.

Stanley Kang, Chairman of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) presents a certificate of appreciation to Andrew Cornelio, Director of Sales of Pattana Golf Club and Resort, in gratitude for their support for JFCCT events during the Joint Embassies and Chambers Networking evening held at the Bangkok Marriott Hotel, The Surawongse recently.

Her Majesty Queen Rambhai Barni in the reign of KM King Rama VII proclaimed that deserving citizens should be recognized for dedicating their lives in the service of the community and their noble efforts to bring about an understanding of the traditions and cultures of all the peoples of this world. At a presentation ceremony recently, Ngamjit ‘Noi’ Emmerson, Charity Chairperson of the Pattaya Sports Club, was among the select few who was bestowed with the ‘Phor Por Ror’ royal insignia pin presented by Gen Pallop Fuengfu, Commander of the Air Defense Artillery Division in Chonburi.

VOL. XXVI No. 40

Articles For Sale/Rent As611/01-52/ Pattaya Mail Cartoonist Michael Baird (M.J.B.) has 3 brand new cartoon E-Books out. These and his other 10 cartoon EBooks can be bought from www.amazon.co.uk or www.booksmango.com. You will now be able to see all of Mike’s cartoons in FULL COLOUR. His 3 new Kindle E-Books are “Pattaya Car-

PATTAYA MAIL

toon Memories”, “Ladyboy Book 3” and “Pattaya Unforgettable Memories”. These cartoons are for grown-ups and would be unique gifts.

You never know - You might see yourself in them!

Articles/Services Wanted Aw01/01-52/ Missionary in Rayong sponsoring Little Duck Nursery needs help.

Please - Any unwanted items you have would be appreciated. (Eng) Rev Stephen 086 600 5682, (Thai) 0875 381 586

approx. 800sqm business space on 2 floors; 14 rooms; tropical garden; family owned since 30 years; 11,950,000 THB o.n.o.; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995 Bop03/31-52/ Spacious Double Shophouse, Thepprasit Road, Soi 5; very good business location; land 240sqm; business space 150sqm; 6 rooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 kitchenettes; 2-4 locked parking spaces; partly furnished; 4,900,000 THB or near offer; Joe: 092753 9309

Businesses for Sale or Rent Bop04/40-41/ For Sale Buriram - Raveekan Resort: 16 rooms, Big house, swimming pool, restaurant (last 4 month’s fully booked), Tel.061 828 5973

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018 21

Bop01/31-52/ Big Shophouse; located close Sukhumvit Road / Central Road; commercial space 200sqm; 19,950,000 THB o.n.o.; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995

Hobbies & Pastimes Bop02/31-52/ Guesthouse in the heart of Pattaya, Thappraya Road; Land: 210Twah (840sqm) and

H01/36-40/ Enjoy collecting Thai postage stamps? The Thai Stamp Alliance is a new internet and social media group created to share information,

Read more news at pattayamail.com

22 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

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VOL. XXVI No. 40

Pattaya Emergency Numbers Pattaya Call Center ................................ 1337 Police Station .......................................... 191 - Pattaya ................................................... 038 424 186 - Banglamung ......................................... 038 221 800-1 Highway Police ....................................... 038 392 001 Fire Brigade ............................................. 199 Pat. Int. Hopsital ..................................... 038 428 374-5 Bkk-Pat Hospital ..................................... 038 259 911 TAT Central Office: Region 3 Pattaya . 038 428 750 Tourist Police ......................................... 038 429 371, 1155 . .................................................................. 038 410 044 (FAX)

Property for Sale including posts of events like Exhibitions and Auctions. If you live on the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand and have an interest, email thaistampalliance@gmail.com or find us on Facebook. Remember to attend the upcoming World Stamp Expo coming to Bangkok in late November!

Notices No01/30-52/ Looking for a game of snooker with a retired ex-professional UK snooker player? Tel. Mike on 089 152 3202

Pets Pets04/01-52/ Looking for someone to board my 2 dogs when I am away. Peter 088 881 8601

Pets03/01-52/ Homeless puppies available for adoption to warm and caring homes! All puppies are healthy, vaccinated and acclimated to people. If you are looking for a friend for life, just call 088 402 6772 or e-mail to karin@carefordogs.org.

Pets02/01-52/ **Free Cats and Kittens** We are still trying to find loving homes for over 40 cats and kittens.

Please check the pictures on our website or ring Sandra.

Call 085 287 5004 http:/ cats4youinpattaya.webs.com

Houses, Villas Psb/36-40/ 1-Storey House Ruenpisa Village Three bedrooms two bath rooms Nongprue East Pattaya 157 sqm usable 240 sqm land 3,960.000; Tel: 095 732 5452 Psb29/13-52/ 1-storey single house, living area 130sqm, land size 300sqm, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished, European Kitchen, close to Satit School: 3.75 million baht. Tel. Heiner 0818611907

Property for Rent Houses, Villas Prb/36-40/TOWNHOUSE, Off Soi Khaotalo, Like new, quiet, safe, two bedrooms, one bathroom, patio, carport, Thai kitchen, air-conditioned, FULLY FURNUSHED, Guarded Subdivision, Communal Pool, One Year Lease, B9,500. Monthly, B19,000. Security Deposit.

English, 087-805-5276 Prb172/22-41/ House for Rent 7,500 baht: Soi Nernplabwan. Contact 061 964 5253 / 098 347 7786 Prb167/14-39/ HOUSES FOR RENT –Rattana Village and Udomsuk Village: 72120m2, up to 7,000 Baht. Mr. Udom 082 2091452, Mr. Wirat 089 9354369 Prb166/37-41/For Rent: ß10,900 Per Month, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 3 A/C, Furnished, Pool, Clean Beautiful Soi 53 Nern Plabwan at Soi 45. Tel: 084-351-8254

Condos, Apartments Prc210/40-44/ Pattaya Beach Rd. Soi 13, 1 bedroom, poolside balcony, kitchen, safe-box, 13,000.- Tel. 091504-1806 Prc209/39-43/ Rent 22,000 THB/month – Sea-front condo with infinity pool, tennis – Banglamung - 204sqm, 2-bed, 2-bath. See pictures at: www.facebook.com/ thailand.bayview, Tel: 082 122 4335, Email: bay.view @live.com Prc208/22-41/ Condo for Rent 8,500 baht: Studio 32sqm, in the city, fully furnished, big swimming pool. Contact 0619645253 / 0983477786

Psb28/31-52/ 5-storey Townhouse in Pratumnak; lobby, 9 rooms and 8 bathrooms; total area 320sqm; big garage; the property was completely restored in 2015; new bathrooms, new rooms, new air-conditioners; new electric wiring; must see!

Great Opportunity! Only 6,200,000 THB; 092- 753 9309 Psb27/31-52/ City Villa in the heart of Pattaya; completely renovated; close to 3rd Road / LK Hotel; in walking distance to Soi Buakhao;

120sqm living space; land approx. 150sqm; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, kitchenette; fully furnished; 2 new Flat TVs; 3 air-cons; big storeroom; garden, carport & parking; NO THROUGH ROAD- very quite; 3,950,000 THB; 092753 9309

Psb26/31-52/ 3-storey Townhouse located in Pratumnak Hills close to “Royal Cliff Hotel”; living space 200sqm; fully furnished with high quality furniture; living room with dining area, 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, guest toilet; 1 European kitchen; terrace; 2 balconies; Jacuzzi bath; 3 aircons; ceiling fan; WiFi access; storage room; carport; very nice and clean place to live; 4,950,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995 Psb25/31-52/ Villa located on Pattaya East Side, only 5 min. from Sukhumvit/

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gate; 3 BBQ’s; the property is completely walled in: 24,950,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995

Road; quite & peaceful; 1,632sqm land; living space approx. 500sqm; fully furnished with custom made quality furniture; 1 living room; 1 dining room; 3 bedrooms, 3 ensuite bathrooms, guest toilet, 1 kitchen, maid’s house; pool 10m x 5m (salt water); many terraces; security 7/24h; double garage; fully air-conditioned; laundry, pantry, many storerooms; office; SOLAR hot water; double wall and roof insulation; emergency power generator; double glazed insulation windows; 25.000 liter water storage; 35,000,000 THB or best offer; 092- 753 9309

Condominiums Thepprasit Road; Land size 760sqm, living space 350sqm; partly furnished; living room, dining room, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, guest toilet; Jacuzzi; European kitchen, security 24/7; private pool; tropical garden; garage; parking; 15,500,000 THB; 092- 753 9309

Psb24/31-52/ Big Villa with 5,200sqm park similar land; located close to Huay Yai Road; living space 650sqm; fully furnished; 1 living/dining room; 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, full European kitchen; terraces; WiFi; private pool 10m x 5m; outdoor shower and toilet; small lake with sala; air-con in all rooms; fitness gym; many storerooms; 85sqm office in separate building; alarm; own well; pantry & laundry room; double garage; automatic

Psb23/31-52/ 3-storey modern “BAUHAUS-Style Villa” and a wooden “Traditional Thai Style house” on 1 Rai of land located in Pratumnak, Pattaya; 360sqm living space on 3 floors with gallery; Thai house has 100sqm living space; short distance to the beach; both properties are partly furnished; open living room over 2 floors; dining room; 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 kitchen; terraces; WiFi; storage rooms; private parking; 75,000,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995

Psb22/31-52/ Big Villa located in a clean & well maintained Resort in East Pattaya, 12 min drive to Sukhumvit

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018 23

Psc/40-44/ For Sale: Center Condo 74sqm, European kitchen, Fully Furnished.

Ceramic tiled throughout.

Farang owned. 2.25M. Tel: 089 248 4422 Psc/40-44/ Beachfront Condo at Bangsaray Condominium: 150sqm, 2-bedrooms, 2-bathrooms, 300m from beach, only 137units in 20 rai of green landscaped surroundings in an exclusive residence. Excellent decoration, fully furnished, TVLCD 50". Hot Sale 8.9 mil.

59,000 baht/sqm. 0813358102 (owner), for photos: pitipity@hotmail.com, Line: piti.t Psc87/38-42/ Markland Studios, Soi 1, Pattaya beachfront road near new Terminal 21 shopping center: 48sqm, beach front balcony, furnished, refurbished, pool, fitness, foreign ownership, 3mio Baht, also finance options available by owner, details ian.thailand@hotmail.com, Tel. 087 137 1529

Psc80/31-52/ City-Studio Jomtien VIEW TALAY 1; 6th floor; living space 32sqm; 500m to the beach; fully furnished; 1 living-bedroom; 1 bathroom; kitchen; balcony; WiFi; security 7/24h; community pool; parking; restaurants, bars, supermarket 24h, laundry in the building; directly located at the 10-Baht-Taxi route and Shuttle Bus to Airport BKK; 1,250,000 THB; (or rent 7,900 THB) 092- 753 9309

Psc79/31-52/ Studio on the beach in Pratumnak, 50sqm, totally quite & peaceful, fully furnished; private access to the beach; big sea view ter-

race; 1 living-bedroom, 1 bathroom, full kitchen; washing machine; security 7/24h; community pool on beachfront; restaurant on pool side, parking; supermarket and laundry; 2,450,000 THB; (or rent 12,500 THB) 092 7539309

1 living/bedroom, 1 bathroom, kitchenette, terrace, WiFi, Security 7/24h, fitness gym, community pool, garage, “10 Baht Taxi Route”, supermarket, laundry close by: 1,600,000 THB; GO PROPERTYTHAILAND 093 -161 5995

Land for Sale Psc76/31-52/ Seaview Apartment in Pattaya, Pratumnak Hills with 2 bedrooms, 11th floor; 3 balconies; living space 101sqm; fully furnished; living room; 2 bathrooms, 1 European kitchen; 2 new air-conditioners, ceiling fans; double security door, security 7/24h; fitness gym; sauna; steam room; community pool; parking; restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry; 7,495,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093 161 5995

Psc74/33-52/ Studio located close to Pattaya Beach and “Rhompo Night Market”, Jomtien 2nd road, living space 47sqm, fully furnished,

P02/31-52/ Land is located close to Chaiyaprueck Road 2, 629sqm (17m x 37m); completely walled inn with a 3m high wall; 13,000 liter water deposit; own well; 2,950,000 THB or best offer; 092- 753 9309

Services Provided Sp/40/PLANS DRAWN Engineer designed 085083-4221

Vehicles for Sale & Rent Vc02/40/ Jay’s Rent A Car: Toyota’s & Honda’s. All top of the range, for your safety all serviced by Toyota/Honda, all have A.B.S./airbags + 1st class rental Insurance. Rent the best. Please ring for details: (Thai) 084-865-5102 or (Eng) 085-283-4915

24 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

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Barker streets the field PSC Golf Pattaya Links Golf Society Wednesday, Sept. 26, Pattana - Stableford 1st Chris Barker (12) 42pts 2nd Mike Firkin (23) 37pts 3rd Neil Skilton (4) 37pts 4th Paul Smith (3) 37pts What a difference two days can make. On Monday play was abandoned at Royal Lakeside as a heavy electrical storm swept across the course, not once, but twice.

This morning we were bathed in bright sunshine as players gathered at Links Bar for the trip to Pattana Golf Club.

This place is impressive.

From the time you get a salute and greeting walking through the front door of the sparkling club house, to the easy check-in at the counter, and then a lovely greeting lady directing to the stairs and the locker room, you feel like, as a golfer, you’ve made it.

However, the best is yet to come when you stand on the first tee and take in the view..

We were assigned the B then C courses and for those with a slice or hook, B1 can look very daunting, with water to the left and right, then more water in front of the green. A perfect start!

Once over that, our twentytwo golfers then proceeded at a good pace on this beautiful

Chris Barker (centre) with Kevin Rogers (left) and Bryan Barrell.

golf course, which is always in excellent condition. We have to love these greens. If you like putting, this is the place.

We played one flight with four places, in addition to four “near pins” and” best nines’ Chris Barker has been hanging around the podium lately and today put daylight between himself and the rest, scoring a terrific 42 points to easily take the Green Jacket.

Then we had a crowd vying for the placings. Three golfers scored handicap beating 37 points each, so countbacks were needed to separate them.

Here we see the handicap system at work. Although only one flight, the first four places had a handicap

spread of 20, so just getting more points is the secret, especially the back nine..

After countbacks it was Mike Firkin (h/c 23), who has been in good touch of late, taking second place from Neil Skilton (h/c 4), playing with Links for the first time, who in turn beat Paul Smith (h/c 3).

Near Pins were on each Par 3 and they were won by Neil Skilton (B3), Garry Hookey (B7), Paul Smith (C2), Kevin Rogers (C7).

Best front and back nines by non-winners came from Phil Davies (front, 18pts) and Colin Smith (back, 19pts).

Earlier in the week, Kevin Rogers was bitten on the leg by a Soi dog. He survived, but

Jim Reilly (centre) with Masa Tanako (left) and Colin Smith.

the dog isn’t well apparently.

But that’s not why he was awarded the “silly hat”. In fact, by refusing Maurice a free drop, he was asking for trouble. Any excuse Maurice can find.

The players were also appreciative of the promotion at Pattana right now. A free beer or drink at the completion of the round. Thank You Pattana. We love coming to this course and only hope the pricing for “high season” can stay at a reasonable level so we can play here all year.

Friday, Sept. 28, Treasure Hill Stableford A Flight 1st Jim Reilly (15) 34pts

2nd Wayne Peppernell (15) 34pts 3rd Colin Smith (13) 30pts B Flight 1st Tony Traianon (24) 32pts 2nd Len Jones (30) 31pts 3rd Mike Tottenham (20) 31pts We can never find enough words in describing how good Treasure Hill is, but today was a little let down. All golf courses are going through the big maintenance programs during low season and today we found work on the greens and some of the tee boxes while the rough was a little harsher than usual.

The greens caught out most as, being used to quite quick greens here, they were

slow, very slow, patchy and sanded. Judging by the abnormally low scores, we think that was the cause. Not the entire cause because some were just having a bad hair day.

“A” flight was a race in two, both scoring 34 points, but it was Jim Reilly who had the better back nine to win the countback from Wayne Peppernell and get to don the Green Jacket. Third spot went to the now departed Colin Smith. (no, not dearly departed, he will be back in November).

“B” flight saw even lower scores with 32 points being the best. That score belonged to first time visitor from Western Australia, Tony Traianon. Then came a two-way tie for second and third with Len Jones taking the countback from Mike Tottenham. Jim Ferris also had 31 points but lost all the countbacks.

Jim didn’t miss out though as he took best front nine for non winners with 19 points while Nasa Shah took out best back nine with 18.

Near pins went to Michael Sanzone (2), Wayne Peppernell (6), Iain Jones (13) and Peter Henshaw (17)

Sullivan shines at Emerald PSC Golf from The Bunker Boys Monday, Sept. 24, The Emerald – Stableford 1st Alan Sullivan (12) 37pts 2nd Neil Carter (11) 36pts 3rd Les Hall (25) 29pts After the delights of Hua Hin the previous week it was back to normal today with a round at Emerald. The course was in reasonable condition except for the greens; some were a bit shabby and all were extremely slow. Making the transition from the fast smooth greens of Black Mountain to today’s offerings was a bit too much for some, with most of the scoring on the low side.

Fresh from a forgettable round on Friday, Alan Sullivan bounced back to top form with a score of thirty-seven to take first place. Neil Carter

looked likely to light up the course starting with five straight pars only to fade thereafter, but nevertheless he was good enough to take second place with thirty-six.

A whole seven points back in third place was Les Hall.

Near pins went to Alan Sullivan, Geoff Parker, Jimmy Carr, and Michael Brett.

Wednesday, Sept. 26, Pattana A & C – Stableford

Jimmy Carr - golfer of the month.

1st Neil Carter (11) 36pts 2nd Geoff Parker (14) 33pts 3rd Alan Sullivan (12) 26pts A hot steamy day lay in store for the Bunker Boys at the seldom visited Pattana course for the rainbow round of the month. The course was a little damp but otherwise in very good condition.

The pick, clean, and place

rule was applied and necessary as often balls plugged and sometimes difficult to find even on the fairways.

The humidity was extreme and with no breeze, it was uncomfortable for most of the day. Despite a large competition running at the same time as our game, slow play was not an issue.

Neil Carter took first place with a good thirty-six, with Geoff Parker three back and Alan Sullivan in third a full ten back.

Near pins went to Geoff Parker, Michael Brett and two to Neil Carter.

One of our group suffered the indignity of hitting a caddie with his wayward drive on an adjoining tee and suffered a financial penalty as a result, best to keep it straight off the tee.

Friday, Sept. 28, Burapha – Stableford The TRGC have instigated a monthly competition to be held on the last Friday of every month for several months to come at the Burapha course. Six golf societies will compete each month in a variety of formats with points

accumulating monthly until the last round when a winner will be crowned and presented with a prestigious and valuable trophy. Four golfers from each society will represent their club.

Today’s format was a fourball better-ball competition with two golfers from one venue paired with two from another society. The Bunker Boys drew the Players Lounge for the first round and Neil Carter with Geoff Parker were cruising to victory when a huge thunderstorm struck requiring a forty-minute delay in play. On resumption, the boys could not recapture the form that had them leading so easily and crashed out on the final holes.

The other pairing of Jimmy Carr and Michael Brett looked to have won their match but

some dubious accounting errors saw them defeated, it is not yet clear who was mathematically challenged.

A bad start to the competition for the Bunker Boys with no points from the round but spirits are high that the situation can be turned around just as Europe did in the afternoon session of the Ryder Cup, and more fruitful days lie ahead. Next month’s format will be the very vicious multiplier format where partner players scores will be multiplied on each hole before being totaled up to provide their final score.

Almost as an aside Jimmy Carr won his second Golfer of the Month trophy in three months with Geoff Parker Neil Carter or Michael Brett failing to rein him in during the last week.

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Frank wins his second mug PSC Golf from the Tropical Golf Group Tuesday Sept. 25, Bangpakong Riverside – Medal Time for the BJ Holiday Lodge Tropical Golf Monthly Mug and this month we chose the fine track at Bangpakong Riverside as the site of our medal competition.

After the easy hour long drive up the toll way, a quick check-in, and a bit of a practice putt our first group was headed down the 1st fairway 15 or so minutes early with no group in sight up ahead.

Due to the heavy rains over the previous days and carts not allowed off the paved paths, it was decided to play from the white tees and allow “lift, clean & place thru the green”. This proved to be a wise decision as the course was wet enough that balls landing with any elevation at all left a divot, had

Sponsor’s staff members congratulate Frank Xin (right).

little roll and picked up mud.

Considering the recent weather conditions, BRCC was in fine, if damp, condition, the pace of play reasonable, and weather fully, albeit a bit hot and humid, cooperative, so how would the Tropical Golfers fair in their quest to score that low net score and win the coveted Monthly Mug.

No Technical’s or Best 9‘s on medal day so it was on the ‘runner-ups” and the winner, which on this day took meeting or beating your course handicap to get a mention.

Top of the heap today was Frank Xin who posted a net 64 off his 29 handicap. Second place went to John Pierrel (12) on net 66, third

PAGS on the road to Pattana A warm welcome greeted the PAGS monthly players upon arrival at Pattana Sports Club, where the day’s challenge was the par 73 A & B combination.

With the course played from the yellow tees and preferred lies through the green, it was expected the scoring would be even across the field. This proved to be correct, with several countbacks required to split the prize winners.

The winner in the Ladies Flight was Pai Noksa (H/cap 23) with a creditable 38 points, to go with her Long Drive on B9 and her 2nd shot approach on A7.

The A Flight for players for 0–12 saw Brad Jordison (9) the winner with 39 points, which was also good enough to win the Low Gross and 2 technical 2nd shot approaches on A4 and B4. The minor placings required a countback, with Andre Coetzee (8) getting the nod over Leif Pettersson (9) 18/15, after both signed for 36 points.

B Flight for handicaps 13– 20 was won by Glenn Armistead (18) with a day’s best score of 42 points, ahead of Jim Reilly (16) on 41. Philippe Vos (19) with a back 9 of 21 points edged out Sugar Ray Handford’s 20 points for 3rd place, after both had 38 points.

The C Flight winner for handicaps 21+ was decided after another countback; Kevin Johnson (22) with his 40 points and back 9 of 20 got the top spot on the podium over Richard Kings (27), who managed only 17 points on the back 9. The

was Mick Coghlan (22) with net 70, beating Bob Britton (13) on countback, fifth place was occupied by John Davis (11) on net 71 and completing the podium in sixth was Graham Buckingham (24) with net 72.

Congratulations to Frank on his second successive Monthly Medal win and to all the podium finishers on the day. Very good golf by all and a special nod to John Pierrel for scoring the best gross score on the day, a fine 78.

Friday, Sept. 28, Eastern Star – Stableford On our last visit to Eastern Star at the end of June we found the clubhouse undergoing a complete remodeling with only the existing ladies locker room available plus a portion of the bar/restaurant open. The course however was in reasonable condition so we decided it was time for a re-visit to this traditionally tough layout to check out the progress of the clubhouse project and enjoy a day on the links. With the

Dick Warberg.

remodeled Pro Shop, ladies locker room and a portion of the restaurant now open it is clear to see that the project when finished will be very nice. You would not want to take a group much larger than 20 there currently, but for small groups the facilities are adequate. With the existing reasonable green fee, Eastern star is well worth a visit.

Our group, being small, fit right in and was soon started off the 10th tee under clear skies and for once, no “ball-in-hand”. The course

was found in good condition as long as one did not stray too far off the fairways.

From the ‘white’ tees it is a long and challenging layout.

The fairways and bunkers were in very good condition, the greens recovering from recent maintenance but playable, and the rough, well, not suppose to be there anyway.

All was well until the turn going from the 18th to the 1st when the heavens opened up quickly and with ferocity.

With one group seeking shelter in the clubhouse and the other at the drink stand near the 18th tee, our 9th, it was a 45 minute rest stop until the squall passed through and the course drained enough to continue.

Back at our group headquarters the cards were sorted and the results announced. Winning on a count-back with 33 points was Dick Warberg (c/h 23) over Walter Baechli (21) followed by Don Carmody (27) with 32 points.

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A game of two halves for Davies The Jomtien Golf Society Monday, Sept. 24, The Emerald Stableford

Brad Jordison - A Flight & Low Gross winner.

Pai Noksa (left) - ladies winner.

bronze medal position also required a countback, Don Smalley (21) beating Andy Makara 22/16 after both finished with 37 points.

This month’s honorable mentions go out to Steve

Truelove with his 2 long drives and 2nd shot approach on A6.

Other 2-time technical winners were Tommy Marshall and Sugar Ray Handford as some consolation for missing out on the countback.

After Sunday’s horrendous rain here in Jomtien the forecast was still not promising in the Baan Chang area for today’s golf. In the end we had two divisions out with the equal cut at 9-17 and 20+ in division 2.

Playing off a 22 handicap, Peter Davies scored 24 points on the front nine and then it was downhill from there on with three blobs on the back nine, coming in with 13 but still winning division two with 37 points. John Carlin was second on 34 and Leo Adam came in third with 29 points.

Paul Young won division 1 with 35 points while Marc Brunner was second on 32 and Steve Godfrey third with 31.

Near pins went to (Div 1) Marc Brunner, Steve Godfrey and Pete Sumner (2), and (Div 2) Leo Adam, Alan Bissell and Peter Davies.

There were no ‘2’s today.

Wednesday, Sept. 26, Greenwood Stableford We were playing the A and C nines today with the cut

Marc Brunner, Martin Grimoldby and John Carlin.

at 4-16 and 17+ in the two divisions. The course was in very damp condition and the greens slower than normal so pick clean and place came into play from the first tee.

There were a few moans after the game regarding our choice for white tees today instead of yellow because of the condition of the course, but this fell silent at the presentation at Frasers when the scores came out.

Martin Grimoldby recorded the best total of the day, winning division 1 with 36 points. Marc Brunner was second one point behind Martin and in third place was Nik Evans on 33 points.

There were three scores of 34 points in division 2 and a 16/ 16/14 countback on the back nine, 10/10 on the back six 5/5 on the back three and in the end 4/3 on the last two holes saw John Carlin take podium position ahead of Peter Davies in second and Paul Butler third.

Near pins went to (Div 1) Martin Grimoldby and John Hughes, and (Div 2) Douglas Clark and Steve Harris.

Once again there were no ‘2’s in either division today.

A field of 18 was out on Friday at Eastern Star but the competition was cancelled after 16 holes due to torrential rain and totally flooded fairways.

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VOL. XXVI No. 40

Scousers back in the limelight Traveller’s Rest Golf Group Derek Thorogood

Monday, Sept. 24, Khao Kheow Stableford 1st Billy Allan (20) 32pts 2nd John Brewer (15) 29pts 3rd Darren Hayden (31) 25pts For those that aren’t familiar with the term “Scouser” it is a name given to a person who comes from Liverpool. At the TRGG there are a couple of Scousers who are Peaky Blinder Billy and Del Boy (the scribe), neither of whom have been playing good golf lately, however this week they took first place in three out of the five competitions.

Peaky Blinder posted his first win for the week at Khao

three sixes. It is a rare occurrence to see young Seamus on the winner’s podium and as the evening wore on and the amber fluid flowed we were “treated” to a hole by hole replay of how this magnificent feat unfolded!

Kheow by slashing the opposition into submission with a ridiculous 32 points. His mere presence must have intimidated the rest of the field as not one other player scored higher than twenty nine.

Tuesday, Sept. 25, Green Valley - Medal 1 Billy Allan (20) net 73 2nd John O’Donoghue (21) net 76 3rd Masayuki Okada (22) net 77 On Tuesday we paid our regular visit to Green Valley where Alex Fenwick finally played to his handicap and came home with 36 points to take first place honours. Incredibly Alex has been playing with the TRGG for close to five years and today was the

Friday, Sept. 28, Burapha – Stableford

st

Derek Thorogood (left) and Billy Allan.

first time he has scored thirty six points - and also the first time he’s taken the pole position.

Thursday, Sept. 27, Phoenix Gold – Stableford 1st Seamus Farrell (29) 39pts 2nd Alex Fenwick (19) 36pts

3rd Paul Durkan (16) 35pts Thursday’s trip to Phoenix saw Seamus Farrell finally rise from the ashes and blaze his way to an incredible 39 points. His day out was made even more pleasurable as he fleeced his regular playing partners by winning all

1st Derek Thorogood (18) 36pts 2nd Sakai Yasuo (10) 36pts 3rd Masayuki Okada (22) 36pts Friday and another Scouser was making a name for himself.

Del Boy (yours truly) has been suffering with the dreaded “shanks” for over two months

and believe me I was almost ready to give the game away.

It’s so debilitating standing over the ball 120 out from the green and not having a clue where the next shot’s going to end up! Today I was 130 out from the first hole at Burapha and to my amazement I flushed an eight iron onto the green.

Throughout the whole round I only had one shank and for the life of me I don’t know what I was doing different.

Anyway by virtue of a threeway countback I ended up winning the day and I look forward to the day when the shanks are but a distant memory.

Pin & Bob get the gongs PSC Golf from The Billabong Bar Monday, Sept. 24, Phoenix - Stableford What a day for golf! It started out fine and sunny with just some high cloud and turned to something else after 5 holes when it absolutely belted down for one hole. We sheltered for a while then went out to play until hole 11 when the siren went off for lightning.

Even after the rain the course was in great condition with not many watery areas. We played lift clean and place and the scoring was good considering the rain delays.

Capt. Bob took 4th place with 33 points, Dave Bramley managed 3rd with 34, Bill Marsden left his only bad tee shot till the last hole squirting his shot out of bounds for a 3 off the tee and a double bogey for no points

but still managed to score 37 points to take 2nd, with Arch Armstrong beating him on a count back with 37 points also.

There was only one ‘2’, coming from John Chappell.

Wednesday, Sept. 26, Eastern Star - Medal Eastern Star was the venue for the Haven Consultants monthly medal and a harder course to play a medal round I don’t think you would find anywhere. We played lift clean and place, which was needed on a lot of the holes.

The sanding of the greens just as we were teeing off didn’t help some of the players, but we all got around in bright sunshine.

In the ladies division the scoring was very good with Miss Noodle taking 3rd spot with 75 net, 2nd place went to Miss Eng with 72, and Miss

Bob St Aubin (left) with Brian Chapman.

Pin won the day with a net 70.

There were no ‘2’s recorded.

In the men’s division there was a countback on 73 net, with Brian Chapman taking 4th and Bill Marsden 3rd, There was also a count back for the top two places between Sel Wegner and Bob St Aubin, both with nett 71 but with Bob having the better last

6 holes. Once again there were no ‘2’s recorded.

Friday, Sept. 28, Phoenix - Stableford The monthly scramble was held at the Phoenix Gold golf course in very hot conditions, but pleasant also as the course was in great shape but the greens were a little

Miss Pin with Capt. Bob.

slow so getting the ball into the hole was an effort at times.

With 10 teams competing we were away a little early and with absolutely no holdups were round in about 4 hours with no rain at all.

Coming in in 3rd place was the Billabong A team with a score of 60.1, only just beating their number 2 team by

0.7 of a shot. Taking 2nd spot was the Alexanders rag time crew made up of Bob StAubin, Luke Eddy, Auke Engekles and Gerard Lambert with 58.7. In top place was the team of Brad Jordison, Sugar Ray Handford, Paul and Brendon Cope, also with a score of 58.7 but with a better countback.

Blake posts best of the week The Tara Court Golf Society Sunday, Sept. 23, Green Valley – Stableford 1st Craig Hitchens (13) 36pts 2nd Stuart Brown (7) 35pts 3rd Kevyn Wright (11) 35pts We had our smallest group out here at Green Valley today in a long time even though high season is just around the corner. We were lucky with the weather, although we got a very heavy shower on the 10th we waited in the shop for half an hour till it cleared up and were then able to finish our game.

Craig Hitchens was the only one to play to his handicap today and he won with thirty

six points. We then had two players with thirty five with Stuart Brown winning the countback to come second and Kevyn Wright losing out and having to settle for third.

For the second week in a row we had no ‘2’s so a good carry over to next week.

Tuesday, Sept. 25, Eastern Star – Stableford A small field of 9 players today for our regular monthly game here. The weather was not great with light rain falling for most of the round.

The course was playing its full length & with no run on the fairways it was a tough day.

Keeping with our current theme of players returning back to Pattaya & winning on their first game back, Jim Traynor (28) was in top spot with 36 points. Joe McArdle (17) rued a few missed chances & came second with 32. In his last game for this trip, Ken Hobbs (30) was third with 29 points, keeping Joe Peters from the podium on countback.

There were no 2’s today.

Thursday, Sept. 27, Burapha - Stableford 1st Kevin Blake (9) 38pts 2nd Gerry Hannan (12) 36pts We were back on the A and B courses today here at Burapha. The course was

playing very long today as it was still wet after all the rain and also because although we played off the white tees most of them were actually well back on the blue tee boxes as they were renovating the normal white tees. Nonetheless we still managed to get a few very good scores from what was a small group.

Kevin Blake got back into form today and won with an excellent thirty eight points.

Gerry Hannan has just arrived back and was playing his first game for this trip and he also played very well and came second with thirty six.

Once again we had no ‘2’s today.

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Poussier in sparkling form PSC Golf from The Growling Swan Monday, Sept. 24, The Emerald Stableford 1st Yarnni (36) 38pts 2nd Rudy Regenass (15) 38pts 3rd Brendan Cope (22) 38pts Near Pins: #2 Tony Ryan, #13 Keith Buchanan, #17 Martin Kempton.

Long Putts: #9 Brendan Cope, #18 Dave Neal.

Well we were due to play Parichat GC today, a course that did so much to entice

us back every month, free meals, free beer kind and respectful staff. Well that was pulled up with a bump as they raised the prices without warning so we transferred to Emerald instead for a much better deal.

We 14 golfers take part on a course in great condition given the rain we had had in the Pattaya area over the last week or so. We attacked from the white tees and played one division with 3 places and all novelties in play.

mud with little grass if any on parts and the greens had been cored, making putting near impossible.

We played B & C nines from the white tees with just one division and three places to shoot for. Patrick

Poussier returned the best score of the day and his net 70 gave him first place 2 strokes clear from his nearest rival. Second home was Mashi Kaneta, with Glenn Henriksen filling the last spot on the podium.

(From left) Rudy Regenass, Yanni & Brendan Cope.

Talk about a log-jam at the top of the leaderboard, we had 3 golfers all with a very good score of 38 points. So of to the count back we went and Yarnni got the nod over Rudy Regenass in second and Brendan Cope third.

Thursday, Sept. 27, Crystal Bay - Medal

(From left) Mashi Kaneta, Patrick Poussier and Glenn Henriksen, with Nolan peeping over.

DATE:

FRI 5

Apple’s Irish

The Emerald

Bunker Boys

Mt. Shadow

SAT 6

1st Patrick Poussier (30) net 70 2nd Mashi Kaneta (18) net 72 3rd Glenn Henriksen (11) net 74

SUN 7

Near Pins: B4 Bill Steinmann, B6 Bill Steinmann, C4 Glenn Henriksen, C7 Wan Mukmal.

Long Putts: B9 Dick Braimbridge, C9 Bill Steinmann.

A very disappointing field (numbers wise) set out to have a crack at this month’s monthly mug. Crystal Bay was the place for today’s event and we received more complaints about this course than about any other over the last 6 months. The fairways had been mowed whilst wet, leaving clumps of

MON 8

TUE 9

WED 10

THU 11

Treasure Hill Bangpakong

PSC Monthly Open Khao Kheow

PSC Monthly Open

Cafe Kronborg

PSC Monthly Open

Colin’s Golf

Green Valley

Growling Swan Billabong Golf Le Katai Lewiinski’s The Links

Greenwood

Burapha

Phoenix

King Naga

Khao Kheow

Siam Old Course

Pattavia Green Valley Eastern Star

Green Valley

Greenwood

Treasure Hill

Pattavia

Greenwood

Siam Country Sugar Shack

PSC Monthly Open

The Emerald

I Rovers Retox Game On

Treasure Hill

Bangpakong

Valley View Hackers

Plutaluang

PSC Monthly Open

Burapha

PSC Monthly Open

Plutaluang

PSC Monthly Open

Eastern Star

PSC Monthly Open

Burapha

Treasure Hill

PSC Monthly Open

Green Valley

PSC Monthly Open PSC Monthly Open

The Emerald

The Players Lounge Tropical Golf

PSC Monthly Open

PSC Monthly Open

The Emerald Pattavia

PSC Monthly Open

Siam Old Course

Outback Bar The Golf Club

FRI 12

Green Valley

Greenwood

Green Valley Pleasant Valley Green Valley

PSC Monthly Open PSC Monthly Open

Greenwood

PSC Monthly Open Green Valley

PSC Monthly Open

The Bunker Boys meet at the M-Club off Pattaya 3rd Road for golf outings every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (www.bunkersociety.com). Transportation leaves from Cafe Kronborg on Soi Diana Inn at 8:15 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, (contact Dave on tel. 038 602 2117). Colin’s Bar plays golf Sun/Mon/Wed & Fri (www.colinsbar.com). The Growling Swan plays golf on Monday & Thursday (www.thegrowlingswan.com). Lewiinski’s departs from Soi Pattayaland One (Soi Pattaya 13/3) at 9:00 a.m. on its scheduled days. of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday/Wednesday and Friday. The Pattaya Links Hotel Golf Society departs from Soi Buakhao on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call Phil on 0625 933 380 or visit www.thelinkshotelpattaya.com. The Golf Club is located on Soij LK Metro. Call Phil on 090 769 3778. Tropical Golf meets at BJ’s Holiday Lodge at 8am on Tuesday’ & Friday. Call Derek on 089 034 0629

28 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

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VOL. XXVI No. 40

South Africa beat Wallabies 23-12 in Rugby Championship Gerald Imray Port Elizabeth, South Africa (AP) — South Africa rode their defence to another win in the Rugby Championship last Saturday, scoring an intercept try inside the first 30 seconds and then holding out for the entire second half to beat Australia 23-12.

Aphiwe Dyantyi poached Kurtley Beale’s long pass on the Australia tryline in the first skirmishes and the Springboks led for the rest of the game.

South Africa kept their advantage despite Australia making all the play in the second half. But the Wallabies couldn’t score a point in that second 40 despite having tons of possession and territory.

South Africa, like in their stunning upset of world champions New Zealand in the last round, survived through their never-give-in

defending, some of it fierce and in your face, some desperate and scrambling.

“We didn’t play tactically well but in the second half the guts the boys showed, the character, is great,” Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus said.

Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk added a second try for South Africa before, down 14-0, Australia responded with scores by Reece Hodge and Will Genia in a three-minute spell.

But Springboks flyhalf Handre Pollard kicked three penalties in a row and Australia out of the game.

Pollard’s third penalty, in the sixth minute of the second half, was the final score by either team.

Australia ran the game after that but South Africa’s defence wouldn’t give in, even when down to 14 men from a yellow card to Dyantyi in the 65th.

“We got to a position where, backend of the game, we had

Australia’s Ned Hanigan (front right) is tackled by South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit during their teams’ rugby test match in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Saturday, Sept. 29. (AP Photo)

some huge opportunities to make some points and couldn’t get there,” Australia captain Michael Hooper said. “We take one try there (when South Africa are down to 14

USA claims 3rd straight women’s basketball World Cup

men), we’re in with a chance of winning the game. We didn’t take that try.”

South Africa have two straight wins after surprising the All Blacks — and world rugby — in the last round.

Australia have lost two in a row and won just twice in its last 10 games.

“No one wants to win more than me, trust me,” said coach Michael Cheika, who

is under pressure to keep his job for the Rugby World Cup next year. “The tough situations come and they go away and the tough people will stay. It depends if you want to cry about it and sook (sulk), or get on with getting improvements.”

The result kept the Rugby Championship title out of New Zealand’s hands, but only for a few hours. New Zealand clinched a third

straight southern hemisphere title with a 35-17 win over Argentina later Saturday in Buenos Aires.

With a New Zealand pack missing captain Kieran Read and his preferred replacement Luke Whitelock, starting lock Brodie Retallick and regular blindside flanker Liam Squire crushed the Argentina scrum.

The All Blacks took control of the match early on, scoring three first half tries through wingers Ioane and Waisake Naholo to lead 21-3 at halftime. The Pumas rallied to match the All Blacks two tries apiece in the second half, scoring through replacement scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli and fullback Emiliano Boffelli. But a try midway through the half by replacement lock Patrick Tuipulotu and a late score to center Anton Lienert-Brown gave New Zealand a sufficient margin to resist the Argentina comeback.

South Africa, who will finish second, and New Zealand meet in Pretoria, South Africa in the last round this coming weekend. Australia play in Argentina.

Spain’s Alejandro Valverde sprints to road race world title

United States players celebrate after winning the Women’s basketball World Cup final match against Australia in Tenerife, Spain, Sunday Sept. 30. (AP Photo/Andres Gutierrez)

Doug Feinberg Tenerife, Spain (AP) — Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi shared a hug as the final seconds ran down on a third straight World Cup championship.

The longtime USA Basketball teammates had accomplished another piece of history together. The pair have been a key part of all three titles and haven’t lost a World Cup game in nearly 12 years, including last Sunday’s 73-56 win over Australia in the gold medal game.

“It means a lot. I was saying yesterday in the press conference that there’s this misconception out there that this is easy for us,” Bird said.

“I get it, because the scores can say that at times. But this isn’t easy. We’re thrown together and need to figure it out on the fly. We need to peak at the right time. It’s extremely satisfying when we get it done.”

Bird now is the most decorated athlete in World Cup history, winning four gold

medals and one bronze.

The victory gave the U.S. 10 World Cup gold medals and was the 22nd win in a row overall for the Americans dating back to the bronze medal game in 2006.

That was the same year that Australia won their only World Cup title.

Dawn Staley the first person ever to win a World Cup title as a player, assistant and head coach.

Brittney Griner scored 15 points to lead the U.S. and anchored a stellar defensive effort against Liz Cambage.

Australia’s star center came into the game averaging 27.2 points in the tournament, but was held to just seven.

She remained the No. 1 enemy of the Spanish fans, who jeered and whistled every time she touched the ball.

Cambage keyed Australia’s win over the host nation in the semifinals. Spain won the bronze medal, beating Belgium 67-60 earlier Sunday.

Taurasi, who scored 13 points, helped the U.S. get

off to a strong start with a 10-0 lead. Australia could only get within three the rest of the way. It was the first time in the tournament that the U.S. didn’t trail in a game.

“It was huge,” Stewart said about the fast start. “Dee (Taurasi) was talking about being the aggressors as Australia’s used to punching first. Today we were going to punch them first.

That’s what we did. We rode on that momentum the rest of the game. That’s something they hadn’t seen this whole tournament.”

The U.S. led 35-27 at the half and didn’t give Australia any chance to come back, scoring the first nine points of the third quarter.

This was Australia’s best finish at the World Cup since 2006.

“To beat the USA we had to play really good defense and rebound,” Australia coach Sandy Brondello said.

“We contested a lot of shots, but they found too many shooters.”

Innsbruck, Austria (AP) — For the seventh time in his career, Alejandro Valverde stepped onto the podium after the men’s road race at the world championships last Sunday.

But for the first time he received the gold medal.

The Spanish rider sprinted to his first world title after a grueling, mountainous race of 6 hours, 46 minutes through the Austrian Alps, including a final climb with a maximum gradient of 28 percent.

Valverde led a group of four in the final kilometer, and he just remained ahead in the sprint, with Romain Bardet of France taking the silver. Michael Woods, the first Canadian in the top three since Steve Bauer in 1984, won the bronze, while Tom Dumoulin of the Netherlands placed fourth.

The victory came 15 years after Valverde won silver in Hamilton, Canada, a feat he repeated in 2005 in Madrid.

He also came third four times, in 2006 and three years in a row from 2012-14.

“This is the greatest day of my career. It means everything to me to take this victory,” the 38-year-old Valverde said.

“It’s my biggest pro victory.

One that I’ve fought hard to achieve for all these years.

Something I’ve been chasing for during my entire career.”

He became the first Spanish

Spain’s Alejandro Valverde crosses the finish line to win the men’s road race at the Road Cycling World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, Sunday, Sept.30. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

world champion since Oscar Freire won the title in 2004.

Valverde, who served a doping suspension earlier in his career, has won stages in all Grand Tours and was the overall winner of the Vuelta in 2009. Sunday’s title came a year after he suffered a fractured kneecap in a fall in the Tour de France, forcing him to end his 2017 season prematurely.

“I’m so proud of wearing this jersey for the next 12 months,” he said. “I’ve been at other world championships where a teammate won and I enjoyed it, but taking it yourself is just special.”

Valverde positioned himself for the win when he went

ahead of the pack together with Bardet and Woods for the final five kilometers. While the trio built a lead of a half-minute, Dumoulin managed to catch up for the last 1,500 meters.

However, the Dutchman lacked the power to attack again, and Valverde held off challenges by Bardet and Woods to cross the line first.

Peter Sagan had his threeyear winning streak snapped when he quit the race with 90 kilometers left. The Slovakian sprint specialist struggled on the 258-kilometer course, which included 4,681 meters of climbing and was regarded as one of the toughest world championship courses in decades.

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Margetts medals at Green Valley PSC Golf from The Golf Club Steve Ellison

Monday, Sept. 24, Green Valley (white tees) – Monthly Medal

Richie McGhie & Pierre Gymer après golf at TGC.

1st Dan Margetts net 71 2nd Phil Smedley net 71 T3rd Peter Thomas net 72 T3rd Gary Emmett net 72 We kick-started this week’s with our 135th monthly medal. As most of you may know, the prize is one of our monogrammed Antigua golf shirts which are the absolute greatest for our tropical heat and humidity.

There was the occasional lightning blasting through

Jet Ski World Cup set for Dec. 7-10 More than 1,500 racers from around the world will compete at the Jet Ski World Cup in Pattaya Dec. 7-10.

Pattaya Deputy City Manager Wuthipol Charoenpol chaired a Sept. 14 preparation meeting for the tournament to be held in Jomtien with jet ski and flyboard association members and tourism officials.

Activities including registration, inspections, practice and qualifying rounds actually will begin on Dec. 5 with competition set to begin Dec. 7 with novices, juniors and amateurs.

Dec. 8 will see completion of those races and awards,

The winner was Dan Margetts, visiting from England and just beating our own Captain Phil who lost on countback at the 71 mark.

Friday, Sept. 28, Khao Kheow (white tees) – Stableford 1st Richie McGhie (3) 41pts T2nd Roger Awad (22) 37pts T2nd Pierre Gymer (25) 37pts Khao Kheow continues to impress and today the challenge of the A & B tracks were on the schedule. The course was in good nick

and our special green fee of 800 baht made the day very appealing!

Angelino Roger Awad and Brit Pierre Gymer had to share second place on the podium as both turned in a respectable 37 on the card. Our good buddy Richie McGhie is back with a vengeance and warming up before a tournament in Malaysia. Ritchie took an easy victory from the lads by 4 shots and his 41 was top of the heap. Good luck in K.L. mate!

The 23rd T.Q. MASTERS Golf Tournament @ PHOENIX GOLD Friday 19th October 2018 FORMAT

SINGLES STABLEFORD in Groups of Four, Two Tee Start from 10:24 a.m.

DIVISIONS: Three Men’s Divisions: A) 0-10 B) 11-20 C) 21-28 Handicaps HANDICAPS: Maximum: 28 | TEES: White | COUNTBACKS: Mountain ENTRIES

Entry Forms with Entry Fee should be given to The Manager at TQ - Beach Road or Phil Smedley at The Golf Club on Soi LK Metro by 6:00 p.m., Monday, 15th of October. payment should be made with Entry PLEASE! Sign-up as a Group of up to 4 Players: Individual entries will be assigned to a Four-Ball.

ENTRYFEE along with a bikini contest.

Dec. 9 will see the Pro Am, Pro Moto and Pro Freesytle competitions, along with a Seadoo EDM party in the evening.

The final day will host the

final four Pro Moto races and the final round of the bikini contest, plus the awards presentations.

For more information, see the Jet Ski World Cup’s website at Jetski-WorldCup.com.

Wave riders star at Cartoon Network Keng Na Songkhla Pattaya’s Cartoon Network Amazone Waterpark hosted the Asia Flow Tour 2018 flow-riding competition on September 22.

The event is one of several held worldwide and attracted athletes from across Asia to compete. Other regional tou r n a m e n t s t h i s y e a r are scheduled in Sentosa (Singapore), Chengdu (China), Utama (Malaysia), Soul (South Korea) and Saipan.

The grand final world flowriding championships will be held in the Dominican Republic later this year.

The Pattaya competition was divided into 8 categories

overcast skies but that was in the distance and did not affect us or even bring any rain. If anything, it helped to cool things down.

The course was our regular Monday venue of Green Valley and a field of 24 hit the fairways. Fred Birch didn’t win it but he did scoop our Caddy Smile near pin at least.

On the podium, it was a very close contest and a net 72 was turned in by Gary Emmett and Peter Thomas to share third place. Watch out for those coconut trees Gary!

2,500 baht per player includes: Green Fee and Caddy Fee (carts available - book separately) 23rd T.Q. Masters Golf Shirt by Sinto FREE Bloody Caesars at Registration and FREE beer and water (as supply allows) on the course.

BBQ from The Golf Club at T.Q. from 6.30 p.m. and Short Presentation at 7:30 p.m.

Extended Happy Hour 5 – 8:00 pm, and great music.

REGISTRATION: at PHOENIX GOLD on Friday, 19 October, from 09.00 -11.30 am RULES & HANDICAPS: R&A and USGA Rules will apply, as well as PHOENIX GOLD’s Local Rules.

Handicaps will be accepted from PSC, IPGC, Bangkok Golf Groups affiliated with the USGA or R&A, Birdie, GolfLink or any official USGA or R&A Handicap. All golfers who do not have a current handicap with the PSC or IPGC will be required to show proof of current handicap.

PRIZES: TQ Masters Champion Green Jacket for Best Men’s Score & prize.

Trophy for 1St Places Divisions I, II, III Vouchers for 2nd, 3rd, Near Pins and Long Drives (3 Men’s Divs.)

NOTE:

Wave riders compete in front of fans and local media during the Asia Flow Tour 2018 flow-riding competition at Cartoon Network Amazone Waterpark on September 22.

including Pro Men Flowboard, Pro Body Board, Pro

Women’s Flowboard, Junior Flowboard, Open Men’s Flowboard, Open Women’s Flowboard, Open Bodyboard, and Novice Flowboard.

Thailand’s representatives included Tum Nonsee, who is ranked 4th in the world rank, and 15-year-old Nei Issara, the youngest athlete in the Pro category.

1. Book Golf Carts directly on 038 239 400 and it is 1 golfer + caddy per cart policy.

2. Tee Times posted @ T.Q. & The Golf Club on Wed., 6 p.m., 17th Oct. 3. Any questions please contact Steve Ellison on 0895 25 25 65.

------------------ CUT ------------------------------------------------ CUT -----------------T.Q. Masters 19 Oct. 2018 Received _________________ baht for ________ places in the 23rd T.Q. Masters Date ______________ Signed _______________________________________ Preferred Tee Time: (10:24-12:08) ______ email: ___________________________ Contact Name (below)

1. ____________ H’cap PSC /IPGC _____ Other _____

_________________

2. ____________ H’cap PSC /IPGC _____ Other _____

Phone:

3. ____________ H’cap PSC /IPGC _____ Other _____

_________________

4. ____________ H’cap PSC /IPGC _____ Other _____

30 FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

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VOL. XXVI No. 40

Europe’s Ian Poulter wears a postbox costume as he celebrates after the European team won the 2018 Ryder Cup golf tournament at Le Golf National in Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines, outside Paris, France, Sunday, Sept. 30. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Seattle Seahawks running back Mike Davis (left) dives in for a touchdown past Arizona Cardinals defensive back Budda Baker during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 30, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

United States’ Matthew Anderson (left) spikes as Serbia’s Nemanja Petric, Marko Podrascanin, and Drazen Luburic (from left) jump to block the ball during the Men’s World Championships volleyball third place match between USA and Serbia, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 30. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

The peloton passes through the mountains during the men’s road race at the Road Cycling World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, Sunday, Sept.30.

(AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

Jordan Spieth of the US plays a shot out of a bunker during his foursome match on the second day of the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines, outside Paris, France, Saturday, Sept. 29. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

India’s Yuzvendra Chahal drops a catch after a shot played by Bangladesh’s Liton Das during the final one day international cricket match of Asia Cup between India and Bangladesh, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Sept. 28. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Alanna Smith of Australia (right) and Nneka Ogwumike of the United States fight for the ball during the Women’s basketball World Cup final match in Tenerife, Spain, Sunday Sept. 30. (AP Photo/Andres Gutierrez)

VOL. XXVI No. 40

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GM getting ready for electrification (at the top level)

Germany’s Porsche says it won’t produce new diesel models Berlin (AP) - Porsche’s chief executive says the sports car maker won’t produce any new diesel models in the wake of parent company Volkswagen’s diesel emissions scandal.

CEO Oliver Blume told Sunday’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper that, although Porsche itself never developed and produced diesel engines, its image has suffered from the scandal that erupted in 2015. He was quoted as saying the company wants to concentrate

Porsche.

on “what we can do particularly well,” citing high-performance gasoline models, hybrids and starting next

year, electric cars.

Blume added: “That also means that there will be no more diesels from Porsche in the future.”

He said Porsche hasn’t had any diesels in its range since February and the “test phase” has shown that many diesel drivers are prepared to switch to gasoline or hybrid cars.

Poor old Rudolf Diesel (RIP) who disappeared overboard while heading for the UK with his wonderful diesel engine, who never got to hear a Pattaya baht bus.

JD Power finds Service Fees and Costs Enhance Customer Satisfaction Clear communication with customers both before and after vehicle service is one of the key drivers of customer satisfaction, particularly when providing service fees and cost estimates, according to the J.D. Power 2018 Thailand Customer Service Index (CSI) Study,SM just released.

Customer satisfaction among vehicle owners whose service fees are higher than expected (17 per cent) is lower than those who say the fees are as expected or lower than

expected (83 per cent) (751 vs. 847, respectively, on a 1,000-point scale). The accuracy of cost estimates also has a high impact on customer satisfaction, with those customers who received an accurate estimate far more satisfied than those who received an invoice that was higher than the estimate (839 vs. 714, respectively).

“It is crucial that the service advisor fully und e r s t a n d s and manages customer expectations related to service fees,” said

Siros Satrabhaya, Regional Director for Thailand at J.D. Power. “The customer should be aware of all details associated with the service, from the details of work to be carried out to the estimated cost before the service begins. The bottom line is that when a customer pays their actual fees, it should be about the same or lower than the estimation given. This is a very simple process to get right that has a substantial impact on the customer’s service experience.”

What did we learn from the Russian Grand Prix?

Well, we learned that Bottas (Mercedes) is expendable, and as a ‘thank you’ Hamilton (Mercedes) invited him to share the top step of the podium. I remember a certain Michael Schumacher being gifted a race win by Rubens Barichello, who had been ordered to cede, and Schumacher then invited Rubens to share the top step of the podium. This brought the wrath of the FIA who fined Schumacher one million dollars. Fast forward to Russia and Team Orders again with Ocon (FIndia) and his team mate Perez taking turns at being the lead car.

With contrived pit wall racing and contrived DRS overtaking, there isn’t much to get excited about F1 anymore. By contrast, I watched footage from the Goodwood Festival of Speed and there were honest drivers, racing in honest cars. Such a difference!

We were also informed of the tyres that Pirelli had brought to Sochi. Hypersoft, Ultrasoft and Supersoft. Spectators do not care what the tyres are called, let’s try Soft, Medium and Hard which is more understandable.

The other factor in today’s F1 is the “Strategy”.

Another factor of no interest to the spectator. Perez (FIndia) stating, “Strategy will be crucial because we are not starting on the best compound and those just outside the top 10, on harder tyres, will be the main threat.” The public just want the highly (over)paid prima donnas to get out there and ‘race’ each other.

Another factor in today’s racing is called Grid Penalties, and the organizers had a field day. Five drivers sent to the rear of the field. This, in turn, led the teams involved opting to remain in the garages rather than bother to go out in the second round of qualifying.

Why bother when you are going to the rear of the grid.

Save the engine and tyres.

The “race” began as expected and amazingly all cars got through the first corner.

The real (and only) mover was Verstappen who had moved into the top 10 in eight laps. He continued on until he was leading the race by lap 18 and stayed there for 25 laps until he needed

tyres, dropping him to fifth.

And that, gentle reader, was the sum total of the excitement in Russia.

Results 1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 2 V Bottas Mercedes 3 S Vettel Ferrari 4 K Raikkonen 5 M Verstappen Red Bull 6 D Ricciardo Red Bull 7 C Leclerc Sauber 8 K Magnussen Haas - 52 laps 9 E Ocon Force India - 52 laps 10 S Perez Force India - 52 laps 11 R Grosjean Haas - 52 laps 12 N Hulkenberg Renault 52 laps 13 M Ericsson Sauber - 52 laps 14 FAlonso McLaren - 52 laps 15 L Stroll Williams - 52 laps 16 S Vandoorne McLaren 51 laps 17 C Sainz Renault - 51 laps 18 S Sirotkin Williams - 51 laps DNF P Gasly Toro Rosso Brakes - 4 laps B Hartley Toro Rosso Brakes Suzuka (Japan) is the next race (October 7) and with spectators leaving F1 in droves and the World Drivers Championship all but finished, I cannot see this next race being exciting either. But we can always live in hope.

General Motors looks at an electric future, to expand on its Chevrolet Bolt which began life as the Chevrolet Volt, which was the Bob Lutz baby. (Bob will always be remembered for dismissing climate change, saying “Global warming is a crock of sh*t.”)

Pamela Fletcher, currently GM’s vice president of global electric vehicle programs, takes a new role beginning Oct. 1 as vice president of innovation. GM confirmed Fletcher’s newly created position is directly under the CEO Mary Barra.

Fletcher led the team that launched the Chevrolet Bolt EV, which now serves as the platform for GM Cruise’s steering wheel-free Cruise AV, before she was put in charge of global EVs at the end of last year. GM being an equal opportunity organization, I am sure, with

Chevrolet Bolt.

her move to Barra’s team represents the latest female at GM to take a high-level leadership role.

Fletcher’s former boss GM’s vice president of autonomous and electric vehicle programs, Doug Parks will continue in that role, as well as taking over Fletcher’s EV duties.

“Pam’s new role leverages her engineering and entrepreneurial background to focus on identifying, integrating and accelerating new growth opportunities that will directly benefit our customers,” Parks said.

GM’s vice president of global strategy, Michael Ableson, moves to a newly

created position of vice president of electric vehicle infrastructure. His global strategy team will now report to Fletcher.

Ableson will lead GM’s efforts in developing necessary partnerships or identifying incentives and investments that could lead to a strong EV charging infrastructure.

Improving existing charging infrastructure and making charging stations more widely accessible will be crucial as GM looks to remove barriers to electric vehicle ownership.

GM is expected to hit the 200,000-vehicle cap as soon as the end of this year for a $7,500 federal tax incentive designed to encourage electric-vehicle sales.

The executive restructuring, was first reported by Automotive News, comes as GM is readying to kick its 20 EVs by 2023 initiative into high gear by the end of this year.

Autotrivia Quiz Last week I asked who married a chorus girl, had three cars of the same name, with the first having a 23 liter aero engine in a lengthened Mercedes chassis. That should have been enough clues. It wasn’t’ Tucker, it was Count Zborowski and the cars were Chitty-BangBangs. (The show was ChittyChitty-Bang-Bang.)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Since we mentioned the Tucker, let’s look a little further at this legendary motor car. The history and specifications of the Tucker 48 (or Tucker Torpedo as it was initially called) are very interesting.

Called in its advertising blurb as the first “new” car in 50 years, it was the brainchild of Preston Thomas Tucker (1903-1956). Tucker was a great fan of motor racing and a most inventive mind. He hung around Indy and worked with the race car designer and engineer Harry Miller, another individualist.

The Tucker 48 was designed in Michigan, but built in Chicago in a vast factory that is now the site of the “Ford City Mall” on Cicero Avenue. (Now that’s REAL trivia, for you!) The styling was done by Alex S. Tremulis and honestly, while “futuristic”, it could never be called a classic beauty (in the style of a 540 K Benz, for example).

The car was put together by chief mechanic John Eddie Offutt, who had worked with Tucker and Harry Miller at Indy. See how “racing improves the breed” as somebody used to say in their advertising?

Tucker 48.

The specifications included an H-6 engine (horizontally opposed), ohv, 335 ci (4.50 x 3.50 in. bore x stroke), 7.0:1 compression ratio, developing 166 bhp with 372 lbs/ft torque. The cars were not small with a 128" wheelbase, 219" overall length, 60" high, 79" wide and weighed a whopping 4,200 pounds.

Despite the weight, they were no slouches, doing 060 mph in 10 seconds and had a reported top speed of 120 mph. Only 51 were built, but 47 still survive today, now 70 years later. Not a bad effort!

By the way, they cost $2450 then and the last one sold for over one million dollars at Auction. That’s certainly a hedge against inflation!

One of the quiz entrants, who only signed the fax as “Thomas”, mentioned that a film was made about Tucker and his cars. There certainly was, Thomas. It was called “Tucker, the Man and His Dream” and was produced

by Francis Ford Coppola and released in 1988.

A little more info for the Tucker buffs out there - he also designed a gun turret used in WWII, but his armored personnel carrier was rejected by the U.S. Government because it went too fast!

So to this week. Who is the biggest manufacturer of electric vehicles in the world?

Be the first correct answer to email automania@ pattayamail.com or viacars @gmail.com. And in addition, if you are a Pattaya resident, the closest correct answer will win a free voucher for Casa Pascal’s Breakfast BBQ. One local resident wrote back to say he had enjoyed the Casa Pascal BBQ brunch and went so far as to say it is the best breakfast in Thailand. Good luck!

Read Pattaya Mail Online Updated Daily www.pattayamail.com | Facebook/pattayamail Email: ptymail@pattayamail.com

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Thai election officials bar the door to buccaneer activist Kaweewit Kaewjinda Bangkok (AP) - A publicity-savvy activist in Thailand seeking to run in an upcoming election has learned one of the unwritten rules of his country’s politics: pirates need not apply.

Sombat Boonngamanong, who recently established his own party, sought to attend a meeting Friday of the state Election Commission where the rules for the polls were being explained, but was barred because he was wearing orange construction overalls and a pirate’s hat with skull and crossbones.

And big white sunglasses.

He said his hat was a reference to so-called pirate parties that originated in Europe and promote freedom of expression and civil liberties.

He said he donned construction clothing because, after four years of military rule, Thailand needed repairing.

By doing so he was ribbing the ruling junta, which has summed up its time in power as “four years of repairing and rebuilding.” The military for its part stole the slogan from former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whom it ousted in a 2006 military takeover.

“I agree with their statement that our country needs a lot of repairs and that’s why we are dressing in a construction workers’ uniform, to fix our country,” Sombat said. “I have a message to send but the Election Commission doesn’t

A pro-democracy political party leader Sombat Boonngamanong, dressed as a pirate, holds a card in protest reading “Election Commission” in Bangkok, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. Thailand’s election commission held a meeting last Friday inviting all prospective political parties to hear its terms for elections scheduled for early next year, but barred Sombatt from attending for wearing the costume. (AP Photo)

see it. I’m willing take off my pirate hat and sunglasses but they still refuse to let me in.”

Thailand has been under military rule since another coup in 2014 ousted an elected government. Only recently has it loosened a ban on organized political party activities, a prelude to a general election to be held between February and May next year.

Sombat is a well-known pro-democracy activist who led early protests against the 2014 coup. He organized them via social media while leading authorities in a round of hide-and-seek. He was eventually arrested and spent nine days in detention. There are still two legal cases outstanding against him.

Sombat said an Election Commission official told him

that his pirate costume was inappropriate.

“You never wrote or told me how I should dress,” Sombat retorted. “And I think I’m dressed fittingly for Thai politics.”

Sombat said an official told him later that he would receive a letter next Monday detailing the voting process.

He recently formed the Grian Party, but the Election Commission objected to the name and refused to register it. It roughly translates as the Troll Party. But after Sombat changed the name of his party from Grian to Gian - meaning “ocean” - the commission agreed Friday to register it.

He told reporters he now has to think about what to wear when he picks up the party approval document next week.

VOL. XXVI No. 40

Issan association makes merit Northeast-style

Banglamung District Chief Naris Niramaiwong strikes the gong to begin the festivities as Amnat Theingtham, President of Pattaya Issan Association and other honored guests look on.

Jetsada Homklin The Pattaya Issan Association promoted conservation of Issan traditions and culture at a merit-making festival at Thamsamakee Temple.

Banglamung District Chief Naris Niramaiwong and association President Amnat

Theingtham opened the Sept. 23-24 festival with Sakon Phonlookin, vice president of the Chonburi Provincial Administration.

The event kicked off with a “Boon Kaosak Issan” parade which delivered necessities for eight monks to the temple.

There participants made

krayasart, a Northeast dessert composed of rice, nuts sesame seeds and sugar; and Pattaya School No. 6 students performed Issan music.

The next day attendees listened to dharma lessons, presented the krayasart and other cooked foods to honor ancestors and gave alms to the monks.

The Pattaya Issan Association promoted conservation of Issan traditions and culture during the “Boon Kaosak Issan” merit-making festival at Thamsamakee Temple.

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E-mail: comhaps@pattayamail.com

Events The next meeting of Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) will be on Sunday, October 7. Spencer Sharpe will speak on: “How I am changing the internet (and bringing international TV to Expats around the world)”.

The program starts at 10:30 am with a buffet breakfast available from 9:00 to 11:00 am on the 4th floor of the Holiday Inn’s Executive Tower located behind the Holiday Inn’s Bay Tower on Beach Road.

BCCT is organizing an Eastern Seaboard After Hours Networking evening at Hooters Pattaya on Friday 5th October from 5–9 p.m.

All nationalities are welcome.

Connect with business contacts on the eastern seaboard while enjoying great finger food and drinks on special offers 5.00 - 9.00 pm The South Africa Ball will bring a golden night of South African culture and celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations with Thailand on Saturday 6th October 2018. Held at the Shangri-La hotel in Bangkok from 6.30pm, the event will feature live music, food and a freeflow of wine, beer and soft drinks. Ticket price: THB 2700 for SATCC members and THB 2950 for non-members. For more information and booking, go to website: www.satcc.info/events/ south-african-ball-2018.

A Joint Chambers Eastern Seaboard networking evening will be held at the Holiday Inn Pattaya on Friday, October 19 from 6.30 p.m. – 9 p.m. (last drinks at 8.30 p.m.). Entrance cost is THB 500 on the door for members and THB 1,000 for non-members.

Admission includes freeflow drinks and finger food.

The Royal British Legion with hold a Gurkha curry night and Poppy launch party at the Queen Vic pub & restaurant on Soi 6, Pattaya on Saturday, October 20 starting at 6 p.m. Entry costs 350 baht per person and includes food, a free raffle ticket at the door and a night of entertainment. All proceeds from the event will go to the Poppy Appeal. For more information, email to secretary@rblthailand.org.

The Eastern Seaboard Businessmen’s Dinner is a monthly event taking place at the Mantra Restaurant at the Amari Pattaya Resort on the last Thursday of the month. It brings together business leaders from various backgrounds including Automotive, Aerospace, Real Estate, Architecture, FMCG, Electronics, White Goods, Logistics, Recruitment, Legal, Consulting, and others in a relaxed atmosphere. The next event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 25.

If you are interested in attending please contact Anuttra.Sukruen@tinfish.co.th.

The Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) will host a Melbourne Cup Day event at the Pattaya Hotel G on Tuesday, November 6 from 9am to 12.30pm. A breakfast style buffet includes a glass of bubbly on arrival. Tickets cost 800 baht for PILC members and 1000 baht for nonmembers. Beverage packages are available for 850 baht. For more information and to reserve tickets, email to Jayne at specialeventspilc@ gmail.com.

A Farmers’ Market takes place every 2nd Saturday of the month at the Holiday Inn hotel on Pattaya Beach Road from 10.30 am - 3.30 p.m. Products range from wellness items, jewelry, freshly prepared food, organic vegetables

Fax: 038-427596

and fruits. The next market will be held Oct. 13.

A stamp market is held every Sunday from 10.00 a.m. till 3.00 p.m.at Rahnpintang Moe Kata Restaurant, Panji Place, on Soi Ponphraphanimit 7 (200m from the Bangkok Highway underpass). Here can you exchange stamps from the whole world. Call 089 091 3418 for more information and directions.

Dining Oktoberfest at Dusit Thani Pattaya is set to happen every Friday throughout October 2018 at The Bay International Skewers Restaurant. Unlimited free-flowing of Oktoberfest drinks to enhance Chef ’s specials such as German Bratwurst, Giant Hot Dog, German Pork Knuckle, Kurobuta and more, with fun games. Rustic-style menu at THB 430++ per person, Free-flowing beverages at THB 599++ per person. Served from 18:30 to 22:00. Call 038 425 611-7 ext.

2149 or 2150 for more information and reservations.

Great dining options this October at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya: Round ‘em up and grab your stetson every Monday night for Cowboy Night at Flames restaurant with a grilled steak and seafood buffet that is fun for families, groups and couples. Priced at 1,199++ baht, and half price for children, the Cowboy Night buffet is served from 18.30 to 22.30 hrs. Live the Italian life every Tuesday night at Acqua restaurant with a buffet of authentic Italian dishes served from 18.30 to 22.30 hrs: Priced at only 950++ baht per person, and half price for children. A family menu of all-you-can-eat prawns in a great range of recipes is served every Wednesday evening at Coast Beach Club & Bistro, priced at only 950++ baht per head, and half price for children, the buffet serving is available between

18.30 and 22.30 hrs. Enjoy an Asian-inspired grilled seafood buffet every Friday evening at Flames beachside BBQ restaurant for just 1,199++ baht per person, and half price for children. For more information and reservations, call 038 714 981.

Café Kantary invites you to enjoy “apple cinnamon caramel pancakes” from October 1-31, 2018. Enjoy it on a freshly cooked pancake for breakfast or anytime for a super snack, available at all Café Kantary locations throughout Thailand. More details are available from the Cape & Kantary call centre at: 1627 or visit our website at www.cafekantary.com.

Pizza and Pasta All You Can Eat at Mövenpick Siam Hotel Na Jomtien: Twist Restaurant features Italian classics like creamy Carbonara or meaty Bolognese with a choice of pasta, or the delicious Prosciutto Pizza with your choice of regular or whole wheat dough. The menu also includes original Thai-fusion pizzas and pasta such as the Tom Yam pizza with chili paste, prawn, squid and Thai herbs or the tasty Green Curry Pasta. Available all day from Sunday – Thursday at only THB 500 per person, with a glass of soft drink.

For more information or reservation, call 033 078 888.

Special culinary nights at Persimmon restaurant, Pattana Golf Club & Resort: Pizza Pasta Night on Tuesday at only 299 Baht or 399 Baht including sangria or wine, customers can choose ingredients for their pasta and pizza. Seafood Night on Wednesday at only 399 Baht, customers can choose varieties of fresh seafood cooked to order in our open kitchen. Carnivore Night on Friday at only 499 Baht offers a free flow chicken, lamb, beef or pork BBQ direct from the charcoal grill. In addition, for only 100 Baht customers can choose or

combine lots of ingredients and level of spiciness to create your own Som Tam, all day, every day. Call for reservation at 038 318 999 ext.

11212/11230 or email restaurant @pattana.co.th.

Big Fish restaurant at Siam@Siam Design Hotel Pattaya enhances its seafood buffet with more premium catches and live music entertainment. The restaurant offers a nightly Seafood BBQ Buffet at only THB 777 net or THB 1,099 net with free-flow wine. Enjoy high-quality, premium seafood cuisine as you listen to acoustic guitar and piano music from prominent local artists. Seafood BBQ Buffet at Big Fish is available every night from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. For reservations call 038 930 600 or email fbsec @siamatpattaya.com.

The Thai Garden Terrace Restaurant offers nightly dining presentations with different themed “all you can eat” buffets at the resort poolside: Monday – Italian buffet; Tuesday – BBQ buffet; Wednesday – multi-cuisine buffet; Thursday – German buffet with roasted pig; Friday – Thai buffet; Saturday – international buffet; Sunday – steak & skewers buffet. The buffet starts from 6 p.m., runs until 9 p.m. All this for just 399 baht net per adult. What you

see is what you pay, no additional service charges or VAT. For reservations call 038 370 614 or make your booking at www.thaigarden.com under “buffet reservation”. Thai Garden Resort is located on North Pattaya Road, 200 meters from the Dolphin roundabout and 200 meters before Tesco Lotus.

The happy BBQ chef at Thai Garden.

Yupin’s Restaurant in Jomtien Complex offers some fabulous culinary options including Fines De Claires Oysters arriving fresh ‘Par Avion’ every Friday from Normandy in France. Served on ice with lemon and on request a spicy Thai sauce for dipping. An amazing experience. Only 595 baht per six oysters. For more information or reservations, call 038 250394 or visit website: www.yupins.com.

Continued on page 35

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Street food in a swank hotel Thai food is famous the world over, so it makes good marketing sense for an upmarket venue to feature Thai food for its international guests. With that concept, the Pullman Pattaya Hotel G invited the Dining Out Team to come and experience their Friday Thai Food Buffet. At B. 480 ++ it sounded reasonable, so we said yes. For another B. 300 you can have a free flow of beer (Chang), which is a very popular Thai tasting beer, but I have to say not mine. Fortunately, you can order from the a la carte menu and I was very pleased to sip on the Casanova chardonnay.

Getting to the Pullman is simple. Turn down Soi 16 from the Pattaya-Naklua Road, go to the bottom and turn right and about two km along you will find the Pullman on your left.

That was the easy bit – the restaurant is the Beach Club,

down many stairs and around the swimming pool, and with no signs that we could see, it was a little hit and miss, or perhaps we were looking in the wrong direction.

The Beach Club has three dining areas around the pool, one over the beach and one air-con area with an in-built open kitchen, we plumped for air-con.

Around the pool area, there are outdoor live cooking

kitchens set up in Issan roadside style. With smiling Thai cooks waiting to make you something, you can have pork satays, cooked while you watch, spicy papaya salad (som tum), coconut pudding (nom krok) made in earthenware pots and fried banana and Chiang Mai sausage. If you do not like chilli, then beware of the som tum.

Issan food such as papaya salad can be very spicy.

The other Thai dishes are

chicken kept hot, but you then have to go looking for the crispy noodle and sour cabbage. Pork with rice (kao kar moo) is another wellknown Thai dish, but I found the pork was too fatty for me, preferring it to be made on chicken breast.

Thai omelet is on offer (very similar to Spanish omelet) and a green curry as well.

Thai fruits abound and are the sweet ‘antidote’ for too much spice on the tongue.

You won’t miss this sign.

Take your time over the buffet.

A selection of Isaan food.

inside and even includes pizza at the far end. (The Italians are everywhere!) Notable amongst them was my favorite kao soy gai with the soup (correct taste) and the

The interior is air-conditioned.

The concept of presenting Thai cuisine to overseas guests is commendable, but Pullman let itself down with its labels on the dishes. To describe the famous som

tum as merely papaya salad, or nom krok as coconut pudding, and tod mun pla as fish cakes is not teaching their guests about Thai cuisine. To have all the ingredients for kao soy, but no indication as to what should be included in the soup is denying the hotel guests a genuine understanding of famous Thai food (and yes, I know kao soy originated in Burma).

Executive chef Thierry Danzas is versatile and knows the cuisine, so the Friday night Thai cuisine buffet would be a good place

to take overseas guests to introduce them to the cuisine, and the list is quite extensive, but have a Thai guest with you to help explain the dishes. Pullman also has a similar buffet on a Saturday at B. 999 ++ and is a seafood one with a free flow of beer and wine an extra B. 350.

Thai Buffet (Friday nights), Pullman Pattaya Hotel G, 445/3 Moo 5 Wong Amat Beach, Pattaya - Naklua Road Soi 16, 20150 Tel: (+66)38/411940-8 Fax: (+66)38/411949, secure parking in hotel grounds.

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E-mail: comhaps@pattayamail.com From page 33

Fines De Claires Oysters at Yupins.

Linda’s Restaurant is large with seating for 200 people, with a covered al fresco verandah outside for those who wish to smoke.

Inside, in air-conditioned comfort, there are comfortable chairs and decent sized tables, with white starched napery. Linda’s Restaurant, 315/177-180 Moo 12, opposite the Jomtien Complex.

Thappraya Road, Jomtien.

Open seven days from 7.30 a.m. until late. Tel: Reservations: 038 252 726, www. lindasrestaurant.com, streetside parking. Email linda @lindasrestaurant.com .

GPS 12.901655 N 100.869.

Yamato Restaurant located on Soi Yamato has been around for more than 39 years and the soi was named after its oldest tenant. This is a restaurant to take a few people with you. The prices are certainly not over the top, and the quality is superb. Yamato Japanese restaurant, 219/51 Soi Yamato (13/1), close to Beach Road

end, telephone 038 429 685 or 038 421 618. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner.

The legendary Somsakdi Restaurant has been in operation in Pattaya for more than 40 years. Proprietor and Chef Somsakdi is still cooking and running his amazing restaurant at 78 years of age.

The menu is probably the largest in Pattaya, with 374 individual items. Each dish is in Thai with an English explanation underneath. Rather than be swamped by choices, let Somsakdi guide you. After all, who knows his dishes better than he? Somsakdi Restaurant, Pattaya Soi 1, tel. 038 428 987, 038 423 284, 038 429 869, limited parking plus on-street parking in the soi. Hours 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., seven days.

Spa & Hotel Promotions Awaken your sense at AYATANA new treatment and spa at Pattana Golf Club

Yamato’s mixed sashimi plate which had octopus, salmon, tuna, crab sticks, sea bass, squid and mackerel.

Mussels steamed in white wine – Thai style This is a very simple recipe which will produce a gourmet restaurant dish to surprise your friends. The greatest amount of time should be spent in making sure the mussels are cleaned and prepared properly. The golden rule for all kinds of seafood is “If in doubt – throw it out!”

Cooking Method A short time before cooking, fill a sink half full of cold water. Add the mussels and toss them around. Inspect them all to make sure that they are tightly closed. Discard any that are open. Pull the beards and scrape off any barnacles from each mussel. Do not keep the mussels more than a few hours after washing.

In a large stainless steel pot put the shallots, garlic, lemongrass and the white wine. Add the mussels and cover. Steam them over high heat until the mussels have opened. Shake the pot to be sure that all the mussels are cooked. Discard any that have not opened.

Split the mussels and discard the empty halves. Arrange the mussels on a large plate.

Decant and strain the mussel liquor into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the butter and chopped coriander (Cilantro). Pour this sauce over the mussels and serve immediately.

Ingredients serves 4-6 Mussels 1 kg Dry white wine 1 cup Shallots (chopped) 2 Garlic (chopped) 1 clove Lemongrass 2 sticks Butter 2 tbspns Coriander (fresh chopped) 2 tbspns

Fax: 038-427596 & Resort in Sriracha. Special for the soft opening – buy 1hour massage and get free 30 minutes. Open 10 am-7 pm, closed on Monday. More information and reservations at 038 318 999 ext. 11143.

AVANI Spa offers a spa buffet package: 90-minute AVANI signature touch massage and International Buffet Dinner at Garden Cafe for one at only THB 2,700 net.

Advance reservations required, contact AVANI Spa at Tel. 038 412 120.

Entertainment The 10th annual Pattaya Classical Guitar Festival & Competition will be held at the Siam Bayshore hotel in Pattaya on Sunday, October 28. Enjoy all day performances plus a guitar exhibition. Tickets (festival pass) cost 400/200 baht and are available at Siam Bayshore hotel or by calling 038 428 678.

Royal Cliff Hotels Group is once again hosting the family-friendly “Vampire and Friends at the Cliff” Halloween party on Saturday, 3 November from 6:00 – 9: 00 p.m. at Panorama. Adults and kids alike will enjoy a fun Saturday night packed with spooky games and unique Halloween-themed treats.

Dress to impress and win one of the fantastic prizes awarded to two kids and two adults with the best Halloween costumes. Admission is only THB 300 for all hotel guests and THB 400 for outside guests. For more information or to book a table, call 038-250-421 Ext. 2878 or email creative@royalcliff.com.

Ben’s Theater in Jomtien will host a performance by the Omiros Quartet on Sunday 11 November at 8pm.

Tickets are priced at THB 950 per person including free drinks of choice. Reservations strictly by email: benstheaterjomtien@gmail.com.

Thailand’s own Bossanovy band is now playing live at Vistas lobby lounge in Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya every week from Tuesday to Sunday, between 18.00 and 19.00 hrs.

With their gentle acoustic music, this duo play a mix of Thai, folk, country, pop and rock music, against a dreamy backdrop of the blue ocean and gentle sea breezes. Vistas Lobby Lounge is just off the main lobby of the resort, and is open all day and evening for a menu of pastries, snacks, specialty coffee and teas, and cocktails and beer. For more information and for reservations, please contact (038) 714 981.

Enjoy great music from Thomas Reimer, one of the most famous European Jazz guitarists, playing live every evening (except Tuesday) from 6.00 p.m. - 10 p.m. at the Sugar Hut restaurant on Thappraya Road, call 038 364 186 for details.

Community Services The North Star Library on Sukhumvit Road, north Pattaya holds regular Thai language classes Mon - Fri from 10.30 a.m. till 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. Cost of admission is 100 baht per session for library members and 200 baht for non-members. Private lessons are also available for 200 baht per hour. In addition, the library also holds Yoga training every Tuesday from 1 - 2 p.m. at the Father Ray Foundation. Cost is 1200 baht for 6 sessions (first session free).

For more information, call 081 575 4854 or email wan_nujan@yahoo.com

Groups & Associations Rotary Club of JomtienPattaya (English) meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at Royal Cliff Grand Hotel, Pattaya City.

Fellowship begins at 18.30 hrs and Dinner meeting at 19.00 hrs. President Vutikorn Kamolchote Email: <vutikornk@hotmail.com> Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard (English) meets at the Siam Bayshore Hotel, 17.30 hrs for 18.00 hrs on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month, followed by dinner (Fellowship) President Brian Songhurst Email: <bjs2904 @yahoo.com> Rotary Club Phönix Pattaya (German) meets every Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Pattaya at 19.00 hrs.

President Peter Schlegel Email: info@rotary-phoenixpattaya.org.

Le Rotary Pattaya Marina, seul Rotary Francophone d’Asie, vous accueille les premier et troisième vendredis de chaque mois, début des réunions 19h, à l’hôtel Pullman G Pattaya Wongamat 445/3 Moo 5 – Soi 16 – Pattaya Naklua Road. Venez agir avec le Rotary pour changer des vies. Pierre Yves Eraud Président 2018-2019 Email: < info@rotarypattayamarina.org.

Rotary Club of Pattaya (Thai-English) meets at the First Pacific Hotel, Central Road on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. Meetings begin at 19.00 hrs. President Stephen Devereux Email: < stevecarlow@gmail.com> The Thai Stamp Alliance is a new internet and social media group created to share information, including posts of events like Exhibitions and Auctions. If you live on the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand and have an interest, email thaistampalliance@gmail.com. or find us on Facebook. Remember to attend the upcoming World Stamp Expo coming to Bangkok in late November!

Post 12146 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America

(Ban Chang – U-Tapao, Thailand) meets the second Saturday of each month at 13:00 on the second floor of the Camel Pub in Ban Chang. If you are interested, please contact Membership Chairman Dan Morgan at <banchang vfw12146membership@gmail. com> or visit website: www. banchangvfwpost12146.org.

The Royal British Legion Thailand meets the last Saturday of every month from 2 p.m. at the Tropical Bar on Soi Khao Noi (Watboonsampan near the Temple entrance) in East Pattaya. You do not need to have served in the Armed Forces to become a member and can join in the many social events arranged throughout the year. The Legion’s primary aim is the care and welfare of those who have served and/or their dependents. For general enquiries send email to <secretary@rblthailand .org, www.rblthailand.org>.

Alcoholics Anonymous: The Pattaya Group meets Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. All meetings are closed (alcoholics only) and are held at Soi Skaw Beach (off Pattaya 2nd Rd). Contact Carl 08-456-31671. The Good Morning Pattaya Group meets 9 a.m. every morning. All meetings are ‘open’: contact 084 564 8479. The Jomtien Group meets every day at noon at

Jomtien Long Stay Hotel: Contact, Andrew 086 107 6631. The Scandinavian Group meets on Tuesdays and Fridays 6 p.m. at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church, Thappraya Road Soi 7: contact Hans 085 135 7755 or Rune (Rayong) 089 754 9515.

10.30 a.m. meetings every day at Satree Pattana Centre on Soi Skaw Beach off Second Road. Call 084 564 8479.

The Samaritans of Thailand English Help Line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support to the expatriate community. English-speaking staff, trained in crisis intervention will provide active, non-judgmental and empathetic listening services on the phone. All calls will be handled on an anonymous basis and are free of charge. (02) 713-6791.

Overeaters Anonymous The ‘Up to You’ group meets Wednesdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the housing area just behind Pan Pan Restaurant in Jomtien on Thappraya Road.

Call Steve at 038-364-207(h) or 089-250-1359 (cell) for directions or more information.

Narcotics Anonymous Hotline: 082 811 2686. 3 English speaking meetings in Pattaya near Central Festival and 2 in Jomtien each week.

Also regular Thai speaking meetings at 12 noon every Sunday, and Persian Farsi speaking meetings at 5.30 pm on Thursdays. Please call the Hotline for details.

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Europeans finish off dominant week to win back Ryder Cup Doug Ferguson Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France (AP) —Two years after the Americans thought they had their Ryder Cup problems figured out, Europe reminded them last Sunday why they have practically owned this shiny gold trophy for the last quarter-century.

British Open champion Francesco Molinari was just as good on his own as he was with Tommy Fleetwood.

The best year of the Italian’s golfing life got even better at Le Golf National when he became the first European — and only second player since the current format began in 1979 — to win all five of his matches.

The last one set off a wild, champagne-soaked celebration.

Europe were already assured the 14 1/2 points they needed because they were guaranteed halves in two matches. Molinari made it official. He was 2 up and safely on the green at the par-3 16th green when Phil Mickelson hit into the water, removed his cap and conceded the match.

The finish was most appropriate.

The celebration and singing had already begun. The Europeans were treated like rock stars before more than 50,000 fans. All that remained was Alex Noren in the anchor match. He was 1 up on the 18th hole when

Europe team captain Thomas Bjorn holds up the cup as he celebrates with his players after the European team won the 2018 Ryder Cup golf tournament at Le Golf National in Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines, outside Paris, France, Sunday, Sept. 30. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

DeChambeau stuffed his approach to 2 feet for a conceded birdie. Noren hit the final shot in this Ryder Cup, a 40-foot birdie putt to win the match, and the stoic Swede hurled his cap.

Europe won, 17 1/2-10 1/2, the most lopsided victory since consecutive 18 1/2-9 1/ 2 victories by Europe more than a decade ago when the Americans looked utterly lost.

They formed a Ryder Cup Task Force, spearheaded by Mickelson, after the 2014 loss.

The idea was to build continuity and momentum, and it seemed to work when they won at Hazeltine in 2016.

Mickelson was desperate to make this team because the 48-year-old saw it as his last chance to win a Ryder

Cup on European soil. He wound up losing both his matches. He started the week by setting a record with his 12th Ryder Cup appearance. He ended it by setting a more dubious Ryder Cup record with 22 losses.

He wasn’t alone. Tiger Woods went 0-4, the first time in his eight Ryder Cups that he failed to contribute a single point.

But this was more about the Europeans as a team, and they were tougher than ever on a course they know well.

“This team has been incredible from the start,” Molinari said. “We were determined to do the job. Nothing was going to stop us. And you saw it on the course.”

Trailing 10-6 going into the final day of singles, the Americans needed to put red points on the board early to build momentum. It never happened. Justin Thomas won the leadoff match over Rory McIlroy, but not until the 18th hole.

Webb Simpson and Tony Finau, the lone bright spot among the wild-card picks for U.S. captain Jim Furyk, won easily. Behind them, Woods was hanging tough against Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson started to pull ahead of Ian Poulter.

“There’s always a moment where it looks like a spark of light,” Furyk said. “When it was there for us, Europe played really well.”

It wasn’t there long.

Rahm won two straight holes with pars to seize control.

Johnson went from 1 up to 2 down in a four-hole stretch that ended his chances.

Rahm dropped his putter after making a 5-foot birdie on the 17th hole as Woods stood to the side of the

green, arms crossed. One week ago, he overcame four back surgeries to win for the 80th time on the Tour Championship, a signal that he was all the way back.

And then at the Ryder Cup, it was another result with which he is far too familiar.

Woods has played on only one winning team in 1999.

Thorbjorn Olesen, who had played only one match the previous two days, went 5 up at the turn over Jordan Spieth and won in 14 holes.

Spieth is now 0-6 in singles matches in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. Sergio Garcia was in tears.

He played so poorly this year that he failed to qualify for the PGA Tour’s postseason. Thomas Bjorn picked him anyway, saying he was like the captain of a football team. Garcia showed why by going 3-1.

That final victory over Rickie Fowler made Garcia the biggest contributor in Ryder Cup history with 25 1/2 points.

But this was more about team, and about redemption, even for a team that now has won nine of the last 12 times.

“We took a really tough loss at Hazeltine a couple of years ago and that stung,” McIlroy said. “That was my first experience of what it feels like to be on the other side, so coming in here, obviously none of us wanted to feel like that this Sunday.”

Fans clap their hands on the opening day of the 2018 Ryder Cup, Friday, Sept. 28. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

Europe’s Rory McIlroy celebrates after holing a putt on the second day of the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National, Saturday, Sept. 29. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Hamilton takes advantage of team orders to win Russian GP

British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes AMG GP steers his car during the Formula One Grand Prix of Russia at the Sochi Autodrom circuit, in Sochi, Russia, Sunday, Sept. 30. For a full review of the race, turn to Automania on page 31. (Yuri Kochetkov/Pool Photo via AP)

PATTAYA MAIL is edited by Nopniwat Krailerg for Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd. Printer, publisher and owner Offices: 62/284-286 Moo 12, Thepprasit Road, Pattaya City 20150.

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