PEC Program for 25 Feb / Report from 18 Feb 2007

Club Member 'Big Ken', our man on Pattaya Bay Radio, has the new President of PILC - Rossane Diamente as his guest this week. Tune in to Ken at lunchtime on Saturdays.

Meeting Programme for Sunday, 25 February, 2007:

Our main speaker for Sunday is Khun Wichai Pannoi, a lawyer, detective and litigator from Bangkok. Khun Wichai will be addressing the significant issues that have arisen since the change of government here in Thailand, including the questions about nominee shareholders of Thai Corporations and other issues pertaining to the amendments to the landholding laws. Khun Wichai is both a solicitor and a litigator, and says that the application of these new regulations may depend on future courtroom decisions that set a precedent and definite interpretation to the new legal requirements. Wichai will also have an open forum after his speech for questions and answers.

Our second speaker will be Donaat Vernieuwe, a PEC member from Belgium, who will demonstrate via a PowerPoint slide show how computer junkies can stay fit and healthy on their chairs! Based on Yoga and other techniques, Donaat will show us how to pre-empt those annoying backaches!

In addition to an extensive career in Electronics, Donaat studied and practiced yoga, hypnosis, and other relaxation techniques, which he has passed on in seminars to many industrial and educational groups.

Our Master of Ceremonies this Sunday will be Bob Sutterfield, and Loran Davidson will host the Open Microphone Forum, so come and listen in at 2nd Rd's Grand Sole Hotel, and participate with questions and answers about nearly everything for living safely and legally in Pattaya !

Events Around Town:

GLOBETROTTER celebrating 9th Anniversary and owner Lasse's 60th birthday fundraising party for the Redemptorist Centre for Blind Children. On 24th February at 8.00pm.

SEMINAR "Foreign Business Act Amendment" at Long Beach Garden Hotel and Spa on 24th February from 1.00pm. The speaker will be Mr. Preecha Hantongtus, Senior Trade Officer at Ministry of Commerce. Tuition/Fee (Incl. VAT): 4,900 baht. . Call 038 378 178 / 087 6030940

DANCE ON THE BEACH (Full Moon Party) on Koh Larn Island. Next event on 26th February. From 18.00-21.00pm and 1.00am-4.00am. Telephone: 081-863-1027 or 089-911-5508

'Sunday Unplugged' Jam Sessions
At the Bristol Music, Bar Soi 6, Jomtien, every Sunday 1900-2300. All musicians & vocalists are welcome - proceeds help to support The Camillion Society of Rayong, which manages six projects for HIV positive children and adults. For more info call Danny at 08-471-21819.

Transportation to/from Suvarnabhumi Airport:

Roong Reung's Blue and White coach service departs from the airport bus depot to Pattaya Nua station at the following times: 8 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM and 7 PM. The Ticket office window is in the airport bus station. Price 106 Baht. Bell Travel goes up to the new airport each day from Pattaya Nua Bus Station (ticket office bungalow in the car park to right) at 06:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00. Two ticket prices, depending if you book to be picked up by Bell Travel minibus from your home, 150 Baht or 200 Baht.

A Yellow Bus to the airport leaves from Jomtien's Chaiyaphuk Road, (the office is near Beach Road). Tickets can be purchased 1 day in advance. I visited the Jomtien/Airport Bus Office 16 February 2007. The current schedule is:

Pattaya to Airport: 0630, 0900, 1300, 1700, 1930.
Airport to Pattaya: 0630, 0900, 1300, 1700, 2030.

At the airport - Transport Depot - this bus to Jomtien is referred to as number 999, but the bus itself does NOT carry this number. The bus is bright Yellow - single deck, with the words Pattaya - Suvarnabhumi Airport written large on both sides, and a large notice in the drivers windshield saying either Pattaya or Airport. The cost is 106 baht in each direction. A recent visitor who used this bus reported a 'good service'. The yellow bus does not have a scheduled stop in Pattaya, but will stop if requested.
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And the MC Report from 18 Feb Meeting:

Hi, I'm Brian, an MC at the Sunday meetings of the Pattaya Expats Club.

To contact PEC email: (webhits2000@yahoo.com)

Programme Manager - Loran. Meeting Manager - Richard. MC - Alexander. Open-Forum Moderator - Brian.

Please think about helping out at the Pattaya Expats Club Meetings, or in the background during the week. A lot of preparation goes into one of our Meetings.

Our main Speaker today was:- Dr. Nattawat Rerkratanavaraporn, a very well qualified Ophthalmologist from Pattaya International Hospital. His topic was: Innovation in Eye Surgery. The good Doctor spoke of the various advances that are taking place around the world to correct for many sight problems that occur naturally. Many of these operations are performed here in Pattaya, and a number of members spoke of their experiences with these treatments.

Ask those questions on living in Thailand - here at the Meeting - during the Open Forum. This feature occurs each week - come and ask the expat experts! :)

The Experts Open Forum this week was Moderated by Brian, and featured Peter Smith of AA Insurance. Peter answered many questions about Medical, Vehicle, Personal and Bail insurance. I didn't know that you could get Bail Bond insurance for yourself without owning a vehicle. He wanted to talk about gliders, but we just didn't have time!

Dtac (mobile telephone network provider) has a very cheap promotion that costs less than 20 baht per hr, 25 Satang/min (.25 baht) after the first minute (2 baht or 5 baht for the first minute, depending on the promotion). If you have Dtac, or Dprompt, or Happy sim, dial *1003 and follow the instructions, or go to one of the Dtac outlets in the big supermarkets. It's also handy to top-up your prepaid time with this carrier from an ATM, or via internet-banking. Again a promotion exists - 900 baht of time for 800 baht cost. It's getting better!

Another Dtac promotion allows 365 days use for any amount of 'top-up'. Calls charged at 2 baht per minute.

Dtac also has a dedicated website to view details of your own personal number. e.g. account balance, promotion type, changing promotion, detailed call statement. You are asked for a username & password, and gain access to your own account details. Very useful! (http://sonic2.dtac.co.th:8005/bp3/bin/DpromptIndex?lang=E)

More Dtac information, plus other network providers can be found on our website at: (http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com/telephonetips.htm)

You may wish to change your Network Supplier used with your mobile-phone (different SIM), but find that a SIM from a different Network will be blocked. This can be overcome by UNLOCKING your phone. Pattaya prices for this service are around 300 baht from an IT-City phone shop, or from an Internet company for slightly cheaper. Unlocking involves keying a specific code into your phone - every phone is a different code. This code relates to your IMEI number (unique to each phone), the Network to which it is locked and the make & model of the phone. I recently obtained my unlock code from a UK company via the Internet for a payment of £2.99 - it worked! I can now choose another Network and promotion.

I'm delighted to read that the US has decided to continue Navy visits to Thailand under the Cobra Gold umbrella. This year's operation, which is the 26th Cobra Gold exercise, will be carried out from May 8-18 2007. Now that'll bring a smile to Pattaya's entertainment community.

We discussed the cost of domestic utility charges this week - water & electricity. This month my Water Bill showed a unit cost of 11.8 baht per unit (unit = 1000 litres). My Electric Bill showed a unit cost of 3.10 baht per unit (unit = 1Kwh). Thailand uses mostly oil & gas generators, so the cost will be forever rising as the earth continues to run out of fossil fuels.

Please recommend where to buy good quality Turf (grass).

US Consul visits Pattaya Fri 23 Feb Dusit Resort 0800 -1200

The British Embassy's Pattaya Office local representative for emergencies, Barry Kenyon can authenticate your UK pension or UK bank statements for Immigration purposes, if you can show original proof. Contact 081 782 7363.

US Embassy local Pattaya representative for emergencies is Gary Hacker. Contact 089 803 0388.

Please help our Meeting organisers by suggesting 'Speakers' for our weekly (Sunday) Meetings. Tell us a subject you wish to hear of by suggesting a competent speaker. There are vacancies in April, onwards. Give her your suggestions and let her arrange the details. Please do not fix dates in advance.

Why not come along next Sunday morning 10:30am (11:30 program start) to the Grand Solé Hotel (in the Theppraya Room, up on the Mezzanine level), 370 Pattaya 2nd Road (north), near the Pattaya Mail Office. Hotel tel: 038 427 555 Fax: 038 427 550. Half way between TOPS supermarket & BIG-C supermarket - bring a friend.

For location - link to: (http://www.grandsolepattaya.com/location.htm)
PEC website:- (http://pattayaexpatsclub.com)
PEC Blogg:- (http://pattayaexpatsclub.blogspot.com)

See you soon, MC - Brian.