This month’s 1st Wednesday will find us on an old fashioned shopping spree.  No tours, no sight-seeing, just plain old shopping and lunching.  We’ll take a mini-van in the morning, see what’s new at the Emporium and the Siam Complex, lunch in between, and turn back toward Pattaya just before we drop.

Note:  At the Emporium, there is a fabric shop that is to die for.  Pricey, but really good fabrics.  Just an idea for those who might be planning on having a dress made for the Gala Ball.

Contact Peggy Wragge to sign-up.

photo by chinnian

Wednesday, September 8-  12:00 noon to 3:00 pm    

Games People Play is featuring Bunco again this month!  We had so much fun last time, that we’re doing it again.  Tricia’s Bunco Rules, on the Internet, very accurately describes Bunco as a “silly, mindless dice game” to be played with “wild abandon”.

It’s simple to learn and loads of fun to play.  Everyone is divided into tables of 4, and the game is played in rounds, each player rolling the dice to make points.  Scores are accumulated from round to round, and totaled at the end to determine the winner.  It really isn’t about winning though.  It’s about all the fun you’ll have getting there!

We have lots of other games we’ll be presenting in future weeks and months, too.  There is no gambling involved.  Just a 50 baht donation towards the cost of the prizes. 

This month, Bunco will be at the home of Brenda Bradbrook.  Watch for signup sheets at the Coffees and Lunches, or contact Peggy Wragge if you’d like to attend.  Bring a sack lunch, and we’ll all have a bite to eat and a chat before play.  Soft drinks will be provided.

Monday – Wednesday  -  September 13 – 15

This is a laid-back little getaway at a 5-star hotel on beautiful Kata Beach, Phuket. 

One day we’ll spend on Phang Nga Bay, leaving the big boat now and then to board inflatable canoes, complete with paddler/guide, and explore caves and hidden “rooms” in the different islands.  Then, after dinner and sunset, we’ll do it again, in the dark.  It’s really a different experience.  To learn more about this tour, check out the website at johngray-seacanoe.com and click on Hong by Starlight.  You won’t be disappointed!

The rest of our time can be spent just as you like.  Bob in the waves, lie on the beach or by the pool, shop, read a book….really, whatever you feel like.

Look for the signup sheet at the Coffee Morning or Luncheon, or contact Peggy Wragge for more information or to add your name to our list.  As always, spouses and friends are more than welcome to join us.  Because of reservations that need to be made, this trip must be booked and paid for no later than August 3rd.

Wednesday, September 22  -  Landmark Hotel, Bangkok 

Come and join us as we take a behind-the-scenes tour of this grand hotel on Sukhumvit in Bangkok.  We’ll see how all that laundry gets done, what it takes to put together those beautiful floral arrangements, and just how clean their kitchen is.  A good thing, too, as we’ll finish up our tour by indulging in the fabulous cuisine that the Landmark is known for, at their Atrium Restaurant.  We’ll even try to get a sneak peek at some of their most expensive suites.

Don’t miss this wonderful chance to see all that it takes to make our stay comfortable, every time we check in or dine at a chic hotel.

photo by jwinfred

Wednesday, September 29-  12:00 noon – 3:00 pm

Games People Play again presents  Trivial Pursuit, a quiz game that is played in teams, so that our vast founts of knowledge can be pooled to come up with the best guess in answer to the questions asked.

It’s all in good fun, and no one will be judged (except maybe by the winning team ) .  As usual, we’ll all bring our own lunch to eat and chat with friends (from 12 to 1 pm) before starting play.  Soft drinks will be provided.

It’s all happening at the home of Connie Kwok.  Look for the sign-up sheets at Coffees and Lunches, or contact Peggy Wragge to add your name to the list.  Do come and lend your intelligence about things that really don’t matter.  The more, the merrier!  (And we are a merry bunch!)

photo by Alice Bartlett

The Chinese community, now descendants of early traders and having lived here for generations, now consider themselves as Thais, most no longer able to speak Chinese.  The area has a historical reputation for opium dens, brothels, pawn shops and a fondness for gambling that used to prevail.

Chinatown, or Yaowarat as it is known to the Thais, runs along Yaowarat Road where a huge ceremonial Chinese gate marks the entrance to the outer boundaries of the royal district and is a colourful, exotic and busy area packed with market stalls and a good concentration of gold shops.  It has hardly been touched by modern technology and, although being always crowded and hot, it is an experience not to be missed.

What can be found in Chinatown are beautiful temples, places of learning, and traditional Chinese medicine shops selling all sorts of fascinating remedies.  The small alleys and streets are a labyrinth of stalls and shops selling just about everything imaginable from hair accessories, tea sets, hardware and food, to fabric, strange vegetables imported from mainland China and Chinese funeral paraphernalia.  There are goods such as flip flops, toys, household items and an array of herbs which can be found drying on the pavements.  Chinatown is like one large flea market.  Definitely worth visiting.

Jane Llewellyn

Inside, there are six domes and a beautiful central dome under which the Royal Throne sits.  Lining the domes are frescoes depicting Chakri Dynasty monarchs, painted by Galileo Chini.  The long hall on the upper floor is embellished with embossed roman and floral patterns showing Renaissance and Baroque arts.

Visitors can view the current impressive masterpieces of Thai craftsmen.  A wide range of arts and crafts, and hand made products including Mudmee silk, cotton, Yan Lipao, etc., are available for purchase in the souvenir shop.  Outside visitors will find a lovely little café serving refreshments.

Jane Llewellyn

Viharnra Sien (aka Anek Kusala Sala which means ‘multipurpose pavilion’) is both a Chinese temple and a museum built by Thai people of Chinese descendants, in honor of His Majesty the King who officially opened it in 1993, to exhibit Chinese antiquities, artifacts, religious statues and to show and worship their religious beliefs.

The terracotta warriors and horses of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China, dating from 210 BC, were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers near Xi’an, China.

Thailand and China have a very long historical relationship.  The stream of cultures of each country abound creating close relationships between these two countries at government and individual levels.  Viharnra Sien, meaning ‘Abode of the Gods’ is the place that Thai and Chinese arts and cultures come together in perfect harmony.  Viharnra Sien sits on 7 rai of land, granted to Mr. Sa-nga Kulkobkiat in 1987 by His Majesty the King. 

The Chinese government made a gift to Mr Sa-nga Kulkobkiat of 328 precious and valuable items to display at the museum:  terracotta statues of soldiers and the bronze chariots from the great Emperor Qin Shi’s tomb, priceless pictures painted by famous artists, antique bronze and earthenware of centuries past.  More than 1000 pieces of history and magnificence is on display in this building.

To get there:  Take Sukhumvit Road south, toward Sattahip.  Pass through NaJomtien and Ban Amphur.  You will see a large “Thai Austrian” sign on the left hand side.  Travel for about 1 km more, and you will see a sign for Wat Yangsangwararam.  Turn left, and at the roundabout turn right.  You will see Viharnra Sien in front of you.  Entry is only 50 THB per person, and is certainly well worth a visit.  Take a picnic lunch to enjoy by the tranquil settings of the lake beside the Temple.

Silver Lake Winery

The Silver Lake Vineyard covers an area of 475 acres.  The vineyard offers beautiful scenery, a relaxing atmosphere and a lovely restaurant, serving both western and Thai meals and some great wood fired pizzas and pasta at reasonable prices.

The Silver Lake Winery is located a little further on past the Chinese Temple.  It is well marked, so just follow the signs.

PILC Trips and Activities committee have a day trip planned here for August 4th.  Watch for a sign-up sheet at the Lunches and Coffees, and more information on this site as the date gets closer.

Kai Island is a spectacular small tropical island located about 20 minutes by speedboat off the east coast of Phuket.  Kai Island is divided into 2 islands, Kai Nai and Kai Nok.  Kai Nok is more popular and beautiful than Kai Nai.  You can get there only by speedboat or small boat, because Kai Island is a small island, a big boat can’t get close enough.  A white sandy beach covers half of the island, perfect for swimming.  The other half is fringed with rock in crystal clear water and snow white beach, also perfect for swimming.  There is also a restaurant but no accommodation (bungalow, guesthouse, hotel, etc.).  This is an excellent island, especially Kai Nok, for snorkeling, with many different corals and brightly coloured tropical fish.  The fish even come right into the shallow water if you feed them.  They are very friendly. 

Full- or half-day tours can be arranged from any tour operators in Phuket.

Colourful coral reefs surrounding the island, and crystal clear water make it perfect for water activities, especially snorkelling, water-skiing, sailing, para-sailing and scuba diving.  Particularly good for novice snorkellers and children as you can swim to the shallow reef straight from the main beach.

Accommodation is available on the island.  At the Coral Island Resort there are batik classes and even scuba diving classes starting off in the resort’s swimming pool (English, Chinese and Thai spoken: 2,000 baht for a one-day course).

Getting There:
You can take a day tour which includes snorkelling equipment or hire a local “longtail” boat from Chalong or Rawai at the southern end of Phuket.  Can be busy during the day, especially in high season, but very quiet when the day-trippers leave around 3:30 pm.