 | BELGIAN CLUB OF THAILAND |
NEWSLETTER #6 JANUARY 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Dear Members, dear All, The year 2009 and its (many) related problems is now over and everything tends to indicate that 2010 will be the "year of the recovery". As far as the Belgian club of Thailand is concerned, 2009 was also a bit of a bumpy year, as several members of our Committee had to discontinue or downsize their participation, due to their departure, professional change(s) and / or family related issues. But despite these hiccups, the New BCT has been progressing well, as demonstrated by events like e.g. the Koh Si Chang trip, the Saint Nicolas party or the upcoming Baan Kru Noi orphanage trip to Ayuttayah. And more is to come, as highlighted in the present Newsletter, including a full revamping of our Web site! En parallèle, de nouveaux membres, même s'ils ne sont pas encore assez nombreux, ont rejoint le BCT et quelques uns d'entre eux ont d'ailleurs accepté une position au sein du comité afin de renforcer l'équipe actuelle dans le seul but de toujours mieux vous - càd. la communauté Belge ainsi que leurs amis en Thaïlande - servir. Het is bovendien goed nieuws dat Belgen buiten de regio van Bangkok zich ook verenigen in lokale Belgische Clubs, zoals bijvoorbeeld de BCHH of "Belgian Club of Hua Hin". Onlangs kregen we nog een voorstel om een Belgische club in Pattaya op te zetten. Deze nieuwe clubs, die hun activiteiten willen afstemmen op die van de BCT, bewijzen - mocht dat al nodig zijn - het continue dynamisme van de Belgische gemeenschap in Thailand. Uiteraard zijn we daar in het comité heel trots op. We use this opportunity to thank you for the support you have demonstrated up to now and we encourage you - if not already done - to register as members of the BCT and to also convince your friends to do so. Indeed, the more we are, the better the collaboration and mutual support, and the better the events we will be able to propose you in 2010. It is on these optimistic notes that we conclude this introduction and we wish you and your family a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous Year 2010.
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 ADMINISTRATION - NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We warmly welcome Gaëtan, Nathalie & Laurent and Myriam:  Hello, I'm in Thailand since September 2009 after having worked 13 years for Euromut (national insurance company) in Belgium. I'm happy with this big change to live in this country with my girlfriend (Cany / Gallothai). For the moment, I am learning English to find a new job and surely a new work experience ... I like surprises in life ! ;-) I'm a project manager and I will do my best to offer a nice new website for our members. See you. Gaëtan Hello,  We are Nathalie and Laurent. We have been living in Bangkok since March 2009. I am working as trainee at the Belgium embassy and Laurent, my husband is working for a French pharmaceutical company. We really find that Bangkok is an exciting place to live, as it is a central position in South east Asia and allows us to visit this part a the world quite a bit. We are very pleased to participate in the life of the BTC and to give a small contribution to it. See you for the next get together; which we hope will be a success to gather the Belgium community.sporty, to laid-back, from fascinating and entertaining to cosy and family related! Get ready again for a varied selection of activities in and around Bangkok! Of course, we hope to see you, your family, friends and visitors at either one of these activities. My name is Myriam Ramaekers, mother of two sons and since one year a proud grandparent. I started my career as a nurse. I left Belgium in 1983 with my husband and kids and lived and worked in Athens, Bangkok, Washington DC, and Vienna. Since 14 months we have been back in Bangkok, without the kids this time. I like travelling, discovering new places, meeting new people. I recently decided to join the BCT team to assist them as much as possible and help them to turn every event into a fun, interesting and relaxing get together. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| MEMBERS GET MEMBERS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Promote the Belgian Club of Thailand among your friends and Win nice Belgian prices. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| LOGO CONTEST - THE CHOICE IS YOURS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The deadline for sending new potential logos has been reached AND it is now time to take a decision. The BCT committee strongly believes the BCT Logo should be your Logo and therefore we ask you to give us your preferences by voting on our website - here - before 11 March 2010. The Winning Logo will be announced during our Get2Gether - 12 March 2010 while the different prizes will be distributed to the designers. The nominees are:
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| ACTIVITIES & EVENTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Christmas holidays are well over although on our home country the snow is from time to time still falling. The rainy season should also be away for a while but unfortunately Bangkok is not as dry as it should be. So let's face it, all the signs point to the same direction: It is time to join the smiley, funny, interesting and amazing BCT events. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MONTHLY GET TOGETHER | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The next Get2Gether will take place at Det-5. As usual, the purpose is to gather around some drinks chit chat among us and enjoy the end of the week. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When ?19 February 2010  Where ?Register ?Det-5 No need, just come along with friends, family, visitors, Don't hesitate to also write down the next get together in your calendar: When ? & Where ?
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| CHARITY EVENT FOR THE CHILDREN OF BAAN KRU NOI - TEMPLES AND TOYS TRIP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Ayutthaya trip with the children of Baan Kru Noi Baan Kru Noi is the orphanage sponsored by the Erwin and Sabrina foundation. Every year the BCT tries to organize an event for these kids. This year we will go on a Trip to Ayutthaya - The TTT or the "Temples and Toys Trip". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When ? Saturday 23 January 2010 Where ?
Program:
You can join the trip and help with taking care of the children from the orphanage and cover their expenses. Adults pay 1000 baht, children (under 12 year) pay 500 baht. If you like the idea of this trip, but can't join us: we are also looking for financial sponsors. Please contact: news@belgianclub-th.com Please note that the Baan Kru Noi orphanage event is supported by GDF SUEZ as main sponsor, the BCT and many individual donations and we thank once again all of you for having made this nice event possible.
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| WEEKEND AT HUA HIN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| After having visited Koh Si Chang, we would like to propose to you to join us in a multi-activities event - most of them being optional - in Hua Hin. We aim to give you the opportunity to spend your time there quite freely and will make sure that we will all gather for dinner at the same place. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When ? 06 March 2010 Where ? This date remains tentatively set up for the moment Register ? Registration will be needed. We will give you more information in the coming months ... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| EASTER EGG HUNT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Easter holidays are slowly approaching and very soon we will start hearing the Easter bells in the sky.   Someone told us that this year they will land in Bangkok for the pleasure of young and less young Belgians.The "Bell Airways" Cie confirmed that they will be fully loaded with Chocolate Eggs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| According to Survanabhumi authority, their early flight details are as follows: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When ? 28 March 2010 Where ? Register & Practical details ? We will give you more information in the coming months ... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carbonades Flamandes/ Stoofvlees & French Frites Dinner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| We exchange the Mussels & Frites event (do not be sad - this will also be re-organized in 2010) against a delicious Carbonades Flamandes / Stoofvlees Dinner. We believe that the Det-5 configuration is ideal to organize this event and we will rely on Bob's cooking skills to prepare us a wonderful meal from our home country. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When ? 10 April 2010 Where ? Register & Practical details ? We will give you more information in the coming months ... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DON'T FORGET... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 ... to give us your input on the questionnaire! We are looking forward to receiving your feedback! We would like to hear what you think about these newsletters, Kramiek, the events organized so far and what you would like to do, read, see,... in the near future!The questionnaire is to be found in Kramiek or on our website. You can send your feedback to Attn Pierre Swartenbroekx, 97/201 Perfect Place 3, On Nut - Lat krabang road, (Ratchateva - Bangphli), Samutprakrn 10540, THAILAND. As promised, we will organize a lucky draw between those who have taken the time to send us their feedback! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PAST ACTIVITIES, IN PICTURES | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PARTY OF SAINT NICHOLAS, HIS HELPERS AND ALL THE GOOD KIDS... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Saint Nicholas is always very busy in the beginning of December. Luckily, this year he decided to come to Bangkok a little earlier. So on 29 November he had some extra time for the Belgian kids! The Ambassador and his wife were so generous to host a party in Saint Nicholas' honour. And a wonderful party it was!! The lovely terrace of the Ambassador's residence was transformed into a wonderful buffet with lots of yummy bites. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| In one corner of the terrace, kids were drawing their last pieces of art for Saint Nicholas. In another corner, they were being painted themselves. And in the mean time, their mummies and daddies enjoyed a chat over a cup of coffee... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 When the drawings were finished and Saint Nicholas would almost arrive, everyone gathered in the reception room. Songs were sung to welcome the Holy Man... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 And there he was... With his three helpers, Saint Nicholas talked to all the kids and gave them their presents. Not one kid had to be put in the bag of the black helpers!  A success it was, in every respect! Thank you Mireille, Mie, Lieve, Gee and all the others who helped! And... see you next year, Saint Nicholas! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Note: On this occasion, we also collected toys and clothes for the children of the Baan Kru Noi orphanage. Thank you to all of you who already donated! If you hadn't had the chance to check your cupboards and wardrobes, there is still some time left. We keep on collecting until 20 February. Just send us an email News@belgianclub-th.com and we will find a way to meet to collect the toys and clothes, so that on 27 February everything can be given to the orphanage. For more details, please read on the Temple And Toy Trip, elsewhere in this newsletter! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| MONTHLY GET TOGETHERS - URBAN & NEW YEAR'S DRINK | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The monthly Get2Gethers attracts a lot of Belgians on each 2nd Friday of the Month. Since last year we have moved this recurrent event to different places before coming back to Det-5 for our New Year's Drink. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 URBAN - Sathorn AreaUrban is a nice Thaï establishment where we could have chilled out in the air-conditioned section with acoustic music from the house ban. But we all preferred to grab an alfresco table and chitchat. We did not have chance to experiment the KTV rooms upstairs, but we are still thinking about organizing a singing night. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 The atmosphere was perfect nice weather, good friends, cool beers and tasty food for a very great value for money. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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AMONTRE - Sathorn Area  We organized our first 4 hours free flow of Belgian beers for 700THB. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Amontre is definitively an attractive, contemporary bar/restaurant in a stylish but relaxed setting. The décor is chic but unpretentious, while the ambience is enhanced by progressive chill-out music, creating a relaxing and intimate environment. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Amontre's staff, who had secured a private area only for us, did everything to make us feel comfortable, was continuously filling in our glasses and lets us enjoying drinking our lovely Belgian beers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We will certainly reorganize something there and for sure the BCT committee has already committed to be there numerous. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- New Year's Drink | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What a very nice setting Bob (from Det-5) put in place for us. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| EXCURSION TO KOH SI CHANG | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The day trip to Koh Si Chang was fantastic not a drop although the sky was cloudy. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 We left from Ekamai by bus around 9.00 am and arrived at the Pier around 10.30am. We quickly found our next transportation and reached Ko Si Chang around 11.30am. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Very quickly, we hired a three wheeled motorized rickshaws. It was really the first time I saw one. After having tried it, I can say it is as fun as a Tuk Tuk but even more comfortable. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Then, we started our journey by a delicious lunch in a restaurant just on the border of the beach and sea before our driver took us on a tour of the Island. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 We visited the remains of a former Royal Palace: "Built as the summer residence for King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) starting about 1890, the Judhadhut Palace was abandoned in 1894 after the death of Crown Prince Vajirunhis. Hostilities with France in 1893 had already showed how vulnerable the summer capital on Ko Si Chang was to a modern navy. The main building was taken to Bangkok about 1900, where it is now famous as Vimarn Mek palace". The walk through the gardens and up the hill under century-old frangipani trees was really peaceful. We were lulled by the Jasmin smell all around us. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Dominating the town to the north of the harbor is the Chinese temple known as Saan Chao Pho Khao Yai, or Shrine of the Father Spirit of the Great Hill. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Founded around a cave from which seafarers saw a magic light shining into the night, around Chinese New Year the shrine draws tens of thousands of mainly Chinese supplicants from as far away as Djakarta and Beijing. It is very much worthwhile to climb the stairs to the monks' cells above the main temple, and we even push to the Buddha's Footprint. We remembered to light the required number of incense sticks in the main shrine, and to be sure of good luck, we lighted a few hundred firecrackers, as well. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Besides the visits, it was also the occasion to get to know other Belgians, share a good moment and have fun together. Thanks a lot to the BCT for having organized this enjoyable excursion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| OTHER ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS BY OTHERS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PETANQUE TOURNAMENT IN HUA HIN | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The renewed Belgian Club of Hua Hin is organizing a petanque tournament on the 6 February.Details are given below and subscription is very easy, you just need to contact Frank either by email frankvanalboom@hotmail.com or by phone 0879/82.82.56. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| MUNMAAK COAST BANGKOK - KHAO YAI - PATTAYA RALLY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Saturday Night MunMaak Fever saw a variety of super cars such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, Lotus and many more. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 The "Graham City to Coast Rally" has started on the 23 January 2010. 50 cars departed from the starting line at Central World Bangkok while going through Kao Yai and ending at Central Festival Pattaya. At Bangkok checkpoint and Pattaya endpoint we will have ‘MunMaak Festivals' - allowing fans, families, and everyone to come along and cheer on the MunMaak cars and be a part of the MunMaak brand. So come down admire the participants and expected celebrities and check it out!. For more information: www.munmaak.com. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| BRAZILIAN'S CARNIVAL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 It's Carnaval Party Time !We have the pleasure to inform you of the upcoming Brazilian Carnival ball 27 February 2010 organized by the Brazilian community of Thailand. Don't miss this unique opportunity to get a taste of the Carnival atmosphere direct from the beaches of Ipanima, Copacabana and enjoy Brazilian party time, right here at your doorstep! For more information, you can email one of those persons:
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| BCT MEMBERSHIP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The annual membership fee is a mere 500 baht per family. The BCT year runs from 1 September till 31 August. You can register at any BCT activity by completing the membership form available with any of the BCT committee members. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| BCT ACTIVITIES CALENDAR FOR THE NEXT 3 MONTHS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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