Bangkok Cosmopolitan Lions Club
10 Soi Soonvijai, New Petchburi Road
In charge: Mr Kajit Habanananda
Tel 318-1518; an English speaking group
Foreign Correspondents Club
Room 428, Dusit Thani Hotel
Tel 236-0450 to 9
Only foreign correspondents can become regular members; others are admitted as associate members. The club has its own restaurant and club facilities on top of the Dusit Thani Hotel, with CNN TV and several international periodicals. Occasionally press conferences with Thai politicians and luncheons with public figures are organized. There are a number of weekly scheduled activities, one under the motto TGIF - Thank God It’s Friday (obviously not on Thursdays).
Ikebana
c/o Hayami Bierdrager, Tel 318-0116
c/o Mrs Riek van Liere, Tel 253-4855
This group concerns itself with the Japanese art of arranging flowers (see the chapter Art & Culture for information on the art of arranging flowers in Thailand).
Magic Eyes
15th fl, Bangkok Bank, 333 Silom Road
Tel 235-0819, 2343333 Ext 1884
Environmental group; according to the Bangkok Book of the Australian-New Zealand Women’s Group, "their latest project is cleaning up the Chao Phaya River." (Some magic could be of help.)
Mariner Club
27/2 Tha Rua (opposite Klong Toey Port entrance), Tel 249-3801
Despite its name, the Mariner Club is open to anybody, not just those connected with shipping companies. A swimming pool, tennis courts, football pitch, bar and catering facilities are available. No waiting list.
Philatelic Association of Thailand
c/o Bonnie Davis, Tel 258-8800
(before 10:00 and after 16:00)
In front of the General Post Office, stamp dealers set up their stalls every Sunday.
Rotary Club
Noon time meetings with conversation in English: Tuesday at the Siam Intercontinental Hotel, Thursday at the Hilton Hotel, Friday at the Montien Hotel.
Toastmistress Club
c/o Narai Hotel, Silom Road
Meetings on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 17:00 at the Nakornsawan Room of the Narai Hotel. The club aims to develop the leadership skills of its members. Therefore, body language and public speaking are trained. (In the opinion of the author, most public speeches are uninteresting not because the speaker is illiterate in body language but because he/she doesn’t have enough to say.)
Wild Life Fund of Thailand
255 Soi 21 (Asoke), Sukhumvit Road
Tel 258-6000 to 3
The fund has a wide range of activities all connected to the preservation of Thai fauna.
Y.M.C.A.
27 Sathorn Tai Road, Tel 287-1900
The Young Men Christian Association, dedicated to wholesome leisure activities, offers sports facilities as well as music lessons and courses for various skills.
Y.W.C.A.
13 Sathorn Tai Road
Tel 286-1936, 286-2329
With the same philosophy as the above, the Young Women Christian Association concentrates in its training offers more on what are believed to be female virtues - sewing and cooking for example.
