Absolute Thai Magazine 13 by Absolute Thail Magazine

a 90-minute drive from bangkok and located within pattaya’s entertainment and shopping district, the 72-room hotel is a stone’s throw from the exciting café scene and a short ferry ride to the white sand beaches of koh larn (coral island). the best venue to hold meetings and events for a small and captive audience, its casual sophisticated environment at the restaurant, pool, and bars provide the perfect platform to express new business ideas. two modern meeting rooms with a splash of natural daylight offer flexible set-up options, and creative al fresco coffee breaks. complementing the attuned service are the latest gadgets, meeting equipment and exemplary cuisine that exude the same aesthetic ethos of dusitD2.

28 Nakalay Issue December 2009 & January 2010

Humour

Health and Well-being

Hot Properties

Cover Feature

Recipe

Travel

Fashion

Horoscope

Nakalay

Golf in Thailand

Porsche 911 Turbo

Home Cinemas

Elements

Megen Fox

(Bangkok & Phuket)

(Thai Sales)

Tim Knight (Northern Sales) TimKnight@AbsoluteThai.com Mobile: (+66) 84 689 9680

79 Porsche 911 Turbo

By Tim Knight

know we all say it every year, “Wow, is it Christmas time again already?” Yes it is, and that means that it is time to start shopping, or at least to start thinking of what to buy your loved ones, and you are in luck, because in this issue we offer up some great gift ideas. Ownership in the newly opened Nakalay Beach Resort on Phuket, home theatre systems, new bathing suits from TOPS & BOTTOMS, the new 911 Porsche, great ideas for fun and relaxing getaways as well as great suggestions of beautiful and wonderful places to stay are all ideas included in this issue to help you get your shopping list started. I am sorry to say that Megan Fox is not for sale, so please scratch her off your list.

Ownership in one of Absolute’s many resorts would be a gift that keeps on giving. The benefits owners receive are amazing, and year after year (not just Christmas) this gift can be used. You owe it to yourself, as well as to your gift recipients, to check into it. We have a few great articles on what Absolute can do for you.

Our cover celebrity, Megan Fox, will surely be the reason many of you have picked up this magazine. I love the movies and thought the Transformers were amazing, but I could not get my eyes off Megan. The technology they used in her movies cannot hold a candle to her amazing beauty. The good news is we will be seeing a lot more of her. If you are on Samui, this issue will be especially pertinent to you as we show you one of Samui’s coolest and hippest resorts, Elements, point out where to buy the latest in swim suite wear, TOPS & BOTTOMS, and how to play one of the hardest golf courses in the Kingdom, Santiburi Golf and Country Club as well as one of Samui’s best adventure/dining experiences, The Five Islands restaurant. We also have some great articles on things to do in Phuket as well. Absolute Thai has been doing so well over the last couple of years that we have had to increase our page count. Suggestions, feedback and comments from readers all over Thailand has been wonderful so we are working harder to bring you a magazine that is interesting, informative and fun to read. I hope you enjoy. Ho! Ho! Ho! And a Merry Christmas to you!

Humour

The Santa Suit When the news broke late last week that North Pole Incorporated, (NYSE: NPLI) was filing suit against most of the world’s gas fireplace manufacturers, the shock was clear and palpable. With Christmas just around the corner, this debate about fireplaces has taken the world by storm.

During a press conference, Lester Elfberg, Chief Legal Counsel for North Pole Inc. laid out his company’s grievance. “We at North Pole Inc. take Christmas very seriously, for obvious reasons. For centuries our company has had a mutually beneficial agreement, with the manufacturers of fireplaces, known as the Claus Accord. The current trends towards gas fireplaces that depend on either direct-vent or ventless systems are in obvious breach of this agreement. North Pole Inc. wishes to make it clear, we are not suing to prevent people from buying these fireplaces, rather we are suing for a safe alternative. This is about North Pole Inc.’s relationships with our customers and the health of our beloved CEO.” The suit itself includes allegations of discrimination, breach of contract, and unsafe working conditions. The crux of the case hinges on whether or not North Pole Inc.’s celebrity CEO, Santa Claus, is able to make use of gas fireplaces during the company’s annual holiday celebration. A member of one of the manufacturing companies, speaking on a condition of anonymity due to the pending trial, had this to say, “We all take Santa’s safety very seriously. But let’s face facts; this is North Pole Inc. trying to tell us how to do our jobs. The man in red has no problem getting into apartments without fireplaces.”

Humour wait until this case sees trial before we learn the truth - are gas fireplaces a danger for Santa? With looming fears over the current and future states of Christmas, over the safety of perhaps the world’s most beloved man, it’s easy to lose perspective. While collecting quotes for this story, I stopped a six year old girl named Jenny, to ask her if she was worried. Her answer was a simple no. When I asked her why she felt that way, she responded with perhaps the most profound statement a person could utter regarding this very complex and heated argument, “Because I’ve been good.”

A commercial, traced to the public action group People for Affordable Fireplaces, titled “Scrooge” paints a rather unflattering picture of Santa. The commercial, which a majority of fireplace manufacturers have come out against, alleges that Santa is seeking to profit from the increased sale of affordable gas fireplaces by forcing chimneys, driving a wedge between those who can afford a fireplace, and those who must go without. As the commercial states “Just because you can’t afford a chimney, doesn’t mean you can’t afford a fireplace. Don’t let Santa be a fireplace Scrooge.” Pro-Santa supporters have been reacting to both the suit and the commercial with unwavering support for the man with the trademark laugh. “Look, Christmas is hard work. Santa has to fly all over the world and deliver presents. He’s got to juggle a huge list of who’s been good and who hasn’t, and all he asks for in return is for houses to have a chimney a certain width! What’s so wrong with that?” asked mall Santa, and pro-Santa pundit Jeffery Kerns of the North PoleOhio website. The argument is quickly spreading, occupying the television, the internet, and the editorial sections of newspapers across the country. Several malls in America have had protestors removed for causing a scene. Fake fireplaces, complete with chimneys, are looking like they might become this year’s hottest lawn decoration. But, there is one noted area of silence - Santa himself. Notorious for his privacy, Mr. Claus has let his legal counsel handle all of the public relations regarding the case. With him not talking, it seems like the world will have to

In this, the age where it’s ProChimney versus Pro-Affordability, Tradition versus Technology, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters. To Santa,according to one very wise six yearold, it’s not what kind of fire place you have that should matter, but rather whether you’ve been good or naughty. So be good for goodness’ sake, and do not forget to leave out some milk and cookies or a minced pie for good ol’ Santa.

The Five Islands Restaurant

wish someone had told us about this before, is an expression often heard down in the south of Samui. “This has been the highlight of our holiday.” The south is fast becoming known as the one part of Samui that has retained its identity and its naturalness. It’s also less developed, compared to the north, and as for Chaweng and Lamai, they might as well be in another world. Forget the neon and the beer bars; down in the south, the only raucous nightlife is the sound of bullfrogs after a tropical rainstorm. By day, the region is a beautiful panoply of jungle and coconut plantations easing down to a sea that’s already known for its remarkable sunsets. If you’re here for a few weeks you’ll see the water cycle through most of the colors of a rainbow. Its default color would appear to be a Klein blue. The region centers on the dispersed village of Ban Taling Ngam, where life is lived much as it has always been: the rhythms of the day, the seasons themselves, and the advent, not so long ago, of electricity. It’s quiet here, deliciously so, and makes for a great day out. Just a couple of hundred meters away from the beautiful temple of Wat Kiri Wongkaram (it has its own mummified monk), you’ll find an unexpected delight: The Five Islands Restaurant. It’s the brainchild of Colin Burgess who turned up one day in 2002, and basically never left. He built the contemporary-

The Five Islands Restaurant

style restaurant shortly afterwards, and it seems to have been garnering praise ever since. Foreign journalists seem to make a beeline for the place, and last year it made Vanity Fair magazines ‘Best List on Travel’ - no mean feat, that. The food is dependably excellent, and unusually, for a restaurant on Koh Samui, doesn’t compromise; whereas most on the island bask under that handy flag of convenience, ‘International and Thai cuisine’, The Five Islands sticks resolutely to what this unspoiled corner of Samui does so well: simply Thai. The select menu has been created to concentrate on quality and originality, whether seafood, meat or vegetarian. Guests enjoy a range of delights, such as fresh oysters Thai style, baked seafood served in a coconut shell, roast duck curry with tomatoes and grapes, or sweet and sour crispy sea bass. Another specialty on the menu is the Kantok – the name simply means ‘tray’ – a menu of five Thai dishes for two people. The menu has been put together to ensure great variety, all of which originates in the kingdom. Just don’t ask for a pizza. The only items on the menu which are international are the ice and drinks. You’ll find an excellent wine list as well as cocktails. As often as not, Colin Burgess himself is on hand and can give you advice on what wine goes with your chosen dish. The head waiter is also a dab hand at this. It’s possible to eat in the stylish pavilion itself or right out on the beach. No matter where you choose, sundown is spectacular here. It’s hardly the case of a big red disk going down over the sea. The jagged sequence of the mainland hills

The Five Islands Restaurant

the island’s dwellers who are armed with rifles and who aren’t afraid to use them. Until recently, the best you could expect was to sail through the islands, and not many tours offered even that much, but now thanks to Colin Burgess, it’s possible to actually visit them. It’s indeed the stuff of adventure. A long-tail boat takes visitors to the islands and alights at one of the beaches. Once there, guests can swim, snorkel, or explore inland. Refreshments are provided and then the boat sets off back to The Five Islands Restaurant. After showering, you’ll be served a Kantok meal by the staff, and can sit back and enjoy the uniqueness of this location. It makes for an excellent morning or afternoon out. If required, a pick-up service is provided from your hotel and will drop you back there. The Virgin Coast and its hinterlands are worth a visit, and the area is no more than a forty minute drive away from any point on Koh and mountains adds drama, as do the islands for which the Samui. restaurant is named. They’re about a mile out to sea, and even from the sands they appear enigmatic. That’s For restaurant or tour booking, please call 077 415 359 or 08 putting it rather conservatively. For a start it’s usually 14 775 371. It’s also worthwhile checking out the informative impossible even to count them: from most vantage points website at www.thefiveislands.com. there appear to be only four of these rugged outcrops. And then you may just start asking yourself why you haven’t seen a multitude of day-trips on offer – after all, these islands just look as if they are begging to be explored. Until a few years ago, nobody, repeat nobody, ventured out to them. Not unless they wanted to be shot at. These islands are the fiercely-protective fiefdom of birds and their nests, the latter harvested by hunters running up rickety bamboo ladders, and then sold to Chinese restaurants for up to $4000 a kilo. A great business, but a coveted one, and the birds are jealously guarded by

The Five Islands Restaurant

PMS BLACK

WORLD

TOUR 2 0 0 9 � 2 0 1 0

C U R R E N T LY P L AY I N G AT T H E ‘ C L I M A X ’ Bangla Suites, Bangla Road, Phuket .

The tour moves on to Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Samui, then leaves for the bright lights of Hong Kong.

Acoustic Pop Rock With loyal fans in the UK and Australia, Joe Moore is tipped to be the next solo sensation. His music casts a spell over the audience wherever he plays. Don’t miss out on this chance of a lifetime to hear Joe, on the ﬁrst leg of his world tour, before he moves on. Visit www.theClimax.net for more details.

The Five Islands Restaurant

Health & Well-being

THE REGISTRY COLLECTION UNVEILS ITS FIRST-EVER PORTFOLIO OF SIX RESORTS IN THAILAND WITH THE ABSOLUTE WORLD GROUP

(From left) Gregg Anderson, Vice President and Global Managing Director, The Registry Collection International, Adrian Lee, Managing Director Asia Pacific RCI & Registry Collection, Bryan Lunt, Chairman of Absolute World Group, Brett Archibald, Senior Vice President, Business Development Division, Group RCI EMEAI and Andrew Parker, Managing Director – Thailand, Absolute World Group

The Registry Collection®, the world’s largest luxury exchange programme and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN), today announced the affiliation of Absolute Developments to its programme, adding six new resorts to its global network of luxury properties. “We are delighted to welcome Absolute Developments to The Registry Collection,” said Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO, Group RCI, parent company of The Registry Collection. “This relationship not only provides us with an opportunity to work with one of the leading developers of mixed-used resort operations in Asia, but also marks a significant achievement in securing the first properties for The Registry Collection in Asia. Thailand in particular is home to a wealth of five-star resort developments and idyllic beach locations which have succeeded in attracting international jetsetters for some years, and these six properties will help to give our members the luxury travel experience they expect from The Registry Collection.” Analysts report that investment in Asian real estate has increased by more than 40 per cent this year with wealthy buyers returning to Asia raising levels of cross-border activity. Buyers are following global trends of looking for increased value in their spend which is a strength of the product. “The fractional concept is relatively new to Asia and Absolute is bringing its expertise of shared-ownership, great brand strength and sales and marketing expertise to Thailand. We believe Absolute will be very successful in this fast-growing

market and are thrilled to be partnered with them,” Ballotti added. Bryan Lunt, Chairman of the Absolute World Group said: “Fractional ownership is the perfect antidote to the current financial climate and makes so much sense. Buying fractional allows you to actually purchase your dream holiday home, hassle-free, for only the time you would use it. We offer a stunning collection of properties, all exquisitely furnished with exclusive benefits such as the use of speedboats, spas, golf equipment, luxury airport transfer and the privilege of membership. Our target market is a discerning purchaser seeking high quality accommodation and excellent service.” The Registry Collection Programme provides members with access to an elite global network of the very finest vacation properties at some of the world’s premier destinations, as well as personal concierge services that are available 24-hours a day. More than 160 properties available through the programme are either accessible for exchange or under development. “The Registry Collection complements our offering perfectly,” Lunt added. “Should our owners want a change from Thailand, through our affiliation they can choose to exchange stay periods in their owned property for stays in properties worldwide which are associated with the programme, confident that their experience and accommodation will be of the same high quality as their owned resort. Other benefits include the use of the programme’s 24/7 concierge services, and access to its Collection Partners luxury leisure and travel services. We are delighted to be working with them.”

Health & Well-being

How to mask a fruit and be a natural beauty!

Health & Well-being

Pure

natural beauty is something all women yearn for, and in our endless search for the perfect pot of instant beauty, money is no object. In our lifetime we spend thousands of dollars on every cream, serum and treatment to attain it, but something is changing in the world of beauty: that is the return to natural remedies and organic products. After all our searching, we have come to realise a much simpler way to look and feel like a natural beauty, not to mention that the side effects are much healthier! Consider the Alligator Pear or most commonly recognized as “Avocado”. Known for a variety of health benefits this fruit, although often considered a vegetable, is one of the oldest and most powerful skincare treatments. Containing the good fats that reduce cholesterol and, in turn, lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease, avocados are also packed with potassium to regulate blood pressure, preventing heart disease or stroke. High in sterolins, vitamins A D and E, avocados are an ideal option for deep moisturizing. Easily absorbed into the skin this powerful pear offers an incredible amount of emollients that have been linked to producing collagen and treating skin damage from sun and skin problems like eczema or psoriasis. For older skin the avocado is the perfect answer to hydrate and plump your skin.

Health & Well-being

Apricots are filled with beta carotene providing you with a healthy dose of vitamin A, one of the most powerful nutrients that promote good vision and good skin. One of the added side benefits of the apricot is it has the capacity to prevent macular degeneration as well as - if not better than - the carrot! The natural answer to fighting free radicals, apricot’s antioxidants are strong enough to protect and quench the skin as well as keep your heart nice and healthy. So why are apricots so good for problem skin? They contain anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce the redness and swelling of pimples at any age. So whether you want to eat them canned, dry or fresh, mash them with yoghurt and smother on your face, apricots will do wonders for your skin. These options are just the tip of the iceberg because, overall, fruits have an amazing talent for keeping your skin sensational and your health optimal. There are many other fruits such as strawberries, peaches and papaya, but if you are looking for a beauty mask it’s best to stay away from the more acidic fruits like lemons, oranges and apples; although they can offer alternative beauty treatments such as cleansers, conditioners and toners. It’s time to put a penny back in your purse, and take the all natural route to being a natural beauty!

Just mash one avocado with a few drops of Virgin Olive Oil and or a spoonful of honey and smooth over the face and neck. Sit back and relax for 15 minutes and place a couple of slices of cucumber over the eyelids to enhance the experience and reduce puffy eyes. Rinse with tepid water and pat dry. Wrinkle free and silky smooth. Who wouldn’t want skin like that? Filled with all the ingredients that deliver just that, the banana has more than a few ways of improving our health inside and out. Bone boosting bananas have the ability to increase the absorption of nutrients including calcium while vitamin C and fibre are vital to maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. They also have a fabulous regenerating capability that puts the glow back into your skin within minutes. Magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, vitamins and a plethora of other super good things are all packed into just one medium banana, making it all the more reason to include them into your diet every day and to smear on your skin at least once a week!

Banana Rose Mask

A medium sized banana A tablespoon of honey A drop of rose oil A teaspoon of lemon juice A tablespoon of oatmeal One egg yolk Peel the banana and blend with the honey, oatmeal, lemon juice and egg yolk until the texture is like a creamy paste. Finally, add the rose oil and smooth the mixture onto the face and neck. Make sure you give it at least 10 minutes, rinse off with luke warm water and follow with a splash of cold water.

Alex is an accomplished writer and editor on all things ‘Health & Beauty’. She writes regular articles for magazines in the US and the UK. Her background is in fashion design and the beauty industry in Los Angeles and she, “brings a breath of fresh air” to AbsoluteThai with the most up to date news on health & beauty.

VIP LAUNCH BANGLA

Absolute World Group host the VIP pre-launch of Absolute Bangla Suites The first five-star boutique resort on Patong’s Bangla Road. Absolute Bangla Suites hosted their VIP pre-launch event on Tuesday 6th October 2009 at Climax, its poolside dining & music lounge, which is located on the rooftop. The event was officially opened by the Governor of Phuket, Wichai Praisa-ngob, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Owners and high society members of Phuket were in attendance, together with the Chairman of the Absolute World Group, Mr. Bryan Lunt, and the Company Director of Bangla Suites, Khun Tirada Leeyawanich. Entertainment was provided by the ‘Rumpuree’ World Dance Studio in Bangkok. The atmosphere was electric with belly dancers charming guests with their exotic dance genre and things got a little hot under the collar when the fire dancers came onto the stage, captivating guests with their flamboyance and flair. An array of gourmet food and signature cocktails were beautifully prepared and presented by the staff of the Climax restaurant, led by Stephan Bouwman, Operation Manager of Climax Pool Dining & Music Lounge, proving that it really is a 5-star establishment. A good time was had by all who attended, with music and dancing continuing till the early hours. All this while enjoying the sophisticated atmosphere and unique views of Patong.

VIP LAUNCH BANGLA

Absolute Bangla Suites consists of 54 luxury, completely managed, high-end condominiums, ranging from studios to penthouses, each one oozing individual excellence. A new era of justifiably 5-star excellence in the heart of Bangla road. It’s sleek, ultra modern, yet utterly distinctive bold black and red colour scheme, radiates sheer elegance. Absolute Bangla Suites is decorated to provide a stylish, private and unforgettable experience.

Absolute Bangla Suites is a one-of-a-kind resort in Phuket, located at Soi Bangla just off Bangla Road. “We developed the resort concept and design from scratch, after looking at what was already in the Patong market. The design, facilities and prime location of Absolute Bangla Suites will ensure it is a popular choice with holidaymakers and we believe this boutique resort concept will lead the way in Patong,” said Bryan Lunt, Chairman of Absolute World Group.

The condominiums come fully fitted with western style kitchens complete with state of the art appliances. Everything is catered for, from the microwave oven right the way down to the wine glasses. Flat screen TVs with extensive satellite channels, DVD players and Bowers & Wilkins Zepplin, iPod sound systems within the living area carry on this modern feel. Continuing this opulent theme into the bathroom you will find a “Cotto” suite, including toilet and rectangular ceramic sink set in a granite work top, with chrome fixings and beveled glass vanity mirror. Luxurious Jacuzzi with surrounding water and air jets, digital control panel with bold chrome finished fixtures are also fitted as standard. WiFi and broadband connection are also available in all suites for today’s up-tothe-minute lifestyle. As well as providing an excellent living space each condo has the added extra of a 24-hour concierge service and warm Thai hospitality will ensure a stay at Absolute Bangla Suites is not only memorable but will leave you wanting to come back for more. For more information, visit www.AbsoluteBanglaSuites.com

Nakalay Beach Resort

Actual View The Absolute Nakalay Beach Resort has opened The resort features an exciting blend of studios, 1 its doors, and this marks a new era in Phuket and 2-bedroom apartments as well as spectacular beach side hospitality. penthouses. Each apartment is spacious with a private terrace. The apartments and suites have If you are looking for the purest Andaman been designed to integrate the outdoors with experience Absolute Nakalay Beach Resort has the spacious indoor living areas, and are ideal for it all. Starting with an amazing view that few, couples or families. All apartment types contain a even in Phuket, can call their own. Nakalay offers kitchen or pantry, as well as a full size refrigerator. the whitest of sand, the purest and bluest of sea There are LCD TVs in each apartment along with a and a range of activities that caters to all tastes. DVD player. Nakalay beach is located on a private bay just north of Patong, with easy access to all of the In the penthouses you can also enjoy the benefit tourist accommodations, shops, nightclubs and of a private rooftop terrace and a jacuzzi. You can restaurants in Patong but with enough distance wander from the resort to Nakalay Beach without even having to cross a road. On the beach itself, to maintain a sense of privacy and calm. Absolute Nakalay operates a beach club, with The resort offers beach front luxury apartments comfortable seats. Here, refreshments and food are with stunning panoramic views of the Andaman served. Facilities include a free-form swimming pool Sea and jungle-clad mountains. This ultra modern with large sun deck and full sized sun-beds. There resort in Phuket is the perfect place to relax is also a fully equipped gym. Other facilities include with beautiful natural surroundings, simply a bar, a coffee shop (with room service), an outdoor breathtaking land and seascapes, and awesome terrace, convenient undercover parking, and 24-hour security CCTV and concierge services. sunsets. There is Wi-Fi Internet throughout, and a free shuttle

Nakalay Beach Resort

bus to Patong Beach. The peaceful location of Absolute Beach Resort at Nakalay is ideal for those who want to vacation in peace, but with easy access to popular sites in Phuket. The Absolute Beach Resort at Nakalay is just 5 car minutes away from Patong beach, featuring one of Asia’s most diverse shopping and vibrant nightlife scenes. The design concept of Nakalay involves fresh, crisp and clean interiors. There are a total of 33 units in all. There is not a single detail that has not been pondered, scrutinised, and approved by our elite design team. During the day enjoy the white sands with sunbathing, beach volleyball, spa treatments or a game of golf. Or try a taste of the eclectic Thai cuisine from the vendors on the beach selling rice and noodles and tropical fruit. For international cuisine Phuket has some of Thailand’s most renowned French, Mexican, Indian and Italian restaurants. Nakalay Beach is not only an area of relaxation. It has great fishing, and this is borne out by the number of local fishermen going about their business during the day. And of course where there are fish there is excellent snorkeling. If you are lucky you might even catch a glimpse of one of the sea turtles that frequent the area. Where Absolute Beach Resort at Nakalay excels is in making the most of all the richness of this natural maritime splendour. All fractional owners at Nakalay will have access to their own speedboat when they come to stay in their units at the resorts. This is free of charge and includes the boat captain and boat maid. The fractional owner only has to pay for petrol and drinks. During the times that the boat is not being used by the fractional owners, the boat may be chartered by the guests of the resort.

And what boats they are. Doing up to 38 knots, the 31ft Silver Craft speedboats offer comfort, exhilaration and access to all the beautiful natural wonders that the Andaman Sea has to offer. To spend a day snorkeling, water skiing, swimming or simply exploring the coastline and nearby outcrops and then watch the sun go down from the luxury of the resort itself is to make the most of both land and ocean. Absolute Beach Resort at Nakalay gives you effortless access to the ultimate in all that Phuket has to offer.

Nakalay Beach Resort

Megan Fox

At Jetstar we’re committed to helping more people travel to more places more often, for less. That’s why we have more than 1,500 flights per week to over 50 of the world’s most fantastic holiday destinations throughout Asia and the Pacific including Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and Australia. From Singapore you can also fly to 10 other Asian destinations including Hong Kong and Taipei. And remember, at Jetstar, we have more than 7,000 people dedicated to ensuing that every Jetstar experience you have is as enjoyable as possible. To book visit jetstar.com

All intra-Asia flights to/from Singapore are operated by Jetstar Asia, except flights between Singapore and Indonesia, which are operated by Valuair or Jetstar. Before you book your international flight, and before you travel, check current Australian Government travel advisories on www.smartraveller.gov.au. Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd ABN 33 0

Megan Fox Megan Fox

By Tim Knight Photo Solar Pix

No transformation needed

you haven’t picked up a tabloid in six months and aren’t a men’s magazine reader, you may well be wondering, Who the hell is Megan Fox? You can bet your boyfriend—and your brother, your dad, and the guy who rotates your tires—is already in the know.To borrow a line from the cover of Maxim, Fox is simply “Earth’s Hottest Girl.” Yes, she appeared as a self-obsessed starlet in last year’s little-seen How to Lose Friends & Alienate People. Mostly, though, she owes this distinction to the 2007 blockbuster Transformers, in which her tanned, taut midsection costarred with Shia LaBeouf and a muscle-car- turned-monster robot. Ka-ching! A pinup was born. Fox’s looks may be lethal—but her mouth? It’s a nuclear reactor. At 23, she possesses a vocabulary that could make Howard Stern blush and a complete inability to toe the line with standard starlet small talk. She has bragged about a past dalliance with a stripper named Nikita. She declares, with some vehemence, that men who believe that women shouldn’t curse can “go suck a dick.” A taste for body art (Fox has acquired eight tattoos in five years, including a sizable Marilyn Monroe on her right forearm), and a certain ballsy, nouveau– Annie Oakley bravado: Anything they can do, I can do better!

“So many actresses in Hollywood are just these little coat hangers who want to be America’s sweetheart,” says screenwriter Diablo Cody. “Megan has no such designs. She’s a badass, she’s a maverick, she’s not interested in pleasing people. She does her own thing.” Cody, who presumably has nothing against a woman who uses her sexuality to get ahead, says Fox was the only actress who was seen for the title role in Jennifer’s Body. Expected to hit theaters in September, Cody’s first movie since Juno is a genre-defying teen-comedy-slash-thriller-slashdrama about a high school flag team captain who—get this—feasts on the bodies of young men. “I’ve seen a lot of men with that kind of swagger,” Cody says. “Maybe it’s time for the ladies to burn some bridges.” So far, the only thing on fire is Fox herself. Earlier this year, she reprised the role of Mikaela Banes, the gearhead girlfriend to LaBeouf’s good-hearted, goofy Sam Witwicky in Transformers: Revenge of

Megan Fox the Fallen. She also recently inked deals to star in two more comics-based action flicks. In the apocalyptic Western Jonah Hex, she’ll play a Wild West harlot to Josh Brolin’s mutilated avenger and John Malkovich’s twisted nemesis. And Fathom, which she is set to help develop, coproduce, and star in, is the story of a raven-haired, turquoise-eyed champion swimmer who discovers she’s a lost member of an aquatic superrace (warning: swimwear ahead). Is Fox your local multiplex’s next action heroine? If so, the comics-fan blogosphere is already on board. Fox is one of them: a bona fide comics’ geek. If she weren’t acting, Fox says she’d probably be drawing comics for a living. Fathom, created by her favorite illustrator, the recently deceased Michael Turner, is one of her longtime obsessions; she even lobbied Turner for the privilege of playing the character and boasts an at-home library filled with his work. And she talks special effects with the zeal of a fanboy. This time, she says, the Transformers are duking it out with “twice the budget, twice the explosives, and twice the robots and fight sequences. It’s a big, huge movie.” As in, Egyptian pyramids huge: Iconic action director Michael Bay imposed office-building-size robots (and filmed costar John Turturro) on the historic site. And massive-bomb huge: “Special effects was like,‘This is the biggest bomb that we’ve ever exploded on set with actors, but you’re going to be perfectly safe; there’s no risk,’ ” Fox says. “Then we look over for the special effects team, and they’re, like, two football fields away. There’s no other living person within half a mile of us. When it went off, we could feel the heat from the flames on our backs.” Not that a mere 500-gallon bomb is going to stand in her way. Instead of pumping iron to get action-star buff, Fox was ordered to eat. “Mike doesn’t want this little wispy, tiny girl

Megan Fox

Megan Fox to be the lead in his movie. He wants you to be substantial,” she says. Fox, who is 5’6”, had dwindled to 99 pounds while shooting Jennifer’s Body (“I decided I would turn myself into a zombie. I got super, super skinny, stayed out of the sun for four months, and got to where I was losing my eyelashes and my eyebrows”). Bay told her to add 10 pounds. (Apparently, 109 is considered meaty in Hollywood.) He also told her to tan. “He wants us to be, like, Brazilian!” Fox’s parents divorced when she was young; she and her sister were raised by her mother and stepfather, who she says “were really strict. I was grounded for all of my childhood. Not most—all.” No wonder. She stole her mother’s car so often at 14 and 15 that she wasn’t allowed to get a license for fear she’d hit the road, once and for all. “I wasn’t doing anything particularly crazy,” she says. “I just never appreciated authority figures preaching to me.” In middle school, she was bullied and picked on; she ate lunch in the bathroom to avoid being pelted with ketchup packets. The problem wasn’t her looks—she says at that point she was a scrawny adolescent with dyed orange hair. “I think, for me, what was intimidating was that I’ve always gotten along better with boys,” she says. “That rubbed some people the wrong way.” She got her first acting gig in Holiday in the Sun, one of the Olsen sisters’ many tween movies, when she was still in high school in Port St. Lucie, Florida. At 17, she tested out of school via correspondence and moved to Los Angeles. After two months, she landed the role of Lindsay Lohan’s rich-bitch archenemy in Disney’s Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. Steady paychecks spelled freedom. “My mom lived with me until I started making enough money to support myself,” she says. Not long thereafter, 90210 alum Brian Austin Green (who now stars on Fox TV’s Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles)

Megan Fox

showed up on set to play himself in an episode of the Kelly Ripa sitcom Hope & Faith—or, as Fox puts it, “a really bad TV show I was working on.” The actress had no idea who Green was but says he seemed “sweet and quiet, harmless. I was like, Oh my God, I have to be with you. You’re not a threat, you’re not some d-bag that’s going to cause a lot of problems.” Green, 30 to her 18, wasn’t so sure. “I had to convince him that I was slightly more responsible and well-spoken and had other things to bring to the table besides being 18,” she says. The paparazzi have been hounding her mercilessly for two weeks, ever since rumors surfaced that she and Green had broken off their two-year engagement. In an unusual show of restraint, Fox has refused to publicly address the matter. Informed of one seemingly innocuous tidbit— that she and Green are supposedly in couples therapy—her temper flares. “No, I do not want to comment on my relationship, period. It’s private. It doesn’t belong to the world. It’s mine. It’s Brian’s. It’s not for other people to judge and talk about.” Rebound buzz has already kicked up. Was she secretly dating Twilight star Robert Pattinson? “I just randomly asked someone for a light and it was him. That was the extent of our ‘relationship.’ But I’m sure there’s going to be a different guy every week now.” Pattinson, for the record, isn’t her type anyway. “He and Zac— they’re just too pretty with the big hair and the suits. And Rob is, what, 22? Zac is 21? That’s a joke. Boys in their twenties are a waste of time. They have nothing to offer conversationally; they’re immature. I feel like I have a better shot with someone in his thirties.”

Never mind that she’s still seven years shy of that particular milestone. “I’ve lived the life of a 35-year-old since I was 18,” she says. “I’m so suspicious of all boys-slash-men. I just don’t like them or trust them.” She does, however, enjoy manipulating them. Fox says she’s given certain male writers an amped-up version of her past. “They’re boys; they’re easily toyed with,” she says, laughing. “I tell stories and have them eating out of my hand. Not all of it is true. In fact, most of it is bullshit.” Sorry, guys—she never stripped as a teen (though, for lack of anything better to do, she and a group of friends did frequent a seedy strip club). And la femme Nikita? “I never said she was my girlfriend! I just said that I loved her, and I did love her,” she says. “The real story is more sobering. It’s not a sexy, fun-time, fantasy story. But that’s not the story you tell GQ.” Surely such embroideries get her in trouble? “Oh, all the time!” she laughs. “Because it’s then my publicist’s job to try to clean it up.” Fox seems torn between playing the living, breathing male fantasy—Bad Girl Barbie, if you will—and wanting, of course, to be seen as more than some 2-D cardboard cutout. “It’s like, Wait a minute—I actually have things to say,” she says. “I have a pretty amazing personality, and I’m pretty intelligent. Don’t just write me off as a pinup.” But don’t call her naive, either. “It’s the same old bullshit struggle that everyone who’s ever been on the cover of a men’s magazine complains of having,” she says with a shrug. “My situation is not a new one.” And prepare yourself to see more of her hot action in Transformers 3 set for release on July 1, 2011.

Megan Fox

Elemants Resort & Spa

www.elements-koh-samui.com

Elements Resort & Spa

Samui’s newest gem:

Elements Resort & Spa

he entrance is surprisingly discreet unless you know what you’re looking for, and you might easily miss it altogether. Drive past and it’s quickly lost in all the jungle greenery, yet it’s there: a sophisticated yet bijou resort, small and with an ultra-modern edge. South Samui and chic make for surprising bedfellows; accommodation in this largely undeveloped region tends to be associated with far simpler accommodation. A few sophisticated resorts grace the area, and a few more are soon expected. No doubt, Elements is assured many mentions in lists of hip hotels. Open since July 2009, its sleek, uncluttered, very rectangular and clean lines provide a stylish take on a tropical resort. It’s more city-style than would usually be expected in such a rural area. Much like coming across a sophisticated cappuccino bar in the woods, it appears out of the jungle almost as a paradox. British-born Stephen is one of the owners of Elements Resort & Spa and aims to deliver a quintessential tropical holiday experience: he’s keen for his guests to see all the loveliness, the sheer lushness of this part of the world, and has settled on Phang-Ka as it’s remote from the built-up areas of Chaweng and the north. He talks about an ultimate ‘getaway’ destination and mentions a cultural border line that runs from Nathon to just south of Lamai; south of this line, there’s the unspoilt, traditional Samui which has remained relatively unscathed, whilst the north has born the brunt of numerous developments.

Elemants Resort & Spa

Not everyone wants the nightlife of Chaweng, and if you’re seeking a peaceful base to explore the natural charms of the island, Elements is a great kick-off point. As Stephen says,“Here you’re within easy distance of several waterfalls, plenty of jungle trekking and sights like the Five Islands. You’re totally away from the crowds, too.” He’s made it easy for visitors to explore the surrounding area. Instead of relying on tour companies to offer various packages, he has dedicated staff who will organize tours for you, and then take you on them. No need to get up at the crack of dawn and wait for a minibus to pick you up and go round other resorts before you start your day. You can choose your own time, and go as you please. The resort also has its own speed-boat and there are long tail boats for those wanting to travel at a more leisurely pace. For landlubbers, you’ll find free bicycles which are great for exploring the immediate area. Elements Boutique Resort & Spa features four types of accommodation, all very affordable. The resort is snug enough to walk around; there are only 33 rooms here, and no more are planned. The Deluxe Apartments are all in the main Elements building and look out over Phang Ka bay, whilst the Garden Homes, each with a private pool, are scattered throughout the resort. Meanwhile, the 2-bedroom Luxury Beachfront Villas front the beach, and come with their own private infinity-edge swimming pool with Jacuzzi, as well as a garden which opens on to the beach. The living space is unusually large with 200sqm at your disposal. The large bedrooms are sumptuous affairs featuring big beds with plenty of pillows, and the most indolent cotton sheets possible. It’s a joy to sleep here, and with adjustable air conditioning you don’t need to experience a blast of the

Arctic whilst on holiday. Dimmer switches further add to the atmosphere, and the sheer abundance of space helps you de-stress. Just how standard a room should be is often a knotty problem for a hotelier. Bland rooms tend to abound with off-white walls and a scarcity of furnishings, but Stephen and his team have solved the problem by firstly abandoning the idea that minimalism rules. At Elements you’ll find the rooms appear to be more like apartments than is often the case. The colors are deliberately chosen to be warm and to get away from traditional dinginess. Meanwhile the floors are made of warm bamboo wood, rather than the marble – it’s more relaxing for the feet. Generous windows fill the rooms with abundant light, and can be fully slid back allowing the tropical ambience to become part of the accommodation. Step out onto a balcony

Elements Resort & Spa

with comfy chairs and a table, an ideal spot for reading or a sundown drink. The minibar is sumptuously stocked and naturally tea and coffee are complimentary. Elements also promises fresh fruit on a daily basis. All accommodation comes with its own mobile phone, which you simply top up with a pre-paid card, making keeping in touch with home a lot cheaper than is normally the case. Ensuite bathrooms gleam with travertine stone and are daily replenished with quality toiletries and the whitest of towels. No matter if you’ve forgotten your toothbrush, two are included in the bathroom set. Showers are rainwater-style, and unlike so many, these actually feel like a steady downpour of real rain. Bathrobes, hairdryers and slippers are also provided, adding a further homely touch to your stay. Modern contrivances are plentiful at Elements. Bring your lap-top and you’ll have WiFi coverage throughout the hotel.

As for television, bedrooms come equipped with wide flat-screens. A variety of channels awaits, and with your own DVD/MP3 player, you can nip down to the reception and look through their stock of films. Let the staff know before you arrive, and they will fill ensure you’ll have a selection of your favorite type of music ready for you to listen to. All accommodation has a safe and there’s ample security throughout the resort. Eating at Elements is again a relaxed experience. The restaurant here, Fai (it means Fire, in Thai) aims to provide hotel guests the best of food, whether it’s a snack or full-scale lunch or dinner. Breakfast is à la carte and features both Asian and western dishes. Croissants and toast don’t feature as such, but these are brought to you with your order, along with a choice of three preserves. Coffee comes in various forms and you can order a latte or espresso, just as you can specify what kind of tea you would like.

Elemants Resort & Spa

Even if something you’re hankering for isn’t included on the lunch and dinner menu, simply ask for it, as personal requests are taken seriously at Elements. There are two head chefs, Miroslav, who hails from Lithuania, where he had his own TV program, and local expert Torzak. This means Elements gets a good crossover in styles and tastes, and you can choose between excellent Thai and international dishes. The menu, per se, features a wide variety of sea-food. Elements goes to great lengths here to provide the best of the local catches and makes full use of the area’s fishing fleet. Meat lovers won’t be disappointed, either, with rack of lamb on the menu, as well as Australian steaks with a whole range of mouth-watering toppings. You can watch Miroslav and Torzak preparing everything in the open-plan glassed kitchen.

Whether you want a 30 minute massage or a full-blown half-day of hands on bliss, this team can deliver it. If you want something special try the hot stone massage, where carefully heated stones are placed on key energy points along the body. It’s wonderfully relaxing. The team also know how to apply Reiki and crystal healing techniques from Tibet. Body wraps, body scrubs and facial treatments are also on the menu, as well as manicure and pedicure. Elements balances undisturbed nature and swish architecture, and is enabling far more people to experience a part of Samui that hitherto all too few have seen. Hopefully more visitors will take away impressions of the lushness that the island has to offer, and the traditional way of life that still exists in the south.

What the menu refers to as ‘liquid elements’ turn out to be a whole selection of wines, from both the new world and the old. They include champagne if you’re here for a special celebration, but whatever you choose, you can expect good quality. Most resorts these days on Koh Samui pay lip service to fitness and include some sort of a gym – at best, one or two machines and a few weights. At Elements, the gym is one of the best on the island, with an unusually wide range of weight training equipment and cardio machines. It’s unexpected in a hotel of this size. Downstairs there’s a yoga room and a sauna. No excuse for getting flabby whilst on holiday, or even interrupting your current fitness regime. For pure pampering, Elements’ thatched spa, Serenity, is on hand to provide a wonderful plethora of treatments. The staff are both attentive and professional, and have put together a more comprehensive list of treatments than is usual.

Elements Resort & Spa 53/5 Moo 4 Phang Ka, Tambon Taling Ngam Koh Samui, Suratthani 84140 Thailand Tel: +66 (0)77 914 678 Fax: +66 (0)77 914 699 www.elements-koh-samui.com

Elements Resort & Spa

Alternative Ownership - Generating New Revenues in Asia A growing concept for Asia. Phuket has seen sales surge in 2009, despite global recession. Phuket welcomed the inaugural Alternative

Not only a first for Phuket but a first for Asia Pacific, AOCAP

Ownership Conference for Hotels and Resorts in

is a platform for industry experts and global leaders in the

Asia Pacific (AOCAP) in October of this year with

field of alternative ownership concepts for resorts and real

more than 100 delegates from around the world

estate to come together and speak about why when most

including South Africa, United Kingdom, United

industries are slowing down, both vacation ownership and

States, Middle East, Australia, Singapore, Hong

fractional ownership are booming.

Kong, Indonesia, Italy, China, Malaysia, Germany, Finland and host country Thailand.

"A fantastic event that encapsulates the interest and enthusiasm in the growing Asian marketplace." Sharon Mattimoe, Perspective International

"The event has revived a flagging interest in the shared ownership industry." David Thomas, Beach Properties

Alternative Ownership concepts are not new. Models include Fractional Ownership, Vacation Ownership and Private Residence Clubs. Global examples include Marriott, Banyan Tree, Hyatt, Wyndham, Accor and Disney who all operate alternative ownership models. The AOCAP conference is sponsored by Absolute World Group of Companies, The Registry Collection, Preferred Residences, yooPhuket, Limcharoen, Hughes & Glanville, Raimon Land Private Residence Clubs and Dial An Exchange. Media Partners include FractionaLife.com, Perspective International, Absolute Thai magazine, Property Report magazine, Global Edge and Phuket Gazette, with The Escape as official digital partner. Recent research by hospitality consultants C9 Hotelworks reports that shared ownership sales for Phuket represented USD61.2 million for 2008 from a customer base of 22,498, and 2009 is showing growth even in the current challenging economic conditions.

While Vacation Ownership offers a synergy with Phuket's established tourism industry, Fractional Ownership of property offers a new dynamic altogether. Fractional Ownership is something much newer to Phuket and the concept has been pioneered on the Island by Absolute World Group who recently launched Absolute Bangla Suites and are soon to open Nakalay Beach Resort and, in partnership with global design brand YOO, to launch yooPhuket. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many real estate developers are now interested in the fractional concept while many resorts are opening to ideas of vacation ownership. Operators need clear understanding and advice on implementation. At the AOCAP conference industry experts will share their valuable knowledge, experience and case studies on how to help generate revenue and boost occupancy, both of which are of great interest to developers and buyers alike.â&#x20AC;? Bryan Lunt, Chairman of Absolute World Group and founding sponsor of AOCAP comments.

Squid Ink Fettucini with Seafood

Fettuccine al nero di seppia ai frutti di mare Squid Ink Fettucini with Seafood Ingredients: 100g black fettuccine 40g squid 60g prawns 60g mussels 60g clams 20g olive oil 20g white wine 5g chilli 5g parsley 20g onion a pinch of salt ground black pepper to taste

Instructions: 1- Boil the pasta for 10mins in a large pan of salt water 2- Put olive oil into another pan and add the onion, stir for a minute then add all of the seafood, stir for another minute and pour in the white wine. Allow the wine to evaporate then top up with 2 spoons of boiling water from the pasta, and simmer for 3-4 min more. 3- Drain the pasta and add into the pan with the seafood, stir well, season with salt and pepper to taste, add the parsley and Buon Appetito!

Prego Italian Restaurant: Managed by the Amari Palm Reef Resort Chaweng Beach, Samui 84320 Tel: 0 7742 2015 - 18 Email: prego@palmreef.amari.com Website: www.prego-samui.com

Grilled Snowfish with herbs

Panfried Rock Lobster with Duck Liver

Pan-fried Rock Lobster with Duck Liver, Mango Salsa & Vanilla Infused Oil 250 rock lobster 250 gr 75 gr duck liver 40 gr diced cantaloupe 40 gr diced yellow mango 40 gr diced granny smith apple Walnut oil Xeres vinegar Five Spices Powder Olive oil 1 Bourbon vanilla stick

1.Cut Vanilla stick into 2 pieces length wise, with a knife scrape out the seed, add in 10 cl olive oil, cut vanilla stick into 4 pieces and add olive oil. This is best prepared one day before. 2.Mix the fruit with walnut oil and Xeres Vinegar, salt & pepper. 3.Take lobster meat, cut into 2 pieces and remove vain. Pan-fry in olive oil, season it and spray some vanilla oil on it after cooking. 4.Slice duck liver, and season with salt, pepper and Five Spices Powder. Then pan-fry. 5.Place all on plate as in picture and spray some vanilla oil on the side.

Reservation: 076 346271/ 076 680410 rsvp@whiteboxrestaurant.com free one way pick up service www.whiteboxrestaurant.com 247/5 Prabaramee Rd., Kalim Beach

JACK DANIEL GLAZED BABY BACK RIBS

INGREDIENTS :

INSTRUCTION :

For approximately 2.4 dl 1 whole garlic 1 tblsp olive oil 1,6 dl water 2,35 dl Pineapple Juice 0,6 dl Teriyaki Sauce 1 tblsp Soy Sauce 3,15 dl Brown Sugar 3 tblsp Lemon Juice 3 tblsp Finely chopped onion 1 tblsp Jack Daniels Whiskey 1 tblsp Crushed Pineapple Â˝ tsp Chili pepper

Cut off top and bottom of the garlic. Peel the garlic, but leave enough that it stays in one piece. Put in an oven proof dish. Pour olive oil over. Bake the garlic for 1 hour at 165 Celsius. Boil up water, pineapple juice, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar. Lower the heat and let it simmer, squeeze out the garlic and use 2 table spoons of the paste in the glaze. Add the remaining ingredients. Let the glaze simmer for approximately 45 minutes until it is reduced 50 % and is thick as syrup. Boil ribs with carrot, onion, beef and chicken broth, bay leaves, cinnamon and black pepper for 1 hour. Marinate the ribs in glaze and grill them in oven for 5 min at 250 Celsius. Serve with an extra portion of glaze on the side.

Harrys Steakhouse & Restaurant. You find us at a quiet walking street between the beach and Patong Tower.

dl = deciliter (1/10 liter) www.harrys-phuket.com E-mail: info@harrys-phuket.com Tel: 076 34 04 18 110/2 Soi Big One Thaveewong Rd., Patong Beach

Fractional Ownership

F rac ti o nal O wne r s h i p I have been hearing a lot lately about fractional property ownership. What exactly is it? Fractional ownership is an exciting ultra modern, fast growing market and now considered to be one of the most financially astute ways of purchasing overseas property. Fractional ownership allows a number of unconnected buyers to combine resources and collectively own a property. Individual fractional owners do not need to find the other owners as this is organised by the developer. What makes fractional ownership a better option for investors today? As a best of breed lifestyle investment, fractional ownership of property is taking the world by storm, because owners are investing in ‘bricks and mortar’ and an asset that can be passed on to family. On average, a traditional holiday home owner only uses their property for 40 separate nights – but pays for the whole year, whereas fractional owners don’t have the financial burden of maintaining the property all year round, as the running costs are shared between owners - making fractional ownership a truly affordable option. Are there other benefits if I choose to invest in Fractional Ownership? There are almost too many to mention, but to list a few here: It’s the ideal low-priced purchase for a new investor and your property will be fully furnished to luxurious standards and serviced on your behalf by a management company. The property is yours to use every year for the period of your purchase and will never stand empty, as most developers will rent the property out, earning you an income from the weeks you don’t want to use, and remember your property will rise in value over time, and you’re free to sell your fraction of the property at any time and benefit from any profit made. Fractional properties are inevitably situated on luxury resorts or hotels with five-star sports and leisure facilities and many are affiliated to leading ‘up-market’ companies such as the renowned Registry Collection©, which provides fractional owners with travel opportunities, including access to a world of experiences through the Registry Collection's relationships with some of the foremost providers of luxury services around the globe. These companies provide special pricing, added services and unique opportunities consistent with an 'up market' holiday experience through the Registry Collection© programme, including European Villas and Manors with nearly 13,000 holiday cottages and villas available across England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France , Spain, Portugal, Italy and more.

How easy is it for me to invest in a fractional second home? Most importantly, ensure you buy from a reputable developer with a successful track record and expert at appointing a resort or hotel management company, so that the properties are maintained from cradle to grave and beyond. No point is there, in passing something onto a loved one, or trying to get rental income or selling in the future, if the property is not kept fully maintained? Inherent in the fractional industry and for the protection of the owner's investment, there is a management fee paid annually to the appointed Management Company; whose remit is to ensure that the development and the individual accommodations are maintained to the highest level of standard and quality control. This fee should include a sinking fund where moneys are put aside and built up over a number of years to be able to replace, major capital items such as furniture, televisions and so on, so that the property looks as good as it did the first time you ever saw it. That accomplished, it is then quite easy to become an owner, by selecting the time frame you require to either occupy and/or rent out and/or travel to other places via the likes of the Registry Collection©. The actual purchase of the fraction is very straightforward as you are buying the fractional equivalent via shares in the company that owns the fractional property.

Fractional Ownership

How many other owners will there be? That will depend on what the developer offers in terms of the periods available to purchase. This can range between two sets of owners, meaning they own six months each. To four sets of owners, each owning quarter shares and so on, down to as many as 26 owners who each own two weeks. Do I have to buy the furniture? No. As there are number of co-owners, developers provide the furniture and fittings as part of the overall ‘share’ package, and these have to be particularly luxurious if the developer is to successfully sell the properties, whilst at the same time ensuring they meet the high standards demanded by the likes of the Registry Collection©, prior to them considering affiliating the development to their exceptional travel opportunities. What if I want to use my home at a different time of the year? Simply notify the Hotel or Resort Management Company who will arrange this subject to availability, so requesting early is a good idea. Remember also that you can go at different times to other stunning locations via the likes of the Registry Collection© programme. What happens if one year I cannot come to my fractional home? Let the Management Company know in advance and they can rent out the accommodation. This is normally done on a 50/50 split arrangement and the returns can help offset the annual management fee. What if I want to sell my share in the property? Fractions can be sold at any time and reputable developers

Fractional Ownership

provide global support to ensure assistance with legal transfers to protect both buyer and seller. Owners can sell to whomsoever they wish, but to the benefit of their clients, reputable developers retain capability within their Real Estate offices to offer existing fractional owners the opportunity to buy more ownership, and also offer incoming renters the opportunity to buy into fractional property via their resale teams on the ground and across the continents. It is also easier and quicker to resell a fractional than an outright purchase, because more people are able to afford the product than those who want to own outright with the attendant higher capital outlay. What fractional homes are available in Phuket? The Absolute Group lead the way in fractional ownership in Asia and recently organised the highly successful AOCAP conference in Phuket (Alternative Ownership Conference Hotels and Resorts Asia Pacific) visit www.aocap. org to learn and see who attended; and Absolute are already planning the next event for 2010. Absolute have three projects in Phuket offering a choice of accommodations at their own three exciting and stunning developments in Phuket. These are Absolute Nakalay Beach Resort, magnificent on the beach apartments only 7 minutes drive from Patong; the classy, chic YooPhuket apartments overlooking Phuketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major Golf Clubs and only 10 minutes drive to the beach; and sensational penthouses at Bangla Suites in the heart of the action in Patong. Absolute also offers fractional ownership in Pattaya and the beautiful island of Koh Samui. These fractionals come with VIP Airport transfers; access to usage 2 days a week of a 31 foot speedboat with your own Captain and Steward; and Calloway golf equipment to save carrying your own clubs on long haul flights. So how can I arrange to see these fractional properties? If you are in Thailand, we have fractional experts in Phuket, Pattaya and in Koh Samui. Call us and we will be pleased to help. If you are in Phuket, visit Absolute Real Estate office at the address shown below. If you are overseas, we offer investors the opportunity to fly to Thailand and inspect our fractional properties.

Absolute Real Estate 42/11 Taveewong RoadPatong Beach Phuket 83150 Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 76 34 6282 Fax: +66 (0) 76 34 6265 Email: sandy@absoluteworld.net Skype: sandyblackwood

Fractional Ownership

Th e B arg e

Bali

Bali An island of many contrasts

Not without reason is the beautiful Indonesian island of Bali called ‘The isle of the Gods’. Described by so many as ‘ magical’, its spectacular landscape of lakes and fast flowing rivers is scattered with banyans and palm groves and adorned with exquisite artistry of a tapestry of rice paddies. Sweeping bays indenting Bali’s coast are filled with white sandy beaches and backed by the blossoms of a tropical Eden, scented with subtle fragrances of frangipani and oleander. Intricate and beautiful tier-roofed temples, pagodas and frequent cultural festivals abound in a display of oriental and spiritual magnificence. Bali is a small island located 8 degrees south of the equator, one of more than 17,500 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia. At only 140km (87 miles) in length east to west and 80km (50 miles) north to south, it has a total area of just 5,632sq km (2,175sq miles). Most of the 3.1 million people on Bali live in the southern, eastern and northern districts, while volcanoes dominate much of the centre, and Bali’s only national park takes up much of the far western area. As part of the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, some of Bali’s most enduring geographical features are the six volcanoes over 2,000m (6,500 ft) high that range across the island from east to west.

Bali

The largest, Gunung (Mount) Agung is 3,142m (10,308 ft) high; the Balinese consider it the home of the deities, who may show their displeasure by causing a volcanic eruption, as happened in 1963, with devastating results. And yet for all their danger, the volcanoes are also gifts from the gods; their lava and ash have provided the lush and fertile soil that allows the Balinese to grow their crops, and their height attracts the rain clouds that fill the massive lakes at their feet - such as Danau (Lake) Batur - and provide the large amounts of water used for irrigation. The colonial past of Bali began with spices. Until the 16th

century, Arab and Indian traders had dominated the trade routes between Southeast Asia and Europe, shipping large and extremely valuable quantities of pepper, nutmeg and clove to the West and bringing Islam to Indonesia. The Portuguese were the first to venture out to India and Indonesia in the 16th century to take over some of the trade, but they later concentrated on other areas, leaving Indonesia to the Dutch. Over a period of three centuries, the Dutch East India Company (arguably the first ever multinational enterprise) gradually took control of Indonesia, using local trade alliances rather than military force to gain access. In 1816, the Dutch government took over the colony,

Bali

in 1909, but not until after more horrific ‘puputan’ in 1906 and 1908. The subsequent colonial period saw the beginnings of tourism on Bali and the settlement of many foreign artists. The Balinese people are friendly, and their traditions will surely charm and captivate you. Each area of the country has a unique style and charm which would take a lifetime to explore fully. Ubud, in central Bali, is the cultural and artistic centre of the country, surrounded by picturesque mountains and lush green countryside; while Kuta, Legian and Seminyak are the places to go surfing, swimming, dining and shopping. Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa are located on the Bukit Peninsula, just 30 minutes south of Kuta. Many of the resorts in this area have world-class facilities, clubs and activities for children and are therefore perfect for a family holiday. The beautiful beach has gentle waves lapping at the shore for those that wish to relax, or for the more active there is golf, horse riding and cycling, to name but a few. This dedicated resort area is manicured in a way that still allows the mystical culture of the island to shine through. The charming fishing village of Sanur is another popular spot for tourists and is located on the south east coast of Bali. The pristine beach is sheltered by a coral reef and so makes this an ideal location for watersports of all kinds; snorkelling, scuba diving, windsurfing and outrigger sailing. The shops are full of bargains, and the dining is exquisite, thanks to the delicious

now named the Dutch East Indies, focusing on plantations, mining and oil. The Dutch first came to Bali in the 1830s, but after negotiations to take over the island failed, they sent in the military three times between 1846 and 1849, causing heavy casualties among the troops of the Balinese ‘rajas’ (kings). It was during these skirmishes that the’raja’ of Karangasem committed ‘puputan’, a suicidal fight to the death, together with his family. In July 1849 most local ‘rajas’ agreed to Dutch rule in exchange for remaining in charge of their own territories. Dutch control over South Bali was completed

local cuisine such as ‘babi guling’ (spit-roasted suckling pig), ‘nasi goreng’ (chicken or seafood with fried rice) and ‘mie goreng’ (with fried noodles) and various kinds of ‘saté’ (skewers of grilled meat, usually served with peanut sauce). Ubud is Bali’s mountain region and this natural highlight is just an hour north of Denpasar, the island’s vibrant capital. Famous for painters and sculptors, the township and nearby villages have attracted celebrities from around the world. Ubud features some of the finest Balinese culture with amazing artisans working in wood, stone and silver. It is also renowned for its festivals and ceremonies and is known as the main

Bali

centre for adventure excursions into Bali’s highlands. The main tourist area of Kuta (including its immediate neighbours Legian and Seminyak) sprawls along the western coast of southern Bali, just 3km (1 3/4 miles) north of Ngurah Rai International Airport. Kuta is brash and is known as the “Costa Fosters” given its popularity with partying Australians. Denpasar, Bali’s largest city has a population of over 400,000 and a sprawling network of streets bustling with motorbikes and other traffic, centred around a peaceful, grassy square that commemorates one of Bali’s bloodiest historical events – the terrorist bombings of 12 October 2002. Life has moved on, and tourists have begun to return, but for Bali, the dream of paradise has been forever altered. Bali’s beaches are great for action or relaxation. The fishing boats, which line Jimbaran Bay, offer the perfect waterfront setting. Enjoy freshly caught seafood from the beachfront markets at this Balinese paradise lined with soft white sand and boasting magnificent sweeping views and is the perfect location to see the most stunning sunsets. Besides sun, sand and sea, Bali is probably best known for its vibrant, multifarious artistic culture. Javanese influences from the 14th century Majapahit kingdom played an early role, but new styles have developed over time, especially in the past century and often from exposure to expatriate Western artists. Gold and silversmiths once supplied the jewellery for Balinese royalty, but now the tourist trade is their main market. Many forms of dance, drama and puppetry were developed for religious ceremonies, although in recent years secular forms have evolved for tourist performances. Bali is a wonderful tropical island, where the culture is instant. Noel Coward put it simply,“It appears that each Balinese native from womb to tomb is creative,” a statement that becomes

even more profound as you travel around. Fantastically designed luxury hotels such as The Legian and The St. Regis Bali Resort, diverse scenery and probably the most spontaneous, widest smiles in the world, Bali is the yardstick by which other resorts must be judged.

FURTHER INFORMATION Bali Tourism Board www.balitourismboard.org How to Get There Thai Airways www.thaiairways.com Malaysia Airlines www.malaysiaairlines.com Where to Stay The Legian www.ghmhotels.com The St. Regis Bali Resort www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis

Bali

Climax @ Bangla Patong’s New Pool Dining & Music Lounge

Climax Pool Dining & Music Lounge is located on the roof top of Patong’s newest design resort, Absolute Bangla Suites, and offers an extensive variety if dining options and drinks, while enjoying a bird’s eye view of Patong. “We offer a new dining experience where you can enjoy the best western dishes and seafood specialties, complimented with our large wine selection and Climax signature drinks menu. All this while enjoying the sophisticated atmosphere and unique view of Patong from our rooftop,” said Stephan Bouwman, Operation Manager of Climax Pool Dining & Music Lounge.

With many years experience in designing menus and organizing and catering functions in Phuket, at Climax Stephan has created a number of unique signature dishes as well as a fresh seafood menu which includes oyster, caviar, lobster, tiger prawn and local fish, in addition to including imported beef and fresh sushi and sashimi and special homemade Climax ice cream and desserts. Climax is also an ideal choice for a private or corporate function. With a seating capacity of 150, a drinks menu numbering in the hundreds (if you can drink them all), and a VIP room which can be used as a separate function room for privacy or a special occasion, Climax is suitable for all manner of private and corporate functions.

www.TheClimax.net • E: AskMe@TheClimax.net • M: 082-636 4316

Santiburi Golf Club

Undoubtedly one of the best Irish bands to emerge from Ireland in the last 5 years, The Coronas are certainly no new comers in the world of music. Having been a huge success in their home country of Ireland for the last 5 years, this rock-indie-alternative band are now hitting the big league. The Coronas, who formed at the age of 15, whilst still at school were formerly known as “kiros” but changed their name to “corona” back in 2004. Changing it again to “the coronas” in 2007 after the formation of an Italian dance act also calling themselves “corona”. 2008 was a phenomenal year for The Coronas. Their debut album ‘Heroes Or Ghosts’ achieved platinum selling status in Ireland, they picked up 2 Meteor Music Award nominations, only to be beaten by Westlife, and they successfully embarked on tours in the UK and the US. The coronas have had numerous hit singles, including “Decision Time” (their debut single) “Grace”, “Don’t Wait”, and their biggest hit to date “San Diego” which has been in the Irish singles chart for 24 weeks. September 25, 2009 saw the release of their second and most current album “Tony was an ex-con” which is released through 3u Records. It has had rave reviews and has been a massive success with their loyal fan base. This new album was recorded in Cornwall’s renowned Sawmills Studio (and overseen by Razorlight, Muse, Supergrass/Oasis producer John Cornfield). Although band members, Danny O’Reilly (vocals/guitar), Graham Knox (base), Dave McPhilips (lead guitar), and Conor Egan (drums) are individually talented in their own right, they seem to have a real closeness which reflects in their music. They have certainly made a real impact on the Irish music scene, and are continuing to generate an ever growing fan base. According to Dave, the ban’s overall sense of ambition is wrapped up in a subdued collective confidence, rather than any game plan of reaching a certain goal by a certain time, and being disappointed if it’s not achieved. “There’s a sense in some bands that they think they’re better than they are, when really you’re only as good as your last gig. We found that getting responses from gigs was much more encouraging in a productive way, as opposed to reading a brilliant review about the band. We’re quite a humble group, anyway, and we’ve always had an underlying belief in ourselves. I mean, at this point we’re confident enough that we can win over people who have never been to a Coronas gig before.” With their outstanding performance at MTV’s Oxegen Festival in July this year, performing on the main stage with such greats like: Blur, Snow Patrol, Lilly Allen, James and The Script it is easy to see why this band are certainly causing such a stir in today’s music scene. We recently caught up with them on the third leg of their Asian tour here in Phuket at our very own Climax Pool Dining & Music Lounge, Absolute Bangla Suites . For a chance hear The Coronas music or catch up with any of their latest movements you can always check out their official web site www.thecoronas.net

Santiburi Golf Club

Welcome to Santiburi Samui Country Club – a course as spectacular as it is challenging. Standing on the north eastern corner of the restaurant patio you have Koh Phangan in the distance straight ahead, Bo Phut beach stretching out to the right, and thousands of palm trees right below you. It is no wonder Mark Siegel of GolfAsian.com says, “The view from this clubhouse is the most scenic in Thailand”; this from a man who has personally played over 100 courses in the Kingdom of Thailand is a compliment indeed. Course designers Pirapon Namatra and Edward A. Thiele have done a wonderful job integrating the course into the jungle and mountains that are synonymous with the region. The course boasts a natural waterfall on the 6th hole; in fact, water comes into play on 13 holes, and there is an elevation drop of over 100 yards from the 17th tee box to the 18th green – yes over 100! The sixth hole is only 150 yards but drops some 40 yards in elevation and is then followed by the seventh, the tee box of which is literally carved out of the mountainside. As a golf course it is a wonderful creation with a lot more panoramic vistas than easy pars! The Asian Tour has already made a number of stops here in the last 5 years, the latest in August 2009 for the inaugural Queen’s Cup. This highly successful event was won by popular young Thai golfer Chinnarat Phadungsil, giving him his third win on the Asian Tour. Due to Samui’s many tourist attractions, Asian Tour stops at Santiburi are always welcomed by the players as a chance to play a beautiful course and to spend some time on a tropical island paradise. However, the players are very much aware that whilst Samui is a great place for R&R Santiburi Golf Course itself is no holiday.

Santiburi Golf Club

There are many aspects to this course that you keep in mind after playing it a few times, but the one that really stands out is your need to be accurate. Most golfers will only use the driver on 8 holes, less if you are not really straight. But distance is not the key here, finding the fairway is. A great tip is choosing your tee box based on your handicap. If your handicap is over 10 or 12 you really should play from the whites, otherwise you are in for some seriously difficult tee shots. The other really unusual and interesting point about this course is the greens. Some of the greens have so many tiers and steps you will think you are playing Augusta. You will know what I mean on the very first green - it has three distinct tiers, and if you are on the wrong

one a three-putt hole beckons. As most people play off higher than 10, I will describe the holes from the white tee box. We will start at the 9th and from the tee your best option is the ‘Tiger line’ over the palm trees down the right hand side. The bunker down the left is only 210 yards away, and just right of that is a very reachable thick rough and lots of trouble. The alternative for those with an inconsistent driver is to use a 3 wood off the tee, and aim just right of the bunker. Once safely down the fairway you need to be smart. Take whichever club gets you to the right hand edge of the green; if you can’t reach that leave yourself about

Santiburi Golf Club

ishing stretch of 4 excellent holes. This hole is visually beautiful. The fairway drops down over a ridge, the top of which blends perfectly into the Gulf of Thailand in the background, which means you have a blind tee shot, but the fairway is straight so just let the caddy help you with your aim. After you hit a drive – erring to the right side as everything will bounce left off the sloping bank – you walk over the crest of the ridge and falling away before you is the remainder of the hole. Both sides of the fairway is framed by palm trees and at the bottom of a hill, that drops down over 40 yards, the green is nestled in the bottom of a valley. Again the back drop is the Gulf of Thailand with a small islet providing the most majestic view. Don’t be distracted, a good shot still needs to be played over the protecting bunker, but it is a flat, large green that should be easily found which gives a relatively easy 2-putt for par. The 17th is a 500 yard par-5 that is all down hill and plays much shorter, but you still have to play it well. The white tees are 100 yards forward of the blue tees and makes this a very different hole. The blue tees leave with you a blind tee shot to a very narrow landing area. The whites give you a decent view of the fairway and a wider landing area to aim for from about 240 yards out. From here you have an interesting choice, the green is 260 yards away but is playing about 215 yards due to the drop. Even so, the best option is to aim 20 yards left of the fairway bunker directly in front of you. This is a 190 yard shot and is to a wide landing area with an easy chip/pitch shot to a flat deep green. If the flag is any where but the very front just

100 yards out. The fairway gets very narrow about 50-60 yards out from the green, and if you are in the left hand rough you have no chance of getting the ball close, especially if the flag is placed back left – near the water and protected by the bunker. Remember it is stroke index 5, so you have at least 1 extra shot if not 2 to get a net par. This is one of the many tricky greens on the course that has a large ridge in the middle that makes 2 putting or a chip and 1-put hard to judge. You should be no more than 100 yards out and have 3 or 4 shots, so relax and be smart. Now moving on to the 16th hole; which is part of a great fin-

aim for the middle of the green, and take 1 club less than the yardage suggests. Santaburi Samui Golf Course is a visually glorious course and also a real thinking golfer’s course. There are plenty of holes to score well, but be patient on the back nine, and, unless you are arrow straight, leave the driver in the bag except where really necessary.

Santiburi Golf Club

Chip Sh o t s

Playing situations often demand a less than full swing. As shots are made approaching the green, direction is the primary goal. To accomplish this you should feel a more compact, controlled action through your upper body while maintaining a greater stability in the lower body. The whole posture of the body is lowered and the stance is narrower. The arms form an inverted triangle with the shoulders as the base. The triangle moves in a more pendulum action yet feel of striking the ball remains crisp. The type of swing and club selection depends on two factors: distance to the flag and the nature of the remaining terrain. Therefore, there are two styles of swing for these shots (1) a low running shot, the chip shot or (2) a higher lofting shot, the pitch shot. When you have only fairway and/or green between you and the flag go for the chip shot, and any club can be used, from the pitching wedge to a 5-iron, depending on the distance to the flag. Here is how to execute a good chip shot every time. Shorten your grip – choke down the shaft an inch or two.

Posture is lowered – bend your knees a little more than usual. A narrow, open stance – place your feet a little closer together, and move your front foot a couple of inches back from the target line. Put your weight a little more on the front foot. The back of your right hand (left hand if a lefty) should remain in front of the ball through contact and beyond. Use a smooth pendulum motion, the lower body stays stable. After contact, the club face remains on the target line. If you imagine a clock face, practice this shot swinging from 8 o’clock to 4 o’clock. Keep practicing this shot with one club, say a 9-iron or a pitching wedge until each shot goes the same distance and the same direction. The idea is to have one swing, one length and one style, and vary the club when the distance to the flag varies. If you perfect this swing and your pitching wedge goes 20 yards, then this is your shot. Keep practicing with each club till you know how far each club hits the ball using this swing. Once you have this information, you just have to remember to take into account hitting uphill, 40 yard fairways and 20 yard greens are different to 20 yard fairways and 40 yard greens. These slight changes can be handled by moving your grip up or down the shaft.

This is a perfect time use the chip shot

Swing back to 8 o’clock

Swing through to 4 o’clock

“Choke down on the club, and put more of your weight on your front foot”

Keep the front hand in front of the club head through contact

Note the slightly open stance “and club face still points to the target”

Santiburi Golf Club

Phuket Goes Wahoo

Phuket goes Wahoo!

Phuket Country Club

If Challenges and a History is what build character – then Phuket’s Wahoo Big Game Fishing is certainly full of life. In Phuket some 15 years in various guises and under various stewardships, the current management team being the youngest so far – this however does not daunt their business development and marketing head James Neilson – “A young team brings with it a youthful energy and fun, we are trying to work outside the traditional boundaries of a fishing and boat charter company so we need a team capable of bringing fresh new ideas”. With recent guests including the Hollywood celebrities from the Bangkok International Film and Phuket Comedy Festivals including James Belushi, Olivia Thurlby, Verne Troyer (AKA “Mini Me”) and Keenan Wayans, Wahoo isn’t short of some celebrity passengers – although historically is has always had quite a list with Jude Law, Leonardo Di Caprio, Sir Ian Botham and Gordon Ramsay and a whole list of models and pop stars both from Thailand and abroad. The road these last few years has not always been star studded and red carpets – boats are a frustrating and unpredictable way to make a living, almost providing a comedic personality and temperament for each boat and that with parts and specialist labour sometimes hard to find and you have an operational juggling competition, “Our team works well together, they all have their unique strengths and all understand the importance of being able to laugh it off taking each day as its own” laughs James. With a keen eye for a niche market and recent philanthropic involvement in Phuket and other charity events the whole emphasis of the company has changed in recent years from what was a company only doing fishing charters to one which is now capable of doing anything to do with the water, as shown with their recent collaboration with Sri Panwa for the Wahoopia boat party. “Phuket has looked after Wahoo, so with the help from the team at Sri Panwa, Wahoopia was a way of giving back” – it certainly was a give away, with some 100 invited guests and 12 invited boats – free food, drink and water based activities, when asked about the work with Sri Panwa “They are another young and energetic team so the combination was ideal, they do such a fantastic job with their events so it made sense!”. And about the future – Watch this space for more water based fun. Go Wahoo! For information on charters or any other request please contact: info@wahoo.ws Wahoo Big Game Fishing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. The Sea Centre – 48/20 Moo 9,Soi Ao Chalong, Amphur Muang, Phuket, Thailand 83130 T. - +66 (0) 76 281510 F. -+66 (0) 76 280775 W. www.wahoo.ws

Phuket - Fun on the Ocean

Phuket – Fun on th e Ocean. For centuries th e island of Phuk et has been a ce was on the major ntre of Maritime trading route be traffic. It tween India and place for seafar China and was a ers to shelter du natural ring the voyage became a cent . Later on it beca re of maritime me also trade for Europe English and Fren ans – Dutch, Po ch shipping go rtuguese, ods to and fro territories and m their various trading with re Imperial sident Kings an the natural glor d Emperors. Th ies of the Anda ese days man Sea maint and Phuket is ain that maritim one of the wor e history ld’s leading recr The breath taki ea tional yachting ng beauty of th arenas. e tropical seas, the jutting limes tone rock

Phuket Marina and the Yacht H aven Phuket Marina provid e facilities th at are way beyond world cl ass.

As tourism is a gr owing global indu stry, Phuket offers yacht char ters and boat ch arters of all kinds catering to every kind of vi sitor be they a serious sailor or a serious lo unger-on-deck with a G&T and pots of sun crea m. Whether for the experienced or the beginner, water lovers will find the right pe ople to take them on a cruising adventure. A go od example is Al lasia Yachts. They allow you to cr uise in Paradise the moment yo arrive. With th u eir 62ft. Motor Yacht, Voyager, Allasia is just on e example from a plethora of options for crui sing the Andam ans in style. With the possibility of up to 35 guests for day cruises, luxury cabins, w ith fantastic cu linary high-ligh prepared by to ts p Michelin-train ed chefs from

formations and outcrops have turned Phuket destination. The into a premier island has not be yachting en slow to build and now the faci on these natura lities for yachtsm l gifts en are superb w outfits, and on ith marinas, yach shore recreatio t charter n that puts Ph A blissful marria uket in a class ge of sea and of its own. land. The Phuket Boat Lagoon, th e Royal

Phuket - Fun on the Ocean

Climax and all the equipment you need for diving and snorkelling chartering the Voyager is a key to ocean-going paradise. The skilled crew can take you to any one of the wonderful places that dot the seas around the pearl of the Andamans. Phang Nga Bay on the east coast is a well-sheltered sailing ground, which offers cruising throughout the year, even when the monsoon rains hit hard with windy downpours and other seas become over choppy. This is certainly true of the west coast, which is stormy and rough during rainy season, when the southwest monsoon usually causes a two-week deluge, although there are times when the weather is calmer and the area is perfect for vessels of all kinds. In season the weather is perfect and the beauty of the views from deck are simply stunning. This when the long northeast monsoon season from November to May creates the best climate for sailing.

don a mask and marvel at the amazing variety of technicolour, psychedelic fish before heading to the island itself for cocktails at sunset. If you fancy something more deserted, drop anchor at Koh Tarutao south of Phuket where there are hiking trails that lead to deserted, white sand beaches and glistening seas.

The weather conditions are then even better than those in the Mediterranean. Steady winds, clear skies, together with flat seas and clean, clear 26ºC water allow for the most rewarding sailing in the world. Related activities such as windsurfing and diving are also a pure pleasure and you certainly don’t need a wetsuit. There are also stunningly beautiful islands dotted with streams and waterfalls. On the east coast, beautiful limestone rock formations emerge from the water like aquatic skyscrapers rearing skywards from the seabed. Taking a dinghy to the caves or kayaking round the inlets makes a wonderful afternoon’s excursion. Alternatively you can head to Koh Phi Phi,anchor in the lee of this perfect tropical island,

Koh Bon is only a short cruise north of the Similan Islands and is the best site to see the moving grace of Manta Rays. The dive site follows a ridge, covered in pastel shaded soft corals, which drop to depths of 35-40 meters. Mantas are often spotted over the ridge or in the deep water to the south. Leopard sharksare also common in the deeper water and this is a good location to find the elusive Purple Fire Goby. Or cross the sea to the mainland the long way round and enjoy the waters of Krabi where largely uninhabited islands offer tranquility and peace. Another real pleasure of Phuket for those serious yachtsmen used to ploughing the freezing waters of northern Europe or even the Med in winter, are the year round balmy temperatures. You might

Phuket - Fun on the Ocean

need waterproofs occasionally, but your hands are u likely to go numb is you haul in the sheets in a rainstorm. You will also be in the company of the skilled. The amazing nature of the sailing around Phuket means that serious yachtsmen come from around the world. Whether they enjoy the adrenaline fueled competition of racing against their peers, spinnaker set and healing into the wind at seemingly crazy angles, or cruising gently enjoying the feel of the wind and the peace that only the sea can offer, Phuket has become a mariner’s Mecca. There is nowhere better. Yachtsmen are notoriously proud of their skills and often admiring of the skills of others. They can also be damning to those who don’t make it. When amongst the elite be sure that if you attempt to come into harbour under sail, you complete the manouvre gracefully! At no time is that more true than in November when the best and the fastest from around the world arrive in Phuket for the annual Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. It is Asia’s biggest and most popular sailing bonanza. This year is the 22nd anniversary of this world class sailing event, which came into being in 1987 in honour of His Majesty the King of Thailand. His Majesty is himself a very accomplished sailor. With Royal Patronage, the Regatta is organised by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy and the Province of Phuket.

The annual Phuket King’s Cup Regatta has grown from a small, mostly locally contested event to become Asia’s premier yachting challenge. Last year media interest was intense with journalists attending from around the world including the UK, wGibraltar, Chile, Hong Kong, Australia, Italy, the US, China, Turkey, Singapore, Spain, Japan and Germany. Even given that the AndamanSea is a paradise of tropical yachting waters the growth of the regatta remains quite an achievement.

This year sailors and yachts from all over the world will take to the beautiful waters off Phuket. Most of the contestants from last year’s Regatta are also returning this year. Racing-class boats from Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Australia are all lined up. In 2008 over a hundred boats and a thousand sailors entered the races and this year should easily match that. Not only will the participants be sailing they will also be partying. Although the maritime competition is intense after the race is finished sailors from around the world swap stories and anecdotes (although rarely nautical secrets) at a round of parties in some of the island’s top resorts. The Regatta may be the highlight, but year round the island of Phuket is totally geared up for those who love the ocean – be that lounging, diving, snorkeling, yachting, or high-powered engine cruising. When it comes to Ocean, Phuket is complete.

For charter-prices & top notch catering enquiries please contact: Yachting@TheClimax.net | www.TheClimax.net

Cleansing Programs Yoga & Meditation Spa Treatments Herbal Steam Far Infrared Sauna Vegetarian Raw Food CafĂŠ Samui Wellness Spa is a Holistic health centre located on a gorgeous, white, powder sand beach in Southern Chaweng. It is a sanctuary for total health and relaxation, specializing in deep cleansing, rejuvenation programs and specialty spa treatments. Herbal cleansing programs are the core of the Samui Wellness Spa. They focus on safely bringing your body and mind back to its optimum, natural, healthy state. This is achieved using a combination of herbal supplements, colon hydrotherapy, far Infrared sauna or herbal steam, massage, yoga, meditation, and depending on which program - either fasting, or delicious, healthy raw food cuisine from our vegetarian raw food cafĂŠ. We offer a number of detox programs from half day to seven days depending on how much time you have here on Samui and how toxic your body is! Cleanse and rejuvenate your body, mind and soul at the Samui Wellness Spa

Samui Wellness Spa in Samui Resotel 17/16 Moo 3 Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Tel. 077- 422433, 077- 414332 Fax 077-414335 www.samuiwellnessspa.com

Porsche 911 Turbo

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Porsche 911 Turbo

2010 Porsche 911 Turbo

After building 80,000 Turbos in six generations over the past 35 years, Porsche still found plenty to improve.

When the Porsche 911 Turbo was introduced in Europe 35 years ago, the company thought the market for the car would be satiated after 500 units were sold. Now, after selling 80,000 examples spanning six generations of Turbos, Porsche is making yet another round of improvements, halfway through the life of the current 997 model.

ABSOLUTE PERFORMANCE This issue in Absolute Performance we take a look at the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo. Making its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, Porsche fanatics, including myself were eager to see the changes made to this seventh generation iconic German supercar. Porsche as always did not disappoint its fans. Not only have they increased the engine size from 3.6 to 3.8 liters, it now boasts an impressive power output of 500 bhp. Although aesthetically it hasn’t changed and looks exactly the same as the last model, with a top track speed of 194 mph and an impressive 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds, there’s no guessing at what’s going to be at the top of my Christmas list this year. Let’s hope Mrs. Christmas loves this car as much as I do…………

Porsche 911 Turbo

911 Turbo Powered Up As always with 911 Turbos, the engine is the star of the car and gets the lion’s share of the upgrades for this revised model. For the first time since the advent of the water-cooled models, this 2010 Turbo uses the same construction as that of the standard 911 engines, which were themselves updated last year. This means that rather than using cylinder blocks separate from the crankcase halves, the Turbo now uses an integrated casting on each side, reducing the parts count and cutting weight. The elaborate dry-sumplubrication system, with its external tank, has also been changed to the standard 911 design with an integrated oil reservoir at the bottom of the engine, although separated from the crankcase. However, in the Turbo’s case, six—rather than four—oil-scavenge pumps are used to return oil to this reservoir because the two turbochargers each require a dedicated oil return. Rather than the Nikasil hard-surface coating used on the cylinder walls of previous Turbos, this one relies on the hard surface produced by etching the Alusil block casting. Although Porsche engineers cringe when we say it, this is the metallurgy that debuted on the Chevrolet Vega about 40 years ago and has since been perfected on many German engines. The new turbo engine goes up in displacement from 3600cc to 3800cc due to increases in the bore and stroke dimensions, which are identical to those of the current Carrera S engine and fractionally less oversquare than the dimensions in the 3797cc 911 GT3 engine. The new engine gets direct fuel injection, as did the Carrera and Carrera S powerplants last year. This is particularly beneficial to a turbocharged engine, as the cooling effect of the fuel vaporizing in the combustion chamber allows an increased compression ratio—which has risen from 9.0:1

to 9.8:1. Slightly larger intake valves help with filling the cylinders, as does an intake manifold adapted from the GT2, which employs expansion chambers in the intake runners to further cool the incoming charge. Slightly larger compressor wheels for the variable geometry turbochargers, more-efficient intercoolers, and refined exhaust system improve airflow through the engine. As a result, the 2010 engine is about 22 pounds lighter than the previous one—quite an achievement since the direct fuel injection system adds about 18 pounds due to heavier components mandated by its much higher operating pressure. Peak horsepower has increased from 480 to 500; torque is up from 457 lb-ft to 479 lb-ft, despite a drop in maximum boost pressure from 14.5 psi to 11.6 psi. And with the optional Sport Chrono Package Turbo, an overboost function raises peak

Porsche 911 Turbo

will no longer be offered. Finally, in response to complaints about the somewhat cumbersome steering-wheel-mounted shift buttons introduced with the PDK transmission on the Carrera models, Porsche is offering an optional PDK sport steering wheel with large separate shift paddles that are fixed to the steering-wheel hub. The right paddle upshifts the gearbox, and the left one handles downshifts.

torque to 516 lb-ft for up to 10 seconds. EPA fuel-economy figures are unavailable, but Porsche claims the engine changes have reduced fuel consumption on the European tests by 10 percent. That’s with the standard six-speed manual gearbox. However, the new model gets a beefed-up version of Porsche’s sevenspeed PDK twin-clutch automated manual as an option. This transmission is much like the one introduced last year on the regular 911, except that it gets larger-diameter clutch plates as well as an extra pair in each pack to cope with theTurbo engine’s greater torque. It has taller ratios in thirdthrough sixth gears to better match the elevated output. With this transmission, Porsche says European fuel-economy figures have improved by 16 percent compared with those of the five-speed Tiptronic transmission that

Improved Grunt Management To make the most of the increased power, this latest 911 Turbo gets a thoroughly revised suspension along with a new feature to enhance handling and address some of the dynamic issues that had elicited complaints on the previous car—from Car and Driver, among others. The software that controls the BorgWarner-sourced all-wheel-drive system and determines the amount of torque sent to the front wheels has been revised and now feeds power to the front more gradually than before. Put simply, the system allows more tire slip in the rear before it sends torque forward, slowing the transition from oversteer to understeer. Continued... The overall suspension calibration has been revised, with stiffer front anti-roll bars, a softer rear bar, variable-rate rear springs that are now stiffer, and a revised calibration of the adjustable shock absorbers controlled by the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system. Basically, these changes have reduced rear suspension movement during hard driving, with the goal of improving handling stability at the limit without compromising ride quality. A new feature is an optional program called Porsche Torque Vectoring. Priced at $1320, PTV uses the PASM’s ability to apply the brakes individually to help the Turbo turn into corners. Based on steering angle, vehicle speed, throttle position, and yaw rate, PTV gently applies the brake on the inside rear wheel to minimize understeer while entering corners. The system starts to phase out above 75 mph and is completely inactive by 100 mph. The Changes Add Up All these features are, of course, hidden beneath the skin of the Turbo, which is largely unchanged from the previous version’s. The front running lamps and the taillights now use

Porsche 911 Turbo which turns on a “Sport Plus” light in the left spoke of the PDK sport steering wheel. Then depress the brake pedal with your left foot and floor the throttle with your right, activating the “Launch Control” lamp in the right spoke. When the brakes are released, the system provides the ideal amount of clutch slip to make the best use of the prodigious four-wheeled traction. The car blasts off with sufficient acceleration to induce mild vertigo. It is impressive! We had only the briefest opportunity to drive the new Turbo on a racetrack, but the car displayed enormous grip and nice control at the limit. However, with no opportunity to learn the course sufficiently, final judgments will have to wait for a future track day.

LED illumination, the headlights can swivel to track the car’s path on a winding road, the design of the mirrors has been revised, and the tailpipes are much larger than before. These differences are subtle, but when behind the wheel, the dynamic changes are not. The new engine, with its higher compression ratio and reduced boost pressure, produces a more even and linear flow of power than ever before. Other than a few subtle airflow whooshing sounds, the engine feels almost like a big naturally aspirated unit. Thrust is

immediate and effortless and more than sufficient for any road condition. The PDK gearbox ($4550) seems to have achieved a new threshold of refinement, shifting almost as smoothly as a conventional torque-converter automatic and responding instantly to manual downshifts and upshifts. The new steering wheel ($490), with its large conventional paddles, is the way to go, providing easy shifting and an appropriate three-spoke design. Lighting the Fuse With all the go-fast options selected - the PDK transmission, the Sport Chrono Package Turbo ($3470 with PDK), which includes the dynamic engine mounts and launch control this new powertrain is claimed to get the Turbo to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. But judging by our history of beating previous Porsche performance claims, we expect the car to hit 60 in three seconds flat and cover the quarter-mile in the low-eleven-second range. Although we had no opportunity to test the Turbo objectively, we did try the launch-control system. To engage it, first press the “Sport Plus” button in the center console,

An Everyday Rocket On the road, however, the Turbo is an absolute delight. Steering feel, as on all 911s, is excellent, with perfect weighting and great precision. The Turbo’s ride is supple on European roads, although we will have to see how smooth and quiet the ride is on the much more pock-marked and noise-inducing concrete interstates of America’s Midwest. Overall engine noise is reasonably subdued at cruise and stirring at high revs, which now extend all the way to 7000 rpm—up from 6750. Our only small complaint was

a pronounced booming sound that developed when we applied medium throttle to the engine while cruising at about 85 mph. It sounded almost like the classic four-cylinder boom of yesteryear and seems out of place in this car. The 2010 911 Turbo hits U.S. showrooms in January, with a base price of $133,595 for the coupe and 11 grand more for the cabriolet, or about $4000 more than the previous models. As usual, however, it’s easy to option these Porsches to substantially higher price levels. Even so, the 911 Turbo delivers performance that competes with cars costing substantially more while providing everyday usability that most exotics simply can’t match. As far as mid-cycle upgrades go, this one is mechanically substantial and well worth - consideration by Turbo fans.

AAS Auto Service Co., Ltd. 33/9, 16-18 Moo 8, Vibhavadi Rangsit Rd., Don Muang, Bangkok 10210, Thailand Tel: +66 (02) 522 6655 Fax: +66 (02) 552 8508

Tops & Bottoms

TOPS & BOTTOMS

Tops & Bottoms

ollowing the huge success of the Phuket Mermaids Fashion Show at the Phuket International Fashion Week 2009 last June at the Jungceylon Shopping complex in Phuket, Phuket Mermaids is now expanding in their approach to dominate the swimwear industry, not only in Asia, but around the world. To everyone’s anticipation, Phuket Mermaids has developed another brand under the Phuket Mermaids umbrella named TOPS & BOTTOMS. TOPS & BOTTOMS is a swimwear brand like no other. It lives by a concept called MIX IT! You can Mix & Match different patterns and different sizes of swimwear to create your perfect bikini to fit any body and taste. TOPS & BOTTOMS will brighten any beachgoer as they wear a TOPS & BOTTOMS creation in supreme sophistication with the vibrant colors and designs that make it so unique. TOPS & BOTTOMS has a very young and hip feel to it. Put it on and you’ll feel like a beach bunny caught in a whirlwind of cool breezes and crystal blue waters.

The main thing that jumps out at you when wearing TOPS & BOTTOMS creations is their detailed, one-ofa-kind designs. TOPS & BOTTOMS has a wide array of many different patterns and designs to choose from. The best part is you can Mix & Match any design to create your perfect bikini. TOPS & BOTTOMS is fashion forward and ahead of its game as the trends for the Spring/Summer 2010 have already been announced. This Spring/Summer 2010 you will see large trends in the expression of fashion through print designs. You’ll see large scale floral, abstract effects and prints, vibrant to soft pastel colors, motifs, and vivid kaleidoscope effects. Most of all, animal inspired prints are making a huge comeback. This spring expects the leopard and the zebra prints to stand out and dominate the print palette. Not only that, but TOPS & BOTTOMS pushes forward with a bird print that will make you fly on over to their nearest shop. From geometrical prints to florals, vibrant colors to classic black and white, from pretty demure silhouettes to detailed prints and designs, you’ll be sure to make a splash wherever you are as you strut around in this year’s hottest collection from TOPS & BOTTOMS. Visit their shops at: Pattaya : The Avenue, The Village, Royal Garden Plaza Bangkok: Suvarnabhumi Airport, Gaysorn Plaza Phuket: Jungceylon Shopping Complex Samui: Chaweng Road For more information, please visit: www.topsandbottoms-wear.com

Tops & Bottoms

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Absolute Motivation

ABSOLUTE MOTIVATION Here at Absolute, we believe strongly in the term ‘Family’. By working together as one big family we all contribute to the overall success of the company. One way in which the Chairman of the Absolute Group of Companies, Bryan Lunt encourages this is by organizing staff members to participate in Team Building Events, Motivational Days and Boot Camps. It is openly documented that such events help to break down barriers, improve communication and allows individuals to explore working relationships. It also helps management to recognize the diverse skills and personalities of their staff that do not always become apparent in their working environment. Team Building events help to unlock trust issues and promote openness within a team. When people work together as a team their strengths help to compensate for each other’s weaknesses. Different personalities learn to balance and complement each other. It opens people’s minds and educates them to understand that all team efforts are directed towards the same goal. The overall outcome being a more team oriented workforce striving for improvement, working as a family to improve results for its customers.

Boot Camp

Absolute boot camps are a new addition to the motivational team building that goes on at Absolute. With the dawn of the electronic age and today’s modern workforce being mostly desk bound, sitting in front of computer screens for the majority of the day, it is important to get staff moving and blood pumping. The Chairman, Bryan Lunt,is very keen to promote health and fitness within his team. Encouraging and teaching staff about the benefits of healthy living not only enhances the well-being of employees but also the productivity of the company. A happy, healthy ‘family’ benefits everybody in the long run. Bryan has enlisted the help of fitness guru and former American football coach, Tyler Treece from Hong Kong, who is drafted in on a regular basis to organize fitness workshops. It’s an early start for the team when Tyler is in town. Sessions start on the beach at 6am, where he puts staff through their passes with an hour’s cardio workout. The sessions are repeated again at 6pm for a further hour. Turnout is excellent with the Directors Bryan, Svetlana and Val always first on the scene. For a chance to see the team being put through their paces you can always tune into Club Absolute TV on the net for a sneak peek.

Absolute Motivation

August of this year saw yet another example of the team building that goes on here at Absolute with the Vice President of Thailand, Khun Saman Sa-ingthong and his family taking the Accounts team and all their families on a much needed break to Khao-Sok National Park, located in the Suratthani Province, about 350km from Phuket. The team and their families stayed on a 2 day, 1 night vacation in this beautiful resort. The aim of this trip was to break down barriers, relax, de-stress and have fun. It was a chance for staff and their families to mix outside of the work environment and get to know each other better. Malinee Srisaikaew, Head of Finance,said “We all had fun, canoeing, eating, playing, telling stories and a good time was had by all”. When asked if she thought it had made the team closer and improved working relationship, she answered, “Absolutely YES”. As Absolute strongly believes in one company, one family, and such events can only help to improve the company as a whole, there are already plans to repeat this and many more team building events again next year.

Cinema In Your Home

Cinema in your Home Movies can provide an immersive experience, as sight and sound blend together to take you to a place far, far away. For years you could get that complete escape only in a cinema, with its huge screen and monstrous speakers. Now, with a home theater, you can enjoy a full-fledged cinematic experience in your living room. This guide looks at three key components of a home theater system: the display, the DVD player, and the speakers. A home theater can do a remarkable job of mimicking the multiplex experience. DVD players and newer televisions can produce detailed high-resolution pictures, offering realistic portrayals of everything from the largest explosion to the smallest teardrop. And thanks to a high-quality surround-sound speaker system, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll almost feel the rotor blades whirring by as you watch a helicopter pass overhead. With the right setup, your living room will become a movie-watching cocoon. To get the crisp picture, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need a DVD player or one of the new high-definition HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc players. DVD video outputs up to 540 horizontal lines of resolution, compared with about 200 lines on the VHS tapes your VCR plays. And you can see the difference, as the higher resolution produces a noticeably smoother and clearer picture. The overall picture quality will usually be just as good on a current low-cost model as on an ultra-deluxe one. All DVD players can read music CDs; most can play MP3 music on recordable CDs, and video on one or more of the various recordable DVD formats (such as DVD-R and DVD+R). Some high-end models can also play one or both of the high-

Cinema In Your Home

resolution, multichannel audio formats, DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD. At the top of the heap are players for the new high-definition videodisc formats, Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD, you’ll need a high-definition television to take full advantage of them though. While you can watch DVD movies on any television, wide-screen TVs work especially well because most DVD movies use the wide-screen format. Wide-screen televisions have a 16:9 (width:height) aspect ratio, which is closer to the shape of theater screens than the 4:3 aspect ratio of normal TVs is. In addition, the 16:9 aspect ratio is standard for high-definition television, which produces much sharper and clearer pictures than does conventional (NTSC) television. For your home theater, you probably don’t want to consider anything other than a wide-screen TV. Flat-panel TVs are just a few inches thick and can be either wall- or stand-mounted. LCD (liquid crystal display) panels are available in sizes ranging from portable units of a few inches diagonal to wide-screen models measuring as large as 65 inches diagonal. Plasma panels start at about 42 inches, and models measuring more than 100 inches diagonal are available. Except for small LCD TVs, almost all flat-panel TVs are wide-screen models, and most have HDTV inputs and resolutions. Where plasma and LCD screen sizes overlap, the LCDs tend to be more expensive. Generally speaking, LCDs are more suitable than plasmas for brightly lit rooms, but plasmas typically can produce deeper blacks and truer colors and thus a more pleasing overall picture. Rear-projection TVs cast a video image onto the inside of a translucent screen by means of internal mirrors and lenses. All rear-projection TVs available today are wide-screen HDTV designs. Some budget models still use CRTs to create the projected images, but most now rely on more compact DLP (Digital Light Projection), LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon), or LCD light engines in which a high-intensity lamp shines on or through one or more display chips or panels. Athough bulkier than flat-panel TVs, rear-projection sets using these new technologies are usually no more than 16 to 18 inches deep and weigh only about 100 pounds; most are designed to be placed on a shelf or stand, something hard to achieve with traditional CRT designs. Screen sizes for rear-projection TVs range from about 42 inches to more than 70 inches diagonal.

While the visual element is at the forefront of a movie’s appeal, sound is what really immerses you in the experience. To achieve theater-quality audio, you’ll need more than the speakers built into your TV or the two bookshelf speakers that came with your mini stereo system. A complete surround-sound system from a company such as Bose, JBL, or Paradigm includes center, left, and right speakers, as well as two satellite speakers (intended for placement at the sides or somewhat behind the seating area) and a subwoofer for rumbling bass. These six speakers work together with audio formats such as Dolby Digital and DTS to create the sensation of bullets whizzing by your head and thunderstorms rolling through your house and rattling your teeth. You don’t need all the elements to enjoy a good listening experience, but at a minimum you should have center, left, and right speakers. Most home theater systems also include an A/V receiver--a box that acts as the hub for all audio input from the various components of the system, decodes surround-sound signals, and amplifies and balances sound before sending it to the speakers. As more people decide to set up a home theater, vendors are making the task easier. Many companies now offer “home theater in a box” setups that include a DVD player integrated with a receiver, plus a full set of six speakers.

Cinema In Your Home

PHOTOS

Horoscope

Dec09 - Jan10 Aries

Mar 21/Apr 20

Arguments over joint finances abound. You’re worried about your long term financial future. Putting money away for a retirement, savings or a rainy day is essential. If your current income isn’t enough to cover your bills, you may need to find another job. Fortunately, a powerful executive is impressed by your abilities, and could offer you a position in their firm. You’ll have to play second fiddle to them, but it’s better than having to struggle all the time.

Taurus

Apr 21/May 21

Gemini

Mar 22/Jun 21

Cancer

Jun 22/Jul 23

Having a humble attitude is critical to your success. Taking the credit for a big job will anger your colleagues. You can’t afford to make enemies at this stage of the game. Career demands are taking up most of your time, making loved ones feel neglected. It feels like you’re walking a tight rope between personal and professional pressures. Be sure to take time out of your busy schedule to enjoy a surprise party. Having fun with loved ones puts work in its proper perspective

Overindulging in food and drink can take a toll on your health. Stick to a light diet and try to get a half an hour of exercise each day. By keeping your body in good condition, you’ll have all the energy necessary to venture into new territory. At times, you’ll feel like you’re in over your head. When this happens, stop to tread water. Wait for your second wind. When it arrives, you’ll be able to reapply yourself to the task at hand.

Someone close is taking advantage of your generosity, and you’ve got to put a stop to it. Establishing firm personal boundaries will cause your beloved to have a temper tantrum. Hold your ground. You simply can’t keep giving and giving without ever receiving anything in return. The chance to go on a glamorous business trip will fall into your lap. Although you feel guilty about going away, this journey will do you a world of good.

Leo

Jun 24/Aug 23

Love is elusive right now. It feels as if nobody understands you. Maybe you’re expecting too much of your loved ones. Becoming more self sufficient is critical to your happiness. Learn how to do tasks that you’ve always expected others to perform. If you’ve never lived on your own, think of getting your own place. At the very least, you need to open a personal bank account. Being financially independent will put a partnership on equal footing.

Virgo

Aug 24/Sep 23

Avoid arguments with colleagues. You need to foster a spirit of cooperation. If someone is being overbearing, it may be time to have a heart to heart talk. Find a way to move past your problems, or a project will never get finished. If you are looking for work, your search could be elusive. Focus instead on creating a pleasant atmosphere at home. If you have comfortable surroundings, it will be much easier to find your dream job

Libra

Sep 24/Oct 23

You need to rein in your spending or you could be caught short before the week is over. Avoid your favourite shops and restaurants and leave your credit cards at home. You can still have fun on a budget. Invite friends over for a casual card game and a potluck dinner. Rent a DVD instead of going out. Borrow books from the library instead of buying them. If you practice a little restraint now, you’ll put yourself on the path to job luck

Scorpio

Oct 24/Nov 22

Don’t let vanity undermine your personal relationships. Relatives and roommates will resent your desire for special treatment. This also isn’t a good time to apply for a bank loan or complain to your landlord. Postpone domestic plans for later in the month when decision making gets easier. In the meantime, an exciting romance could make its way into your life. If you suspect someone has a crush on you, you’re probably right

Sagittarius

Nov 23/Dec 21

Steer clear of gossip, or you will unwittingly spread a terrible untruth. You can’t afford to compromise your reputation for the sake of a juicy story. Avoid signing any contracts, too, as there will be some hidden clauses that work against your interests. Home is a welcome haven from the stress of public life. A surprise visitor will lift your spirits. The two of you will have a great time preparing big meals together and talking into the wee hours of the morning.

Capricorn

Dec 22/Jan 20

An unrealistic attitude about money could tear a friendship apart. If someone asks for a loan, you might never get repaid. Alternatively, you may be unable to pay back a loved one for money they lent you long ago. Don’t brush this painful subject under the carpet. The only way to resolve this issue is through an honest talk. A work project will take less time than you anticipated, enabling you to take a short trip for pleasure. You could use a change of scenery

Aquarius

Jan 21/Feb 19

Making promises you can’t keep will tarnish your professional reputation. If someone asks for an estimate, name a top price. That way, they won’t be disappointed when they get the bill. When it comes to setting deadlines, give yourself more time than you think you need. If your customer decides to take their business elsewhere, so be it. That’s better than setting yourself up for failure. If you’re in over your head, you may have to hire some extra help.

Pisces

Feb 20/Mar 20

You’re your own worst enemy right now. Stop listening to your inner critic or you’ll never take an important risk. Acquiring new skills, travelling abroad or writing a book could be in the cards. Legal matters aren’t favoured right now. If a court renders a decision against you, accept it and move on. The longer this matter carries on, the more money you’ll lose. Listen to a powerful friend’s advice regarding your career prospects. It’s time to set your sights on an executive position